[{"_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",6656466,"mediaKeyId","5329465-5ae18ea78467480e1752f7a70b782265","parentId",5329465,"title","Leesburg council backs staff review of garage rates and payment tech; agrees to pursue higher hourly rate","audioSeconds",718,"startMs",5232000,"endMs",5950000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5329465-5ae18ea78467480e1752f7a70b782265&start=5232&end=5950","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5329465-5ae18ea78467480e1752f7a70b782265/thumbnail_5232000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6656466/Leesburg/Loudoun-County/Virginia/Leesburg-council-backs-staff-review-of-garage-rates-and-payment-tech-agrees-to-pursue-higher-hourly-rate","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6656466-18785fdde8acdc87567627d7d42b5027/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148615&Signature=a2e2aDd6TL1AVIRCNj5WLtvMgH-7-fuI53T20jSOW431i3JAhWWBMC2gjbaSJhwfaeE0FybM3oFGzdClUn79y772vo48v-S-G78GDc8h0rgqwZGmV00cBvjtUPFsEQr~fzRcSpUGwJAAPocUyiD7xBF3ngC8LK0QZhnp9Zf4CGyQhYLW8l5Q0zMxqvzmtbB~dSGAyiSn0yXWrQHKoj2S8kBSvPRp7~JO3rsnYaf6iukCnaqyLfuyJofgLI17IsWK1~XgjwJ1peYKWXiZfp7cZSED11~3FoObTnnL~jO~kfNKwcuRhMJL25kIJU4JmsblnuLBpS-GeGtviXzXHblzmQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Leesburg","date","2025-07-07T00:00:00Z","article","Leesburg town council on July 7 asked staff to develop a detailed proposal to update the town-hall parking garage's rates and payment systems after a wide-ranging review of usage, revenue and maintenance needs.

Keith (town staff) reviewed garage operations and finances and said the facility, opened in 1990, contains roughly 358 spaces and currently returns about $140,000 in annual revenue: roughly $80,000 from permits and $60,000 from hourly users. \"You're only collecting $140,000 in revenue,\" Keith said, and staff noted the figure does not include large capital investments needed for ongoing repairs such as concrete work and membrane recoating.

Why it matters: councilmembers said the garage supports downtown businesses and staff, but several also said the current pay structure (first two hours free; $1 an hour thereafter, $10 daily maximum) is likely due for adjustment given maintenance costs and regional parking rates.

Options and council direction

Staff presented several options: (1) keep the current operation; (2) keep the gates but raise rates; (3) remove gates and enforce time limits using apps such as ParkMobile; and (4) invest in newer payment technology (tap-to-pay kiosks and faster processing). Staff said the existing system is about eight years old and lacks modern tap-to-pay convenience.

Councilmember Steinberg said he opposed making the garage free and warned that free parking would likely increase employee use and enforcement costs. \"I would not personally be in favor of free parking,\" Steinberg said. Several members said they wanted to preserve a two-hour free window that supports downtown lunch and quick shopping trips.

On balance the council asked staff to combine two staff options: keep the gate-based system but raise the hourly rate and concurrently explore replacement payment technology with faster processing and tap-to-pay capability. The council asked staff to prepare cost estimates that include capital needs for equipment replacement and to return with specific implementation timing and revenue projections.

Details staff provided

- Capacity and usage: The garage has about 358 spaces and has lost a few due to repurposing over the years; Fridays and weekend evenings are peak demand times.

- Revenue and costs: Annual revenue is roughly $140,000 (about $80,000 from permit parking, $60,000 from hourly users). Direct operational costs (gates, supplies, paper) run about $60,000 annually; capital costs for concrete repairs and roof membrane recoating are additional and not included in the $60,000 figure.

- Current pricing: First two hours free; $1 per hour thereafter; $10 daily cap; permits: $40--$45 unreserved monthly, $65 reserved in the basement (pricing appears highly competitive relative to private lots).

