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Harrisonburg council adopts fees, bond approval, appropriations and other business; votes at a glance
Summary
At its June 10 meeting, Harrisonburg City Council approved a slate of ordinances, resolutions, bond approval, easement authorization and budget actions including stormwater fee increases, reduced solid‑waste fees, water/sewer rate adjustments and the EDA bond approval for Eastern Mennonite University.
HARRISONBURG, Va. — The Harrisonburg City Council on June 10 adopted a series of ordinances, resolutions and budget actions. The meeting included a number of recorded roll‑call votes on fee changes, municipal approvals and appropriations. Below are the items the council voted on and their outcomes.
Votes at a glance
- Consent agenda (includes official approval of the real estate tax rate and the fiscal year budget reading): Approved by single motion and roll call (ayes recorded). The consent agenda contained the routine items listed on the council packet; no separate discussion items were removed for debate.
- Ordinance amendment to City Code section 6‑5‑4 (Stormwater utility fee increase, from $6/year to $8/year): Council approved the ordinance amendment by roll call. Staff said the increase was included in the FY26 budget and will be directed toward planned capital stormwater projects.
- Resolution under City Code section 6‑2‑39 setting solid waste and refuse collection rates: Council adopted a resolution reducing the solid waste management fee by $1/month, reducing residential refuse collection fee by $3/month, and reducing nonresidential collection fees by $1/month as presented by staff; council approved by roll call.
- Ordinance amendments to City Code sections 7‑4‑1 (water/sewer rates) and 7‑1‑16 (utility deposits): Council approved an ordinance increasing water rates by $0.23 per 1,000 gallons and sewer rates by $0.16 per 1,000 gallons and approved a change to eliminate automatic‑withdrawal deposit discounts so deposits are uniform; council approved by roll call.
- Resolution approving issuance of bonds by the Harrisonburg Economic Development Authority for the benefit of Eastern Mennonite University (up to $30 million for campus capital improvements and refinancing): Council adopted the required resolution approving issuance of revenue bonds by the EDA to benefit Eastern Mennonite University. City Attorney explained the financing mechanism is an EDA issuance under Virginia’s Industrial Development and Revenue Bond Act; council recorded aye votes and the resolution passed. Attorney Brown and staff emphasized the bonds are not city debt and that bondholders may only look to EMU for repayment.
- Authorization to allow the city manager to grant a utility easement to VDOT for stormwater and utility relocations tied to the I‑81 widening project: Council authorized the city manager to execute the needed easement documents; staff said the parcel is small, unsuitable for development, and will host a VDOT‑engineered stormwater BMP with the city assuming maintenance after completion.
- Display of "Newtown Before Urban Renewal" mosaics (artist Barbara Campbell) in the City Hall lobby for August 2025: Council approved a motion to display the 20‑panel exhibit in the City Hall lobby in August.
- Supplemental appropriations and reallocations (several items): Council approved multiple supplemental appropriations and a reallocation within the General Capital Projects Fund, including (a) recognition of state funds to Harrisonburg City Schools for staff bonuses; (b) supplemental appropriations for lease agreements (golf carts for Heritage Oaks and a Shentel fiber lease for the Navigation Center); (c) transfer from investment earnings to fund Kids Castle capital needs; and (d) reallocation of remaining funds from the completed jail camera project to Kids Castle. Each was approved by roll call as presented by the city manager and staff.
Why it matters: The fee and rate changes were included in the adopted FY26 budget and provide funding for stormwater capital improvements and utilities operations; reductions to refuse fees were made concurrently. The EDA bond approval enables EMU to refinance existing borrowings and to pursue campus capital work using a tax‑exempt revenue bond structure; staff confirmed the bonds do not create city liability.
Council recorded the listed roll‑call votes during the meeting; the official minutes and ordinance/resolution texts in the council packet contain the formal language and are the primary legal records for each action.
