[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6576645,"mediaKeyId","3074705-4a5c5023346851e00b0c6a550231a825","parentId",3074705,"title","Leesburg Movement and town staff seek council support for Lassiter Way murals, lighting and landscaping","audioSeconds",385,"startMs",2355000,"endMs",2740000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3074705-4a5c5023346851e00b0c6a550231a825&start=2355&end=2740","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3074705-4a5c5023346851e00b0c6a550231a825/thumbnail_2355000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6576645/Leesburg/Loudoun-County/Virginia/Leesburg-Movement-and-town-staff-seek-council-support-for-Lassiter-Way-murals-lighting-and-landscaping","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6576645-a16d49c2e9ba21475c503aefe16bd5ff/orig.mp4?Expires=1770633780&Signature=nNvR2fHFZkuCTI5Qg7A1~81KCRCCWOaAeluhxiSjTOfGHwFDwGuW9SQWXnf4DuGqj5e0Iw2hqb7-StqyYq~j6mWiVIZY2v4bo02wOHDIlTo2XOCMHViIzTGbTvzJniABmkvU9M3f8ZJz~UKh-jkNh3Ofj~swovhfGu6jaV7Q3KNFoRTU3Sh7EqYheoUUW1rbcLU4~NYSAxbeopt84bh3epCdRhB1nHhkI~e7AQLhr8yUlbr04I3s7~wZY65lsIu6Ps2Ja0pPZIxVGYLyJSzXqVaIfpVGncoaYEhqC~sVhK7sIw0w40Wj2Bc4NJ3UIhJukjmd~Mxnp1utAVzjrPHEIw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Leesburg","date","2025-04-21T00:00:00Z","article","John, chair of Leesburg Movement, updated the council on a proposal to transform Lassiter Way into a pedestrian‑friendly, mixed‑use passage with murals, string lighting, planters and furnishings.

John said Leesburg Movement has received a $15,000 grant from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development’s Main Street program and has letters of support from economic development, town management and Friends of COPPA. He presented renderings showing painted road murals, string lights and landscaping to activate the alley and host events such as small performances or market stalls.

Town staff described technical and logistical constraints. Staff noted the murals would likely be 6-by-6 (feet) panels initially because of budget limits and recommended sending mural designs to the Commission on Public Art for review. For lighting, staff said any strung lights must be at least 13.5 feet above the roadway to allow delivery vehicles and fire apparatus to pass. Staff discussed options for mounting, power supply, attachment agreements with private property owners, the need for design consultant support, and maintenance responsibilities.

On funding, the Leesburg Movement’s grant was combined with in‑kind town support ($3,000 public works in‑kind), a $1,000 cash contribution from economic development, and potential COPPA/Friends‑of‑COPPA assistance for a call to artists. Staff recommended programming lighting as a capital improvement project for fiscal year 2027 to allow time for design, cost estimates and potential easement or electrical work. Council members noted the alley is active with delivery traffic, the alley is one‑way northbound, and parts of the adjacent parking are a mix of town‑owned and private parcels.

Council indicated a majority wanted the item placed on the consent agenda for the next meeting so staff could return a resolution; several council members said they preferred the outreach and mural components initially and that larger infrastructure work (undergrounding utilities) would be a long‑term undertaking.

The council did not adopt a final design or approve a CIP appropriation at the meeting; staff will bring revised materials and a proposed CIP budget item for future council consideration.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Leesburg - Town Council Work Session - Apr 21, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Leesburg Movement presented a concept and a $15,000 Main Street grant for a phased Lassiter Way beautification program; staff recommended referring murals to the Commission on Public Art and developing a CIP request for lighting in FY2027.","taxTitle","Leesburg, Loudoun County, Virginia","taxId",5641,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6576649,"Leesburg Performing Arts Commission seeks approval of bylaws, offers two small funding options",456,664000,1120000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3074705-4a5c5023346851e00b0c6a550231a825&start=664&end=1120","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3074705-4a5c5023346851e00b0c6a550231a825/thumbnail_664000.jpg","/articles/6576649/Leesburg/Loudoun-County/Virginia/Leesburg-Performing-Arts-Commission-seeks-approval-of-bylaws-offers-two-small-funding-options","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6576649-64f931c8c74b564b068b93965a77dc1a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770633780&Signature=XMBiQHQ5xVovoK0ZUxTfnbWTlJakX~Q-CdPxYfa5HGkd5Cv0njUPcCwmDDvjtjK1MSCksxTXpj05MJU9xbGZl~m0mFNNuMAYmkJW84U3m51wX9EdN96sOyTxA~gK0VDnewN5-BPZ8aIUtr7Ux-3BZb8hqiZELGdUhaBPgJm98rxprRr-VTao00kSJu0TydLJd5GT788vUubpityg7BqInpHorWyYdoM5EAjQo8Mf6oeXlI0Uk55lmVM28yz-vvW3FLOpiGHb6DzykbU-ffFJ67CfhLRJsEK~2-zLun9fn2HW~9ASK-3Nt~KBqumuuEUySA-q2c4qouhCT5glHeTIXA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Maliki, chair of Leesburg’s newly formed Performing Arts Commission (PAC), presented the commission’s bylaws, artist selection handbook, and two options for spending the commission’s remaining fiscal‑year budget of $1,795.

