Dec 09, 2025 Regular City Council Meeting

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MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT CONCLUDES THAT CONCLUDES OUR CLOSED SESSION.

NEXT, WE'RE READY TO ROLL ON TO OUR REGULAR SCHEDULED CITY COUNCIL MEETING. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. I'M AT THIS TIME. MISS HILL, COULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? COUNCIL MEMBER CUTHBERT HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER. JONES HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER. MYERS. COUNCIL MEMBER.

WESTBROOK. PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER. SMITH. LEE PRESENT. VICE MAYOR. PRESENT. MAYOR.

PARIS HERE. SO YOU HAVE A QUORUM. ALL RIGHT. NEXT. VICE MAYOR HILL WILL LEAD US IN OUR OPENING PRAYER. LET US PRAY. ETERNAL GOD, OUR FATHERS, ONCE AGAIN WE COME BEFORE YOU, GIVING YOUR NAME, HONOR, PRAISE, AND GLORY. WE THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY. WE THANK YOU FOR THE BLESSINGS OF THE DAY. LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS LAST MEETING OF THE YEAR. HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THE WAY YOU HAVE KEPT US IN THIS CITY. HEAVENLY FATHER, THROUGH SEEN AND UNSEEN DANGERS, WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD BLESS US EVEN IN 2026. EVEN THE MORE. HEAVENLY FATHER, WE ASK A SPECIAL BLESSING UPON THOSE RESIDENTS, HEAVENLY FATHER WHO HAVE LOST LOVED ONES WHO WILL BE DEALING WITH THE GRIEF DURING THIS TIME OF YEAR. HEAVENLY FATHER, WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD COMFORT THEM LIKE ONLY YOU CAN. BE WITH THOSE WHO MAY BE SICK AMONG US. WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD HEAL IN YOUR NAME. LORD, BLESS THIS MEETING IN A SPECIAL WAY. BLESS OUR COUNCIL, BLESS OUR RESIDENTS, BLESS OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, BLESS OUR CITIZENS, HEAVENLY FATHER AND THE SURROUNDING JURISDICTION AND WE'LL BE EVER CAREFUL TO GIVE YOUR NAME, HONOR, PRAISE, AND GLORY. IT'S IN YOUR DARLING SON, JESUS CHRIST'S NAME WE PRAY AND WE THANK YOU. AMEN, AMEN. NEXT IS THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. EVERYBODY STAND AND JOIN US IN THE PLEDGE. PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND

[4. Determination of the Presence of a Quorum]

NEXT UNDER. WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM SIX. RESPONSES TO PREVIOUS PUBLIC INFORMATION POSTED UNDER

[7. Approval of Consent Agenda (to include minutes of previous meetings)]

[8. Presentations]

NEXT WE HAVE ITEM A PRESENTATIONS FROM VIRGINIA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP IS WILL NOT HAVE THAT THAT WILL BE TABLED FOR OUR NEXT MEETING. THE FY 25 ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT. MR. ALLMAN SAYING WE HAVE SOME WEATHER ISSUES. SO

[9. Official Public Hearings]

GOOD EVENING. GARY COZIER, BUDGET MANAGER. SO THIS ITEM, WE HAVE ONE GRANT FROM THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF HISTORIC RESOURCES IS FOR OUR PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. AND THE GRANT IS FOR THE PRESERVATION OF CENTER HILL MANSION. TOTAL GRANT AMOUNT IS 48,000. BUT THAT INCLUDES A 50% MATCH FROM THE CITY. SO 24,000 FROM THE H.R.

24,000 FROM THE CITY. AND WE ALREADY BUDGETED FOR THESE FUNDS THIS YEAR. SO THAT'S WHAT THIS IS. THANK YOU. MR. THIS IS THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE AMENDMENT TO THE FY 26 GRANTS FUND IN YOUR HANDS FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING, SEEING NONE. THIS PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED. VICE MAYOR HILL, I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE ITEM NUMBER NINE A THE AMENDMENT TO THE FY 2026 GRANT FUND COUNSELOR. WESTBROOK. SECOND, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL COUNCILMEMBER CUTHBERT. I THINK HE'S IN THE BATHROOM. COUNCIL MEMBER JONES I COUNCIL MEMBER.

WESTBROOK. AYE. COUNCIL MEMBER. SMITH. VICE MAYOR. HILL. AYE. MAYOR. PARA. AYE. MOTION. NEXT IS ITEM B, A PUBLIC HEARING FOR CONSIDERATION OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE FY 26 GENERAL FUND.

MISTER COZIER. SO EXCUSE ME. THIS AMENDMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $3.1 MILLION FOR THE STADIUM ENHANCEMENT COMMITTEE FOR THE SPORTS COMPLEX. SO WE WILL BE AMENDING THE BUDGET IN THAT AMOUNT, LIKE I SAID, $3.1 MILLION. OKAY. THANK YOU. WE OPEN THE FLOOR FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING. ANY COMMENT ON THE AMENDMENT TO THE FY 26 GENERAL FUND? SEEING NO HANDS IS PUBLIC.

HEARING IS CLOSED. VICE MAYOR HILL, IF I'M ON ORDER, I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE ITEM NUMBER NINE B FOR THE AMENDMENT TO THE FY 2026 GENERAL FUND, PAGES 58 THROUGH 59 FOR THE SPORTS

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MAYOR. AYE. NEXT IS ITEM D, A PUBLIC HEARING FOR CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE TO APPROVE AN AMENDMENT TO THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PETERSBURG FOR THE PURPOSE OF CLARIFYING AND UPDATING REGULATIONS AND RECREATIONAL SUBSTANCE RETAIL USES BY DEFINING VAPE SHOP AND CIGAR LOUNGES USES AND SPECIFYING THEIR ALLOWANCE IN THE CITY.

