[{"_1":2,"_135":-5,"_136":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111,123],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6588949,"mediaKeyId","5490143-3d1d3698b2ca07ce0d0704c4afe875a1","parentId",5490143,"title","Votes at a glance: Waynesboro City Council actions on July 28, 2025","audioSeconds",7100,"startMs",170000,"endMs",7270000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5490143-3d1d3698b2ca07ce0d0704c4afe875a1&start=170&end=7270","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5490143-3d1d3698b2ca07ce0d0704c4afe875a1/thumbnail_170000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6588949/Waynesboro/Augusta-County/Virginia/Votes-at-a-glance-Waynesboro-City-Council-actions-on-July-28-2025","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6588949-143aa937c780dfa421bb0e717569a7dd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770506503&Signature=RWqZOoRVG0DlIWzXtdZy1HE2tdG447K3aPgtSrdjflTVRLratinhsB4KueFYNurdJg9Rm5Vn1LA-4STiI3mhb-BKRPFjzJ17H71nG4w238Gd~FZy~nExDxFyGPnYZhP60OEeVAx5mKmM5FwZUQLcFglIhjuethehNjxhkFPr7iuIlemNHTy1g9HYNC55lU5OloMblrhyoz3FV74NuoaTEV6hTQsryPRd63OoeHdKT2mikRmplVl2Ht89jTHC9LvdOnMV7eHxixxUlVVyZxtGAQ8kMW9vPu5Q-EW4wl15MW4T7PBXQxkgEdswZFuX6QuzBQ9vrEEF3S9TGMlIuEl5lw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Waynesboro","date","2025-07-29T01:08:08Z","article","At its July 28 meeting, the Waynesboro City Council recorded the following formal actions and outcomes.

- Adopted the amended meeting agenda (voice vote recorded as 5–2–4–0 in meeting shorthand; vice mayor absent).
- Adopted the consent agenda (voice vote recorded as 4–0).
- Adopted a proclamation honoring Charles “Charlie” Downs (presentation to his wife, Mary Alice; no vote detail beyond adoption).
- Adopted amendments to Chapter 74 (Subdivision Ordinance) with the exception of the proposed secondary-access amendment; the ordinance changes were approved 4–0.
- Introduced an ordinance amending Chapter 78, Article 5 (transient lodging tax) to reflect 2025 changes in the Virginia code; council voted to introduce the ordinance (voice vote recorded as 4–0). Introduction was moved and seconded and will return for adoption in a later meeting.
- Adopted a resolution of official intent to reimburse expenditures with proceeds of future borrowing to support repairs and expansion at the public-works compound (item 10) — vote recorded as 4–0.
- Introduced an appropriation ordinance for $400,000 for Phase 1 design services for the public-works facilities project to be funded from the sewer fund (item 11); council moved and seconded the introduction and staff said the matter will return for adoption on Aug. 25.
- Adopted three resolutions authorizing acceptance of opioid-settlement funds (Henry Schein distributor settlement; Purdue Pharma/Sackler settlement; grouped manufacturers settlement) — vote recorded as 4–0.
- Appointed two Waynesboro representatives to the Shenandoah Valley Workforce Development Board: Vicky Martin (DR Drake) and Tricia Hall Miner (Magnera, formerly Berry Plastics) — vote recorded as 4–0.
- Adopted a resolution approving the city manager’s employment agreement — vote recorded as 4–0.
- Appointed Danny Lefford to the Blue Ridge Community College board — vote recorded as 4–0.

