Asheville City Council
January 28, 2025
Regular meeting
Other City businessHelene recoveryStreets and transitBudget and taxes
What it did
- Changes the contract with Hagerty Consulting Inc. for recovery management services from Tropical Storm Helene.Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
- Changes the contract with Biltmore Farms Hotel Group for the lodging for essential employees and first responders working on rescue…Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
- Approves the 2025 City of Asheville Legislative Agenda and to direct the City Attorney to provide…Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
- Adopts the proposed text amendments to Chapter 7 of the Asheville Code of Ordinances sections 7-2-4, 7-2-5, and 7-12-1.Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
- Votes recorded
- 9
- Voted on separately
- 2
- Routine items, one vote
- 7
- 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.
CONSENT AGENDA
7 routine items, passed together in one vote.
PRESENTATIONS & REPORTS
Manager’s report
“Affordable Housing Plan Implementation Through Lens of Recovery Director of Community & Economic Development Nikki Reid outlined the following key takeaways from their presentation as follows: (1) City staff are rebooting the Equitable and Affordable Housing and Stability strategy with an eye…”
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Public hearing to consider zoning text amendments to Chapter 7 of the Code of Ordinances to better align Existing City regulations with the North Carolina State Building Code
“Mayor Manheimer said that this item was discussed and the public hearing was open and closed on December 10, 2024.”
NEW BUSINESS
Resolution adopting the Asheville City Council 2025 Legislative Agenda
“City Attorney Branham said that this is the consideration of adoption of the Asheville City Council 2025 Legislative Agenda and direction to share with Asheville’s Local Delegation.”
INFORMAL DISCUSSION AND PUBLIC COMMENT
Public comment
- need for an affordable housing plan for low income families
- urge the City to do what they can to expedite efforts regarding variances for historic structures without expense and delay to property owners
- new drugs for mental health
- resume boards and commissions
- look at Asheville’s future through the lens of economic sustainability and the sustainable sector of our local economy
- displacement confusion and local housing policy impacts
- work with property owners to overcome challenges to build and rebuild in our City
- concerns of mass deportation
- need for the City to work with landlords to be less exploit tenants
Voted on separately
Each of these had its own motion and vote.
Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
More from the minutes
- “Councilman Hess said that he would like to take a moment to explain my reasoning behind my vote on the proposed flood ordinance changes. “This decision has not been easy, and my concerns for our small businesses remain at the forefront of my mind.”
Approves the 2025 City of Asheville Legislative Agenda and to direct the City Attorney to provide…
Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
More from the minutes
- “Local Governments, and the residents they serve, will depend upon this support for months and years to come, in the form of much needed grants, loans, local government revenue opportunities, and related legislative action.”
- “His four requests were about rental assistance for low-income households; funding for temporary housing; tenant protections; and state housing tax credit.”
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: “This amendment adds $4,994,885 to the contract, bringing the total amount not to exceed $5,994,885.”
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
More from the minutes
- The money, in the minutes' words: “This contract amendment adds $72,009.70 to the existing contract, for a total of $372,009.70.”
- “These included law enforcement officers from Raleigh PD, Cary PD, Greensboro PD, Winston-Salem PD, Renfrow Security Group, out-of-area Search and Rescue Units, Drone Pilots and K-9 Units.”
Approves, after the fact, a contract with Renewal for remaining option years.
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
More from the minutes
- The money, in the minutes' words: “With Via Transportation Inc. for Transit Scheduling and Planning Software by $26,000 for a total contract amount of $115,500 for the final option year; and 1-28-25 Page 5”
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
More from the minutes
- The money, in the minutes' words: “DSD is therefore requesting that Council ratify this contract and all previous spending under the contract, which has been $69,000, plus authorizing an additional $46,000 to cover the end of the initial five-year term, for a total of up to $115,000 to be spent on this contract.”
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.
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.