Asheville City Council
August 27, 2024
Regular meeting
Other City businessPublic safetyBudget and taxesStreets and transitHousing
What it did
- Changes the zoning conditions for 252 Patton Ave from Residential Multi-Family Medium Density (RM-8) and Central Business - Conditional Zone (CBD-CZ) to Central Business - Conditional Zone (CBD-CZ).Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
- Lets the City Manager pursue and negotiate on behalf of the City debt financing associated with the refunding of the $42 million…Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
- Lets the City Manager ratify (motion consent-res-24-200).Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
- Approves the zoning request for the properties located at 99999 Long Shoals Rd.Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
- Votes recorded
- 29
- Voted on separately
- 4
- Routine items, one vote
- 25
- 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
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 August 27, 2024, as “Urban Trail Appreciation Day”
“Mayor Manheimer read the proclamation proclaiming August 27, 2024, as "Urban Trail Appreciation Day " in the City of Asheville.”
CONSENT AGENDA
25 routine items, passed together in one vote.
PRESENTATIONS & REPORTS
Merrimon Avenue complete street project
“Carrie Simpson, representative of the N.C. Dept. of Transportation, provided City Council with the following 4-lane to 3-lane conversion preliminary evaluation data on Merrimon Avenue.”
MANAGER’S REPORT: Employee Recognitions & Campaign Event Update
“Amy Deyton, Interim Public Works Director, said that Terrelle Bowen was awarded the 2024 Herman Drake Award.”
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Public Hearing to permanently close a paper right-of-way located on 34 Hiwassee Street
“Division Manager of Community & Economic Development Rachel Taylor said that this is the consideration of a resolution to permanently close a paper right-of-way located on 34 Hiwassee Street.”
Public Hearing to consider a Conditional Zoning amendment for property located at 252 Patton Avenue for the purpose of amending the phasing of the project to allow for a Temporary, open-air Substation, and the extent of the conditional…
“Urban Planner Clay Mitchell said that this is the consideration of an amendment to a conditional zoning amendment for property located at 252 Patton Avenue for the purpose of amending the phasing of the project to allow for a temporary, open-air substation, and the extent of the conditional zoning.”
Public Hearing to consider rezoning 99999 Long Shoals Road from RS-2 Residential Single-Family Low Density District to Highway Business District
“Assistant Director of Planning & Urban Design Chris Collins said that this is the consideration of an ordinance to consider the rezoning 99999 Long Shoals Road from RS-2 Residential Single-Family Low Density District to Highway Business District.”
Public Hearing to consider an Amendment to a Conditional Zoning of 179 and 144 Riverside Drive for the purpose of making Changes to the Project Conditions and Site plans to allow for construction of 240 residential Units and remove…
“Urban Planner Clay Mitchell said that this is the consideration of an ordinance to consider an ordinance to amend a previously approved conditional zoning of the property located at 179 & 144 Riverside Drive (formerly addressed as 159 Riverside Dr.) to incorporate and reflect: changes in use from…”
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Community Reparations Commission Extension Request
“Dewana Little, Chair of the Community Reparations Commission, and Bobbette Mays, Vice-Chair, shared the presentation noting that the purpose of this presentation is to provide City Council with an update on the Community Reparations Commission’s progress and to request an extension of time.”
NEW BUSINESS
Resolution No. 24-203- resolution adopting Recreate Asheville: shaping our City Parks - Asheville Parks and Recreation 10-year Plan
“Parks & Recreation Director D. Tyrell McGirt said that this is the consideration of a resolution adopting Recreate Asheville: Shaping Our City’s Parks, a systemwide 10-year plan for Asheville Parks & Recreation.”
Planning & Zoning Commission 8-27-24
“Page 61 There currently exists three vacancies to the Planning & Zoning Commission.”
Silverman, Hunter Spitzer, Doniel Winter and Anna Zuevskaya. The Planning & Zoning Commission Chair Geoffrey Barton recommends appointment of Jane Margaret Bell, Jameka Shante Johnson, and his own reappointment. If interested in…
“selecting from a pool of the top 5, he suggested that Council also interview Beth Silverman, Scott Adams, and Hunter Spitzer.”
