HomeMy Public PortalAbout2024_tcmin0312COUNCIL MEETING March 12, 2024
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Council Chamber, 25 West Market Street, 7:00 p.m. Mayor Kelly Burk presiding.
Council Members Present: Ara Bagdasarian, Todd Cimino -Johnson, Zach Cummings,
Kari Nacy, Vice Mayor Neil Steinberg, Patrick Wilt and Mayor Kelly Burk.
Council Members Absent: None.
Staff Present: Town Manager Kaj Dentler, Town Attorney Christopher Spera, Deputy
Town Manager Keith Markel, Finance and Administrative Services Director Clark Case,
Public Works and Capital Projects Director Renee LaFollette, Parks and Recreation
Director Rich Williams, Utilities Director Amy Wyks, Assistant Town Manager Kate
Trask, Economic Development Director Russell Seymour, Airport Director Scott Coffman,
Leesburg Police Major Vanessa Grigsby, Deputy Town Attorney Christine Newton,
Community Development Chief Engineer Bill Ackman, Finance Deputy
Director/Treasurer Lisa Haley, Capital Projects Assistant Director Doug Wagner,
Management and Budget Officer Cole Fazenbaker, Deputy Management and Budget
Officer Tamara Keesecker, Sustainability Manager Deb Moran, Senior Land Acquisition
Manager Keith Wilson, Land Acquisition Manager Lawrence Bowman, Management and
Budget Analyst Liz Weaver and Clerk of Council Eileen Boeing.
AGENDA ITEMS
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. INVOCATION was given by Rev. Seungsoo Jun, Leesburg United Methodist
Church.
3. SALUTE TO THE FLAG was led by Council Member Cummings.
4. ROLL CALL
a. All Council Members present.
5. MINUTES
a. Work Session Minutes of February 26, 2024
MOTION2024-037
On a motion by Council Member Nacy, seconded by Council Member Cummings, the
February 26, 2024, Work Session minutes were moved for approval.
The motion was approved by the following vote:
Aye: Bagdasarian, Cimino -Johnson, Cummings, Nacy, Vice Mayor Steinberg, Wilt
and Mayor Burk
Nay: None
Vote: 7-0
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COUNCIL MEETING March 12, 2024
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b. Regular Session Minutes of February 27.2024
MOTION2024-038
On a motion by Council Member Nacy, seconded by Council Member Bagdasarian,
the February 27, 2024, Regular Session minutes were moved for approval.
The motion was approved by the following vote:
Aye: Bagdasarian, Cimino -Johnson, Cummings, Nacy, Vice Mayor Steinberg, Wilt
and Mayor Burk
Nay: None
Vote: 7-0
6. ADOPTING THE MEETING AGENDA
MOTION2024-039
On a motion by Council Member Nacy, seconded by Council Member Cimino -Johnson, the
meeting agenda was moved for approval.
The motion was approved by the following vote:
Aye: Bagdasarian, Cimino -Johnson, Cummings, Nacy, Vice Mayor Steinberg, Wilt
and Mayor Burk
Nay: None
Vote: 7-0
7. CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION
a. None.
8. PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATIONS
a. Save Soil Day
MOTION2024-040
On a motion by Council Member Steinberg, seconded by Council Member Nacy, the
following was proposed::
I move to approve the Proclamation recognizing March 21, 2024, Save Soil Day to be
proclaimed at the March 12, 2024, Town Council Meeting.
The motion was approved by the following vote:
Aye: Bagdasarian, Cimino -Johnson, Cummings, Nacy, Vice Mayor Steinberg, Wilt
and Mayor Burk
Nay: None
Vote: 7-0
Mayor Burk presented the proclamation for Save Soil Day to Ms. Allison Callaway
who made a few remarks. The Save the Soil Day group gave Mayor Burk a plant.
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COUNCIL MEETING March 12, 2024
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9. PRESENTATIONS
a. "Scrape the Grape" - Combatting the Spotted Lanternfly
Visit Loudoun President and CEO Beth Erickson along with Mr. Jack McNamee
representing the Loudoun Invasive Removal Alliance (LIRA) and Ms. Beth Sastre with
the Loudoun County Virginia Cooperative Extension, advised Council of an upcoming
event titled, "Scrape the Grape" to be held on April 6,- 2024, to raise community
awareness and involvement in combatting the invasive Spotted Lanternfly in Loudoun..
10. REGIONAL COMMISSION REPORTS
a. None.
11. PETITIONERS
The Petitioner's Section opened at 7:21 p.m.
Matt Chwalowski, 831 Smartts Lane. Spoke to Council to share his suggestions
regarding the budget process.
Tim Rush. 357 Foxridge Drive SW. Spoke to Council to urge Council to pass.a
resolution for immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza.
Richard Freeman. 114 Wilson Avenue NW. Spoke to Council requesting
endorsement of economic development ideas in Gaza that will promote peace.
Richard Burden. Spoke to Council to endorse the statements made by Mr. Rush and
Mr. Freeman.
The Petitioner's Section closed at 7:33 p.m.
12. APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA
MOTION2024-041
On a motion by Council Member Nacy, seconded by Council Member Cummings, the following
consent agenda was proposed:
a. Town Hall Art Exhibit by Mary J. Lanaghan
RESOLUTION2024-035
Approval of Town Hall Art Exhibit by Mary J. Lanaghan
b. Fiscal Year2025 Creative Communities Partnership Grant
RESOLUTION2024-036
Authorization to Apply for the Fiscal Year 2025 Creative Communities Partnership Grant
through the Virginia Commission for the Arts and Providing for the Distribution of the Grant
Funding and Town Matching Funds to Certain Independent Art Organizations
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COUNCIL MEETING March 12, 2024
c. Banking Services Authorization
RESOLUTION2024-037
Authorizing the Town's Chief Financial Officer and Other Designated Town Financial Officers
to Establish and Sign Banking Agreements and Take Other Actions Related to the Custody
and Transfer of Stocks, Bonds, Securities and Other Financial Instruments on behalf of the
Town of Leesburg, Virginia
d. Special Event Fee Waiver for "Burg"Family Reunion Club's Juneteenth Celebration 2024
RESOLUTION2024-038
Waiving Special Event Fees for the "Burg" Family Reunion Club's Juneteenth Celebration_
2024
e. Contract Award for Pump and Motor Maintenance, Replacement, and Installation
Services for Department of Utilities
RESOLUTION2024-039
Contract Award for Utilities Pump and Motor Maintenance, Replacement, and Installation
Services
f. Energy Efficiency Conservation Strategy (SECS)
RESOLUTION2024-040
To Adopt an Energy Efficiency Conservation Strategy for Reducing Energy
Consumption in Government Operations.
The Consent Agenda was approved by the following vote:
Aye: Bagdasarian, Cimino -Johnson, Cummings, Nacy, Vice Mayor Steinberg, Wilt and
Mayor Burk
Nay: None
Vote: 7-0
13. RESOLUTIONS /ORDINANCES / MOTIONS
a. None.
14. PUBLIC HEARINGS
a. Public Hearing — Fiscal Year 2025 Proposed Budget
The public hearing opened at 7:35 p.m.
Mr. Cole Fazenbaker presented Council with the Fiscal Year 2025 proposed budget.
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COUNCIL MEETING March 12, 2024
Public Speakers:
Russ Shaw, 1312 Moore Place SW. Spoke to Council is support of accelerating the
construction of pickleball courts in the Capital Improvements Program (CIP).
David Wigglesworth, 1423 Hague Drive SW. Spoke to Council is support of
accelerating the construction of pickleball courts in the Capital Improvements Program
(CIP).
Kathleen Kunitz, 407 Lacey Court. Spoke to Council is support of accelerating the
construction of pickleball courts in the Capital Improvements Program (CIP).
The public hearing was closed at 7:50 p.m.
No action was taken on the proposed Fiscal Year 2025 Proposed Budget.
