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BY THE RECORDASHEVILLE
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Asheville City Council

April 25, 2023

Regular meeting

HousingWaterOther City businessStreets and transitBudget and taxes

What it did

Votes recorded
16
Voted on separately
7
Routine items, one vote
9
Votes that split
1

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

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The meeting in one minute, reviewed →

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 April 29, 2023 as “Arbor Day”

    “Mayor Manheimer read the proclamation proclaiming April 29, 2023, as "Arbor Day" in the City of Asheville.”

CONSENT AGENDA

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

PRESENTATIONS & REPORTS

  1. State of the Airport

    “Lew Bleiweis, President and CEO of the Asheville Regional Airport Authority, provided Council with a year in review of the Airport.”

  2. Manager’s Report City Council retreat follow-up

    “Assistant City Manager Rachel Wood provided Council with the following presentation overview (1) overview of Vision 2026 and Retreat Revisions to Vision Framework; (2) discuss retreat feedback on strategic priorities and efforts underway to implement Council priority direction; (3) review and…”

PUBLIC HEARINGS

  1. Public hearing to consider a Conditional Zoning of 16 Restaurant Court from Office/Business District to Residential Expansion/Conditional Zone: urban

    “Urban Planner Clay Mitchell said that this is the consideration of an ordinance to conditionally zone 16 Restaurant Court from Office/Business District to Residential Expansion/Conditional Zone for the purpose of developing multi-family affordable housing.”

  2. Public hearing to consider the rezoning of properties at 35 Long Shoals Road from RS-2 Residential Single-Family Low Density District to Highway Business District

    “Principal Planner Will Palmquist said that this is the consideration of an ordinance to rezone properties at 35 Long Shoals Road from RS-2 Residential Single-Family Low Density District to Highway Business District.”

  3. Public hearing to consider an amendment to a Conditional Zoning ordinance (Ordinance No. 4953) for properties located at 3124/3130 Sweeten Creek Road 4-25-23

    “Page 22 ORDINANCE NO. 5009 - ORDINANCE TO AMEND A CONDITIONAL ZONING ORDINANCE (ORDINANCE NO. 4953) FOR PROPERTIES LOCATED AT 3124/3130 SWEETEN CREEK ROAD Principal Planner Will Palmquist said that this is the consideration of an ordinance to amend a conditional zoning ordinance (Ordinance No.…”

  4. Public hearing to consider an amendment to the Unified Development Ordinance to update the Table of Uses to allow the use of ‘Cat cafes” in more commercial zoning districts and related adjustments to the Table of Uses

    “ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE TO UPDATE THE TABLE OF USES TO ALLOW THE USE OF ‘CAT CAFES” IN MORE COMMERCIAL ZONING DISTRICTS AND RELATED ADJUSTMENTS TO THE TABLE OF USES Principal Planner Will Palmquist said that this is the consideration of an ordinance to amend the Unified…”

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

  1. Ordinance No. 5011- ordinance establishing Fiscal Year 2023-24 fees and charges for the Water Resources Department

    “Budget Director Taylor Floyd said that this is the consideration of adopting an ordinance establishing Fiscal Year (FY) 2023-24 fees and charges for the Water Resources Department.”

NEW BUSINESS

  1. Resolution allocating Housing Trust Funds to Affordable Housing projects

    “Affordable Housing Officer Sasha Vrtunski said that this is the consideration of a resolution allocating Housing Trust Funds to affordable housing projects.”

  2. Resolution approving the recommendations for the Strategic Partnership Grant Program awards and authorization for the City Manager to execute grant agreements

    “Economic Development Specialist Rachel Taylor said that this is the consideration of a resolution to approve the recommendations for Strategic Partnership Grant Program awards and authorization for the City Manager to execute grant agreements. 4-25-23 Page 44 Action Requested: Adoption of a…”

INFORMAL DISCUSSION AND PUBLIC COMMENT

  1. Public comment

    • urgency for more buses
    • clarity on how we can use McCormick Field
    • need to find Black general contractors
    • need to change the election system by holding a referendum

Voted on separately

Each of these had its own motion and vote.

  1. Rezones 35 Long Shoals Rd, with conditions, from Residential Single-Family Low Density (RS-2) to Highway Business (HB).

    Passed. Voted no: Kim Roney.

    More from the minutes
    • “The properties are currently zoned Residential Single-Family Low Density (RS-2).”
    • “One of the three properties (35 Long Shoals Rd) is currently used as a single-family dwelling.”
  2. Approves the recommended allocations of the Strategic Partnership Grant Program funding awards as shown below and authorized the City Manager to execute…

    Passed. Everyone present voted yes.