INFORMAL DISCUSSION AND PUBLIC COMMENT
Public comment
- request support for International Peace Day
- business survivability
- purpose of Islamic people in the United States
- support for the Recreate Plan (especially the inclusion of much needed dedicated pickleball courts)
Voted on separately
Each of these had its own motion and vote.
Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
More from the minutes
- “He said that staff concurs with the Planning & Zoning Commission and recommends approval of the proposed conditional zoning amendment.”
Approves the zoning request for the properties located at 99999 Long Shoals Rd.
Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
More from the minutes
- What the minutes say it will do: “The purpose of the Highway Business (HB) zoning district is, “to address the needs of commercial development along major thoroughfares.”
- “The rezoning petition consists of one property totalling 5.05 acres and located at 99999 Long Shoals Rd (PIN 9645-90-0001).”
- “The property is currently zoned Residential Single-Family Low Density (RS-2).”
- “The property is currently vacant and undeveloped.”
Permanently close an unopened right-of-way at Hiawassee Street.
Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
More from the minutes
- “All property owners abutting the unopened right-of-way, namely the City and Duke Energy Progress, have signed affidavits approving the proposed closure.”
Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
More from the minutes
- “Residents' desired parks and recreation priority projects and programs have been identified and incorporated into a strategic implementation plan.”
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: “The City issued its most recent interim LOBs in June 2022 in an amount not to exceed $42 million.”
Lets the City Manager ratify (motion consent-res-24-200).
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
More from the minutes
- The money, in the minutes' words: “This resolution includes an increase of $326,793 for a total of $10,972,722 for Fiscal Year 2024.”
- “At this time, approximately 50% of ART vehicles are beyond their useful life, with many buses older than 10-12 years and over 500,000 miles.”
Resolution authorizing the City.
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
More from the minutes
- The money, in the minutes' words: “Motion to authorize the City Manager to execute a contract amendment with Marathon Health, LLC to increase the contract amount by $390,000 for a total contract amount of $2,982,000 to provide ongoing healthcare and occupational health services, and management of the City’s employee health services clinic.”
Signs a contract with DanGrady Company LLC for the Southside Connectivity Improvements 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 into a construction contract with DanGrady Company, LLC in the amount not to exceed $1,283,975.44 plus a construction contingency of $197,500 for a total not to exceed contract of $1,481,475.44, for the Southside Connectivity Improvements Project.”
Changes the contract with Atlantic Emergency Solutions for Standardization of Pierce Fire Apparatus.
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
More from the minutes
- What the minutes say it will do: “This contract allows Fleet to lessen repair downtime for 15 Pierce Fire Trucks owned and operated by the City of Asheville.”
- The money, in the minutes' words: “The original Contract amount for the initial (1) one year term to be $400,000 with a total not-to -exceed contract amount of $1,200,000 for all 3 years (if both optional renewals are exercised).”
Lets the City Manager ratify (motion consent-res-24-199).
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
More from the minutes
- The money, in the minutes' words: “This resolution includes an increase of $138,577.12, for a total of $1,138,577.12 for Fiscal Year 2024 to cover the cost of additional Paratransit Services provided by the County in excess of the original budget estimate of $1,000,000 for Fiscal Year 2024.”
- “This service is mandated under federal requirements to ensure complimentary paratransit service within ¾ of a mile of fixed-route transit services.”
- “The City of Asheville’s policy goes beyond the required ¾ mile, providing services city-wide to all eligible individuals who meet ADA certification.”
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
More from the minutes
- The money, in the minutes' words: “The Transportation Department applied for and received a federal transportation grant in the amount of $352,000 with a 20% match of $88,000 from the French Broad River 8-27-24 Page 24 Metropolitan Planning Organization (FBRMPO) in Fiscal Year 2021 to design and construct the signal.”
- “The NCDOT decided to complete this traffic signal project and requested City funding and future maintenance assistance since the project will also benefit the City and its residents.”
- “Construction of a traffic signal at the intersection will improve the overall safety and mobility of the residents in the Maple Crest community, residents of the future affordable housing to be constructed at the City’s “Ford” site, and other existing and future travelers through the intersection.”
