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Suffolk City Council certifies closed meeting, adopts consent agenda and schedules CIP hearing
Summary
At its Feb. 5 meeting the Suffolk City Council certified a closed meeting, approved minutes and a ceremonial resolution, adopted a consent agenda that includes two grant awards and equipment funding, appointed nominees to boards, and set a public hearing on the FY26–35 capital improvements plan.
The Suffolk City Council on Feb. 5 voted unanimously on a series of routine and administrative measures, including certifying a recent closed meeting, approving minutes, adopting a consent agenda that accepts two state grants and authorizes equipment purchases, scheduling a public hearing on the FY26–35 capital improvements plan, and confirming several board appointments.
The council opened formal business by approving a resolution certifying that the closed meeting held Feb. 5 complied with Virginia law (Virginia Code § 2.2-3712). The council then approved minutes from the Oct. 2, 2024 work session and regular meeting and adopted a resolution recognizing outgoing Council Member Roger W. Fawcett for his service.
The council adopted the consent agenda, which included four items presented by city staff: an ordinance to amend the city code to add a “city nation committee” related to a memorandum of understanding over portions of the Lone Star Lakes property; an ordinance to name the new library at 325 West Washington Street as the Downtown Suffolk Library; an ordinance to accept and appropriate $326,450 from the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services Operation Ceasefire grant for the Suffolk Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office to fund an assistant commonwealth’s attorney and a part-time legal assistant (no local match); and an ordinance to accept $150,000 from the Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services Rescue Squad Assistance Fund for the Suffolk Department of Fire & Rescue to purchase five Stryker LifePak monitor-defibrillators (the item notes a local cash match of $150,000 already provided in the consolidated grants fund budget for FY2024–25).
Council also approved a motion to schedule a public hearing on Feb. 19, 2025, to receive comment on the proposed FY26–35 capital improvements program and plan, and scheduled a council work session for Feb. 19, 2025, at 4 p.m., unless canceled by the mayor and city manager. The council confirmed three nominations to boards and commissions: Dr. Leslie Martin as the Sleepy Hole Borough representative to the Economic Development Authority (effective March 1, 2025), Julpina G. Hill to the Suffolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority Board of Commissioners, and Battalion Chief Keith Johnson to the Tidewater Emergency Medical Services Council.
All motions recorded on the formal agenda passed by recorded roll call votes; most items were approved unanimously with recorded tallies noted below. No substantive policy debate or amendments were recorded on these items during the meeting.
Votes at a glance
- Resolution certifying closed meeting (Virginia Code § 2.2-3712): moved by Council Member Williams, seconded by Council Member Butler Barlow. Vote: 7–0 (all present council members voted yes).
- Approval of minutes (Oct. 2, 2024 work session and regular meeting): moved by Council Member Williams, seconded by Council Member Bennett. Vote recorded as 6–0 in the transcript.
- Resolution recognizing Roger W. Fawcett: moved by Council Member Bennett, seconded by Council Member Johnson. Vote: 7–0.
- Consent agenda (items 7–10): moved by Council Member Johnson, seconded by Council Member Bennett. Vote: 7–0. Key consent items: ordinance adding “city nation committee” (related to Lone Star Lakes property transfer memorandum of understanding), ordinance to name the new library at 325 West Washington Street as Downtown Suffolk Library, acceptance and appropriation of a $326,450 Operation Ceasefire grant for the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office (no local match) to fund staff positions, and acceptance of $150,000 from the Virginia Office of EMS Rescue Squad Assistance Fund to buy five Stryker LifePak monitor-defibrillators (with a $150,000 local cash match in the FY2024–25 consolidated grants fund budget).
- Motion to schedule a public hearing on the FY26–35 CIP for Feb. 19, 2025: moved by Council Member Williams, seconded by Vice Mayor Ward. Vote: 7–0.
- Motion to schedule a council work session for Feb. 19, 2025 at 4:00 p.m.: moved by Council Member Butler Barlow, seconded by Council Member Williams. Vote: 7–0.
- Appointments to boards and commissions (Dr. Leslie Martin; Julpina G. Hill; Battalion Chief Keith Johnson): moved by Council Member Bennett, seconded by Council Member Johnson. Vote: 7–0.
The meeting concluded with a unanimous motion to adjourn.
Ending: The items approved are procedural and budget-adjacent: the grant awards accepted through the consent agenda will be added to the consolidated grants fund budget as described by staff, and the city will proceed to the scheduled public hearing on the capital improvements plan on Feb. 19, 2025.
