City Council — Charleston, WV
Date: 2025-12-15
Time: 19:00

CHARLESTON CITY COUNCIL
 Regular Meeting
 December 15, 2025
 at 7:00 PM




 THIS MEETING WILL TAKE PLACE IN PERSON AND CAN BE VIEWED LIVE VIA
 https://charlestonwv.civicclerk.com/web/home.aspx

 Council Chambers, Third Floor
 City Hall, 501 Virginia St. E.
 Charleston, WV


 AGENDA


CALL TO ORDER BY THE MAYOR

INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

ROLL CALL

PUBLIC SPEAKERS AND CLAIMS

 1. INTERESTED PUBLIC SPEAKERS MUST REGISTER AT THE CLERK’S HALLWAY TABLE IN PERSON
 NO EARLIER THAN 15 MINUTES BEFORE THE MEETING STARTS. FIVE (5) SPEAKERS WILL BE
 PERMITTED (RULE NO. 22 (B)).

 2. Claims 12-15-2025

PROCLAMATIONS

 1. 12-15-2025

COMMUNICATIONS

 1. 12-15-2025

REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES

PLANNING, STREETS AND TRAFFIC

 1. Bill No. 8065 - A BILL to amend the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Charleston by amending the sign
 regulations relating to the size of digital display signs.

FINANCE

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 1. Resolution No. 25-115 – Authorizing the Mayor or City Manager to enter into an agreement
 with VBM Buildings and Grounds for mowing and leaf blowing services for Spring Hill
 Cemetery for 2026.

 2. Resolution No. 25-116 - Authorizing the Mayor or City Manager to purchase three
 Internationals and one Kenworth dump trucks from Worldwide Equipment for the Street
 Department.

REPORTS OF OFFICERS

 1. 12-15-2025

NEW BILLS

 1. 12-15-2025

UNFINISHED BUSINESS AND/OR MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS

REMARKS BY MEMBERS

ROLL CALL

ADJOURNMENT

THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING OF COUNCIL WILL BE JANUARY 5, 2026 AT 7:00 PM.



*Meetings may be recorded and broadcast via internet https://charlestonwv.civicclerk.com




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CHARLESTON CITY COUNCIL
 Regular Meeting
 December 15, 2025
 at 7:00 PM




 THIS MEETING WILL TAKE PLACE IN PERSON AND CAN BE VIEWED LIVE VIA
 https://charlestonwv.civicclerk.com/web/home.aspx

 Council Chambers, Third Floor
 City Hall, 501 Virginia St. E.
 Charleston, WV


 AGENDA


CALL TO ORDER BY THE MAYOR

INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

ROLL CALL

PUBLIC SPEAKERS AND CLAIMS

 1. INTERESTED PUBLIC SPEAKERS MUST REGISTER AT THE CLERK’S HALLWAY TABLE IN PERSON
 NO EARLIER THAN 15 MINUTES BEFORE THE MEETING STARTS. FIVE (5) SPEAKERS WILL BE
 PERMITTED (RULE NO. 22 (B)).

 2. Claims 12-15-2025

PROCLAMATIONS

 1. 12-15-2025

COMMUNICATIONS

 1. 12-15-2025

REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES

PLANNING, STREETS AND TRAFFIC

 1. Bill No. 8065 - A BILL to amend the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Charleston by amending the sign
 regulations relating to the size of digital display signs.

FINANCE

 Page | 1 of 2
 Page | 1 of
 1. Resolution No. 25-115 – Authorizing the Mayor or City Manager to enter into an agreement
 with VBM Buildings and Grounds for mowing and leaf blowing services for Spring Hill
 Cemetery for 2026.

 2. Resolution No. 25-116 - Authorizing the Mayor or City Manager to purchase three
 Internationals and one Kenworth dump trucks from Worldwide Equipment for the Street
 Department.

REPORTS OF OFFICERS

 1. 12-15-2025

NEW BILLS

 1. 12-15-2025

UNFINISHED BUSINESS AND/OR MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS

REMARKS BY MEMBERS

ROLL CALL

ADJOURNMENT

THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING OF COUNCIL WILL BE JANUARY 5, 2026 AT 7:00 PM.



