Harrisonburg City Council Meeting - July 23, 2024

The Harrisonburg City Council met at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, in Council Chambers at 409 S. Main Street, Harrisonburg, Virginia. Mayor Deanna R. Reed presided, and Vice-Mayor Laura Dent and Council Members Christopher B. Jones, Dany Fleming, and Monica Robinson were present. The Council acted unanimously on all action items, heard two public hearings, and received several staff reports. The meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the July 9, 2024, City Council minutes.
• Approved, on second reading, the rezoning of 448 Kelley Street requested by Yanahina Montoya Centeno.
• Approved, on second reading, an ordinance amendment to Section 7-4-1(a)(b) and 7-4-1(e) of the Harrisonburg City Code increasing water, sewer/authority, and large meter testing charges.
• Approved special event applications for the Harrisonburg Half Marathon (Saturday, October 5, 2024), the Alpine Loop Gran Fondo (Sunday, October 6, 2024), and Eastern Mennonite University's Homecoming & Family Weekend (Saturday, October 12, 2024).
• The consent agenda was approved 5-0 by roll call vote.

Public Hearings

• CDBG Action Plan Amendment: Kristin McCombe, Community Development Block Grant Program Manager, presented an amendment to the 2024 Action Plan to reallocate $10,000 from the Suitcase Clinic to the Homeless Services Center Medical Clinic and $10,189 to the Homeless Services Center Guest Areas project because of staffing changes at the Suitcase Clinic. The 30-day public comment period closes at 9:00 a.m. on August 26, 2024, and final Council approval is scheduled for August 27, 2024. The public hearing was opened at 7:04 p.m. and closed at 7:05 p.m. with no speakers; no action was taken.
• Naming of the Facility at 1111 N. Main Street: Deputy City Manager Amy Snider presented a public hearing and 30-day comment period on naming the new Homeless Services Center. She proposed 'Navigation Center,' a name aligned with the low-barrier, Housing First services that will be operated by Open Doors at the facility, which will include an overnight emergency shelter, a daytime drop-in center, and a hypothermia program. The 30-day comment period closes at 9:00 a.m. on August 24, 2024, with a Council decision scheduled for August 27, 2024. The public hearing was opened at 7:14 p.m. and closed at 7:16 p.m. Nate Riddle, Executive Director of Open Doors, spoke in support of the proposed name, saying the facility will be the first point of entry for anyone needing services and that the services will be open to the entire community. No action was taken.

