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Record of Proceedings

Leesburg Sustainability Commission Meeting Summary - May 6, 2026

Town Council & Commissions — Wednesday, May 6, 2026
BodyLeesburg, Virginia
SessionTown Council & Commissions
DateWednesday, May 6, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:02

Never.

0:05

Um Diana is not here.

0:08

Oh, somebody has to do all the reading of the stop chair.

0:12

I did my big dude again.

0:16

I'm going.

0:17

Oh, we can't get in.

0:20

Is any anybody willing to uh read the disclosures and whatnot?

0:24

I will happily read it, but I don't have the thing to read.

0:28

Is it on the minutes?

0:29

It is, yeah.

0:31

If I go and sit next to Sheree, can I read it?

0:34

I could also, but Paul's the winner.

0:38

Well, he's dead before too.

0:40

So I guess Paul can call the meeting to order if you are fine with that.

0:46

Or you could just do it and let Paul read the scene.

0:48

Right, yeah.

0:49

Yeah.

0:49

There we go.

0:51

Yeah.

0:51

We're Barry Roberts rules here.

0:54

Okay.

0:55

Go ahead.

0:55

So I just say call me.

0:58

I call the meeting to order.

1:00

That's it.

1:01

At 6 33.

1:02

At 6 33 p.m.

1:04

Are you called the vice chair?

1:06

Yes.

1:06

Okay.

1:07

I don't know after today.

1:12

Meeting uh disclosures are it is the practice of the town of Leisburg to record meetings of the town's standing boards and commissions.

1:19

All town council board and commission meetings are recorded and can be found up found on the town's website at www.beesburg VA.gob.

1:30

The town strives to provide equal access to services regardless of race, color, national origin, or English proficiency to help us ensure our communities needs the town to appreciate members of the public completing a voluntary and anonymous demographic survey to access the survey.

1:47

Please scan the QR code and table.

1:55

That's it.

2:06

I have to put a lot of scribbles for sure.

2:09

I'm just fixing that.

2:13

So this is very people can make a motion.

2:22

The agenda for today.

2:24

Yes.

2:25

So you I don't can she anybody can make a motion.

2:29

Then two of us have to approve it.

2:30

Okay.

2:31

I make them.

2:32

I mean somebody has to approve the then somebody else.

2:35

You can make the motion.

2:36

I mean we would approve it.

2:37

Somebody's seconds.

2:38

Okay, so I motion to approve the agenda from April's.

2:44

We're approving the agenda and then we'll do the minutes.

2:46

You're good.

2:49

Um yeah, so motion to approve the agenda for today.

2:53

Okay, I second that.

2:56

Those in favor?

2:57

Anybody opposed?

2:58

No.

3:01

Okay.

3:02

Um motion to approve the minutes from April 7th to 26th.

3:07

Shereen has a note.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Community Engagement█████████████████████21%
Public Engagement██████████████████18%
Community Events███████████████15%
Bamboo Ordinances████████████12%
Environmental Protection█████████9%
Recycling Programs████████8%
Parks and Recreation███████7%
Procedural█████5%
Water And Wastewater Management██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Leesburg Sustainability Commission Meeting Summary - May 6, 2026

The Leesburg Sustainability Commission met on May 6, 2026, at 6:33 p.m. Vice Chair called the meeting to order in the absence of the Chair. The meeting covered staff updates, a string light recycling program, a running bamboo ordinance, a Keep Leesburg Beautiful debrief, and other business.

Consent Calendar

  • Agenda Approval: A motion to approve the agenda for the meeting carried unanimously.
  • Minutes Approval: The minutes from April 7–26 were approved as amended (a typo was corrected), with a motion to approve as amended carried unanimously.