The PAC asked the council to approve its bylaws and selection handbook and requested direction on which of two options to pursue: (1) three $500 graduating‑senior scholarships (one each for Tuscarora, Loudoun County, and Heritage high schools) with application requirements and school outreach, or (2) an arts advocacy and marketing campaign to gather data and increase public awareness of the performing arts’ local economic impact.

“Our purpose…is to position the arts as a vital cultural, economic, and wellness driver for Leesburg,” Maliki said, outlining the commission’s focus on visibility, education and building partnerships to support future programming and grant competitiveness.

The scholarship option would award three $500 scholarships and include a follow‑up survey to inform future objectives. The advocacy option would use digital advertising, printed materials and community engagement to collect audience and economic data the PAC could use for future budget proposals and grant applications. The presentation included statewide arts sector figures intended as background on potential economic impact.

Council members pressed the commission on governance, funding beyond fiscal year 2025, and how the PAC would determine “relevance to the community” in its rubric. Maliki said the commission plans surveys and coordination with existing arts planning efforts to gather community input and noted the PAC is considering models used by the Commission on Public Art (COPPA) and the public arts commission’s nonprofit fundraising approaches.

Council discussion emphasized caution about embedding subjective language in bylaws and asked the PAC to clarify that commission members would not be producers or directors of funded performances. Several council members recommended option 2 — the advocacy and outreach campaign — as a better near‑term use of limited funds to build public awareness and partnerships.

No formal council vote was held; staff will return revised bylaws and selection criteria for council review at a future meeting.","The newly formed Performing Arts Commission presented bylaws and a choice between a grassroots scholarship program and an advocacy/marketing campaign; council members gave informal support for an outreach‑focused campaign.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6576654,"Leesburg staff outline billing transition after annexation; county to make $2 million annual payment",73,123000,196000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3074705-4a5c5023346851e00b0c6a550231a825&start=123&end=196","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3074705-4a5c5023346851e00b0c6a550231a825/thumbnail_123000.jpg","/articles/6576654/Leesburg/Loudoun-County/Virginia/Leesburg-staff-outline-billing-transition-after-annexation-county-to-make-2-million-annual-payment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6576654-20df69ad153fee87a3a4cb00300c835c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770633780&Signature=M95jRu15lQZKVAn5Dmy~1yfZPf71fqzaIknW6PKhN2SlCDMkmrNC7Mz2d4LCzpY8yZIv2XQecKCEnh0Gh1oL1vfCtBFxrqPbi8uKBRUvqg4Ad0vsVve1hIfYcx4j1n~tWYJAi65YQ4gZ83SWjK5JSpKX2lDn1DxxDC17fkv2SEQ~89A9I4EiN93JOYNSuNcAraVqi54ch48HtYrGLH0REum1FGedNZaB5Ip6JKcdGHSMUsdqHW6FLvPUMer263cMeHHWcAK5Q0fMkkEnQIX20w4l6SJIyTHrVqNgcaKDH0CV6U19PHoIS~qXALr93DVxQo~q41Ov-CIashpZUrvyTw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Amy Weitz, the town's director of utilities, told the Leesburg Town Council the town has completed planning to implement billing changes required by a voluntary settlement agreement tied to a recent annexation.

Weitz said the settlement, finalized in January, transitioned Compass Creek accounts to in‑town status and that, beginning July 1, out‑of‑town accounts included in that annexation will be charged in‑town water and sanitary sewer rates rather than out‑of‑town rates. “Effective July of this year, the out of town accounts will be charged in town rates instead of out of town rates,” Weitz said.

The change is intended to be offset by an annual economic development payment from Loudoun County. “Part of the settlement agreement includes a $2,000,000 economic development incentive payment from Loudoun County and subsequent years will be with a 3 percent escalator,” Weitz said. She said the county is expected to submit the first payment on or before July 1.

Weitz described the town's customer communications and billing rollout. The town mailed a welcome letter to annexed customers on Jan. 1; it plans additional outreach, including a mayoral letter later this month and a utilities follow‑up in mid‑May explaining billing through June 30 and the new billing schedule beginning July 1. The utility bill for services through June 30 will be sent June 30, Weitz said.

To help customers understand charges, town staff plan to add credit/adjustment lines and explanatory wording to the front and back of the utility bill. Weitz said the back of the bill will continue to show out‑of‑town rates “because in the event that the county does not make the economic payment, out of town rates would be billed.”

Council members asked for clarification about the county payment timing and whether the first payment is the full $2,000,000. A staff speaker confirmed, “Yes. That is correct. There’s no iterative element to the county economic development payment. It’s a lump sum paid on or before July 1 of each year.”

Council member Nicholas Kerkowski asked whether accounts would revert to out‑of‑town rates if the county failed to make the payment; Weitz replied, “If the county does not make the economic incentive payment… then all of the accounts will revert back to out of town rates.”

Weitz said staff are developing quarterly reconciliation procedures to track the county payment relative to the rate differential and plan to report progress periodically to the council.

The presentation did not include a council motion or formal vote; council members thanked staff and indicated interest in follow‑up reporting.","Town utilities staff said out-of-town accounts covered by a recent annexation will be billed at in‑town rates starting July 1, contingent on a $2,000,000 annual economic development payment from Loudoun County.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Leesburg Movement and town staff seek council support for Lassiter Way murals, lighting and landscaping

Leesburg Performing Arts Commission seeks approval of bylaws, offers two small funding options

Leesburg staff outline billing transition after annexation; county to make $2 million annual payment