Asheville City Council
November 10, 2020
Regular meeting
Other City businessStreets and transitBudget and taxesPublic safetyHousing
The short version
17 decisions: 12 approved together in one consent-agenda vote, and 5 voted on separately.
- Council approves submission of the City’s Annual Action Plan for 2020-2021 to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Council voted to approve submission of the City’s Annual Action Plan for 2020-2021 to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. It also approves the City Manager to sign all contracts or agreements required for the implementation of the Consolidated Annual Action Plan.
Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
- Council approves an agreement to certain communities.
Council voted to approve an agreement with Buncombe County, the Housing Authority of the City of Asheville and the Asheville City Schools Board of Education to certain communities.
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 a 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.
Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
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Council voted to approve submission of the City’s Annual Action Plan for 2020-2021 to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. It also approves the City Manager to sign all contracts or agreements required for the implementation of the Consolidated Annual Action Plan.
Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
More
Council voted to adopt a technical budget amendment to revise the amount of the fiscal year 2020-21 CDBG and HOME Fund Budgets that were adopted in the fiscal year 2020-21 Annual Budget Ordinance based on updated information.
What that means
- 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 changes the budget to budget the Round 3 COVID-19 grant funds.
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.
Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
More
Council voted to approve the proposed use of CDBG funds for COVID-19 / $889,456 and submit to HUD through an Amendment to the 19/20 Action Plan.
Council adopts the amended Land Use Incentive Grant Policy with the proposed changes as outlined.
Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
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Council voted to adopt the amended Land Use Incentive Grant Policy with the proposed changes as outlined.
- “In November of 2010, City Council first adopted a Land Use Incentive Policy that provided incentives to encourage development projects that fulfill important public purposes directly addressing annual strategic goals set by Council such as affordable housing.”
- “At least 20% of the units (vs. 10%) must meet the affordability standards set by the City of Asheville for households earning 80% or less of the Area Median Income (AMI), to qualify for LUIG, along with an adjustment in points;”
- “Quality Affordable Housing”
Approved together on the consent agenda
12 items, approved in one vote without separate discussion. Any member can pull an item out for its own vote.
Council changes the City's fees and charges to include a bear-resistant trash cart fee.
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- The money, in the minutes' words: “This funding allows for a purchase of 340 bear-resistant carts for $220 each plus shipping and tax for a total of $81,052.50.”
- “Asheville residents are experiencing an increase in human-bear interactions and there are safety risks associated with these increasing issues.”
- “City residents file numerous complaints with the City regarding bears getting into their trash.”
- “Residents have frequently requested that the City provide bear-resistant trash carts.”
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 to certain communities.
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Council voted to approve an agreement with Buncombe County, the Housing Authority of the City of Asheville and the Asheville City Schools Board of Education to certain communities.
- The money, in the minutes' words: “Pursuant to this agreement, the City of Asheville shall provide the amount of $50,000 toward funding this initiative.” Motion:”
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 a grant.
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Council voted to approve applying for a grant. It also accepts and from the north carolina’s alliance of YMCA’s Remote Learning Site Grant fund to facilitate remote learning opportunities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Still pending: This is a request. The City gets the money only if the grant is awarded.
- The money, in the minutes' words: “Motion to adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to apply for, and accept funding from the NC Alliance of YMCA the grant and a budget ordinance amendment in the Special Revenue Fund in the amount of $431,338 to fund the Recreate and Educate 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.
Council changes a contract for real-time prediction Transit information software.
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Council voted to change its contract with Swiftly, Inc. for real-time prediction Transit information software.
- The money, in the minutes' words: “Staff is requesting approval to increase the contract amount by $110,743 for year three and year four of the contract for a total contract amount of $179,922.10.”
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 budget amendment in the amount of $141,208.44 in the Special Revenue Fund to establish an expenditure budget for funds already received by the City. 11-10-20 Page 13 Background:”
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.
More
- The money, in the minutes' words: “The firm GuardOne previously provided security guard services at a cost not to exceed $140,000 per year.”
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 an agreement with the Norfolk-Southern Railroad (NSRR) to allow construction of “the District” sidewalk project within NSRR right-of-way, for $105,583.
- The money, in the minutes' words: “Action Requested: Adoption of a resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into an agreement with the Norfolk-Southern Railroad (NSRR) in the amount of $105,583 to allow construction of The District sidewalk project within NSRR right-of-way.”
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.
Council buys new radios through motorola for Asheville Rides Transit operations.
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Council voted to buy new radios through motorola for Asheville Rides Transit operations. It buys from a single supplier, without bidding.
- What the City says it's for: “The new equipment is expected to have a 10-year service life.”
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 amend the Young Transportation contract until April 30, 2021, to continue to address public transportation passenger concerns.
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 contract with Hazen and Sawyer P.C. for the Edwin Place, Celia Place, and Canterbury Drive Drainage Improvements Project.
- What the City says it's for: “This project will create improvements in flood storage capacity and conveyance in this area.”
- “The project will provide a conveyance system that is sustainable and decreases flooding to surrounding homes and 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.
Official title
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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.
Official title
Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a Verizon Wireless Master Encroachment Agreement.
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- What the City says it's for: “This agreement will provide for a more streamlined review process between the City and Verizon.”
- The money, in the minutes' words: “Verizon will further be required to pay the City a technical consulting fee in the amount of five hundred dollars ($500.00) per application.”
- “Will streamline the City’s review of proposed cellular facilities in its rights of way pursuant to NCGS 160D-936.”
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
12 consent-agenda items, approved together in one vote.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Resolution to update the 2020-21 Action Plan to include the allocation of $154,711 in Community Development block grant contingency funds and the reallocation of an estimated $1.1 million in HOME Investment Partnerships Program funds
“Mayor Manheimer said that this public hearing was held on October 27, 2020, and in accordance with recent legislation amending North Carolina G.S. § 166A-19.24(e), regarding public hearings conducted during remote meetings, written comments for this public hearing were accepted for an additional 24 hours.”
Resolution to update to the 2019-20 Action Plan to include $889,456 in cdbg-cv funds, which must be used to prevent, prepare for, or respond to coronavirus
“Mayor Manheimer said that this public hearing was held on October 27, 2020, and in accordance with recent legislation amending North Carolina G.S. § 166A-19.24(e), regarding 11-10-20 Page 18 public hearings conducted during remote meetings, written comments for this public hearing were accepted for…”
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Public hearing to authorize the City Manager to submit the 5 year Consolidated Action Plan for Fiscal Years 20/21 - 24/25 which includes the 20/21 Annual Action Plan for Community Development Block Grants and the HOME investment…
“Community Development Program Director Paul D’Angelo said that this is the consideration of public hearing to authorize the City Manager to submit the 5-year Consolidated Action Plan for Fiscal Years 20-21 - 24-25 which includes the 20-21 Action Plan for Community Development Block Grants and the…”
Public hearing relative to amending the Unified Development Ordinance to update open space requirements
“Councilwoman Mayfield moved to continue the public hearing to amend the Unified Development Ordinance to update open space requirements until December 8, 2020.”
NEW BUSINESS
Resolution amending the City of Asheville Land Use Incentive Grant Policy
“Community Development Program Director Paul D’Angelo said that this is the consideration of an amendment to the LUIG Policy last updated in October 2019.”
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.