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
More from the minutes
- What the minutes say it will do: “This contract allows Fleet to quickly and efficiently obtain estimates and repairs for accident damaged vehicles and maintains an on-call contract for light duty body work.”
- The money, in the minutes' words: “The original Contract amount for the initial (1) one year term to be $100,000 with a total not-to -exceed contract amount of $300,000 for all 3 years (if both optional renewals are exercised).”
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
More from the minutes
- The money, in the minutes' words: “Staff is seeking to renew for a second year at $45,277.53 and have the option to renew up to three additional 12-month periods with a total contract amount not to exceed a 5 year total of $226,387.65.”
- “The initial contract term was proposed for one year, with the option upon approval by the City for up to four one-year renewals, for a maximum total duration of five years.”
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
More from the minutes
- What the minutes say it will do: “This funding will support the purchase of three electric vehicles.”
- The money, in the minutes' words: “The funding was awarded in the amount of $158,820.”
Lets the City Manager amend the existing contract…
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
More from the minutes
- The money, in the minutes' words: “Motion to authorize the City Manager to execute a contract amendment with McLaughlin Young to increase the contract amount by $54,140 for a total contract amount of $144,134 to provide ongoing employee assistance program services for employees and their dependents.”
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
More from the minutes
- What the minutes say it will do: “This grant will strategically address the recognized need for improved Wildland Fire Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)”
- The money, in the minutes' words: “Motion to authorize (1) the City Manager to accept grant funds from Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) and (2) a budget amendment in the City’s Special Revenue Fund in the amount of $74,970 utilizing the $68,154.55 in grant funds and $6,815.45 in operating funds.”
States Council's support for sole-source procurement for standardization of transit-related.
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
More from the minutes
- The money, in the minutes' words: “A total of $21,660 is required to support this action in FY 2025.”
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 amending a contract with Responder Support Services, LLC, to add funds to the contract in the amount of $16,531 for a total three-year contract of $574,070 to provide ongoing embedded behavioral health support to Fire and Police Department employees and their dependents.”
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
More from the minutes
- “There is an existing contract to repair approximately 300 feet of road damage that occurred along Vance Gap Road due to three separate landslides in 2021, 2022, and 2023.”
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.
Directs the display of a pow/mia Flag at the Municipal Golf Course annually on Memorial Day…
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 purpose of the land exchange is for Duke Energy Progress to update the downtown substation to increase and expand energy service to existing and new users in and around the central business district.”
- “Duke Energy Progress is seeking to acquire approximately 0.26 acres of land from the City of Asheville, located at the corner of Hiawassee and Rankin Avenue.”
- “In exchange for this land, Duke is seeking to deed 0.24 acres to the City, located directly behind the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium.”
- “The Harrah’s Cherokee Center is currently limited by the existing substation, which makes maintenance more difficult and limits the scale of attractions that can be hosted at the facility.”
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
Who it's for: Households earning up to 80% of the area median income: up to $81,920 a year for a family of four, or $57,360 for one person (HUD's 2026 income limits for tax-credit housing in the Asheville area).
More from the minutes
- “Adoption of resolution of intent to permanently close approximately 140 feet of Sawyer Street, an open right-of-way, connecting to Coxe Avenue, between the parcels addressed as 50 and 52 Coxe Avenue, and to set a public hearing for September 24, 2024.”
- “Buncombe County, the owner of 50 and 52 Coxe Avenue, petitioned for this closure in association with the future development of an affordable housing project that the Buncombe County County Commissioners approved conceptually at their April 2, 2024 meeting.”
- “Housing units are planned to be designated for 80% Area Median Income or below.”
Lets the City Manager donate computers and cell phones to the Land of Sky Regional Council.
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
More from the minutes
- “State Statute § 160A-280 permits donations of personal property to other governmental units.”
Extends the contract with CDW-G for amazon web services Cloud Computing Services.
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: “This contract renewal provides continued access to Accela, Inc. through December 2025, at which point it will no longer be needed as the City will have fully transitioned to the new Clariti solution.”
- “This software maintenance is currently budgeted through the Development Services Technology Fund.”
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.