Asheville City Council
December 13, 2022
Regular meeting
Other City businessStreets and transitWaterHomelessnessPublic safetyBudget and taxesHousing
The short version
22 decisions: 11 approved together in one consent-agenda vote, and 11 voted on separately. 6 votes split.
- Council approves the application and acceptance of the grant from the U.S. Dept (Resolution 22-260).
Passed. Voted no: Kim Roney.
- Council approves the application and acceptance of the grant from the U.S. Dept (Resolution 22-259).
Passed. Voted no: Kim Roney.
- Council renews a contract for the ACCURINT Virtual Crime Center crime analysis platform.
Council voted to renew its contract with LexisNexis for the ACCURINT Virtual Crime Center crime analysis platform.
Passed. Voted no: Kim Roney.
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 annual fiscal year 2022 Section 5307 and fiscal year 2022 Section 5310 grant funding to fund existing transit operations.
Still pending: This is a request. The City gets the money only if the grant is awarded.
What residents raised
The topics public speakers raised, as the minutes list them. These are residents' comments, not findings.
- concern over the selection process for the management group for the City’s 2023 Juneteenth celebration
- concerns over micro-housing on Hilliard Avenue
- support for live music at Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre
Voted on separately
Each of these had its own motion and vote.
Council approves the application and acceptance of the grant from the U.S. Dept (Resolution 22-260).
Passed. Voted no: Kim Roney.
More
- What the City says it's for: “The grant does not require local matching funds.”
- The money, in the minutes' words: “Motion to adopt a resolution approving the application and acceptance of the grant and a budget ordinance amendment in the City’s Special Revenue Fund in the amount of $80,145.”
- “Ensures the ability to better protect the safety of the residents of Asheville and Buncombe County.”
Council approves the application and acceptance of the grant from the U.S. Dept (Resolution 22-259).
Passed. Voted no: Kim Roney.
More
- What the City says it's for: “The funding will allow the purchase of 26 bulletproof vests over the two year life of the grant.”
- The money, in the minutes' words: “. DEPT OF JUSTICE 2022 BULLETPROOF VEST PARTNERSHIP GRANT Action Requested: Adoption of a resolution to apply for and accept the 2022 BVP Grant from the U.S. Dept. of Justice; and adopt a budget amendment in the City’s Special Revenue Fund in the amount of $20,327.22.”
Council renews a contract for the ACCURINT Virtual Crime Center crime analysis platform.
Passed. Voted no: Kim Roney.
More
Council voted to renew its contract with LexisNexis for the ACCURINT Virtual Crime Center crime analysis platform.
- The money, in the minutes' words: “Action Requested: Adoption of a resolution authorizing the City Manager to renew a contract 12-13-22 Page 20 with LexisNexis ACCURINT Virtual Crime Center crime analysis platform, now valued at $111,426.95.”
Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
More
Council voted to adopt the Resolution of the City Council of the City of Asheville, North Carolina providing for the issuance of the City of Asheville, North Carolina General Obligation Refunding Bonds, Series 2023.
- The money, in the minutes' words: “In June 2020, the City issued a three-year short-term general obligation bond in an amount not to exceed $25,000,000.”
What that means
- Bonds:
- Bonds are loans the City pays back over many years, with interest.
Council adopts the budget amendment from the U.S. Dept (motion 3).
Passed. Voted no: Kim Roney.
More
Council voted to adopt the budget amendment from the U.S. Dept (motion 3).
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.
Council adopts the budget amendment from the U.S. Dept (motion 5).
Passed. Voted no: Kim Roney.
More
Council voted to adopt the budget amendment from the U.S. Dept (motion 5).
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. Voted no: Kim Roney, Sheneika Smith.
Council rezones 175 Lyman St, with conditions.
Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
More
Council voted to rezone 175 Lyman St, with conditions, from Mixed-Use Expansion - Conditional Zone (MXD EXP - CZ) to Commercial Expansion - Conditional Zone (COM EXP - CZ).
- “He then reviewed a chart of the existing and proposed zoning.”
- “He said that staff concurs with the Planning & Zoning Commission and recommends approval of the proposed conditional zoning.”
- “As this site is 3-tenths of a mile from transit and the RADTIP corridor, she was curious if more affordability might have been met with allowed height density that wasn’t taken advantage of.”
What that means
- Conditional zoning:
- Zoning for one property with conditions the owner must follow, such as a site plan or a cap on size.
Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
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- “She then reviewed the proposed schedule for HTF applications.”
- “On December 1, the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee had an in-depth discussion about the proposed policy changes and the scoring rubric.”
- “The AHAC’s approved recommendation was that they approve of the text changes to the Housing Trust Fund policy as proposed and supports adopting the highest subsidy cap feasible, to increase the subsidy cap to the highest possible amount (beyond 10% as currently written).”
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.
Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
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Council voted to appoint Councilwoman Ullman to the Metropolitan Planning Organization, resolution appointing Councilwoman Turner to the Audit Committee, and resolution appointing Councilwoman Ullman to the Citizens-Police Advisory Committee.
Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
More
Council voted to adopt a resolution to permanently close a portion of an unopened right-of-way on Clayton Avenue adjacent to 77 Hansel Avenue.
- “City Council passed a resolution November 15, 2022 to set a public hearing for the proposed closure on December 13, 2022.”
- “The length of the proposed closure is approximately 270 feet and the width is 40 feet.”
