[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6609527,"mediaKeyId","2917689-862e8a0ba54aea61d06205fd89458383","parentId",2917689,"title","Votes at a glance: Council approves franchise, solid-waste penalty change, budget transfers and other measures (April 8, 2025)","audioSeconds",9246,"startMs",747000,"endMs",9993000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2917689-862e8a0ba54aea61d06205fd89458383&start=747&end=9993","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2917689-862e8a0ba54aea61d06205fd89458383/thumbnail_747000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6609527/Chesapeake-City-Independent-City/Virginia/Votes-at-a-glance-Council-approves-franchise-solid-waste-penalty-change-budget-transfers-and-other-measures-April-8-2025","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6609527-439f8d09236623bb2f4dc93fd591b9bf/orig.mp4?Expires=1771014312&Signature=NUmC7pDBWHEM7H7TCZMW~9QNe30Lt94utzPUlNb5mGQLwk5TUumjl9l-2J2ptPSFK8rvciDSVgvWhU79eJ1pOXycdwE-gawj7VSfZFvcG-0tuDjJaSx9q9TnqNbWV9WTER6FSb7zP1FDIxIqWXttvtPnYxGqLwcdxyveforD~iycf0GBSuoLXka20wMKv5spPBUbsZnSIkVUkYzXAOfqyQBTElyev8iuOB33~YgjTZoaLke7R~7yZ4otaFqxQpHvXT8r7gRqxRRS0-TfQACT~XnhgCesz7ccECZ5t8nI5YmqUHhfmFoA0F4YaGLmgenKi-K4q5uudcbt2Ok0wGVB5Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Chesapeake","date","2025-04-08T00:00:00Z","article","The Chesapeake City Council took several formal actions on April 8. Listed below are the principal votes recorded during the work session and regular meeting. Where recorded in the minutes, the vote counts are attached.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of meeting agenda (motion adopted): Motion to approve the agenda as presented was adopted by a 9-0 vote (clerk recorded motion adopted). (Transcript: motion adopted at the start of the regular session.)

- Franchise ordinance: Council adopted an ordinance granting a 20-year nonexclusive franchise to Crown Castle to install and maintain telecommunications infrastructure in city rights-of-way (bid marked CrownCastle4-8-25). Staff recommended acceptance. Motion to approve the ordinance was adopted by a 9-0 vote. (Transcript: ordinance read; motion adopted 9-0.)

- Solid-waste code amendment (criminal to civil): Council adopted an ordinance amending Chapter 62 (solid waste) to change the penalty for violations related to weeds and debris from criminal to civil. Motion to approve the ordinance as presented was adopted by a 9-0 vote.

- Debt-service appropriation for arbitrage rebate: Council approved a request to appropriate $2,600,000 from the debt-service fund restricted fund balance to pay an arbitrage rebate liability related to the 2020 Series A and B general obligation public-improvement and refunding bonds. Motion to approve was adopted by a 9-0 vote.

- Auxiliary grant program and related transfers (Human Services): Several actions were approved separately: acceptance and appropriation of $117,821 in state funds to the Human Services FY2025 operating budget (approved as an emergency), and a $29,455 transfer from the general fund contingency to the Social Services fund and Human Services FY2025 operating budget. Both measures were approved by recorded votes listed in the minutes (9-0 where recorded).

- Consent agenda: The consent agenda (which bundled a number of routine items including grant acceptances, transfers, refunds, resignations, and other administrative requests) was adopted by a 9-0 vote. The consent list included: refund to Demuth Services Inc.; resignations for board positions; acceptance and appropriations of several grants (selective enforcement alcohol grant, Operation Ceasefire grant, intervention/Marcus Alert funding), and authorization for a mutual-aid agreement with Camden County, NC and Elizabeth City, NC for fire/EMS assistance, among others.

- Greenbrier area plan: Council adopted an initiating resolution to begin amendments to the 1935 Chesapeake comprehensive plan to incorporate the Greenbrier Area Plan and design guidelines; the initiating resolution was adopted 9-0.

- Closed-meeting authorizations and related motions: Council voted to hold a set of closed meetings on litigation, real-property negotiations in Great Bridge, economic-development discussions and appointments; each closed-meeting motion as read into the record was adopted by vote (recorded as 9-0 where listed). A separate closed-session scheduling motion for interviews on April 15 (planning commission appointments) was adopted 9-0.

