City Council

409 S. Main Street City of Harrisonburg Harrisonburg, VA 22801 Meeting Minutes - Final City Council Thursday, January 2, 2025 10:00 AM Council Chambers Reorganization Meeting 1. Call to Order Ande Banks, city manager, officially called to order the January 2, 2025, Re-Organization meeting of the Harrisonburg City Council. Present: 5- Mayor Deanna R. Reed, Vice-Mayor Dany Fleming, Council Member Laura Dent, Council Member Nasser Alsaadun and Council Member Monica Robinson Also Present: 6- City Manager Ande Banks, City Attorney Chris Brown, City Clerk Pam Ulmer, Deputy Police Chief Rod Pollard, Chief Matthew Tobia and Deputy Police Chief Todd Miller 2. Oath as prescribed by Law Deputy Circuit Court Clerk, Alena Murdock, administered the "Oath of Office" to Council Member Elect Nasser Alsaadun, Deanna Reed and Laura Dent. 3. Reorganization of City Council Reorganization of Council 3.a. Election of Mayor City manager Banks opened the floor for nominations for Mayor for Harrisonburg City Council. Council Member Robinson nominated Dany Fleming for Mayor. Council Member Fleming declined nomination. Council Member Alsaduun nominated Deanna Reed for Mayor. No additional nominations received. The appointment carried with a recorded roll call vote taken as follows: Yes: 4- Reed, Vice-Mayor Fleming, Council Member Dent and Council Member Alsaadun No: 1- Council Member Robinson 3.b. Election of Vice-Mayor City of Harrisonburg Page 1 Printed on 1/27/2025 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final January 2, 2025 Mayor Reed opened the floor for nominations for Vice-Mayor for Harrisonburg City Council. Council Member Dent nominated Dany Fleming for Vice-Mayor. No other nominations received. The appointment carried with a recorded roll call vote taken as follows: Yes: 5- Reed, Vice-Mayor Fleming, Council Member Dent, Council Member Alsaadun and Council Member Robinson No: 0 3.c. Appoint City Manager A motion was made by Council Member Robinson, seconded by Council Member Dent, to re-appoint Alexander Banks, VI as city manager. The motion carried with a recorded roll call vote taken as follows: Yes: 5- Reed, Vice-Mayor Fleming, Council Member Dent, Council Member Alsaadun and Council Member Robinson No: 0 3.d. Appoint City Attorney A motion was made by Council Member Dent, seconded by Council Member Robinson to re-appoint Grady Chris Brown as city attorney. The motion carried with a recorded roll call vote taken as follows: Yes: 5- Reed, Vice-Mayor Fleming, Council Member Dent, Council Member Alsaadun and Council Member Robinson No: 0 3.e. Appoint City Clerk A motion was made by Council Member Robinson, seconded by Council Member Alsaadun to re-appoint Pamela Ulmer as city clerk. The motion carried with a roll call vote as follows: Yes: 5- Reed, Vice-Mayor Fleming, Council Member Dent, Council Member Alsaadun and Council Member Robinson No: 0 3.f. Adopt the City of Harrisonburg’s Electronic Communications Policy Chris Brown, city attorney, reviewed the city's Electronic Communication Policy and the policy changes per State Code. A motion was made by Vice Mayor Fleming, seconded by Council Member Dent, to adopt the Electronic Communications Policy. The motion carried with a unanimous voice vote. 3.g. Appoint two members of council to the Central Shenandoah Planning District City of Harrisonburg Page 2 Printed on 1/27/2025 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final January 2, 2025 Commission A motion was made by Vice Mayor Fleming, seconded by Council Member Dent to appoint Council Member Dent and Council Member Alsaadun to the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission. The motion carried with a unanimous voice vote. 3.h. Appoint one member of council and appoint Brian Shull as an alternative to serve on the Shenandoah Valley Workforce Development Board A motion was made by Vice Mayor Fleming, seconded by Council Member Dent to appoint Mayor Reed and Brian Shull as alternate to the Shenandoah Valley Workforce Development Board. The motion carried with a unanimous voice vote. 3.i. Appoint two members of council to serve as a liaison to the Build Our Park Committee, formerly Plan Our Park A motion was made by Vice Mayor Fleming, seconded by Council Member Dent to appoint Vice-Mayor Fleming and Council Member Dent as liaison to the Build our Park, formerly Plan Our Park committee. The motion carried with a unanimous voice vote. 3.j. Appoint one member of council to the Planning Commission A motion was made by Vice Mayor Fleming, seconded by Council Member Dent to appoint Vice-Mayor Dent to the Planning Commission. The motion carried with a unanimous voice vote. 3.k. Appoint one member of council to the Parks and Recreation Commission A motion was made by Vice Mayor Fleming, seconded by Council Member Dent to appoint Mayor Reed to the Parks and Recreation Commission. The motion carried with a unanimous voice vote. 3.l. Appoint one member of council to the Stormwater Advisory Committee A motion was made by Vice Mayor Fleming, seconded by Council Member Dent, to appoint Council Member Fleming to the Stormwater Advisory Committee. The motion carried with a unanimous voice vote. 3.m. Appoint one member of council to serve as liaison to the Social Services Advisory Board A motion was made by Vice Mayor Fleming, seconded by Council Member Dent to appoint Council Member Robinson as a liaison to the Social Services Advisory Board. The motion carried with a unanimous voice vote. 3.n. Appoint two members of council to serve as liaison to the School Board Liaison Committee A motion was made by Vice Mayor Fleming, seconded by Council Member Dent, to appoint Council Member Alsaddun and Mayor Reed to serve as liaison to the School Board Committee. The motion carried with a unanimous voice vote. 