*Meetings may be recorded and broadcast via internet https://charlestonwv.civicclerk.com




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 Bill No. 8065

 Introduced in Council: Adopted by Council:

 December 1, 2025

 Introduced by: Referred to:
 Municipal Planning Commission
 Mary Beth Hoover Planning, Streets and Traffic

 1 Bill No. 8065 - A BILL to amend the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Charleston, West
 2 Virginia, adopted January 1, 2006, as amended, by amending the sign regulations
 3 relating to the size of digital display signs.
 4
 5 Be it Ordained by the Council of the City of Charleston, West Virginia:
 6
 7 The Zoning Ordinance for the City of Charleston, West Virginia, effective January 1,
 8 2006, is hereby amended as follows:
 9
10 Sec. 24-060 General Sign Regulations
11 A. All signs shall comply with the provisions of Section 21-030, Safety and Vision.
12 B. A pole sign shall not extend over a public right-of-way.
13 C. A wall sign shall not extend above any roof line or further than twelve (12) inches
14 from the building, or part of the building, to which the sign is attached.
15 D. No shingle sign or marquee sign shall be lower than nine (9) feet above ground
16 level.
17 E. No sign shall be permitted to be erected unless the back of such structure is
18 shielded from public view by a building, other structure, high planting, or another
19 sign of the same size (where permitted), or unless such back is painted a neutral
20 color or is enclosed in a solid metal backing that is treated or painted against
21 corrosion.
22 F. The painted portions of signs shall be periodically repainted and kept in good
23 condition.
24 G. The general area in the vicinity of a sign must be kept clear of weeds, debris,
25 trash and other refuse by the property owner.
26 H. The roofs of all marquees shall be properly guttered and connected by down
27 spouts to a sewer so that the water there from will not drip or flow onto public
28 property.
29 I. The allowed square footage of window signs in zoning districts R-O and above
30 shall not exceed 25% of the total square foot area of each window, or up to 50%
31 of the total square foot area of each window if there are no wall signs on the
32 premises. Window sign calculations shall include, but not be limited to,
33 informational signage such as hours of operation and open/closed signs.
34 J. Digital display signs shall be freestanding signs of an area of 12 square feet or
35 less and conform to other relevant definitions and restrictions for freestanding
36 signs listed elsewhere in the Zoning Ordinance. Such signs must remain static




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37 and nonanimated and shall remain fixed for a minimum of 15 minutes. Messages
38 must transition instantly, with no transition graphics. The luminance may not
39 exceed 5,000 nits (candela per square meter) between sunrise and sunset or
40 250 nits during nighttime hours. Digital display signs are not permitted in the
41 Central Business District or the East End Overlay District.
42
43 All prior ordinances or parts of ordinances, inconsistent with this ordinance are hereby
44 repealed to the extent of such inconsistency.
45
46
47
48




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 Resolution No. 25-115

 Introduced in Council: Adopted by Council:

 December 15, 2025

 Introduced by: Referred to:

 Joseph Jenkins Finance


 1 Resolution No. 25-115 – Authorizing the Mayor or City Manager to enter into an agreement
 2 with VBM Buildings and Grounds for mowing and leaf blowing services for Spring Hill Cemetery
 3 for calendar year 2026, with optional renewal for two additional years, where the unit price is
 4 $18,000 per mowing service and $3,000 per leaf blowing service pursuant to a competitive
 5 bidding process.
 6
 7 Be it Resolved by the Council of the City of Charleston, West Virginia:
 8
 9 That the Mayor or City Manager is authorized to enter into an agreement with VBM Buildings
10 and Grounds for mowing and leaf blowing services for Spring Hill Cemetery for calendar year
11 2026, with optional renewal for two additional years, where the unit price is $18,000 per
12 mowing service and $3,000 per leaf blowing service pursuant to a competitive bidding process.




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Page | 6 of
 Resolution No. 25-116

 Introduced in Council: Adopted by Council:

 December 15, 2025

 Introduced by: Referred to:

 Joseph Jenkins Finance


1 Resolution No. 25-116 – Authorizing the Mayor or City Manager to purchase three
2 Internationals and one Kenworth dump trucks from Worldwide Equipment for the Street
3 Department in the amount of $727,376.00 pursuant to a competitively sourced contract.
4
5 Be it Resolved by the Council of the City of Charleston, West Virginia:
6
7 That the Mayor or City Manager is authorized to purchase three Internationals and one
8 Kenworth dump trucks from Worldwide Equipment for the Street Department in the amount of
9 $727,376.00 pursuant to a competitively sourced contract.




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JOURNAL of the PROCEEDINGS
 of the
 CITY COUNCIL

 CITY OF CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA



 Regular Meeting – Monday, December 15, 2025

 at 7:00 P.M.

 Council Chambers – City Hall – Charleston, West Virginia




 OFFICIAL RECORD



Amy Shuler Goodwin Miles C. Cary II
 Mayor City Clerk
Journal – City Council – Charleston, WV December 15th – 2nd




 CALL TO ORDER*


The Council met at 7:00 P.M., for the second meeting in the month of December on the 15th
day, in the year 2025, and was called to order by the Honorable Mayor, Amy Shuler Goodwin.
The invocation was delivered by Councilmember Pepper, and the Pledge of Allegiance was led
by Councilmember Hoover. City Clerk, Miles C. Cary II, called the roll of members and it was
found that there were present at the time:

 ANNIE BURKA BURTON
 CEPERLEY COOK FAEGRE
 FERRELL GARDNER GIANOLA
 HAAS HOOVER JENKINS
 JONES KERNS KING
 MOORE OVERSTREET PEPPER
 PHARR ROBINSON RUBIO
 SALANGO SNODGRASS SOLOMON
 STEELHAMMER TAYLOR MAYOR GOODWIN


With twenty-five members being present, the Mayor declared a quorum present.