Notes and next steps: Several accepted items required follow-up (grant-acceptance administration, contract/agreement execution for the Crown Castle franchise, and scheduled budget deliberations). The public hearing on the proposed tax rate remained open for comment; council will return in May to adopt the budget and the tax rate.

Ending: For full vote records, ordinance texts and related staff reports, see the city clerk's official meeting materials and the posted minutes for April 8, 2025.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Chesapeake - Regular City Council Meeting - Apr 08, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At its April 8 meeting council approved multiple ordinances, transfers, and grant acceptances. Major actions included awarding a limited franchise to Crown Castle, shifting appropriations for an arbitrage rebate, and several consent items—all by roll-call votes recorded as 9-0 where noted.","taxTitle","Chesapeake City (Independent City), Virginia","taxId",5806,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6609533,"Residents urge council to hold line on real-estate tax as public hearing draws senior and homeowner opposition",1706,7810000,9516000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2917689-862e8a0ba54aea61d06205fd89458383&start=7810&end=9516","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2917689-862e8a0ba54aea61d06205fd89458383/thumbnail_7810000.jpg","/articles/6609533/Chesapeake-City-Independent-City/Virginia/Residents-urge-council-to-hold-line-on-real-estate-tax-as-public-hearing-draws-senior-and-homeowner-opposition","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6609533-c2d4574fcce3d7e4c2f5d6adb5a1ba04/orig.mp4?Expires=1771014312&Signature=Y9zTHfZZnNCCxAR-FRRXF9ay2kOBDcw0ws1hiW9aq6MTwamgi8jg7P-VA2Y3u8bXcH3O2XplQpJED0J5D46-39J8QWtIOoVV~lhdH1VukC4eAhnxywaiB8LWIrTjZKNSn~8vSgyhbz8IWPAl-7PcbITt7AlynXESm7zBm434Ia-60OiFIWBgYm8S7TnC5FJrLvNjSUJriHaMtrlfy7leuZK5iliTFHDO-TUuK0Hj-kaPAxzL1vIH4LWljQlfjs45UrqfMVd1AXF5w4CTn3a9S~BtGc4gdlUvXx4V4MBrg6d-RJMZDa2BaD~myL78ShWUKes9ZlEKA8JBu60jJFdoYg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dozens of residents addressed the City Council on April 8 during the public hearing on the proposed real-estate tax rate for the fiscal year 2025-26, with many urging council to keep the rate unchanged in light of rising assessments and household expenses.

Brennan Waters, a homeowner who identified himself at the microphone, told council, \"I want to encourage the city council to hold the line on the real estate tax rate. We need relief.\" Several speakers described steep increases in their assessments and tax bills over the last four years and said those increases outpaced fixed incomes or retirement benefits.

Other speakers emphasized specific hardships: Lee DeMoor said his tax bill rose roughly 30% over four years; Bill Warren, a retired longtime city employee, described a county-assessment increase that, in his calculation, would push his monthly cost substantially higher. Donna Ivins and Sally Anne Harris, both long-time Chesapeake residents, said assessments and tax bills were forcing concerns about affordability and home retention.

Several speakers asked council to consider targeted relief measures for seniors and long-term residents, and asked the council to scrutinize spending and prioritization before approving any tax-rate increase. Jeff Morgenthaler urged council to pair growth with a fuller plan for schools, roads and services that new development will require.

City staff clarified that the public hearing was for comment only; the manager told the public that council would continue budget deliberations in the coming weeks and that a tax-rate decision would be taken when the budget is adopted in the first May meeting.

