Loading...
HomeMy Public PortalAbout2022_tcmin0412 COUNCIL MEETING April 12, 2022 Council Chamber, 25 West Market Street, 7:00 p.m. Mayor Kelly Burk presiding. Council Members Present: Ara Bagdasarian, Zach Cummings, Suzanne Fox, Vice Mayor Martinez, Kari Nacy, Neil Steinberg, and Mayor Kelly Burk. Council Members Absent: None. Staff Present: Town Manager Kaj Dentler, Town Attorney Christopher Spera, Director of Information Technology Jakub Jedrzejczak, Emergency Management Coordinator Joe Dame, Land Acquisition Manager Keith Wilson, Deputy Clerk of Council Corina Alvarez. AGENDA ITEMS 1. CALL TO ORDER 2. INVOCATION was given by Council Member Bagdasarian. 3. SALUTE TO THE FLAG was led by Council Member Fox. 4. ROLL CALL a. Electronic Participation for Council Member Cummings Council Member Cummings requested to participate electronically in the April 12, 2022, Council Meeting as he was out of town. Mayor Burk, Vice Mayor Martinez, Council Member Bagdasarian, Council Member Nacy, Council Member Fox, and Council Member Steinberg were physically present at the meeting. MOTION 2022-067 On a motion by Vice Mayor Martinez, seconded by Council Member Fox, the following was proposed: To allow Council Member Cummings to electronically participate in the April 12, 2022, Town Council Meeting. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Bagdasarian, Fox, Vice Mayor Martinez, Nacy, Steinberg and Mayor Burk Nay: None Vote: 6-0-1 (Cummings abstain) 5. MINUTES a. Work Session Minutes of March 21, 2022 MOTION 2022-068 On a motion by Vice Mayor Martinez, seconded by Council Member Steinberg, the minutes of the Work Session of March 21, 2022, were moved for approval. 1 I Page COUNCIL MEETING April 12, 2022 The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Bagdasarian, Cummings, Fox, Vice Mayor Martinez, Nacy, Steinberg and Mayor Burk Nay: None Vote: 7-0 b. Regular Session Minutes of March 22, 2022 MOTION 2022-069 On a motion by Vice Mayor Martinez, seconded by Council Member Bagdasarian, the minutes of the Regular Session of March 22, 2022, were moved for approval. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Bagdasarian, Cummings, Fox, Vice Mayor Martinez, Nacy, Steinberg and Mayor Burk Nay: None Vote: 7-0 6. ADOPTING THE MEETING AGENDA MOTION2022-070 On a motion by Vice Mayor Martinez, seconded by Council Member Bagdasarian, the meeting agenda was moved for approval. Council Member Fox requested that item 13.a. -Reinstatement of Employees and Commissioners Terminated due to COVID Policy be moved forward on the agenda prior to voting on the Consent Agenda. MOTION On a motion by Council Member Fox, seconded by Council Member Nacy, the following was proposed: To move item 13.a. —Reinstatement of Employees and Commissioners Terminated due to COVID Policy forward on the agenda prior to the Consent Agenda Council Member Fox made remarks related to her motion. The motion failed by the following vote: Aye: Fox, Nacy Nay: Bagdasarian, Cummings, Vice Mayor Martinez, Steinberg and Mayor Burk Vote: 2-5 The original motion to adopt the meeting agenda was approved by the following vote: Aye: Bagdasarian, Cummings, Fox, Vice Mayor Martinez, Nacy, Steinberg and Mayor Burk Nay: None Vote: 7-0 2 I Page COUNCIL MEETING April 12, 2022 7. CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION a. None. 8. PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATIONS a. Child Abuse Prevention Month—April 2022 Mayor Burk read the Child Abuse Prevention Month proclamation and presented it to Interim CEO of Loudoun Abused Women's Shelter Samantha Clarke. Ms. Clarke made a few remarks. b. Sexual Assault Awareness Month Mayor Burk read the Sexual Assault Awareness Month proclamation and presented it to Interim CEO of Loudoun Abused Women's Shelter Samantha Clarke. Ms. Clarke made a few remarks. c. Medical Laboratory Professionals Week Mayor Burk read the Medical Laboratory Professionals Week proclamation and presented it to George Washington University Director of Undergraduate Medical Laboratory Sciences Programs Cliff Cymrot. Mr. Cymrot made a few remarks. d. Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day Mayor Burk read the Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day proclamation and presented it to Ms. Pamela Toussounian. Ms. Toussounian made a few remarks. e. Arbor Day Mayor Burk read the Arbor Day proclamation and presented it to Tree Commission Chair Earl Hower. Mr. Hower made a few remarks. f. Proclamation for Stroke Awareness Month MOTION2022-071 On a motion by Mayor Burk, seconded by Vice Mayor Martinez, the following was proposed: I move that the Proclamation for Stroke Awareness Month be presented at the April 26, 2022, Council Meeting. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Bagdasarian, Cummings, Fox, Vice Mayor Martinez, Nacy, Steinberg and Mayor Burk Nay: None Vote: 7-0 g. Thomas Balch Library Centennial Proclamation MOTION2022-072 On a motion by Council Member Cummings, seconded by Council Member Fox, the following was prop osed.• 3 I Page COUNCIL MEETING April 12, 2022 I move that the Prodamation for the Thomas Balch Library Centennial be presented at the April 26, 2022, Council Meeting. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Bagdasarian, Cummings, Fox, Vice Mayor Martinez, Nacy, Steinberg and Mayor Burk Nay: None Vote: 7-0 h. Independent Bookstore Proclamation MOTION2022-073 On a motion by Mayor Burk, seconded by Vice Mayor Martinez, the following was proposed: I move that the Prodamation for the Independent Bookstore be presented at the April 26, 2022, Council Meeting. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Bagdasarian, Cummings, Fox, Vice Mayor Martinez, Nacy, Steinberg and Mayor Burk Nay: None Vote: 7-0 9. PRESENTATIONS a. Loudoun Abused Women's Shelter Interim Chief Executive Officer Samantha Clarke delivered a presentation on the Loudoun Abused Women's Shelter(LAWS) and Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services. Ms. Clarke and Council discussed the services offered. 10. REGIONAL COMMISSION REPORTS a. None. 11. PETITIONERS The Petitioner's Section was opened at 7:48 p.m. Vanessa Jones. Spoke to Council to request consideration of changes to Town Code 28-32 related to trash and recycling receptacle locations. Ms. Jones also asked Council for additional information regarding ownership, liability and what is allowed to be planted in the grass utility strips between the sidewalk and the roadway. Michael Rivera. Spoke to Council in opposition of the vaccine mandate and requested a public apology from Council for its actions. 111 Joe Mobley. Spoke to Council in opposition of the vaccine mandate. The Petitioner's Section was closed at 8:01 p.m. 4 I Page COUNCIL MEETING April 12, 2022 12. APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA MOTION2022-074 On a motion by Council Member Fox, seconded by Vice Mayor Martinez, the following Consent Agenda was proposed: a. Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative(NOT/EC)Easement and Right-of-Way Agreement— Airport North Hangar Project RESOLUTION2022-039 Authorizing the Conveyance of an Easement to Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative for Electric Service on Town Property to the North Hangar Project Site b. Annual Landscape Maintenance Services Contract Award RESOLUTION2022-040 Awarding the Annual Landscape Maintenance Services Contract to The Davey Tree Expert Company of Chantilly, Virginia in the Amount of$68,468.20 c. Initiating an Amendment to the Zoning Ordinance Relating to Fiscal Impact Analysis Submission Requirements - RESOLUTION2022-041 Initiating an Amendment to the Zoning Ordinance Relating to Fiscal Impact Analysis Submission Requirements d. Appointment to the Parks&Recreation Commission RESOLUTION2022-042 Appointing Natalie Carroll to the Parks&Recreation Commission e. Appointment to the Airport Commission RESOLUTION2022-043 Appointing JC Silvey to the Airport Commission The Consent Agenda was approved by the following vote: Aye: Bagdasarian, Cummings, Fox, Vice Mayor Martinez, Nacy, Steinberg and Mayor Burk Nay: None Vote: 7-0 5 I Page COUNCIL MEETING April 12, 2022 13. RESOLUTIONS /ORDINANCES / MOTIONS a. Reinstatement of Employees and Commissioners Terminated Due to COVID Policy MOTION On a motion by Council Member Fox, seconded by Council Member Nacy, the following was proposed: I move to direct the Town Manager to reinstate all employees and commissioners who were officially terminated on January 25, 2022, due to noncompliance with Resolution No. 2021-154 that established the Town's official COVID-19 policy. Council discussed the motion. The motion failed by the following vote: Aye: Fox, Nacy Nay: Bagdasarian, Cummings, Vice Mayor Martinez, Steinberg and Mayor Burk Vote: 2-5 b. Discussion Topics for Joint Meeting with Loudoun County Board of Supervisors MOTION2022-075 On a motion by Council Member Steinberg, seconded by Council Member Nacy, the following was proposed: RESOLUTION2022-044 Discussion Topics for Joint Meeting on April 28, 2022 with Loudoun County Board of Supervisors The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Bagdasarian, Cummings, Fox, Vice Mayor Martinez, Nacy, Steinberg and Mayor Burk Nay: None Vote: 7-0 c. Appointment to the Residential Traffic Commission MOTION2022-076 On a motion by Mayor Burk, seconded by Vice Mayor Martinez, the following was proposed: RESOLUTION2022-045 Appointing Ray Delpesche to the Residential Traffic Commission 61 Page COUNCIL MEETING April 12, 2022 The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Bagdasarian, Cummings, Fox, Vice Mayor Martinez, Nacy, Steinberg and Mayor Burk Nay: None Vote: 7-0 d. Appointment to the Thomas Balch Library Commission Mayor Burk and Council Member Fox each put forward a nominee for the Thomas Balch Library Commission. Mayor Burk nominated Ms. Elizabeth Scheib and Council Member Fox nominated Dr. Paul Coyer. Council Member Nacy noted she anticipates a vacancy for her appointee on the Commission and suggested that Dr. Coyer could fill the vacancy when it occurs. MOTION2022-077 On a motion by Vice Mayor Martinez, seconded by Council Member Fox, the following was proposed: RESOLUTION2022-046 Appointing Elizabeth Scheib to the Thomas Balch Library Commission and RESOLUTION2022-047 Appointing Paul Coyer to the Thomas Balch Library Commission when Council Member Nacy's vacancy occurs The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Bagdasarian, Cummings, Fox, Vice Mayor Martinez, Nacy, Steinberg and Mayor Burk Nay: None Vote: 7-0 Council approved both appointments with Ms. Scheib filling the current vacancy and Dr. Coyer filling Ms. Nacy's vacancy when it occurs. The appointment of Dr. Coyer will be ratified at a future Council Meeting at the direction of the Town Attorney. 14. PUBLIC BEARINGS a. None. 15. