City Council

409 S. Main Street City of Harrisonburg Harrisonburg, VA 22801 Meeting Minutes - Final City Council Tuesday, December 10, 2024 7:00 PM Council Chambers 1. Roll Call Present: 6- Mayor Deanna R. Reed, Council Member Laura Dent, Vice-Mayor Laura Dent, Vice-Mayor Dany Fleming, Council Member Christopher B. Jones and Council Member Monica Robinson Also Present: 6- City Manager Ande Banks, City Attorney Chris Brown, City Clerk Pam Ulmer, Chief Matthew Tobia, Deputy Police Chief Rod Pollard and Deputy Police Chief Todd Miller 2. Invocation Council Member Jones offered the invocation 3. Pledge of Allegiance Mayor Reed led the invocation 4. Special Recognition 4.a. Resolution honoring Council Member Christopher Jones Mayor Reed read the resolution recognizing Council Member Christopher Jones for his service to the city since 2015. Council Members spoke on key moments in the city that Council Member Jones was a part of, they spoke on the respect they have for him, some of the many projects and conferences he was a part of, they shared some personal stories about him, and spoke on the support he has provided to other Council Members. Council Member Jones spoke on how rewarding his tenure on Council has been; he thanked his family for their patience and understanding; he thanked a multitude of city staff and other organizations; he spoke on the collaboration of the many plans and projects that happened during his time on Council; he thanked a multitude of community members that helped him throughout his life; he introduced several of the people in the audience there to support him. 5. Consent Agenda (any item placed on the consent agenda shall be removed and taken up as a separate matter, if so requested by any member of Council, otherwise all items will be voted on with one (1) motion) City of Harrisonburg Page 1 Printed on 1/27/2025 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final December 10, 2024 A motion was made by Council Member Fleming, seconded by Council Member Jones to approve the consent agenda as presented. The motion carried with a roll call vote as follows: Yes: 6- Mayor Reed, Council Member Dent, Vice-Mayor Dent, Council Member Jones, Vice-Mayor Fleming and Council Member Robinson No: 0 5.a. Minutes from the November 26, 2024 City Council Meeting These minutes were approved on the Consent Agenda. 5.b. Consider a request from Josue Elidio Pereira Coreas to rezone 731 Jefferson Street This rezoning request was approved on second reading. 5.c. Consider a request from Lonnie and Linda Suter to rezone 1158 Rockingham Drive This rezoning request was approved on second reading. 5.d. Consider a request from Waterman Investments, LLC to amend Zoning Ordinance to modify regulations associated with minimum principal building setbacks for townhomes within the R-8 district This ordinance amendment was approved on second reading. 5.e. Consider a request from Liberty Hall LC, Ordovician, L.C., and Aichus LLC to rezone properties addressed as 51, 75, 85 Waterman Drive, West Market Street, and Brickstone Court (Quarry Heights) This rezoning request was approved on second reading. 5.f. Consider a supplemental appropriation for the Harrisonburg City School Board This supplemental appropriation was approved on second reading. 5.g. Consider a supplemental appropriation for the Water Capital Projects Fund This supplemental appropriation was approved on second reading. 6. Public Hearings 7. Regular Items 7.a. Presentation of the City’s Fiscal Year 2024 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) Matthew Heatwole, Brown Edwards and Company, reviewed the audit of the City and the School Board. He thanked city staff for being so great to work with and stated an unmodified clean audit has been determined. City of Harrisonburg Page 2 Printed on 1/27/2025 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final December 10, 2024 Council Member Fleming thanked city manager Ande Banks and Larry Propst, finance director, for doing the work to keep the City financially sound. This Presentation was received and filed. 7.b. Presentation on the new Reservation Based Cardboard Collection Services Tom Hartman, director of Public Works, presented a new program for cardboard collection service on Fridays. He reviewed why this program is being offered, the needs of the residents, the collection schedule beginning December 16, 2024, and the website address to schedule the collection. He reviewed the draft website, the rules for the collection and the many ways of communicating this program to the community. Council stated this is a great service and recycled cardboard adds financial value to the city. City Council will receive an update on a new reservation based cardboard collection program, that is being implemented by the Public Works Department. 