Harrisonburg City Council Meeting - February 27, 2024

The Harrisonburg City Council met on Tuesday, February 27, 2024, at 7:00 PM in Council Chambers and adjourned at 11:27 PM. Mayor Reed presided with Council Members Dent, Jones, Fleming, and Robinson present, along with City Manager Banks, City Attorney Brown, City Clerk Ulmer, Police Chief Warner, and Fire Chief Tobia. The meeting included proclamations, consent items, two public hearings, a ceasefire resolution, multiple donation approvals, and budget and economy presentations.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the February 13, 2024 meeting minutes.
• Approved the second-reading rezoning request from Harrisonburg Redevelopment & Housing Authority for 715 North Main Street.
• Approved a supplemental appropriation for the purchase of real estate.
• Approved special event applications for the United Way’s Day of Action Post Event Celebration on Friday, May 31, 2024, 3–5 PM, and the Shenandoah Valley Pride Celebration on Saturday, September 21, 2024.
• Consent agenda passed 5-0.

Special Recognition

• Proclaimed March 2024 as Youth Art Month; Andrew Stavers accepted and invited Council to see student art at Valley Mall.
• Proclaimed March 2024 as Brain Injury Awareness Month; Anne Taetzsch Fitzgerald and board member John Norman, a former client, shared personal experiences.
• Proclaimed March 2024 as Governmental Purchasing Month; Nicole Robertson and Shane Smith accepted.

Public Hearings

• Country Club Road Sidewalk Project (VDOT TAP Grant): Public Works Director Tom Hartman said the grant was awarded two years ago with an 80% federal/20% city split. The project will add a five-foot sidewalk, curb and gutter, and an audible pedestrian crosswalk connecting Spotswood Mobile Home Park to Linda Lane, with construction expected to finish before the 2025 school year. Jessica Pyle, a Skyline Middle School teacher, spoke in favor and volunteered to help students cross safely. The item was received and filed.
• Gas Pipeline Easement: City Attorney Chris Brown presented a Columbia Gas easement across the South Main Street parking lot to replace gas service lines for the former Free Clinic property now owned by Sentara. Work would occur mostly at night with minimal downtown disruption. No public speakers commented. Vice Mayor Dent said she is not in theory a fan of more fossil fuel infrastructure, but in practice it is needed. Council approved the easement 5-0.