JERRY. GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU SIR. GOOD EVENING. MAYOR COUNCIL. SO THIS IS A TEXT AMENDMENT YOU ALL HAD ASKED US TO BRING FOR CONSIDERATION SOME BACKGROUND. IN JUNE OF LAST YEAR, YOU ALL ADOPTED OR JULY? I'M SORRY. ADOPTED. 2024 TEXT AMENDMENT THREE, WHICH INTRODUCED RECREATIONAL SUBSTANCE RETAIL USES IN THE CITY. SO THESE ARE LARGELY TOBACCO AND VAPE SHOPS AND THEN LIMITED THOSE USES TO THE M1 DISTRICT. WE PRESENTED TO YOU ALL A COUPLE MONTHS BACK ABOUT SOME OF THE CHALLENGES AND NEEDS FOR CLARIFICATION. WITH THAT ORDINANCE. AND AGAIN, YOU ALL HAD DIRECTED US TO BRING AN UPDATED TEXT AMENDMENT. SO LIKE WE DISCUSSED IN SEPTEMBER, SOME OF THE CHALLENGES COME FROM JUST THE USES THEMSELVES BEING DEFINED IN A MORE COMPLICATED WAY, WHERE IT'S BASED ON INVENTORY AND DISPLAY AMOUNT OF PRODUCTS. SO IF A STORE HAD MORE THAN 15% OF ITS SHELF AREA, OR MORE THAN 25% OF ITS STANDING INVENTORY AS TOBACCO OR VAPE PRODUCTS, IT FELL UNDER THIS DEFINITION. BUT THIS WAS A LITTLE BIT THIS IS DIFFICULT TO INSPECT AND ENFORCE AND APPLY THE ORDINANCE WHEN WE BELIEVE THERE ARE VIOLATIONS. JARED. SO QUESTION JUST FOR FOR SAKE OF ARGUMENT HERE, WHEN WE MET IN SEPTEMBER, DOES THE ORDINANCE THAT YOU'RE PRESENTING THIS EVENING ADDRESS ALL THE CONCERNS THAT COUNCIL HAD AT THAT NIGHT THAT WE'RE BRINGING BACK FORWARD? YEAH. DO YOU WANT ME TO. YEAH. SO ESSENTIALLY WHAT YOU ALL ASKED US TO DO WAS TO MAKE A MORE DIRECT, CLEAR ORDINANCE THAT SAYS THAT A VAPE SHOP IS A SHOP THAT SELLS VAPE PRODUCTS. AND YOU WANTED SOME DISTINCTION BETWEEN MORE TRADITIONAL RETAIL USES THAT MAY HAVE CIGARETTE SALES. SO WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WE INTRODUCED A DEFINITION FOR NICOTINE VAPE PRODUCTS. SO THIS COMES STRAIGHT OUT OF STATE CODE AND KEEPS US IN LINE. AND THEN WE'VE REDEFINED RECREATIONAL SUBSTANCE RETAIL AS A VAPE SHOP. BEING ANY ESTABLISHMENT WHOSE BUSINESS OPERATION INVOLVES THE SALE OF THESE VAPOR PRODUCTS. SO YOU ALL ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, PUBLIC HEALTH BEING A BIG FOCUS. AND JUST SOME FINAL THOUGHTS ON THE TEXT AMENDMENT. AGAIN, THE IDEA IS TO JUST CLARIFY AND SIMPLIFY THAT. YOUR VAPE SHOP, IF YOU SELL VAPE PRODUCTS. AND AGAIN, IT MAKES A DISTINCTION BETWEEN GENERAL TOBACCO PRODUCTS. SO THERE'S NOT NECESSARILY AN IMPACT ON BUSINESS IN GENERAL, BUT A VERY CLEAR LIMITATION ON

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COUNCILMAN JONES. YEAH, YES. IT'S GOING TO COME BEFORE US AGAIN ANYWAY BECAUSE IT'S ON THE TABLE FOR TO COME BEFORE US AS AN ORDINANCE AS A WHOLE. AND THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT'S NOT IN THERE. THINGS LIKE PURPOSE AND INTENT SHOP, VAPE SHOP HOURS, OPERATING HOURS AND RESTRICTIONS, MANDATORY LICENSE AND ENFORCEMENT. THESE THINGS NEED TO BE IN WRITING AS ORDINANCE AS A WHOLE. WE DON'T WANT TO RUSH AND SAY, LET'S PASS THIS. AND I'M TELLING YOU BECAUSE AFTER I FINISHED WITH THEM MONDAY, YOU'RE GOING TO BE REWRITING IT AGAIN, PROBABLY, YOU KNOW, SO I DON'T I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD RUSH INTO IT. WE GOT TO GET WITH THE BERKELEY GROUP AND LET THEM HEAR FROM EVERYBODY, NO MATTER THE SAME WAY WE DO WITH EVERYTHING ELSE.

WE DON'T WANT TO RUSH THIS THING. THEY ALREADY HERE. YOU AIN'T GOING TO GET RID OF THEM RIGHT NOW. BUT WE'RE GOING TO PUT SOMETHING IN WRITING. WE NEED TO PUT IT IN WRITING AND PUT IT IN CONCRETE, NOT PUT IT IN WRITING. CHOP IT UP, THEN COME BACK AND SAY, WE'RE GOING TO AMEND IT. LET'S DO IT RIGHT AND DO IT RIGHT ONE TIME AND ONE TIME ONLY. WE RUSH THIS THING. SO I'M GOING TO MAKE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION. I KNOW SOME OF Y'ALL MOUTHS ALREADY FIT TO SAY NO, BUT I'M GONNA MAKE IT ANYWAY. I MAKE THE MOTION TO SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO TABLE IT UNTIL AFTER WE GET WITH THE BERKELEY GROUP. AND THEY FINISH WITH THEIR MAIN ORDINANCE SECOND. MOTION TO TABLE UNTIL IT GOES TO THE BERKELEY GROUP. LIKE, WHAT EXACTLY IS THE MEETING SAID MONDAY? WHEN IS THAT? WELL, I MEAN, WITH THE BERKELEY GROUP IS MONDAY MONDAY.

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COUNCIL MEMBER. JONES I, COUNCIL MEMBER. WESTBROOK. AYE. COUNCIL MEMBER. SMITH. LEE.

VICE MAYOR. HILL I. MAYOR I. MOTION. MOTION. NEXT IS ITEM. MR. MAYOR, MAY I JUST ADDRESS ONE THING? I WANT TO THANK THE PD POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR? I GUESS I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CALL THEM RAYS OR WHATEVER IT IS THEIR WORK AS THEY WENT OUT TO INVESTIGATE CERTAIN VAPE SHOPS AND I THINK THERE WERE FOUR ARRESTS AND WHAT HAVE YOU. SO I DO WANT TO THANK THEM FOR, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE ANY ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES WERE NOT GOING. WE HAVE TO WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS LIKE COUNCILMAN CUTLER SAID A FEW TIMES, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT COUNCILMAN JONES WANTED TO MEET WITH THE GROUP, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT AND WHAT HAVE YOU. SO, YOU KNOW, WE'LL GET THAT OPTION. BUT I JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT. THANK THE MEN AND WOMEN OF OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR GOING OUT AND APPREHENDING THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE BREAKING THE LAW.

THAT'S ALL. ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT, COUNCILMAN JONES. AND THAT'S ANOTHER REASON I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, TOO, TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. BUT FROM SPEAKING WITH THEM, THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT WE WANT TO, I THINK SHOULD BE INPUT TO HELP FUTURE RAIDS AND GOING ALONG WITH KEEPING THIS CITY SAFE FROM THE VAPING BANDITS IN THE CITY. SO JUST FROM THAT ALONE, MAN, THERE'S SOME SOME LANGUAGE THAT NEED TO BE INPUT INTO THAT, YOU KNOW? SO THAT'S WHY I WANT TO TABLE IT. EVERYBODY. CAN I JUST HAVE MY MOMENT TO MYSELF. ALL RIGHT. EVERYBODY READY.

