Asheville City Council
August 23, 2022
Regular meeting
Other City businessStreets and transitWaterPublic safetyHousing
What it did
- Adopts a budget amendment.Passed. Voted no: Sheneika Smith, Kim Roney.
- Approves Mountain Housing Opportunities’ request for $850,000 Housing Trust Fund loan to construct 50-60 multifamily apartments for households at or below 60% AMI…Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
- Changes the contract with Increase the Amount of the Original Purchase of Three 30-foot… to pay for cost increases associated with inflation and supply chain issues, for $1.46 million.Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
- Lets the City Manager negotiate and enter into a Purchase and Sales agreement with Laurel Street Residential for the development of 319…Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
- Votes recorded
- 14
- Voted on separately
- 3
- Routine items, one vote
- 11
- Votes that split
- 1
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.
CONSENT AGENDA
11 routine items, passed together in one vote.
PRESENTATIONS & REPORTS
MANAGER’S REPORT: Employee Recognition
“City Manager Campbell said that City of Asheville employees are heroes in lots of ways.”
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Public hearing to rezone 645 Brevard Road from RS-8 residential single-family high density district to commercial business II district
“At the request of the applicant, Councilwoman Roney moved to continue this public hearing until September 13, 2022.”
Public hearing to rezone 651 Brevard Road from RS-8 residential single-family high density district to commercial business II district
“At the request of the applicant, Councilwoman Roney moved to continue this public hearing until September 13, 2022.”
Public hearing relative to adoption of the south slope: a southside neighborhood vision plan
“At the request of the applicant, Councilwoman Roney moved to continue this public hearing until October 11, 2022.”
NEW BUSINESS
Resolution approving a Purchase and Sales Agreement with Laurel Street Residential for the development of a mixed income and affordable Housing at 319 Biltmore 8-23-22
“Page 18 Director of Community & Economic Development Nikki Reid, along with Affordable Housing Officer Sasha Vrtunski, said that this is the consideration of a resolution approving a Purchase and Sales Agreement with Laurel Street Residential for the development of mixed income and affordable…”
Resolution approving a Housing Trust Fund Loan to Mountain Housing Opportunities for the purchase of property at 16 Restaurant Court
“Affordable Housing Officer Sasha Vrtunski said that this is the consideration of a resolution to authorize an $850,000 Housing Trust Fund (HTF) loan to Mountain Housing Opportunities (MHO) with 0% interest and deferred for a period of 40 years and secured with a deed of trust, for the purpose of…”
Boards & commissions
“Regarding the Audit Committee, no one applied for the vacancy.”
INFORMAL DISCUSSION AND PUBLIC COMMENT
Public comment
- need for access to basic amenities in the River Arts District
- request for Council to commit to allow the Realignment Working Group to see the results of the survey to be sent out so they can analyze the results and provide a recommendation
- Southside Recreation Opportunity survey results
- glad the South Slope Vision Plan was continued
- need for dedicated pickleball courts in Asheville
- support for ban on single-use plastic bags
Voted on separately
Each of these had its own motion and vote.
Passed. Voted no: Sheneika Smith, Kim Roney.
More from the minutes
- The money, in the minutes' words: “Requested: Adoption of a budget amendment in the amount of $419,214.47 in the Special Revenue Fund to establish an expenditure budget for funds already received by the City.”
- “This proposed budget amendment would authorize the use of this funding for a new DNA Analyzer system, replacing an end of life bomb robot, and advanced Forensic training for four Forensic Technicians.”
- “Councilwoman Roney said that the ACLU has warned in general around asset seizure, cautioning against policing for profit which risks integrity and trust as it becomes the burden of residents to challenge asset seizure even before they are found guilty.”
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).
More from the minutes
- What the minutes say it will do: “The project will also have 20% of the units (10-12) reserved for young adults aging out of foster care.”
- The money, in the minutes' words: “MHO has expressed their intention to apply for additional Housing Trust Funds for construction in the amount of $661,100.”
- “The policy gives room for negotiation on repayment when extremely low income households are being served.”
- “The provision of 10-12 units for youth coming out of foster care, who are vulnerable to becoming homeless.”
- “The proposal is that MHO will build 50-60 new affordable rental apartments close to Tunnel Road, where there is access to jobs, transit, grocery stores, and other retail.”
Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
Who it's for: Households earning up to 80% of the area median income: up to $81,920 a year for a family of four, or $57,360 for one person (HUD's 2026 income limits for tax-credit housing in the Asheville area).
More from the minutes
- What the minutes say it will do: “The project will result in a mixed-income development adjacent to Lee Walker Heights, which aligns with the initial vision for the property.”
- “loper is also providing an additional 22 units at 80% AMI for 30 years.”
- “The City will gain approximately 65 new affordable housing units for a period of 30 years.”
- “Utilizes City-owned land to produce affordable housing in a public/private partnership with a for-profit developer.”
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.
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
More from the minutes
- What the minutes say it will do: “The grant funds that will be used will no longer be available for future purchases.”
- The money, in the minutes' words: “Action Requested: Adoption of a resolution authorizing the Purchasing Manager to execute a change order to add $122,691 to the amount of the original purchase order for three 30-foot Gillig diesel buses for a total amount of $1,461,883, to pay for cost increases associated with inflation and supply chain issues.”
- “Staff proposes to use Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 capital funds allocated for bus expenses to be used for the added match.”
- “Staff proposes to use FY 2023 capital funds allocated for bus replacement as the match, potentially limiting future investment in the ART fleet.”
Changes the contract with IPS Group Inc. for ensured continued use of ips parking meters.
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
More from the minutes
- The money, in the minutes' words: “Action Requested: Adoption of a resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into a final renewal period, and increase the total value of the contract with IPS Group, Inc. from $900,000.00 to $1,000,000.00 for parking meter services.”
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
More from the minutes
- The money, in the minutes' words: “Action Requested: Adoption of a budget amendment, in the amount of $150,000, to allocate Insurance Recovery Funds to reimburse expenses to repair a structure damaged at the North Fork Water Treatment Plant. 8-23-22 Page 8 Background:”
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
More from the minutes
- The money, in the minutes' words: “City Council approved a one year extension in 2021, revising the total contract amount to a total of $128,634.00.”
- “This contract has been in place since August 11, 2017, for the service & maintenance of the Chiller unit at the Harrah’s Cherokee Center.”
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
More from the minutes
- The money, in the minutes' words: “The total contract amount annually for this agreement is $50,000 plus a 3% administrative fee for a total of $51,500.”
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
More from the minutes
- What the minutes say it will do: “This project will also replace sidewalks, some trees and tree grates along Patton Avenue, and add crosswalks to meet ADA requirements.”
- “Efforts will be made to notify residents and other stakeholders, and to minimize disruptions.”
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
Sells one 2011 xpeditor garbage truck which is beyond its useful life…
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
Changes the dates of Council meetings.
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.