Where the meeting recorded only a voice tally, the summary reflects the council’s announced result. If a vote-record name-by-name was not given in the transcript, the council’s verbal tally is reproduced here rather than an itemized roll-call list.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","July 28th, 2025 Waynesboro City Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","A roundup of the council's formal actions on July 28, including agenda adoption, ordinance votes and appointments.","taxTitle","Waynesboro, Augusta County, Virginia","taxId",56188,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6588955,"Waynesboro opts into opioid settlement agreements; council approves three resolutions",147,3749000,3896000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5490143-3d1d3698b2ca07ce0d0704c4afe875a1&start=3749&end=3896","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5490143-3d1d3698b2ca07ce0d0704c4afe875a1/thumbnail_3749000.jpg","/articles/6588955/Waynesboro/Augusta-County/Virginia/Waynesboro-opts-into-opioid-settlement-agreements-council-approves-three-resolutions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6588955-0a22821a74b80445d3624c4d5121bddf/orig.mp4?Expires=1770506503&Signature=maY20DiJzYfTUHh9CTObybkXl9x-gGq8VIYITJNKfKFMGuk2wklr8oc5dpqc7Bx4rF7NvEt7SPcvd5olxKQmBTRHdwDCmsavQb1Ux22I1Cv2H7Uy1rLn8q6ITETZPMgGnO8YUHUoRJRlaAhymRs-Uy3bT3H0UsSGXNOI0FLf4zRgkkbOkgPgZXIqoMviIiSpVyQZZBfFkktizFIgZXy1hOmidz1p5yApi-H-Pf1PUNwDrJbHc70QXVTxZcQvROoAKajA35lNzeYdbN~8CwDYydKOhEeZfw8wp~XCwJpy8bfqEIDm9Ox6BIa0-3fbZqgRZUUKWADd3SwgYsK3Z85LWQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Waynesboro City Council on July 28 approved three resolutions authorizing the city to accept opioid-settlement proceeds from separate settlements, including a Purdue Pharma bankruptcy settlement and a manufacturers settlement.

City attorney/presenting staff member Miss Michaelson briefed council on three categories of settlements: a smaller distributor settlement (Henry Schein Inc., described in the meeting as $416,000 in total nationwide), the Purdue Pharma bankruptcy settlement (identified by staff as $6.5 billion nationwide, with payments over 15–16 years), and a grouped-manufacturers proposed settlement (described as $16.4 million). Michaelson said Virginia’s allocation from the Purdue settlement could be up to $104 million; under the allocation approach discussed in the meeting, Virginia would direct about 65% of its share to the newly created Virginia Opioid Authority and distribute the remaining roughly 35% directly to localities. Michaelson said Waynesboro’s share was estimated at 0.363% of the local-distribution calculations and provided illustrative local estimates: about $144,000 from the Purdue allocation and about $2,023,000 from the manufacturers settlement (figures provided by staff and described as theoretical examples tied to statewide allocation formulas).

Michaelson said settlement funds are restricted to opioid-abatement purposes; she recommended council approve the three resolutions together. Council approved the resolutions on a voice vote recorded as 4–0. Council members asked for additional detail on the Virginia Opioid Authority’s staffing and distribution process; staff said the authority had been established in state code and that further information could be provided by email.

Council members discussed that some settlement dollars will come directly to localities while a portion will be directed to the state authority; localities could later decide whether to pool local shares regionally for programmatic use or to use them independently for local opioid-abatement programs.","Council approved three resolutions authorizing the city to accept settlement funds from opioid-related national settlements, including Purdue Pharma and a grouped manufacturers settlement; staff explained the distribution mechanics and the city's projected shares.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6588959,"Council approves reimbursement resolution and advances design funding for public works facility project",654,2750000,3404000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5490143-3d1d3698b2ca07ce0d0704c4afe875a1&start=2750&end=3404","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5490143-3d1d3698b2ca07ce0d0704c4afe875a1/thumbnail_2750000.jpg","/articles/6588959/Waynesboro/Augusta-County/Virginia/Council-approves-reimbursement-resolution-and-advances-design-funding-for-public-works-facility-project","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6588959-8edf6e0ca056473108277dcdcc1454ce/orig.mp4?Expires=1770506503&Signature=mzY4hO4VWiZR-VjdeBjpPmUslLYg5UuiQ4hA~v8rwEM-plzjo7FOID-IwFpJOB4vv2qgADPOqwJ5AYccCaC496N7hAkYPA2L3yV3bO3tOGwISscxTeq2SttTdXShHQVGm5YnmMPMfoc-3NU0Yky-KZ8vgfOgAJt4f1Cmtuzf25Gk583TsUcJW1j3XUvoriER13g1GqgQRqblnac4t80sbWicCfakj9buu1QBKbdKwLZzN~Ojb3WwKt2r3TDlnnyG-5V24S5DuSTXTn9qpAATbC55TkAXKnd887csPLGJPaoAQIJPNuT2QLHwCNohMGjqyQyvALDgvqflGL8dTQR25w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Waynesboro City Council on July 28 adopted a resolution of official intent to reimburse expenditures with proceeds of a future borrowing and introduced an appropriation ordinance to fund initial design services for a public-works facilities project at 900 Essex Avenue.

