Asheville City Council
May 26, 2020
Regular meeting
Other City businessBudget and taxesStreets and transitHousing
The short version
14 decisions: 13 approved together in one consent-agenda vote, and 1 voted on separately.
- Council approves the request by Beaucatcher Vista LLC to borrow funds from the Housing Trust Fund.
Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
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 with the executive Office of the president, Office of National Drug Control Policy.
Still pending: This is a request. The City gets the money only if the grant is awarded.
- Council approves applying for an U.S. Department of Justice Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding Program grant.
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.
Council approves the request by Beaucatcher Vista LLC to borrow funds from the Housing Trust Fund.
Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
Who it's for: Households earning 60% to 80% of the area median income: $61,440 to $81,920 a year for a family of four (HUD's 2026 income limits for tax-credit housing in the Asheville area).
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- What the City says it's for: “The loan will be structured to require full repayment of principal and interest (accruing at 2% annually) over a term of 20-years.”
- “The Collier Development, while not required, offers no parking for its residents and can add to the individual or family transportation costs.”
- “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.”
- “All 40 units are intended to be 1 bedrooms, with 30 of the units set aside for households at or below 60% of Area Median Income (AMI) and the remaining 10 for 80% AMI households.”
Approved together on the consent agenda
13 items, approved in one vote without separate discussion. Any member can pull an item out for its own vote.
Council approves the 2020 General Obligation Bond Draw Program.
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- What the City says it's for: “The program allows the City to draw down funds as they are needed during the construction of projects (24-59 months).”
- The money, in the minutes' words: “Action Requested: Adoption of a resolution directing the City Manager and Chief Financial Officer to pursue debt financing for capital projects with a draw program that includes the issuance of interim, variable rate General Obligation Bonds (GOs) in an amount not to exceed $25,000,000.”
- “Funds are included in the City’s FY 2020-2021 proposed debt service budget to cover these costs.”
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.
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- What the City says it's for: “The contract will provide service 12-hours per day to cover peak ridership times, primarily on the 3 routes that were previously cut.”
- The money, in the minutes' words: “The contract is for a not-to-exceed amount of $962,000.”
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 changes a contract for the new hawcreek bond sidewalk project.
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Council voted to change its contract with Mattern & Craig Inc. for the new hawcreek bond sidewalk project.
- What the City says it's for: “This amendment to the design services contract will include additional survey as well as additional drainage and retaining wall design required for constructing on the west side of Haw Creek.”
- The money, in the minutes' words: “The City originally entered into a contract in the amount of $573,725 for Bond Sidewalk Bundle B design services (Resolution 17-261, dated November 27, 2017), and later expanded the scope of services to meet the requirements the Federal grants that were awarded to supplement the project budgets.”
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.
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Council voted to approve applying for the with the executive Office of the president, Office of National Drug Control Policy for the 2020 High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas 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: “The purpose of the HIDTA program is to reduce drug trafficking and production in the United States, specifically in areas where drug related activities are having a significant harmful impact.”
- The money, in the minutes' words: “ORDINANCE NO. 4805 - BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR THE 2020 HIGH INTENSITY DRUG TRAFFICKING AREAS GRANT Action Requested: Adoption of a resolution to apply for and accept the 2020 High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Grant; and adopt a budget amendment in the City’s Special Revenue Fund in the amount of $285,416.”
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 a contract with GMV Syncromatics to provide digital real-time arrival/departure signage at the downtown transit center, worth up to $188,068.
- What the City says it's for: “The contract allows for additional signage purchases to be made as funding is available in order to expand the system.”
- The money, in the minutes' words: “Action Requested: Adoption of a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a contract with GMV Syncromatics in an amount not to exceed $188,068 to provide digital real-time arrival/departure signage at the downtown transit center. 5-26-20 Page 4 Background:”
- “The City of Asheville is currently in the process of renovating various aspects of the downtown transit station at 49 Coxe Ave.”
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: Approval for a contract between the City and Loomis Armored US, LLC, a cash pickup & delivery service, in an amount not to exceed $160,000 over a five 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.
