City Council Work Sessions

City Council Work Session July 2, 2025 Work Session of the Suffolk City Council was held in the City Council Chamber, 442 West Washington Street, on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, 4:00 p.m. PRESENT Council Members - Michael D. Duman, Mayor, presiding Lue R. Ward, Jr., Vice Mayor Leroy Bennett Shelley Butler Barlow John T. Rector LeOtis L. Williams Ebony N. Wright Erika S. Dawley, City Clerk William E. Hutchings, Jr., City Attorney Albert S. Moor, City Manager ABSENT Timothy J. Johnson was excused Mayor Duman announced that Council Member Johnson is excused from today’s Work Session. ROADWAY CONSTRUCTION AND CAPITAL PROJECTS UPDATE Utilizing a PowerPoint presentation, Capital Programs and Buildings Director Gerry Jones, Parks and Recreation Director Mark Furlo, Public Works Assistant Director Darryll Lewis and Public Utilities Director Paul Retel submitted a summary of the above referenced item. Council Member Bennett opined about the improvements to the Planters Club. Capital Programs and Buildings Director Jones said that project will be addressed in the upcoming Capital Improvement Plan. Referring to the presentation, Mayor Duman called for clarification about the inclusion of a community room in the Fire Station Four Replacement project. Capital Programs and Buildings Director Jones reported that the project does not include a community room. Referring to the presentation, Mayor Duman asked about the number of spaces proposed for the Saratoga East Parking Lot project. Capital Programs and Building Director Jones stated that the lot will have 55 to 60 spaces. Mayor Duman opined about the possibility of a mural on Phoenix Bank. Capital Programs and Buildings Director Jones advised that a mural is under consideration as a part of a much larger plan for that area. Council Member Rector asked about the inclusion of a splash park at Lake Meade Park. Parks and Recreation Director Furlo explained that additional funding would be required in order to add a splash park at Lake Meade Park. He concluded, the issue will be addressed in the upcoming Capital Improvement Plan. 1 City Council Work Session July 2, 2025 Referring to the presentation, Council Member Bennett inquired about the timeline for the Nansemond River Boat Ramp. Parks and Recreation Director Furlo explained that the design of the boat ramp should be complete by the end of this year or beginning of next year, and then it will go out to bid. He added that the construction is estimated to take one to one and half years after the award of the bid. Referring to the presentation, Council Member Bennett asked about the funding source for the Holly Lawn Cemetery Expansion. Parks and Recreation Director Furlo said the Perpetual Care Fund will pay for the expansion. Referring to the presentation, Vice Mayor Ward queried about the feasibility of hosting tournaments at the Driver Athletic Complex. Parks and Recreation Director Furlo replied in the affirmative. Referring to the presentation, Council Member Bennett sought clarification about the installation of additional lights at Lake Meade Park tennis courts. Parks and Recreation Director Furlo stated that there is lighting on courts seven, eight, nine and ten. He added that there is no additional funding to add more lighting to other courts. Council Member Rector opined about construction on Pitchkettle Road and Constance Road. Public Works Assistant Director Lewis advised that he was not aware of the details of that construction. Referring to the presentation, Council Member Rector opined about the timeline of paving on Route 58. Public Works Assistant Director Lewis indicated that he was not aware of any issues with the paving timeline. Referring to the presentation, Council Member Bennett called for information about completion of the Nansemond Parkway/Bennett’s Pasture Road Improvements. Public Works Assistant Director Lewis estimated that project will be completed by the end of the year. Referring to the presentation, Council Member Butler Barlow asked about the Lone Star Lakes Dam project. Public Works Director Retel explained that the Chuckatuck Creek Dam is being rehabilitated, which required the removal of trees in the area to maintain the dam. Council Member Butler Barlow opined about any connection between the breach in Crane Lake and the City’s water supply. City Manager Moor replied in the negative. APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS City Attorney Hutchings referred to the memo provided to City Council at the June 18, 2025, City Council meeting about the boards and commissions appointment process and then deferred to City Council for discussion. Referring to the memo, Council Member Butler Barlow queried about City Council’s authority to remove boards and commissions members, as outlined in City Code Section 2-36(c). City Attorney Hutchings explained that section of the City Code applies to any bodies that do not fall under the procedure for removal under the State statute or Acts of Assembly. 2 City Council Work Session July 2, 2025 Council Member Butler Barlow called for clarification about City Council’s authority to remove members from the Economic Development Authority, the Planning Commission and the Suffolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority. City Attorney Hutchings reported that City Council has authority to remove members of those bodies under the specific criteria as outlined in Virginia Code. Referring to the memo, Council Member Butler Barlow opined about the enforcement of the 75% percent attendance requirement for boards and commission members, as outlined in City Code Section 2-36(c). City Attorney Hutchings indicated that he would recommend removal of this requirement. Council Member Butler Barlow asked about the background of the requirement that previously made boards and commissions borough specific. City Attorney Hutchings explained that requirement originated with the creation of the City of Suffolk. Council Member Rector queried about the inclusion of removal authority in the bylaws of the boards and commissions. City Attorney Hutchings advised that bodies need to have cause for removal and generally have due process right for said removal. He added that notice of any type of removal would also be required. Mayor Duman inquired about City Council’s ability to continue the discussion. City Attorney Hutchings replied that City Council could amend tonight’s Regular Meeting agenda to continue the discussion of this matter or make a motion to continue to a future City Council meeting. CLOSED MEETING City Clerk Dawley presented the Closed Meeting motion for City Council’s consideration: 1. Pursuant to Virginia Code Section 2.2-3711(A)(1), the discussion, consideration, or interviews of prospective candidates for appointment and the assignment, appointment, and performance of specific public officers or appointees of the City, specifically the appointments as shown on the attached list for vacancies or term expirations for the Community Policy and Management Team, Early Childhood Development Commission, Fine Arts Commission, Hampton Roads Planning District Commission, Historic Landmarks Commission, Human Services Advisory Board, Local Board of Building Code Appeals, Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission, Paul D. Camp Community College Board, Sister Cities Commission, Southside Network Authority, Southeastern Public Service Authority, Suffolk Clean Community Commission, Suffolk Clean Community Commission Keep Suffolk Beautiful Executive Board, Suffolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority, The Planning Council, Tidewater Youth Services Commission, Western Tidewater Regional Jail Authority Board, and the Western Tidewater Water Authority; and the appointment of an Interim City Manager. Council Member Rector, on a motion seconded by Council Member Butler Barlow, moved that City Council convene in a closed meeting for the above-mentioned purpose, by the following roll call vote: AYES: Mayor Duman, Vice Mayor Ward, and Council Members Bennett, Butler Barlow, Rector, Williams and Wright 7 NAYS: None (Council Member Johnson was excused.) 0 City Council convened in Closed Meeting at 5:29 p.m. The Closed Meeting concluded at 5:58 p.m. 3 City Council Work Session July 2, 2025 Teste: ____________________________________________ Erika S. Dawley, MMC, City Clerk Approved: _________________________________________ Michael D. Duman, Mayor APPROVED: NOVEMBER 5, 2025 4