Mayor Burk noted the final budget mark-up session was scheduled for March
18 and adoption of the budget on March 19.
b. Vacating a Portion of Public Right-of-way at 39 Sycolin Road SE and Authorizing
Conveyance of Surplus Real Property to Abutting Landowner
The public hearing opened at 7:51 p.m.
Mr. Lawrence (Ben) Bowman presented Council with the request to vacate a
portion of public Right-of-way at 39 Sycolin Road SW and to request authorization
to convey the surplus property to the abutting landowner.
Public Speakers:
Jim Roncaglione. Spoke to Council as a nearby landowner in the area and
had no objections to the request. Mr. Roncaglione added he is presently maintaining
a portion of property behind his property that is owned by the School Board. Mayor
Burk asked Mr. Dentler to have staff contact the School Board to ensure that this
property is maintained by County staff in the future.
The public hearing was closed at 8:05 p.m.
Council and staff discussed the request. Staff confirmed that they were
certain of the property owners identified in the request.
MOTION2024-042
On a motion by Vice Mayor Steinberg, seconded by Council Member Nacy, the
following was proposed:
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COUNCIL MEETING March 12, 2024
I move to approve the proposed Ordinance Vacating a Portion of Right-of-way
at 39 Sycolin Road SE and Authorizing Conveyance of Vacated Surplus Real Property
to Abutting Property Owner Pursuant to Sections 15.2-2006 through 15.2-2008 of the
Code of Virginia.
ORDINANCE 2024-0-005
Vacating a Portion of Public Right-of-way at 39 Sycolin Road SE and Authorizing
Conveyance of Vacated Surplus Real Property to A butting Property Owner pursuant to
Section 15.2-2006 through 15.2-2008 of the Code of Virginia
The motion was approved by the following vote:
Aye: Bagdasarian, Cimino -Johnson, Cummings, Nacy, Vice Mayor Steinberg, Wilt
and Mayor Burk
Nay: None
Vote: 7-0
15. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a. None.
16. NEW BUSINESS
a. None.
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17. COUNCIL DISCLOSURES AND COMMENTS / ADDITIONS TO FUTURE
MEETINGS
Council Member Cimino -Johnson requested a work session discussion on
developing a downtown parking plan to align parking fees with the cost of parking.
It was the consensus of Council to add this item to a future work session discussion.
Vice Mayor Steinberg disclosed he met with Rabbi Chaim Cohen regarding a
proposed project on the Hamblet property.
18. MAYOR DISCLOSURES AND COMMENTS / ADDITIONS TO FUTURE
MEETINGS
Mayor Burk welcomed all three rating agencies to Leesburg — Fitch, Moody's and
S&P — who all reconfirmed the Town's tiple AAA rating. Mayor Burk thanked the staff
responsible for their efforts in maintaining the rating. Mayor Burk attended the Spring Bling
event at Ida Lee and commended staff for an excellent job. Mayor Burk attended the
funeral service along with Council Member Nacy for fallen Firefighter Brown and noted it
was a very moving experience. Mayor Burk welcomed. Cucinamore to Leesburg and noted
they are celebrating their 10 year anniversary of being in business. Mayor Burk thanked the
Preschool Learning Center for inviting her to come and read to 80 3-, 4- and 5 -year olds at
the Center. Mayor Burk attended the HUBZone and expressed appreciation for those who
put them forward. Mayor Burk met with the Mayor Gene McGee of Ridgeland, Mississippi
to discuss Leesburg's data center standards. Mayor Burk said he advised her they have a
750 -acre site in Ridgeland that Amazon is looking to develop as a data center and they are
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COUNCIL MEETING March 12, 2024
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looking to Leesburg to benchmark for data center standards. Mayor Burk attended the
Loudoun Education Foundation Fueled, Feed the Kids event noting they prepare over
1,000 boxes of food weekly for students in over 133 schools in Loudoun County. Mayor
Burk thanked them for their efforts. Mayor Burk wished everyone a very happy St. Patrick's
Day.
19. TOWN MANAGER COMMENTS
a. None.
20. ADJOURNMENT
On a motion by Vice Mayor Steinberg, seconded by Council Member Nacy, the meeting was
adjourned at 8:11 p. m.
ATTEST:
Clerk of Council
2024_tcmin0312
Kelly Bark, Mayor
Town of Leesburg
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March 12, 2024 — Leesburg 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 the March 12th, 2024 Town Council meeting. If
anyone in the room needs hearing assistance, please see the Clerk. Council Member Cimino -
Johnson has asked Reverend JR Jun from the Leesburg United Methodist Church to lead the
invocation tonight and it will be followed by the salute to the flag by Council Member Cummings.
Reverend, welcome.
Rev. Seungsoo Jun: Thank you, Mayor Burk and all esteemed Council Members. It is my honor to
be here at the Town committee. I believe that it is a time that we need great adaptive leadership, and I
want to thank you for your adaptive leadership in leading us in this time. Before I start, I just want to
thank Dr. Cimino -Johnson for the invitation that I can come tonight and be part of this invocation. As
we gather today, we reflect on shared values that unite us. May our discussions be guided by
wisdom, empathy, and the commitment to the well-being of our Town.
Let us approach the challenges before us with open minds and collaborative spirits, seeking solutions
that uplift and strengthen our community, and may this meeting be a testimony of the power of
collective actions and the enduring spirit of unity. Knowing that we cannot do this alone, I invite you, if
you are comfortable, to join me in the time to pray and ask God for the strength that unites us
together. Let us pray. Almighty God, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from
whom no secrets are hidden, cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your grace and
your Holy Spirit.
Be with us as we gather to discuss the Town's need and help us understand that you brought us here
together so that we could discern the best way for this Town. In our openness to listen and discern, let
us witness how you are with us and how you make your ways through us. Through this meeting
tonight, let us see how the unity grows within and through us so that we may also see your perfect
love as we trust and rely on you. As we pray in your holy name through Christ the Lord. Amen.
Mayor Burk: Thank you. Would you rise for the Pledge of Allegiance?
All: I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it
stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Mayor Burk: Let the record reflect that all members of Council are present. We have two sets of
minutes, the working session minutes of February 26th, 2024. Do I have a motion?
Council Member Kari Nacy: So moved.
Mayor Burk: Council Member Nacy. Second?
Council Member Zach Cummings: Second.
Mayor Burk: Second, Council Member Cummings. All in favor indicate by saying aye.
Members: Aye.
Mayor Burk: Opposed? That passes 7-0. The regular session minutes of February 27th, 2024.
Council Member Nacy: So moved.
Mayor Burk: Council Member Nacy.
11March 12, 2024
Council Member Ara Bagdasarian: Second.
Mayor Burk: Seconded by Council Member Bagdasarian. All in favor indicate by saying aye.
Members: Aye.
Mayor Burk: Opposed? That passes 7-0. Can I have a motion to adopt the meeting agenda?
Council Member Nacy: So moved.
Mayor Burk: [chuckles] Council Member Nacy. She's on a roll. Is there a second?
Council Member Todd Cimino -Johnson: Second.
Mayor Burk: Council Member Cimino -Johnson. Is there any deletions or amendments? All in favor
indicate by saying aye.
Members: Aye.
Mayor Burk: Opposed? That passes 7-0. We have no certificates tonight, but we do have a
proclamation for the Save the Soil Day. I will read this out, and then I will come down to meet all the
Save the Soil people down there. The proclamation is Save the Soil Day, March 21st, 2024. "Whereas
Save Soil is a global movement launched by Sadhguru." I was close?
Alison Callaway: Yes, you were.
Mayor Burk: Oh, good. Thank you. "Uniting world leaders, visionaries, influencers, and citizens of all
nations behind a common purpose to restore and safeguard the world's soil. Whereas Safe Soil aims
to address the global crisis, recognizing that 52% of the world's agricultural soils are already
degraded. Then by 2050, 90% of the Earth's soils could be degraded. Whereas addressing soil
degradation issues would bring solutions for the loss of biodiversity, nutritional deficiencies, food
scarcity, water security, climate change and mass migration.