- Implementation considerations: Staff warned that converting entirely to an app-based model would eliminate the ability to keep a two-hour complimentary window because processing fees apply immediately on the first minute of parking when using third-party mobile providers.

Next steps

Council asked staff to return with a proposal combining option 2 (keep current operation and raise rates) and option 5 (retain gates, upgrade payment kiosks and options), including:

- Capital cost estimates for new kiosks and payment infrastructure;
- A proposed schedule for a phased rate increase (discussion included the idea of stepping from $1 to $2 and then gradually upward if needed);
- Impacts on on-street pricing and permit structure; and
- Estimates of enforcement capacity and anticipated revenue changes.

Ending

Staff said it will collect additional usage data and work up the numbers for council to consider at a subsequent meeting. Councilmembers emphasized keeping the two-hour free window to support downtown visits while ensuring the garage's revenue covers increasing maintenance needs.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Leesburg - Town Council Work Session - Jul 07, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","After reviewing use, costs and options for the town-hall parking garage, council agreed to combine staff options to raise hourly fees and update payment technology, directing staff to return with a detailed proposal. The garage currently offers the first two hours free, charges $1 per hour thereafter and totals about $140,000 in annual revenue.","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},6656471,"Leesburg council to hold fall Saturday meeting on downtown vision, historic preservation and parking",1599,2757000,4356000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5329465-5ae18ea78467480e1752f7a70b782265&start=2757&end=4356","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5329465-5ae18ea78467480e1752f7a70b782265/thumbnail_2757000.jpg","/articles/6656471/Leesburg/Loudoun-County/Virginia/Leesburg-council-to-hold-fall-Saturday-meeting-on-downtown-vision-historic-preservation-and-parking","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6656471-4910d873701d652d33f4474dc6f42597/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148615&Signature=ESrwGP0Ga5~qXUe7QfD~QRpXJAVebVCVwtlkeN7wzHjtwC22K0CA-NmjzCrXoOMaNNgpS9CAjuf275C3JfYZz7z8IbixgO2gf8oPfdTSNwxvv5MaUfY7wrnlVWbms71R~v6nY8BAS5DQDpy~Sv9GJATy2mACmkRZccWCJc8zOQDZ7XTh9JhHtubaSHbXk3HEtA6FutFJ-NJt8i7XOmZhnz-dac-aa1zEHqLGa3LoFS31~cHxtHx9i8IE-SvH0JjQ8B4CweeSAxjRm6p-Rxd~0ze7J0T6o6gLbTYI07choiRvYyr6WZW9294Qyif~caRNeFMA-76hd42HY2tEH1xDRA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Leesburg town councilmembers agreed on July 7 to hold a fall Saturday meeting dedicated to downtown visioning and strategy, following a lengthy work-session discussion about a possible master plan, performance metrics and the town's role in supporting downtown property upkeep.

Keith (town staff) and councilmembers discussed what a downtown strategic plan might cover and whether the council wants an active role in guiding private investment. \"The downtown is your signature asset,\" Keith said, urging the council to define goals, measures and levels of government involvement before commissioning detailed studies.

Why it matters: councilmembers said parking, pedestrian improvements and building-maintenance incentives could all shape downtown economic vitality. Several members pressed for measurable indicators — such as meals-tax revenue and visitor counts — to inform policy decisions.

Council discussion and direction

Councilmembers described three near-term priorities for the downtown conversation: defining success and metrics, assessing building upkeep and incentives for repairs, and examining parking and pedestrian improvements.

- Master plan and timing: Town staff said the broader comprehensive plan (Legacy Leesburg) already addresses downtown themes but the council does not yet have a dedicated downtown master plan. Councilmember Steinberg and others supported a separate, focused meeting to continue the conversation; staff suggested that a full master plan and related zoning updates could take one to two years, with interim steps available to pursue sooner. The council agreed to schedule a Saturday meeting in the fall (after the federal fiscal year end) to work on downtown vision questions.

