Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the Council Member for my area?

The Chesapeake City Council is comprised of eight Council Members and a Mayor elected at large.

How do I contact the Council Members?

Find your council member's contact information on the Council Roster or contact the City Clerk's Office at 757-382-6151.

What are the duties of the City Clerk?

The Office of the Municipal Clerk serves as the professional link between the citizens of Chesapeake and City Council, the governing body. The City Clerk represents the affairs of the community by keeping records and maintaining archives for posterity and insures that decisions of the legislative body are properly recorded.

The Office is responsible for the preservation of the official actions of the City's legislative body by recording and publishing Council minutes, ordinances, and resolutions. The Office also serves as a conduit of information by handling inquiries from citizens and other municipal departments, assisting the Council with correspondence, managing the appointments to the City's Boards, Commissions and Authorities and handling research requests. The office is designated as a Passport Acceptance Facility by the U.S. Department of State. For further information on applying for a U.S. Passport visit www.travel.state.gov

How can I find out what the City Council will be discussing?

You may access the Current Agenda online for upcoming City Council meetings.

This information is posted on Friday prior to the Tuesday meetings. Free copies of the docket are also available from the City Clerk's Office.

When and where are the City Council meetings?

The City Council meets at 6:30 p.m. on the second, third and fourth Tuesday of each month in the Council Chamber on the first floor of City Hall, 306 Cedar Road. View the Council Meetings calendar.

The City Council Work Sessions and Meetings can be viewed live on Chesapeake Television and heard on WFOS-FM 88.7. Meetings are retelecast on Chesapeake Television at the following times: Tuesday - Work Session at 11:30 p.m. and Meeting at 12:30 a.m.; Wednesday - Work Session at 1 p.m. and Meeting at 2 p.m. and Saturday - Work Session at 8 p.m. and Meeting at 9 p.m.

How can I speak in front of the City Council? Do I need to fill out a form?

You may address agenda items and non-agenda items at the second and fourth Tuesday meetings. The third Tuesday, City Council deliberates on land use applications and only those issues may be addressed at that meeting. Citizens who wish to speak may register on the date of the meeting in the City Council Chamber before 6:30 p.m. Citizens may also pre-register by calling the City Clerk's Office at 382-6151, Monday through Friday, (8 a.m. - 5 p.m.) prior to, and including the date of the Council meeting. Speaker Forms will not be accepted for the Council Meeting after 6:30 p.m. Any material you wish to distribute to City Council Members must be reviewed by the City Clerk before the start of the meeting.

Speakers appearing before City Council will not be allowed to: Campaign for public office, promote private business ventures; engage in personal attacks, use profanity or vulgar language. Speakers who violate these rules will be declared out of order and immediately yield the floor and be seated.

Where can I obtain a Resolution or Ordinance?

Copies of resolutions and ordinances approved by the City Council are available at the City Clerk's office. Call the office at 757-382-6151 or come to the City Clerk's office to obtain copies.

What is a Town Meeting?

Town Meetings are an opportunity for citizens to present concerns and express opinions on an individual basis.  They are not intended as forums for public debate or City Council deliberations.

When and where are Town Meetings Held?

Town Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of February, June and December from 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Town Meetings rotate throughout all areas of the city. They shall be held in the City of Chesapeake's high schools on a rotating basis.  Should a high school not be available on a set meeting date, the meeting may be held in the closest available community center, public library, or other facility having appropriately sized and accessible meeting space.  Town Meeting locations and times are listed on the Council's Meeting calendar.

How do I apply to a City Board, Commission or Authority?

Fill out a boards and commissions application and return it to the City Clerk's Office, 306 Cedar Road, Chesapeake, VA 23322 via fax at 382-6678 or apply online here.