Whereas the proposed solution is to advocate policies across all nations towards soil restoration and
aim to increase organic matter in agricultural soil to a minimum of 3%-6%. Whereas to where to raise
awareness and activate support from leaders and citizens alike, we Sadhguru--
Alison Callaway: Sadhguru.
Mayor Burk: [chuckles] "Was on a 30,000 -kilometer journey as a lone motorcyclist covering 27
nations over 100 days since March 21St, 2022. Whereas the movement is supported by 81 nations
globally. Therefore proclaimed that the Mayor and the Council of the Town of Leesburg, Virginia,
hereby recognized March 21st, 2024, as the official 2024 Save Soil Day in the Town of Leesburg.
Proclaimed this 12th day of March." I'm going to come down and present this to Allison.
Chris Spera: You need a motion.
Mayor Burk: Do I have a motion? [laughs]
Vice Mayor Neil Steinberg: So moved.
Council Member Nacy: Second.
Mayor Burk: Thank you. We have a motion made by Vice Mayor, seconded by Council Member
Nacy. All in favor?
Members: Aye.
Mayor Burk: Opposed? That passes 7-0. Now I'll go down.
2IMarch 12, 2024
[background conversation]
Mayor Burk: Thank you. Allison, [chuckles] hello. You made this request for this proclamation?
Allison Callaway: Yes.
Mayor Burk: Would you like to explain it a little further and perhaps say the gentleman's name
correctly that I missed up?
Allison Callaway: Yes, it's Sadhguru.
Mayor Burk: Sadhguru?
Allison Callaway: Yes. He started this movement and we are all volunteers, part of a nonprofit
organization called Conscious Planet. This is led by Sadhguru. The most pressing issue today is the
soil health, the health of our soils. As you had read earlier, 52% of the US agricultural soils or soils is
degraded. The UN has estimated that by 2045, we will be producing 40% less food if we do not turn
this around, and our population will grow from 8 to 9.3 billion. Soil is like a living organism. 87% of
species are dependent on soil, including humans.
Mayor Burk: Absolutely.
Allison Callaway: Yes. Having a healthy soil is also really good for reducing greenhouse gas
emissions. It's by 30% to 35% it sequesters the --
Mayor Burk: Carbon.
Allison Callaway: Carbon, correct. Thank you. It also sequesters water. This is also very important.
Mayor Burk: Absolutely. What are some things that people can do in their own backyards, in their
own garden? Anything?
Allison Callaway: Yes, you can get in touch with the soil, that's good for you. When you touch the
soil and you garden and this is very good. The Conscious Planet is advocating for is government
policy. We need a government policy to protect our soil, ensure that we keep at least 3% to 6%
organic content. Because the top of the soil is like it's being ripped open to the sun. It's living and it
needs some shade. Is the main problem. It's a simple solution, but it's become a crisis.
Mayor Burk: Absolutely. Thank you for bringing this to our attention. I don't know if you've had a
chance to talk to Avis Renshaw, whose Mom's Apple Pie. She owns that particular place. All of her
pies are made by product from her farm, and she's a huge advocate for protecting the soil and is very
much in tune to that same message.
Allison Callaway: I hope this Save Soil Day will help the policies get made that we need for the
planet.
Mayor Burk: Okay, thank you.
Allison Callaway: Thank you so much.
Mayor Burk: Thank you very much. Appreciate it.
[applause]
Mayor Burk: Hello, how are you?
Unidentified Speaker: Do you need this? Because if we save soil, flowers will grow anyways.
Mayor Burk: We love flowers, don't we?
3IMarch 12, 2024
Unidentified Speaker: I kind of want to keep this.
Mayor Burk: Oh, you want to keep it?
Unidentified Speaker: If you save soil, you'll get flowers.
Mayor Burk: Oh, okay.
[laughter]
Unidentified Speaker: In your garden.
Mayor Burk: I'm not sure what message you're trying to tell me, [laughter] but thank you. Did you
want this back?
Unidentified Speaker: No, you're fine.
Mayor Burk: Thank you. That's wonderful. What kind of plant is this? Do we know?
Unidentified Speaker: That's a bonsai.
Mayor Burk: Bonsai. Oh, okay.
Unidentified Speaker: Did you want a picture with him? Would you get a picture with them, Simon?
Unidentified Speaker: Yes, let's, if you don't mind.
Unidentified Speaker: Can you hand it over to take a picture, Alexander? Yes.
Unidentified Speaker: Put in front of you all.
Unidentified Speaker: That's okay. [chuckles] Just our future generation is good.
Mayor Burk: All right.
Unidentified Speaker: Active members [inaudible].
Unidentified Speaker: Just a small something to appreciate for your time.
Mayor Burk: Oh my gosh, thank you very much. Totally appreciate it.
Unidentified Speaker: Thank you so much.
Mayor Burk: Yes, thank you. Thank you all for coming and for doing all this. Thank you. Have a good
evening.
[pause]
Mayor Burk: All right. Again, thank you all very much. That now takes us to our presentation from Ms.
Erickson. This is about the invasive removal of the spotted lanternfly.
Beth Erickson: We will be very quick. We only have 10 minutes total.
Mayor Burk: You only have 10 minutes. [laughs]
Beth Erickson: That is correct. Jack is going to kick us off.
Jack McNamee: All Council Members, Mayor, Vice Mayor, my name is Jack McNamee, and I'm with
the representatives here--
4IMarch 12, 2024
Mayor Burk: Jack, could I interrupt you for a second? Would you spell your name for the closed
captioning?
Jack McNamee: M -C, capital N, A -M -E -E.
Mayor Burk: Thank you.
Jack McNamee: Actually, I haven't spoken here since St. John's Church when we went through the
approval process.
Mayor Burk: Oh, It's been a while.
Jack McNamee: I'm Jack McNamee and I'm here to represent the Loudoun Invasive Removal
Alliance called LIRA. LIRA is a nice term, we think, we're sticking to it. It basically is representatives of
over 35 HOAs across Loudoun County, including several in the Town of Leesburg crossing all the
districts. Basically, over 200,000 residents are part of that group of looking to remove invasives and
replace them with other native plants. That's the concept.
In support of that, from last year, we've had several other groups involved as part of our team we're
working with, including Loudoun Soil and Water, the wineries, the Farm Bureau, Visit Loudoun, and
the Tree Commission, Piedmont Environmental, Loudoun Wildlife, a conservancy in Blue Ridge
PRISM. Those are the different groups. Also, I forgot Native Forward, the former Audubon Society
Group. That's our group and --
Beth Erickson: Yes.
Jack McNamee: You want to go ahead?
Beth Erickson: The progress that this group has made has been tremendous. The information is
certainly in your packet, and you can take a look at it. One of the things that led us to all come
together was actually something that I saw as a bridal couple was going into the Birkby House. There
was a couple going to have their photos taken. She had a beautiful dress. She steps away from the
photographer into the street to stomp on a spotted lantern fly. As she did it, she goes, "That's for the
wineries." I'm walking by with my dog, and I'm like, "Wow, there is something here."
When LIRA has this incredible success, we are introduced to LIRA, and as you know, the spotted
lantern fly activity, Beth is going to touch base in just a second, in Leesburg is great. We are working
together with Virginia Cooperative Extension, the Loudoun Wineries, Loudoun County, and we are
here tonight to both brief you, and then to make sure that we have your understanding of where we
will be going on April 6th, 2024 as we scrape for the grape. This is a simple concept that we think is
going to be really, really strong. Working with LIRA, we are sending the message out about the
importance of agriculture, but also awareness of the spotted lanternfly.