- Metrics and data: Staff confirmed the town codes meal-tax receipts to the downtown H-1 overlay so aggregated meal-tax data for the historic downtown can be reported. The town also uses cell-phone-based \"dwell time\" tracking products to measure visits (the vendor counts visitors who remain in the area longer than a threshold, typically 15 minutes), and the economic development team and Visit Loudoun can provide visitor metrics.

- Building upkeep and incentives: Councilmembers discussed ways to encourage exterior upkeep without direct cash grants to property owners. Ideas included expanding administrative approvals for routine work (staff noted some changes already allow more administrative approvals), fast-tracking small historic-preservation items, and creating targeted grant or matching programs that assist tenants or small business operators with building improvements. Councilmember Cummings suggested exploring a streamlined approval path for common, necessary repairs to reduce the time and cost burden on property owners.

- Trash and service levels: Members raised downtown trash collection frequency and the visibility of containers on sidewalks. Staff noted previous efforts to place shared dumpsters on private property had limited success and that Leesburg Movement (a local business organization) is exploring improvements to alley and trash management.

Next steps

Council asked staff to solicit stakeholder input from Main Street and business groups before the fall Saturday meeting, and to prepare a brief packet of baseline data (meals-tax revenue coded to H-1, aggregated visitation metrics, recent zoning and Crescent Design District planning materials and a summary of preservation review processes). The meeting will be scheduled after Sept. 30 and will focus on incremental actions the town can take while zoning and district master plans remain under development.

Ending

Councilmembers said they want regular, data-informed conversations about downtown outcomes and asked staff to coordinate outreach before the scheduled Saturday session so stakeholders can help frame the agenda.","Council scheduled a fall Saturday meeting to develop a downtown strategic direction after extended discussion about a downtown master plan, metrics for success, building upkeep, trash and trash-collection impacts, and coordination with preservation and economic development staff.",{"_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},6656477,"Leesburg council trims, adds items to 2026 legislative program after staff recommendations",1598,129000,1727000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5329465-5ae18ea78467480e1752f7a70b782265&start=129&end=1727","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5329465-5ae18ea78467480e1752f7a70b782265/thumbnail_129000.jpg","/articles/6656477/Leesburg/Loudoun-County/Virginia/Leesburg-council-trims-adds-items-to-2026-legislative-program-after-staff-recommendations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6656477-6f3a1fc64dd75c0cbef2642a7b926598/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148616&Signature=ZTlX7J7hZYzc6RzwHa5ablorm9wVxEEGXgcuOFJprogUGkP-1HreVYpjUaAe8FFmnUYzvRYrGAsgcNTv2cmZAACEgBlmCJkZ4YI8FHYMTTcphSUSIGI4EYpqFp0JbTIfwoHNmBXSUT5lL2WYRI19OjNnr0hkxHQcDusYXT4UxcJrDv-y41T2JN4vZxV22tB6vDkd5oUEW0rtuQxuyAD~HHDyXFjjr8dCtzxlAgLAaSQ2dasQE4T2iAPQD0-MoMY~-SryhMpq9yx3aYrZAElG94RN81sK9T6~6pCRCf6vNeRSpVoDh8S2IsNBHJXXgBHgNkN0VgcBIGvKhdxvlU~68g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Leesburg town council members on July 7 weighed a staff-drafted 2026 legislative program and agreed to add several new policy positions while removing other items that staff said have not attracted sponsorship in Richmond.

Keith (town staff) presented the draft and told councilmembers the document is built from last year's program and updated with department suggestions. He said the program contains two categories: general \"position statements\" that signal the council's stance to local legislators and narrower \"legislative priorities\" that request specific bills or sponsors. \"The first one we'll propose to you is adding a real estate disclosure requirement,\" Keith said, describing staff's recommendation that state enabling language be amended so Leesburg could require sellers to disclose when a home lies in a regulated historic district.

The council moved through the list item by item and, where the transcript records the outcome, the body adopted additions and deletions by the informal \"are there four people?\" consent checks the council used during the session. Council members asked staff to continue local outreach and to refine language before a formal adoption resolution is prepared.

