OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Harrisonburg City Council Meeting – January 13, 2026

City Council & Planning Commission — Tuesday, January 13, 2026
BodyHarrisonburg, Virginia
SessionCity Council & Planning Commission
DateTuesday, January 13, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:03:56

Transcript — Verbatim
0:16

Yes, they are on their way in.

0:28

I call our Tuesday, January thirteenth, twenty twenty-six, city council meeting to order roca, please pan.

0:35

Mayor Reid, President, City Manager Banks.

0:38

Here.

0:38

City Attorney Brown.

0:40

Here.

0:40

Vice Mayor Fleming?

0:41

Here.

0:42

Councilmember Alcidin.

0:44

Here.

0:44

Councilmember Dent.

0:45

Here.

0:45

Councilmember Robinson.

0:47

Here.

0:48

Interim Chief Pollard.

0:49

Here.

0:50

And Chief Tubia is on site somewhere.

0:53

Okay.

0:53

Thank you.

0:54

If you would please rise for a moment of silence or private prayer, whatever you desire.

0:59

And then we may stand for defension.

1:21

Thank you.

1:23

Okay, allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic, which it stands one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

1:43

Okay, we do not have any special recognitions this evening, so we can go straight to our consent agenda.

1:50

Any items placed on the consent agenda shall be removed and taken up as a separate matter if so requested by any member of council.

1:57

Otherwise, all items will be voted on with one motion.

2:02

I'll move to accept the consent agenda as presented.

2:06

Second.

2:07

Any discussion?

2:09

Roll call, please pan.

2:10

Vice Mayor Fleming.

2:12

Aye.

2:12

Councilmember Alzheimer's.

2:13

Aye.

2:14

Councilmember Dent.

2:15

Aye.

2:15

Councilmember Robinson?

2:17

Aye.

2:17

Mayor Reid.

2:18

Aye.

2:18

We will now go into our public hearings.

2:20

And Adam?

2:22

Six eighth.

2:26

Why are you looking at it like I don't know what I'm saying?

2:29

Adam Fletcher, 6A.

2:32

Number four on the agenda was recognition.

2:34

So I was confused.

2:35

We got through this quick.

2:38

Thank you.

2:39

My name is Adam Fletcher, Director of Community Development, and Happy New Year.

2:43

Happy New Year.

2:44

So I do have four items to present to you this evening.

2:47

All of them, each of them are kind of unique, uh kind of complicated.

2:51

While the end result might be rather straightforward, they are kind of complicated to understand.

2:54

So if you have any particular questions or if I didn't explain anything well, please let me know.

2:58

The first is a zoning ordinance amendment.

3:04

He did give indication that he would not be able to make it this evening.

3:08

And he respectfully wanted you all to be aware that he was not choosing not to be here, that he just could not be here this evening.

3:14

But this is any ordinance amendments.

3:17

And I just lost my information.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning And Land Use██████████████████████████26%
Arts And Culture████████████████16%
Procedural████████████12%
Zoning██████████10%
Community Engagement██████████10%
Fire Safety███3%
Food Processing Regulations███3%
Economic Development███3%
Affordable Housing███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Harrisonburg City Council Meeting – January 13, 2026

The Harrisonburg City Council met on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at 7:00 PM in the Council Chambers. All five council members were present. The meeting covered a consent agenda, five public hearings, several regular items, appointments to boards and commissions, and a closed session. All votes were unanimous.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved the minutes from the December 9, 2025 City Council meeting.
  • Approved an ordinance amending and re-enacting Title 6, Chapter 2 (Solid Waste Collection and Disposal) on second reading.
  • Approved an ordinance authorizing the City Manager to execute a quitclaim deed conveying real property to JMU Foundation - Virginia Avenue LLC on second reading.

Public Hearings

  • 6a – AM Yoder & Co. (Side Yard Setbacks in R-8 District): Adam Fletcher, Director of Community Development, presented a zoning ordinance amendment to allow fixed, inoperable windows on the first floor in reduced side yard setbacks, with a 10-foot height limit above grade and fire-rated construction. Staff and the Planning Commission (6-0) recommended approval. No public speakers. Council approved unanimously.
  • 6b – Honest Meats LLC (Meat Processing in M-1): An ordinance amendment to define meat processing (by special use permit) and poultry processing (by right) in the M-1 district. The applicant, currently non-conforming at 256 Charles Street, seeks to become conforming. Todd Rhea (Clark and Bradshaw, applicant’s representative) spoke in support. Staff and Planning Commission (6-0) recommended approval. Council approved unanimously.
  • 6c – Turkey Properties LLC (Rezone 797 Chicago Avenue): A request to rezone a split-zoned parcel from R-5C and B-2C to R-5C and B-2, removing a proffer for a gazebo and extending a fence line. Gil Coleman (Coleman Engineering, applicant’s representative) explained the need to clean up mixed zoning for parking expansion at the adjoining La Morena property. Planning Commission (6-0) recommended approval. Council approved unanimously.
  • 6d – Valley Corner LLC (Rezone 1110 N Liberty Street): A request to rezone from M-1 to M-1C and R-3C to allow a residential use (two units) and a coffee roastery (Broadporch) to move into the city. Gil Coleman represented the applicant, noting the mixed-use opportunity. Proffers included closing the North Liberty Street entrance and reducing the width of another entrance. Planning Commission (6-0) recommended approval. Council approved unanimously.
  • 6e – CDBG Funding Priorities: Kristin McCombe, CDBG Program Manager, presented the 2026 Action Plan, opening a 30-day public comment period. No action was taken.

