Asheville City Council
January 24, 2023
Regular meeting
Other City business
The short version
6 decisions: 4 approved together in one consent-agenda vote, and 2 voted on separately. 1 vote split.
- Council approves an agreement for the use of the Fusus real-time criminal intelligence camera system.
Council voted to approve an agreement with the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office for the use of the Fusus real-time criminal intelligence camera system.
Passed. Voted no: Kim Roney.
- Council changes the zoning conditions for 264 Enka Heritage Pkwy.
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 residents raised
The topics public speakers raised, as the minutes list them. These are residents' comments, not findings.
- 1883 Asheville highlights
- concern of Plugged-In Productions holding amplified musical events at Hazel Robinson Theatre
- update on the Realignment Working Group on Boards & Commissions
- how homelessness is a housing problem and the need to address the root cause of homelessness
Voted on separately
Each of these had its own motion and vote.
Passed. Voted no: Kim Roney.
More
Council voted to approve an agreement with the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office for the use of the Fusus real-time criminal intelligence camera system.
- What the City says it's for: “The ordinance would require a Surveillance Impact Report prior to new technologies being adopted as well as a Surveillance Use Policy, neither of which have been provided as of this writing to my knowledge.”
- “Beginning in FY24, annual funding will need to be included in the Manager’s Proposed Budget.”
- “A proposed ordinance was provided from the ACLU “An Act to Promote Transparency and Protect Civil Rights and Civil Liberties with respect to Surveillance Technology” which they hoped Council would adopt.”
Council changes the zoning conditions for 264 Enka Heritage Pkwy.
Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
More
- “At this time the number of proposed employees is unknown so no determination of minimum and maximum parking spaces can be made.”
- “The project proposes 10 foot-wide sidewalks throughout the site.”
- “The proposed Enka Heritage Greenway is planned to cross the property along the western boundary of the project area and will include a 10 foot-wide paved greenway, a 15 foot-wide maintenance easement, and a 25 foot-wide construction easement.”
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.
Approved together on the consent agenda
4 items, approved in one vote without separate discussion. Any member can pull an item out for its own vote.
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- The money, in the minutes' words: “1-24-23 Page 3 Action Requested: Adoption of a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a contract with Perses Consulting, LLC in the amount of $200,000 to provide consulting services for the citywide emergency operations and continuity of operations plans.”
- “The proposed timeline to complete the plans is approximately eight months.”
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 update Appendix g of the Code of Ordinances identifying Recreational Facilities where concealed handguns are prohibited.
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 the sale of one 2012 Autocar Garbage Truck deemed surplus City Personal Property.
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
Council voted to approve a contract with Walker Consultants for facility assessment and pre-design services for the Parking Garage Capital Repairs Project.
- What the City says it's for: “The project will temporarily impact parking operations, as phased shut-downs of areas of the garages are coordinated during construction.”
- “This work is for the safe and beneficial use of City parking facilities by City residents and visitors.”
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.
PROCLAMATIONS
Proclamation proclaiming February 2023 as “Black History and Legacy Month”
“Mayor Manheimer read the proclamation proclaiming February, 2023, as "Black History and Legacy Month" in the City of Asheville.”
Proclamation proclaiming February 4, 2023, as “Rosa Parks/Transit Equity Day”
“Councilwoman Ullman read the proclamation proclaiming February 4, 2023, as "Rosa Parks/Transit Equity Day" in the City of Asheville.”
CONSENT AGENDA
4 consent-agenda items, approved together in one vote.
PRESENTATIONS & REPORTS
Manager’s report - point in time count
“Homeless Strategy Division Manager Emily Ball said that our community's annual Point-in-Time count of people experiencing homelessness is coming up Tuesday, January 31, 2023.”
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Public hearing to amend a previously approved conditional zoning approval (Ordinance No. 4853) for property located at 264 Enka Heritage Parkway to make Site plan and Layout changes
“Principal Planner Will Palmquist said that this is the consideration of an ordinance to amend a conditionally approved conditional zoning approval (Ordinance No. 4853) for property located at 264 Enka Heritage Parkway to make site plan and layout changes, currently zoned Commercial Expansion - Conditional Zone.”
NEW BUSINESS
Resolution authorizing the City Manager to develop a Scope of Work for an official audit in response to the Community Reparations Commission’s Immediate Recommendation to cease harm impacting the African American Community: equity
“Director Brenda Mills said that this is the consideration of a resolution authorizing the City Manager to develop a scope of work for an official audit in response to the Community Reparations Commission’s Immediate Recommendation to cease harm impacting the African American community.”
Affirmation of independent Review Committee membership which will analyze events and circumstances related to the recent water outage
“Assistant City Manager Ben Woody said this is the consideration of affirming an independent review committee (IRC) membership which will analyze events and circumstances related to the recent water outage Background:”
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.