’s absence was excused by the City Clerk per Resolution No. 582-21.
All absences were excused by the City Clerk per Resolution No. 582-21.




Pending the reading of the Journal of the previous meeting, the reading thereof was dispensed
with and the same duly approved.
Journal – City Council – Charleston, WV December 15th – 2nd




 PUBLIC SPEAKERS


 1. Jeff Joseph – Spoke in favor of Resolution No. 25-115.

 2. Tara Raymo – Read a passage from the Bible.




 CLAIMS


 1. A claim of Samuel McCray, Belle, WV;
 alleges damage to vehicle.

 2. A claim of David Miller, Charleston, WV;
 alleges damage to property.
Journal – City Council – Charleston, WV December 15th – 2nd




 PROCLAMATIONS


None




 COMMUNICATIONS

None
Journal – City Council – Charleston, WV December 15th – 2nd




 REPORTS OF COMMITTEES


COMMITTEE ON PLANNING, STREETS AND TRAFFIC

Councilmember Hoover, Chair of the Council Committee on Planning, Streets and Traffic,
submitted the following reports:

 1. Your committee on Planning, Streets and Traffic has had
 under consideration the following bill, and reports the
 same to Council with the recommendation that Bill No.
 8065 be adopted.


Bill No. 8065 - A BILL to amend the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Charleston, West Virginia, adopted
January 1, 2006, as amended, by amending the sign regulations relating to the size of digital display
signs.

Be it Ordained by the Council of the City of Charleston, West Virginia:

The Zoning Ordinance for the City of Charleston, West Virginia, effective January 1, 2006, is hereby
amended as follows:

Sec. 24-060 General Sign Regulations
 A. All signs shall comply with the provisions of Section 21-030, Safety and Vision.
 B. A pole sign shall not extend over a public right-of-way.
 C. A wall sign shall not extend above any roof line or further than twelve (12) inches from the
 building, or part of the building, to which the sign is attached.
 D. No shingle sign or marquee sign shall be lower than nine (9) feet above ground level.
 E. No sign shall be permitted to be erected unless the back of such structure is shielded from
 public view by a building, other structure, high planting, or another sign of the same size
 (where permitted), or unless such back is painted a neutral color or is enclosed in a solid
 metal backing that is treated or painted against corrosion.
 F. The painted portions of signs shall be periodically repainted and kept in good condition.
 G. The general area in the vicinity of a sign must be kept clear of weeds, debris, trash and other
 refuse by the property owner.
 H. The roofs of all marquees shall be properly guttered and connected by down spouts to a
 sewer so that the water there from will not drip or flow onto public property.
 I. The allowed square footage of window signs in zoning districts R-O and above shall not
 exceed 25% of the total square foot area of each window, or up to 50% of the total square
 foot area of each window if there are no wall signs on the premises. Window sign
 calculations shall include, but not be limited to, informational signage such as hours of
 operation and open/closed signs.
Journal – City Council – Charleston, WV December 15th – 2nd




 J. Digital display signs shall be freestanding signs of an area of 12 square feet or less and
 conform to other relevant definitions and restrictions for freestanding signs listed elsewhere
 in the Zoning Ordinance. Such signs must remain static and nonanimated and shall remain
 fixed for a minimum of 15 minutes. Messages must transition instantly, with no transition
 graphics. The luminance may not exceed 5,000 nits (candela per square meter) between
 sunrise and sunset or 250 nits during nighttime hours. Digital display signs are not permitted
 in the Central Business District or the East End Overlay District.

All prior ordinances or parts of ordinances, inconsistent with this ordinance are hereby repealed to the
extent of such inconsistency.


Councilmember Hoover added that the bill would remove “the area of twelve feet or less” from
Code Digital signs will still have to conform to the other restrictions listed in Code.

Councilmember Robinson confirmed with Councilmember Hoover that the changes made will
be more business friendly in that more businesses would be able to use digital signs.
Councilmember Hoover added that digital signs will still not be permitted in the Central
Business District or the East End overlay.

Councilmember Kerns spoke in favor of the bill.

Councilmember Hoover moved to approve the bill. Councilmember Ceperley seconded the
motion.