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. None. 16. NEW BUSINESS a. None. 7 I Page COUNCIL MEETING April 12, 2022 17. COUNCIL DISCLOSURES AND COMMENTS / ADDITIONS TO FUTURE MEETINGS Council Member Nacy said she was approached by the Great Beginnings Preschool regarding traffic on Wirt Street during school hours. She noted there was a previous traffic study conducted in summer but because of the timing of the study, it did not address issues during the school year. Ms. Nacy asked for an information memo regarding traffic issues on Wirt Street at drop off/pick up times for the preschool. It was the consensus of Council to have staff provide an information memo on the subject. Council Member Nacy reported on her first meeting of the Bull Virginia Alcohol and Safety Program. Council Member Bagdasarian noted he was a judge for the recent Loudoun Youth Battle of the Bands held at the Tally Ho Theater and how amazed he was with the local talent. Mr. Bagdasarian added that he was a judge in the Loudoun Youth Step-Up Program and how impressed he was with the future entrepreneurs of Loudoun County. Council Member Fox asked for a Work Session item to discuss the trash and recycling receptacle issue brought up by Ms. Vanessa Jones during the Petitioners comments. It was the consensus of Council to add this to a future Work Session agenda. Council Member Steinberg asked for work session item to discuss the grass utility strip issue brought up by Ms. Vanessa Jones during the Petitioners comments. It was the consensus of Council to add this to a future Work Session agenda. 18. MAYOR DISCLOSURES AND COMMENTS / ADDITIONS TO FUTURE MEETINGS Mayor Burk thanked Evergreen Mills Elementary School for inviting her to participate in Career Day. Mayor Burk welcomed a Daisy Scout Troop to Town Hall where they learned about what it means to be the Mayor and a member of the Town Council. Mayor Burk attended the farewell retirement for former Planning&Zoning Director Susan Berry Hill at the end of March and wished her well in her retirement. Mayor Burk attended the dedication ceremony for the murals in the alley and thanked artist Kim Kim for her beautiful artwork and to the Commission on Public Art and Friends of Public Art for making it happen. Mayor Burk welcomed Catty Cats to Leesburg. Mayor Burk noted that Mr. Raymond James hosted an impressive art exhibit by artist Dan Severs. She thanked the Friends of Leesburg Public Art for making it happen. Mayor Burk thanked everyone who came out to the Keep Leesburg Beautiful trash pickup. Mayor Burk presented the proclamation to the ice dancing team of Ms. Caroline Green and Mr. Michael Parsons. Mayor Burk attended the CJ3 Foundation fundraiser at Loudoun Kitchen and Bar to raise money for service dogs for veterans and thanked Mr. Eric Thomas for organizing the event. Mayor Burk participated in a ribbon-cutting for My Wellness Physician which is a weight loss and nutrition practice in the Village at Leesburg. Mayor Burk noted she had her monthly meeting 8 1Page COUNCIL MEETING April 12, 2022 with Supervisor Umstattd and they discussed some of the topics the Council and Board will talk about when they meet as a whole. Mayor Burk congratulated the Parks and Recreation team for a successful Easter Egg Hunt. Mayor Burk encouraged everyone to visit the Town Green to see the pinwheel display representing Child Abuse Prevention Month. 19. TOWN MANAGER COMMENTS a. None. 20. CLOSED SESSION a. Cybersecurity MOTION2022-078 On a motion by Mayor Burk, seconded by Council Member Bagdasarian, the following was proposed: I move pursuant to§§2.2-3705.2(14)(b)and 2.2-3711(A)(19)of the Code of Virginia that the Leesburg Town Council convene in a dosed meeting for the purpose of receiving information from staff regarding cybersecurity where discussion in an open meeting would jeopardize the safety of the Town's information technology system and/or software programs. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Bagdasarian, Cummings, Fox, Vice Mayor Martinez, Nacy, Steinberg and Mayor Burk Nay: None Vote: 7-0 Council convened in a closed session at 8:19 p.m. Council convened in an open session at 8:57 p.m. MOTION2022-079 On a motion by Mayor Burk, the following was proposed: In accordance with Section§2.2-3712 of the Code of Virginia, I move that Council certify to the best of each member's knowledge, only public business matters lawfully exempted from open meeting requirements under Virginia Freedom of Information Act and such public business matters for the purpose identified in the motion by which the dosed meeting was convened were heard, discussed or considered in the meeting by Council. (ROLL CALL VOTE) Fox—aye, Steinberg—aye, Vice Mayor Martinez—aye, Bagdasarian—aye, Cummings—aye, Nacy—aye, Mayor Burk—aye. Vote 7-0 9 I Page COUNCIL MEETING April 12, 2022 21. ADJOURNMENT On a motion by Vice Mayor Martinez, seconded by Council Member Steinberg, the meeting was adjourned at 8:58 p.m. C: i / . (act".7C____. Kelly urk, M er Town of Leesburg ATTEST: ta:/-e;•df., ?al-4C? Clerk of Council 2022 tcmin0412 • I I 10 1 Page April 12,2022—Town Council Meeting (Note: This is a transcript prepared by a Town contractor based on the video of the meeting. It may not be entirely accurate. For greater accuracy,we encourage you to review the video of the meeting that is on the Town's Web site—www.leesburgva.gov or refer to the approved Council meeting minutes. Council meeting videos are retained for three calendar years after a meeting per Library of Virginia Records Retention guidelines.) Mayor Kelly Burk: I would like to call to order tonight's April 12th, 2022 meeting of the Leesburg Town Council. If anyone in the room needs hearing assistance, please see the Clerk. Council Member Bagdasarian will be giving the Invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance by Council Member Fox. Council Member Bagdasarian. Council Member Ara Bagdasarian: Heavenly Father,we are thankful together this evening to discuss matters of importance to our community. We ask for clarity in our judgment and decision-making. We ask for civility and empathy in our deliberation.We ask for strength for those suffering domestically and abroad, especially those under attack in Ukraine. We reflect on the remembrance of 32 innocent students,faculty, and staff taken by violence at Virginia Tech campus on April 16th, 2007, 15 years ago. Finally, we reflect on the remembrance of the genocide of over a million Armenian people 100 years ago. They're facing genocide today in Ukraine. Let us work together to constructively build a better world for our children.We ask all this in your name, amen. Mayor Burk: [inaudible] Now, I have a note in front of me that says, "Please remind Council Members to speak into the mic so that Council Member Cummings can hear them."You all have been advised. Council Member Bagdasarian: Did he request that? Mayor Burk:Yes.All right,we do have a request to allow participation for Council Member Cummings in tonight's meeting. Do I have a motion? So moved by Vice Mayor Martinez, seconded by Council Member Fox.All in favor indicate by saying aye. Council Members:Aye. Mayor Burk: Opposed?That passes 6-0-1. Mr. Cummings, you are now part of the meeting. Council Member Zach Cummings: Thank you. Mayor Burk: I need a motion to accept the work session minutes of March 21st, 2022. Council Member Suzanne Fox: Madam Mayor, I'd like to make a change to the agenda as it stands and move item 13(A)to-- Mayor Burk:We're not at the agenda yet. We're doing minutes. Vice Mayor Fernando"Marty" Martinez: So moved. Mayor Burk: Okay, work session minutes on the 215t, moved by Vice Mayor Martinez, seconded by Council Member Steinberg. All in favor? Council Members:Aye. Mayor Burk: Opposed? Council Members:Aye. Mayor Burk:That passes seven-zero. Regular session minutes of March 22nd, moved by Mr. Martinez, second by Council Member Bagdasarian. All in favor? Page 1 I April 12, 2022 Council Members:Aye. Mayor Burk: Pass seven-zero.All right, adoption of the meeting agenda. Can I have a motion first and then we'll change whatever needs to be changed. Vice Mayor Martinez? Ms. Fox, you had something you wanted moved? Council Member Fox: Please, I'd like to go ahead and move 13A resolutions. I'd like to move it up, please,to after the petitioner section. That's it. Mayor Burk: You're moving it up before a consent agenda.All right, Mr. Spera, refresh my memory on this one. Is that something we vote on? Yes?We haven't done this in a while. [laughs] Christopher Spera: Your agenda order is set forth in your rules of procedure at Section 5. You would have to vote on that to move it and take it out of the order set forth in the rules. Mayor Burk: All right, Ms. Fox. I'm assuming you're going to make that as a motion, seconded by Ms. Nacy.Any comments?All in favor of moving 13A to before the consent agenda indicate--Yes? Council Member Fox: I'm so sorry. I missed that. I moved it because I felt it was important and so to that end, I would like to go ahead and speak to it. As you all know, I've advocated and am advocating tonight for the reinstatement of the employees and commissioners who were fired or released because of our mandatory vaccination policy. My position is that this offer should be made regardless of whether or not any former employer or commissioner really does desire their position back. My position does remain that our vaccination policy was an egregious overreach and possibly unconstitutional. Accordingly, I believe that the terminations and forced resignations that resulted from the policy were legally problematic. We can acknowledge and address these problematic terminations by the reinstatement of those terminated to the same or equivalent positions. It's mind-boggling to me that after eight weeks, a mere eight weeks after terminating the law enforcement officers, commissioners, other employees,that we lifted the mandate. Just eight weeks. We lost many excellent public servants so we could have a two-month period where we can enjoy the safety of a 100%vaccinated workforce. Lives were uprooted, livelihoods were lost for what amounts to partisan virtue signaling and about how important we think vaccinations are. I keep hearing about the fact that we just followed the data. I believe that is nonsense. We looked at a single metric, which is transmission rates, and claimed that it was all the data that we needed to make our decision, never mind the absence of any evidence showing that forced vaccination policy was an appropriate remedy for a rise in COVID transmission rates. Never mind the mountains of evidence submitted to this Council by me and by numerous petitioners, proving that high vaccination rates do not impact transmission rates. Never mind that we could have taken a more moderate approach to everything as well. The issue of vaccination has been for various reasons highly politicized. If I were cynical, I might suggest that this policy was simply a method of striking a blow against a political ideology with the unvaccinated standing as a convenient surrogate for the political right, and others who prioritize their individual Liberty. However,it's probably more likely that this is just a case of failure for us to do our due diligence following what is perceived as marching orders from