Asheville City Council
April 23, 2019
Regular meeting
Other City businessHousingStreets and transit
The short version
6 decisions, approved together in one consent-agenda vote.
- Council approves an agreement for the completion of corridor studies on Tunnel Road and Hendersonville Road.
Council voted to approve an agreement with the Land-Of-Sky Regional Council for the completion of corridor studies on Tunnel Road and Hendersonville Road.
- Council approves applying for the 2019 Federal Transit Administration Low or No Emission Vehicle Program to purchase 2 hybrid buses.
Council voted to approve applying for the 2019 Federal Transit Administration Low or No Emission Vehicle Program to purchase 2 hybrid buses. It also lets the City accept the money if the grant is awarded.
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 2019 Federal Transit Administration Low or No Emission Vehicle Program to purchase 2 hybrid buses.
Still pending: This is a request. The City gets the money only if the grant is awarded.
Approved together on the consent agenda
6 items, approved in one vote without separate discussion. Any member can pull an item out for its own vote.
Official title
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).
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- “MHO developed the River Glen Apartments in Arden in 1998 with the assistance of Low-Income Housing Tax Credit equity (“LIHTC”) and the City of Asheville HOME financing.”
- “The property contains thirty-eight (38) apartments maintained for households at or below the 60% Area Median Income (“AMI”) level.”
- “MHO has committed to extending the affordability of these units for an additional 20-year term intended to run with the HOME loan maturing on September 1, 2038.”
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 approve an agreement with the Land-Of-Sky Regional Council for the completion of corridor studies on Tunnel Road and Hendersonville Road.
- The money, in the minutes' words: “4-23-19 Page 4 Action Requested: Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to sign an interlocal agreement with Land of Sky Regional Council to provide matching funds in the amount of $25,593 over a two-year period for the completion of corridor studies on Tunnel Road and Hendersonville Road.”
- “The remaining matching funds will be included in the Fiscal Year 2020 General Fund Proposed Budget that is presented to City Council in May.”
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 approve applying for the 2019 Federal Transit Administration Low or No Emission Vehicle Program to purchase 2 hybrid buses. 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 opposes off-shore drilling.
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Council voted to oppose off-shore drilling. This states Council's position.
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.
- Resolution:
- A resolution like this states Council's position. It doesn't change a law or spend money by itself.
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Council voted to establish Green Opportunities as the fiscal agent for fiscal year 2018-19 supporting people’s access to reliable care (SPARC) Foundation community Development block grant funds.
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 a contract with Baseline Sports Construction LLC to provide construction services for the Asheville Middle School Field Improvements.
- What the City says it's for: “The purpose of the City’s participation would be to make facility improvements to the Asheville Middle School Athletic Field.”
- “The residents that attended expressed no concerns related to the projects.”
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.
PROCLAMATIONS
City of Asheville Youth Leadership Academy
“Mayor Manheimer said that since its creation in 2007, the City of Asheville Youth Leadership Academy prepares Asheville’s youth for future employment.”
Proclamation proclaiming May, 2019, as “Building Safety Month”
“Councilman Young read the proclamation proclaiming May, 2019, as "Building Safety Month " in the City of Asheville.”
CONSENT AGENDA
6 consent-agenda items, approved together in one vote.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Public hearing to consider the conditional zoning of 1 south Tunnel Road from regional business district to mixed use expansion/conditional zone to allow a mixed-use development that includes residential, retail, service and…
“At the applicant’s request, Councilman Young moved to continue this public hearing until May 28, 2019.”
Public hearing to consider permanently closing an unopened right-of-way known as Commerce Street: streets
“Streets Manager Chad Bandy said that this is the consideration of a resolution to permanently close an unopened right-of-way known as Commerce Street.”
Gen. Stat. sec 160A-299 grants cities the authority to permanently close streets and alleys. ● Biltmore Iron and Metal has petitioned the closure and owns one adjacent property, 1 Meadow Rd. (PIN # 9648-50-7911 and 9648-51-6002). The…
“other adjoining property owner, Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity, 33 Meadow Rd, supports the petition. (Pin # 9648-51-6002 and 9648-50-4827)”
Public hearing to consider conditional zoning of property located at 20 Battery Park Avenue and known as the flat iron building from central business district to central business district expansion/conditional zoning for the renovation…
“At the petitioner’s request, Councilman Young moved to continue this public hearing until May 14, 2019.”
NEW BUSINESS
Resolution to adopt a policy for developing city-owned land for Affordable Housing
“Mayor Manheimer announced that this item will not be considered at this meeting.”
INFORMAL DISCUSSION AND PUBLIC COMMENT
Public comment
“When Mr. Crawford Murphy, architect, asked Council to provide feedback on a pre-application for a 55-unit proposal, minus a sidewalk, Mayor Manheimer suggested he work 4-23-19 Page 10 with City staff to see what they need in order to support the proposal.”
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.