What that means
- Right-of-way:
- Land set aside for a street, sidewalk or path. An unopened right-of-way was never built as a street.
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.
Council changes a contract for the Municipal Building Capital Repairs and Restoration Project.
More
Council voted to change its contract with Terracon Consultants Inc. for the Municipal Building Capital Repairs and Restoration Project.
- What the City says it's for: “This amendment will allow the project to proceed into design and will cover construction administration services.”
- The money, in the minutes' words: “This Amendment #3 in the amount of $615,000 will authorize the Phase 2 design and construction administration services to be performed by Terracon.”
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 with Buncombe County for Code Purple Emergency Shelter Agreements.
More
Council voted to approve an agreement with Buncombe County for Code Purple Emergency Shelter Agreements. It also approves the City Manager to enter into the agreement.
- The money, in the minutes' words: “Motion to adopt a resolution approving an interlocal agreement with Buncombe County to accept funding County for Code Purple Emergency Shelter Agreements and authorizing the City Manager to enter into the interlocal agreement; and adoption of the accompanying budget amendment in the amount of $50,000.”
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.
More
Council voted to approve applying for the annual fiscal year 2022 Section 5307 and fiscal year 2022 Section 5310 grant funding to fund existing transit operations for Route 170 and the City’s paratransit services; and to sign all appropriate agreements from the french broad Metropolitan Planning Organization.
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 approve a resolution authorizing the City Manager to apply to the French Broad River Metropolitan Planning Organization (FBRMPO) for FY 2022 Section 5307 JARC Funds in the amount of $254,720. and FY 2022 Section 5310 Funds in the amount of $210,000.”
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.
- 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.
More
- What the City says it's for: “The contract will be a three-year contract with potential for additional one-year renewals under the cooperative purchasing agreement.”
- The money, in the minutes' words: “Motion to adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute an Agreement with Carahsoft Cloud Solutions under the NASPO Cooperative Purchasing Agreement for the purchase of Swiftly Real-Time Transit Planning Software under a three-year contract for a total contract amount of $237,276.”
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: “12-13-22 Page 9 Action Requested: Adoption of a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a contract with WNC Roofing LLC in the amount not to exceed $108,500 for North Fork Filter Building roof repairs.”
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 accept grant money from Golden Leaf Foundation for the Swannanoa River Road Flood Mitigation and Damage Reduction Feasibility Study.
- What the City says it's for: “The study will benefit the City and NCDOT in ongoing planning efforts related to the future reconstruction of Swannanoa River Road and the Swannanoa Greenway.”
- “Swannanoa River Road and Thompson Street are located within feet of the riverbank and are vulnerable to being undermined by the river.”
- “A future project to reconstruct Swannanoa River Road is currently programmed in the State Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP #EB-5832).”
- “The NCDOT is currently considering alignment scenarios to improve the corridor’s flood resiliency.”
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 Buncombe County to accept renewal funding for the operation of the Homeless Initiative Advisory Committee. It also approves the City Manager to enter into the agreement.
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 the City says it's for: “This resolution will allow the Fleet Division to efficiently purchase the needed parts required to repair and maintain the City’s six New Way trucks.”
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 Buncombe County Board of Education for the use and maintenance of the Irby Brinson Sports Complex at Valley Springs Middle School.
- What the City says it's for: “This agreement is beneficial to the Parks and Recreation Department because it allows the department to continue to support youth recreation sports, specifically baseball, softball, t-ball, and youth football.”
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.
Council sets its meeting schedule.
More
Council voted to set its meeting schedule.
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
Manager’s Report Asheville Fire Department updates
“City Manager Campbell was sad to announce that Fire Department Safety & Training Officer Jeff Lyons passed away.”
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Public hearing to close a portion of an unopened right-of-way on Clayton Avenue adjacent to 77 Hansel Avenue: assistant
“Assistant Transportation Director Jessica Morriss said that this is the consideration of a resolution to permanently close an unopened right-of-way on Clayton Avenue adjacent to 77 Hansel Avenue.”
Public hearing on Issuance of Not to Exceed $26,000,000 General Obligation Refunding Bonds adoption of the Bond Order authorizing the Issuance of Not to Exceed $26,000,000 General Obligation Refunding Bonds of the City of Asheville,…
“NORTH CAROLINA RESOLUTION NO. 22-271 - RESOLUTION ADOPTING A BOND ORDER AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF NOT TO EXCEED $26,000,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION REFUNDING BONDS OF THE CITY OF ASHEVILLE, N.C. Finance Director Tony McDowell said that this is the consideration of holding a public hearing to receive…”
Public hearing to consider amending the conditional Zoning ordinance (Ordinance No. 4625) for property located at 175 Lyman Street from Mixed-Use Expansion/Conditional Zone to Commercial Expansion/Conditional Zone: Page 29 at 175 lyman…
“Page 29 AT 175 LYMAN STREET FROM MIXED-USE EXPANSION/CONDITIONAL ZONE TO COMMERCIAL EXPANSION/CONDITIONAL ZONE Principal Planner Will Palmquist said that this is the consideration of an ordinance to amend the conditional zoning ordinance (Ordinance No. 4625) for property located at 175 Lyman Street…”
NEW BUSINESS
Resolution revising the Housing Trust Fund Policy
“Affordable Housing Officer Sasha Vrtunski said that this is the consideration of a resolution authorizing revisions to the Housing Trust Fund Policy prior to initiating the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 funding cycle.”
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.