7.c. Consider a request from MILA LLC for the City of Harrisonburg to provide water service onto property located at tax map number 108-A-29 within Rockingham County (Granite Farm) Adam Fletcher, director of Community Development, presented a public utility application for property known as Granite Farm development, located in Rockingham County. He reviewed the property, the history of the property, and the planned development. He stated staff and Planning Commission (6-0) recommended approval of the request. A motion was made by Council Member Jones, seconded by Vice Mayor Dent, to adopt the resolution and approve the request as presented. The motion carried with a recorded roll call vote as follows: Yes: 6- Mayor Reed, Council Member Dent, Vice-Mayor Dent, Council Member Jones, Vice-Mayor Fleming and Council Member Robinson No: 0 7.d. Consider a request from PRR, LLC to preliminarily subdivide 1211, 1225, 1245 & 1261 Port Republic Road and for variances from the Subdivision Ordinance (Weston Park) Adam Fletcher, director of Community Development, presented a request to approve a preliminary plat with subdivision ordinance variances on property known as Weston City of Harrisonburg Page 3 Printed on 1/27/2025 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final December 10, 2024 Park. He reviewed the surrounding zoning districts, the property, land use for the area, the history of the property, the concept plan, the preliminary subdivision plat, and the variances requested. He stated staff and Planning Commission (6-0) recommend approval of this request. Vice Mayor Dent stated narrowing of the streets should be okay as there shouldn't be any on street parking, and it will help with reducing vehicle speeds. She asked for clarification on the changes requested related to the roundabout on public street. Mr. Fletcher reviewed the specifics. A motion was made by Vice Mayor Dent, seconded by Council Member Robinson, to approve the request as presented. The motion carried with a recorded roll call vote as follows: Yes: 6- Mayor Reed, Council Member Dent, Vice-Mayor Dent, Council Member Jones, Vice-Mayor Fleming and Council Member Robinson No: 0 7.e. Consider a request from Park Apartments to preliminarily subdivide 204 Rocco Avenue and for variances from the Subdivision Ordinance (Park Apartments) Adam Fletcher, director of Community Development, presented a request for preliminary plat with variances from the subdivision ordinance for property located at 204 Rocco Avenue. He reviewed the surrounding zoning designations, the property, the land use guide for the area, the variances requested, the history of the property, and the preliminary subdivision plat. He stated staff and Planning Commission (6-0) recommended approval of this request. A motion was made by Council Member Robinson, seconded by Council Member Fleming, to approve the request as presented. The motion carried with a recorded roll call vote as follows: Yes: 6- Mayor Reed, Council Member Dent, Vice-Mayor Dent, Council Member Jones, Vice-Mayor Fleming and Council Member Robinson No: 0 7.f. Consider a request from the City of Harrisonburg to preliminarily subdivide 450 Mount Clinton Pike with variances from the Subdivision Ordinance (Fire Station #5) Adam Fletcher, director of Community Development, presented a request for preliminary plat with variances from the subdivision ordinance for property located at 450 Mt. Clinton Pike, location of the new Fire Station #5. He reviewed the surrounding zoning designations, the property, the land use guide for the area, the variances requested, the history of the property, and the preliminary subdivision plat. City of Harrisonburg Page 4 Printed on 1/27/2025 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final December 10, 2024 He stated staff and Planning Commission (6-0) recommended approval of this request. A motion was made by Council Member Jones, seconded by Council Member Fleming, to approve the request as presented. The motion carried with a recorded roll call vote taken as follows: Yes: 6- Mayor Reed, Council Member Dent, Vice-Mayor Dent, Council Member Jones, Vice-Mayor Fleming and Council Member Robinson No: 0 7.g. Consider a reimbursement resolution for the Dry River and North River intake screens projects Ande Banks, city manager, presented a resolution authorizing the city reimbursement from the Dry River and the North River Intake Screens project. He stated funding was approved by city council to fund the initial engineering and design work for these projects and this resolution will allow the city to reimburse itself for these costs from future debt proceeds. A motion was made by Council Member Jones, seconded by Council Member Fleming, to adopt the resolution as presented. The motion carried with a recorded roll call vote taken as follows: Yes: 6- Mayor Reed, Council Member Dent, Vice-Mayor Dent, Council Member Jones, Vice-Mayor Fleming and Council Member Robinson No: 0 8. Other Matters 8.a. Comments from the public, limited to five minutes, on matters not on