EVERYBODY READ THE ARTICLE. THESE GUYS, THEY BUSTING ALL DIFFERENT AREAS MAN. IT'S JUST MESSING WITH YOU, MAN. DO ANOTHER BUS CHIEF SO HE CAN HAVE HIS MOMENT. THANKS. NEXT IS ITEM E, A PUBLIC HEARING FOR CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE TO APPROVE A REQUEST BY RUDOLPH ON BEHALF OF RUTH INVESTMENTS LLC TO REZONE PROPERTY AT 318 IRVING STREET, PARCEL ID 006050012 FROM M-2 HEAVY INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT TO R-3 TWO FAMILY RESIDENCE DISTRICT.

THANK YOU, SIR JERRY. SO THIS IS A REQUEST. IT'S A 0.11 ACRE PROPERTY AND IT'S CURRENTLY ZONED M-2, WHICH IS THE HEAVY INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT. THE APPLICANT IS SEEKING A REZONING TO THE R-3, WHICH IS OUR TWO FAMILY RESIDENCE DISTRICT WITH PLANS TO CONSTRUCT A SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING. SO IRVING STREET, IT'S A SHORT STREET BETWEEN BOWLING BROOK AND MILLER. IT'S A MIX OF M2 AND R-3 ZONING, BUT ALL THE EXISTING DEVELOPMENT ON THE STREET IS RESIDENTIAL. ALL SINGLE FAMILY DWELLINGS, THE SUBJECT PROPERTY, IT'S ACTUALLY TWO PARCELS, BUT THESE WOULD HAVE TO BE COMBINED IF THEY WERE TO BUILD ON THE PROPERTY AND THE R-3 DISTRICT. AS THE NAME SUGGESTS, DOES ALLOW FOR BOTH SINGLE FAMILY AND TWO FAMILY OR DUPLEX DWELLINGS. BUT THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY, DUE TO ITS SIZE, WOULD BE LIMITED TO A SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING. SO THIS IS JUST A LOOK AT THE EXISTING CONDITIONS. AS YOU CAN SEE, IT'S A VACANT LOT IN BETWEEN TWO EXISTING SINGLE FAMILY DWELLINGS. AGAIN, THE ADJOINING ZONING IT IS M2 ON ONE HALF OF THE STREET AND THEN R-3 ON THE OTHER. BUT AGAIN, ALL OF THE EXISTING DEVELOPMENT ALONG IRVING STREET IS RESIDENTIAL. FROM STAFF'S PERSPECTIVE, IT'S THIS PARCEL IS NOT SUITABLE FOR INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT. IT'S VERY UNLIKELY THAT WE WOULD SEE AN INDUSTRIAL EXPANSION. LOOKING AT THE REQUEST THROUGH THE COMPREHENSIVE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. IT IS ZONED HISTORIC CORE NEIGHBORHOOD. SO SHORT BLOCKS, SMALL LOTS, RESIDENTIAL USES WHERE INFILL MEETS THE SIZE AND SCALE OF THE EXISTING NEIGHBORHOOD. WE'VE GOT PLAN GOALS TO FACILITATE DIVERSE AND ATTAINABLE HOUSING STOCK IN THE CITY. AND AGAIN, THERE IS A SMALL PORTION OF THE SITE THAT HAS A CORRIDOR COMMERCIAL DESIGNATION JUST BECAUSE OF ITS PROXIMITY TO BOLINGBROOK. BUT AGAIN, THE CORRIDOR COMMERCIAL SUPPORTS A RANGE OF USES THAT JUST WOULDN'T BE FEASIBLE ON THIS SITE. SO THE AGAIN, THERE

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THE REST OF THE ZONING STANDARDS WOULD STILL APPLY. SO ARCHITECTURAL TREATMENT, PARKING, SETBACKS, DIMENSIONS. THIS DID GO TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION. LAST MONTH THEY VOTED TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL AND A UNANIMOUS VOTE. SO I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU ALL. BUT I DID WANT TO NOTE THE APPLICANT WASN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT TONIGHT BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER, BUT SHE DID NOTE THAT IF YOU ALL HAD QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS THAT YOU KNOW SHE WAS FINE IF YOU ALL WANTED TO TABLE IT UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING WHEN SHE'S AVAILABLE. AND I THANK YOU.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING. SO OPEN THE FLOOR FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE ORDINANCE TO APPROVE A REQUEST BY MARTA ON BEHALF OF RUTH INVESTMENTS LLC, TO REZONE PROPERTY AT 318 IRVING STREET FROM M-2 HEAVY INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT TO R-3 TWO FAMILY RESIDENCE DISTRICT. SEEING NO HANDS. THIS PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED. COUNCIL COUNCILMAN COOPER I MOVE THAT WE ACCEPT THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND ADOPT THE ORDINANCE AS PROPOSED. SECOND SECOND BY COUNCILMAN JONES. ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE. MISS HILL, COULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? COUNCIL MEMBER. CUTHBERT. AYE. COUNCIL MEMBER. JONES. AYE. COUNCIL MEMBER. WESTBROOK. COUNCIL MEMBER. SMITH. VICE MAYOR I. MAYOR I. MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT. ITEM F HAS BEEN TABLED UNTIL JANUARY. RIGHT? YES, SIR. WE RECEIVED THE REQUEST FROM THE APPLICANT TO DEFER ANY ACTION ON THIS ITEM TO THE JANUARY 20TH MEETING. THAT REQUEST IS A RESULT OF MY MY REQUEST OF THEM FOR SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO ALLOW FOR STAFF TO FULLY VET THE PROJECT AND BRING A RECOMMENDATION BACK TO COUNCIL. DID YOU STILL WANT TO HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING JUST IN CASE? I THINK WE CAN JUST MOVE THAT. WE'LL ADVERTISE IT FOR JANUARY.

OKAY. AND MR. MAYOR, YES, SO THAT THE PUBLIC KNOWS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE I AM POWER. POWER, RIGHT. OFFER TO PURCHASE THAT BLOCK CITY OWNED PROPERTY AT 35 AND 17 BANK STREET. AND SO WE'RE TABLING THAT AND AND WE'RE TABLING THE PUBLIC HEARING UNTIL OUR MEETING ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 20TH. IS THAT CORRECT? CORRECT. OKAY. GOT IT.

