Asheville City Council
June 28, 2022
Regular meeting
Other City businessHousingBudget and taxesHomelessness
What it did
- Adopts the City budget for fiscal year 2022-23.Passed. Voted no: Kim Roney.
- Moves $100,000 from the City Manager’s Contingency to fund the City’s annual contribution to nonprofits with which members of council are…Passed. Voted no: Kim Roney.
- Moves $45,000 from the City Manager’s Contingency to fund the City’s annual contribution to nonprofits with which members of council are…Passed. Voted no: Kim Roney.
- Rezones 3130 Sweeten Creek Rd, with conditions, from Residential Multi-Family High Density District (RM-16) to Residential Expansion - Conditional Zone (RES EXP-CZ).Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
- Votes recorded
- 12
- Voted on separately
- 5
- Routine items, one vote
- 7
- Votes that split
- 3
Why it matters
Regular meetings are where Council votes on laws, the budget, contracts and zoning. Routine items pass together in one vote, called the consent agenda.
The recording
Everything on the agenda
From the minutes, in the order the City lists them. Each item's first lines are the minutes' own words.
PROCLAMATIONS
Proclamation proclaiming July 2022, as “Parks and Recreation Month”
“Mayor Manheimer read the proclamation proclaiming July 2022 as “Parks and Recreation Month” in the City of Asheville.”
Proclamation proclaiming the affirmation of fundamental reproductive freedoms
“Councilwoman Roney read the proclamation proclaiming the affirmation of fundamental reproductive freedoms in the City of Asheville, condemning the criminalization of accessing or providing essential healthcare, including full-spectrum reproductive and gender-affirming health care, and proclaiming…”
CONSENT AGENDA
7 routine items, passed together in one vote.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Public Hearing to consider an amendment to the Conditional Zoning ordinance adopted on october 9, 2018 (Ordinance No. 4702), located at 511 Brevard Road, to remove a restriction on drive-through uses
“At the applicant’s request, Councilwoman Roney moved to continue this public hearing until September 13, 2022.”
Public Hearing to consider the Conditional Zoning of 3124/3130 Sweeten Creek Road from RM-16 Residential Multi-Family High Density District to Residential Expansion District/Conditional Zone
“Principal Planner Will Palmquist said that this is the consideration of an ordinance to conditionally zone 3124/3130 Sweeten Creek Road from RM-16 Residential Multi-Family High Density District to Residential Expansion District/Conditional Zone.”
Public Hearing to consider the permanent closing of a right-of-way east of Wilmington Road and south of 907 Old Fairview Road
“Transportation Director Ken Putnam said that this is the consideration of a resolution to permanently close a right-of-way east of Wilmington Road and south of 907 Old Fairview Road.”
Public Hearing to solicit comments for the Community Development Block Grant and HOME Investment Partnerships Program funds Annual Action Plan for Fiscal Year 2022-23: community development
“Community Development Program Manager Jonathan Jones said that this is a public hearing and consideration of a resolution authorizing submission of the 2022-2023 Annual Action Plan for Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) to the U.S. Department…”
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Fiscal Year 2022-23 Annual Operating Budget
“Page 19 THE GENERAL FUND TO ALLOCATE BUDGET FROM CITY MANAGER’S CONTINGENCY TO FUND THE CITY’S ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION TO NONPROFITS WITH WITH MEMBERS OF COUNCIL ARE ASSOCIATED (SPORTS COMMISSION) Mayor Manheimer said that the public hearing on the budget was held on June 14, 2022, and no further…”
- Vote: Adopts the City budget for fiscal year 2022-23.
- Vote: Moves $100,000 from the City Manager’s Contingency to fund the City’s annual contribution to nonprofits with which members of council are…
- Vote: Moves $45,000 from the City Manager’s Contingency to fund the City’s annual contribution to nonprofits with which members of council are…
INFORMAL DISCUSSION AND PUBLIC COMMENT
Public comment
- appreciation for adoption of the budget
- need for dedicated pickleball courts
- appreciation for funding the Asheville Police Department in order to rebuild and strengthen the police force
- concern that water taps and meters take up to 6 months to be installed
- thank you for updating the Council Chamber
- need to commit to expand public transit as additional income become available
- appreciation for funding urban forester
- appreciation for new artwork in Council Chamber
Voted on separately
Each of these had its own motion and vote.
Adopts the City budget for fiscal year 2022-23.
Passed. Voted no: Kim Roney.
More from the minutes
- “She hoped the adjustments presented at the June 14, 2022, meeting to the proposed budget are consistent with and support both the Council and community priorities.”
- “She thanked the Mayor and Council for their time, energy, passion, guidance and advocacy in helping staff develop this proposed budget.”
Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
More from the minutes
- “A reduction of 90 linear feet of this landscape buffer is proposed to allow for vehicular access to a neighboring single-family house.”
- “No bike lanes are proposed into the development.”
- “Staff concurs with the Planning & Zoning Commission and recommends approval of the proposed conditional zoning.”
Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
More from the minutes
- “HOME funds support affordable housing activities within the four-county Asheville Regional Housing Consortium region including Buncombe, Madison, Transylvania and Henderson counties.”
- “Quality Affordable Housing”
- “Approval of the Annual Action Plan paves the way for HUD funding to be utilized by partners in the City of Asheville and the region, with funds to be used to create affordable housing, jobs and impact in our moderate and low income communities.”
Routine items, passed together
The consent agenda: items Council approves in one vote, without separate discussion. A member can ask to pull an item out for its own vote.
Signs a contract with Mail Management Services LLC of Asheville for Mail Services.
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
More from the minutes
- The money, in the minutes' words: “The initial contract term is proposed for one year, with the option upon approval by the City for up to four one-year renewals, for a maximum potential duration of five years not to exceed $2,040,000.00.”
- “The City provides municipal services to more than 60,000 accounts, which primarily encompasses the following: water meters, business licenses, permits, and general correspondence to residents and visitors.”
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
More from the minutes
- The money, in the minutes' words: “The City is receiving a total of $1,519,518 in funding from the National Opioid Settlement, and expects to maximize the impact of these funds through strategic and coordinated efforts with Buncombe County and other key community partners.”
- “Because of the correlation between the opioid epidemic and housing instability, this position will work closely with other departmental initiatives related to the intersecting issues of homelessness, affordable housing, and economic development.”
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
Signs a contract with Raftelis Financial Consultants Inc. for the Stormwater Program and Fee Study.
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
Changes the contract with McLaughlin Young Group for behavioral health services to City employees.
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
The plain-language lines are written by fixed rules from each item's official title, which is on each decision's page. Every vote the minutes record is listed; procedural motions, like approving the minutes or adjourning, are left out.