Asheville City Council
November 12, 2024
Regular meeting
Helene recoveryWaterOther City businessHousingStreets and transitPublic safetyHomelessness
The short version
24 decisions, approved together in one consent-agenda vote.
- Council changes the budget by $4.2 million for Helene disaster recovery and Response expenses.
Council voted to change the budget by $4.2 million for Helene disaster recovery and Response expenses, which is anticipated to be funded with Federal Emergency Management Agency reimbursements.
- Council approves, after the fact, an emergency contract with Hagerty Consulting Inc.
Council voted to approve, after the fact, an emergency contract with Hagerty Consulting Inc. for recovery management services entered into on an emergency basis in the immediate aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene.
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 affordable housing
- need assistance for service workers
- request to lobby for 11-12-24 Page 37 eviction moratorium
- suggestion to add information on the City’s website to direct people to resources
- need rent freezes and mortgage assistance
- release the remaining $500,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds to be used for rental assistance
- open up emergency positions with the City for our out of workforce
- use influence to stop the Housing Authority from evicting people
- rebuild Asheville by putting money in local businesses with grants, not loans
- the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority needs to be held accountable and LIFT funds should be used to support affordable housing
- be creative in getting rental assistance out as quickly as possible and incentivize landlords to do the right thing
- don’t use the Enka Candler Commerce Park as a debris site
- encourage and grant permission to fund and build rescue rail tracks that have a solar transportation network throughout the City, with a solar production facility in the area
- don’t develop in our floodplains
Approved together on the consent agenda
24 items, approved in one vote without separate discussion. Any member can pull an item out for its own vote.
Council approves, after the fact, an emergency contract with Tennoca Construction Co.
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- The money, in the minutes' words: “The total cost of this contract is not to exceed $10,000,000, and it is expected that 100% of this expense will be reimbursed by FEMA. Motion:”
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.
- After the fact:
- Council approves something the City already did. This often happens in an emergency, when there's no time to wait for a meeting.
Council changes the budget by $4.2 million for Helene disaster recovery and Response expenses.
More
Council voted to change the budget by $4.2 million for Helene disaster recovery and Response expenses, which is anticipated to be funded with Federal Emergency Management Agency reimbursements.
- The money, in the minutes' words: “Action Requested: Adoption of: a budget amendment in the amount of $4.2 million in the City’s Enterprise Funds which is anticipated to be funded with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reimbursements.”
- “At the end of September 2024, the City of Asheville experienced large-scale devastation and destruction as a result of Tropical Storm Helene that has affected residents, businesses and city-owned property and infrastructure.”
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.
- 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 approves, after the fact, an emergency contract with Hagerty Consulting Inc.
More
Council voted to approve, after the fact, an emergency contract with Hagerty Consulting Inc. for recovery management services entered into on an emergency basis in the immediate aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene.
- What the City says it's for: “The contract will also assist with the development and implementation of long-term recovery.”
- The money, in the minutes' words: “The initial total cost of this contract is not to exceed $1,000,000, any future amendments will be made in accordance with applicable City policies.”
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.
- After the fact:
- Council approves something the City already did. This often happens in an emergency, when there's no time to wait for a meeting.
More
- The money, in the minutes' words: “A Notice to Proceed was issued to the contractor on September 28th, the day after TS Helene, for an amount of not to exceed (NTE) $500,000 and then a formal contract was executed for the same amount, prior to a debris assessment being performed and knowing that it would need to be amended.”
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.
- After the fact:
- Council approves something the City already did. This often happens in an emergency, when there's no time to wait for a meeting.
More
- The money, in the minutes' words: “A Notice to Proceed was issued to the contractor on September 28th, the day after TS Helene, for an amount of not-to-exceed (NTE) $500,000 and then a formal contract was executed for the same amount, prior to a debris assessment being performed and knowing that it would need to be amended. 11-12-24 Page 9”
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.
- After the fact:
- Council approves something the City already did. This often happens in an emergency, when there's no time to wait for a meeting.
Council approves, after the fact, an emergency contract for the provision of prepared meal services.
More
Council voted to approve, after the fact, an emergency contract with And Contract Amendment with Confer and Associates LLC for the provision of prepared meal services.
- The money, in the minutes' words: “Under one such contract executed on October 8, 2024, the City engaged Confer and Associates, LLC, to provide prepared meal services to local first responders and partner agencies with an original contract amount not to exceed $300,000.”
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.
- After the fact:
- Council approves something the City already did. This often happens in an emergency, when there's no time to wait for a meeting.
More
Council voted to change its contract with Fiserv for harrah’s cherokee center - asheville’s Point of sale software licensing.
