Asheville City Council
March 12, 2019
Regular meeting
Other City businessStreets and transitWater
The short version
18 decisions: 17 approved together in one consent-agenda vote, and 1 voted on separately. 1 vote split.
- Council rezones 324 Biltmore Avenue, with conditions, from Regional Business (RB) to Lodging Expansion Conditional Zone (LODG EXP CZ).
Council voted to rezone 324 Biltmore Avenue, with conditions, from Regional Business (RB) to Lodging Expansion Conditional Zone (LODG EXP CZ).
Passed. Voted no: Keith Young.
The short version is picked by a fixed rule, never by the order of the minutes: split votes and failed motions first, then changes to a program, a service or who qualifies, then the largest amounts, then budgets, zoning, laws and fees. Schedules, appointments, event permits and tax refunds come last.
The recording and the record
What changes
Only what the record supports for each item, and what's still pending.
- Council approves applying for the Section Section 5310 Funds from the French Broad River Metropolitan Planning Organization (FBRMPO).
Still pending: This is a request. The City gets the money only if the grant is awarded.
- Council approves applying for the 2020 DWI Task Force grant.
Still pending: This is a request. The City gets the money only if the grant is awarded.
- Council approves applying for the North Carolina Governor’s Highway Safety Program 2020 BikeSafe NC grant, Year 1.
Still pending: This is a request. The City gets the money only if the grant is awarded.
Voted on separately
Each of these had its own motion and vote.
Passed. Voted no: Keith Young.
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Council voted to rezone 324 Biltmore Avenue, with conditions, from Regional Business (RB) to Lodging Expansion Conditional Zone (LODG EXP CZ).
- “They will be able to provide a job training program (similar to ABCCM) for the residents of Lee Walker Heights.”
- “In addition, they will provide free bus passes to the residents of Lee Walker Heights, all of their staff and all of the hotel guests who would like one.”
- “They understand that affordable housing is our number one problem in Asheville.”
What that means
- Conditional zoning:
- Zoning for one property with conditions the owner must follow, such as a site plan or a cap on size.
Approved together on the consent agenda
17 items, approved in one vote without separate discussion. Any member can pull an item out for its own vote.
Council accepts $238,789 for the high intensity drug traffic area 2018 Grant.
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- What the City says it's for: “The purpose of the Asheville HIDTA program is to reduce drug trafficking and production in the United States, specifically in places where drug related activities are having a significant harmful impact.”
- The money, in the minutes' words: “Motion to adopt (1) a resolution authorizing the City Manager to accept grant funds and (2) a budget amendment in the amount of $238,789 through the Office of National Drug Control Policy to modify the Asheville HIDTA 2018 Grant.”
What that means
- Consent agenda:
- Routine items Council approves together in one vote, without discussion. Any member can pull an item out for its own vote.
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- The money, in the minutes' words: “Action Requested: Adoption of a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute on behalf of the City of Asheville a contract in the amount of $418,359.40 plus a 15% contingency of $62,754.00 ($481,113.40 total) for the contract known as Fiscal Year 2019 Asphalt Preservation.”
- “Will apply a preservation treatment to approximately 5.4 miles of roadways within the Asheville City limits.”
What that means
- Consent agenda:
- Routine items Council approves together in one vote, without discussion. Any member can pull an item out for its own vote.
- Fiscal year:
- The City's budget year runs from July 1 to June 30. Fiscal year 2027 runs from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027.
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Council voted to approve applying for the Section Section 5310 Funds from the French Broad River Metropolitan Planning Organization (FBRMPO). It also lets the City accept the money if the grant is awarded.
Still pending: This is a request. The City gets the money only if the grant is awarded.
- The money, in the minutes' words: “Staff is pursuing funding in the amount of $187,500 to help offset the annual cost of paratransit service.”
What that means
- Consent agenda:
- Routine items Council approves together in one vote, without discussion. Any member can pull an item out for its own vote.
More
- The money, in the minutes' words: “Action Requested: Adoption of a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute on behalf of the City of Asheville a contract in the amount of $175,030.00 plus a 20% contingency of $35,006.00 ($210,036.00 total) for the contract known as FY 19 Asphalt Patching.”
- “This work prepares 5.4 miles of roadways for the application of an asphalt preservation treatment.”
What that means
- Consent agenda:
- Routine items Council approves together in one vote, without discussion. Any member can pull an item out for its own vote.
- Fiscal year:
- The City's budget year runs from July 1 to June 30. Fiscal year 2027 runs from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027.
Council approves the board of alcoholic beverage control’s travel policy adopted January 26, 2016.
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What that means
- Consent agenda:
- Routine items Council approves together in one vote, without discussion. Any member can pull an item out for its own vote.
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Council voted to enact a through truck prohibition along Sycamore Drive from Sweeten Creek Road to Hendersonville Road.
What that means
- Consent agenda:
- Routine items Council approves together in one vote, without discussion. Any member can pull an item out for its own vote.
More
What that means
- Consent agenda:
- Routine items Council approves together in one vote, without discussion. Any member can pull an item out for its own vote.
More
Council voted to change its agreement with Buncombe County to implement the second year of a grant funded weatherization program with a City match.
- “The first year of the program provided weatherization services to 31 homes.”
What that means
- Consent agenda:
- Routine items Council approves together in one vote, without discussion. Any member can pull an item out for its own vote.
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- What the City says it's for: “This project is funded with CIP funds.”