Washington, relying on incomplete data and ignoring the legal implications and other consequences. I'm sure some here believe that this was really about safety despite the evidence to the contrary. This is the chance to prove that it is about safety rather than a punitive measure against those who insisted on keeping their employer out of their personal medical decisions. I ask that we reinstate the employees and the commissioners. Thank you. Mayor Burk: Now, Ms. Fox, I do have to ask you spoke to the resolution. You did not speak to moving the resolution. Council Member Fox: I moved it up because I believe this was important. Thank you. Page 2 I April 12,2022 Mayor Burk: I just wanted to make sure that you were getting what you wanted. All right, is there anyone else at this point?All in favor of moving resolution 13A to after petitioners indicate by saying I aye.Opposed?Ayes were Ms. Fox, Ms. Nacy.Nays were Mr.Steinberg,Mr.Martinez,Mr.Bagdasarian, Ms. Burk. Mr. Cummings? Council Member Cummings: No. Mayor Burk:And Mr. Cummings.All right,that stays where it is. Excuse me.We have a motion by Mr. Martinez to accept the meeting agenda. Is there anything else anybody else wants moved?All right, do I have a second? Council Member Bagdasarian: I'll second. Mayor Burk: Council Member Bagdasarian second.All in favor, indicate by saying aye. Council Members:Aye. Mayor Burk: Opposed?That passes seven-zero.We have, a couple of proclamations tonight. Excuse me, I'm losing my voice. Sorry. We have a proclamation, for a couple of different items tonight, and I am going to read them up here so they go into the record, and then I will come down and present them to the individuals. The first one is the proclamation for Child Abuse Prevention Month, April 2022. Whereas child abuse and neglect are serious problems affecting every segment of our community and finding solutions requires input and action from everyone. Whereas, our children are the most valuable resources and will shape the future of our country, including the town of Leesburg.Whereas child abuse can have long-term psychological,emotional,and physical effects that have long-lasting consequences for victims of abuse. Whereas protective factors are conditions that reduce and eliminate risk and promote social, emotional, and development well- being of children, and whereas effective child abuse prevention activities succeed because of the partnership created between the child welfare, professional education, health, and community, and faith-based organizations, businesses, law enforcement agencies, and families. Whereas, communities must make every effort to promote programs and activities that create strong and thriving children and families. Whereas we acknowledge that we must work together as a community to increase the awareness about child abuse and contribute to promote the social and emotional well-being of children and families in a safe, stable, and nurturing environment. Whereas prevention remains the best defense for our children and family, therefore proclaimed that the Mayor and the Council of the town of Leesburg in Virginia recognizes April 2022 as National Child Abuse Prevention Month in Leesburg, Virginia, and urges all citizens to recognize this month by dedicating ourselves to the task of improving the quality of life for all children and families. Then we have another proclamation for Sexual Assault Awareness Month. This says whereas April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and calls attention to the fact that sexual violence is widespread, and impacts every person in the town of Leesburg, and whereas everyday children, youth, and adult survivors in the town of Leesburg are impacted by the trauma of sexual violence, and whereas the crimes of sexual violence occur far too frequently, go unreported, and underreported far too often and leave long-lasting impacts. Whereas, during National Sexual Assault Awareness Month, we recommit ourselves to removing the stigma and the shame surrounding sexual violence and expanding support for victims and survivors of sexual violence and strengthening our response. Whereas sexual violence affects individuals of all ages, races, ethnicities, gender, identity, sexual orientation, and circumstances, and whereas the Leesburg community shares a responsibility for raising awareness about sexual violence, protecting each other from sexual violence, supporting victims when it does occur, and bringing perpetrators to justice. Whereas at every level, we must work together to provide the necessary resources in our community to assault survivors of every circumstance, including medical and mental health services, relocation and Page 3 I April 12, 2022 housing assistance, and community and court advocacy during the criminal justice process. Whereas the Town of Leesburg can come together to increase awareness about sexual violence, decrease its frequency and hold offenders accountable, support victims, and heal lives. Therefore, proclaimed that the Mayor and the Council of the Town of Leesburg, Virginia do proclaim the month of April 2022 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Now is the time to take action as leaders in our community to create safety for all Leesburg citizens, including our youth and our educational institutions. We must work together to inform members of our community about sexual violence prevention,support survivors,and speak out against harmful attitudes and actions.We join advocates and communities across Loudoun County, and the Commonwealth of Virginia in the country to play an active role to prevent sexual violence. Proclaimed this day. We also have a recognition of Medical Laboratory Professional Week. Whereas Medical Laboratory Professional Week is an annual celebration of medical laboratory professionals and pathologists who play a vital role in the healthcare and patient advocacy, and whereas the health of all Americans depends on educated minds and trained hands. Whereas the practice of modern medicine has the exacting standards we now enjoy would be impossible without the scientific tests performed daily in the medical laboratories, and whereas maintenance of these standards and progress towards improvement in the quality of laboratory services depends on the dedicated efforts of professional clinical laboratory scientist practitioners. Whereas throughout this dedication, the medical laboratories of the United States have made vital contributions to the quality of health. Therefore, proclaim that the Mayor and the Council of the town of Leesburg,Virginia recognize the week of April 24th to the 30th,2022 as Medical Laboratory Professionals Week. We urge all citizens to recognize and support the vital services provided by our laboratory practitioners for the benefit of all citizens.We also have a proclamation for Arbor Day.Whereas in 1872, J Sterling Morton proposed to the Nebraska Board of Agriculture that a special day should be set aside for the planting of trees. Whereas this special day called Arbor Day was first observed with the planting of more than a million trees in Nebraska, and whereas trees provide many benefits to our community, such as reducing the erosion of topsoil, moderating temperatures, reducing heating and cooling costs, cleaning the air and water, providing oxygen, and providing a habitat for wildlife. Whereas planting trees and maintaining mature trees in our town increases property values, enhances our economic vitality of local businesses and beautifies our communities. Whereas the Town of Leesburg has been recognized by the National Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree City USA since 1989 and desires to continue its tree planting and maintenance way, therefore proclaimed that the Mayor and the Council of the Town of Leesburg,Virginia,that April 29th is the official Arbor Day of the Town of Leesburg for the calendar year 2022.Then our last one is Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day. Whereas on April 24th of each year, we remember the lives of all those who died in the Ottoman Era Armenian Genocide. Whereas beginning on April 24th, 1915 with the arrest of the Armenian intellectuals and community leaders in Constantinople by the Ottoman authorities, 1.5 million Armenians were deported, massacred, and marched to their death in a campaign of extermination.Whereas of those who survived, most were forced to find new homes and new lives around the world, including our nation. With strength and resilience, the Armenian people rebuilt their communities. Whereas over the decades, the Armenian immigrants have enriched our communities in countless ways. We honor their stories and we'll never forget the tragic history that brought so many of their ancestors to the United States. Whereas the Leesburg Town Council recognizes Pamela Tossounian to receive the Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day proclamation,therefore proclaimed that the Mayor and the Council of Leesburg, the Town of Leesburg and Virginia recognize April 24th, 2022 as Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day and honor all those Armenians who perished in the genocide that began 107 years ago.All right, I'm going to go down and present these. Page 4 I April 12, 2022 Okay. Hello, let's start with the first proclamation. Pamela, would you come forward? We are very grateful that you're here to accept this today. Would you have any words that you would like to say about your history and your ancestry and all about what this proclamation is about? Pamela Tossounian:Thank you. I'm a little emotional. Please,forgive me. I'd like to thank Ara and the Leesburg Town Council. My whole life, I've heard these stories because my great-grandmother was a survivor of the Armenian Genocide. She was a very tiny, good-hearted person. She never spoke about what happened to her, but I understand from family that she went through the most difficult situations. I always thought to myself, even as a kid, and that's why my daughter's here today, I wanted her to be here, we are miracles. We are all miracles. We are born, but we're miracles because we're here now because she survived. I always said there were so many people that didn't survive, but I'm here and I want to make a difference. I said to her,in her spirit, I said, "I will never let your life go in vain. None of the ancestors that got killed, none of the Armenians." In 2018, I was actually your Mrs. Loudoun for the Miss United States pageant, and my platform was genocide awareness. That's how I met Ara. It wasn't by mistake. I also met a gentleman by the name of Norman Duncan. Norman was my publicist. He was 100 years old. He made sure that I met a fellow Armenian,which was Ara. I'm standing here now because of these sequences. Never not believe in what your passion is and your calling because I'm here today for that reason, and I want to thank you all for listening to my story. Mayor Burk: Thank you. Thank you very much for sharing it. We really do appreciate it. Would you guys like to have a picture with Mr. Bagdasarian?Would you come down?