Ending: The public hearing drew varied testimony but a consistent theme of concern about rising property tax bills. Council members and staff said they would continue budget deliberations and return for additional work sessions before deciding the tax rate.","Dozens of residents spoke during the public hearing on the proposed 2025-26 tax rate, many urging council not to raise the real-estate tax and describing assessment-driven increases that have strained fixed-income households.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6609537,"Council debates expanded public-safety investments; manager presents prioritized \"A/B\" options and funding scenarios",2097,1707000,3804000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2917689-862e8a0ba54aea61d06205fd89458383&start=1707&end=3804","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2917689-862e8a0ba54aea61d06205fd89458383/thumbnail_1707000.jpg","/articles/6609537/Chesapeake-City-Independent-City/Virginia/Council-debates-expanded-public-safety-investments-manager-presents-prioritized-AB-options-and-funding-scenarios","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6609537-33c8947104e8f6c2707f326a85cb60c2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771014312&Signature=I3aeHdt4A-q7c7pZyftP3n06AvytWxCKC6-mX0mT3k8poyUjKycPwM2CeMks-Y5gFSaSDffV2arr5I5IMmHXZvWrGjHNpo3NkaUzpdjdP09fgETakMCCl06bc51tT8DF3nYw5zDqiIdfv1kQcPA5CVGqUP9CtKsIFlLkQ5U151xMoMTvijULip-4Lg72AFXtgXpW~f5YW4pUFq7lpu3FkjUdlxAlC-LgBHKWhHn6T2ph2VI0Q7yloO~~Hyd9vGNR62tBYvRnnwQW4B7a5~qimlcEFjQI3ETbLnOfmZFoUDgKULhgj5s2Xt9s9s09XRlXl4aE7jGxYCpEeRt7gS6RKA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff on April 8 presented Chesapeake City Council with a detailed, prioritized package of enhanced public-safety requests and multiple funding scenarios intended to cover some or all of the items in the coming budget year.

The city manager said staff split the unfunded public-safety requests into Priority A (highest urgency) and Priority B (secondary) to help council choose what to fund if resources are limited. \"The total aggregate cost of the enhanced public safety, for priority A would be just under $4,900,000,\" the manager said, listing items that included a second set of structural turnout gear for all existing firefighters, five full-time animal services positions, staffing for Medic 11, purchase of a water-tanker truck to serve rural areas, and additional rescue staffing.

Priority B items, described as important but not as immediate, included a fire/EMS data-analyst position, annual debt service for Station 4 and a fifth precinct replacement projects, and other capital and staffing requests. The manager said the total aggregate amount for Priority B was just under $3,800,000; the presentation also described longer-range unfunded needs totaling approximately $134 million to cover future stations, capital, and staffing over multiple years.

Funding scenarios presented to council included: (a) use existing budget capacity (roughly $500,000) plus a tax change; (b) increase the real-estate tax by two cents and redirect 8 cents of the personal-property tax; (c) raise real-estate tax by two cents while reducing the personal-property tax by 8 cents (estimated to generate about $7.4 million); and (d) maintain current real-estate and personal-property rates and redirect 8 cents of personal-property tax from mosquito-control to a newly dedicated public-safety fund (estimated at roughly $2.5 million). Staff also identified a utility-funding reallocation tied to a CIP project that could free about $2 million for public safety and discussed better enforcement of existing collection and revenue opportunities raised by the commissioner of the revenue.

Council members asked for more detail on several items: the manager said the hotel-room-night increase (from $1 to $2 per night) already was included in the base budget; the real-time crime center enhancements requested from the General Assembly had been vetoed and could be added as an option for council consideration. Several council members urged that public safety remain the first priority and asked staff to return quickly with refined cost estimates and straw polls to gauge council's appetite for specific items.

Why it matters: The presentation framed public safety as the top city priority and mapped concrete staffing and capital needs to specific budget choices. Staff repeatedly differentiated between one-time or capital purchases (where cash or reserve transfers could be appropriate) and ongoing staffing (which would require recurring revenue).

Ending: Staff said it would return with refined cost estimates and will run straw polls and more-detailed scenarios at the next work session to help council decide whether to fund priority items with existing capacity, tax changes, or reallocated funds.","City staff presented a prioritized list of enhanced public-safety requests totaling tens of millions over multiple years and outlined several funding options, including a dedicated public-safety fund created by redirecting an 8-cent personal-property tax dedication from mosquito control.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6609541,"Chesapeake Transportation System posts modest revenue gains; bond refinancing lowers near-term debt service",971,144000,1115000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2917689-862e8a0ba54aea61d06205fd89458383&start=144&end=1115","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2917689-862e8a0ba54aea61d06205fd89458383/thumbnail_144000.jpg","/articles/6609541/Chesapeake-City-Independent-City/Virginia/Chesapeake-Transportation-System-posts-modest-revenue-gains-bond-refinancing-lowers-near-term-debt-service","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6609541-7af476a3999110a93e86afac9226960b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771014312&Signature=hyqhpSYuFpqhaUFJmDxEAsjdPoaZ3ZUgfYu5dzo5SDknaMsk6cNXxp~xytcrKdMJ8hGLA~a7L78CsZaj9CMyiBreZg06ddw8PrlYVrVS7qFogHjy~fvJRqivwnef1UOUapZMLve3k2pd9EK5tkrAO-T0b9RRqjbF-gJOaX~3L5lmT8t~RmQq-mwUzZh4jmk1pBaLUGmMsXo7VorZNB3Oc3RCJyyY-OLoojGA6EwmjHBiKTmQx02GOdINmwdKMp3u5cpZYhuW7hCP4brR4Tq~OJve9eAPhAhuV61d4WMyq7ggbBD6Qmssx8nsRToQAhtkWKxDDUWT2Aejfa4JWtVvIg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chesapeake officials and consulting advisers reported on April 8 that the Chesapeake Transportation System (CTS) posted a modest increase in revenue for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2024, and that a 2024 bond refinancing will lower the system's near-term debt service by roughly $2.5 million per year for three years.