We are starting that tomorrow on April 6th. Beth will tell you where they are going to be going. We're
going to be deploying volunteers in teams to go out. Very simply what they're doing is we have credit
card shaped and size scrapers. They're going to go look for the egg masses on trees, under rocks,
under benches, and literally just scrape them, because as you scrape them, each one of the sacks
holds 30 to 50 eggs. Our goal is to remove hopefully a half a million through this process. Then also
that weekend, we are going to be thanking the volunteers. While we are doing it, we are going to be
tagging the tree of heaven for later removal.
I'm going to bring up Beth to talk about where we are going to be going in the Leesburg area.
Unfortunately, that did not make it into the slides, but she's going to tell you where we are.
Mayor Burk: Before you do that, may I ask?
Beth Erickson: Absolutely.
Mayor Burk: Would you explain why you are going to be getting rid of the tree of heavens trees?
5IMarch 12, 2024
Beth Sastre: Good evening, everyone. Thank you for having us. My name is Beth Sastre. I'm the
commercial horticulturist for Virginia Cooperative Extension in Loudoun County. I work with farmers
and agricultural workers. In 2018, spotted lanternfly arrived in Winchester, and in 2019, we had it
here. Spotted lanternfly is a non-native invasive insect that prefers tree of heaven and grapes. Tree of
heaven is also an invasive plant. Those two plants are the ones that they prefer the most. That's why
we are saying we are going to scrape for the grape and at the same time, we are going to be tagging
all this, the tree of heavens that we can find for later removal as Beth said.
When we start working with spotted lanternfly awareness here in Loudoun County, we have several
hotspots. The first one it was downtown Leesburg, and then we found something on Ida Lee and the
Rust Library. Those are the ones that we have identified that have egg masses that people can reach
out safely. There are going to be many other places, but we cannot reach out because 30% of the
egg masses are going to be at the safe area that we can reach. The rest are going to be on the top.
As Beth said, if you scrape one egg mass is about 30 or 50 individuals less next year.
Beth Erickson: Then we'll bring it over here as well. Again, one of the key parts of this is it is low
impact and it's also a way to engage these HOAs throughout all of Loudoun County, many of whom
are in the Town of Leesburg to participate. The Web site is going live, which is Loudoun Invasive
Species. It's going live. It's live now. Then we're going to drop a press release tomorrow to get the
word out. I know that I'm encouraging my HOA in Chesterfield Place to participate because we think
it's going to be a really good and important project, and we're happy to answer any questions you
might have.
Mayor Burk: Okay, thank you. Is anyone have any questions? I do. You say "scrape the eggs", what
do you do with them?
Beth Erickson: Let me go back and show you the picture. They are the brown masses. You can see
the adult lanternflies, but you'll also see things that look like just brown mud masses. When you
scrape them, you're literally smashing them as you come out. It's a very simple thing to do. Beth took
us out to show us outside of our office where the coffee roaster is. There were 20 in that tree alone.
That could be 1,000 spotted lanternflies right there. It's actually oddly satisfying to just pull them off, to
scrape them off. That's what we're looking to do, low impact, high yield.
Mayor Burk: They're not gushy and squishy?
Beth Erickson: Not the ones that I did, Madam Mayor. I cannot guarantee that, but I know that if you
come out with us on the 6th, we will find you good ones.
Mayor Burk: Okay. All right.
[laughter]
Beth Sastre: They will be just scratch it if you 'do it with your fingers. That's my technique, is faster.
Beth Erickson: I would not do that.
Beth Sastre: [inaudible]
Beth Erickson: If you want to add when we're on a timer.
Jack McNamee: Yes, okay.
Mayor Burk: All right, thank you. April 6th, we need to mark our calendars. Did you state where it's
going to be on the 6th?
Beth Erickson: I'm sorry. Beth, do you want to say it again? Reiterate what we've been --
Beth Sastre: The location that we found here right now are at Ida Lee Park.
61March 12, 2024
Mayor Burk: Lee and Rust.
Beth Sastre: The aquatic park there, the Rust Library, -
Mayor Burk: Those are the places.
Beth Sastre: -and downtown Leesburg.
Mayor Burk: Okay.
Beth Erickson: Then it will be on public property in downtown Leesburg where were looking to do.
Mayor Burk: Okay, great.
Jack McNamee: Now, I have one final item. I'm Jack McNamee, as I said. I'm the representative for
the Leesburg District in terms of helping all the other HOAs here that want to participate in other parts
of this project, removing invasives off their land, going through the paperwork, and everything else. I
have a sheet of paper here with too much information, but the bottom of it is my name and address,
so anyone who wants to contact me about it, I'll gladly help them do it. As I said, my focus is the Town
of Leesburg and the area around it.
Mayor Burk: Great. Wonderful. Thank you.
Jack McNamee: Thank you.
Beth Erickson: Thank you very much.
Mayor Burk: Appreciate it. All right. Our next session that's up is our-- Is there anyone who has any
regional commission reports at this point? The COLT is supposed to be meeting tomorrow, but they're
looking to change it to the following week, so I don't know if I have anything to report or not.
Petitioners, one of the 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 ask that you observe the three -minute time limit. The green light on the
timer will turn yellow and you'll 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
orders adopted by this Council, the time limit applies to all. Now, I do want to say if you are here to
talk about a budget item, you probably should wait until we're doing the budget, which is the next thing
after this. Anybody here for pickleball or anything, technically, you should wait for the budget.
If you can't wait and you want to speak, that's fine. We'll move it forward, but I did want to let you
know that. Our first speaker is Matt Chwalowski, followed by Russ Shaw.
Matt Chwalowski: Evening, everybody. My name is Matt Chwalowski representing myself. 40 years
in Leesburg here. I actually want to talk about budget, but I don't want to talk about budget items. I
want to talk about the budget framework to help you guys think about a budget. I'm talking from a
perspective of respecting taxpayers. My background is I have been a business transformation
consultant for 25 years working with business and governments at all levels, and I spent a year
working as operations director in a municipality seven times bigger than Town of Leesburg. I was
responsible for about 100 people working field and office operations. That's my background.
I don't like budget process. I'll tell you why. Because it's like from a perspective of a house owner who
wants to sell his house at the highest possible price. Not speaking in generalities, the Town Manager
establishes a budget and he swears it's cutting into the bone. Then the Town Council comes in and
snips here and there, and then everybody declares a victory, but we don't see it. The fundamental
question is, how do we know that we are getting our money's worth? How do we know it? What is the
right price? We know what is the price of milk, but what is the price of government services? In private
business, we have greater degree of confidence.
7IMarch 12, 2024
Why? Because they have recessions and we; have competition. Towns or municipalities, they are like
old people with arteries clogged with cholesterol. There are Town Councils who manage that money
flow, but guys, don't delude yourself. You're not a good proxy for what the market does. What can we
do? My suggestion is zero the budget. Instead of going through all that crazy theatrics circus, why
don't we just set the budget at last year's and see where things will start breaking down? Let's repeat
it for the next year. Let's see where things start breaking down because then this guy here will start
thinking creatively, and we have confidence that things are working.
This is what I would encourage you to do. In my last last 30 seconds, I worked for this municipality
seven times bigger and I observed how it works in addition to my duties. I wonder if all the jobs at the
Town of Leesburg are full-time jobs. Because we are small. Is it 5%, but is like really 40 hours per
week? Do we have enough work? I don't know. I would like to test that because from my experience,
it just doesn't quite add up. I hope this is helpful and hopefully, you can take that zero -budget track.
Thank you very much.
Mayor Burk: Thank you, Mr. Chwalowski. Russ Shaw followed by Tim Rush.
Russ Shaw: I can wait until the budget session. I'm Russ Shaw.
Mayor Burk: All right, thank you. Tim Rush followed by Richard Freeman.