Why it matters: the program provides Leesburg's delegation and lobbying contacts an early signal about what the town expects in the 2026 General Assembly session, which staff reminded council begins Jan. 14 and will include the state budget. The mix of high-level positions and possible legislative asks affects what ideas local legislators will consider drafting during the summer and fall.

Most of the council discussion focused on which items to keep, add or remove and how feasible statewide adoption is. Vice Mayor Hifsimena Johnson asked whether the town should bring a long list of 80-plus items to Richmond or narrow to a top set of priorities; staff recommended focusing on a small number of strong priorities if council expects legislators to draft bill language. Councilmember Cummings said large budget asks have succeeded for some localities but are not routinely successful in the region.

Actions taken and staff direction

- Add: real estate disclosure for properties in regulated historic districts (added to the draft legislative program). Several council members said they supported the proposal but also urged local outreach to the Realtors Association before pushing a statewide change. Councilmember Steinberg said retailers and realtors previously opposed similar disclosures.

- Add: statutory responsibility for invasive plants (added). Council discussion clarified that the state code contains an enumerated list of invasive species; the proposed change would create a statutory path that makes remediation costs the responsibility of the property owner whose plants spread to neighbors. The mayor gave a local example of an elderly resident who paid about $1,700 to remove invasive plants encroaching from an adjacent lot.

- Add: campaign finance reform (added). Council confirmed an existing position statement should remain in the program.

- Do not add: a statewide prohibition on sales of gas leaf blowers (did not move forward). The Environmental Advisory Commission had recommended the position, and some council members said landscapers are already shifting to electric equipment, but the item failed to secure the council's consent at this session.

- Do not add: a broad clean-and-renewable-energy position (did not move forward at this meeting).

- Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI): council supported a position for Virginia to rejoin RGGI (added to the draft).

- Add: support to ease transfer of VDOT revenue-sharing funds between local projects (added). Staff said this would reduce state paperwork when towns need to move VDOT-allocated dollars from one eligible revenue-sharing project to another.

- Deletions approved: glass recycling (removed from the town's legislative program after staff said private-sector markets in Northern Virginia are forming and the item has not attracted local sponsors), the English ivy prohibition (removed), a municipal utility \"force majeure\" exemption (removed), and a $20 million ask for Liberty Street parking-lot remediation (removed). In several cases staff recommended deletion because items had not been sponsored in Richmond in recent years.

- Deletion not approved: expansion of automobile emissions inspection requirements did not gain enough support to be removed from the list.

Other items discussed

Council asked staff to leave a smaller, prioritized set of items for active pursuit in Richmond and to use the longer list as a \"menu\" for legislators seeking local ideas. The town will keep a $480,000 regional air-traffic-control trailer request (described by staff as a reduced ask compared with a prior $20 million remediation request) in the draft program for consideration.

Next steps and formal adoption

Staff told council that after members finalize edits, the town will prepare a formal resolution for adoption and then circulate the program to local legislators and regional partners, including the Virginia Municipal League (VML) and the Virginia Association of Counties (VACO). \"Once you all finish discussing the program and you get to a point ... we'll have a resolution for you for you to have that formally adopted and then we'll shop that around with all of our local legislators,\" Keith said. Council gave direction on specific additions and deletions and asked staff to refine language and pursue local stakeholder outreach where relevant.

Ending

Councilmembers also asked staff to track which items are likely multi-year efforts (for example, a sales-tax distribution reform) and to coordinate with VML or other regional organizations on larger, statewide reforms before asking a single legislator to carry a complex bill.","At a July 7 work session, Leesburg town council directed staff to add several priorities — including a historic-district real estate disclosure, invasive-plant responsibility and campaign finance reform — remove multiple long-standing items and pursue an updated sales-tax distribution statement for future advocacy with state legislators.","actionData","errors"]

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Leesburg council backs staff review of garage rates and payment tech; agrees to pursue higher hourly rate

Leesburg council to hold fall Saturday meeting on downtown vision, historic preservation and parking

Leesburg council trims, adds items to 2026 legislative program after staff recommendations