Leesburg Town Council Work Session – May 11, 2026

The Leesburg Town Council held a work session on May 11, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber. The agenda included four discussion items: a special event fee waiver request for the Crossroads Music Festival, a memorandum of agreement for co-locating the Emergency Communications Center with Loudoun County, a feasibility study for adding a parking lane on Trailview Boulevard, and a strategic plan for developing the west side of the Leesburg Airport. Council also discussed future meeting topics and entered closed session for personnel matters.

Special Event Fee Waiver Request – Crossroads Music Festival

• Kate Trask presented a request from Benefit, the nonprofit producing the Crossroads Music Festival, for a $5,000 fee waiver (total fees $10,451). The festival plans to close one block of North King Street for the first time, requiring increased town resources. Staff recommended deferring the discussion on legacy fee waiver status until after the 2026 event, no later than the December 7 work session, to allow staff and Benefit to assess logistics.
• Councilmember Cummings expressed support for fully waiving fees now and for all future events, arguing the town should treat all organizations equally. Other council members, including the Mayor, preferred to wait until after the event to evaluate the scale and costs, citing the policy and the potential for the festival to grow beyond one block. The item will be on the May 12 meeting agenda as legislation for the $5,000 waiver; council members may make a motion to change the amount.

Emergency Communications Center Co-Location MOA

• Thea Pirnat (Chief of Police) presented a proposal to co-locate Leesburg’s Emergency Communications Center (ECC) with Loudoun County’s facility. Currently, 911 calls from Leesburg are handled first by Loudoun County, then transferred, causing delays and duplicate call handling. Co-location would allow Leesburg dispatchers to work in the county center, use the same CAD and RMS systems, and adopt universal 911 call taking. This would reduce call transfers, improve coordination, and provide scalability during major incidents.
• A $1 million state grant (VDEM Public Safety Answering Point Consolidation Grant) has been applied for; the grant would cover integration costs and five years of operating expenses. Staff estimated cost avoidance of $844,000 over five years. The project would be phased: first moving staff with current systems, then integrating systems and cross-training.
• Council members expressed strong support, calling it a “slam dunk” and a benefit to public safety and response times. Questions about employee impacts, space use at the police station, and post-grant funding were addressed: the county would cover costs after the grant period, and the current ECC would become a warm backup or a real-time crime center. No concerns were raised about co-location. Council agreed to move the item to the consent agenda for the May 12 meeting.

Adding a Parking Lane on Trailview Boulevard

• Niraja Chandrapu presented findings on converting a travel lane on Trailview Boulevard (between Cardinal Park Drive and Battlefield Parkway) to regulated overnight parking. The request came from residents of nearby townhomes. Staff evaluated safety, enforcement, and development constraints. Only one short segment (about 10 spaces) might meet sight distance requirements; the road is not yet accepted by the town (under developer bond), and surrounding development is incomplete.
• Staff recommended deferring consideration until after road acceptance and full development, citing safety risks, enforcement challenges, and potential for unintended truck parking. The Residential Traffic Commission had no recommendation. Councilmembers noted the limited benefit (10 spaces) and safety concerns with blocked sight lines. The consensus was to accept staff’s recommendation to wait.

Strategic Plan for the Airport West Side Land Development Phase I

• Scott Coffman (Airport Director) presented a proposed $150,000 contract with Delta Airport Consultants (Davenport as sub) to develop a strategic plan for the last 40 developable acres on the airport’s west side. The plan would include data collection, benchmarking, site planning, financial modeling, and a development strategy (town-led, private, or hybrid). The airport’s east side is nearly built out; a taxiway relocation will displace 42 aircraft storage spots in about two years.
• Councilmembers supported the plan, noting the need for data-driven decisions to maximize economic impact and taxpayer return. Questions addressed funding (airport CIP supported by airport revenue, not general taxes), the airport’s limitations (single runway, no commercial airline service), and future technologies like electric aircraft. The town manager noted he had authority to sign the contract but brought it to council for input. Council indicated support (four votes in favor); the town manager will sign the contract.

Additions to Future Meetings

• Councilmember Steinberg requested a work session to discuss the possibility of a virtual tower at the airport, following recent discussions with the FAA. Council members supported the request (7-0).

Closed Session and Adjournment

• Council moved into closed session under Virginia Code §2.2-3711(A)(1) for personnel discussion related to the hiring of the town manager. The motion passed 7-0. After closed session, council certified the meeting and adjourned.