Asheville City Council
April 14, 2020
Regular meeting
Other City businessStreets and transitHomelessnessWaterHousingBudget and taxes
The short version
18 decisions: 14 approved together in one consent-agenda vote, and 4 voted on separately.
- Council approves the appropriation of $100,000 from General Fund unassigned fund balance to the Buncombe County Service Foundation (BCSF).
Council voted to approve the appropriation of $100,000 from General Fund unassigned fund balance to the Buncombe County Service Foundation (BCSF) to be used in the One Buncombe Fund.
Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
- Council approves a contract for the fiscal year 2020 Asphalt Resurfacing contract.
Council voted to approve a contract with Harrison Construction Company Division of APAC Atlantic, Inc. for the fiscal year 2020 Asphalt Resurfacing contract.
- Council approves a Fee Waiver for ahope’s shelter rehabilitation project.
Council voted to approve a Fee Waiver for ahope’s shelter rehabilitation project located at 19 north Ann Street (Homeward Bound) and authorization for City manager to execute any documents necessary for this approval.
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 funding from the French Broad River Metropolitan Planning Organization for funding for fiscal year 2022 through fiscal year 2026 Transportation funding.
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. Everyone present voted yes.
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Council voted to approve the appropriation of $100,000 from General Fund unassigned fund balance to the Buncombe County Service Foundation (BCSF) to be used in the One Buncombe Fund.
- The money, in the minutes' words: “Seven hundred and seventy-five requests have been processed and 341 have been approved for a total of $138,000 in expenditures.”
Council changes the budget to participate in One Buncombe Fund.
Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
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What that means
- Budget amendment:
- A change to the City's spending plan after it's passed. It adds money that came in, or moves money to a new use.
Council designates the Lewie Muller Griffith House as a local historic landmark.
Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
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Council voted to designate the Lewie Muller Griffith House as a local historic landmark.
- “The designation site consists of a 0.99 acre parcel located at 65 Woodland Road (PIN 9649.75-5465) that is owned by Doris-Marie C. Martin.”
- “The subject property consists of a 0.99 acre lot located on Woodland Road within the Grove Park National Register Historic District.”
- “The property contains a single family residential two-story historic structure, known as the Griffith House, and a one story non-historic accessory structure.”
Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
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Council voted to approve an agreement with Buncombe County to provide City employees to work temporarily for Buncombe County, and Buncombe County employees to work temporarily for the City, during the COVID-19 State of Emergency.
Approved together on the consent agenda
14 items, approved in one vote without separate discussion. Any member can pull an item out for its own vote.
Council approves a contract for the fiscal year 2020 Asphalt Resurfacing contract.
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Council voted to approve a contract with Harrison Construction Company Division of APAC Atlantic, Inc. for the fiscal year 2020 Asphalt Resurfacing contract.
- The money, in the minutes' words: “Action Requested: Adoption of a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a contract with Harrison Construction Company Division of APAC Atlantic, Inc. in the amount of $1,989,899.25 plus a 15% contingency of $298,484.89 ($2,288,384.14 total) for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 Asphalt Resurfacing contract.”
- “The main scope of the project is the resurfacing of 19 streets for a total of 3.83 miles.”
- “Also included will be repairs to the concrete sidewalk, ADA improvements, and the installation of 3,800 feet of stand-up curb and 300 feet of curb and gutter.”
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 a Fee Waiver for ahope’s shelter rehabilitation project.
Who it's for: Households earning up to 30% of the area median income: up to $30,720 a year for a family of four, or $21,510 for one person (HUD's 2026 income limits for tax-credit housing in the Asheville area).
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Council voted to approve a Fee Waiver for ahope’s shelter rehabilitation project located at 19 north Ann Street (Homeward Bound) and authorization for City manager to execute any documents necessary for this approval.
- The money, in the minutes' words: “Fees associated with this rehabilitation are estimated at approximately $12,000, not to exceed $15,000.”
- “In the Fee Rebate Policy updated on October 22, 2019, Resolution #19-244, the Affordable Housing Minimum Requirements to Qualify for a 100% grant rebate on the affordable unit as it pertains to this AHOPE Renovation -”
- “The proposed development must be within Asheville City limits.”
- “Affordability where at least 20% of the units target individuals & families under 30% AMI or those homeless or in danger of being homeless, i.e. taking an individual or family off the Homeless By-name List.”
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 change its contract with Carolina Tractor & Equipment for services related to the repair and maintenance of City vehicles and Equipment.
- The money, in the minutes' words: “Action Requested: Adoption of a resolution authorizing the City Manager to amend the existing maintenance agreement with Carolina Tractor & Equipment to increase the annual contract value from $500,000 to $650,000 to supplement Fleet Maintenance capacity.”
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 add $465,000 from workers’ compensation insurance recovery funds to the budget for other workers’ compensation claim expenses through June 30, 2020.
- The money, in the minutes' words: “Motion to adopt a budget amendment in the Workers’ Compensation Fund in the amount of $465,000 from insurance recovery funds to be utilized for other claims expenses through June 30, 2020, as needed.”
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.
- Budget amendment:
- A change to the City's spending plan after it's passed. It adds money that came in, or moves money to a new use.
Council changes a contract for parking citation management.
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Council voted to change its contract with Passport Labs for parking citation management.
- The money, in the minutes' words: “Action Requested: Adoption of a resolution authorizing the City Manager to amend contract # 91800137 with Passport Labs, increasing the total value of the contract to $405,000, for parking citation management.”
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 a contract with B.H. Graning Landscaping Inc. for Shiloh Park improvements.
