Asheville City Council
September 9, 2025
Regular meeting: City Council Meeting (In-Person)
WaterOther City businessBudget and taxesStreets and transitHousing
What it did
- Adopts on its second and final reading Ordinance No. 5170: Ordinance amending 9-9-25.Passed. Voted no: Kim Roney.
- Changes City law, Chapter 7 of the City Code.Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
- Approves a zoning change, with conditions, for 1617 Hendersonville Rd.Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
- Approves the allocation of $10 million of affordable housing bond funding to the WNC Affordable Housing Loan Fund to create rental housing affordable…Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
- Votes recorded
- 22
- Voted on separately
- 4
- Routine items, one vote
- 18
- 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
Jump to a part of the meeting (12 times listed by the City)
These times and titles are the City's own, copied from the video description.
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
18 routine items, passed together in one vote.
PRESENTATIONS & REPORTS
Community Reparations Commission final report
“Bobbette Mays, Vice-Chair of the Community Reparations Commission, was pleased to present the final report and progress closeout for the Community Reparations Commission (CRC) . The mission of the Reparations Commission is empowered to make short-, medium-, 9-9-25 Page 23 and long-term…”
I-26 connector Aesthetics Committee final report
“Ted Figura, Chair of the I-26 Connector Aesthetics Committee said the N.C. Dept. of Transportation (NCDOT) announced a design change to the I-26 Connector Section B that takes I-26 over, instead of under, Patton Avenue west of the French Broad River.”
MANAGER’S REPORT: Employee Recognitions
“City Manager Campbell said that tonight we celebrate the dedication and excellence of City of Asheville staff that exemplify public service at its best.”
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Public hearing to amend Chapter 7 of the Code of Ordinances to amend sections 7-3-(b), 7-6-1(c), and 7-5-20 of the Board of Adjustment membership and legal ad notification requirements
“Principal Planner Will Palmquist said that this is the consideration of an ordinance to amend the Unified Development Ordinance to (1) better align with N.C. Gen.”
Public hearing to amend the conditional zoning of properties located at 1617 Hendersonville Road for the purposes of amending the Site plan and conditions
“Principal Planner Will Palmquist said that this is the consideration of an ordinance to amend the conditional zoning of 28 properties totalling approximately 125 acres located at 1617 Hendersonville Road for the purposes of amending the site plan and conditions.”
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Second reading of
“Due to a fairly new state law, a second procedural note is necessary that requires any ordinance with a criminal penalty to pass 2 votes before being enacted.”
NEW BUSINESS
Resolution to allocate $10 Million of the Affordable Housing Bond to the WNC Affordable Housing Loan Fund to create Affordable rental Housing within the City limits, including a Loan Agreement with Self-Help Ventures Fund for the loan…
“At 8:48 p.m., Vice-Mayor Mosley moved to recuse Mayor Manheimer from participating in the remainder of the meeting.”
INFORMAL DISCUSSION AND PUBLIC COMMENT
Public comment
- outstanding word by the Community Reparations Commission and the need for Council’s commitment to rectify harms and develop policies to push towards justice
- problems with ICE not following the law
- request to move Springside Road safety upgrades up on the Capital Improvement Program next year
- need for City employees to be paid a living wage
Voted on separately
Each of these had its own motion and vote.
Adopts on its second and final reading Ordinance No. 5170: Ordinance amending 9-9-25.
Passed. Voted no: Kim Roney.
Changes City law, Chapter 7 of the City Code.
Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
More from the minutes
- What the minutes say it will do: “The amendment will revise the BOA membership to consist of a total of five regular members and three (was seven) alternate members.”
- “by promoting clear and effective communication between city residents at all stages of development through streamlining the Board of Adjustments processes; and ,”
- “Mr. Palmquist reviewed the proposed amendments as follows: (1) 7-3-3 - The board of adjustment for the City of Asheville shall consist of five regular members and three seven alternate members.”
- “Four regular members and two five alternate members who are residents of the City of Asheville shall be appointed by the Asheville City Council.”
Approves a zoning change, with conditions, for 1617 Hendersonville Rd.
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.”
- “Mr. Palmquist said they will be required for the entire site, but he would have to look back at the 2021 Technical Review Committee report, but essentially that entire 125 acre area that the Deerfield area consists of will be calculated through that requirement.”
- “Deerfield has also made substantial financial contributions to the City’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund.”
Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
More from the minutes
- “J.J. Froehlich, staff with Self-Help, provided the following information about the WNC Affordable Housing Loan Fund, (1) The WNC Affordable Housing Loan Fund creates and preserves affordable rental housing.”
- “They then reviewed some examples of the Affordable Housing Loan Funds public-private partnerships.”