the regular agenda. (Name and address are required) Stephen Sites, 512 W Market Street, shared his concerns of speeding on W Market Street, characterizing it as a safety issue. He spoke on the speed of the snow plows as well. 8.b. City Council and Staff Council Member Jones spoke on the speeding on W. Market Street. He thanked everyone again for the resolution and recognition. Vice Mayor Dent spoke on a webinar for the Local Government and Municipal Authority related to climate change; the Virginia Conservation Networks Climate Action meeting; the unveiling of the new city buses; City of Harrisonburg Page 5 Printed on 1/27/2025 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final December 10, 2024 Council Member Robinson spoke on her Shenandoah Valley Conservation Network invite; the Valley Interfaith event; the unveiling of the new city buses; the Community Connectors meeting; Council Member Fleming spoke on the Chamber of Commerce Housing Forum; Mayor Reed thanked Chief Tobia for his assistance in serving the Fire Stations on Thanksgiving Day; she spoke on the Holiday Parade; the new city buses; Ande Banks, city manager, stated the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Navigation Center will take place on December 18, 2024, at 2pm Consider cancelling the December 24, 2024 City Council Meeting A motion was made by Council Member Jones, seconded by Council Member Fleming to cancel the December 24, 2024, City Council meeting. The vote carried with a unanimous voice vote. 9. Boards and Commissions 9.a. Community Services Board A motion was made by Council Member Fleming, seconded by Council Member Jones, to appoint David Smith and Reagan Eashleman to the Community Services Board to an unexpired term to expire on June 27, 2026, and a full term to expire on December 10, 2027, respectively. The vote carried with a unanimous voice vote. 9.b. Board of Equalization (BOE) Council Member Fleming stated there is still one position needing to be filled as soon as possible. A motion was made by Council Member Jones, seconded by Council Member Fleming, to appoint Weston Bayes to the Board of Equalization for a term to expire on December 31, 2027. The vote carried with a unanimous voice vote. Yes: 6- Mayor Reed, Council Member Dent, Vice-Mayor Dent, Council Member Jones, Vice-Mayor Fleming and Council Member Robinson No: 0 9.c. Harrisonburg Electric Commission (HEC) A motion was made by Council Member Jones to appoint Aaron Ludwig to the Harrisonburg Electric Commission. The motion failed due to a lack of a second. A motion was made by Vice Mayor Dent, seconded by Council Member Fleming, to appoint Kevin Comer, to the Harrisonburg Electric Commission. The motion failed by a roll call vote as follows: Yes: 3- Council Member Dent, Vice-Mayor Dent and Vice-Mayor Fleming City of Harrisonburg Page 6 Printed on 1/27/2025 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final December 10, 2024 No: 3- Mayor Reed, Council Member Jones and Council Member Robinson A motion was made by Council Member Jones, seconded by Council Member Robinson, to appoint Gil Coleman to the Harrisonburg Electric Commission to a term to expire on February 12, 2028. The motion carried with a roll call vote as follows: Yes: 6- Mayor Reed, Council Member Dent, Vice-Mayor Dent, Vice-Mayor Fleming, Council Member Jones and Council Member Robinson No: 0 10. Closed Session 10.a. Closed Session as authorized by the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, Virginia Code Section 2.2-3711(A), under: Subsection 3 the discussion of the disposition of publicly held real estate. At 9:07 p.m., a motion was made by Council Member Jones, seconded by Council Member Robinson, to enter into closed session as authorized by the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, Virginia Code Section 2.2-3711(A), under: under: Subsection 3 the discussion of the disposition of publicly held real estate. The motion carried with a recorded roll call vote taken as follows: Yes: 6- Mayor Reed, Council Member Dent, Vice-Mayor Dent, Council Member Jones, Vice-Mayor Fleming and Council Member Robinson No: 0 11. Adjournment At 9:25 p.m. the closed session ended and the regular session reconvened. City Attorney Brown read the following statement, which was agreed to with a unanimous recorded vote of Council: I hereby certify that to the best of my knowledge (1) only public business matters lawfully exempted from open meeting requirements under Chapter 37 of Title 2.2 of the Code, of Virginia, 1950, as amended, and (2) only such public business matters as were identified in the motion by which the closed meeting was convened were heard, discussed or considered in the closed meeting by the City Council. At 9:25 p.m., there being no further business and on motion adopted, the meeting was adjourned. ________________________ ________________________ CITY CLERK MAYOR City of Harrisonburg Page 7 Printed on 1/27/2025