THANK YOU. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. NEXT IS ITEM TEN PUBLIC INFORMATION PERIOD A PUBLIC INFORMATION PERIOD LIMITING TIME TO 30 MINUTES SHOULD BE ORDER OF BUSINESS. EACH REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING. EACH SPEAKER SHOULD BE A RESIDENT OR BUSINESS OWNER OF THE CITY AND SHALL BE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES. NO SPEAKER WILL BE PERMITTED TO SPEAK ON ANY ITEM SCHEDULED FOR CONSIDERATION OF REGULAR DOCKET OF THE MEETING AT WHICH THE SPEAKER IS TO SPEAK. THE ORDER OF SPEAK IS LIMITED BY THE 30 MINUTE TIME PERIOD SHALL BE DETERMINED AS FOLLOWS A FIRST IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER OF THE NOTICE. PERSONS WHO HAVE NOTIFIED THE CLERK NO LATER THAN 12:00 NOON OF THE DAY OF THE MEETING. B SECOND, IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER OF THEIR SIGN UP. PERSONS WHO HAVE SIGNED THE SIGN UP SHEET PLACED BY THE CLERK IN THE REAR OF THE MEETING ROOM PRIOR TO THE MEETING. REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA. SIR, WE DO NOT HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP TONIGHT TO SPEAK. OKAY. THANK YOU. ALL

[11. Business or reports from the Mayor or other Members of City Council]

THANK Y'ALL. EVERYBODY. HOPE EVERYBODY'S HAVING A GOOD HOLIDAY SEASON. START OUT BY AGAIN TRYING TO REITERATE THIS WEEKEND AT PETERSBURG HIGH SCHOOL UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF COACH TERRY SMITH. THEY ARE HAVING THE ANNUAL SPEECH AND DEBATE TOURNAMENT. IT IS BIGGER AND BETTER THIS YEAR. THE SPEECH PORTIONS WITH OVER 11 CATEGORIES WILL BE HELD AT THE HIGH SCHOOL AND DEBATE WILL BE HELD AT VERNON JOHNS. SO IT WAS ABLE TO EXTEND THANKS TO THE HELP OF THE RICHMOND FORUM. WE HAVE A TOP NOTCH SPEECH AND DEBATE TOURNAMENT DOWN HERE UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF COACH TERRY SMITH. PLEASE COME OUT. IF YOU CAN'T JUDGE, JUST COME OUT AND SEE THIS SPORT OF THE MIND, THE SPORT OF VERBAL DISCOURSE AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND JUST THE PUBLIC POWER, THE THE SUPER POWER OF PUBLIC SPEAKING. THESE YOUNG KIDS NEED TO BE SUPPORTED. AND WE WILL HAVE SCHOOLS FROM ALL ACROSS THE STATE OF VIRGINIA COMING TO PETERSBURG THIS WEEKEND. WITH THAT BEING SAID, I DO WANT TO SAY IT WAS VERY IMPRESSIVE THIS PAST WEEKEND TO BE OVER AT VIRGINIA STATE AND SEE THE NUMBER THREE TEAM IN THE NATION, THE PETERSBURG HIGH CRIMSON WAVE. AND I WANT TO SAY THIS VERY STRATEGICALLY, THAT I HOPE THAT I'VE NEVER WELL, I WON'T SAY NEVER, LEST WE MADE THE STATE OR REGIONAL TOURNAMENT. I'VE NEVER SEEN THAT MUCH INTEREST IN A GAME THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE. AND AGAIN, I HAVEN'T SEEN A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP IN 50 YEARS, AND

[00:25:02]

THEY ARE STUDENT ATHLETES AND I HOPE THAT AS A COMMUNITY WE CAN GET BEHIND HAVING THAT SAME INTEREST IN THE EDUCATION OF OUR YOUTH, NOT JUST IN THEIR ATHLETIC ABILITIES, BECAUSE WHAT GOOD IS IT TO DUNK A BASKETBALL OR RUN A FOOTBALL IF YOU CAN'T GO TO A UVA OR VIRGINIA TECH AND ASK THE EXCEL AT THAT LEVEL, JUST EXCELLING HERE IN PETERSBURG AND BEING A PLAYGROUND LEGEND AND BEING A LEGEND, TO HAVE DONE THIS MUCH TO BRING ATTENTION TO ME IS ASININE. I WANT TO SEE OUR KIDS EXCEL, SO HOPEFULLY WE AS A COMMUNITY CAN GET BEHIND THE ACADEMICS AS WELL THAT THESE STUDENT ATHLETES ARE PARTICIPATING IN AND NOT JUST THE BASKETBALL TEAM, BUT SUPPORT THE OTHER TEAMS. SO THE GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM, THE BASEBALL TEAM, THE WRESTLING TEAMS, THOSE OTHER SPORTS THAT ARE OUT THERE THAT HOPEFULLY, AGAIN, KEEP THAT SAME MOMENTUM GOING AND THAT'S JUST SUPPORT ALL OUR AREA YOUTH, REGARDLESS OF THEIR ATHLETIC OR INTELLECTUAL ABILITIES. MOVING ON, I WOULD LIKE TO I KNOW MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMEMBER SMITH LEE, WILL REITERATE, WE ARE HAVING A JOINT MEETING JANUARY 13TH, WARD SIX AND SEVEN. THERE'S SOME ITEMS THAT WE'RE FINALIZING, BUT I THINK IT WILL BE VERY, VERY BENEFICIAL FOR EVERYBODY IN THE CITY TO COME OUT TO SEE WHAT WE'RE GOING TO PRESENT AS A JOINT MEETING ON JANUARY 13TH. I WOULD HOPEFULLY LIKE TO WORK WITH JOANNE AND ELLA IN OUR COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT WITH. I SEE A LOT OF TACKY, LIGHT CELEBRATION AND HOLIDAY TOURS GOING AROUND, WHETHER IT'S IN RICHMOND, WHETHER IT'S IN CHESTERFIELD. I KNOW WE HAVE CENTER HILL MANSION, AND I KNOW WE HAVE A FEW THINGS THAT WE DO DO, BUT I WOULD HOPE TO RAISE THAT UP, MAYBE TALKING TO MY COLLEAGUES NEXT YEAR, MAYBE WE COULD HAVE A COMPETITION IN WARDS OF WHO HAS THE BEST LIT HOUSE TO PARTICIPATE IN THOSE THINGS.

THAT WOULD BRING A LITTLE BIT MORE ATTENTION TO OUR CITY BEYOND JUST CENTER HILL MANSION AND WHAT GOES ON DOWNTOWN? BECAUSE WE HAD A GREAT PARADE, GREAT LIGHTS DOWNTOWN. BUT THERE ARE SOME IF YOU DRIVE AROUND PETERSBURG, THERE'S SOME HOUSES THAT ARE REALLY LIT UP THAT I THINK IT WOULD REALLY BENEFIT US TO KIND OF PROMOTE THAT AS PEOPLE WILL BE STARTING TO COME TO OUR CITY NEXT YEAR BECAUSE OF ALL THE GREAT THINGS WE'RE DOING, FROM A PHARMACEUTICAL CLUSTER TO A CASINO TO OTHER PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING ON. SO HOW CAN WE BETTER PROMOTE OUR HOLIDAY SEASON? AND IN THAT SAME BREATH, SUPPORT THE KWANZAA CELEBRATION.