Finance and public works staff described the overall project as an effort to repair, modernize and expand existing public-works facilities. The work includes smaller repairs (enlarging the fleet wash bay to allow dump-bed cleaning, repairing a central shop drain, roof repairs, and storage realignment), elevating some water-enterprise offices out of the floodplain, and a larger construction element: approximately 7,000 square feet of finished space plus about 7,000 square feet of upper-level expansion. Staff provided a preliminary price estimate of $7.9 million for the larger construction elements.

City staff said the $400,000 appropriation requested at the meeting would fund phase-1 architecture and engineering (design) and would be paid from the sewer fund. Staff said the sewer enterprise currently has adequate cash to fund the design work; the full project costs would be shared across water, sewer, streets and fleet operations and could ultimately be financed with debt, at which time the city could reimburse itself for qualifying pre-borrowing expenditures.

Council voted 4–0 to adopt the reimbursement-resolution (official intent). Council members asked for a work session on the broader asset and facility implications — specifically what the city would do with facilities vacated by consolidation — and staff said they would schedule a work session ahead of further action; staff indicated the project would return for additional approvals on Aug. 25.

No final construction contract was authorized at the July 28 meeting; the council adopted the reimbursement intent resolution and authorized the introduction of the design appropriation.","The council adopted an official intent to reimburse resolution for borrowing related to repairs and an expansion at the 900 Essex Avenue public works site and introduced an appropriation ordinance for $400,000 in design services to be paid from the sewer fund.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6588964,"Council adopts subdivision ordinance updates but tables secondary-access change",679,1811000,2490000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5490143-3d1d3698b2ca07ce0d0704c4afe875a1&start=1811&end=2490","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5490143-3d1d3698b2ca07ce0d0704c4afe875a1/thumbnail_1811000.jpg","/articles/6588964/Waynesboro/Augusta-County/Virginia/Council-adopts-subdivision-ordinance-updates-but-tables-secondary-access-change","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6588964-07b3738f21b0ebab2811b05bfe56e978/orig.mp4?Expires=1770506503&Signature=c-8CmfGbNqEgUiIAtEDx1H4zeXGMXMGNeQmRObPgi6ZwAyxUhJWS0-sc5Dzr8a0djz3vmRrk7kbts94ig34sy~urrn2CHGz7BhkoUGu6IQnxVxKKKBpgp8qKFHktGdGARUjvpB~7VkiVLkZW-UmX1jqgq4p-8L3rC63ZQsJ8Lv0I~i9tC~Uiaqn3Wg9FVOr1G79z1CPXodlQE5B2y1dRWLW2DsoTN245sSVK3cYKo3C5ekbDMPVao97L0Y7OKBwj-RXiziIc2fKLKzocjCoxuIUXbvlUv~TC2M9lQnYgxJFuhaQlHv0cxUS9DANkoV5W~D1iJs-Tyqb4tVn58D3zOg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Waynesboro City Council on July 28 adopted a set of amendments to Chapter 74 (Subdivision Ordinance) that staff said bring local rules into compliance with changes in the Code of Virginia and clarify provisions for cottage housing and administrative procedures. Council approved the package of amendments with one exception: a proposed requirement for a secondary fire access for developments with more than 30 dwelling units was removed from the ordinance and tabled for further study.