Tim Rush: Good evening, everybody. I'm Tim Rush. That's spelled R -U -S -H at 357 Foxridge Drive. I
come before you to urge the Council to pass a resolution for immediate and unconditional ceasefire in
Gaza. The devastation in Gaza is almost too painful to put into words. Well over 30,000 dead, 70% of
them women and children, another 70,000 wounded, deaths by starvation are on the rise. Only one-
third of the hospitals are even partially functioning, operating at almost 400% beyond capacity. 82% of
the population of 2.2 million has been displaced living in tents at best without adequate water or food
and no electricity.
Cities, housing schools, and hospitals have been leveled to dust. When the International Court of
Justice found merit in the charge of this constituted genocide, Israel replied by attempting to demolish
the principal UN agency distributing the trickle of aid that was reaching the population. Expressing
alarm and outrage at this genocide does not make one a terrorist sympathizer, an antisemite, and
does not indicate endorsement of the attack of October 7th and the taking of hostages. 400 American
rabbis, cantors, and rabbinical students released a letter to President Biden March 7th calling for
immediate ceasefire and massive increase in humanitarian aid.
I am proud of my Jewish heritage. When I see that kind of moral stance from these rabbis, Jewish
Voice for Peace, and so many other Jews inside and outside Israel. I applaud Congresswoman
Jennifer Wexton's statement last week after over 100 Palestinians were killed when Israelis opened
fire on desperate Palestinians at a food depot. When she said, "This is sickening. Violence against
innocent civilians seeking lifesaving aid for their families is wrong and must end. We need an
immediate ceasefire." City and Town Councils are the backbone of moral response in the US.
Harrisonburg 75 miles west has just passed a resolution and I urge you to do the same.
It's in the. packet I've given you. We must do more than bring the current slaughter to an end. The
basis for lasting peace is economic development with the late economist and statesman who resided
in Loudoun County, Lyndon LaRouche, first proposed in 1975 and is called the Oasis Plan. My friend
Richard Freeman will give more details to you. After the signing of the Oslo Accords In 1993, Yitzhak
Rabin said, "We who have come from a land where parents bury their children, we who have fought
against you, the Palestinians, we say to you today in a loud and clear voice, enough of blood and
tears. Enough." Let us act in the spirit of the martyred Yitzhak Rabin, not of his killers. Thank you.
Mayor Burk: Thank you, Mr. Rush. Mr. Freeman will be followed by Richard Burden.
Richard Freeman: Thank you for allowing us to address you. I'm Richard Freeman, F -R -E -E -M -A -N,
and I live at 114 Wilson Avenue Northwest. I would just ask everybody, if you could for a moment, just
to take this. We've given this to you. If you could just take the packet and just turn to this piece
through development. The most important thing in this part of the world is water, and we propose to
bring water because you to cement a peace, a peace treaty is important, but you have to have
8IMarch 12, 2024
economic development. People have to be employed. There has to be growth, there has to be that
sort of development.
Very quickly, and I'm sorry we can't show everyone in the audience, but if you go up from the Gulf of
Aqaba, up, that's the Red Sea, that's about 100 miles, expressed in kilometers. That's one new canal
we would build. A second one would then go from there, from the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea is the
bottom of the Jordan River and it would go out to the Gaza. You see that in blue and that would bring
new water out to the Mediterranean, would come in. The Mediterranean to the Dead Sea, which is at
the base of the Jordan River, and going upwards from the Red Sea.
Water could then be desalinated. You take the saltwater out. This is known how to be done. You
would build desalination plants all along these two canals. We propose nuclear power. You can use
other methods like hydroelectric power to make this possible. Once you do this, then you're going to
grow in Gaza, you're going to grow in the West Bank, you're going to grow in Jerusalem more grains,
more food. That's what is needed. The second part of the plan, you will see, it looks like a dashed, it
starts up near Syria and snakes its way all the way down around until you get to Gaza. That's a
railroad. You can build high-speed rail that would travel about 200 miles per hour.
You're bringing factories, cement factories, factories of machine tools, and so forth. You can employ
500,000 to one million people. Now you can cement a peace. It's called peace through development.
As Isaiah said, we can turn swords into plowshares, which can turn pruning hooks into development.
My last point is, think of this. Think of Shimon, an Israeli, and Ahmed, a Palestinian. They may not like
each other because these hostilities have been here for a while, but if they work on projects together,
if they're engineers, their fate is turned and bound ,together.
Their children may still have some of the animosities, but they're going to be developing factories.
They're going to be developing other things and their grandchildren won't even know that there was a
war.
Mayor Burk: Sir, your time is up. Thank you very much.
Richard Freeman: We ask you to endorse this.
Mayor Burk: Thank you. Richard Burden, followed by David Wigglesworth.
Richard Burden: Hello there. I'm Richard Burden. The last name's spelled B -U -R -D -E -N. I fully
support and endorse everything that these two gentlemen have just said. I have nothing really to add
other than I will answer questions after the close of the meeting, or if anybody has any questions now,
I'll answer them.
Mayor Burk: Thank you, sir. Appreciate it. David Wigglesworth?
David Wigglesworth: I'll wait for budget session.
Mayor Burk: All right. Is there anybody else in the audience that did not get a chance to speak, that
didn't get a chance to sign up that would like to speak now? All right, seeing no one, then I will close
the petitioner's section and move to the approval of the consent agenda. Our first item on the consent
agenda is 12A, the Town Hall Art Exhibit by Mary Lanaghan. B, the Financial Year 2025 Creative
Community Partnerships Grants. C is the Banking Services Authorization. D is the Special Event
Waiver for Burg Family Reunion Club Juneteenth Celebration 2024. Contract Award for Pump and
Motor Maintenance Replacement and Installation Services for Department of Utilities. F is the Energy
Efficiency Conservation Strategy. Do I have a motion?
Council Member Nacy: So moved.
Mayor Burk: Council Member Nacy. Second.
Council Member Cummings: Second.
Mayor Burk: Council Member Cummings. Are there any items that anyone would like to have taken
9IMarch 12, 2024
off? All right, all in favor of the consent agenda, please say aye.
Members: Aye.
Mayor Burk: Opposed? All right, that takes us to our public hearing. Our first public hearing for
tonight is I call to order this March 12th, 2024, public hearing of Leesburg Town Council. Unless there
is an objection, I will dispense with the reading of the advertisement. If you wish to speak, we ask that
you either sign up on the sheet in the hallway outside of Council Chambers, but if you did not get the
opportunity to sign up, we will give you an opportunity to speak. In the interest of fairness, we also ask
that you observe the five-minute time limit. The green light in front of you will turn yellow at the end of
three minutes, indicating 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 this Council, the three -minute time limit applies
to all, however, rather than have numerous citizens make remarks on behalf of a group, the Council
will allow a spokesperson for the group a few extra minutes. In that instance, we would ask speakers,
when they sign up, to indicate their status as a spokesperson, the group they represent, and their
request for additional time. Our procedure for the public hearing is, first, there is a brief presentation
by staff about the item before us.
Second, members of the public that have signed up to speak will be called and given five minutes to
make their comments. The public hearing item on the agenda for tonight is Fiscal Year 2025
Proposed Budget. Hello.
Cole Fazenbaker: Good evening, Madam Mayor, members of the public, Council Members. My name
is Cole Fazenbaker, Management Budget Officer for the Town.
Mayor Burk: Could you spell your name for the closed caption?
Cole Fazenbaker: Last name is F -A -Z -E -N -B -A -K -E -R.
Mayor Burk: Thank you.
Cole Fazenbaker: Tonight I'm presenting the Public Hearing for the Fiscal Year 2025 Proposed
Budget. Some of the budget highlights are a lean budget with modest revenue growth, and this is due
to a strong financial portfolio. As you may have seen earlier last week that all three credit rating
agencies gave us a AAA bond rating. Budget includes strategic use of reserves and invest in our
capital improvements program, our CIP, our capital asset replacement program, our CARP, and also
our workforce, which is our staff. The real estate tax rate for the proposed budget is proposed at no
change.