I'M AN AVID SUPPORTER OF KWANZAA, AND I HOPE THAT MORE PEOPLE CAN UNDERSTAND THE KWANZAA IS A VERY IMPORTANT HOLIDAY TO PREDOMINANTLY BLACK CITY. THIS IS A CELEBRATION THAT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE REGULATED TO JUST BLACK AND AFRICAN AMERICANS. IT'S JUST GETTING YOUR LIFE AND YOUR MIND AND YOUR GOALS RIGHT AS WE GO INTO A NEW YEAR. BUT I THINK THE WE DO HAVE A KWANZAA CELEBRATION. HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE ADVERTISED MORE OVER THE NEXT WEEK, BUT SUPPORT OUR KWANZAA LOVERS AND AND JUST DO THE GREAT THINGS THAT WE DO AS A CELEBRATE. WE'RE WE'RE REALLY TELLING OUR STORY. WE REALLY ARE. AS A COUNCIL WORKING ON THE CORE VISION OF THE CITY, THE LEADERSHIP IS UNDERSTANDING WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO GO WITH, WHETHER IT IS TAKING AWAY VAPE SHOPS OR CUTTING DOWN ON BLIGHTED HOUSES OR THINGS IN OUR COMMUNITIES. WE DO NEED EVERYBODY. IT'S AN ALL HANDS ON DECK, SO I HOPE EVERYBODY PLAYS IN THE PART OF THAT. AND MY LAST THING FOR TONIGHT, WELL, TWO THINGS I WILL GET IT IN IS WORKING WITH SENATOR AIRED. I WAS ABLE TO SPEAK WITH HER RECENTLY, AND I'M GLAD THAT SHE HAS A INITIATIVE THAT'S COMING UP TO WORK WITH BLACK BOYS ACROSS THE STATE. AND I HOPE PETERSBURG CAN PLAY A MAJOR PART IN OUR INITIATIVE. AND LASTLY IS I'M EXCITED ABOUT WILCOX LAKE MOVING FORWARD, BECAUSE MY DAUGHTER WAS OUT THERE SLEDDING TODAY, AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE KIDS OUT THERE SLEDDING WHEN WE HAVE SNOW LIKE WE DID. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN MYERS IS OUT SICK TONIGHT, SO EVERYONE KEEP HIM IN YOUR PRAYERS. NEXT IS COUNCILWOMAN SMITH LEE. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. GOOD EVENING.

FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO JEROME MATHIS AND HIS COACHING STAFF AND HIS FOOTBALL TEAM FOR COMING IN FIRST RUNNER UP IN THE REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME DOWN IN NORFOLK. I WANT TO SAY THAT THE FANS WERE THERE IN NUMBER. THIS IS WHAT WE TALK ABOUT HAVING WAY PRIDE AND COACH MATHIS, YOU HAVE DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB WITH THE THE BOYS AND YOUR COACHING STAFF. THANK YOU FOR A JOB WELL DONE AND YOU SHOULD GET COACH OF THE YEAR NEXT. CONGRATULATIONS TO TY TRAIL WHITE AND HIS COACHING STAFF AND HIS BASKETBALL TEAM.

A JOB WELL DONE. IT WAS STANDING ROOM ONLY AT VIRGINIA STATE COLLEGE. EVEN VIRGINIA STATE HAD NOT BROUGHT THAT MANY PEOPLE THERE. AND IT WAS A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL

[00:30:01]

LIKE COUNCIL MEN. WESTBROOK SAID THAT WE'RE HAVING A MEETING HERE AT THE PETERSBURG PUBLIC LIBRARY. WARDS SIX AND SEVEN ON JANUARY THE 13TH AT 6 P.M. PLEASE COME OUT AND JOIN US. WE MOVE THE OH, WE MOVED IT UP TO 5:05 P.M. HERE AT THE PETERSBURG PUBLIC LIBRARY. I THINK THAT'S IT. OH, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU, PAT HINES, FOR SPEARHEADING THE HOMELESS SHELTER. IT'S BEEN COLD. WE'VE HAD TWO ROUNDS OF SNOW WITHIN THE WEEK AND WE TRULY APPRECIATE YOU. IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT YOU ALL COULD DO, PLEASE DONATE TO THE CAUSE. THAT COMPLETES MY REPORT. OKAY. THANK YOU. NEXT, VICE MAYOR HILL. YES. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. GOOD EVENING. I WANT TO DO A SHOUT OUT TO PUBLIC WORKS. AS YOU ALL KNOW, THE STREETS ARE CLEAR, BUT I KNOW THINGS MAY BE FREEZING UP, SO JUST PLEASE BE CAREFUL. RICHARD HARRIS AND HIS TEAM DID A MARVELOUS JOB OVER THE LAST TWO DAYS. CLEARING OUT EVERYTHING I PUT UP HERE. END OF THE YEAR PUSH. I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE THOUGHT THAT WE PROBABLY SHOULD SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD OUR MEETING DAY AND MAYBE HAVE IT ANOTHER WEEK, BUT WE DIDN'T GET HERE JUST BY NOT MEETING, NOT WORKING. SO I THANK ALL THOSE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO WHO PUSHED THEIR WAY HERE, EVEN OUR STAFF AND AND EVEN RESIDENTS WHO CAME OUT ON TODAY. YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES YOU JUST GOT TO MAKE THE HARD DECISIONS AND KEEP ON GRINDING. WE GOT A LOT OF IMPORTANT THINGS, AS YOU CAN SEE, THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF. SO WE'VE GOT TO CONTINUE TO PUSH OUR WAY THROUGH SO WE CAN FINISH STRONG FOR 2025 AND GO INTO 2026. CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR FOOTBALL TEAM. CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR BASKETBALL TEAM. I WAS AT THE BASKETBALL GAME ON SATURDAY, MY WIFE AND I, AND IT WAS STANDING ROOM ONLY. IT WAS STANDING ROOM ONLY. MATTER OF FACT, I TALKED TO ONE OF THE FACULTIES AT VIRGINIA STATE AND THEY SAID THEY ONLY HAVE LIKE 300 PEOPLE TO COME OUT FOR THEIR GAMES, YOU KNOW, DEPENDING ON WHO IT IS. AND IT WAS PEOPLE EVERYWHERE. SO IT WAS GOOD TO SEE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO WHEN OUR GAMES GO BACK TO, YOU KNOW, DANIEL, I MEAN, GO, GO BACK TO LAWSON GYM, GET YOUR TICKETS EARLY. IF YOU CAN GET THE SEASON TICKETS, PLEASE DO SO. OUR CHIEF AND OTHER SECURITY, THEY'RE LOOKING AT HOW WE'RE GOING TO SECURE THE PREMISES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. BECAUSE IF IT'S ANY EVIDENCE OF WHAT WE SAW ON VIRGINIA STATE, THEN OUR GYM IS GOING TO BE JAM PACKED INSIDE AND OUT. SO WE JUST GOTTA BE READY. ALSO, I WANT TO THANK ALL THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO CAME OUT ON LAST MONDAY FOR OUR BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE, THOSE BUSINESSES THAT WE ENGAGED ON EVERYTHING STAFF MEMBERS, THOSE PEOPLE WHO PRESENTED THOSE PEOPLE, EVEN WHO DIDN'T PRESENT THERE WERE STAFF. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION. I THINK WE GOT A LOT OF A LOT ACCOMPLISHED. WE WILL BE HAVING MORE IN THE FUTURE JUST TO ENGAGE THE PUBLIC IN CERTAIN AREAS. WE ALREADY DID ONE ONE WITH OUR FAITH BASED COMMUNITY, AND NOW OUR SECOND ONE WAS WITH THE BUSINESSES. SO WE, WE, WE PRAY THAT EVERYTHING WENT WELL.