- “Councilmember Roney read the staff memo regarding the Talbert lot next to the transit center: “Later this fall, the City will solicit proposals for firms to analyze the 50 Asheland property and develop conceptual plans for the future transit center and affordable housing on the site.”
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: “Staff seeks approval to execute a contract with Passport Labs, Inc. for an initial term of three years with up to two additional one-year optional renewals for a total contract amount not to exceed $1,031,900.”
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 amend a contract with Pepsi Cola Bottling Company of Hickory NC to extend the term of the agreement to a total of 10 years and to increase the contract amount by $750,000 to a total amount not to exceed $1,350,000.00.”
Changes the contract with CDM Smith Inc. for the Patton Avenue Water System Distribution Project 2.
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 change order with CDM Smith Inc. in the amount of $724,463.00 to increase the Patton Ave, Water System Distribution Project 2 – Professional Services Contract from a total in the amount of $1,583,638.00 to $2,308,101.00 Background:”
- “The original contract work included:a survey, a hydraulic analysis, engineering design, construction administration and other related professional services for approximately 10,600 linear feet of 24” potable water transmission main and all associated appurtenances along Patton Avenue from Craven Street to Haywood Road.”
- “The proposed change order request is based on the amended scope.”
- “The funding needed for the professional services agreement is currently allocated within the Water Capital Project Fund in the Small Waterline Replacement Project.”
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
More from the minutes
- The money, in the minutes' words: “A change order for the Ardurra Group contract is needed to increase the amount from $150,000.00 to a total of $580,000.00.”
- “Direct benefit for the Shiloh community and the residents that live there.”
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 enter into an informal construction contract with United Elevator in the amount of $344,190, for the upgrade and modernization of the freight elevator at the Harrah’s Cherokee Center - Asheville.”
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
More from the minutes
- What the minutes say it will do: “The requested amendment will allow time for the RFP process to be completed while ensuring no disruption in services to employees and families utilizing counseling services.”
- The money, in the minutes' words: “Motion to approve a resolution authorizing the City Manager to approve an amendment to the contract with RSS to extend the provision of counseling services to employees through October 31, 2025and to increase the current contract by $7,250 for a total contract amount not to exceed $181,249.”
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
More from the minutes
- The money, in the minutes' words: “To account for the increased licensing costs and shipping costs for the additional equipment, as well as allowing for potential fleet additions through the remaining contract term, the contract funding is being increased by $71,151.55 for a total not-to-exceed contract amount of $132,000.”
- “Samsara’s software uses location data from installed GPS units and cameras to provide live tracking and camera footage for Public Works vehicles and integrates with both the City’s GIS system and fleet management software.”
- “The GPS/camera units and software integration provides several benefits, including the capability for real-time location tracking, enhanced security and theft prevention, and increased accountability and transparency.”
- “This increased the coverage of GPS and camera units to approximately 78% and 40% of the Public Works fleet, respectively.”
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 amend the Harrah’s Cherokee Center Asheville’s (HCCA) contract with Daikin Applied Americas, Inc. to increase the contract amount by $25,600, for a revised total maximum price amount of $113,100.00 for Building Automation.”
- “The amendment to this contract includes work of replacement of 2 new primary control JACE modules and controllers for air handlers and VAV units and the integration and programming of modules and controllers along with support signal boosters.”
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 to accept $95,000 in funding awarded from Dogwood Health Trust for the Asheville-Buncombe Continuum of Care.”
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
More from the minutes
- What the minutes say it will do: “The Lease will be retroactive to January 1, 2021, and terminate on December 31, 2025, a five (5) year lease period with an option to renew for an additional two (2) years if terms regarding the condition of the property at termination can be agreed upon.”
- “The City of Asheville owns approximately 8.857 acres of real property at 224 Louisiana Avenue.”
Enters into a Round 3 cashflow Loan Agreement with the State of North Carolina.
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
More from the minutes
- What the minutes say it will do: “The loan is designed to be a cash flow bridge until FEMA reimbursements are received, which will then be used to pay back the loan.”
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 project will directly achieve City goals.”
- “This project includes the design of approximately 0.4 miles of new sidewalk and drainage along London Road, from adjacent to the intersection with Sweeten Creek Road, to the intersection with Belvedere Road.”
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 project will restore functionality to the building and return this asset to the community.”
- ““8 River Arts Place” is a one-story brick structure built in 1933, originally serving as the office building for a manufactured gas plant.”
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
More from the minutes
- “City staff performed appropriate traffic engineering reviews along three streets that complement or abut speed limit changes proposed by NCDOT.”
- “Emma Road from Craven Street to 0.44 miles southeast of Bingham Road”
- “Emma Road (SR 1338) from 0.44 miles southeast of Bingham Road to Bingham Road”
States Council's support for and requesting the N.C. dept. of Transportation to dedicate a section…
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.