Asheville City Council
February 13, 2024
Regular meeting
Other City businessWaterHousingBudget and taxes
What it did
- Signs a a83,620 contract with B. Allen Construction, Inc. for the installation of a prefabricated restroom outside of the Rankin Avenue garage.Passed. Voted no: S. Antanette Mosley.
- Rezones 492 Sardis Road, with conditions, from Commercial Industrial (CI) to Commercial Expansion - Conditional Zone (COM EXP-CZ).Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
- Cancels a previously approved $1.2 million Housing Trust Fund loan allocation for the pineview pineview condominium project…Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
- Changes the contract with Barrs Recreation to add a shade canopy to the previously purchased murphy-oakley playground equipment.Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
- Votes recorded
- 12
- Voted on separately
- 2
- Routine items, one vote
- 10
- 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.
PROCLAMATIONS
Proclamation proclaiming February 2024 as “Black History & Legacy Month”
“Mayor Manheimer read the proclamation proclaiming February 2024 as “Black History & Legacy Month” in the City of Asheville.”
Proclamation proclaiming February 26 - March 3, 2024 as | “National Invasive Species Awareness Week”
“Mayor Manheimer read the proclamation proclaiming February 26 - March 3, 2024 as “National Invasive Species Awareness Week'' in the City of Asheville.”
CONSENT AGENDA
10 routine items, passed together in one vote.
PRESENTATIONS & REPORTS
Manager’s report - employee recognitions
“City Manager Campbell outlined the following key takeaways: (1) the mission of the Asheville Fire Department (AFD) is to protect the LIVES, PROPERTY and ENVIRONMENT of all people within Asheville by preventing the occurrence and minimizing the adverse effects of FIRES, ACCIDENTS and all OTHER…”
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Public Hearing to conditionally zone 492 Sardis Road from Commercial Industrial District to Commercial Expansion - Conditional Zone: urban
“Urban Planner Clay Mitchell said that this is the consideration of an ordinance to conditionally zone 492 Sardis Road from Commercial Industrial District to Commercial Expansion - Conditional Zone.”
Public Hearing to consider an amendment to the Unified Development Ordinance to change the development regulations related to Cottage Development
“Mayor Manheimer said that the applicant has requested a continuance of this public hearing, along with the public hearing on amending the flag lot requirements, until February 27, 2024.”
Public Hearing to consider an amendment to the Unified Development Ordinance to change the dimensional and other requirements related to the creation of flag lots
“Note: Please see discussion above in Public Hearing B. Councilwoman Ullman moved to continue the public hearing on an amendment to the Unified Development Ordinance regarding flag lot requirements to April 23, 2024.”
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a contract with
Allen Construction Inc. for the installation of a prefabricated restroom outside of the Rankin Avenue garage; and further authorizing the City Manager to execute any change orders that may arise during the project up to the contingency…
“Mayor Manheimer said that after the presentation on January 23, 2024, these actions were continued to February, 2024, in order to gather more information.”
NEW BUSINESS
Boards & commissions
“Vice-Mayor Kilgore, Chair of the Boards & Commissions Committee, said that this is the consideration of appointing a member to the Downtown Commission.”
INFORMAL DISCUSSION AND PUBLIC COMMENT
Public comment
- bus drivers are not arriving to their buses on time and thus not meeting their scheduled route times
- request for Asheville to not take a stand on a ceasefire resolution
- request to condemn antisemitism statements and crime in Asheville
- request for Council to adopt a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza
- request for funding PEAK Academy at their requested amount
Voted on separately
Each of these had its own motion and vote.
Passed. Voted no: S. Antanette Mosley.
Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
More from the minutes
- “The project site is triangular in shape with frontage on Sardis Road and is currently undeveloped and consists of one parcel totaling 2.33 acres, of which 2.24 acres will be disturbed by development.”
- “The proposed project shows 1.10 acres of open space.”
- “The property is currently zoned Commercial Industrial (CI) and abuts CI-zoned land in Asheville.”
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
- The money, in the minutes' words: “Action Requested: Adoption of a resolution to rescind prior approval of a $1,200,000 Housing Trust Fund loan for the Bryson Investment Group LLC’s Pineview Place Condominiums development. 2-13-24 Page 7 Background:”
- “The award was to develop twelve affordable for-sale condominium homes at Arline Henry Way, PIN 9638-52-5112.”
- “The owners have since subdivided the property into three parcels and have been permitted for two single-family homes.”
- “These units are currently under construction.”
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 an amendment to the general services contract with Barrs Recreation, in the amount of $120,217.34 to add a shade canopy to the previously purchased Murphy Oakley playground equipment. 2-13-24 Page 8 Background:”
- “The Murphy Oakley playground is currently under construction and will provide an inclusive playground experience upon construction completion.”
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
More from the minutes
- The money, in the minutes' words: “Action Requested: Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a contract with Dixon Resources Unlimited, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $110,000, including 10% contingency if necessary, to conduct a Comprehensive Operational Assessment of the City’s Parking Services Division.”
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 City Staff to apply for the N.C. Dept. of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) 2024 Community Waste Reduction and Recycling Grant up to $50,000.”
- “Educating Asheville residents and businesses about what can go in their recycling carts will help to reduce contamination, reduce Material Recovery Facility (MRF) disposal tonnages and costs, ensure that our MRF has marketable commodities, and support the long-term viability of our recycling program.”
- “Increase recycling contamination awareness with City residents and businesses to help decrease contamination rates”
- “If awarded, matching funds will be included in the Public Works Department FY 2024-25 Proposed Budget.”
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
Who it's for: Households earning 50% to 80% of the area median income: $51,200 to $81,920 a year for a family of four (HUD's 2026 income limits for tax-credit housing in the Asheville area).
More from the minutes
- “Adoption of a resolution for a temporary pause in the consideration of LUIG applications during the completion of the Affordable Housing Plan Update.”
- “The LUIG program was created in 2011 to incentivize the inclusion of affordable units at 80% AMI in projects that otherwise would have only offered market-rate rents.”
- “The LUIG Policy was not originally designed to produce units for lower-income residents (50% AMI or less) without additional funding layers like vouchers or other sources.”
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
More from the minutes
- What the minutes say it will do: “This project helps address conditions to provide safe park conditions at West Asheville Park & Martin L. King Jr. Park.”
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
More from the minutes
- What the minutes say it will do: “The proposed project will help develop the specifications needed for the replacement of the sodium hypochlorite tank and the fluoride tank, as well as provide analysis of the specifications and location for the new coagulant tank.”
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
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.
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.