WE GOT GREAT RESPONSE FROM FROM IT. OUR CHRISTMAS PARADE WAS A HIT. SO WE THANK OUR RECREATION DEPARTMENT FOR THEM PUTTING ON SUCH A MARVELOUS PARADE COMING DOWN SYCAMORE STREET AND THE LIGHTING OF THE CHRISTMAS TREE. WE THANK THEM AND ALL THOSE INVOLVED WITH, YOU KNOW, FIXING UP THE AREA AND AND DECORATING AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. IT LOOKS SO FESTIVE THAT A LOT OF BUSINESSES HAVE ALREADY PUT UP THEIR THINGS. AND I WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS ALSO TO COUNCILMAN ANNETTE SMITH LEE. SHE WILL BE RETIREMENT FROM THE RETIRING FROM THE GOVERNMENT ON THE 31ST OF THIS MONTH. SO LET'S GIVE HER SOME LOVE. THAT'S WHY SHE'S BEEN WEARING THAT TIARA FOR LIKE THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS, JUST CELEBRATING, WORKING AND WHAT HAVE YOU. SO WE THANK GOD FOR KEEPING HER. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I GUESS THE MAYOR IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT THIS, BUT I'M JUST GOING TO GIVE THE DATE DECEMBER THE 16TH AT 11:00, WE WILL BE DOING A RIBBON CUTTING FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF OUR NEW COURTHOUSE, AND I BELIEVE HE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT IN HIS IN HIS COMMENTS. SO I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR PUSHING

[00:35:05]

THANK YOU. NEXT. JUST LIKE WHAT VICE MAYOR HILL SAYS, YOU KNOW, IT WAS WONDERFUL TO BE PART OF COUNCILMAN NESMITH LEE'S RETIREMENT LUNCHEON AT HER JOB OVER THERE AT BELLWOOD. YOU KNOW, COUNCILMAN SMITH, THAT WAS MY FIRST TIME EVER GOING ON TO THE BELLWOOD CAMPUS. YOU KNOW, FIRST TIME WAS FOR YOU. AND IT WAS GOOD TO SEE HOW MUCH YOU MEAN TO BELLWOOD AND IS IS WONDERFUL TO SEE HOW MUCH YOU MEAN TO THE CITY OF PETERSBURG, BECAUSE I'M TELLING YOU, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WENT UP FROM FROM THIS HILL TO TO CHIEF HOOVER, CHIEF CHRISTIAN, THE CITY MANAGER. SO WE WE HAD A ALL THE PETERSBURG THERE. AND IT WAS A GREAT TIME AND GREAT EVENT TO HONOR YOU. YES, IT WAS REAL, REAL HAPPY. IT WAS REALLY WONDERFUL TO HAVE A ROOM FULL OF PEOPLE LIKE YOU HAD. I MEAN, IT WAS IT WAS REALLY EXCEPTIONAL. ALSO, I WANT TO THANK RICHARD HARRIS, WHO'S BEEN DOING AN EXCEPTIONAL JOB KEEPING EVERYTHING CLEAR.

WALKING UP TO THIS LIBRARY. THERE WAS NO ICE, NO NOTHING. THEY SCRAPED, THEY SALTED AND EVERYTHING. STREETS LOOK GREAT. I MEAN, MY STREET WAS ASHY THIS MORNING BECAUSE THEY HAD SCRAPED IT AND SALTED IT AND AND THEY, THEY WORKED ALL NIGHT. AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE RICHARD AND THE PUBLIC WORKS STAFF BECAUSE LET ME TELL YOU, THEY HAVE BEEN GETTING IT. AND I SEE EVERY TRUCK THAT WE'VE HAD THAT'S A PICK UP TRUCK. GOT A BLADE ON IT. EVERY DUMP TRUCK IS ON THE STREET. AND THOSE GUYS HAVE WORKED NONSTOP. SO I'M HOPING THEY'LL BE ABLE TO GET A LITTLE REST TONIGHT. NEXT, LIKE VICE MAYOR HILL SAYS ON DECEMBER 16TH, WE HAVE THE GROUNDBREAKING FOR THE COURTHOUSE COMPLEX. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY REMARKABLE FOR THIS CITY COUNCIL, BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE CITY OF PETERSBURG HAS TALKED ABOUT OVER 25 YEARS, LONG BEFORE WE GOT HERE, WAS THE NEED TO ADDRESS THE THE COURT CONDITIONS. SO WE THANK CITY COUNCIL FOR FOR HELPING GET THAT OVER. THIS FRIDAY IS A BIG ONE. I GOT A PLUG FOR JOANNE, THE SOUTH SIDE DEPOT, WHICH IS ANOTHER PROJECT THAT HAS GONE ON FOR TEN YEARS TO FINALLY GET INTO OUR VISITOR CENTER AND TOURISM SITE THERE, AS THE PLACE THAT'S GOING TO BE THE POINT OF CONTACT FOR EVERYTHING.

