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 service and that the returning employee must have retired in good standing; the positions would not require law‑enforcement certification. “It addresses staffing shortages and keeps experienced talent in the system,” Westcott said, adding the change would save training and overtime costs and “maintain operational continuity.”

On land‑use tools, Westcott said Chesapeake is seeking authority for localities with populations greater than 250,000 to enter up to 15‑year binding development agreements (renewable every 10 years) that could include terms on density, building heights, setbacks, parking, stormwater and phasing of public improvements. The measure, Westcott said, is intended to make infrastructure‑investment responsibilities clearer between municipalities and developers as the city expands.

On public‑safety protections, Westcott told council the city is asking the General Assembly to create a new class 4 misdemeanor for anyone who “enters or remains in or on an emergency vehicle without permission.” He said the change follows a local incident in which individuals entered an ambulance and posted video online; the proposed new offense would apply to law‑enforcement vehicles, firefighting and emergency medical service vehicles, public works and other essential vehicles used in public‑safety operations. “When seconds count, equipment must be ready, and this bill helps ensure it is,” Westcott said.

Westcott said the city attorney’s office drafted the easement proposal. Under existing state law, he said, utility easement dedication is clearly allowed by subdivision plat but not always by other plats; Chesapeake’s request would amend Title 51.1, Subtitle 2, Chapter 6, Article 1 of the Code of Virginia to allow easements to be dedicated via plat without a separate written deed, a change the city says would reduce duplicative recordings and lower administrative cost.

Westcott also reviewed supportive initiatives the city will endorse if sponsored by a member of the General Assembly. The list includes clarifying public‑safety definitions (for example, dispatchers and animal control officers), restoring the locality share of excess clerk fees under Virginia Code §17.1‑285 to two‑thirds, and a regional “pop‑up events” framework that would allow temporary controls where credible public‑safety risks are present.

Council members asked for more detail during the subsequent question period. Councilmember Bond asked for elaboration on the proposed development agreements; City Manager Chris Price explained the change is intended to let the city negotiate mitigation (roads, school impacts, stormwater) as part of development in receiving areas for transfers of development rights. Councilmember Bunn asked whether a class 4 misdemeanor is a sufficient penalty for unauthorized entry into emergency vehicles; Westcott said the city police department recommended that level. Councilmember Jeffreys was credited in the discussion as the council’s public‑safety voice, and Westcott said the recommendation came from the police department.

Councilmember Snyder raised a separate question about whether access easements already can be recorded by plat. Price responded that the city’s request focuses on utility easements because department procedures had been inconsistent; he added that access easements may still require a separate deed in some cases and said staff would research and report back to council.

Westcott closed by noting the city’s recent successes in obtaining state and federal funding and said Chesapeake will continue to work with the Commonwealth’s delegation and regional partners including the Virginia Municipal League and the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission as bills are developed and tracked.

The presentation did not put specific bills before council for formal action; each legislative item will require sponsorship in Richmond and follow the General Assembly process, including committee review and, where applicable, JLARC study recommendations.