March 26, 2019

What changes

Only what the record supports for each item, and what's still pending.

• Council approves issuing up to $22,500,000 multi-family housing revenue bonds to provide financing for redevelopment of Lee Walker Heights.

  Still pending, in the minutes' words: “This approval by City Council does not obligate the City in any way to issue or pay for the bonds, or for any other debt undertaken by Maple Crest LLC in connection with this project.”

Voted on separately

Each of these had its own motion and vote.

1. Council approves a $4.2 million agreement to the terms and conditions described in the Staff Report and Resolution.

   Passed. Everyone present voted yes.

   Who it's for: Households earning up to 60% of the area median income: up to $61,440 a year for a family of four, or $43,020 for one person (HUD's 2026 income limits for tax-credit housing in the Asheville area).

   More

   Council voted to approve an agreement with the Housing Authority of the City of Asheville According to the terms and conditions described in the Staff Report and Resolution, for $4.2 million.

   • The money, in the minutes' words: “The total project cost is estimated at approximately $39.7 Million, and the project will be funded through a combination of 4% Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) funds, HUD Funds, Housing Authority Funds, Buncombe County grant funds in the amount of $4.2 million and City grant funds in the amount of $4.2 million.”
   • “The Lee Walker Heights Redevelopment will replace the existing 96 public housing units with 212 new affordable mixed-income units serving families earning between 10% and 60% of Area Median Income (AMI).”
   • “Affordable Housing Advisory Committee - February 7, 2019”
   • “Aligns with the purpose of GO Housing Bonds in making improvements to a City identified “High Impact Site: and in other ways, and will show progress on Affordable Housing Bond Projects.”

2. Council rezones 129 and 123 Biltmore Avenue, with conditions, from Central Business District (CBD) to Central Business District Expansion Conditional Zone (CBD EXP CZ).

   Passed. Voted no: Sheneika Smith.

   More

   Council voted to rezone 129 and 123 Biltmore Avenue, with conditions, from Central Business District (CBD) to Central Business District Expansion Conditional Zone (CBD EXP CZ).

   • What the City says it's for: “The project will preserve the three historic houses, which are important to downtown’s history.”
   • “Residents of Lexington Station have voiced concerns about trash pickup, noise, light and the landscaping along the S. Lexington side of the project.”
   • “They are also working with the developer and Mountain Housing Opportunities on a mixed-use project in the Central Business District to provide retail, office and affordable housing.”
   • “In response to Vice-Mayor Wisler, Mr Al Sneeden, developer, said that the three historic homes may have a kitchen for a small family or a if a meeting is held in them, they can cater a meal.”

   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.

3. Council adopts Ordinance No. 4737, budget amendment in the amount of $1,380,000 to appropriate fund balance reserved for the project.

   Passed. Everyone present voted yes.

   More

   Council voted to adopt Ordinance No. 4737, budget amendment in the amount of $1,380,000 to appropriate fund balance reserved for the project.

4. Council approves the wording amendments to UDO Articles V, IX and XV to expand standards for subdivisions and subdivision plat approvals to require review.

   Passed. Everyone present voted yes.

   More

   Council voted to approve the wording amendments to UDO Articles V, IX and XV to expand standards for subdivisions and subdivision plat approvals to require review by the HRC and to clarify the process for obtaining Certificates of Appropriateness.

   • What the City says it's for: “The proposed amendment would require that any subdivision of land, designated as a local historic landmark or located in one of the four local historic districts, submit their proposal for review by the HRC, prior to final subdivision plat approval.”
   • “The HRC review process would be quasi-judicial and the decision would be based on the adopted guidelines of the historic district (or historic landmark standards) in which the proposed subdivision is located.”

Approved together on the consent agenda

9 items, approved in one vote without separate discussion. Any member can pull an item out for its own vote.

1. Council approves issuing up to $22,500,000 multi-family housing revenue bonds to provide financing for redevelopment of Lee Walker Heights.

   Who it's for: Households earning 50% to 60% of the area median income: $51,200 to $61,440 a year for a family of four (HUD's 2026 income limits for tax-credit housing in the Asheville area).