[laughs]Who's going to take the picture? [laughs]They would take it. [laughs] Council Member Bagdasarian: [inaudible] spring break. Mayor Burk:That's right. Pamela Tossounian:Yes. Mayor Burk: Thank you. [inaudible] [laughter] Mayor Burk: Thank you.All right,thank you very much.Appreciate you coming. Arbor Day. [applause] Well, this is something that we struggle with all the time. Earl is on the Tree Commission, and we're very grateful for all the efforts that the tree commission puts forward. It seems like we take two steps forward in getting these trees planted, and then a developer comes and they're all gone.We do really appreciate the fact that you keep us aware, that you work really hard to make sure that we're replacing trees that are being torn down.You've done this a very long time. How long have you been on the Tree Commission? Earl Hower: [unintelligible] 1995. Mayor Burk: There you go.Wow.Well, thank you. We truly appreciate it. Would you like to say a few words? Earl Hower: Briefly, if I may.Again,thank you again on behalf of the Tree Commission and the citizens of Leesburg. Trees are indeed one of the most valuable natural resources as they're both beautiful and bountiful. Trees play a very important role in our community, and preserving natural tree canopy in Leesburg.With proper tree plantings in the urban landscapes benefits all. I'll remind everybody stop by our booth at the Flower and Garden Festival. We're handing out seedlings again this year. We have Sweet Gum and Chickasaw Plum so you get your choice. Thank you, Mayor. Page 51 April 12, 2022 Mayor Burk: Great.Wonderful. Thank you. Thank you very much. [applause] The next one is Cliff Cymrot. Cliff Cymrot: Cymrot. Mayor Burk: Oh, is it? [laughs] I wasn't even close. Please come forward. I really appreciate the fact that you are here from George Washington University, my alma mater. We're very excited that you're here today. Would you like to explain how important this particular aspect of your job is? I have a neighbor who started working at the lab at INOVA in the 1960s. The story she tells about what they did and how they did it, and why they didn't all get disease and die, I don't know. Our standards most certainly have improved.Would you mind sharing just a few words about this? Cliff Cymrot: I just want to thank you, Mayor Burk and Council Members. In 1960s labs, where they were allowed to smoke and eat sandwiches and drink in the lab. I'm glad we have new standards now. [chuckles]It is important, I think,to provide awareness for the role that clinical laboratory scientists have in society, especially during the pandemic. Whenever someone gets tested for COVID, a clinical laboratory scientist is the one that's analyzing the tests. When you go to hospitals or clinics, and you have a blood or body fluids or tissues, clinical laboratory scientists are the ones that analyze your specimen. It's nice that we have this so everyone can hear and recognize and see what we do because clinical laboratory scientists are really behind the scenes. We like to come out every now and then and peek our head out so people could see us. Thank you. Mayor Burk: Thank you. Thank you very much for coming and thank you for making us aware of this. It was important, and we appreciate it. Cliff Cymrot: [inaudible] Mayor Burk: Sure. Thank you. Thank you. [applause] Mayor Burk: The next two, the first one is the Sexual Assault Awareness. Samantha, you're coming forward for both of these. Mr. Martinez, would you like to come down and join us? If you have the opportunity and you haven't seen on the Town green there are just, what is it, 150 pinwheels, pretty little blue pinwheels, and Samantha will explain why they're there. It's really important what these ladies and gentlemen do on a regular basis because they deal with some of the situations that many of us aren't even aware of. Samantha,would you mind sharing what you do and how important it is? Samantha Clarke: Yes, of course. Thank you so much for this opportunity. LAWS is here tonight, and are very grateful for the presentation of these two proclamations. One is on Child Abuse Prevention Month and the other one is on Sexual Assault Awareness Month. For both of those LAWS is the designated provider of sexual assault services in Loudoun County. Mayor Burk: Can you explain what LAWS is? Samantha Clarke:Absolutely,yes.LAWS is Loudoun Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services. We are the comprehensive and designated provider of domestic violence and sexual assault services for the entire County, including Leesburg. Under that umbrella, we cover many services. You may commonly know us as Loudoun Abused Women's Shelter, but we're a lot more than a shelter. We provide those services. Everything from our 24/7 hotline to court advocacy and accompaniment, hospital accompaniment, obviously our shelter.We help victims with therapy following an assault or an experience with domestic violence. Page 6 I April 12, 2022 We have our Loudoun Child Advocacy Center, which is where child victims of abuse or sexual abuse will go to get a child-centered forensic interview to ensure that we're promoting best practices around not re-harming that child after abuse has occurred. We provide a lot of those services. It's critical that the community is not only aware that these harms are occurring in our community every day, but that there are resources available to support and provide services to all victims, whether they are children, youth, or adults. Then everyone is welcome through those doors and can get help if they need it. Anything else, Mayor Burk? Mayor Burk: [inaudible] Samantha Clarke: Yes, sir. Vice Mayor Martinez: How do you get your funding? Samantha Clarke: How do we get our funding? Interesting question. LAWS as a designated provider, we get funding from multiple services. We get funding through the State of Virginia or the Commonwealth. We also get funding through local dollars here in Loudoun County, as well as the services and resources through local foundations, as well as the kindness and generosity of our community. We're very grateful to have multiple sources of funding, and we rely on all of them to continue to provide services here in Leesburg and Loudoun County. Thank you. Mayor Burk: I can say, as a teacher for 34 years,who had to use your services, I know how important you are and what you do, so I want to thank you very much for everything you do, every single day you make a difference. Thank you. Here. There you go. Thank you, all. [laughs] [applause] Mayor Burk: Okay, now we have the approval of the-- No, we don't. I'm ahead of myself. We have now, after all our proclamations, our petitioner section. Council Member Kari Nacy:You didn't do the Stroke Awareness. Chris Spera: Yes, Madam Mayor, you had several motions on future proclamations. Mayor Burk: Oh, you're right, on the second page. Thank you both very much. I do need a motion to approve the proclamation for Stroke Awareness Month. I'll move it. Is there a second? Vice Mayor Martinez: So moved. Mayor Burk: Vice Mayor Martinez.All in favor indicate by saying aye. Members: Aye. Mayor Burk: Opposed? Mayor Burk: That passes seven-zero. Motion to approve proclamation for the Thomas Balch Library. Does Mr. Cummings want to move that one? Council Member Cummings: So moved. Mayor Burk: Mr. Cummings and seconded by Ms. Fox.All in favor, indicate by saying aye. Members:Aye. Mayor Burk: Opposed? That passes seven-zero. The motion to approve proclamation for the Independent Bookstore. I will move that, seconded by Vice Mayor Martinez.All in favor? Page 7 I April 12, 2022 Members:Aye. Mayor Burk: Opposed? That passes seven-zero. Thank you. Now we have a presentation from the Loudoun Abused Women's Shelter. It's been so long. Samantha Clarke: For having LAWS here, not only for our proclamations, but for taking the time to learn a little bit more about us. My presentation will be brief and, hopefully,will give you a little bit more information about who we are and what it is that we do in the community. For those of you who may not be aware,our mission for LAWS is that we hope to provide victims of domestic violence,sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking, as well as child abuse, which I've spoken about, with safety, hope, and empowerment,to live lives free of violence.The reason why that's critical is because when we approach the services that we provide,the first thing that we're going to focus on is safety. We want to make sure anyone coming in our doors knows that they are safe. Then after that it's about rebuilding lives.To do that,we have to give people hope, and then following that we have to determine or help them to determine what it is they need to have safe and sustainable lives following abuse.That's how we approach almost everything that we do at LAWS. Then ultimately our vision, that's why we call on communities and leaders like yourselves. Our vision is to make sure that we're building in communities that are free of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, stalking, and child abuse. That's a big lift, and it's not something that an organization like LAWS can do alone. We have to call in community partners,we have to call in decision-makers and leaders,and our funders, not only here in Leesburg but in Loudoun County, and across the Commonwealth. That's something that we try to do in critical conversations every day. One of the things that we're continuing to navigate as LAWS is to help our community recognize that we're so much more than a shelter. Our name, as many of you may be aware, has historically been Loudoun Abuse Women's Shelter,which is where you hear about LAWS. I call you in to learn that we are LAWS Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services.We provide so much more than shelter to our community. Many survivors and victims that we serve, require so much more from us than just shelter. It's important that we help our community to understand that. I'm going to talk to you a little bit about what those services are. I always like to start with prevention.We want to help our community know that we can prevent violence. One of the ways that we do that is we work very closely with our school partners. We're in our middle schools and high schools, having conversations about healthy relationships, and about consent, and talking about how we can prevent violence from occurring. Everything from bullying, to understanding what violence is and how it looks in relationships, that kind of toxic love that maybe young people think is fun and exciting really isn't but how do we know the difference?We have those conversations with our educators and our young people.We do provide the county's imminent danger domestic violence shelter.That is where people in our community, no matter who you are, no matter how you identify, men, women, children, go when they are not safe. That is where they flee to.What's important for you guys here this evening to hear is that we in