Harrisonburg council: consent agenda, tax refund and appointments approved; closed session authorized

Harrisonburg City Council on April 22, 2025, approved several routine and substantive items during a meeting that also included proclamations and public comment.

Council approved the consent agenda with a single motion and roll-call votes. The council then considered a city attorney recommendation to refund a pro rata portion of a business, professional and occupational license (BPOL) tax after the business was sold in February; the refund amount was $26,301.77. City attorney Brown told council that state law requires council review for refunds greater than $10,000. Council voted to approve the refund request.

Council also conducted nominations and votes for the Virginia Municipal League (VML) policy committees, appointing council members to several committees (community and economic development, general laws, human development and education, infrastructure). The council approved two appointments to the Tree Advisory Board: Catherine Strickler and William Howe; a third applicant, Raymond Fair, was noted as a county resident and therefore ineligible to serve on this city board.

Finally, council voted to authorize a closed session under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, Virginia Code § 2.2-3711(A) subsection 3, to discuss disposition of publicly held real property.

Key votes recorded during the meeting were by roll call and were unanimous where recorded; individual aye votes were recorded for each motion. Details of the larger land-use vote on the Smithland Road rezoning, which the council also approved, are reported separately.