Harrisonburg City Council Meeting

Date: May 27, 2025 | Time: 7:00 PM – 10:15 PM | Location: Council Chambers

The Harrisonburg City Council held a regular meeting on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. The meeting covered a broad range of items including the approval of the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 budget and the CDBG Action Plan, a presentation on severe weather impacts on the water treatment plant, a resolution ending a local emergency, approval of a stormwater best management practice at Saufley Farm, presentations on the N. Mason Street Complete Streets demonstration project and the HB Flex on-demand rideshare pilot, an update on Kids Castle construction costs, and multiple consent agenda items. Mayor Deanna Reed departed at 8:57 PM to travel to a Virginia Transit Association conference, and Vice-Mayor Dany Fleming presided for the remainder of the meeting.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes: Approved from the May 13, 2025 regular meeting and May 16, 2025 special meeting.
• Zoning Ordinance Amendment (Miranda Ebersold): Approved on second reading – reduced the minimum setback of accessory buildings on through lots in the UR (Urban Residential) District.
• Rezoning (Jason Burch): Approved on second reading – rezoned property at 380 Sunrise Avenue.
• Supplemental Appropriation – General Capital Projects Fund: Approved on second reading.
• Supplemental Appropriation – Various Departments: Approved on second reading.
• Special Event Applications – Four approved:
  • Salvation Army 100-Year Anniversary (June 27, 2025)
  • July Fireworks (July 5, 2025)
  • Hispanic Festival (August 2, 2025)
  • Harrisonburg Youth TryAthlon (August 9, 2025)

Public Hearings

• Real Estate Tax Rate for FY 2025-2026: Public hearing held at 7:04 PM. No one spoke. The rate was set at $1.01 per $100 of assessed value, unchanged from the prior year. Assessments increased 5.9% due to general reassessment. The motion carried unanimously (5-0). Council noted that Harrisonburg was the last city in Virginia to cross the $1.00 threshold and that the rate is being held steady despite rising assessments.

Discussion Items

• CDBG 2025 Action Plan (Kristin McCombe): Total allocation for 2025 is $512,366, plus $108,600 in unspent prior-year funds, bringing the total to $620,966. Projects include:

  • Housing & Property: $140,000 for Habitat for Humanity Critical Home Repair Program.
  • City Projects: Playground replacement at Hillendale Park, ADA sidewalk at Westover Park ($169,493), basketball goal replacements at Ralph Sampson Park.
  • Administration: capped at 20% ($101,473). Discussion focused on the uncertainty of federal CDBG funding and the need to advocate for its continuation. Council member Laura Dent reported receiving a National League of Cities alert urging letters to Congress. The motion carried unanimously (5-0).

• Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Budget & Appropriation Ordinance (City Manager Ande Banks): The budget was presented as balanced, incorporating finalized CDBG funds and a reduction in sanitation fees from $3 to $2 to cover increased tipping fees. The motion carried unanimously (5-0).

• Vine Street Roadside Memorial (Ande Banks): Approved a request from the family of Sarah Monger, an EMU student killed on Vine Street in 2023, for a VDOT roadside memorial sign. The family will cover application and installation costs. Similar memorials were approved in 2009 and 2020. The vote was unanimous (5-0).

• Presentation on Severe Weather Effects on Water Treatment Plant (Mike Collins): Collins detailed the events of May 12-25, 2025, when a turbidity event (mud/sediment) forced the plant to shut down for 21 hours. Key points:

  • Turbidity reached 180 NTU (normal range for this river is 32-180).
  • The plant normally runs at 85% capacity (8-9 million gallons per day; rated capacity is 13.1 MGD).
  • Filters had to be cleaned every 10 hours instead of every 30 hours, causing production loss.
  • Never did water quality to the public become compromised.
  • Immediate actions: optimize backwash system and revisit chemical coagulant options.
  • Long-term: new South Fork Shenandoah water source coming online in 2026 may help; possible earlier expansion of the treatment plant (previously scheduled for 2044, but growth may accelerate that timeline); exploring supplemental groundwater sources.
  • Council member comments highlighted the need for balance between investment and rate impacts, and praised staff for their response.