Loudoun County, as the only provider of the domestic violence shelter,we have outgrown our shelter. We have seen a 203%increase in the demand for shelter.We can no longer house people in our shelter alone.We are it, and it's important that our community knows that. We're currently providing shelter to people in alternative safe housing in our community.We are able to meet the need, but our communal shelter, what people think of as a shelter, we have outgrown that. We do provide the crisis hotline. Anyone can call that number when they need help, information, resources, or just support. Advocacy services. Our advocates, some of which are here with us this evening, are there to provide information, psychoeducation, support, resources. We can provide transportation. We can provide resources to get your locks changed on your house. We will provide accompaniment to court. We provide accompaniment to hospitals after sexual assault and domestic violence for help with forensic exams.We provide services to adults, youth, and children Page 8 April 12, 2022 for therapy. Not everybody needs shelter, but they need other types of support. We provide trauma therapy. We provide legal services. We provide those support for protective order legal hearings, as well as other family law matters. One of the things I want you to hear is that because of how we're funded and the protections that victims have, all of our services are free and confidential. No survivor ever pays for anything, for any of the services that they receive at LAWS.We provide bilingual services. It's important that victims know that they can come to us as who they are and be their authentic selves when they come to us. If we don't have staff that speak their language,we're going to make sure that we have resources available to us that can help us communicate with them with as minimum amount of barriers as possible.We've talked about court and hospital accompaniment, as well as basic needs. There are going to be survivors who flee with nothing.We provide what they need.That's food,clothing, transportation, back-to-school supplies,everything that is needed for survivors to regain their autonomy and stability. Also in the community, many of you might be aware that we operate and oversee the Resourceful Woman Thrift Shop.That's integrated into our community. It's such a wonderful,wonderful place to go.Also, it is a place where survivors can go to get their needs met; clothing for a job interview, clothing for their children for back to school, rebuilding their lives because they have nothing. Whether that's clothing or basic goods, our Resourceful Woman Thrift Shop is a space where they can feel just like anybody else going into their community to get what they need. We've already spoken a little bit about the Loudoun Child Advocacy Center,but that is a child-centered space where after trauma children can be heard and believed about the trauma they've experienced. Then lastly, much like tonight, we do community education and outreach.We are here to help our community understand not only the need of what's happening with victims in our community, but how to help, and what's needed from each of you. Data is always helpful to understand the extent of a problem. I believe all of you have received this presentation in advance, so I won't necessarily go over it point by point. What I think is important to see is that across all of these data points, you will see that we have served over 1,000 people in any given year. That number is pretty consistent. That doesn't include the number of bed nights.That's how long people stay in our shelter, so how many people times how many nights. That's a lot of nights in shelter. Our shelter stays pretty full. The number of people who receive victim services specifically, or the number of sexual assault victims that we see, one of the things that I think is important to draw home is that this only reflects the victims that come forward to talk to us and reach out for help. Being a victim of domestic violence, being a victim of sexual assault, having the courage to talk to a trusted adult about being a victim of child abuse is not easy. This only reflects those individuals who come to us for help. This does not reflect the magnitude of need in our community. In Leesburg alone,in the last six months there's been 80 domestic violence related calls to Leesburg Police. There's been just over 20 sexual violence calls. In the last week alone, we've had three high danger calls. That means the risk to life is substantial. We call them LAP calls. If you hear from anyone in the community talk about a LAP, it's a lethality assessment protocol. It's an evidence based nationally supported program that we engage in to understand the level of risk to people's lives, who are experiencing domestic violence. Just thinking about COVID as we emerge from this pandemic, we've seen a marked increase in the number of individuals needing shelter. It's 203% increase in emergency bed nights,which I referenced below, or in the previous slide. The other thing that we're seeing is in our community, most people and individuals who leave shelter don't feel like they have a safe place to go. There's unique dynamics related to domestic violence that we have to navigate but one of the things that survivors tell us is our community does not have the resources to support them. Only 33% exit shelter feeling like they have a safe and stable place to go. We as decision makers and elected officials have to take that into consideration. We're also seeing an increase in the level of lethality and danger the victims are experiencing. We had 114 high danger LAPs which I spoke about specifically in Leesburg but just in the County in general in the first six months of this fiscal year.That's a marked increase.Violence is happening more Page 9 I April 12,2022 frequently and it's getting worse, and we have to be aware of that.As I wrap up, it's very easy for me to come to you and say I need$100,000, but it's really hard to quantify the need. I think for you as elected officials one of the things that's really important is to recognize that local resources and services must be understood and supported by local leaders, and that's each and every one of you. For what that means to me is that it's recognizing what the issue is and being aware of it enough to ask questions, be informed, hold us accountable, and then know what questions to ask so that we can move the issue forward. Mayor Burk: Thank you. Thank you very much for a very interesting and very important presentation tonight. Are there any questions anybody has at this point?Yes, Mr. Steinberg. Council Member Neil Steinberg: I want to thank you for your presentation. I wonder we can get a copy of your slide pack of the presentation. Mayor Burk: We have it. Council Member Steinberg: Do we have it? Okay, right, thank you. Samantha Clarke: If you have any other questions let me know. Mayor Burk: Mr. Martinez. Vice Mayor Martinez: Just a couple of comments. You said 33% of the people who leave out of- so let's just say 33 women who leave your shelter out of 100, have a safe place to go which means 67 don't. Is there anything out there for them? Samantha Clarke: To answer that question, what I will say is when survivors exit shelter after fleeing imminent danger,where they exit to is up to the survivor. It's always about survivor's decision.What we are hearing from survivors is that the resources available in the community are not there that allow them to access. The housing is either not affordable,the eligibility requirements are restrictive to a point that don't recognize the barriers oftentimes faced by survivors, their income could been that of the abuser, any number of factors. Yes,what they are communicating to us is that the resources in the community are not available to them to be safely and securely housed following abuse. Vice Mayor Martinez: I think one of the reasons I am glad we have this presentation today, we need to make our community more aware. I would venture to say we all know someone who is at risk and we have to step up and help them. I know in a couple of cases, I have always said,"I'm here ready to help. You got friends. You got people who can help you." Our community, we should advocate for that. We should advocate for this because unfortunately, it's not a pretty aspect of our Town. It's distressing, and we need to do more and get involved. Thank you. Samantha Clarke: Thank you. Mayor Burk: Mr. Bagdasarian. Council Member Bagdasarian:Yes,thank you very much.Appreciate the presentation. Samantha Clarke: Thank you. Council Member Bagdasarian: The work you're doing is incredible. I may have missed this. What is the typical duration of the stay in the actual shelter? Samantha Clarke: It can vary.We try to set a timeframe that encourages the survivor to access safety but not also become dependent on shelter because that also just perpetuates the cycle of maybe power and control independence. On average, it's going to be about 30 days, but we've had some survivors enter shelter and stay for two nights because of decisions in their life. Page 10 I April 12, 2022 We have had other survivors stay with us for six months because of the level of risk and lethality that they're facing, active stalking, and so on and so forth. We try not to put a rigid timeframe on it because we want to make sure that our number one focus is the safety of that survivor,and being flexible enough to ensure that that remains the priority. It changes. The nature of domestic violence is very dynamic. We try not to put any restrictions on circumstances that would negatively influence the safety of that survivor. Council Member Bagdasarian: Great. Thank you. Samantha Clarke: Of course,thank you. Mayor Burk: Ms. Nacy? Council Member Nacy: Thank you for the presentation and for the work that all of you do. I know it's hard with the things that you have to see and deal with every day,that you take home with you. Thank you very much. I know you mentioned it when you were down there, but can you just recap?Where are your funding sources coming from again? Samantha Clarke: Our funding sources come from several places. We are funded through Federal pass through dollars that come to us through State agencies. One of them is the Department of Criminal Justice Services. Another one is the Virginia Department of Social Services. Those are given to us through Federal grants. Those are two primary State funds of sources. We also are funded through Loudoun County through their core services budget. We're very grateful for the stability that those funding sources provide.We are also funded through a variety of foundation grants,whether that's going to be things like Wells Fargo, [unintelligible]charities, and things like that. We're always looking for the nimbleness and flexibility that those dollars provide. We're always very grateful for those. We're also, we have the funds that come through our community, private donors, and just community members that give. Those