Harrisonburg City Council Meeting - December 10, 2024
Harrisonburg City Council Meeting - December 10, 2024
The Harrisonburg City Council met on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, at 7:00 PM in Council Chambers. The meeting included a special recognition of outgoing Council Member Christopher Jones, approval of a multi-item consent agenda, presentations on the FY 2024 financial audit and a new cardboard collection program, unanimous approval of several land-use and utility requests, public comment, board appointments, and a closed session. The meeting recessed into closed session at 9:07 PM and adjourned at approximately 9:25 PM.
Special Recognition
- Mayor Reed read a resolution honoring Council Member Christopher Jones for his service on City Council since 2015, including as mayor. The resolution noted his work on economic development, the BQ program for black- and brown-owned businesses, which has enrolled 84 businesses, public safety investments such as Fire Station #5, and other city initiatives.
- Council members offered personal remarks about Jones's leadership, mentorship, and advocacy. Council Member Jones thanked his family, staff, and community members and said his tenure had been rewarding.
Consent Calendar
- The City Council approved the consent agenda by a 6-0 roll-call vote. Items approved on second reading included:
- Minutes of the November 26, 2024 City Council meeting.
- Rezoning of 731 Jefferson Street requested by Josue Elidio Pereira Coreas.
- Rezoning of 1158 Rockingham Drive requested by Lonnie and Linda Suter.
- A zoning ordinance amendment requested by Waterman Investments, LLC modifying minimum principal building setback regulations for townhomes in the R-8 district.
- Rezoning of the Quarry Heights properties at 51, 75, 85 Waterman Drive, West Market Street, and Brickstone Court, requested by Liberty Hall LC, Ordovician, L.C., and Aichus LLC.
- A supplemental appropriation for the Harrisonburg City School Board.
- A supplemental appropriation for the Water Capital Projects Fund.
- Before the consent vote, a council member discussed the Quarry Heights project and stated that Council's intent was to keep College Avenue closed and to have a 20-foot right-of-way there; the member said a developer could work with the development office to amend a proffer and Council would encourage that.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public hearings were held.
- During public comments, Stephen Sites of 512 W Market Street expressed safety concerns about speeding and drag racing on W Market Street, saying it happens day and night. He also raised concerns about snow plow speeds, debris in the roadway, and what he described as the city promoting drinking. He asked for safety measures such as speed bumps or traffic calming.
- Council Member Jones acknowledged the resident's concerns and said the racing on Route 33 is a real, consistent issue, though difficult for police to catch.
Discussion Items
- FY 2024 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR): Matthew Heatwole of Brown Edwards and Company presented the audit of the City and School Board, reporting an unmodified clean audit opinion on the financial statements, including the single audit of federal expenditures. The presentation was received and filed.
- Reservation-Based Cardboard Collection: Tom Hartman, Director of Public Works, presented a new Friday curbside cardboard collection service beginning December 16, 2024. City solid waste customers may reserve collection online or by phone before noon on Thursday. The service is initially unlimited and may be capped based on demand. The city currently collects about 300 tons of cardboard per year at its centers and expects to at least double that. Recycling cardboard avoids $58 per ton in disposal costs and earns about $50 per ton as a commodity. Council members praised the service as innovative and financially beneficial.
- Granite Farm Water Service: Adam Fletcher, Director of Community Development, presented a request from MILA LLC for city water service to tax map number 108-A-29 in Rockingham County. The Granite Farm development has been reduced from 285 to 242 to 225 single-family residential lots over time. The project includes traffic mitigations, a future connection to Quarry Heights, a shared-use path, a mini-roundabout, and a 30-foot waterline easement. Staff and the Planning Commission each recommended approval 6-0.
- Weston Park Preliminary Subdivision: PRR, LLC requested preliminary subdivision approval and variances for 1211, 1225, 1245, and 1261 Port Republic Road. The plat creates 26 single-family detached lots, 30 duplex lots, 70 townhome lots, 4 common area lots, and public/private streets. Variances include reduced street widths, vertical curve design, lot frontage on private streets, and a cul-de-sac grade deviation. Staff and the Planning Commission each recommended approval 6-0.
- Park Apartments Preliminary Subdivision: Park Apartments requested preliminary subdivision approval and variances for 204 Rocco Avenue. The subdivision creates a parcel without public street frontage and adjusts utility easement dedication; the project was previously rezoned in 2020 and approved through an engineered site plan in 2022. Staff and the Planning Commission each recommended approval 6-0.
- Fire Station #5 Preliminary Subdivision: The City requested preliminary subdivision approval and variances for 450 Mount Clinton Pike. The subdivision creates a parcel for the new Fire Station #5 and dedicates right-of-way for Integrity Drive. Right-of-way would be reduced from 50 to 44 feet and pavement width from 34 to 28 feet. Staff and the Planning Commission each recommended approval 6-0.
- Dry River and North River Intake Screens Reimbursement Resolution: City Manager Ande Banks presented a resolution allowing the city to reimburse itself for $1 million in initial engineering and design costs from future debt proceeds for the Dry River and North River intake screens projects. The resolution was adopted.
Key Outcomes
- Consent agenda approved 6-0.
- Granite Farm water service resolution approved 6-0.
- Weston Park preliminary subdivision and variances approved 6-0.
