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BY THE RECORDASHEVILLE
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Asheville City Council

February 11, 2020

Regular meeting

Streets and transitOther City businessHousing

What it did

Votes recorded
13
Voted on separately
4
Routine items, one vote
9
Votes that split
0

Why it matters

Regular meetings are where Council votes on laws, the budget, contracts and zoning. Routine items pass together in one vote, called the consent agenda.

The recording

From the City of Asheville's YouTube channel. Nothing loads from YouTube until you press play.Open on YouTube
Agenda Minutes The City's meeting page

Everything on the agenda

From the minutes, in the order the City lists them. Each item's first lines are the minutes' own words.

PROCLAMATIONS

  1. Proclamation proclaiming February 2020 as “Women Voters Month”

    “Councilwoman Manheimer read the proclamation proclaiming February 2020, as "Women Voters Month" in the City of Asheville.”

  2. Proclamation proclaiming February 14, 2020 as “Trauma Intervention Program Day”

    “Councilman Kapoor read the proclamation proclaiming February 14, 2020, as "Trauma Intervention Program Day" in the City of Asheville.”

CONSENT AGENDA

  1. 9 routine items, passed together in one vote.

PRESENTATIONS & REPORTS

  1. Neighborhood Advisory Committee update

    “Barber Melton, Chair of the Neighborhood Advisory Committee (NAC), said that NAC consists of 9 members, all appointed by City Council, with representation from neighborhoods throughout the City.”

  2. Manager’s report - Equity

    “City Manager Campbell said that this is another report in the ongoing series of updates on Council’s strategic initiatives.”

PUBLIC HEARINGS

  1. Public hearing to permanently close an unopened right-of-way known as Oak Street: streets

    “Streets Division Manager Chad Bandy said that this is the consideration of a resolution to permanently close an unopened right-of-way known as Oak Street.”

  2. Public hearing to permanently close an unopened right-of-way between Midway Drive and Willis Way: streets

    “Streets Division Manager Chad Bandy said that this is the consideration of a resolution to permanently close an unopened right-of-way between Midway Drive and Willis Way.”

  3. Gen. Stat.Sec 160A-299 grants cities the authority to permanently close streets and alleys. ● Ted and Jessica Leaven have requested the closure and own both adjacent properties, 65 Ramoth Road and Midway Drive, PIN #s 7649-48-1087 and…

    “This closure allows maximum land use potential for further development while complying with Living Asheville - A Comprehensive Plan for our Future.”

NEW BUSINESS

  1. Boards & commissions

    “Regarding the Multimodal Transportation Commission, the following individuals applied for the vacancy: Dennis Wencel, Sandy Aldridge, Shannon Watkins and Amy Jones.”

INFORMAL DISCUSSION AND PUBLIC COMMENT

  1. Public comment

    “Ms. Vicki Meath and 5 individuals urged Council to adopt a budget amendment to extend evening transit hours in this fiscal year.”

Voted on separately

Each of these had its own motion and vote.

  1. Adopts a resolution urging congressional passage of HR763 Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act to address climate change.

    Passed.

  2. Permanently close an unopened right-of-way known as Oak Street.

    Passed. Everyone present voted yes.

  3. Permanently close an unopened right-of-way between Midway Drive and Willis Way.

    Passed. Everyone present voted yes.

  4. Permanently close a portion of Federal Alley.

    Passed. Everyone present voted yes.

    More from the minutes
    • “A woman who works in the adjacent building said they are about to lose parking spots when the apartments come in.”

Routine items, passed together

The consent agenda: items Council approves in one vote, without separate discussion. A member can ask to pull an item out for its own vote.

  1. Signs a contract with ADE Project, LLC for the Asheville Business Inclusion Office technical assistance program.

    Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.

    More from the minutes
    • What the minutes say it will do: “The work will be done by an all African American led team of instructors.”
    • The money, in the minutes' words: “Action Requested: Adoption of a resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into a general contract with ADE Project of NC, in the amount of $95,000, to provide small business development to MWBEs.”

  2. Applies for the N.C. dept. of Transportation - Public Transportation Division of Section 5303…, and accepts it if awarded.

    Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.

    More from the minutes
    • The money, in the minutes' words: “The required local match in the amount of $7,500 will be included in the proposed FY 2020-21 Transit Operating Budget.”
    • “If awarded, staff will budget the funding in the proposed FY 20-21 transit administration budget to fund personnel.”

  3. Approves issuing up to $17,850,000 multi-family housing revenue bonds by the Housing Authority…

    Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.

    Who it's for: Households earning up to 60% of the area median income: up to $61,440 a year for a family of four, or $43,020 for one person (HUD's 2026 income limits for tax-credit housing in the Asheville area).

    More from the minutes
    • What the minutes say it will do: “The project is, and will continue to be, 100% subsidized under the Project-Based Section 8 Housing Assistance Program (“HAP Contract”) program of HUD and all units are affordable to and set aside for individuals with incomes at or below 60% of the AMI.”
    • “The proposed rehabilitation scope will completely overhaul the unit interiors-upgrading kitchens, bathrooms, living spaces, appliance and fixtures.”
    • “The significant rehabilitation of an existing 116 unit affordable housing development for seniors.”

  4. Lets the City Manager issue free annual transit passes to board members of city-managed boards and commissions.

    Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.

  5. Signs a contract with Carolina Specialities.

    Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.

  6. Lets the City of Asheville to regulate and administer parking at the Asheville Regional Airport.

    Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.

  7. Resolution of intent to permanently close an unopened right-of-way known as Merritt Park Lane and setting a public hearing on March 24, 2020.

    Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.

    More from the minutes
    • “The City of Asheville has petitioned for this closure which is associated with the sale of City-owned property at 360 HIlliard Ave. (PIN # 9648-18-3942) and 9999 Merritt Park Lane (PIN# 9648-18-3669) to Hilliard Park Apartments, LLC for an affordable housing development.”
    • “Upon closure, all of the portion of the unopened right-of-way that crosses the Merritt Park property will become the property of Hilliard Park Apartments, LLC and all of the unopened right-of-way along the eastern border of the Merritt Park property will become the property of the City as agreed to by Hilliard Park.”
    • “This is a multi-family residential building with 86 units, several of which are affordable units.”

  8. Sets a public hearing on February 25, 2020 on an ordinance approving an Annexation Agreement between the City of Asheville…

    Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.

  9. Changes the dates of Council meetings.

    Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.

The plain-language lines are written by fixed rules from each item's official title, which is on each decision's page. Every vote the minutes record is listed; procedural motions, like approving the minutes or adjourning, are left out.