unrestricted dollars are vital because what happens is it allows us to have the flexibility to meet survivor needs that we can't always anticipate. That's important because a lot of those larger,more stable sources of funding,oftentimes coming through governments and public dollars are very restrictive.We can only do certain things with them. They only fund certain things and we can never really predict what a survivor or survivor household is going to need from us when they enter our services. Council Member Nacy: Thank you. Samantha Clarke: You're welcome. Council Member Nacy: I think it's important as part of us advocating for you all that we know that and we know how to go out in the community and get the things that you all need. I know on your website, it lists things that you need, like gift cards, bottles of water, stuff like that that can be donated. It's something that someone can just go and look and find. Samantha Clarke:We try to keep that updated. I will speak just briefly to things like gift cards. One of the things that the old school model of things like shelter and providing services was, "Let us give you that," like go into the pantry and take what you need. Well, now we're really trying to move in terms of a trauma-informed, victim-centered approach is much more, "Here are the resources you need to get what you need for your family, whether it's culturally-specific, faith-specific, you know what your child likes to wear to school. Here are the resources you need to purchase that." It really goes back to safety, hope, and empowerment.We want to empower survivors of violence to rebuild their lives in a way that matters to them as opposed to us telling them what matters and how to feel empowered. Things like the flexibility of gift cards and unrestricted dollars helps us to do that and have that approach. Page 11 I April 12, 2022 Council Member Nacy: Thank you. Samantha Clarke: Thank you so much. Mayor Burk: Ms. Fox. Council Member Fox: Thank you. I really appreciate your presentation. Samantha Clarke: Of course. Council Member Fox: I think Resourceful Woman is a gem. I was given an opportunity right when COVID hit to help out over there,and it was really sad that I couldn't when COVID hit because of COVID. I think that is just a gem in our Town and it's very much needed. Thank you for being here. One of the things that shocked me was the statistics that 203% increase in [unintelligible] and that those are people who are actually coming forward. We know that there's more a lot that lies beneath there, correct? Samantha Clarke:Think of it like an iceberg.Think of it like well,that's just the tip of the iceberg.What's underneath that iceberg is a tremendously greater need. Council Member Fox: The reason I ask, all these statistics, the 80% increase in the domestic violent calls,there's the 20%, and that's just in the last month, correct? Samantha Clarke: No. The 80 call, that as a Leesburg specific number for what is happening in the Town of Leesburg. In the Town of Leesburg,those are the number of calls specifically. Then in the last week we've had three high LAP calls or high danger calls. I wanted to make sure that you have some Leesburg-specific numbers to understand the impact of the violence in this community alone. Council Member Fox: And all of these calls have been reported. These all go to the Police, is that correct? Samantha Clarke:Those are police-specific data because not every victim comes to LAWS.That data that I shared about the Town of Leesburg is publicly available data. We data mine that to just try to get a sense of who and what communities is reaching out to us because that's important to know. Where do we need to be?What communities do we need to be doing more outreach in?Who's reaching out to us, who's not? That's a little bit of data mining that I did to make sure that you understand what's happening in your community as well. Council Member Fox:We're happy you're part of our community. Thank you. Samantha Clarke: Oh,we're happy to be here. Thank you. Mayor Burk: Mr. Cummings. Council Member Cummings: Thank you and thank you for being here. I don't have any questions. Thank you for all the work that you're doing- Samantha Clarke: It's a pleasure. Council Member Cummings:-and keeping us informed. If there's anything that we can do as a body, I think we all would be happy to help. Samantha Clarke: Thank you so much. Mayor Burk: Thank you. Thank you very much for coming and now you can head home. [laughter] Page 12 I April 12, 2022 Mayor Burk: It's been a long day. Thank you. The next item we have is the petitioner section. One of our first orders of business is to hear from the public.All members of the public are welcome to address the Council on any item matter or issue. Please identify yourself and if comfortable doing so, give your address for the taped record. Any public speaker will be requested to state their name and spell it for the purpose of closed captioning. In the interest of fairness, we also ask that you observe the three-minute time limit. The green light on the timer will turn yellow at the end of two minutes indicating that you have one minute remaining. At that time,we would appreciate your summing up and yielding the floor when the bell indicates your time has expired. Under the rules of order adopted by the Council,the three-minute time limit applies to all. The first name that we have is Vanessa Jones, followed by Michael Rivera. Vanessa Jones: Good evening, everyone. I have a point of clarification. I have two petitions. Do I get twice as much time or do I need to wrap it up in the same one,what did you say, three minutes? Mayor Burk: Three minutes. You have two-- Vanessa Jones: I have two petitions. They're related. Mayor Burk: Use your[unintelligible]. Vanessa Jones: I'll be brief. I'm tired. My name is Vanessa Jones V-A-N-E-S-S-A, Jones J-O-N-E-S. I have been a homeowner in Loudoun County for 24 years. I have lived in the Town of Leesburg with my family for 17 years.The first petition I'm bringing is in reference to an amended Town Code 28-32 which is points of collection which requires residents of single-family, detached homes to place garbage and refuse either in front of or along the side property boundary of their home. My understanding is this amendment was approved in 2019. My issue actually started in 2018. Many of you may even be familiar with it. I have been speaking to different members in the Town. I have been complaining to every family member, friend and church member, and coworker. The issue is in 2018, Patriot Disposal provided us receptacles, trash and recycles. My understanding is that the amendment was actually passed in 2019 although my issue began prior to that. The issue is that because the law currently says that homeowners can place their receptacles at the boundary line,which will come to that.When we are not our best selves maybe,they no longer seem to want to place them in front of their home. They would prefer to place them where my car is parked. My first, I guess issue, is the boundary and property lines stop at the sidewalk so there's really not a place in the street for the boundary and property lines. Second of all, fences make good neighbors, good strong crisp laws make better neighbors. I think helps us to be our better selves as I said. If you look at the black vehicle here in the middle picture, that is my vehicle but those are not my cans. If you look at the one to the far right, you can see the bumper of my vehicle that was this morning and those are the cans of the homeowner next to me that are on my bumper. What this does is it blocks or obstructs parking and this can happen during the summer three times a week. It can be recycle day, it can be large bulk day, oh,time's running quick,anyway, and trimmings day. My ask is of this Town Council to amend the law and to change it so that it does not allow for the boundary line and that it, at a minimum, it will state in front of your home. Then if you have to add a boundary line which I don't even think exists in the street, but that you should not obstruct someone from being able to access their vehicle and park their car. Mayor Burk:All right. Did you have a second issue you were speaking to? Vanessa Jones: Okay. The second petition is, and I've talked to VDOT, I've spoke to the town, I've spoke to my homeowner's association same issue. There does not seem to be a law in the Town of Leesburg regarding what can be done in that grassy area. As you can see, this particular homeowner has planted there. You can see in the middle picture. In that case, passengers cannot disembark from Page 13 I April 12, 2022 the vehicle,we cannot access the back of the car. If you look in the first picture,there are rose bushes now planted along that area. Again, not allowing people to access the passenger side of the vehicle and there doesn't seem to be a law in the Town of Leesburg that prevents anyone from planting there. Now, it has created tripping hazards, family members have been scarred, and the wood plant or not the wood plantings, but the wood mulch actually causes a slipping hazard,tripping hazard, and slipping hazard when it's icy.What I'd like to know is if or the ask here is that the Town Council can either identify a law that states people can plant there or they can't, and then I would like to know where the risk lies, if it's with the Town Council or if it's with the homeowner that plants there if people are injured. Mayor Burk: All right, thank you very much. The next speaker is Michael Rivera, followed by Joe Mobley. Michael Rivera: I don't actually expect that anyone's really going to listen to what I'm going to say, but I wanted to get it on the record anyway. I hold the Mayor and her political minions completely responsible for what I'm about to say. The stench of political partisanship permeates from the dais. I know that because I looked at everybody's faces when they voted against moving that motion and listening painfully to Ms. Fox's comments, so your expressions are very clear on your face. Government are by and for the people. Perhaps everyone on this Council should refresh themselves with the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The passage of the vaccine mandate was a clear example of government overreach,unconstitutionality insensitivity, disgusting, and just plain stupid. It was a violation of everyone's medical choice we have had and will continue to have data on vaccine efficacy treatments, and natural immunity, the fact that data was suppressed, the fact that studies were modified, the fact that injuries were kept from the people, the lies, the deception, and the tyranny. This is all political partisanship, plain and simple. Let's put on our big boy pants and really talk about it. Nobody wants to talk about it but this is what's happening. The Council chose, under the leadership of the Mayor, political science, not science, political science because this is political partisanship,the mainstream media, bad advice,and listening to quack doctors. That's