Asheville City Council
January 9, 2024
Regular meeting
Other City businessWaterStreets and transitBudget and taxes
What it did
- Approves a zoning change, with conditions, for 511 Brevard Rd.Passed. Voted no: Kim Roney, Maggie Ullman.
- Signs a contract0 million contract with CDM Smith for construction Administration and Observation Services for the Mills River Water Treatment Plant…Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
- Lets the City Manager enter into an agreement for additional construction work with the N.C. dept. of Transportation for the I-26 Connector…Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
- Resolution authorizing City Council to accept a Lead Service Line Replacement Grant through the N.C. dept. of Environmental Quality - Division of Water Infrastructure.Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
- Votes recorded
- 14
- Voted on separately
- 1
- Routine items, one vote
- 13
- 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
Everything on the agenda
From the minutes, in the order the City lists them. Each item's first lines are the minutes' own words.
CONSENT AGENDA
13 routine items, passed together in one vote.
PRESENTATIONS & REPORTS
Manager’s report - introduction of new staff and new staff titles
“Assistant Fire Chief Chris Budinski and Fire Department Public Information Officer Kelly Klope updated City Council on the weather and weather preparedness, and how we communicated with our community.”
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Public hearing to amend the Conditional Zoning ordinance (Ordinance No. 4702) for property located at 141 and 147 s. Bear Creek Road to make changes to the Project conditions: Page 19
“Page 19 Principal Planner Will Palmquist said that this is the consideration of an ordinance to amend the conditional zoning ordinance (Ordinance No. 4702) for property located at 141 & 147 S. Bear Creek Road for the purpose of removing a restriction prohibiting drive-through facilities.”
NEW BUSINESS
Boards & commissions
“Regarding the Metropolitan Sewerage District, the following individuals applied for the vacancy: Vice-Mayor Kilgore, Councilwoman Antanette Mosley and Councilwoman Smith.”
INFORMAL DISCUSSION AND PUBLIC COMMENT
Public comment
- ongoing crime in Asheville, especially vehicle break-ins
- parking concerns at Rankin Avenue Parking Garage
- request for Council to adopt a resolution for ceasefire, peace, and international law
- economic development opportunity
- former Black Council Member Newton Shepherd
- anti-displacement and the missing middle housing study
- Israel and anit-semitism in Asheville
Voted on separately
Each of these had its own motion and vote.
Approves a zoning change, with conditions, for 511 Brevard Rd.
Passed. Voted no: Kim Roney, Maggie Ullman.
More from the minutes
- “The main concerns expressed by the commission included that there was no site plan proposed to show how a drive-through facility would minimize potential impacts with pedestrians and other uses of Brevard and S. Bear Creek Roads.”
- “The applicant has proposed a revised site plan showing the new commercial building and drive-through and is requesting that the prohibition of drive-through facilities be lifted on Lot 2.”
- “Access to the new commercial building is proposed off the project’s internal driveway approximately 50 feet south of S. Bear Creek Road.”
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.
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
More from the minutes
- What the minutes say it will do: “The contract will provide guidance to City staff to ensure all requirements of the SRF/ARPA grant are adhered to and provide oversight and guidance on reimbursement from the SRF/ARPA grant.”
- The money, in the minutes' words: “Current estimates are that the project will require a total of $20 million to complete, with the additional $10 million likely funded via debt.”
- “If approved, the proposed engineering services described here within will be developed into a subcontract under the conditions of the master agreement.”
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
More from the minutes
- The money, in the minutes' words: “At the time the funding letter of commitment was sent, the anticipated cost of the aesthetic treatments was $5,889,024 and the betterments was $1,412,900, for a total of $7,301,924.”
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
More from the minutes
- The money, in the minutes' words: “The grant/loan was awarded in the amount of $1,995,500.”
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
More from the minutes
- What the minutes say it will do: “This project will become part of the Water Resources Department’s ongoing Capital Improvement Program.”
- The money, in the minutes' words: “Action Requested: Adoption of a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a Municipal Utility Construction Agreement with the N.C. Dept. of Transportation (NCDOT) for an amount not to exceed $809,020.98 for the NCDOT I-2513 AA and AB; I-26 Connector Projects Background:”
- “These improvements will impact and require relocating approximately 100 feet of 6” waterline along Montgomery St and 705 feet of 24” waterline along Sand Hill Rd.”
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
More from the minutes
- The money, in the minutes' words: “Jefferson Wells has put together a first year audit plan for up to four internal audits during calendar year 2024 at a cost not to exceed $115,000.”
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
More from the minutes
- What the minutes say it will do: “The improvements will improve the function and enjoyment of the recreation facilities, and will extend the useful life of the building.”
Monthly municipal property tax refunds or releases per N.C. gen. stat. sec. 105-381.
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.