The Harrisonburg City Council met on Tuesday, August 13, 2024, at 7:00 PM in Council Chambers. All members were present except Council Member Christopher B. Jones. The meeting included a special recognition, consent agenda approvals, a drought warning declaration, updates on ARPA-funded projects, and several resolutions and supplemental appropriations. Public comments were not received.
The Council approved the following items by a single 5-0 vote:
Mayor Reed recognized Caleb Gilbert, the All-American Soap Box Derby World Champion. Caleb’s father described the competition and the travel involved (24,000 miles across the US). Caleb, age 12, shared his experience of winning the world championship.
Mike Collins, Director of Public Utilities, explained three independent drought triggers:
Collins noted that if student population returns (5–10 million gallons/week increase) and hot weather persists, mandatory restrictions may be needed. Staff has voluntarily contacted JMU, city schools, and Parks & Recreation—all committed to reducing irrigation. Additional outreach to large industrial users (poultry, etc.) is scheduled for August 15. City Manager Banks noted the Eastern Raw Water Line Project, coming online in 2026, will alleviate concerns for 20-40 years. City Attorney Brown added that if another locality in the region declares a drought emergency (Rockingham County may do so for agricultural purposes), the city would have to follow suit. The resolution declared a drought warning and encouraged voluntary conservation.
City Engineer Matthew Huston presented the updated ordinance combining two separate code sections into one per DEQ requirements effective July 1, 2024. No substantive changes to technical requirements, fees, or penalties; only consolidation and elimination of redundancies. Scrivener’s errors (missing hyphens) were noted and will be corrected before second reading.
Liz Webb, Housing Coordinator, introduced the Sponsoring Partnerships and Revitalizing Communities (SPARC) program—a 1% interest rate reduction for 30-year mortgages provided by Virginia Housing. The city applied in May 2024 and received an allocation of $2.09 million (not cash, but a benefit pool). Proposed local parameters: within city footprint, promote local housing counseling (partnering with CERCAP), align with fee waivers, and serve households at 100% of Area Median Income (AMI). Example: a $300,000 home with 5% down saves $187/month or over $60,000 over the loan life. The program aims to assist at least 7 families. The presentation was received and filed.
Luke Morgan (Grants and Programs Analyst) led a comprehensive update on the city’s $23.8 million in ARPA funds allocated across six priority areas. Key highlights:
City Attorney Chris Brown presented a resolution to ratify the city’s participation in a nationwide $1.3 billion settlement with Kroger. The city’s share is unknown until participation numbers are final. Previous similar resolutions have been passed for other opioid defendants.
Thanh Dang nominated Tyler Blanks, who has served as a zoning technician and specialist since 2021 (previously with Lynchburg). Blanks expressed gratitude and readiness to advance the zoning ordinance rewrite. Council members praised the appointment.
The Council entered closed session at 9:17 PM under Virginia Code Sections 2.2-3711(A)(3) (disposition of publicly held real estate) and (7) (consultation with legal counsel regarding probable litigation). The closed session ended at 10:22 PM, and Council certified that only exempt matters were discussed. The meeting adjourned at 10:22 PM.
I'll open our Tuesday, August 13, 2024 City Council meeting to order roll call, please. City Manager Banks. Here. City Attorney Brown. Here. Vice Mayor Dent. Here. Councilmember Fleming. Here. Councilmember Jones is absent. Councilmember Robinson. Here. Chief Toby. No. And Chief Miller. If you would please stand if you wish for the invocation. Father God, thank you for this day. Thank you for bringing us together this evening. Give us wisdom and guidance as we make decisions for our city. Bless those who are in the space. I ask that you help us approach this meeting with a spirit of peace and harmony. In your name I pray. Amen. Amen. Remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Pledge allegiance to the side of the United States of America. And to the Republic for which it stands. One nation. Under God. Indivisible. With liberty and justice for all. Okay. So we have a special recognition today this evening, and we're gonna recognize Caleb Gilbert. All American soap box derby world champion. So I want to ask Caleb to come forward. I believe you're with your father, and they're gonna bring this big trophy. Bigger than Caleb. This trophy is bigger than Caleb. Oh my goodness. Don't break it. It'll work. Okay, now who's gonna speak? Tell us a little bit about the I know what the soap box derby is, but you can stand right there at that mic. So the soapbox derby, a lot of people think it's the soapbox derby's little pine cars that the so um Boy Scout shoes, that's far from that. As you can see, Caleb's car. Um he's got long hair for a reason. He also plays guitar on the side with two bands in the area, um, adult bands to say the least. So um his favorite band is Van Halen, so it was only fitting that we painted his car like Eddie Van Halen's guitar. Okay. Um so we've raised soapbox derby.