Council changes a contract for the parking garage video call center answering service.
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Council voted to change its contract with Parker Technologies Inc. for the parking garage video call center answering service.
- What the City says it's for: “The contract expired in February 2020 and the requested additional funds would allow Parking Services to pay for services through May 31, 2020.”
- The money, in the minutes' words: “Action Requested: Adoption of a resolution authorizing the City Manager to amend the existing parking garage call center contract (# 91700296) with Parker Technology, Inc., increasing the total value of the contract to $91,000, and to extend the contract until May 31, 2020.”
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 transfer a sewer easement on city-owned property on Old Haywood road and Eastview Circle to Hawthorne at Haywood Apartments LLC to build a sewer service line.
- The money, in the minutes' words: “City is receiving unbudgeted revenue for the easement in the amount of $4,820.”
- “The City was approached by a local developer who is building a new phase of the Hawthorne at Haywood Apartments and needed a connection to the nearest Metropolitan Sewerage District (MSD) sewer line.”
- “The easement being requested is approximately 100 linear feet long and is 20 feet wide.”
- “Project will bring much needed rental units to the Asheville area.”
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 makes technical changes to the budget.
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Council voted to make technical changes to the budget.
- The money, in the minutes' words: “Action Requested: Adoption of a technical budget amendment to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2019-20 General Fund (2100 Fund) budget in the amount of $22,445,994 to account for the refunding component of the 2018 General Obligation (GO) Bond draw program.”
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.
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- What the City says it's for: “This project will replace roofing systems throughout the 1960's building and complete structural masonry repairs.”
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 Esri Inc. for GIS Software Maintenance.
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- What the City says it's for: “This new contract would allow the City of Asheville to continue building an award-winning GIS program using Esri software for GIS dashboards, Map Asheville, the open data program, water utility management, Public Works asset management, Equity mapping and storytelling, and other initiatives.”
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 an U.S. Department of Justice Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding Program 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 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 appoint Vice-Mayor Wisler to represent the City of Asheville on the Friends of Fonta Flora State Trail Board of Directors.
- “The Board of Directors is currently being formed and will be made up of elected officials, economic development officials, and trail builders from the three county area.”
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
13 consent-agenda items, approved together in one vote.
PRESENTATIONS & REPORTS
Presentation of the Fiscal Year 2020-21 Budget
“City Manager Campbell was pleased to present the Fiscal Year (FY) 2020-21 Annual Operating Budget.”
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Public hearing to consider a Land Use Incentive Grant 2 Restaurant Court rental community, Beaucatcher Vista LLC
“On May 12, 2020, the public hearing was continued to this date.”
Public hearing to consider a Land Use Incentive Grant for Tribute Development Collier Avenue Apartments
“Community Development Program Director Paul D’Angelo said that this is the consideration of a resolution granting a land use incentive grant for Tribute Development Collier Avenue Apartments.”
Public hearing to amend the 2019-20 U.S. dept. of housing and urban development annual action plan
“Vice-Mayor Wisler moved to continue the public hearing to amend the 2019-20 U.S. Dept. of Housing & Urban Development Annual Action Plan to June 9, 2020.”
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…
“Councilman Young moved to continue this 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 mixed-use building until July 28, 2020.”
Public hearing relative to amending the Unified Development Ordinance to update open space requirements
“Councilman Young moved to continue this public hearing to consider an ordinance to amend the Unified Development Ordinance to update open space requirements until June 23, 2020.”
NEW BUSINESS
Resolution No. 20- 96- resolution approving a Housing Trust Fund loan award for 2 Restaurant Court rental community, Beaucatcher Vista LLC
“Director of Community Development Programs Paul D’Angelo said that this is consideration of support of a request by Beaucatcher Vista LLC to utilize the Housing Trust Fund to construct affordable rental housing at the property located at 2 Restaurant Court.”
INFORMAL DISCUSSION AND PUBLIC COMMENT
Public comment
“5-26-20 Page 24 Five voicemail comments were received, four of which were concerned about fireworks in west Asheville; and one opposing the re-opening of non-essential businesses during COVID-19.”
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.