Your review of the budget is $157.8 million in total. The general fund is increasing from $78.4 million
to $81.6 million. Utilities fund for the operating is increasing $29.5 to $31.1 million, and that's in line
with the recently adopted five-year rate plan. Where does your tax dollar go? It goes to the places
where you would think it's going, to the public -facing direct services such as the Police, Public Works,
Capital Projects, Parks and Recreation, and the Balch Library. The proposed real estate tax rate
maintains the 17.74 per $100 of assessed value which equates to a penny equaling $1.1 million, and
the equalized rate is $0.1695.
If the equalized rate is used, the budget must be reduced by approximately $908,000. How this
translates to your tax bill, the average tax bill for tax year 2024 is increasing $42 from $1,000 to
$1,042 and that's a monthly increase of $3.50 for your average residential unit. Some of the key
revenue estimates that we've historically shown you are up on the screen. The two lines that jump out
are the sales and use tax, which is decreasing by $850,000 and that's mainly due to the formula used
for sales tax which Leesburg gets a proportion of school -aged children compared to overall Loudoun
County. Our percentage is going down because Loudoun is growing faster, is the main reason.
It's also sales tax is starting to slow a little bit. It's still trending upward but it's the perfect storm. Then
the investment income with the interest rate environment right now, we have $1.25 million increase in
that line item. The key base budget adjustments for the budget include new leases which are the
10jMarch 12, 2024
Public Works and Community Development office space leases, as well as the mobile air traffic
control tower at the Airport, in addition to the stormwater management of $306,000.
For our workforce, the personnel, we have budgeted 4% for your average pay -for -performance, 3%
for your cost -of -living adjustment or COLA, and then also our health insurance is increasing by
approximately 10% and we're using $395,000 out of the self-insurance fund to adjust that increase.
The proposed key enhancements include a contribution of $30,000 using unassigned fund balance to
the Leesburg Movement, which is a Council -approved Main Street program, as well as two yet to be
identified school zone speed cameras. There's $88,500 in expenditures associated with that, but also
revenue, which will make it a net positive budget impact.
Our proposed Capital Improvements Program, or CIP, is robust this year at over $308 million, 75
projects, and that includes 11 new projects. Nine of those new projects are in the general
government, and two in Utilities. Just Fiscal Year2025 alone is $45.1 million or 41 projects, and
Utilities fund accounts for 32% of that Fiscal Year, 2025, funding. Utilities fund overview, again, is in
line with the recently adopted five-year rate plan. The proposed Fiscal Year 2025 budget is $45.7
million. The operations is $31.2, 3R, which is similar to the CARP in the general fund, which is
replacement, and renovation, and rehab is $4.9, and then the capital projects is $9.6 million.
Again, this is the first year of the new five-year rate plan adopted January 9th, and it includes the 4.1
average rate increase. It does have one enhancement position, which was identified in the study, and
that's a Utility Water Treatment Plant Operator. Again, in summary, the budget has modest revenue
growth due to having a very strong financial position. We're using reserves in the proposed budget.
We're investing in our infrastructure, the CIP, CARP, and also our workforce. Lastly, the proposed
budget includes no change in the real estate tax rate. This is the last slide. It outlines our proposed
budget schedule.
Tonight, March 12th, we're doing the public hearing, and then on Monday, March 18th, we'll have the
final work session, which will be the final markup session. Then the next day, on March 19th, we'll
have the public hearing adoption for the tax rate, and also, adoption of the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget.
That's the end of my presentation.
Mayor Burk: Thank you. Does anyone have any questions at this point? Okay. The petitioner section
is where we signed up. Russ Shaw is the first speaker, followed by Tom Rush. Three minutes, yes.
Russ Shaw: Thank you, Mayor, Council. I'm Russ Shaw, S -H -A -W. I live at 1312 Moore Place, so
southwest quadrant of Town. I come here this evening bringing a paddle. For those that may not
know what this is, it is a pickleball paddle. Guess what I'm going to talk about a little bit? I'm here to
ask you all to please give some consideration as much as you possibly can to constructing the
pickleball courts as soon as possible. I want to give you a few reasons why I think that should be
moved up in terms of priority. I sent an email out prior to the meeting, hopefully, you all saw that.
Some of what I'll say is repeated in that email, but I give you more data and more reference points
within that.
I want to share that pickleball, for those that may not know, the sport with a funny name, has grown
exorbitantly over the last several years. I've played sports my entire life, well, since I was five or can
remember, but I didn't play pickleball until the pandemic hit in 2020. It became a family event that we
could all go out and do. At the time, we were trying our best to play on a tennis court because that's
all we had access to. It became a sport that myself, my wife, and our three daughters all love to play.
Our youngest daughter today plays for the Virginia Tech pickleball team.
Mayor Burk: Yay. [laughs]
Russ Shaw: Yay, go Hokies, even though I'm a JMU Duke, but I'll go with it. It has become a sport
that's extremely popular. To give you some sense of that, I'll give you a few pieces of data here that
allow you to give that consideration. It is the fastest -growing sport and has been in the United States
for the past three years. through 2024, it's fully expected to be yet, again, the fastest -growing sport in
the year. To put some numbers to that, there are more than 50 million people in the United States that
have played pickleball in the last year. That number is tremendous. It's about 20%, roughly, of the
adult population of this country played pickleball in the last year.
111March 12, 2024
The Leesburg area is not uncommon to the rest of the US, let me tell you, and I think that I would
even suspect that there's even a higher percentage of active people in this Town that are enjoying the
sport of pickleball. Unfortunately, we're having to leave the Town to play in most cases because
availability of courts just simply isn't there. We need to provide this as a resource for our Town
residents. Just so you have an idea, too. The growth in pickleball increased by about 86% from 2021
to 2022, and again, another 40% or so from 2022 to 2023. The trends are continuing to grow. We
need to be able to satisfy the needs of our citizens.
It is, in fact, the third most highly participated sport in America, behind jogging, running, and bicycling.
It will, by the end of this year, probably have more than two times the number of participants as
tennis, and so I ask you, give some consideration, compare the number of tennis courts versus the
number of pickleball courts in our Town.
Mayor Burk: Thank you. We appreciate the information.
Russ Shaw: Thank you very much.
Mayor Burk: Mr. Rush-- Oh, he was from the last one. Is there anybody else that would like to speak
on the issue of the budget? Oh, that's right. He was the one-- Okay.
David Wigglesworth: Hi, members of the Council. My name is David Wigglesworth, W -I -G -G -L -E -S-
W -O -R -T -H. I'm here to speak to you about pickleball in the Town of Leesburg. I've been a resident
here for 25 years, and it's about 24 years since I last stood here so you've generally been doing a
good job, I think.
Mayor Burk: [chuckles] Thank you.
David Wigglesworth: I'm here to petition for the construction of the pickleball courts as soon as
possible. Russ has, obviously, been reading the same Web sites that I have, so I won't go through all
those details, but if you open the courts tomorrow, it wouldn't be soon enough. I've been playing
pickleball for about five or six years, and in the last two to three years, it has really taken off. I mean,
really taken off. Quite often we end up with 24 people trying to use two courts, of which you can get
four people to a court. There's demand for it. Clearly, it is there, and the pace is completely
outstripping something like tennis. No issue with tennis, it's a good game, just very different.
The biggest difference, and some of the tennis people will tell you this, is it's a social sport. This is
really good for the Town because how do you get to meet your neighbors? Well, you go play games
with them. You do something that you like to do, and with people who like to do it, too, and they end
up being your best friends. I've done that. Right now, if I want to play pickleball, sometimes I can go to
my local court in my neighborhood or I've been driving to Chantilly and I'm absolutely not too close to
get there. That's really something which I would not like to do.
The Town has many excellent sports facilities. There are a lot of good facilities provided for the kids,
and my kids have used them, but now they're all grown up and I have more time on my hands.
