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Record of Proceedings

Leesburg Town Council Meeting - May 12, 2026

Town Council & Commissions — Tuesday, May 12, 2026
BodyLeesburg, Virginia
SessionTown Council & Commissions
DateTuesday, May 12, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 49:21

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
1:54

I would like to call to order tonight's town council meeting of May twelfth, two thousand twenty-six.

2:00

If anyone in the room needs hearing assistance, please see the clerk.

2:05

Council member Cummings will be giving the invocation, and I will follow with a salute to the flag.

2:11

Councilmember Cummings.

2:12

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

2:13

Uh let's all just take a moment uh in silence.

2:22

Please join me.

2:25

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

2:33

One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice.

2:41

Um let the record reflect that all members of council are present.

2:47

Um we have two uh minutes to approve tonight, the work minute sessions from April twenty-seventh, two thousand twenty-six.

2:56

Do I have a motion?

2:58

So moved.

2:58

So moved by council member coming, second.

3:01

Councilmember Kirkowski.

3:03

All in favor indicate by saying aye.

3:05

Aye.

3:05

Aye.

3:06

Opposed?

3:07

Abstained?

3:08

Abstain.

3:08

So that's six zero one.

3:11

Correct.

3:12

Okay.

3:12

Uh regular session minutes of April twenty-eighth, two thousand twenty-six.

3:16

Do I have a motion?

3:17

Council Vice Mayor Seminole Johnson.

3:20

Second.

3:21

Second.

3:21

Council member uh Nasi.

3:23

All in favor, indicate by saying aye.

3:26

Opposed?

3:27

That passes seven zero.

3:29

Um before um we adopt the meeting agenda.

3:34

I would like to make a motion to suspend the rules to add an item under the new business directing staff to amend resolution twenty twenty-five-one seven three, adopting the two thousand twenty-six town council meeting calendar to adjust the meeting dates in August.

3:52

This motion to suspend the rules must be unanimous.

3:55

Do I have a second?

3:56

Second.

3:57

Seconded by Council Member Steinberg.

3:59

All in favor indicate by saying aye.

4:01

Aye.

4:02

Opposed.

4:22

Councilmember Steinberg, second.

4:24

Council member Cummings, all in favor indicate by saying aye.

4:27

Aye.

4:28

Opposed.

4:30

That passes seven zero.

4:32

All right.

4:33

Um and uh um and that becomes uh Eileen, where does where does that go in the um in the agenda?

4:42

You've already voted on it, so we can just see where we're gonna do.

4:52

Uh resolution with the date, the change date, and we'll have that on our c as a consent item at your next uh legislative meeting.

5:00

Okay.

5:01

And we're changing the usually we meet on in August.

5:05

We usually only meet on the set the second week, the Monday and Tuesday, and we don't meet on the fourth, but because of the change in the school calendar, we're changing that so that we're gonna meet.

5:16

Um we're not gonna meet on the 10th and 11th, we're gonna meet on the 20th and 25th.

5:22

So that's what we just did in case anybody was confused.

5:25

All right.

5:26

Um we have a presentation tonight.

5:30

Um, this is the Golden Grabber Award winner.

5:34

Um small group was Mark Newton.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Arts And Culture██████████████████████████████████34%
Procedural█████████████████████████25%
Budget Equity Analysis██████████10%
Environmental Protection████████8%
Technology and Innovation████████8%
Public Safety███████7%
Economic Development█████5%
Public Engagement███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Leesburg Town Council Meeting - May 12, 2026

The Leesburg Town Council met on May 12, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber. All council members were present. The meeting included approval of minutes, a presentation on the Keep Leesburg Beautiful event, discussion and votes on several resolutions and contracts, and council disclosures.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes: Work session minutes from April 27, 2026 (approved 6-0-1, Council Member Nacy absent) and regular session minutes from April 28, 2026 (approved 7-0).
  • Agenda Amendment: Unanimously suspended rules to add a new business item adjusting August meeting dates (from August 10–11 to August 20 and 25) due to school calendar changes; passed 7-0.
  • Consent Agenda Approval: Items 12A (audit services contract), 12B (FY2026 local law enforcement block grant), 12C (FY2026 HEAT training grant funds), 12E (variable frequency drive replacements), 12F (natural gas contract), and 12G (emergency communications co-location MOA) were approved 7-0. Item 12D (data analytics software contract) was removed for separate discussion.