3.o. Appoint one member of council to the Massanutten Regional Library Board A motion was made by Vice Mayor Fleming, seconded by Council Member Dent, to appoint City of Harrisonburg Page 3 Printed on 1/27/2025 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final January 2, 2025 Mayor Reed to the Massanutten Regional Library Board. The motion carried with a unanimous voice vote. 3.p. Appoint two members of council to serve as liaison to the JMU Liaison Committee A motion was made by Vice Mayor Fleming, seconded by Council Member Dent, to appoint Council Member Robinson and Vice Mayor Fleming to the James Madison Liaison Committee. The motion carried with a unanimous voice vote. 3.q. Appoint three members of council and two staff members and their alternates to the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Metropolitan Planning Commission A motion was made by Vice Mayor Fleming, seconded by Council Member Dent, to appoint Council Member Dent, Vice Mayor Fleming, Council Member Alsaadun, City Manager Banks, and Amy Snider, deputy city manager as his alternate, Gerald Gatobu, director of Harrisonburg Department of Public Transportation and Cheryl Spain as his alternate, to the Harrisonburg Rockingham Metropolitan Planning Commission. The motion carried with a unanimous voice vote. 3.r. Appoint one member of council to the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce Board A motion was made by Vice Mayor Fleming, seconded by Council Member Dent, to appoint Vice Mayor Fleming to the Harrisonburg Rockingham Chamber of Commerce Board. The motion carried with a unanimous voice vote. 3.s. Appoint one member of council to serve on the Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance Board of Directors A motion was made by Vice Mayor Fleming, seconded by Council Member Dent to appoint Council Member Alsaadun to the Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance Board of Directors. The motion carried with a unanimous voice vote. 3.t. Appoint one member of council to the Environmental Performance Standards Advisory Committee A motion was made by Vice Mayor Fleming, seconded by Council Member Dent, to appoint Vice-Mayor Dent to the Environmental Performance Standards Advisory Committee. The motion carried with a unanimous voice vote. 3.u. Appoint one member of council to the Deer Population Task Force Vice Mayor Fleming recommended this board remain in place but not need a Council Representative appointed. This Action Item was received and filed. 3.v. Appoint one member of council to the Community Development Block Grant Selection Committee A motion was made by Vice Mayor Fleming, seconded by Council Member Dent, to appoint Council Member Robinson to the Community Development Block Grant Selection Committee. The motion carried with a unanimous voice vote. City of Harrisonburg Page 4 Printed on 1/27/2025 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final January 2, 2025 3.w. Appoint one member of council to the Community Criminal Justice Board A motion was made by Vice Mayor Fleming, seconded by Council Member Dent, to appoint Council Member Robinson to the Community Criminal Justice Board. The motion carried with a unanimous voice vote. 3.x. Appoint two members of council to serve as liaison to the City/County Liaison Committee A motion was made by Vice Mayor Fleming, seconded by Council Member Dent, to appoint Vice Mayor Fleming and Mayor Reed to serve as liaison to the City/County Liaison Committee. The motion carried with a unanimous voice vote. 3.y. Appoint two members to the Eastern Mennonite University / City Liaison Committee A motion was made by Vice Mayor Fleming, seconded by Council Member Dent, to appoint Council Member Alsaadun and Mayor Reed to the EMU/City Liaison Committee. The motion carried with a unanimous voice vote. 3.z. Appoint one member to Virginia First Cities A motion was made by Vice Mayor Fleming, seconded by Council Member Dent, to appoint Vice Mayor Fleming to Virginia First Cities. The motion carried with a unanimous voice vote. 3.aa. Appoint two members to the Harrisonburg Redevelopment and Housing Authority / City Liaison Committee A motion was made by Vice Mayor Fleming, seconded by Council Member Dent, to appoint Council Member Robinson and Council Member Alsaadun, to the City / Harrisonburg Redevelopment and Housing Authority Liaison Committee. The motion carried with a unanimous voice vote. 3.ab. Appoint two members of council to the Ordinance Advisory Committee A motion was made by Vice Mayor Fleming, seconded by Council Member Dent, to appoint Council Member Robinson and Council Member Dent, to the City Ordinance Advisory Committee. The motion carried with a unanimous voice vote. 3.ac. Appoint one member of council to the International Town and Gown Association A motion was made by Vice Mayor Fleming, seconded by Council Member Dent, to appoint Council Member Alsaddun to the International Town and Gown Association. The motion carried with a unanimous voice vote. Other Matters Mayor Reed welcomed Council Member Alsaadun and stated she is looking forward to working with him. Council Member Alsaadun stated he is very happy to be one of the city Council members and will do his best to serve the city and be a role model for the newcomers. He thanked his colleagues for all the assistance so far. City of Harrisonburg Page 5 Printed on 1/27/2025 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final January 2, 2025 Council Member Fleming congratulated Council Member Alsaadun, it is yet another mile stone to have him on Council. 4. Adjournment 10:19 a.m., there being no further business and on motion adopted, the meeting was adjourned. ________________________ ________________________ CITY CLERK MAYOR City of Harrisonburg Page 6 Printed on 1/27/2025