Chesapeake legislative director outlines FY26 priorities including retired-officer reemployment and emergency-vehicle trespass penalty

David Westcott, the city of Chesapeake’s legislative affairs director, presented the city’s FY26 legislative package at a council work session, asking the General Assembly to approve measures to (1) allow retired sworn officers to return to civilian, non‑sworn roles without losing Virginia Retirement System benefits; (2) authorize large localities to enter long‑term binding development agreements tied to transfer of development rights; (3) create a criminal penalty for unauthorized entry into emergency vehicles; and (4) permit utility easement conveyance via plat where subdivision plats are not involved.

The presentation, delivered at the council’s work session, focused on tools city staff said would address staffing shortages, manage rapid growth, protect first‑responder equipment and streamline routine land‑development paperwork. “This is one of my favorite slides because it just kinda gives you a snapshot of what the session looks like,” Westcott said as he ran through the annual timetable and the city’s legislative strategy.

Westcott described the proposal to reemploy retired sworn officers in civilian technical positions — for example, fingerprint examiners, forensic specialists and background investigators — while preserving their VRS retirement benefits. He said the plan would require a six‑month break in…