Presentations

  • Golden Grabber Award Winners: Sustainability Manager Ran Hassel presented the results of the 2026 Keep Leesburg Beautiful event. Volunteer participation: 261 registered, 166 reported. Total trash weight increased. Winners: Staff group Public Works Admin (8 people, 277 lbs), small group Mark Newton (1 person, 80 lbs, absent due to becoming a grandfather), large group Potomac Crossing HOA (20 people, 180 lbs). Next year's kickoff is April 3, 2027.

Discussion Items

  • Data Analytics Software Contract (Item 12D): Council Member Cummings questioned the chief about potential AI analysis, license plate reader integration, predictive policing features, data ownership, and risks of AI-generated reports. The chief clarified that AI tools are optional, data remains town-owned, and no autonomous predictive policing is proposed. The contract is for two years funded by a grant. Council Member Cummings expressed safety and bias concerns and voted against the item.
  • Performing Artist Selection for Capstone Recital Event: Commissioner Miriam Kalyani presented the Performing Arts Commission's selection of Ali Stepro, a graduating senior dance student, as the featured artist for a June 12 recital. Originally planned for up to six artists with $3,000 total, only one applicant applied. The commission proposed a revised plan with a single $3,000 artist fee plus $800 for catering. Council members raised concerns about using the full amount for a 10-minute performance and the event date (last day of school). After discussion, a motion was made to approve $500 for the artist stipend and $400 for catering/setup, which was accepted and passed.

Resolutions / Ordinances / Motions

  • Awareness Display Flag Raising for Juneteenth: Approved 7-0.
  • Special Event Fee Waiver – Crossroads Music Festival: Motion to waive full special event fees for the 2026 festival. Council Member Steinberg advocated for sticking to the existing policy of $5,000. The motion passed with Council Members Steinberg and Wilt opposed, resulting in a 5-2 vote in favor of full waiver.
  • Performing Artist Selection (Capstone Recital): The council approved a revised motion to provide $500 to the artist and $400 for event support, totaling $900. The vote was unanimous.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved adjustments to the August meeting schedule (7-0).
  • Approved the data analytics software contract for the police department (6-1).
  • Approved the Juneteenth flag raising resolution (7-0).
  • Approved a full fee waiver for the Crossroads Music Festival (5-2).
  • Approved $500 artist stipend and $400 event support for the capstone recital (unanimous).

Council Disclosures and Comments

  • Council members reported on recent community events, ribbon cuttings, meetings with the FAA, and other engagements. No further decisions were made.

Meeting Transcript

I would like to call to order tonight's town council meeting of May twelfth, two thousand twenty-six. If anyone in the room needs hearing assistance, please see the clerk. Council member Cummings will be giving the invocation, and I will follow with a salute to the flag. Councilmember Cummings. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Uh let's all just take a moment uh in silence. Please join me. 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. Um let the record reflect that all members of council are present. Um we have two uh minutes to approve tonight, the work minute sessions from April twenty-seventh, two thousand twenty-six. Do I have a motion? So moved. So moved by council member coming, second. Councilmember Kirkowski. All in favor indicate by saying aye. Aye. Aye. Opposed? Abstained? Abstain. So that's six zero one. Correct. Okay. Uh regular session minutes of April twenty-eighth, two thousand twenty-six. Do I have a motion? Council Vice Mayor Seminole Johnson. Second. Second. Council member uh Nasi. All in favor, indicate by saying aye. Opposed? That passes seven zero. Um before um we adopt the meeting agenda. I would like to make a motion to suspend the rules to add an item under the new business directing staff to amend resolution twenty twenty-five-one seven three, adopting the two thousand twenty-six town council meeting calendar to adjust the meeting dates in August. This motion to suspend the rules must be unanimous. Do I have a second? Second. Seconded by Council Member Steinberg. All in favor indicate by saying aye. Aye. Opposed. Councilmember Steinberg, second. Council member Cummings, all in favor indicate by saying aye. Aye. Opposed. That passes seven zero. All right. Um and uh um and that becomes uh Eileen, where does where does that go in the um in the agenda? You've already voted on it, so we can just see where we're gonna do.

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