A roll call was taken:

YEAS: Annie, Burton, Ceperley, Cook, Faegre, Ferrell, Gardner, Gianola, Haas, Hoover, Jenkins,
Jones, Kerns, King, Moore, Overstreet, Pepper, Pharr, Robinson, Rubio, Salango, Solomon,
Steelhammer, Taylor, Mayor Goodwin
NAYS:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT: Burka, Snodgrass

With members present recorded thereon as voting unanimously in the affirmative, Mayor
Goodwin declared Bill No. 8065 as passed.
Journal – City Council – Charleston, WV December 15th – 2nd




COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Councilmember Jenkins, Chair of the Council Committee on Finance, submitted the following
reports:

 1. Your committee on Finance has had under consideration
 the following resolution, and reports the same to Council
 with the recommendation that Resolution No. 25-115 be
 adopted.


Resolution No. 25-115 - Authorizing the Mayor or City Manager to enter into an agreement with VBM
Buildings and Grounds for mowing and leaf blowing services for Spring Hill Cemetery for calendar year
2026, with optional renewal for two additional years, where the unit price is $18,000 per mowing
service and $3,000 per leaf blowing service pursuant to a competitive bidding process.

Be it Resolved by the Council of the City of Charleston, West Virginia:

That the Mayor or City Manager is authorized to enter into an agreement with VBM Buildings and
Grounds for mowing and leaf blowing services for Spring Hill Cemetery for calendar year 2026, with
optional renewal for two additional years, where the unit price is $18,000 per mowing service and
$3,000 per leaf blowing service pursuant to a competitive bidding process.


Councilmember Jenkins added that resolution is a contract for mowing and leaf blowing services.
Several years ago, temporary workers were hired, but it became too burdensome and difficult to keep
workers. The contract is paid per mow/leaf cleaning, the frequency of which are determined by the
Cemetery Director.

Councilmember Jenkins moved to approve the resolution. Councilmember Ceperley seconded
the motion. With members present recorded thereon as voting unanimously in the affirmative,
the Mayor declared Resolution No. 25-115.
Journal – City Council – Charleston, WV December 15th – 2nd




 2. Your committee on Finance has had under consideration
 the following resolution, and reports the same to Council
 with the recommendation that Resolution No. 25-116 be
 adopted.


Resolution No. 25-116 - Authorizing the Mayor or City Manager to purchase three Internationals and
one Kenworth dump trucks from Worldwide Equipment for the Street Department in the amount of
$727,376.00 pursuant to a competitively sourced contract.

Be it Resolved by the Council of the City of Charleston, West Virginia:

That the Mayor or City Manager is authorized to purchase three Internationals and one Kenworth dump
trucks from Worldwide Equipment for the Street Department in the amount of $727,376.00 pursuant to
a competitively sourced contract.


Councilmember Jenkins added that the purchase is part of the normal replacement cycle under
the current budget.

Councilmember Jenkins moved to approve the resolution. Councilmember Ceperley seconded
the motion. With members present recorded thereon as voting unanimously in the affirmative,
the Mayor declared Resolution No. 25-116.
Journal – City Council – Charleston, WV December 15th – 2nd




 REPORTS OF OFFICERS



 1. City Treasurer’s Report to City Council Month Ending November 2025.

 2. Municipal Court Report to City Council Month Ending November 2025.




 NEW BILLS


None
Journal – City Council – Charleston, WV December 15th – 2nd




 MISCELLANEOUS/UNFINISHED BUSINESS




None




 REMARKS BY MEMBERS


 1. Mayor Goodwin thanked the City employees for working during the winter weather. The
 Mayor announced that the Assistant to the City Manager Jessica Wintz-Adams will be
 leaving and thanked her for all of her hard work.

 2. Councilmember Kerns acknowledged the passing of Councilmember Burka’s mother.

 3. Councilmember Robinson thanked everyone on Council who has served and attended
 meetings.

 4. Councilmember Solomon stated that he will be conducting a public training on how to
 run for office.

 5. Councilmember Faegre stated that there have been several break-ins in Ward 5 and
 thanked the Charleston Police Department for their response.

 6. Councilmember Annie thanked the Public Works Department. He added that the policy
 that gives incentives to firefighters to become paramedics is important and life-saving.
Journal – City Council – Charleston, WV December 15th – 2nd




 ADJOURNMENT


City Clerk, Miles C. Cary II, called the closing roll call:

YEAS: Annie, Burton, Ceperley, Cook, Faegre, Ferrell, Gardner, Gianola, Haas, Hoover, Jenkins,
Jones, Kerns, King, Moore, Overstreet, Pepper, Pharr, Robinson, Rubio, Salango, Solomon,
Steelhammer, Taylor, Mayor Goodwin
NAYS:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT: Burka, Snodgrass

At 7:26 p.m., by a motion from Councilmember Ceperley, Council adjourned until Monday,
January 5, 2026, 7:00 p.m., in Council Chambers at City Hall.




 _______________________________
 Amy Shuler Goodwin, Honorable Mayor




 _______________________________
 Miles C. Cary II, City Clerk