The update, presented to the city council by Sean Eckert, managing director at Raymond James Financial, and Dave Cugno, director of traffic and revenue forecasting, said overall system revenue was up about $1.3 million, or 3.7%, from the prior year, while operating expenses rose 13.8% largely because of contract adjustments for toll collection. \"Toll revenue on Dominion Boulevard increased by 7.8%,\" Eckert said, citing the increase as one of the year's bright spots.

The consultant team stressed two items that improve the system's near-term finances: investment income and a refunding of a portion of toll revenue bonds. Cugno said investment income on CTS reserve funds was about $4.8 million in fiscal 2024. Eckert said CTS issued roughly $78 million in refunding bonds in the summer of 2024 to refinance part of the 2012A bonds; the refinancing reduces future debt service by roughly $7.8 million in present-value terms and yields the system's savings of about $2.5 million per year over the next three fiscal years.

Why it matters: Council members and the consultants said the expressway continues to meet its original purpose: handling the surge of peak-summer weekend traffic that otherwise would congest parallel routes. Cugno's traffic analysis showed a pronounced seasonal pattern on the Chesapeake Expressway and steadier year-round volumes on Dominion Boulevard; the expressway sees a higher share of discounted transactions during peak weekends, which affects summer weekend revenue.

The presenters reviewed how toll revenue is applied each year: required operating expenses, mandatory debt payments, and deposits to a renewal-and-replacement fund. Under the amended bond documents following the refunding, CTS may now place 10% of surplus revenue into general reserves (previously all surplus revenues were directed to extra debt service), with the remaining 90% of surplus still used to accelerate debt repayment. Eckert said the system is projected to remain in compliance with the bond covenants and the consultant noted S&P and Fitch now rate the senior bonds at double-A minus.

Council members asked about expansion and long-term planning. The city manager and consultant said the current CTS plan finances operations, renewal and replacement, and debt service for existing facilities; it does not include a funding path for building a new expressway alignment. The vice mayor and other council members raised the regional legislative context, noting a bill creating additional road-funding avenues was vetoed by the governor after passing the General Assembly.

On the schedule for toll adjustments, the presenters said no change to the council-adopted multi-year toll schedule was recommended. The next scheduled change is a peak-weekend Chesapeake Expressway increase slated for May 2026; Dominion Boulevard tolls continue to follow a 5% annual increase to E-ZPass (EZ-Pay) rates with proportional increases to toll-by-plate rates.

Council reaction was broadly positive: members praised the accuracy of long-term traffic forecasting and the stronger credit ratings, and they thanked CTS managers and consultants for the report. The chair of the Transportation Toll Facility Advisory Committee, Dr. Agusti, told council the committee recommended retaining the current toll rate schedule.

Ending: Staff said they would continue monitoring traffic, revenues, and bond covenant metrics and would return to council if conditions warrant changes to the rate schedule or capital plans.","City consultants told the Chesapeake City Council that toll revenue rose modestly in fiscal 2024 while a bond refinancing and higher investment income reduced near-term debt service and improved reserve-building flexibility.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Council approves franchise, solid-waste penalty change, budget transfers and other measures (April 8, 2025)

Residents urge council to hold line on real-estate tax as public hearing draws senior and homeowner opposition

Council debates expanded public-safety investments; manager presents prioritized "A/B" options and funding scenarios

Chesapeake Transportation System posts modest revenue gains; bond refinancing lowers near-term debt service