Asheville City Council
October 10, 2023
Regular meeting
Other City businessBudget and taxesStreets and transit
The short version
7 decisions: 5 approved together in one consent-agenda vote, and 2 voted on separately. 1 vote split.
- Council directs staff to move forward with the College Patton Complete Streets Project.
Council voted to direct staff to move forward with the College Patton Complete Streets Project, and to prepare ordinance amendments to permit use of all modes of personal transportation within bike lanes.
Passed. Voted no: S. Antanette Mosley, Sheneika Smith.
- Council adopts a resolution to permanently close an unopened right-of-way between Sulphur Springs Road and Lane Avenue.
Council voted to adopt a resolution to permanently close an unopened right-of-way between Sulphur Springs Road and Lane Avenue.
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.
- need for a Climate City Center at Haywood-Page to put Asheville on the map as the place for economic growth and opportunity in the sustainability sector
- concern of an inaccurate police report
- expressed disagreement with reporting process following a traffic incident, and subsequent charges
- displeasure with election format
Voted on separately
Each of these had its own motion and vote.
Council directs staff to move forward with the College Patton Complete Streets Project.
Passed. Voted no: S. Antanette Mosley, Sheneika Smith.
More
Council voted to direct staff to move forward with the College Patton Complete Streets Project, and to prepare ordinance amendments to permit use of all modes of personal transportation within bike lanes.
- “Regarding parking, a summary of changes in the project area (1) 17 metered parking spaces are proposed to be removed -9 of these to be converted to loading zone area; (2) No American with Disabilities (ADA) parking spaces are being removed.”
Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
More
Council voted to adopt a resolution to permanently close an unopened right-of-way between Sulphur Springs Road and Lane Avenue.
- “City Council passed a resolution on September 12, 2023 to set a public hearing for the proposed right-of-way closure on October 10, 2023.”
- “9999 Hazel Mill Rd, LLC, Owner, petitioned for this closure to develop a five story multi-family dwelling with 23-30 units.”
- “Ms. Morriss said that 9999 Hazel Mill Road, LLC, Owner, has petitioned for this closure to develop a five story multi-family dwelling with 23-30 units.”
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
5 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 work will be moderately disruptive and inconvenient for parking garage patrons.”
- The money, in the minutes' words: “One bid was submitted: ○ Cinderella Partners, Inc. of Indian Trail, NC in the amount of $267,001.02 base bid; and $12,938.17 Bid Alternate #1.”
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 amend Section 2-185.20 - 2-185.23 of the Code of Ordinances for a more inclusive membership of the Asheville Area Riverfront Redevelopment Commission; and to change the name of the Commission to the Asheville- Buncombe Riverfront Commission.
- “The AARRC performed a review and now proposes a new ordinance.”
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 amends the Human Relations Commission of Asheville regarding Membership.
More
Council voted to amend the Human Relations Commission of Asheville regarding Membership.
- What the City says it's for: “The amendment will also clarify that membership decisions do not violate constitutional protections.”
- “These proposed amendments reflect needed updates to the City’s current local ordinance which establishes the HRCA in order to come into compliance with recent Federal Court decisions.”
- “The proposed amendment only alters one portion of the existing ordinance pertaining to membership characteristics.”
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 amend Ordinance No. 4370 prohibiting discriminatory practices in private employment and public accommodations to include additional language regarding discrimination protections for natural hair and hairstyles.
- What the City says it's for: “This amendment provides additional language to the existing NDO to add specificity to the current protections afforded to natural hair and hairstyles.”
- “The recommendation as proposed would incorporate language from the NC CROWN Act, which does not currently exist in the City’s NDO.”
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 month's property tax refunds and releases.
More
Council approved the month's list of property tax refunds and releases.
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.
- Tax refunds:
- State law lets the City pay back or cancel property tax that was charged by mistake or against the law.
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 October 2023 as “Domestic Violence Awareness Month”
“Councilwoman Turner read the proclamation proclaiming October 23, 2023, as “Domestic Violence Awareness Month” in the City of Asheville.”
CONSENT AGENDA
5 consent-agenda items, approved together in one vote.
PRESENTATIONS & REPORTS
Manager’s Report
“Parks & Recreation Comprehensive Plan Parks & Recreation Director D. Tyrell McGirt said the key takeaways from his presentation will be (1) The last Parks and Recreation Plan was updated in 2009; (2) Staff initiated a process to update the plan; (3) A Request for Proposals was issued in January and…”
NEW BUSINESS
Resolution authorizing the City Manager to direct Staff to move forward with the College Patton Complete Streets Project, and ordinance amendments to permit use by all modes of personal Transportation within bike lanes: assistant
“Transportation Director Jessica Morriss said this is the consideration of a resolution reaffirming the City Council’s commitment to multimodal transportation, authorizing the City Manager to direct staff to move forward with the College Patton Complete Streets Project, and directing City staff to…”
Boards & commissions
“Regarding the Neighborhood Advisory Committee, no applications were received; therefore, the vacancy will be readvertised. 10-10-23 Page 20 Regarding the Public Art & Cultural Commission, the following individuals applied for the vacancies: Carlos A. Fernandez, Kurt Perschke, Parker Browne, Thomas…”
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.