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Votes at a glance: Staunton City Council actions from Jan. 9, 2025
Summary
The council approved a set of routine and substantive items at the Jan. 9 meeting, including a special-use permit revision for Old South Village, a zoning ordinance amendment on alley/easement access, the FY2026 holiday schedule and amendments to the city’s real-estate tax-relief program for elderly and disabled residents.
The Staunton City Council recorded several formal actions on Jan. 9. Below are the principal outcomes recorded during the work session and regular meeting. Vote tallies below come from the roll calls read into the record; where a mover and seconder were recorded in the transcript, they are noted.
1) Approval of the work session and regular meeting agendas - Motion: Approve the work session and regular meeting agendas as presented. - Mover/Second: Vice Mayor Arrowood (mover, indicated in transcript); seconder indicated as a councilor on the dais. - Vote (roll call): Miss Park: Aye; Mister Overholtzer: Aye; Miss Woods: Aye; Mister Campbell: Aye; Vice Mayor Arrowood: Aye; Mayor Edwards: Aye. - Outcome: Motion carries.
2) Nominations and appointments (nominations committee report) - Motion: Multiple appointments and reappointments across several boards and commissions (Development and Housing Authority, Valley Community Services Board, Planning Commission, Tourism Advisory Board, Lewis Creek Committee, Youth Commission). (Listed in transcript.) - Vote (roll call): Unanimous approval recorded at the meeting (Aye by all listed councilors). - Outcome: Motion carries; appointees begin their respective terms as specified in the motion.
3) Consent agenda - Motion: Approve the consent agenda as presented. - Vote (roll call): Unanimous approval recorded (Aye by all listed councilors). - Outcome: Motion carries.
4) Public hearing and special-use permit — Old South Village / Southview (Augusta Opportunities, Inc.) - Motion: Adopt a resolution to approve the Special Use Permit and conditions as recommended by the Planning Commission (motion by Councilor Woods; second by Councilor Park). - Vote (roll call): Aye votes recorded from Councilor Oberholzer, Councilor Woods, Councilor Shepherd, Councilor Park, Councilor Campbell, Vice Mayor Arrowood and Mayor Edwards. - Outcome: Council approved the revised master plan and associated conditions; staff will implement the special-use permit conditions per Planning Commission recommendations.
5) Zoning amendment to allow alleys or private access easements as primary access in limited cases - Motion: Adopt ordinance to amend Chapter 18.120 (proposed amendment recommended by Planning Commission). (Mover was stated as a council member; second recorded in the record.) - Vote (roll call): Unanimous approval recorded (Aye by all listed councilors in roll call). - Outcome: Ordinance adopted to allow alleys/access easements as primary access for existing lots under specified conditions (single dwelling per lot, dwelling must face public street, proof of ingress/egress easement where used, engineer approval of driveway permit).
6) FY2026 holiday schedule - Motion: Adopt the FY2026 holiday schedule as presented (mover: Vice Mayor Arrowood; second: Councilor Shepherd). - Vote (roll call): Unanimous approval recorded (Aye by all listed councilors). - Outcome: Council adopted a 15-day holiday schedule for FY2026, including two additional paid holidays following Christmas and New Year’s Day per the proposed schedule.
7) Amendments to Staunton City Code Chapter 3.15 — real estate tax relief for elderly and permanently disabled - Motion: Adopt proposed amendments to Staunton City Code Chapter 3.15 increasing program thresholds and simplifying benefit brackets (mover: Vice Mayor Arrowood; second: Councilor Overholtzer). - Vote (roll call): Unanimous approval recorded (Aye by all listed councilors). - Outcome: Council adopted the code amendments; staff to implement changes for next application cycle.
8) Closed session and certification votes - Motion(s): Enter closed meeting to discuss City Manager performance pursuant to Virginia Code Section 2.2-3711 (motion made by Councilor Woods; second recorded). Reconvene and certify closed-session compliance by roll call. - Vote (roll call): Enter closed meeting and subsequent reconvening both carried by roll-call affirmations recorded in the transcript.
For a complete accounting of roll-call votes and the exact motion wording as read into the record, see the council minutes and the meeting audio/transcript.