what happened. In LA,they're still fighting for vaccine mandates and in New York City,the Mayor, exempted athletes and performers but not first responders. That right there is insulting. As a first responder,that's insulting. I'm not asking, I'm demanding, one, that the Council make a public apology to the Town of Leesburg for a vaccine mandate that I didn't even realize was that short, two months. I don't know how you can get up in the morning, look yourselves in the mirror and say that you destroyed people's lives, you threatened their income, you threatened their families, you displaced 11 Police Officers that came over to the Loudoun County Sheriffs Office and you went about your business because elections have consequences. That's great. I want you to reinstate all employees and Commissioners, regardless of whether or not they want their positions. I want you to put it out there publicly. I'd like for you, the city, the Town to pay for damages suffered by employees that were displaced. Some people may have had to move, people had to adjust their schedules, childcare, all sorts of stuff, people that gave their lives to the Town of Leesburg as loyal employees. I want you to take responsibility for any future vax injury as a result of the forced vaccine mandate on people.We know that the vaccine has injuries. I'll be waiting for that public apology.Thank you. Mayor Burk: Joe Mobley signed up next. There is nobody that is following him at this point. Joe Mobley: Good evening, everyone. I'm Joe Mobley. That's J-O-E M-O-B-L-E-Y. I live in Potomac Station in Leesburg,Virginia.Thanks for inviting me up to hear public comment. It's interesting that we start gatherings like this with the Pledge of Allegiance. It's required by law that we say the Pledge of Allegiance in every public school in the United States. I believe that most public or most private schools also do it. They do some other things at the beginning of their school day. While we're looking at the Page 14 I April 12, 2022 flag, we're saying the Pledge, I'm curious if we've ever thought about it structurally because it's not a legal document. It's something that we pledge, that we promise. It's like baptism, it's us making a public declaration of something we've decided in our hearts, but still structurally, it starts with 'I' and ends with 'all.' Really what it's about is, "What can I do for the benefit of all?" I go to tell you guys when, [unintelligible] the arc of life goes. When I was a kid, I thought so many things about the historical documents, so many things about the bodies like yourselves, about law enforcement, about the military, and it's just been a steady arc of disappointment. I thought one thing about everyone who swore on oath and carried a badge and had powers of arrest. For the longest, I thought they were all intensely patriotic and wanted to live in service to others. I wore that uniform for two years and then I was sadly mistaken and I took that one off, and then I went to the Army where I thought it would be filled with patriots,with people who understood the oath, who had at least read and understood the Constitution. Sadly,that was not true. Now my last vestige of hope, definitely not in Federal government, it's in this government, good government, small government,that benign influence. I just ask that we step back because we're adults, we're autonomous,we don't really need to be told what to do.We need to be allowed to operate within the confines of laws that protect people. I have to say that I disagree with the vaccine mandate. I disagree that's ethical, that it's moral, that it's just.You're going to do what you're going to do. I just ask that you filter it through, "What can I do for all these?"Things that you say almost daily but definitely when you gather here. Mayor Burk: Thank you. Joe Mobley: Thank you. Mayor Burk: Thank you, Mr. Mobley. Is there anybody in the audience that did not sign up that would like to speak at this point? That being the case, there's nobody that came forward, I will close the petitioner section. That takes us to the Consent Agenda. I will read the items on our Consent Agenda and then ask for a motion and second, and if anybody wants to change anything. 12A is the Northern Virginia Electrical Cooperative, NOVEC Easement and Right of Way Agreement North Airport Hangar Project. B is Annual Landscape Maintenance Service Contract Award. C is Initiating an Amendment to the Zoning Ordinance Related to Fiscal Impact Analysis Mission Requirements. D is the Appointment to Parks and Rec Commission, Natalie Caroll to the Parks and Rec Commission, and Appointment to the Airport Commission, JC Silvey to the Airport Commission. Is there anyone that wants anything moved at this point?All right, do I have a motion? Moved by Ms. Fox, seconded by Vice Mayor Martinez.All in favor? Members:Aye. Mayor Burk: Opposed? Mr. Cummings,we didn't hear you. Council Member Cummings: Sorry, aye. Mayor Burk: All right, thank you. All right, that takes us to 13A, reinstatement of employees and commissions terminated due to COVID policy. Is there a motion? Council Member Fox: Madam Mayor, I'd like to make a motion to reinstate the employees and commissioners that were terminated due to COVID policy. Council Member Nacy: Second. Mayor Burk: Is there a second?Yes, second by Ms. Nacy.You spoke to it previously, did you? Okay, that's sufficient.All right, Ms. Nacy, did you have anything you wanted to say? Page 15 I April 12, 2022 Council Member Nacy: No, I echo, of course, everything that Councilwoman Fox mentioned earlier. I know that saying this and doing this doesn't mean that these people will automatically get their jobs back, and there's a process and all of that that goes along with it. I do think considering we changed the policy recently, that we should allow these people the opportunity to be reinstated. Mayor Burk:All right, is there any additional? Mr. Steinberg? Council Member Steinberg: Well, thanks. I'm going to state yet again that our policy was motivated by data that was available to us from local, and State, and Federal agencies. We did not operate in a vacuum. The regulations that we passed were provided evenly across the Town's workforce, including ourselves, I might add, and accepted, and I will say appreciated by an overwhelming majority of the Town employees. There was ample opportunity provided for medical and religious exemptions. For us as a body to now dismiss the seriousness of our decision of formulating public health policy, in my opinion, would trivialize our work and the decision made by those who understood the importance of complying, not only for themselves but for everyone with whom they came in contact. I can't imagine what anybody thinks we stood to gain personally or politically by passing this legislation. For me, the repetition of the accusation that our actions were politically motivated does not in itself make it true. It makes me wonder if that constant drumbeat does not itself indicate a political agenda I cannot support. Mayor Burk: Go ahead, Mr. Bagdasarian. Council Member Bagdasarian: Yes, I have a question for the Town Manager and potentially Town Attorney. Is there anything, or since the policy was rescinded last month, I think the 8th of March, was there anything that precluded a Commissioner that was terminated or an employee that was terminated from seeking reappointment, or rehiring to the Town for the vaccine and test mandate. It's not just a vaccine mandate, it's a vaccine or test weekly mandate. Has anything precluded that from happening? Kaj Dentler: I'm not clear on your question but is it anything that precluded someone from participating in the vaccine? Council Member Bagdasarian:Yes. If they were terminated,was there anything precluding them from being reappointed by a Council Member or being rehired by their former hiring manager? Christopher Spera: The only thing that would preclude them would be if the position had been filled. It would not eliminate potential, in the case of employees, it would not eliminate potential reemployment by the town whether to be an open position that they sought to apply for.With respect to Commissioner, if the Commissioner's position had not been filled with the lifting of the vaccine requirement,they would have been eligible for renomination by their sponsoring Council Member. Council Member Bagdasarian:Thank you. Mayor Burk: We have a motion by Ms. Fox, seconded by Ms. Nacy. All in favor indicate by saying, "Aye." Members:Aye. Mayor Burk: Opposed? Members: Nay. Mayor Burk: That fails, 2-5. Topic for discussion for the joint meeting with the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors. Do I have a motion for that?So moved by Council Member Steinberg. Second?Second by Council Member Nacy. Is there any discussion on this? We talked about it at length last night. Is there any--All right.All in favor indicate by saying, "Aye." Members: Aye. Page 16 I April 12, 2022 Mayor Burk: Opposed?That passes 7-0. We have an opening at the Residential Traffic Commission, a gentleman by the name of Ray Delpesche that we all know. He's the president or chair of the VFW and has done a tremendous amount of volunteering for the Town, would like to be considered for appointment to the residential traffic committee. I would like to make that motion. Mr. Martinez has seconded it. Is there any discussion or questions in regard to this?All in favor indicate by saying,"Aye." Members:Aye. Mayor Burk: Opposed? That passes 7-0. We also have someone that is interested in the position on the Thomas Balch library. Council Member Fox: Madam Mayor,we do have two people who are interested just to let you know. Mayor Burk: I didn't see the other one but okay. The first one is Elizabeth Scheib. She is the librarian at Tuscarora High School and she has put in her information of interest that she would like to be appointed to that. The other person? Council Member Fox: The other person is Paul Coyer. He did hold the position before January, I believe he was released on January 10th, or 11th,whatever[unintelligible]. He's interested as well. Mayor Burk:All right. Council Member Nacy: Madam Mayor, I have a quick question. Mayor Burk: Yes. Council Member Nacy:Which spot was this for? Mayor Burk: This was an opening on the Thomas Balch [inaudible]. Council Member Nacy:Which Council Member's? Mayor Burk: Oh, is Ms. Fox. Council Member Nacy: Because I also have a spot considering what-- Mayor Burk: Yours isn't up yet.You still have-- It doesn't go to the Council until after a certain number of days. Council Member Nacy:Got you but I'm just saying I would be happy to take on one of them considering there's two spots.You know what I mean? Mayor Burk: That's what you're saying? Council Member Nacy: Yes, because my Commissioner, unfortunately, will not be returning at this point for a very long time anyway. Mayor Burk: Sorry to hear that.All right. Does anybody have any issue if we appoint both of them? Vice Mayor Martinez: No. Mayor Burk: Mr. Martinez makes the motion to appoint both