Leesburg Tree Commission Meeting – June 24, 2026

The Leesburg Tree Commission met on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, with members John, Frank, Katie, Phil, Alexander, Terry, and Melissa present and one virtual member absent. The commission approved its agenda and previous minutes, received staff updates on tree pests, ordinances, and department restructuring, and discussed Adopt-a-Spot maintenance, a dead redbud replacement, grant funding, and the meeting schedule. The raw transcript is partially garbled; this summary reflects the best interpretation of the discussion.

Consent Calendar

• Agenda approved by motion and second (no recorded objections).
• Minutes of the May 19, 2026 meeting approved by motion and second, with a request to correct the spelling of Tara's name.
• No council comments were reported and no public comment period was held.

Public Comments & Testimony

• None.

Staff Comments & Project Updates

• A commission member relayed information from Chris: anthracnose is affecting native dogwoods, and the ambrosia beetle also remains a concern. A question from Pearl prompted these updates.
• The Tree Fund resolution was before the Town Council that night. Notes on the bamboo ordinance were sent to the town manager, who relayed them to council; the council is moving forward with drafting ordinance language, and the commission requested that the draft be shared for review.
• The renovation plan for Mom's Apple Pie was not ready for review; it is expected at the July meeting.
• The Department of Public Works and Capital Projects is undergoing a major restructuring: Capital Projects will split from Public Works into its own department, with Renee remaining director. The commission was told this will not affect its work.

Adopt-a-Spot & Tree Maintenance Discussion

• The commission reviewed the June/July watering and weeding schedule and thanked the volunteers. Members discussed the condition of the plantings, complimenting the plant selection (yarrow, blue flowers, and gladiolus) but expressing concern about a large red maple in a pot that dried out within an hour of a 40-minute watering. Members suspected the tree may be root-bound, a common problem with red maples, and agreed to investigate.
• A member confirmed the Harper Park Little School redbud is dead: after inspection, snapping branches and cutting a notch showed no green. The tree will be replaced in the fall.
• Discussion of the flag display at the Adopt-a-Spot: the flag displayer is a Virginia Master Naturalist who is friendly at VM events but reportedly unfriendly during flag displays. Members discussed the annual 1776 flag display, noting the flag has become political and controversial; the displayer should take it down promptly after July 4.

Commissioner Comments & Committee Business

• Alexander reported that his son worked 12-hour days for six days helping Kansas City clear street trees after tornadoes, including one tree that tore up the sidewalk and curb and had to be removed with a backhoe. Members warned that heat-stressed trees may fail in storms, citing downed trees in a neighborhood during the previous day's thunderstorms.
• Tara said she will be out of town from July 3 through July 12, affecting her availability for watering duties.
• One member noted the meeting was running about 20 minutes, near the record for the fastest meeting.
• John reported watering a replanted neighborhood forest behind his house with 100 feet of hose; three dogwoods and two burr oaks appeared dead but are sending up green sprouts. He received advice to cut the dead original leader and select the strongest sucker. He also dug up a squirrel-planted red oak sprout and potted it, and said he has additional red oaks, red maples, and choke cherry suckers available.
• The commission discussed the next tree giveaway. A grant application was submitted to the Department of Forestry again this year; funding notification is expected around November 1. A nonprofit sponsor would only be needed if the Tree Fund reserve were used, but the reserve is currently being used for town maintenance.
• A member proposed public outreach to HOAs and landscape companies about poor tree-planting practices, citing five dogwoods on a hillside with water bags that nobody fills and trees possibly still in burlap. Another member, a former master gardener in Texas, supported outreach but suggested targeting HOA boards and committees rather than residents. The commission agreed to think about it.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the agenda and the May 19, 2026 meeting minutes.
• Confirmed the Harper Park redbud is dead; replacement planned for fall.
• Requested Virginia Department of Forestry grant funding again this year; notification expected around November 1.
• Next meeting scheduled for July 21, 2026; the decision on canceling the August meeting was deferred to the July meeting.
• No formal vote was taken on the public outreach proposal; members agreed to consider it.
• Meeting adjourned by motion.