Harrisonburg City Council Meeting: October 27, 2026

The Harrisonburg City Council met at 7:00 PM on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, in Council Chambers. No public hearings or special recognitions were held. Council approved the consent agenda, a letter opposing proposed decennial census changes, the 2027 Legislative Agenda, and an appointment to the Harrisonburg Electric Commission.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the minutes from the October 13, 2026 City Council meeting.
• Approved special event applications for the Veterans Parade on Sunday, November 8, 2026; HDR's Winter Wonderfest and Harrisonburg's Holiday Parade on Saturday, December 5, 2026; and the Rocktown Turkey Trot on Thursday, November 26, 2026.
• Approved a zoning text amendment to include qualifying manufactured homes in the definition of 'Dwelling, single-family'.
• Approved Eastern Mennonite School's request to amend the master plan at 701 and 801 Parkwood Drive and 1251 Virginia Avenue.
• Approved a Zoning Ordinance amendment to reduce the minimum lot width for single-family detached dwellings in the R-8 district.

Public Comments & Testimony

• A community member, speaking at the last council meeting before the election, warned about unplanned growth, comparing Iowa's rising cancer rates and Northern Virginia's data center buildout to challenges Harrisonburg could face; they urged residents to attend the candidate forum and vote.
• Isaac Felix, 1115 Commercial Court, expressed support for a collective bargaining ordinance for school bus drivers. He cited low wages compared with other CDL jobs, driver retention challenges, the example of Charlottesville, and the importance of investing in bus drivers so they can safely transport students.
• No callers phoned in during the public comment period.

Discussion Items

• Census comment letter (7A): City Manager Banks presented a letter opposing the U.S. Department of Commerce's proposal to alter demographic questions and residence criteria for the Decennial Census. Council members noted that the change could exclude foreign-born residents, who represent about 20% of Harrisonburg's population, and could jeopardize federal funding including approximately $5 million for school nutrition and $4-5 million for transportation. Council accepted the letter as written; it was authored by Amy Snyder.
• 2027 Legislative Agenda (7B): Brian Vandenberg, Assistant to the City Manager, reviewed the final version, which retained the policy principles of protecting local authority and funding state mandates. Revisions included changing the public sector collective bargaining priority to add state funding for administration and arbitration costs and protect council approval over budget-impacting negotiations; adding state funding for local affordable housing and workforce housing initiatives; allowing urban redevelopment funds to support local small businesses; and adding new priorities for English learner education funding and data center accountability based on Governor Spanberger's Executive Order 22. Budget requests included child care facilities expansion grants, a water storage tank, the Virginia Homeless Solutions Program, and new stormwater funding for the Northeast neighborhood.

Council and Staff Updates

• Council members attended a Parks and Recreation event and the Zoning Ordinance Update Project (ZOOP) session at SIMS.
• One council member reported plans to attend COP 31 in Turkey and to be absent from both November council meetings.
• Council reported on the Healthy Community Collaborative's quarterly meeting and Deputy Chief Quisenberry's retirement event.
• Council participated in a launching meeting for an AI workforce initiative with university presidents from JMU, EMU, Bridgewater, and Blue Ridge, along with workforce partners; Senator Warner may attend a follow-up session.
• Council highlighted the Lights on After School event on October 22 and discussed the $17 billion Meta settlement, with Virginia receiving $353 million, advocating that some funds support after-school programs and youth services.

Boards and Commissions

• After reviewing applicants Craig Anders, Edward Yoder, and Aaron Ludwig, and noting the HEC board's need for accounting expertise, Council unanimously appointed Edward Yoder to the Harrisonburg Electric Commission.

Key Outcomes

• Consent agenda approved unanimously.
• Census comment letter approved unanimously as written.
• 2027 Legislative Agenda adopted unanimously.
• Edward Yoder appointed to HEC unanimously.
• The agenda included a closed session item for legal consultation, but the transcript reflects no closed session before adjournment; the meeting adjourned after the HEC appointment.