Discussion Items

• Advertising Delinquent Real Estate Taxes: Treasurer Jeff Shafer asked Council to authorize advertising delinquent 2021 and 2022 real estate taxes in the Daily News-Record and on the city website as a collection measure. Approved 5-0.
• Removing Uncollectable Taxes: Treasurer Jeff Shafer requested removal of delinquent 2003 real estate taxes totaling $1,646.54 and 2018 personal property taxes totaling $178,401.24 from the books as uncollectable. He reported collection rates of 99.98% for the 2003 real estate taxes and 98.8% for the 2018 personal property taxes, above the 95% minimum needed for treasurer accreditation. In response to Council Member Dany Fleming, Shafer said the city is on the higher end compared with other Virginia localities. Approved 5-0.
• Private Refuse Collection Facility Zoning Amendments: Deputy Community Development Director Thanh Dang presented a revised ordinance amendment to modify regulations for the location of private refuse collection facilities. The revision added clarifications recommended by a local engineer, including that dumpsters shall not be located within required fire lanes and that screening references refer to the same street. The version presented July 9, 2024, had contained incorrect text. Approved 5-0.
• Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grant Program: Grants and Programs Analyst Luke Morgan and Sustainability and Environmental Manager Keith Thomas presented a proposed EPA Community Change Grant application under Track II (Meaningful Engagement for Equitable Governance). Under the EPA mapping tool, about 80% of the city's census tracts/block groups are considered disadvantaged. The City proposes to apply with Church World Services as statutory partner and the Northeast Neighborhood Association as collaborating entity. The proposed project would address three barriers to participation, support environmental education in multiple languages, develop a community engagement strategy, and incorporate community feedback into the Environmental Action Plan. The grant requires a minimum $1 million budget; staff estimated the application at about $1.3 million over three years. Council Member Monica Robinson called it 'amazing for environmental justice.' Discussion addressed capacity and 501(c)(3) eligibility barriers for community organizations and the need for fair outreach. No action was taken; the presentation was received and filed.
• EATS Program: Keith Thomas presented Eateries Acting Towards Sustainability, a voluntary green restaurant certification program with three levels: Sprout, Bloom, and Harvest. Businesses earn points in categories such as waste reduction, food waste diversion, food policy, energy reduction, fats/oils/grease policies, and land use, with up to 410 points available. Current members include Drifter's Cafe at the Bloom level and Grilled Cheese Mania and A Bowl of Good at the Harvest level. Council members praised the program and staff member Shayna Carter. No action was taken; the report was received and filed.
• VDOT SMART SCALE Grant Resolutions: Public Works Director Tom Hartman presented five proposed Virginia SMART SCALE applications and a resolution of support: Bluestone Trail Extension (estimated $15 million), Mt. Clinton Pike Corridor (estimated about $12 million), Reservoir Street Median (estimated about $2.5-2.6 million), S. Main Street Phase 3 (estimated $15 million), and Port Republic Road & I-81/Forest Hill improvements (estimated $15 million). The total request is about $50 million. Applications are to be submitted August 1, 2024; results are expected in early 2025, with funds allocated in June 2025 and possible construction in 2031. Council Member Christopher B. Jones asked about pedestrian use along South Main Street, and Hartman cited sidewalk gaps, Rocktown High School, and planned development. The resolution was approved 5-0.

Supplementals

• Supplemental Appropriation for Grant Awards: City Manager Ande Banks presented a supplemental appropriation for recently awarded grants, including $85,000 from Smart Growth America for the Community Connectors Project, $549,900 from VDOT for a Safe Routes to School project filling sidewalk gaps near Waterman and Keyster elementary schools, $120,000 from VDOT for a two-year Safe Routes to School coordinator position, and $180,200 from the National Park Service for Lucy F. Simms Center improvements. Approved 5-0.

Reallocations

• ARPA Funds to Spray Grounds Project: The Council approved reallocating $1,150,000 from the General Capital Projects Fund's ARPA set-aside to the Spray Grounds Project at Ralph Sampson Park to fund the complete project plus an attached playground. Approved 5-0.
• Safe Routes to School Match: The Council approved reallocating $137,476 from the Port Republic Road Improvement Project to fund the required city match for a VDOT Transportation Alternatives Program Safe Routes to School grant. Approved 5-0.

Other Matters

• No public comments were offered during the open comment period for items not on the regular agenda.
• Council and staff updates included Council Member Fleming's attendance at the WSVA radio show and the Free Pizza Night-Smoke Alarm event; Council Member Robinson's participation in the Women in Municipal Government conference; Vice-Mayor Dent's reports on the Chesapeake Watershed Local Government Advisory Committee, upcoming EPSAC and Planning Commission meetings, Citizens Academy applications due August 9, and the July 30 groundbreaking for Fire Station 5; Council Member Jones's thank-you letters from the Arts Council and Bridge of Hope and concerns about the Lucy F. Simms Center HVAC; and Mayor Reed's remarks about Simms Center HVAC needs, new downtown murals, and Heritage Oaks Golf Course's third consecutive year of operational profit. City Manager Ande Banks said staff is fixing currently failing HVAC units and will provide updated estimates and a possible CIP framework for a full HVAC overhaul. About 800 smoke alarms/CO detectors were reported installed during the smoke alarm event.

Key Outcomes

• All action items were approved by 5-0 roll call votes: the consent agenda, advertising delinquent real estate taxes, removing uncollectable taxes, the private refuse facility zoning amendment, the VDOT SMART SCALE resolution, the supplemental appropriation, and both capital project fund reallocations.
• The two public hearings were received and filed without action; final Council decisions on the CDBG Action Plan amendment and the facility name are scheduled for August 27, 2024.