Asheville City Council
July 25, 2023
Regular meeting
Other City businessStreets and transitWaterPublic safetyHousing
The short version
21 decisions: 18 approved together in one consent-agenda vote, and 3 voted on separately. 1 vote split.
- Council approves the LUIG application for Aston Flats LLC for 46 Aston Street.
Passed. Voted no: S. Antanette Mosley, Sheneika Smith.
- Council changes the zoning conditions for 509 Biltmore Ave.
Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
- Council changes City law (Chapter 7 of the City Code).
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.
- quality of life issues
- 1900 white supremacy
- murder by our youth in the community
- information about a new not-for-profit organization called SUSTAINAVL
Voted on separately
Each of these had its own motion and vote.
Council approves the LUIG application for Aston Flats LLC for 46 Aston Street.
Passed. Voted no: S. Antanette Mosley, Sheneika Smith.
More
- “Councilwoman Roney would support the application moving forward because she heard that there will be vouchers set aside and she wanted to be consistent in seeking voucher units.”
Council changes the zoning conditions for 509 Biltmore Ave.
Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
More
- “The project site consists of four properties totalling 32.6 acres located at 509 Biltmore Ave and are identified in the Buncombe County land records as PINs 9648-43-7691, 9648-44-5476, 9648-43-3912, and 9648-53-0061.”
- “The site is currently zoned Institutional - Conditional Zone (INST-CZ) and the existing signage is approved under Ord.”
- “Of these 41 signs, 32 are existing and 9 are new proposed signs.”
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.
Council changes City law (Chapter 7 of the City Code).
Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
More
- “Staff concurs with the Planning & Zoning Commission and recommends approval of the proposed zoning text amendment.”
Approved together on the consent agenda
18 items, approved in one vote without separate discussion. Any member can pull an item out for its own vote.
More
- What the City says it's for: “The plan will review the effectiveness of existing City policies and programs and identify gaps in the City’s current affordable housing toolbox.”
- The money, in the minutes' words: “Dogwood Health Trust has awarded the City the full requested amount of $50,000.”
- “Dogwood Health Trust opened Applications for Affordable Housing proposals in Winter 2023.”
- “The Affordable Housing Plan will assess current needs and set affordable housing policy direction for the next 5-10 years.”
- “Policies for Implementing Affordable Housing on City-Owned Land”
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 the City says it's for: “The plan will review the effectiveness of existing City policies and programs and identify gaps in the City’s current affordable housing toolbox.”
- The money, in the minutes' words: “The City has received a grant from Dogwood Health Trust in the amount of $50,000 to supplement the $96,517 in the Community & Economic Development Department budget. 7-25-23 Page 13 Motion:”
- “Adoption of a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a contract with Enterprise Community Partners, Inc. for consulting services to create an Affordable Housing Plan for the City of Asheville.”
- “The City’s most recent Affordable Housing Plan was created in 2008.”
- “The Affordable Housing Plan will be informed by the work of the Housing and Community Development Committee, Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, Thrive Asheville, the Community Reparations Commission, and the Missing Middle Housing Study.”
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: “The City of Asheville received a federal grant through the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) for design and environmental documentation of pedestrian and bicycle improvements on Coxe Avenue in the total amount of $420,000 grant plus the local match of $105,000 for a grand total of $525,000.”
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
- The money, in the minutes' words: “Motion to adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a construction contract with Cinderella Partners, Inc. in the amount not to exceed $396,253.21 plus a ~10% construction contingency of $40,000. for a total not to exceed contract of $436,253.21, for the Vermont Ave.”
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 T&T Cleaning for cleaning in Recreation facilities, worth up to $395,062.58.
- The money, in the minutes' words: “Action Requested: Adoption of a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a contract with T&T Cleaning, with three (3) renewals for a contract amount not to exceed $395,062.58. 7-25-23 Page 1 Background:”
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 share the costs of the “Stop the Harm” audit as recommended by the Community Reparations Commission, for $174,375.
- The money, in the minutes' words: “Action Requested: Adoption of a resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into an interlocal agreement with Buncombe County to conduct and share the costs of the “Stop the Harm” audit as recommended by the Community Reparations Commission, up to a total amount of $174,375.”
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 a contract for Equipment rentals used by multiple City departments.
More
- The money, in the minutes' words: “H&E Equipment was one of the contracts executed, with a not-to-exceed amount of $85,000.”
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.
Council changes a contract for the fiscal year 2023 Disparity Study.
More
Council voted to change its contract with Miller 3 Consulting Inc. for the fiscal year 2023 Disparity Study.
- The money, in the minutes' words: “Action Requested: Adoption of a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a contract amendment in the amount of $34,473 for Disparity Study data analysis services with Miller 3 Consulting, Inc.”
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 changes a contract for the Sulphur Springs Road resurfacing project.
More
Council voted to change its contract with French Broad Paving Inc. for the Sulphur Springs Road resurfacing project.
- What the City says it's for: “The work will be a further disruption to a neighborhood that has experienced a lot of construction recently.”
- The money, in the minutes' words: “7-25-23 Page 2 Action Requested: Adoption of a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a contract amendment with French Broad Paving, Inc. in the amount of $25,000 for the Sulphur Springs Road Resurfacing 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.
Official title
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 an agreement with BioNomic Services Inc. for water Resources sludge removal for the North Fork, William DeBruhl, and Mills River Water Treatment Plants.
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 donate used police related gear and equipment to the University of North Carolina Asheville campus police department.
- “Donated items are not what is currently issued, will expire before being able to be issued, or are not compatible with other equipment.”
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 the City says it's for: “The lease was for a shorter duration in order to allow for planning to align with new MLB facility standards.”
- “In February 2023 City Council held a work session to review the MLB mandates, opportunities and constraints related to proposed improvements at Lewis McCormick Field.”
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.
More
Council voted to approve a contract with TranSystems Corporation for Construction Engineering and Inspection services for the New Leicester Highway Sidewalk project.
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 Cinderella Partners Inc. for the shiloh community Sidewalk Project.
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
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 change its meeting schedule to add a worksession on August 22, 2023, at 3:00 P.M. in the Council chamber. located on the 2nd floor of city hall, to discuss the independent 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.
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
18 consent-agenda items, approved together in one vote.
PRESENTATIONS & REPORTS
MANAGER’S REPORT: Employee Recognitions
“City Manager Campbell said that City of Asheville employees are heroes in so many unique and incredible ways.”
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Public hearing relative to adoption of the south slope: a southside neighborhood vision plan
“Vice-Mayor Kilgore moved to continue this public hearing until October 24, 2023.”
Public hearing to consider an amendment to the conditional zoning of 509 Biltmore Avenue for the purpose of increasing the amount of allowed signage
“Principal Planner Will Palmquist said that this is the consideration of an ordinance to amend the conditional zoning of 509 Biltmore Avenue for the purpose of increasing the amount of allowed signage.”
Public hearing to consider an amendment to the Unified Development Ordinance to revise the allowed uses Table to bring All the uses and the land use impact Table into one central unified Table: urban
“The UDO currently has several disparate and separate locations where permitted uses, special conditions and expressly prohibited uses are located.”
NEW BUSINESS
Resolution Approving a Land Use Incentive Grant for a development located at 46 Aston Street
“Affordable Housing Officer Sasha Vrtunski said this is the consideration delaying consideration of the land use grant application for Aston Flats LLC (46 Aston Street) until the land use incentive policy has been revised and addresses micro-apartments.”
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.