Pickleball is not just an old -person sport. I want to make that very clear. You're all welcome to come
and play, but unfortunately, when I play, some of the 18 to 34 -year -olds, they absolutely kill me
because they can run around like crazy. It's a sport for all. We watch the kids and we have fun with
them. As Russ said, he has fun with his kids and it's a lot of fun. It's a really good way to bring the
Town together. I think the Town is a long way behind the curve on this one. Thank you.
Mayor Burk: Thank you. Is there anyone else that would like to speak that didn't sign up? You are
welcome to come forward. Hello.
Kathleen Kunitz: Hello. Excuse me. My name is Kathleen Kunitz and I live at 407 Lacey Court. The
last name is K -U -N -I -T -Z. I agree with everything those two gentlemen have said in particular to
pickleball. I haven't been playing as long as them. I started in June when I bought paddles for my
husband for Father's Day. Great activity to do with the kids, really a great way to get your kids off of
games. One thing that I would say is, now that the weather's been nicer, I've been going over to
McLean, I've been going over to Ashburn. It seems like there are other communities that have
pickleball courts, and we are behind the eight ball.
12IMarch 12, 2024
I think if we diversify our recreational offerings, we can enhance the overall quality of life of our
residents of Leesburg, making it not only an attractive activity for current but most likely prospective
residents as they see pickleball courts. We have baseball courts. We have basketball courts, tennis
courts, but we don't have pickleball courts. If you could really consider keeping this within the budget
and bringing this community together with pickleball, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks very
much.
Mayor Burk: Thank you. Is there anyone else in the audience that didn't get a chance to speak that
would like to at this point? All right. Seeing that there is no one left to speak, I will close this public
hearing. There will be no action on this item at this point, but I can assure you we have heard you.
[chuckles] Thank you very much. That takes us to our second public hearing. Our second public
hearing is Vacating a Portion of the Public Right-of-way at 39 Sycolin Road SE and Authorizing
Conveyance of Surplus Real Property to abutting landowner. I call to order this March 12th, 2024
public hearing of the Leesburg Town Council.
Unless there is an objection, I will dispense with the reading of the advertisement. If you wish to
speak, we ask that you either sign up on the sheet in the hallway outside of Council Chamber, but if
you did not get the opportunity to sign up, we will give you the opportunity to speak. In the interest of
fairness, we also ask that you observe the three -minute time limit. The green light in front of you will
turn yellow at the end of two minutes, indicating you have one minute remaining. At that time, we
would appreciate you summing up and yielding the floor when the bell indicates your time has
expired.
Under the rules of order adopted by this council, the three -minute time limit applies to all. However, if
you have numerous citizens present remarks on behalf of a group, the Council will allow a
spokesperson for a group a few extra minutes. In that instance, we would ask the speakers, when
they sign up, to indicate their status as spokesperson, the group they represent, and the request for
additional time. Our procedure for the public hearing is as follows. First, there is a brief presentation
by staff on the item before us. Second, the members of the public that have signed up to speak will be
called and given three minutes to make their comments.
The public hearing on the agenda's item for tonight is Vacating a Portion of a Public Right-of-way at
39 Sycolin Road SE and Authorizing Conveyance of Surplus Real Estate Property to Abutting
Landowner. Hello.
Ben Bowman: Hello. Greetings Mayor, Council, guest. My name is Ben Bowman. I'm a Land
Acquisition Manager in the Town Attorney's Office and I'm here to present to you tonight a
presentation vacating a portion of Sycolin Road, the Right-of-way at 39 Sycolin Road, and authorizing
the conveyance of surplus real property to the abutting landowner. Background history of Right-of-
way. In 1996, the Virginia Department of Transportation acquired right-of-way for Plaza Street
Construction. The acquisition included an area where the cul-de-sac is currently located across where
Sycolin Road SE currently intersects with Principal Drummond Way.
The cul-de-sac was originally used as a turnaround but later eliminated by a Town project and now
unnecessary. The VDOT conveyed relevant parcel to the Town in 2021. The parcel is currently
located within a 100 -year floodplain. An aerial view sketch shows the portion of the existing Right-of-
way to be vacated outlined in green. Sycolin Corner LLC is the owner of the outlined in red. A map
view of the affected area shows the north and south part of Sycolin Road and its adjoining neighbors.
It highlights the portion of the existing Right-of-way to be vacated in green.
Background - request by abutting landowner. In 2020, the owner of the abutting land, 39 Sycolin
Road, expressed interest in purchasing the surplus Right-of-way and renewed his request recently in
2024. The applicant has requested conveyance of approximately 3,756 square feet of land. If the
property is conveyed to the applicant, applicant will add the property to the parcel at 39 Sycolin Road
to create a single parcel. The applicant acknowledges that the appropriate Town easements will be
reserved in the deed of conveyance.
Council action requested is to adopt the proposed ordinance, vacating the use of a portion of Sycolin
Road SE across from its intersection with Principal Drummond Way for the Right-of-way purposes,
declaring the real property surplus, and authorizing conveyance of the real estate to the abutting
131March 12, 2024
landowner at 39 Sycolin Road. The process for vacating. The Town has authority to vacate the use of
the area for the Right-of-way purposes and convey the surplus Right-of-way to an abutting landowner
in accordance with State Code. A notice has been given to landowners along Sycolin Road SE, and
no optional viewers are required. A public hearing and a supermajority approval are mandated by
Virginia Code for the sale.
Staff recommends that the parcel is unnecessary for roadway purposes or future Town projects.
Vacating the Right-of-way will not inconvenience the public and will benefit the Town modestly.
Conveyance will result in additional real property being added back to the tax rolls. Proceeding with
the conveyance will bring about mutually beneficial outcomes for the Town and the applicant. Staff
recommends that Town Council declare this parcel surplus and approve the sale of the surplus land
to the abutting landowner in the amount of $14,000. The value has been determined by the Town's
Senior Land Acquisition Manager in accordance with the process set by Virginia Code. Questions.
Mayor Burk: Yes. Are there any questions at this point? It seems like a logical thing to do. Nobody
has signed up to speak, but is there anybody in the public that would like to speak to this issue
tonight? No one? All right, then I will-- Yes, was there someone? Oh, I'm sorry I didn't see you.
[chuckles] You're right out in front. I didn't see you. Please come forward and spell your name for the
record.
James Roncaglione: I was a former owner.
Mayor Burk: Wait a minute. Wait till you get to the microphone.
James Roncaglione: I've been in here since 1957, and you've never seen me.
Mayor Burk: [laughs] Well, we just --
James Roncaglione: I remember a little [unintelligible].
Mayor Burk: Would you mind stating your name for the record?
James Roncaglione: My name is James Roncaglione.
Mayor Burk: Okay.
James Roncaglione: I owned those properties when you built Plaza Street, and you took some of
the property from Plaza Street. This property, you took a parking lot and reduced our parking. We
know you needed the ground to grow. We created no fuss. We went along with everything that you
wanted. When you built Principal Drummond Way, you then took the other end of our property. Two
things I have, I realize this little half -semicircle that you're looking at used to be the dead end, it was
purchased for the dead end, and I received a letter that I was the owner of it still. If that is the case, I
am willing to sign no charge, no nothing.
I know that we are a Dillon Rule state, and I know that you have to go through certain hoops, in this
instance if I can be of help, I will sign anything I need to sign to relieve that property at no charge, at
no cost at anything with no grief that you all need done and that you would ask. There's another thing
that you may or may not know, but when they showed you that property behind our building, there is a
strip of land, very good, very good. If you would go almost immediately to the right on Principal
Drummond Way, you'll see as you're going up Principal Drummond Way or down on the right-hand
side are all of our buildings.
At one time I owned all of that. On the right of Principal Drummond Way you see white space. The
ownership of that white space is either the School Board, the County, the Town. I don't know who
owns-- [laughs]
Mayor Burk: All right, thank you.