City planner Miss Tate summarized the amendments as primarily compliance-driven, reflecting new state requirements that took effect July 1, and as administrative clarifications including bonds calculation, pedestrian-crossing language and updates to department titles. The amendments also reconcile an existing cottage-housing ordinance with subdivision rules so that cottage lots need not front a public street when clustered around a common area.

Tate said the planning commission had held a public hearing and recommended approval. A point of contention during the council discussion was a staff-proposed inclusion of a requirement for a secondary means of fire access for developments with more than 30 dwelling units. Council members noted that the statewide fire code already contains an emergency-access requirement and questioned whether restating it in the subdivision ordinance was necessary. Several council members also asked for comparative information from similarly sized jurisdictions; one council member noted that Augusta County’s threshold for full secondary public access is 100 units and said more research was needed before adopting a 30-unit trigger.

To address workload and research concerns, staff suggested removing the secondary-access item from the current amendment package and returning it later for further study. Council voted to adopt the remaining amendments and to table the secondary-access provision; the motion passed 4–0.

The adopted changes will be incorporated into the city code; staff will return later with further work or comparative analysis on secondary-access thresholds if council directs.","Waynesboro City Council approved amendments to Chapter 74 of the city code to conform to recent Virginia code changes and to clarify cottage-housing and administrative provisions, but the council removed and tabled a proposed secondary-access provision pending further review.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6588967,"City hears multi-million-dollar plan for Virginia Museum of Natural History campus in Waynesboro",950,798000,1748000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5490143-3d1d3698b2ca07ce0d0704c4afe875a1&start=798&end=1748","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5490143-3d1d3698b2ca07ce0d0704c4afe875a1/thumbnail_798000.jpg","/articles/6588967/Waynesboro/Augusta-County/Virginia/City-hears-multi-million-dollar-plan-for-Virginia-Museum-of-Natural-History-campus-in-Waynesboro","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6588967-f78b6cdc66cb4a5156619888beb99be3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770506503&Signature=ggpg4uNupMmFJQqdmhft8W2d4okkbKYKSPFS~FVgHyjJAPK5v7tTyyyH-4246EJFuy~z9OZughjlDWnyTJoWefRJaMtnEiMU9LhLxu6Q-ae0XVjNlJc0o~B1B6NnqxBYtb6QJvOARqmpStHknuJ3UhDAbQdPlQYgL66yP0Pp2MHJHfhNB3BD5ibvLLt9S4bp6VOeDng-mNIicGT2wM6bjB2cZFupK82A6809acXxq22po2HecxnY5isjWmTwnQ5Hckh2P-Ja9XVO1vXqcdr3z~QLWFxLpAKZq29lMEXYANjNmxrlmmpPpVvaWf~Vh4B7iE7ZiZVLz~JrvIOQsxtujQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City officials and museum representatives on July 28 updated Waynesboro City Council on plans for a Virginia Museum of Natural History campus in downtown Waynesboro.

Greg Hitchen, the council’s liaison to the project, and Dr. Joe Kuiper, executive director of the museum, described a planned two-story, 28,000-square-foot facility to be built on a city-owned downtown parking lot. The project team estimates a total project cost of $36 million, a conservative annual attendance projection of about 65,000 visitors and an initial economic-impact estimate of roughly $4.2 million to the area.

Dr. Kuiper said the museum is finishing detailed design work and has selected building materials and exhibit concepts. “We are in the process of getting to the point where we move from the six-year capital outlay to what we call the capital construction pool,” Kuiper said, referring to a state funding step. He said the museum submitted a request to the capital construction pool for fiscal 2027 and will seek placement in the governor’s proposed budget in December, after which the project would move to construction drawings and then a roughly two-year buildout if funded.

Presenters said the campus will prioritize STEM and K–12 outreach — noting there are roughly 63,000 K–12 students within an hour’s drive — and will include classrooms, laboratory space for scientific research, community space and outdoor exhibits connected to the South River Preserve. Kuiper said the museum will continue programs such as “Museums for All,” which provides free admission to families with SNAP/EBT benefits; at a recent museum event in Martinsville, roughly 1,300 visitors used EBT-based free admission.