Elizabeth and Paul, seconded by Ms. Fox. All in favor? Members:Aye. Mayor Burk: Opposed?That passes 7-0. All right.We have-- Page 17 I April 12, 2022 Christopher Spera: Madam Mayor, we'll just need to prepare the resolution to address Ms. Nacy's appointment.We'll just bring that back to you the next time.You've already voted on it but I think publicly we should put it in the next agenda so that you can simply acknowledge. Mayor Burk: We don't have to vote on it? Christopher: No, ma'am but I believe it should be put in the agenda so that it can be seen publicly. Mayor Burk: That's fine. No problem with that. Future council meetings and agenda items, Ms. Fox? Mr. Steinberg? Council Member Steinberg: No. Mayor Burk: Mr. Martinez? Vice Mayor Martinez: [unintelligible] Mayor Burk: Did I miss something? [chuckles] Vice Mayor Martinez: [unintelligible] Mayor Burk: No,they're the same. That was just an oversight. Sorry, I should have caught that. Vice Mayor Martinez: [inaudible] Mayor Burk: None. Ms. Nacy. Council Member Nacy: Would you like comments and disclosures as well. Mayor Burk: Comments[unintelligible]. Council Member Nacy: Future meeting, and this may be more of just a conversation with staff or a Work Session thing. I was approached by Great Beginnings Preschool which is across the street in Leesburg United Methodist Church, about the traffic issue on Wirt Street when their preschool drops off and picks up each day. There was a traffic study done at one point, but it was during the summer, so it didn't actually address the school year traffic issues. I was hoping that we could address that with staff. Mayor Burk: Mr. Dentler, would that be something that you could write a memo about in regard to the study that was put in place? Is that satisfactory, Ms. Nacy? Council Member Nacy: Yes. I think since it was done in the summer, and it wasn't at the actual time that the congestion was happening, it's still happening. Mayor Burk: Do you want to get the memo and then decide if you want to [unintelligible]. Council Member Nacy: Yes, that's fine. Then I just have a quick comment. A few months ago, I was appointed by Council to the VASAP Commission, and so we had our first meeting a couple of weeks ago. It was very interesting. One side comment is if you can believe we're still a small town, I have proof for you. My dad's math teacher is part of this commission from Loudoun Valley High School. Very interesting actually, so things I didn't know about the VASAP program is, Bull Run is the part that we are in and it is not funded. It is entirely funded by offenders. It does not get State or local funding. Basically, if there's a DUI or some kind of alcohol-related offense, the fees that go along with that are what is the VASAP program uses to help rehabilitate people and go through the programs for alcohol help and awareness. One of the problems that they face, which is unique, is a lot of lawyers will go before a judge and say, "As part of the deal that they make, will you please erase these fees?"They Page 18 I April 12, 2022 will get erased, and then the program only suffers, but the people are still going through the program and still receiving the treatment or whatever the case may be. I thought that that was unique and interesting and that it's completely self-funded. I thought that it was worth mentioning to bring to the attention of the community because it's a really important program to help rehabilitate alcohol offenders. Mayor Burk: Could you say what the name of it is, again, not the initials but the actual name? Council Member Nacy:Yes, it's the Bull Run Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program. Mayor Burk: Thank you. Council Member Nacy: Thank you. Mayor Burk: I should have asked for regional reports, and I skipped that, so I do apologize. Mr. Bagdasarian. Council Member Bagdasarian: Just a few things to share. I had the opportunity to talk about the amazing youth we have in our community. I had the opportunity to judge the Loudoun Youth Battle of the Bands at Tally Ho, the final competition, amazing artist. Hopefully,we get some of them showcase at the Crossroads Music Festival this September. I think King Street won again, King Street and [unintelligible] Harvest was second place. Secondly, I had the opportunity to judge the Loudoun Youth Step-Up Program and this was truly incredible. You had I think about 20 high school, middle school students that were coming up with solutions for real-world problems that they're facing at their schools and their local communities. What I found most impressive is that it wasn't just,"Here's an idea."They actually built prototypes,they started the programs and actually started to implement them. Truly an inspiring moment to see the future of our entrepreneurs right here in Loudoun County. Both of those were outstanding. Thank you. Mayor Burk: I'm sure you'll be a mentor to them. Council Member Fox: Madam Mayor. I got to thinking a little bit about the petitioner that was up here asking about the trash issue. I was wondering if I could maybe go ahead and put that on some future discussion. Mayor Burk: This, it won't be a problem to put that on a work session. Kaj Dentler: [unintelligible]. Mayor Burk: Okay, thanks. There are four people that would like to have it on the work session. I should make sure that-- Okay. All right, I would like to thank Evergreen Mills Elementary School for inviting me to participate in Career Day.They do this every year. It's really important for the kids to start thinking about different careers and different things that they can do in the future. I want to thank them very much for welcoming me.April 30'h, I welcomed the Daisy Scouts to the Town Hall.They were here to learn about what it means to be the Mayor and the Town Council. We conducted a mock Council meeting. They all came up here. They were selected as Mayor and Council Members and Vice Mayor, and they had the very important task of trying to figure out what should be the Town flower. I thought, for sure, and I played staff, and I did a presentation, and I thought, for sure, as Daisies, they would pick daisies, but they picked roses. [chuckles] The Town flower, the Daisy Scouts would like to see us do a Town flower, recognize the rose. It was not what I expected. On the 31st, we got to say goodbye to Susan Berry Hill. I wish her well on her retirement. She was a huge asset to the town, and we definitely will miss her. Page 19 I April 12, 2022 On that same day, we were in the alley dedicating the murals, and they're beautiful additions to our public art. I want to thank Kim Kim for such great work, and for COPA, the Commission of Public Art and Friends of Public Art for making this happen. They recognized Mr. Lassiter, Marie Medley, and Ms. Pickens, all people that have contributed to Leesburg and Loudoun County. On the 1st, we welcomed Catty Cats to Leesburg. If you love cats, this is the place to be. You can pay a few dollars and go up and spend your time with cats and adopt them if you want. It was very interesting. I wish them all the luck. Raymond James hosted an exhibit by Dan Severs. It was truly impressive. I want to, again, thank Friends of Leesburg Public Art for making that happen. Thanks to all who came out to Keep Leesburg Beautiful trash pickup. There were lots of families. You can still participate. Call the Town. Let them know that you would like to pick up some trash. They will provide you with the bags, the wonderful yellow vests, gloves, and then when you're done picking up,you call the Town, and the Town will come pick up the bag. I presented our proclamation to the ice dancing team of Caroline Green and Michael Parsons, and I have no doubt this the next time we have a proclamation,it will be because they are Olympic champions. CJ3 Foundation held a fundraiser at Loudoun Kitchen and Bar for service dogs, to raise money for service dogs for our veterans. It was a wonderful event and a great cause, and I want to thank Eric Thomas for organizing it. We had the opportunity to do a ribbon-cutting for My Wellness Physician in the Village of Leesburg. It's a weight loss and nutrition practice. It's a very, very nice place, very welcoming, and it's going to be a great addition to the Village. On the 7th, I had my monthly meeting with supervisor Umstattd.We talked about some of the things that we're going to talk about with the Board as a whole. I want to congratulate Parks and Rec for an Easter Egg Hunt that went very well. There were lots of parents and lots and lots of children, and everybody had such a fun time. This is what they gave all the kids as they left. Not only did they collect the eggs, but then they got these little packets of fun stuff and a pinwheel, and it was just the delight on the kids' faces. It was a great job, and I want to congratulate Parks and Rec for doing that. Everyone, again, please take the time to go to the Town Green where you'll see the pinwheels representing the Child Abuse Prevention Month. Town Manager, do you have anything? Council Member Steinberg: Madam Mayor. Mayor Burk: Yes. Council Member Steinberg: I apologize for things popping into my head as well, but since Ms. Jones brought us two issues, do we also want to get some information about the grass strips? Mayor Burk: [unintelligible]Yes. Council Member Steinberg: Okay, thanks. Mayor Burk:All right. Okay, Mr. Manager, no comments. Okay.We have a closed session.We will not be adjourning. I will make the motion to move pursuant to 2.2-3705.2(14)(B)and 2.2-3711(A)(19)of the Code of Virginia that Leesburg Town Council convene in a closed meeting for the purpose of receiving information from staff regarding cybersecurity or discussion of an open meeting jeopardize the safety of the Town's Information Technology system and software program. Do I have a second? Council Member Bagdasarian: Second. Mayor Burk: Seconded by Council Member Bagdasarian. All in favor indicate by saying, "Aye." Council Members: Aye. Mayor Burk: Mr. Cummings. Page 20 I April 12, 2022 Council Member Cummings: Aye. Mayor Burk: Opposed?That moves forward. Thank you. CLOSED SESSION (8:19 p.m.—8:57 p.m.) Mayor Burk: In accordance with Section 2.2-3712 of the Code of Virginia, I move that Council certify to the best of each member's knowledge,that only public business matters lawfully exempted from the open meeting requirement under Virginia Freedom of Information Act and such public business matters for the purpose identified in the motion by which the closed meeting was convened were heard, discussed and considered in the meeting by Council. Mayor Burk: Ms. Fox? Council Member Fox:Aye. Mayor Burk: Mr. Steinberg? Council Member Steinberg: Aye. Mayor Burk: Mr. Martinez? Vice Mayor Martinez: Aye. Mayor Burk: Mr. Bagdasarian? Council Member Bagdasarian:Aye. Mayor Burk: Mr. Cummings? Council Member Cummings:Aye. Mayor Burk: Ms. Nacy? Council Member Nacy:Aye. Mayor Burk:And Ms. Burk, aye. Is there a motion to adjourn?Second by Mr. Steinberg. All in favor? Members: Aye. Mayor Burk: All right. Page 21 I April 12, 2022