Discussion Items

  • Staff Items:
    • The 2025 annual sustainability report is now live on the town website; it was presented to council and received well, though coverage in the Loudoun Times-Mirror focused on lost federal funding.
    • An air excavation trial used to protect two 100-year-old spruces during sewer line work was highlighted.
    • The commission has approximately $1,800 remaining in its budget for the fiscal year ending June 30. Purchasing decisions (e.g., tent rain protectors) may be voted on at the next meeting.
    • Staff is meeting with the Diversity Commission to explore environmental justice collaboration, including low-income energy cost offset and a community orchard.
    • Two additional Level 2 EV charging stations will be installed on the third floor of the parking garage within about a month.
    • A stormwater resiliency study kickoff meeting is scheduled for May.
    • The Public Works Utilities Open House is Saturday, May 9, 2026, featuring energy-focused giveaways (coloring books, surge protectors, home energy checklists).
  • String Light Recycling Program:
    • A proposal for a seasonal string light recycling program (October to January) was discussed. Locations considered include Town Hall, Ida Lee, Tuscarora Creek Park, Greenway Farms Park, and Liberty Lot. A roll-off dumpster at Liberty Lot and purchasing labeled receptacles (possibly yellow) were preferred. Staff will refine the proposal, including an early outreach component, and present it to Town Council on June 10, 2026.
  • Running Bamboo Ordinance:
    • The commission discussed a proposed ordinance to regulate running bamboo, based on state authority. The ordinance would allow the town to enforce mitigation on town property and provide a mechanism for neighbor-to-neighbor disputes, but not mandate abatement methods. A motion to support the town instituting the ordinance passed unanimously (5-0).
  • Keep Leesburg Beautiful (KLB) 2026 Debrief:
    • Volunteer statistics: 153 volunteers reported (compared to 177 in 2025, using a refined reporting method; 261 registered under the old method). Total weight of trash collected increased significantly.
    • Golden Grabber winners: Mark Newton (individual, 80 lbs over 7 outings); Public Works staff group; large group (20 people, 180 lbs). Winners will be presented on May 12.
    • Improvements for next year: Enhance the kickoff event with a structured program, microphone for the mayor, music, food/coffee (budgeted), a printed site map, labeled grabbers (e.g., "Property of Town of Leesburg"), and a grabber return station. A costume contest was also suggested.
    • Support from businesses: Staff will work to improve business outreach via multiple channels.
  • Flower & Garden Festival - Leaf Collection:
    • Approximately 200 leaves were collected at the festival, with 48 organized into categories (most common: planting/landscaping). A commission member volunteered to create an infographic summarizing findings and quotes, to be presented at the next meeting. Raffle tickets with personal information will be shredded.
  • Compost Tour:
    • A tour of the composting facility in Manassas will be scheduled on a Tuesday or Thursday at 10 a.m. Options include May 14, 19, 21, June 4, or June 14. The tour is limited to 10 people (commission first, then council/staff). A Doodle poll will be sent to choose a date.
  • Meeting Schedule:
    • The commission deferred a decision on canceling either the July or August meeting due to members' availability (July 7 missed by one member). The matter will be revisited.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved the agenda and minutes.
  • Voted unanimously (5-0) to support the town instituting a running bamboo ordinance.
  • Directed staff to continue developing the string light recycling program, with a proposal for Town Council on June 10.
  • Noted KLB improvements and golden grabber winners for the May 12 presentation.
  • Budget items (e.g., tent accessories, KLB supplies) will be voted on at the next meeting.
  • Compost tour date to be determined by poll; up to 10 participants from the commission.

Meeting Transcript

Never. Um Diana is not here. Oh, somebody has to do all the reading of the stop chair. I did my big dude again. I'm going. Oh, we can't get in. Is any anybody willing to uh read the disclosures and whatnot? I will happily read it, but I don't have the thing to read. Is it on the minutes? It is, yeah. If I go and sit next to Sheree, can I read it? I could also, but Paul's the winner. Well, he's dead before too. So I guess Paul can call the meeting to order if you are fine with that. Or you could just do it and let Paul read the scene. Right, yeah. Yeah. There we go. Yeah. We're Barry Roberts rules here. Okay. Go ahead. So I just say call me. I call the meeting to order. That's it. At 6 33. At 6 33 p.m. Are you called the vice chair? Yes. Okay. I don't know after today. Meeting uh disclosures are it is the practice of the town of Leisburg to record meetings of the town's standing boards and commissions. All town council board and commission meetings are recorded and can be found up found on the town's website at www.beesburg VA.gob. The town strives to provide equal access to services regardless of race, color, national origin, or English proficiency to help us ensure our communities needs the town to appreciate members of the public completing a voluntary and anonymous demographic survey to access the survey. Please scan the QR code and table. That's it. I have to put a lot of scribbles for sure. I'm just fixing that. So this is very people can make a motion. The agenda for today. Yes. So you I don't can she anybody can make a motion. Then two of us have to approve it. Okay. I make them. I mean somebody has to approve the then somebody else. You can make the motion. I mean we would approve it. Somebody's seconds. Okay, so I motion to approve the agenda from April's.

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