PETERSBURG, COME OUT THIS FRIDAY AT DECEMBER 12TH AT 430. YOU CAN GET YOUR PETERSBURG SHIRTS AND YOUR T SHIRTS, HATS AND ALL THOSE THINGS FOR CHRISTMAS. SO IF PEOPLE WANT PETERSBURG SWAG, THEY CAN COME TO SOUTHSIDE DEPOT AND AND REALLY SEE WHAT WAS AN AMAZING RENOVATION JOB. WE'RE SO HAPPY TO FINALLY GET THAT OFF THE BOOKS. I KNOW MYSELF AND COUNCILMAN CULBRETH HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THAT EVER SINCE WE'VE BEEN HERE, AND IT'S AND I KNOW WE'LL BE THERE TO CELEBRATE IT. NEXT, I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY, MARQUIS ALLEN, FOR WHAT HE DID FOR THE CHRISTMAS PARADE, HIM AND THE PARKS AND REC STAFF. WE HAD A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS PARADE. AND AND HE, THEY, HIM AND HIS STAFF STARTED OFF AT FIVE, SIX IN THE MORNING JUST TO GET THAT PARADE OFF THE GROUND. AND WE THANK THEM FOR DOING THAT. THE ILLUMINATION WAS GREAT, THE TREE BEING IN THE ART PARK, I THINK IT ENDED UP BEING A GREAT, GREAT PLACE TO HAVE OUR CHRISTMAS TREE. ALL THE KIDS ENJOYED IT. SANTA CLAUS CAME, TOOK PICTURES AND EVERYTHING AND IT WAS WONDERFUL. AND THEN FOLLOWED BY SUNDAY. THIS PAST SUNDAY WE HAD THE HOLIDAY HOMES TOURS, WHICH WAS PHENOMENAL EVERYWHERE. ALONG WITH THE PETERSBURG SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, WE WANTED A FEW LOCALITIES IN VIRGINIA TO HAVE OUR OWN SYMPHONY, AND THEY PLAYED AND THEY SHOWED OUT THIS PAST SUNDAY, SO WE THANK THEM FOR ALL THEIR EFFORTS. NEXT, I'LL JUST TOUCH ON A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ABOUT THE THE GAMES THIS PAST WEEKEND AT VIRGINIA STATE. YOU KNOW, VIRGINIA STATE REALLY WANTS PETERSBURG ATHLETICS TO COME BACK NOW. BUT THEY THEY NEVER KNEW HOW PETERSBURG SHOWS UP FOR ATHLETICS. AND I JUST WANT TO PIGGYBACK ON SOMETHING THAT THAT COUNCILMAN WESTBROOK HAS SAYS COACH WHITE REALLY GET MORE KIDS DIVISION ONE. AND IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN JUST BASKETBALL. YOU LOOK AT WHAT HE'S DOING TO GET GET TRAIL. ORMOND IS GOING TO OKLAHOMA STATE DIVISION ONE SCHOOL. THEY GOT. DEMARYIUS GIVEN WHO'S GOING TO MISSISSIPPI STATE HAS COMMITTED.

AND THAT IS WHAT HE DO, WHICH IS BUILD UP OUR OUR YOUNG BOYS INTO MEN AND MAKE THEM EXCEPTIONAL STUDENT ATHLETES. AND THAT'S PART OF THE CULTURE WE WANT TO KEEP GOING HERE IN PETERSBURG. SO I THINK ON MY LIST OF THINGS I MISS ANYTHING. ALL RIGHT. SO THIS IS OUR LAST

[00:40:02]

AND WE'LL SEE YOU ALL IN 2026. NEXT WE MOVE ON TO ITEMS FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA. NO ITEMS

[14. Unfinished Business]

YOU ALL HAD ASKED FOR A LITTLE BIT OF CLARIFICATION. WE BROUGHT BROUGHT IT BACK IN OCTOBER, HAD SOME ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION, SO I'LL JUST LEAVE IT WITH IT. DID GO TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THEY HAD RECOMMENDED APPROVAL AND A 5 TO 1 VOTE WITH ONE ABSTENTION.

AND THE LAST THING I WOULD NOTE IS JUST IF YOU ALL DO HAVE REMAINING QUESTIONS OR THINGS THAT YOU'D LIKE TO BE IRONED OUT, SIMILAR TO THE VAPE SHOP, WE HAVE INCORPORATED A LOT OF THIS INTO THE DRAFT. THE NEW DRAFT ORDINANCE, AND THEY'RE INCORPORATING A LOT OF THE BEST PRACTICES AS FAR AS SIGNAGE GOES. SO I JUST WANTED TO LEAVE YOU WITH THAT THOUGHT. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. CAN I ASK? YES. MR. JUST I WANT TO ASK MR. CRUZ. SO, MR. CRUZ, AS A RESULT OF THE LAST CONVERSATION WITH COUNCIL, ARE THERE CONCERNS ADDRESSED IN THE DRAFT ORDINANCE THIS EVENING? YEAH, I BELIEVE THE THE LAST QUESTION THAT WAS KIND OF REMAINING WAS THAT MISS WILLIAMS HAD BROUGHT UP JUST SOME ADDITIONAL CLARITY. AND AGAIN, WE'RE LOOKING TO ADOPT THAT THROUGH THE FULL ORDINANCE AT THE BERKELEY GROUP. THE THE WE CLARIFIED ALL THE ISSUES THAT WE NEEDED TO AS FAR AS COUNCIL WAS CONCERNED, I BELIEVE. SO WE HAD THE DISCUSSIONS. IT DIDN'T RESULT IN ANY SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES TO THE TEXT, BUT I THINK WE IRONED OUT THE DETAILS. OKAY, OKAY. ALL RIGHT. COUNCIL MEMBER. LET ME HOLD MY COMMENTS UNTIL DO WE HAVE ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING? NO, THERE'S NO PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS. THIS WAS AN ITEM THAT WE HAD A PUBLIC HEARING ON THAT WE WENT OUT FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION. SO GOOD I MOVE THAT WE ACCEPT THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND ADOPT THE ORDINANCE AS PRESENTED. OKAY. SECOND, SECOND, COUNCILMAN JONES. ALL RIGHT. ANY DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION? SEEING NONE. MISS HILL, COULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL COUNCIL MEMBER CUTHBERT? AYE. COUNCIL MEMBER. JONES. AYE. COUNCIL MEMBER. WESTBROOK. AYE.

COUNCIL MEMBER. SMITH. HI. VICE MAYOR. HILL. AYE. AYE. MOTION CARRIES. NEXT IS ITEM B 2026 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO COMMENT ON, MR. ALTMAN? IT'S IN YOUR PACKET THIS EVENING. MISS WILLIAMS ISN'T WITH US, BUT TO JUST KIND OF BRIEFLY GO THROUGH IT, WE'RE REQUESTING FUNDING FROM THE STATE TO REPLACE OUR WITH STREET BRIDGE. THAT'S $12 MILLION BUDGET AMENDMENT THAT WE'RE REQUESTING THERE. WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE TO SEE IF THEY CAN IDENTIFY ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDING. WE HAVE THE THE PARKING AUTHORITY ACT REQUEST THAT COUNCIL APPROVED TO BE IN THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.