- Park Apartments preliminary subdivision and variances approved 6-0.
- Fire Station #5 preliminary subdivision and variances approved 6-0.
- Dry River and North River intake screens reimbursement resolution approved 6-0.
- The December 24, 2024 City Council meeting was canceled by unanimous voice vote.
- David Smith was appointed to the Community Services Board for an unexpired term ending June 27, 2026, and Reagan Eshleman was appointed for a full term ending December 10, 2027.
- Weston Bayes was appointed to the Board of Equalization for a term ending December 31, 2027.
- For the Harrisonburg Electric Commission, a motion to appoint Aaron Ludwig failed for lack of a second; a motion to appoint Kevin Comer failed by a 3-3 vote; and a motion to appoint Gil Coleman carried 6-0 for a term ending February 12, 2028.
- Council entered closed session at 9:07 PM under Virginia Code Section 2.2-3711(A)(3) to discuss disposition of publicly held real estate. After reconvening at 9:25 PM, Council unanimously certified the closed session complied with state law and then adjourned.
Meeting Transcript
If you wish, please join me in prayer. Father God, in the name of Jesus, thank you for allowing me this opportunity to sit at this desk and to call on your name one more time, one last time in this formal capacity. Then I get to stand before you and call on your name and say thank you. We thank you for loving us for protecting us and for keeping our city. God, we thank you for life and life more abundantly. God, we've been through a lot over the last decade, and I thank you for the opportunity to have served over the last decade in this capacity and as mayor. But most of all, God, I thank you for the 58,000 residents that make up the city of Harrisonburg currently, and all of those that we stand, whose shoulders we stand on today. God, I thank you for the future that you have planned for us that is ever so bright and perfect. God, there's nothing we can do to make it any better than you have already created it. I just thank you for the opportunity to be a part of those that helped to architect and engineer it into existence. God, I thank you so much for our staff, the dedication, love, friendship, and professionalism that they show our residents and visitors every single day. Most especially, God, I thank you for our business community, our visitors, our students, especially our university students, those that have invested many, many hours and many, many thousands of dollars into our city to make it what it is today. And so, God, I ask you that you continue to pour a blessing on Harrisonburg. And God, let us not just be friendly by name or by motto or by slang, but let it be our reality, let it be how we move and operate in mind, body, soul, and spirit. Now, God, as we are about to take due action on the agenda that's set before us, we ask that you would give us the wisdom to move forward throughout that. Let no hurt harm or danger come to anyone that enters and exits this place. It's in the mighty, matchless, unparalleled name of Jesus the Christ, I pray, and I say thank you. Hallelujah. Amen. Amen. I glad your allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which ascends one nation under God and individual with liberty and justice for all. And so if I can have Councilman Fleming help me. And Christopher, if you will go up front. With Councilman Fleming. This is a resolution honoring Christopher B. Jones for service as mayor and council member for the city of Harrisonburg. Whereas Christopher Jones has served on the city council since 2015, including one term as mayor, and has executed his duties with integrity, fairness, and effectiveness. And whereas Councilman Jones has contributed to numerous boards and commissions, including, now this is a long list, the Harrisonburg Rockingham Chamber of Commerce, the City and Rockingham County Liaison Committee, the City and Harrisonburg City School Liaison Committee, the City and James Madison University Liaison Committee, the Community Criminal Justice Board, the Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance Board of Directors, the Deer Population Task Force, the City and Build Our Park, formerly Plan Our Park Liaison Committee, the City and Harrisonburg Redevelopment and Housing Authority Liaison Committee, and the city, the city and Eastern Mennonite University liaison committee. And whereas Councilman Jones has represented the city and state and national organizations, such as the Virginia Municipal League, the National League of Cities Racial Equity and Leadership Council, and National League of Cities National Black Caucus. And whereas Councilman Jones supported the City Hall and Municipal Building Renovation Projects, as well as the construction of new educational facilities like the Elon Rhodes Early Learning Center, Bluestone Elementary, and Rocktown High School. And whereas Councilman Jones has always been a strong supporter of economic development and championed the creation of the BQ program for black and brown-owned businesses, which has enrolled 84 businesses and secured funding for early stage entrepreneurs. Woo. Give it around. Give a round. Y'all can clap it any more. Whereas Councilman Jones was a major supporter of public safety, funding fire station number five and COVID-19 hazard pay, adding new firefighters positions, and acquiring new fire engines and equipment. And whereas Councilman Jones was a strong advocate for the investment into the South Fork Shenardor River Project and supported the comprehensive housing assessment. And whereas Councilman Jones enhanced the workplace for employees by helping to launch an internal diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility and belonging program, and supporting a 2022 classification and comprehensive comprehension study, compensation study that was implemented in 2024. And whereas Councilman Jones leadership, dedication, and professionalism will be greatly missed by the city staff, elected officials, and the citizens he served. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Harrisonburg City Council honors Christopher B. Jones for his exemplary service and invaluable contributions to the city. So there's a couple of things we're going to do. And then we'll allow Chris to introduce his family. So Councilman Fleming. It seems just a blink of an eye ago. Sat down at Capitol Ale. Oh. And met this Southern Baptist guy from the City of Churches from the River City. That's right. That's right.
openpublica.com