    More from the minutes
    • What the minutes say it will do: “The program will be reviewed by the Equity and Engagement Committee with any additional improvements and recommendations implemented year-over-year while continuing to issue grant awards.”
    • The money, in the minutes' words: “A total of $577,500 will be available to support the Strategic Partnership Program in Fiscal Year (FY) 2023-24, including $335,500 unused from previous fiscal years and a $242,000 allocation currently planned in the FY 2023-24 budget.”
  3. Rezones 16 and 18 Restaurant Court, with conditions, from Office Business (OB) to Residential Expansion - Conditional Zone (RES EXP-CZ).

    Passed. Everyone present voted yes.

    More from the minutes
    • What the minutes say it will do: “The project will include a total of approximately 20 standard parking spaces and 8 accessible spaces.”
    • “ad are about 0.1 miles from the site.”
    • “Access to the site will be provided by a new proposed driveway on Restaurant Court.”
    • “Based on the number of bedrooms and dwelling units, the minimum/maximum number of required parking spaces is 60/120 for the RES EXP district.”
  4. Approves a zoning change, with conditions, for 3124/3130 Sweeten Creek Rd.

    Passed. Everyone present voted yes.

    More from the minutes
    • “Maximum number and density of residential units in steep slope areas;”
    • “Maximum building height and stories for structures in steep slope areas;”
    • “The main concern expressed by the dissenting Commissioners is the proposed height of the retaining wall, especially the portion that faces Sweeten Creek Rd.”
  5. Changes City law, Chapter 7 of the City Code.

    Passed. Everyone present voted yes.

    More from the minutes
    • “Provides more opportunities for cat adoption by city residents and visitors in a commercial establishment such as a café or bookstore which also provides neighborhood-serving retail services.”
    • “The pros are (1) Allows cat cafés to operate as a permitted use in more commercial districts of the city; and (2) Provides more opportunities for cat adoption by city residents and visitors in a commercial establishment such as a café or bookstore which also provides neighborhood-serving retail services.”
    • “Staff concurs with the Planning & Zoning Commission and recommends approval of the proposed zoning text amendment.”
  6. Motion to approve an ordinance amending the fees and charges manual for Fiscal Year 2023-24 as recommended by City staff.

    Outcome as recorded in the minutes.

    More from the minutes
    • “Typical household impact of major fee changes proposed for FY24 are below.”

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 NHM Constructors, LLC for the New Leicester Highway sidewalk construction project.

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

    More from the minutes
    • The money, in the minutes' words: “Action Requested: Adoption of a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a construction contract with NHM Constructors, LLC in the amount not to exceed $2,209,905 plus a 10% construction contingency of $220,990. for a total not to exceed contract of $2,430,895 Background:”
  2. Signs a contract with Appalachian Paving and Concrete for the Fiscal Year 2023 Americans with Disabilities Act ramp project.

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

    More from the minutes
    • What the minutes say it will do: “The contract is expected to be available on June 1, 2023, and the contractor has 60 days from the notice to proceed to complete all work.”
    • The money, in the minutes' words: “Action Requested: Adoption of a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a contract with Appalachian Paving and Concrete, Inc. in the amount of $205,235.00, plus a 16% contingency of $32,838.00 ($238,073.00 total) for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022-23 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Ramps contract.”
  3. Lets the City Manager execute a contract amendment with Swim Club Management Group to add the management and operation of the new…

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

    More from the minutes
    • The money, in the minutes' words: “The original contract amount had a not to exceed amount of $191,000 accounting for one season of management operations and to ensure the management company could be successful.”
  4. Signs a contract with Benevate D/b/a Neighborly Inc. to provide a grant management software for the Community & Economic Development Department.

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

    More from the minutes
    • The money, in the minutes' words: “The total five year expenditure is not to exceed $150,000.”
    • “This proposed contract includes an initial three-year term and two one-year renewals.”
  5. Signs an agreement with Mills River Partnership Inc. for the Mills River Watershed Best Management Practices project.

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

    More from the minutes
    • The money, in the minutes' words: “The MRP will only be allowed to request a not-to-exceed amount of $60,000 per fiscal year for the next three years.”
  6. Adds money to the budget from Federal Transit Administration Fiscal Year 2020,-2021 Section 5307 Job Access…

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

    More from the minutes
    • The money, in the minutes' words: “Action Requested: Adoption of a budget amendment in the amount of $30,000 from Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Fiscal Year (FY) 2020-21 Section 5307 Job Access Reverse Commute funds.”
  7. Applies for a Lead Service Line Replacement Grant through the N.C. dept. of Environmental…

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

  8. Transfers City-owned property on Hunt Hill Place to a non-profit organization known…

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

    More from the minutes
    • What the minutes say it will do: “This easement will be a non-exclusive access easement measuring approximately 4,200 square feet at the rear of the property located at the existing gated entrance.”

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.