• Resolution Ending Local Emergency Related to Water Treatment Plant (Adopted unanimously, 5-0): The resolution terminated the local emergency that had been declared during the severe weather event. The emergency powers were never used.

• Saufley Farm Stormwater Best Management Practice (Tom Hartman): Approved use of 96 acres of city-owned Saufley Farm for land conversion (planting trees) to meet MS4 (municipal separate storm sewer system) requirements by October 2028. The city needs to remove 6,748 lbs of nitrogen per year by that date; this project will contribute 1,300 lbs of nitrogen and 187 lbs of phosphorus removal. It is cost-effective at about $1,200 per pound of nitrogen (vs. $2,000-$2,500 for typical projects) and will also reduce reliance on multiple smaller projects. 30,000 trees will be planted over five growing seasons, finishing fall 2028. The vote was unanimous (5-0).

• N. Mason Street Complete Streets Demonstration Project (Mike Parks & Tom Hartman): This “quick-build” demonstration is part of the Community Connectors grant through Smart Growth America, focusing on reconnecting the Northeast neighborhood to downtown. The project will close two southbound lanes between Elizabeth Street and Gay Street from July 7, 2025 for 3-4 weeks. Key features: temporary mini-roundabouts at Elizabeth and Gay, stop-controlled intersection at Wolf Street (Mason through traffic will not stop), and a community event on July 12 to activate the reclaimed lane space. The presentation noted the project’s goal to heal harms from urban renewal. Council members asked about traffic monitoring, diversion, and business/neighborhood communications. Staff emphasized that this is a test to gather data and community feedback. The presentation was received and filed.

• HB Flex On-Demand Rideshare Pilot (Elliot Menge): This microtransit pilot operates in a zone covering downtown and the Walmart/Valley Mall shopping areas. It runs from May 19 to August 16, 2025, Monday through Saturday, 5-9 AM and 5-11 PM (during the pilot it is free). Users request rides via the PasioGo app; vehicles are paratransit buses (ADA accessible). There are no age restrictions. The pilot is grant-funded; future cost per ride has not been determined. Council members discussed potential competition with Uber/Lyft and the community benefit for low-income residents. The report was received and filed.

• Kids Castle Construction Update (Brian Mancini): The original budget of $3.175 million is insufficient; costs are projected at around $3.5 million after $400,000 in cuts already made. An additional $317,000 (approx.) is needed to avoid compromising the design (e.g., not removing a playground section for ages 5-12 or shade structures). Staff requested consensus to identify alternative funding from the current year’s budget. Council gave consensus to proceed with finding the funds, with a supplemental appropriation expected in June. No vote was taken.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda: All 10 items approved unanimously (5-0).
• Real Estate Tax Rate: Set at $1.01 per $100 of assessed value for FY 2025-2026. Unanimous (5-0).
• CDBG Action Plan: Approved unanimously (5-0).
• FY 2025-2026 Budget and Appropriation Ordinance: Approved unanimously (5-0).
• Vine Street Roadside Memorial: Approved unanimously (5-0).
• Resolution Ending Local Emergency (Water Treatment Plant): Adopted unanimously (5-0).
• Saufley Farm BMP: Approved unanimously (5-0).
• Supplemental Appropriation (Capital Projects): $2.5 million (from JMU and VDOT revenue sharing) for Mt. Clinton Pike Shared Use Paths and University Blvd realignment. Approved 4-0 (Mayor absent).
• Reallocation of Funds: $67,000 from a closed capital project to the Mt. Clinton Pike project. Approved 4-0 (Mayor absent).
• Presentation on Water Treatment Plant: Received and filed.
• Presentation on Complete Streets: Received and filed.
• Presentation on HB Flex Pilot: Received and filed.
• Update on Kids Castle: Council gave consensus to staff to find $317,000 in alternative funding; no formal vote.
• Public Comments: Three speakers addressed collective bargaining (opposed), elected official behavior, and ADA compliance with public transit.
• Appointment to Economic Development Authority: Jared Burden appointed to a partial term expiring February 26, 2028. Unanimous voice vote.