The project team described volunteer and fundraising activity, local partnerships and state engagement, including support from Delegate Campbell and Senator Head. Presenters encouraged residents to contact state legislators in support of the Waynesboro campus; Hitchen said a public fundraising campaign would begin once initial state construction funding is approved.

No formal funding vote occurred at the July 28 meeting. Council members expressed support and noted the project will be returned to council as state funding decisions and project milestones progress.","Museum officials presented design, visitor and economic assumptions for a proposed 28,000-square-foot Virginia Museum of Natural History campus in downtown Waynesboro and described next steps in seeking state construction funding.",{"_33":124,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":125,"_41":126,"_43":127,"_45":128,"_47":129,"_49":130,"_51":131,"_53":132,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":133,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":134,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6588972,"Waynesboro honors accessibility advocate and updates ADA transition plan",456,341000,797000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5490143-3d1d3698b2ca07ce0d0704c4afe875a1&start=341&end=797","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5490143-3d1d3698b2ca07ce0d0704c4afe875a1/thumbnail_341000.jpg","/articles/6588972/Waynesboro/Augusta-County/Virginia/Waynesboro-honors-accessibility-advocate-and-updates-ADA-transition-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6588972-873d095de00f663fbb55cc9cb06f1c3b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770506503&Signature=eOQ0d7h-1E48nJZm4o6zNTfRxDGOzgpIXlgj01gVI74LdYjS5Cn-xtSLRnhVCybohlEMKYRqvfEaPDPpYXYq8DBabgfWctxAdFbBkGFlC2PfZUBbYuHiacmZKdi4cTLiEocQJLzyQq0di5ceqxq59U3oOhlXrdibKEmK0VpiA6fkMazLi~67QvMslj6akdK2HOr5dY9wLITGQ9tjrGkKqUtYNgt61t9ibd3Ao9jRyQDz-q4keu1ixEeVFUl4LYcXsR2FS-2ovMLr6nL14T4L4kmp9Lp5-4ZWeyca0QEB6s3nQiz-07mk97fP43CC8ygVJlBLRslOfmcxWfWVPhUYgw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Waynesboro City Council on July 28 issued a proclamation honoring the life and work of Charles “Charlie” Downs and received an update on the city’s Americans with Disabilities Act transition plan.

The council read a proclamation recognizing Downs’s decades of advocacy and noting his appointment in September 1992 as the city’s first ADA coordinator. Mayor Lee presented the proclamation to Downs’s wife, Mary Alice.

Contract ADA coordinator Gail Brunt told council she has more than 30 years’ experience in disability and community living and serves as executive director of Valley Associates for Independent Living. “The role of government entities under Title II of the ADA applies to our state and local governments,” Brunt said, summarizing the law’s requirement that programs, services and activities be accessible. She noted the ADA was enacted on July 26, 1990, and said the city is updating its transition plan to reflect ongoing needs.

Brunt said departments have participated in evaluations and accessibility training, and staff are considering accessibility in new projects. She listed recent work including sidewalk and curb ramp upgrades, retrofits to public facilities, website accessibility efforts and emergency planning with access strategies. Brunt said the city will review the capital improvement plan this fall to evaluate costs and priorities and that an updated ADA transition plan will be presented to council at a later date.

The proclamation and update were framed as part of the 35th anniversary of the ADA; the proclamation encouraged residents to continue advancing equal access and independent living for people of every ability.

The council did not take formal action on the transition plan during the meeting; staff described future presentations and capital-plan review as next steps.","The Waynesboro City Council issued a proclamation honoring the late Charles \"Charlie\" Downs and heard an update on the city's ADA transition plan from contract ADA coordinator Gail Brunt, who described ongoing accessibility projects and next steps for capital planning.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Waynesboro City Council actions on July 28, 2025

Waynesboro opts into opioid settlement agreements; council approves three resolutions

Council approves reimbursement resolution and advances design funding for public works facility project

Council adopts subdivision ordinance updates but tables secondary-access change

City hears multi-million-dollar plan for Virginia Museum of Natural History campus in Waynesboro

Waynesboro honors accessibility advocate and updates ADA transition plan