Discussion Items

  • 7a – Amendments to 2023, 2024, 2025 CDBG Action Plans: Amendments to reallocate funding from slower-spending projects to ready projects, keeping the grant in compliance with federal timeliness calculations. A 30-day comment period yielded no additional comments. Council approved unanimously.
  • 7b – Write Off of 347 Utility Bills: City Attorney Chris Brown presented a request to write off $26,205.63 in delinquent utility bills from July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023, representing 0.11% of total billing. Collection efforts will continue. Council approved unanimously.
  • 7c – Donation of Public Art at Spraygrounds at Ralph Sampson Park: Steve and Chris Carpenter proposed a $100,000 donor-funded public art project, including a mosaic of the iconic diver on the pump house, an archway, and roundabout art. Community input was gathered at a November 2025 meeting. Council discussion emphasized the need for more neighborhood representation on the selection committee and inclusion of children. Karen Thomas (Northeast Neighborhood Association) confirmed community involvement. Deputy City Manager Amy Snyder will work closely with donors. Council approved the concept unanimously.
  • 7d – Follow Up on Correspondence to Federal and State Representatives: Vice Mayor Fleming reported that a letter was sent to Senators Warner and Kaine, Congressman Cline, and three newly elected state officials, requesting clarity on federal immigration enforcement policies, a statewide forum of local leaders, and restoration of sensitive location protections. Council Member Dent praised Harrisonburg for leading on this issue. The report was received and filed.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Carrie Pettite (Garbers Church Road) expressed concern about alleged directives to Harrisonburg police to not cooperate with ICE, urging the council to encourage full cooperation. She stated that personal political bias may be influencing the council’s position.

Key Outcomes

  • All consent agenda items (5a, 5b, 5c) approved unanimously.
  • All four zoning ordinance amendments and rezoning requests (6a, 6b, 6c, 6d) approved unanimously.
  • CDBG Action Plan amendments (7a) approved unanimously.
  • Utility bill write-off (7b) approved unanimously.
  • Public art donation concept (7c) approved unanimously.
  • Boards and Commissions appointments:
    • Harrisonburg Redevelopment and Housing Authority: Amanda Morris (unexpired term to November 30, 2027) and Anthony Hayes (full term to January 13, 2030) approved unanimously.
    • Board of Equalization: Gerald Bland (full term to December 31, 2028) and Laurinda Peters (alternate, term to December 31, 2028) approved unanimously.
    • Community Policy and Management Team: Amy Snyder (and Ande Banks as alternate) approved unanimously.
  • Council entered closed session at 9:03 PM under VA Code §2.2-3711(A)(7) for consultation on legal matters. The session ended at 9:55 PM, with certification that only exempt business was discussed. Meeting adjourned.

Meeting Transcript

Yes, they are on their way in. I call our Tuesday, January thirteenth, twenty twenty-six, city council meeting to order roca, please pan. Mayor Reid, President, City Manager Banks. Here. City Attorney Brown. Here. Vice Mayor Fleming? Here. Councilmember Alcidin. Here. Councilmember Dent. Here. Councilmember Robinson. Here. Interim Chief Pollard. Here. And Chief Tubia is on site somewhere. Okay. Thank you. If you would please rise for a moment of silence or private prayer, whatever you desire. And then we may stand for defension. Thank you. Okay, allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic, which it stands one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Okay, we do not have any special recognitions this evening, so we can go straight to our consent agenda. Any items placed on the consent agenda shall be removed and taken up as a separate matter if so requested by any member of council. Otherwise, all items will be voted on with one motion. I'll move to accept the consent agenda as presented. Second. Any discussion? Roll call, please pan. Vice Mayor Fleming. Aye. Councilmember Alzheimer's. Aye. Councilmember Dent. Aye. Councilmember Robinson? Aye. Mayor Reid. Aye. We will now go into our public hearings. And Adam? Six eighth. Why are you looking at it like I don't know what I'm saying? Adam Fletcher, 6A. Number four on the agenda was recognition. So I was confused. We got through this quick. Thank you. My name is Adam Fletcher, Director of Community Development, and Happy New Year.

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