- The money, in the minutes' words: “Action Requested: Adoption of a resolution authorizing the City Manager to amend the Harrah’s Cherokee Center Asheville’s (HCCA) contract with Fiserv by increasing the contract amount by $48,072.00, for a revised amount of $237,911.00, for software subscriptions for the point of sale system.”
- “Contract is increased due to the addition of (6) additional point of sale units and associated software licenses to increase the total number of point of sale locations at shows.”
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 purpose of the Southside Accessibility Improvements Project is to increase pedestrian safety and create connectivity in Asheville’s multimodal network for recreation and transportation use.”
- The money, in the minutes' words: “Motion to adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a professional services contract with TranSystems Corporation in the amount not to exceed $210,160.10 plus a project contingency of $31,000 for a total not to exceed contract of $241,160.10.”
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 individual Mental Health services for employees and their families.
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Council voted to change its contract with Responder Support Services for individual Mental Health services for employees and their families.
- The money, in the minutes' words: “Action Requested: Adoption of resolution authorizing an amendment to the existing contract with Responder Support Services to increase the amount by $84,000.”
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.
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.
Council approves, after the fact, an emergency contract with T.P. Howard’s Plumbing Co. Inc.
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.
- After the fact:
- Council approves something the City already did. This often happens in an emergency, when there's no time to wait for a meeting.
Council approves, after the fact, an emergency contract with SAFE Industries.
More
Council voted to approve, after the fact, an emergency contract with SAFE Industries for the provision of providing standby technicians to supplement fleet staff to limit downtime emergency equipment and Vehicles due to repairs or maintenance as a result of Tropical Storm Helene.
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.
- After the fact:
- Council approves something the City already did. This often happens in an emergency, when there's no time to wait for a meeting.
More
- “MSW collection became a high priority after the first week due to loss of electricity throughout the City, leading to large amounts of spoiled food in residential homes.”
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.
- After the fact:
- Council approves something the City already did. This often happens in an emergency, when there's no time to wait for a meeting.
More
Council voted to approve, after the fact, an emergency contract with Waste Management of Carolinas Inc. for providing municipal solid waste disposal services at their Transfer Station located at 24 Pond Road.
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.
- After the fact:
- Council approves something the City already did. This often happens in an emergency, when there's no time to wait for a meeting.
More
Council voted to approve, after the fact, a contract with Biltmore Farm Hotel Group for lodging needs for first responders, essential employees and out-of-area emergency resources associated with Tropical Storm Helene.
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.
- After the fact:
- Council approves something the City already did. This often happens in an emergency, when there's no time to wait for a meeting.
Official title
More
- “The City’s Housing Trust Fund lends affordable housing developers funding to produce additional affordable housing units in the community.”
- “Temporarily reduces operating costs for affordable housing providers impacted by Hurricane Helene.”
- “Affordable Housing Officer Sasha Vrtunski responded to questions from Council regarding the deferral program; what happens if tenants hold vouchers; and how long the suspension or deferral period will last.”
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 RATPDev usa LLC entered into on an emergency basis in the immediate aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene for Supplemental Transit Operations and Maintenance Services.
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 dissolves the Homeless Initiative Advisory Committee.
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Council voted to dissolve the Homeless Initiative Advisory Committee.
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 submits the City of Asheville’s Planning, Homeless Management Information System.
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Council voted to submit the City of Asheville’s Planning, Homeless Management Information System, and Coordinated Entry grant applications in the Federal fiscal year 2024 Continuum of Care Competition from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. It also signs all of the appropriate agreements.
- “Quality Affordable Housing”
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.
Official title
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- “There is also a provision that the DPA loan may be transferred to an income-qualified homebuyer to continue the home as an affordable unit.”
- “Quality Affordable Housing”
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: “This work will allow for the continued operation of critical emergency services located in the Municipal Building.”
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 Enterprises G Inc. for the Roger Farmer Sports Court 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.
Council allows beer and wine at the Holiday Jamboree.
More
Council voted to let people have and drink beer and wine at the Holiday Jamboree on November 23, 2024.
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 October 2024 as “Sister Cities Month”
“Mayor Manheimer read the proclamation proclaiming October, 2024, as "Sister Cities Month" in the City of Asheville.”
CONSENT AGENDA
24 consent-agenda items, approved together in one vote.
PRESENTATIONS & REPORTS
Manager’s report - Recovery update
“City Manager Campbell said that the Manager’s report tonight will include a presentation from staff with information about a proposed organizational structure for us and the community to respond to the unprecedented conditions we are faced with to recover from this storm.”
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.