Asheville City Council
April 13, 2021
Regular meeting
Other City businessBudget and taxesStreets and transitHousingHomelessness
The short version
10 decisions: 8 approved together in one consent-agenda vote, and 2 voted on separately.
- Council approves Mountain Housing Opportunities’ request to extend the maturity dates of a total of five CARROT/CDBG loans valued.
Council voted to approve Mountain Housing Opportunities’ request to extend the maturity dates of a total of five CARROT/CDBG loans valued at $683,028 and eliminate yearly interest payments in exchange for an additional 20-year affordability period and rent restrictions raised to 60% AMI.
Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
- Council approves submission of an amendment to the City’s Annual Action Plan for 2020-2021 to the U.S. Department of Housing.
Council voted to approve submission of an amendment to 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 necessary documents.
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 to, and accept and Federal Transit Administration for the coronavirus responses.
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.
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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Council voted to approve Mountain Housing Opportunities’ request to extend the maturity dates of a total of five CARROT/CDBG loans valued at $683,028 and eliminate yearly interest payments in exchange for an additional 20-year affordability period and rent restrictions raised to 60% AMI.
- “From the early 1990s to the mid-2000s, MHO was committed to developing smaller, scattered site rental housing for some of the most low income households in Asheville.”
- “Utilizing Section 108 and CDBG loans from the City of Asheville, MHO acquired and renovated six older properties that created 22 affordable units.”
- “MHO primarily used the Section 108 funded CARROT (City of Asheville Rental Rehabilitation for Owners and Tenants) loan program which provided low interest rates for investors of affordable housing.”
Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
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Council voted to approve submission of an amendment to 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 necessary documents.
Approved together on the consent agenda
8 items, approved in one vote without separate discussion. Any member can pull an item out for its own vote.
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- What the City says it's for: “This resolution will accept those funds for that purpose.”
- The money, in the minutes' words: “Action(s) Requested: Adoption of a resolution to accept a grant from Dogwood Health Trust in the amount of $50,000 toward the City’s $130,000 agreement with Western Carolina Rescue Ministries, Inc. to provide Code Purple Emergency Shelter 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.
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Council voted to approve applying for the to, and accept and Federal Transit Administration for the coronavirus responses and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) 2021 5310 (Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities) grant fund, to sign all appropriate agreements with the FTA, Federal and State agencies, and execute a Subrecipient agreement with Mountain Projects Inc. 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 money, in the minutes' words: “City of Asheville Transportation Department staff will be working with Mountain Projects, Inc. on using the funds allocated to the agency and will submit an application to the FTA in the amount of $60,153 by April 30, 2021 for technical review and approval.”
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 City law (Section 16-39 of the City Code) to clarify that City capital projects are exempt from the permit fee.
- “Prior to this proposed ordinance amendment, it has been required that City contractors get a permit to perform City work.”
- “The proposed change allows for City staff to complete permitting on behalf of the project and clarifies that City capital projects are exempt from this right of way cut permit fee.”
- “This proposed change will have no impact on the City’s Utility Cut Patching Program and the associated fees that the City’s Water and Stormwater utilities are required to pay.”
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.
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Council voted to revise the fiscal year 2021-22 budget calendar to include a budget worksession on April 27, 2021, at 2:30 P.M.
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 carries over money for contracts and orders from last year.
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Council voted to move money left from last year into this year's budget, to pay for contracts, purchase orders and other items that carried over.
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
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
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
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
8 consent-agenda items, approved together in one vote.
PRESENTATIONS & REPORTS
Financial audit presentation
“Internal Auditor Patricia Rosenberg, introduced Robbie Bittner, partner with PBMares LLP and representing RSM, who presented the financial results for the Year End June 30, 2020, outlining the performances of revenue and expenses, compliance issues they must review, and 4-13-21 Page 11 the…”
Manager’s report
“City Manager Campbell said that this is basically a summary of the March 31 - April 1, 2021, retreat.”
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Resolution authorizing the City Manager to submit an amendment to the city’s 2020-21 action plan for Community development block grants and the home investment partnership programs to the U.S. dept. of Housing & Urban Development
“At Mayor Manheimer’s request to provide some summary information, Community Development Program Director Paul D’Angelo said that the Community & Economic Development Department is seeking authorization for the City Manager to submit an amendment 4-13-21 Page 13 to the 2020-21 HUD Annual Action Plan…”
NEW BUSINESS
Resolution approving the loan modification requested by Mountain Housing Opportunities to allow them to maintain affordable housing conditions at 61, 63, 65 and 67 Annandale avenue, 6 Trinity Chapel and 280 Merrimon avenue
“Community Development Program Director Paul D’Angelo said that this is the consideration of approving a Mountain Housing Opportunities (MHO) request to extend the maturity dates of a total of five City of Asheville Rental Rehab for Owners and Tenants/ Community Development Block Grant (CARROT/CDBG)…”
Boards & commissions
“Vice-Mayor Smith, Chair of the Boards & Commissions Committee, said that this is the consideration of appointing members to the Audit Committee.”
INFORMAL DISCUSSION AND PUBLIC COMMENT
Public comment
“From advanced live call-ins, 8 individuals spoke to Council, including, but not limited to the following comments: urge eviction moratorium and stop the destruction of homeless camps; defund the Asheville Police Department; and have patience for the hiring of the Equity & Inclusion Director.”
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.