   More

   Council voted to approve issuing up to $22,500,000 multi-family housing revenue bonds to provide financing for redevelopment of Lee Walker Heights to satisfy section 147(f) of the internal revenue code.

   Still pending, in the minutes' words: “This approval by City Council does not obligate the City in any way to issue or pay for the bonds, or for any other debt undertaken by Maple Crest LLC in connection with this project.”

   • “Adoption of a resolution approving the issuance of bonds by the Housing Authority of the City of Asheville for the redevelopment of Lee Walker Heights (LWH) into a new, affordable, multi-family residential development.”
   • “Maple Crest, LLC, is seeking to replace the existing 96 public housing units with 212 new affordable mixed-income units, 7 residential buildings, serving families earning between 10% and 60% of Area Median Income (AMI), 96 of which will continue to have deep subsidies, serving families below 50% of AMI.”
   • “Maple Crest Management, Inc., which will manage the property, is a North Carolina non-profit that also has two members: Mountain Housing Opportunities, Inc. and Maple Crest Affordable Housing, Inc., a non-profit affiliated with the Housing Authority.”

   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.

   Bonds:

   Bonds are loans the City pays back over many years, with interest.

2. Council approves a contract with Patton Construction Group Inc. for the Parking Garages Elevators Renovation Project.

   More

   • The money, in the minutes' words: “As noted above, a budget amendment in the amount of $300,000 is needed from the Parking Services fund balance to fully fund the construction contract.”

   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.

3. Council approves a $150,000 lease for the lease of four soccer fields, the concessions and meeting room at the John b. Lewis Soccer Complex.

   More

   Council voted to approve a lease with the Asheville-Buncombe Youth Soccer Association for the lease of four soccer fields, the concessions and meeting room at the John b. Lewis Soccer Complex, for $150,000.

   • What the City says it's for: “The lease agreement will include the terms of the lease, responsibility for ongoing maintenance, responsibility for repairs after flooding events or other acts of God and long-term replacement of the fields.”
   • The money, in the minutes' words: “Additionally, the City will place $15,000 per year into a 3-26-19 Page 8 capital fund to be utilized for the replacement of the soccer fields for a total of $150,000 over a ten year period.”

   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.

4. Council amends the by-laws of the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee to add two additional Members for increasing diversity and development expertise.

   More

   Council voted to amend the by-laws of the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee to add two additional Members for increasing diversity and development expertise.

   • “Approval of a proposed amendment to the AHAC Bylaws to add two (2) additional Committee Members for a total Committee membership of 11 members and also amending this section to add a banker/lender with affordable and/or commercial loan experience to the list of desired members.”
   • “The Affordable Housing Advisory Committee was established in June, 2011, with a 9 member board.”
   • “As the difficulty of developing and building affordable housing continues, AHAC would like to add additional members to the Committee to represent expertise needed to help address our affordable housing crisis.”

   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.

5. Council adopts the March 1, 2019, Municipal Records and Disposition Schedule issued by the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

   More

   Council voted to adopt the March 1, 2019, Municipal Records and Disposition Schedule issued by the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

   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.

6. Council changes an agreement for continued support of the tyler/munis enterprise financial system.

   More

   Council voted to change its agreement with Tyler Technologies for continued support of the tyler/munis enterprise financial system.

   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.

7. Official title

   Resolution authorizing the standardization purchase of Plymovent Systems for.

   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.

8. Council transfers an easement on City-owned property at McCormick Place for electrical infrastructure to support the neighboring townhome development.

   More

   Council voted to transfer an easement on City-owned property at McCormick Place to Duke Energy Progress for electrical infrastructure to support the neighboring townhome development.

   • “Private developers are building the Bauhaus Townhomes on a parcel located at 72 McCormick Place, adjacent to McCormick Field.”
   • “Construction has begun on the units and the main electricity for the units is coming from the North side of the property.”

   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.

9. Council approves a contract with Advent Health Hendersonville for physician services at the employees Health Center.

   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.

Everything on the agenda

From the minutes, in the order the City lists them. Each item's first lines are the minutes' own words.