WE'VE ALSO MOVING FORWARD, AS WITH THIS, OUR CONVERSATION REGARDING THE PHARMACEUTICAL TRAINING FACILITY, WE'RE REQUESTING SOME FUNDS FROM THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO BEGIN DESIGN WORK. OF THAT. THE CITY HAS FUNDED THE FEASIBILITY STUDY. THAT FEASIBILITY STUDY HAS COME BACK, AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO MOVE THIS EFFORT ALONG THE WAY IN CONJUNCTION WITH WHAT THE STATE IS DOING AS A PART OF THAT OVERALL EFFORT TO SUPPORT PHARMACEUTICAL DEVELOPMENT HERE IN THE COMMONWEALTH, BUT PARTICULARLY HERE IN THE CITY OF PETERSBURG.

AND THEN SO THE LAST ITEM ON HERE IS PROBABLY IT'S WELL, IT'S MY FAULT. I HAVE THIS CONSTANT CONVERSATION AND DISCUSSION ABOUT 599 FUNDS, WHICH GOES WHICH GOES TO SUPPORT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT. THOSE ARE THE FUNDS. 599 HP HOUSE BILL 599 WAS THE BILL THAT WAS CREATED WITH RELATION TO ANNEXATION MORATORIUM. WE CAN'T ANNEX ANYMORE. SO THEY GIVE US ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR POLICE EXCEPT 30% OF THE FUNDING THAT IS ALLOWED THAT'S PROVIDED UNDER 599 GOES TO COUNTIES BECAUSE THEY HAVE POLICE DEPARTMENTS. NOW, WE CAN'T ANNEX THOSE COUNTIES, BUT THEY GET 30% OF THE OVERALL FUNDING THAT'S PROVIDED. SO EVERY YEAR I ASKED, HEY, WE NEED TO LOOK AT THIS. AND I'M NOT ASKING THEM TO RECREATE THE FORMULA BECAUSE I KNOW THE POWER RESIDES IN THE COUNTIES NOW BECAUSE OF POPULATION. BUT WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR IS TO LOOK AT CITIES, PARTICULARLY THOSE THAT ARE DISTRESSED AND POTENTIALLY PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FUNDING BEYOND WHAT WE GET NOW TO HELP PROVIDE FOR POLICE PROTECTION. SO THAT'S WHAT THAT THAT ITEM IS ABOUT. IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS, I'D BE HAPPY

[00:45:05]

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN JONES. MR. CITY MANAGER. IS THERE ANY WAY WE CAN LOOK AT I THINK I SENT THIS BEFORE, I KNOW I CONTACTED SENATOR ED BEFORE ABOUT THIS BEING ABLE TO TAX OR PUT A SPECIAL TAX ON VAPE SHOPS, NOT JUST FOR THIS LOCALITY, BUT FOR ALL OTHER LOCALITIES THAT WILL HELP OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT ENFORCE AND WILL HELP ALL POLICE DEPARTMENTS ENFORCE THE OUTRAGEOUS NUMBERS OF VAPE SHOPS IN OUR COMMUNITIES. AND IT'LL HELP OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS AS WELL. CAN YOU PUT THAT INTO THAT LEGISLATIVE AGENDA? I ADDED IT TO THE. THE DRAFT ONE, BUT I HAVEN'T HAD TIME TO SEND IT TO MISS JOANN. BUT CERTAINLY WE CAN IF THAT'S COUNCIL'S PLEASURE, WE CAN ADD THAT TO AND WE CAN SEND THAT UP TO HER THAT WE SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF ADDITIONAL TAX ON VAPE VAPE PRODUCTS TO HELP SUPPORT BASICALLY POLICING OF THOSE ITEMS. YES, SIR. WAIT, YOU NEED THAT FROM COUNCIL. IF YOU IF SOMEONE WERE TO MAKE A MOTION AND SAY AND ADD THAT ITEM, THEN WE WOULD ADD IT TO THE AGENDA AND WHEN WE SEND IT UP. I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION. I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION, MR. MAYOR, TO THAT WE ADD TO THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA THE ABILITY TO TAX VAPE SHOPS. YES, SIR. FOR ALL OF THE TRI-CITIES. I KNOW I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THEM, BUT FOR PETERSBURG ESPECIALLY. OKAY.

IT'S A MOTION, COUNCILMAN. I SECOND THE MOTION. MOTION TO SECOND. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

COUNCIL MEMBER. CUTHBERT. COUNCIL MEMBER. JONES. COUNCIL MEMBER. WESTBROOK. AYE. COUNCIL MEMBER. SMITH. AYE. VICE MAYOR. HILL. AYE. MAYOR. PARENT. AYE. THAT MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU. NEXT IS THE ADOPTION OF THE BUDGET CALENDAR. I THINK THIS ITEM IS TABLE RIGHT TILL

[15. New Business]

MISS HILL, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. COUNCIL MEMBER. CUTHBERT. COUNCIL MEMBER. JONES. AYE.

COUNCIL MEMBER. WESTBROOK. AYE. COUNCIL MEMBER. SMITH. AYE. VICE MAYOR. HILL. AYE. MAYOR.

AYE. MOTION. ALL RIGHT. NEXT IS ITEM B, CONSIDERATION OF APPOINTMENT TO FILL AN UNEXPIRED TERM ON THE PETERSBURG ARTS COUNCIL. I KNOW COUNCILMAN MYERS IS OUT SICK, BUT HE WANTED TO PUT FORWARD JENNIFER MURPHY. JAMES ADDED TO THE THE ARTS COUNCIL. SO MOVED.

ALRIGHT. SECOND. THE SECOND COUNCILMAN JONES. MISS HILL, COULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL COUNCIL MEMBER? CUTHBERT. AYE. COUNCIL MEMBER. JONES. AYE. COUNCIL MEMBER. WESTBROOK. AYE.

[16. City Manager's Report and Special Reports]

[00:50:03]

AND WE'LL SEE YOU ON THE SIXTH. OKAY. ALSO, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR CLERK OF COUNCIL, MISS TANGIE HILL, FOR BRAVING THE ELEMENTS AS WELL. ALWAYS. GARRETT, BACK IN THE BACK, WE THANK YOU FOR FOR GETTING OUR AUDIO VIDEO AND EVERYTHING GOING. OUR FINANCE TEAM OVER THERE. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. OUR POLICE, FIRE AND ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS WHO CAME OUT TONIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT. NEXT, MR. WILLIAMS, ANY ITEMS? NOTHING REPORT, MR. MAYOR. ALL RIGHT, MISS HILL, ANY ITEMS? NO. JUST MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE. AND CONGRATULATIONS, COUNCILWOMAN SMITH LEE. OH THANK YOU. OKAY. ALL RIGHT, NEXT IS ITEM 19.

ADJOURNMENT. SO MOVE. ALL RIGHT. THIS

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.