- “Will rehabilitate approximately 1,200 linear feet of brick sidewalk.”
What that means
- Consent agenda:
- Routine items Council approves together in one vote, without discussion. Any member can pull an item out for its own vote.
Council approves an agreement with the N.C. Department of Transportation.
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Council voted to approve an agreement with the N.C. Department of Transportation to accept maintenance responsibilities for a new sidewalk and a bus shelter pad along the southbound approach of Hendersonville Road from Overlook Road to Home Trust Bank.
What that means
- Consent agenda:
- Routine items Council approves together in one vote, without discussion. Any member can pull an item out for its own vote.
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- What the City says it's for: “This contract provides revenue for the City of Asheville that is greater than the cost of services.”
What that means
- Consent agenda:
- Routine items Council approves together in one vote, without discussion. Any member can pull an item out for its own vote.
Council approves applying for the 2020 DWI Task Force grant.
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Council voted to approve applying for the 2020 DWI Task Force grant. It also lets the City accept the money if the grant is awarded.
Still pending: This is a request. The City gets the money only if the grant is awarded.
- What the City says it's for: “This grant will fund one (1) year of the multi-jurisdictional DWI Task Force that includes the Asheville Police Department (APD) and the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO).”
- “This amount will be included in the APD proposed Fiscal Year 2020 budget.”
What that means
- Consent agenda:
- Routine items Council approves together in one vote, without discussion. Any member can pull an item out for its own vote.
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Council voted to start the process to close an unopened right-of-way, Commerce Street, with a public hearing on April 23, 2019.
What that means
- Consent agenda:
- Routine items Council approves together in one vote, without discussion. Any member can pull an item out for its own vote.
- Right-of-way:
- Land set aside for a street, sidewalk or path. An unopened right-of-way was never built as a street.
- Public hearing:
- A time at a Council meeting when anyone can speak about the item before Council votes on it.
Council grants an easement to Duke Energy.
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Council voted to grant an easement to Duke Energy.
- What the City says it's for: “The easement will be 20 feet wide around the electrical infrastructure and 10 feet on all sides of the foundation of any DEP enclosure.”
- “Richmond Hill Park is a 150 acre park in West Asheville.”
- “The amount of permanent easement is approximately 13,000 square feet.”
What that means
- Consent agenda:
- Routine items Council approves together in one vote, without discussion. Any member can pull an item out for its own vote.
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Council voted to start the process to close an unopened right-of-way, Rose Street, with a public hearing on April 23, 2019.
What that means
- Consent agenda:
- Routine items Council approves together in one vote, without discussion. Any member can pull an item out for its own vote.
- Right-of-way:
- Land set aside for a street, sidewalk or path. An unopened right-of-way was never built as a street.
- Public hearing:
- A time at a Council meeting when anyone can speak about the item before Council votes on it.
More
Council voted to approve applying for the North Carolina Governor’s Highway Safety Program 2020 BikeSafe NC grant, Year 1. It also lets the City accept the money if the grant is awarded.
Still pending: This is a request. The City gets the money only if the grant is awarded.
What that means
- Consent agenda:
- Routine items Council approves together in one vote, without discussion. Any member can pull an item out for its own vote.
Council sets the schedule for the 2019-20 budget.
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Council voted to set the schedule for the 2019-20 budget.
What that means
- Consent agenda:
- Routine items Council approves together in one vote, without discussion. Any member can pull an item out for its own vote.
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
17 consent-agenda items, approved together in one vote.
PRESENTATIONS & REPORTS
Do the Write Thing Challenge
“Tanya Presha, Academic and Program Support Coordinator, along with Ms. Kaylee Pearce, 2018 National Ambassador of the Do the Write Thing Challenge (which is an initiative of the National Campaign to Stop Violence) spoke about her experience and encouraged City Council to the reading and scoring the…”
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Public hearing to consider the conditional zoning of property located at 130 and 99999 Rock Hill Road from RS-8 residential single-family high density district to community business i/conditional zone for the reuse of an existing…
Public hearing to consider permanently closing an unopened right-of-way off Fairfax Avenue: streets
“Streets Manager Chad Bandy said that this is the consideration of a resolution to permanently close an unopened right-of-way off Fairfax Avenue.”
Gen. Stat. sec 160A-299 grants cities the authority to permanently close streets and alleys. ● Christopher
Meyer has petitioned the closure and owns both adjacent properties, 700 Haywood Rd. (PIN # 9638-24-3333) and 12 Fairfax Ave. (PIN # 9638-24-3235) ● This closure allows maximum land use potential for further development complying with the…
“Living in Asheville Comprehensive Plan.. Council Goal(s):”
Roberts, Fairmont Baptist Church Amber Banks Kate Briggs, resident on Florence Street Downtown resident and property owner in the area The following individuals spoke against the conditional zoning of property at 324 Biltmore Avenue in…
“its current form for several reasons, some being, but are not limited to: this is a very small lot and if it’s not big enough for housing, why is it big enough for a hotel; Oakhurst is part of downtown and Council should not add another hotel to downtown; the $625,000 Mr. Patel is being asked to…”
INFORMAL DISCUSSION AND PUBLIC COMMENT
Public comment
“Two individuals spoke about Council’s need to fight the state on redistricting.”
Summaries are written by hand from the minutes, and every number and name in them is checked against the minutes' own words. An item not written yet shows a summary built by fixed rules from its official title. Every item shows its official title. Procedural motions, like approving the agenda or adjourning, are left out.