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- What the City says it's for: “The project upgrades were identified in the Parks Equity Scoring Criteria and will address a maintenance backlog of facilities within the park including sport courts (basketball, tennis, pickleball), walking trails, and site furniture.”
- The money, in the minutes' words: “Action Requested: Adoption of a resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into a construction contract with B.H. Graning Landscapes, Inc. of Sylva, NC, in the amount of $131,313.86 and to further authorize change orders up to the contingency amount of $13,130 (10%) for Shiloh Park improvements.”
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.
Official title
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- “The City of Asheville occasionally receives donations to the Housing Trust Fund (HTF) from private individuals and companies to support and advance affordable housing efforts.”
- “The City of Asheville Housing Trust Fund program was established in September 2000 with the goal of providing low cost financial assistance to incentivize the development and preservation of affordable housing within the city limits for the benefit of moderate to low income individuals and families.”
- “Recently, individual pilot programs that have been vetted in the community have been identified as being in need of a capital injection for the program to enhance their efforts toward supporting and advancing affordable housing, including the development and preservation of affordable housing.”
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 grants a driveway easement to a property owner on Beverly Road.
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Council voted to grant a driveway easement to a property owner on Beverly Road.
- What the City says it's for: “The easement will require staff time to process and action at a city council meeting.”
- The money, in the minutes' words: “The City is disposing of a small amount of land (194 SF) and will receive revenue in the amount of $1,202.80 plus the real estate transaction fee of $280.”
- “The driveway was extending onto the Ann Patton Joyce Park by approximately 194 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 allow remote participation by all council members during public meetings throughout the duration of the locally declared state of emergency. participation includes voting on all matters, and shall count towards a quorum of the council.
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.
Official title
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- “City Staff, working in partnership with YMI CC, came to the conclusion with PCYM and YMI CC that YMI CC would be a better fit as lead applicant with their experience in workforce development and community access and could offer a program substantially similar to the one PCYM had proposed as lead and that been awarded.”
- “Proposed outcomes will be job creation and job retention with a focus on our low income, marginalized and disenfranchised population..”
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 approve applying for the funding from the French Broad River Metropolitan Planning Organization for funding for fiscal year 2022 through fiscal year 2026 Transportation funding and expressing support for projects submitted by the N.C. Department of Transportation Division 13. 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 projects that are proposed are priority projects that have not yet been funded through the City’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP) (except for limited funding for the Hazel Mill Sidewalk project).”
- “Additionally, NCDOT plans to apply for four projects within the City of Asheville and has requested City support/concurrence with their proposed projects.”
- “All of the proposed projects are identified capital needs that align with city goals.”
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.
More
Council voted to change its contract with Brown and Caldwell for professional services associated with the North Fork Water Treatment Plant’s Sodium Bicarbonate Silo Replacement.
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 set a public hearing on May 12, 2020, on a Land Use Incentive Grant for 2 Restaurant Court Rental Community, Beaucatcher Vista LLC.
- What the City says it's for: “The proposed project will create 40 affordable rental housing units made available to households earning 80% or less of AMI for a period of 21 years.”
- “Kirk Booth d/b/a as Beaucatcher Vista LLC has proposed the development of a 40-unit, 100% affordable multifamily property on a 1.31 acre parcel located at 2 Restaurant Court (PIN #9658-08-2350) in Asheville directly off of Tunnel Road.”
- “The property’s location and commitment to affordable housing merits a score of 150 on the LUIG scoring matrix, resulting in an award period of 21 years.”
- “Quality Affordable Housing”
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.
- Public hearing:
- A time at a Council meeting when anyone can speak about the item before Council votes on it.
Council changes its meeting schedule to cancel the April 28, 2020, formal City Council meeting.
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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.
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
14 consent-agenda items, approved together in one vote.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Public Hearing to consider a Land Use Incentive Grant for Tribute Development Collier Avenue Apartments
“Vice-Mayor Wisler moved to continue the public hearing to consider a Land Use Incentive Grant for Tribute Development Collier Avenue Apartments until May 12, 2020.”
Public Hearing consider adoption of an ordinance designating the property known as the Lewie Muller Griffith House, located at 65 Woodland Road, as a local historic landmark
“Director of Planning & Urban Design Todd Okolichany said that this is the consideration of an ordinance to designate the Lewie Muller Griffith House (Griffith House) located at 65 Woodland Road as a local historic landmark.”
Martin. ● Petitioners: Doris-Marie C. Martin, Josi Ward. Summary of Petition: ● The subject property consists of a 0.99 acre lot located on Woodland Road within the Grove Park National Register Historic District. ● The property contains…
“a single family residential two-story historic structure, known as the Griffith House, and a one story non-historic accessory structure.”
Public Hearing to consider an amendment to a previously approved conditional zoning at 137 Broad Street from community business i to community business i/conditional zone to include an adjacent parcel for the construction of a new…
“At the request of City staff, Vice-Mayor Wisler moved to continue this public hearing until May 12, 2020.”
Public Hearing to consider approval to participate in the One Buncombe Fund by authorizing the City Manager to enter into an agreement with the Buncombe County Service Foundation for management of an appropriation of $100,000and to…
“In response to the COVID-19 crisis, Buncombe County local governments, the business community, and other stakeholders have joined together to create a single-point relief fund for individuals and small businesses, as well as a one-stop fund for donations to help individuals and small businesses impacted by COVID-19.”
INFORMAL DISCUSSION AND PUBLIC COMMENT
Public comment
“Thirteen individuals spoke about the need for the Tourism Development Authority and the City of Asheville to open up hotels for the homeless population, medical professionals and others who need safe housing.”
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.