Discussion Items

• Cease-Fire Resolution: Mayor Reed and Vice Mayor Dent described drafting a resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and Israel, humanitarian aid, and release of hostages. Council Member Jones said the issue is beyond City Council’s scope and urged sustained local civic participation. A suggested amendment to add “and prisoners” was not adopted. The original resolution was adopted 5-0, and Mayor Reed said she would hand-deliver it to Virginia’s U.S. senators the next morning.
• HDR Downtown Banner Designs: Andrea Dono, Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance executive director, presented roughly 70 banners with four repeating designs and 15 student duck-themed banners. Council praised the project and approved it 5-0.
• Out of the Box Traffic Cabinet Art Project: Ms. Dono proposed wrapping 19 downtown traffic cabinets in two phases, with $400 artist stipends and a virtual artist information session on March 12, 2024. Council approved it 5-0 and discussed possible future expansion citywide and creation of a public arts commission.
• Blue Ridge Area Food Bank Presentation: Director Michael McKee presented record demand: BRAFB served about 127,000 people/month in 2023, peaked at 173,000 in October, and is now averaging 153,000/month; distributed 27 million pounds of food; about 3.6 million meals locally; and projected million-dollar annual deficits unless federal support increases. He asked Council members to urge Congress to strengthen the Farm Bill and SNAP. Council thanked him and requested follow-up conversations; the presentation was received and filed.
• Swim for Sadie Donation: Parks and Recreation Director Brian Mancini and Sadie Deeble’s parents presented a $50,000 legacy donation from the Swim for Sadie Memorial Fund, funded by more than 235 individual donations. It will create a free “Swim by Second” lesson program for Harrisonburg City Schools students in kindergarten through second grade. Council approved the donation 5-0.
• Harrisonburg Little League Donation: Mr. Mancini presented a $33,364 donation from the Harrisonburg Little League Association for solar scoreboards and a storage shed at Purcell Park. Council approved the donation 5-0.
• VA 250 Committee Resolution: Tourism Manager Jennifer Bell requested adoption to form a local Virginia America 250 Committee for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, providing eligibility for promotional help and grants. Council Member Robinson expressed concerns about wording on the state VA 250 website and about organizations receiving grant money from African American stories. The resolution was adopted 4-1, with Council Member Robinson voting no.
• EECBG Funds: Grants analyst Luke Morgan and sustainability manager Keith Thomas presented the $117,870 Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant. Staff recommended a 50-kilowatt rooftop solar array on Turner Pavilion, estimated at $250,000, requiring $132,130 in general funds in FY25. The system would generate about 71,000 kWh/year, with excess sent back to the grid rather than used for community shared solar. Council approved the Turner Pavilion solar project 5-0.
• Collective Bargaining: City Attorney Chris Brown reviewed staff’s recommendation against a collective bargaining ordinance, citing recent pay increases (average 14% citywide; average 17.25% for eligible HPD officers), improved recruitment, and estimated annual administrative costs of $400,000–$500,000 based on Charlottesville. Council voted to deny the collective bargaining request and asked the city manager to bring back a proposal for an ongoing employee committee. The transcript shows unanimous approval; the meeting minutes’ roll call heading lists “No” followed by all names, which appears to be a clerical inconsistency.
• City Parcels and Affordable Housing: Housing Coordinator Liz Webb presented a Virginia Housing-funded study of two city-owned parcels. Neff Avenue could support 180–200 apartments, 72 townhomes, or condos, with site value estimated at $2.4 million and development costs around $2,500/unit. Central Avenue could support 120–133 apartments, 51 townhomes, or 36 tiny homes, with site value estimated at $1.6 million. Council discussed local developer interest, mixed-income options, and first-time homeownership; the presentation was received and filed.
• FY 2024 General Fund Revenue and Local Economy: Finance Director Larry Propst reported revenues are projected to be about $9.7 million above budget, with slower sales/meals/lodging growth; next fiscal year real estate assessed value growth is projected at 5.5% compared to 13.5% this year, and declining vehicle values may require a personal property tax rate increase. Economic Development Director Brian Shull reported 1,000 new city jobs in 2023, 3.2% unemployment, second-fastest MSA job growth in Virginia, 88 new business licenses, a $40 million increase in building permit value, and major projects including Farmer Focus, Montibello Packaging, and Lauf. Council discussed the need for housing to support job growth; the presentation was received and filed.

Supplementals and Reallocations

• Approved a supplemental appropriation of $2,982,833.46 in interest earnings from the September 2021 bond issuance for Rocktown High School and the Shenandoah River waterline to the General Fund and School and Water Capital Projects Funds, 5-0.
• Approved a reallocation of ARPA funds from the Sterling Street Project to projects approved on February 13, 2024, 5-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Earnest Liberatore, a county resident, spoke about erosion mitigation, protecting food sources, and gave a handcrafted gift to Public Works.
• Virginia Haverty, 458 W. Wolfe Street, spoke about Black History Month and read a statement on Central Africa, Rwanda, the Congo War, and mineral supply chains, calling for consumer awareness and land/reparations.
• An unnamed speaker thanked Council for listening to community concerns.

Other Matters and Boards/Commissions

• Vice Mayor Dent announced that the March 12, 2024 City Council meeting was canceled due to the National League of Cities conference. Council Member Robinson invited the public to the International Women’s Day march on March 9, 2024. Council Member Fleming described NLC child savings account discussions. Mayor Reed noted a WHSV feature showing 1863 Rockingham Register ads for enslaved people and celebrated the current majority-Black Council.
• Council appointed Morgan Maskell to the Board of Zoning Appeals (term through March 20, 2029), reappointed Gerald Gatobu to the Harrisonburg Rockingham Metropolitan Planning Organization board, and appointed Craig Anders to the Board of Equalization (term through December 31, 2024), all by unanimous voice vote.

Key Outcomes

• Adopted a resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and Israel (5-0).
• Approved the Country Club Road sidewalk public hearing item as received/filed; no formal action.
• Approved the Columbia Gas pipeline easement (5-0).
• Approved downtown banners and traffic cabinet art project (5-0 each).
• Approved Swim for Sadie and Little League donations (5-0 each).
• Adopted VA 250 Committee resolution (4-1).
• Approved Turner Pavilion EECBG solar project (5-0).
• Denied collective bargaining ordinance; directed city manager to propose an employee committee (unanimous per transcript; minutes note discrepancy).
• Approved supplemental appropriation and ARPA reallocation (5-0 each).
• Appointed board members.