Asheville City Council
April 27, 2021
Regular meeting
Other City businessStreets and transitWaterPublic safetyHomelessnessBudget and taxesHousing
The short version
13 decisions: 11 approved together in one consent-agenda vote, and 2 voted on separately.
- Council approves, after the fact, a contract with Ramada Inn (doing business as Five p Mountain LLC) for emergency non-congregate homeless shelter and operations for 42 rooms.
Council voted to approve, after the fact, a contract with Ramada Inn (doing business as Five p Mountain LLC) for emergency non-congregate homeless shelter and operations for 42 rooms at the Ramada Inn.
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 residents raised
The topics public speakers raised, as the minutes list them. These are residents' comments, not findings.
- why an administrative investigation is now taking place of the individual who gave the command to destroy the medical tent back in June of 2020
- the need for City sanctioned tent sites and sanitation services
Voted on separately
Each of these had its own motion and vote.
Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
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Council voted to adopt an ordinance prohibiting discriminatory practices in private employment and public accommodations.
- “It is expected that the enforcement of the proposed Non-Discrimination Ordinance will be able to be fulfilled by the City’s Office of Equity and Inclusion, without an increase in that department’s budget.”
Council approves an agreement with the Asheville Buncombe United for Youth Network.
Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
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Council voted to approve an agreement with the Asheville Buncombe United for Youth Network which includes Lead Organization, The United Way, Buncombe County as well as other community partners which will form the Asheville Buncombe United for Youth partnership agreement.
- “Addressing the whole child includes but it is not limited to, providing workforce development, affordable housing, better access to transportation, afterschool programs and support to families.”
Approved together on the consent agenda
11 items, approved in one vote without separate discussion. Any member can pull an item out for its own vote.
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Council voted to approve, after the fact, a contract with Ramada Inn (doing business as Five p Mountain LLC) for emergency non-congregate homeless shelter and operations for 42 rooms at the Ramada Inn.
- What the City says it's for: “The resolution will ratify the emergency contract for the Ramada Inn and allocate funds for this purpose.”
- The money, in the minutes' words: “The Ramada Inn (dba Five P Mountain, LLC) agreed to provide 42 rooms for this purpose with a total cost not to exceed $381,000.”
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.
- After the fact:
- Council approves something the City already did. This often happens in an emergency, when there's no time to wait for a meeting.
Council changes its contract with Harper Corporation.
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- The money, in the minutes' words: “Action Requested: Adoption of a resolution for a Change Order to Harper Corporation’s current Mills River Water Treatment Plant Miscellaneous Phase 1 Improvements contract, in the amount of $1,475,624.78 with a 10% contingency of $147,562.48, for a total of $1,632,187.26 for this change order.”
- “Harper Corporation is currently under contract.”
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: Adoption of a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a contract with French Broad Paving in the amount of $183,857.50 plus a 15% contingency of $27.578.62 ($211,436.12 total) for the Carolina Lane-Langren Alley Resurfacing contract.”
- “The combined pavement length is .18 miles.”
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 City law (Chapter 2 of the City Code).
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Council voted to change City law (Chapter 2 of the City Code) on update the roles and responsibilities of the Downtown Commission and the Asheville Area Riverfront Redevelopment Commission related to design review.
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 Patton Construction Group for the Overlook Road Sidewalk Project.
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- The money, in the minutes' words: “The contract amount is $265,320 for the construction of the Overlook Road Sidewalk Project plus a contingency amount of $26,532.”
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 revise the fiscal year 2021-22 budget calendar to include a budget worksession on may 11, 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 approves a contract for provision of employee health insurance coverage.
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Council voted to approve a contract with Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company and Express Scripts Inc. for provision of employee health insurance coverage.
- “The proposed contracts will provide access to more robust medical coverage, dependable pharmacy coverage, wellness initiatives and resources, with a goal to improve participant health, resulting in cost containment.”
- “The proposed fees match the current fee structure with BlueCross Blue Shield so there is no increase in administrative 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.
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.
More
Council voted to support the sole source procurement to purchase safety protective barriers from Proterra Aftermarket Parts for installation in five existing Proterra electric buses in Asheville Rides Transit fleet. 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 approve a sole source justification purchase of replacement LED street light fixtures from Leotek Electronics. It also approves the Purchasing Manager to issue appropriate purchase orders.
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 provide temporary space for Asheville fire department’s Station 8.
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Council voted to approve an agreement with the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide temporary space for Asheville fire department’s Station 8.
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
11 consent-agenda items, approved together in one vote.
PRESENTATIONS & REPORTS
Greater Asheville regional airport annual report
“Executive Director of the Greater Asheville Regional Airport Authority Lew Bleiweis provided Council with a highlight of their accomplishments and activities each year.”
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Public hearing for submission of the City’s Annual Action Plan for 2021-22 to the U.S. dept. of Housing & Urban Development 4-27-21
“Page 17 Community Development Program Director Paul D'Angelo said that this is a public hearing for submission of the City’s Annual Action Plan for 2021-22 to the U.S. Dept. of Housing & Urban Development and authorizing the City Manager to sign all contracts or agreements required for the…”
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into an agreement with ashevillebuncombe United for Youth Network
“Laura Elliott, Senior Director of Community Schools and Network Development of the United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County, explained that United for Youth Network is a multigenerational, cross-sector, cradle to career partnership built on the foundational principle that equity and educational…”
NEW BUSINESS
Ordinance No. 4370- ordinance prohibiting discriminatory practices in Private Employment and public accommodations
“City Attorney Branham said that this is consideration of adoption of an ordinance prohibiting discriminatory practices in private employment and public accommodations.”
INFORMAL DISCUSSION AND PUBLIC COMMENT
Public comment
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.