James Roncaglione: I don't know who owns it, but you all are not taking care of it. I am. I've been
taking care of it for 20 years.
141March 12, 2024
Mayor Burk: Well, we'll look into that and find out what --
James Roncaglione: I'd like you to look into that.
Mayor Burk: We definitely will look to that.
James Roncaglione: Thank you so much.
Mayor Burk: Mr. Spera, is this a problem? Is this something that we have to clear up that the
gentleman owns the property?
Chris Spera: I don't think so. I think we're pretty comfortable that we've identified the owner of the
parcel. I'll let our Land Acquisition staff speak to that.
Keith Wilson: Yes. I am simply confident of the ownership of the property. That portion shown in
green was acquired by the Virginia Department of Transportation from Don Devine. The Virginia
Department of Transportation conveyed that portion of the cul-de-sac and the Plaza Street right-of-
way to the Town. The Town requested that those land rights be acquired as a part of an urban project
for the extension of Plaza Drive, dead -ending Sycolin Road at Tuscarora Creek.
Mayor Burk: Okay, so the gentleman does not have any issue with that. We don't have to do
anything legally or binding in any way.
Keith Wilson: Mr. Roncaglione's property was the Sycolin Road industrial condominium complex,
which comprised the units from 48 to 64 Sycolin Road. There was a parking area to the northeast of
the cul-de-sac if you would extend the cul-de-sac in a circle. That area was redeveloped with Principal
Drummond Drive and a parking area was constructed as shown on this map for the use of the Sycolin
Road industrial condo building properties.
Mayor Burk: He is saying that that particular piece of property is not maintained, that he maintains it?
Keith Wilson: The area that he is in question is located along Principal Drummond Way, in the back
of the industrial condominium properties where units 48 through 64 located, that portion was- and is
owned by the Loudoun County Public School Systems.
Mayor Burk: The Loudoun County Public Schools own that piece of property?
Keith Wilson: Yes. The Town was granted because the School Board does not have the authority
under Virginia Code to convey Right-of-way a public street, easement was acquired across the
Loudoun County Public Schools property for Douglas Ferry- the elementary school. [laughter] I'II
remember the name of it here shortly.
Mayor Burk: Town Manager, would it be possible to send a letter to the School Board asking them,
informing them that we would appreciate it if they would maintain that particular piece of property
since it's theirs?
Kaj Dentler: Yes.
Mayor Burk: We can do that? Okay. We'll send a letter to the School Board asking them to start
maintaining that piece of property. Yes, sir.
James Roncaglione: I forgot to tell you, I gave the fire department $57,000 for their [inaudible] to
learn how to fight fires in a house.
Mayor Burk: Well, thank you. We appreciate that. I'm sure it's helped many of us, so thank you. All
right. There's nothing we do tonight --
Ben Bowman: There is.
151March 12, 2024
Mayor Burk: Do we need a motion? Okay. I'm getting there. I'm just trying to ask the questions so I
know what I'm doing.
Chris Spera: We have to close the public hearing, Madam Mayor.
Mayor Burk: I know. I got that. [laughs] Does anybody else have any questions at this point? All right,
let's close the public hearing. Is there a motion -
Vice Mayor Steinberg: I'd like to make a motion.
Mayor Burk: -someone would like to make? Yes, sir.
Vice Mayor Steinberg: Madam Mayor, I move to approve the proposed ordinance vacating a portion
of the public Right-of-way at 39 Sycolin Road SE, and authorizing conveyance of vacated surplus real
property to abutting property owner pursuant to sections 15.2-2006 through 15.2-2008 of the Code of
Virginia.
Mayor Burk: Is there a Second?
Council Member Nacy: Second.
Mayor Burk: Seconded by Council Member Nacy. All in favor indicated by saying aye.
Members: Aye.
Mayor Burk: Opposed. That passes 7-0. That takes us to future meetings and agenda topics. Excuse
me. Dr. Cimino -Johnson.
Council Member Cimino -Johnson: Let's see. I do have something I want to bring up. It is --
Goodness gracious. I would like us to have a future work session on developing a downtown parking
plan, which is strategy 4.6.1 and 4.6.5 that align parking fees with the cost of parking.
Mayor Burk: All right. Do we have four people that would be interested in having a work session
going over the parking? That moves forward.
Council Member Cimino -Johnson: I have no disclosures.
Mayor Burk: Mr. Cummings.
Council Member Cummings: Nothing.
Mayor Burk: Ms. Nacy.
Council Member Nacy: None.
Mayor Burk: Mr. Bagdasarian. Mr. Wilt. Except that you're glad your kids are feeling better. [laughs] I
said, except that you're glad your kids are feeling better. [laughs] Vice Mayor.
Vice Mayor Steinberg: Nothing future meeting. Disclosure. I had a meeting last week with Rabbi
Chaim Cohen to discuss a project he's considering on what we know is the Hamblet property.
Mayor Burk: All right. On the 29th, I did the last welcoming remarks for the S&P rating agency.
Previous to that, we had Moody's come visit Leesburg, S&P, and-- What's the third one, Moody's,
S&P, and the rating agency?
Kaj Dentler: Fitch.
Mayor Burk: Fitch. All came, and they left here, and giving us a AAA rating. I want to congratulate all
staff that was involved in this. Keeping a AAA rating is significantly important, and I appreciate it. On
161March 12, 2024
the 2nd, I attended the Spring Bling at Ida Lee and, again, I have to commend our staff for an excellent
job they did in putting the show together. I heard a lady talking to another lady, and she said, "This is
like a miniature Christmas show." Both of them are excellent, and they both were coming from
Maryland. I attended the funeral with Ms. Nacy for Firefighter Brown. It was a very moving experience.
I never really understood the wall of blue term until seeing all those firefighters and police officers and
everybody lined up to say goodbye. I want to welcome Cucinamore, which is celebrating their 10
years of business here in Leesburg. They provide dinners at your home. Cucinamore, I think is how
it's said. Anyway, a lovely ribbon cutting we held there, and they are so proud to call Leesburg their
home. I want to thank the Preschool Learning Center. They invited me to come to read to 80 little 3rd,
4th, and 5th graders. If you've ever tried to read to 80 3rd, 4th, and- not 5th graders. They were three
years old, four years old, and five years old.
It was a very cute experience, and I thank them very much for inviting me. I attended the HUBZone
and the HUBZone meeting, which was very interesting. It's very intense discussion that they have at
these meetings, and I appreciate all the people that put them forward. On the 8111, I had the opportunity
to meet with the Mayor of Ridgeland, Mississippi. His name is Gene McGee. He's been the Mayor
there for 35 years. He came because he had heard about the standards that Leesburg has put
together for the data centers. They have a 750 -acre site that Amazon is looking to develop as a data
center.
They wanted to talk to our staff about what we should do, how they should do it, what they should do.
It was a very enlightening discussion, and they were very grateful to have the opportunity to come and
talk to our staff and find out what we did. I want to thank them. Tonight, I attended the Loudoun
Education Foundation Fueled, Feed the Kids. They feed children and over 133 schools here in
Loudoun County and do over a thousand boxes every week for the students.
What a really important event they do and how they're taking care of our children, that are hungry and
food insecure. It's an alarming amount of people that are food insecure. I thank them for putting that
together. I want to wish everybody a very, very happy St. Patrick's Day. Town Manager.
Kaj Dentler: No comments.
Mayor Burk: Do I have a motion to adjourn?
Vice Mayor Steinberg: So moved.
Council Member Nacy: So moved.
Mayor Burk: Second?
Council Member Bagdasarian: Second,
Mayor Burk: All right. Moved by Vice Mayor, seconded by Council Member Nacy and Council
Member Bagdasarian, and everybody else. All in favor?
Members: Aye.
Mayor Burk: Opposed. There we go.
17IMarch 12, 2024