Asheville City Council
May 12, 2026
Regular meeting: City Council Meeting (In-Person)
Other City businessWaterBudget and taxesStreets and transitHelene recoveryHousing
The short version
17 decisions: 9 approved together in one consent-agenda vote, and 8 voted on separately. 2 votes split.
- Council approves the negotiation of an Installment Financing Contract.
Council voted to approve the negotiation of an Installment Financing Contract. It also provides for certain other related matters thereto.
Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
- A motion to approve the award of CDBG-DR Multi-Family Housing Program funds to Mountain Housing Opportunities/South Creek Development (Terrace at River Hills) died without a second.
A motion to approve the award of CDBG-DR Multi-Family Housing Program funds to Mountain Housing Opportunities/South Creek Development (Terrace at River Hills) died without a second, so there was no vote.
Failed.
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
Jump to a part of the meeting (16 times listed by the City)
These times and titles are the City's own, copied from the video description.
What residents raised
The topics public speakers raised, as the minutes list them. These are residents' comments, not findings.
- concerned that Council did not let everyone speak
- need to pay the City employees a living wage
- certain rights at public meetings
Voted on separately
Each of these had its own motion and vote.
Council approves the negotiation of an Installment Financing Contract.
Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
More
Council voted to approve the negotiation of an Installment Financing Contract. It also provides for certain other related matters thereto.
- The money, in the minutes' words: “Staff is seeking Council approval of the initial resolution authorizing the installment financing and related issuance of 2026 Interim Limited Obligation Bonds (LOBs) in an amount not to exceed $40,000,000.”
Failed.
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A motion to approve the award of CDBG-DR Multi-Family Housing Program funds to Mountain Housing Opportunities/South Creek Development (Terrace at River Hills) died without a second, so there was no vote.
- “Mr. Powell Howell felt we should use these funds for repairing and restoring our homes first.”
- “President and CEO of Mountain Housing Opportunities (MHO) Geoffrey Barton understood Council’s concern of high costs per unit.”
- “He did feel this was an opportunity to get a significant number of affordable housing, noting that multi-family rental is critical.”
What that means
- Without a second:
- A motion needs a second member's support before Council can vote on it. Without one, there's no vote.
Official title
Passed. Voted no: Kim Roney.
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- “Supporters often rely on emotionally charged examples, such as stories about missing children being found through RTCCs, to justify their expansion.”
Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
More
Council voted to deny a request to rezone 99999 Caribou Rd from Residential Single-Family Medium Density (RS-4) to Residential Expansion - Conditional Zone (RES EXP-CZ).
- “the site, or a rate of 20% of the site if the project meets the incentive requirements for either enhanced stormwater or affordable housing.”
- “Open space can be further reduced to 15% if the proposed open space meets certain design and operational standards.”
- “The project proposes 20% open space as required based on their stormwater plan, which equals 1.9 acres.”
Council rezones 1116 Sweeten Creek Rd, with conditions.
Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
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Council voted to rezone 1116 Sweeten Creek Rd, with conditions, from Commercial Industrial (CI) and Residential Multi-family High Density (RM-16) to Residential Expansion - Conditional Zone (RES EXP-CZ).
- What the City says it's for: “The proposed project would result in a total impervious area of 50%.”
- “Overall Project Proposal New building construction includes one 4-story multi-family building, one 3-story multi-family building, totalling 126 affordable housing units, as well as an outdoor pavilion.”
- “The pavilion is proposed in the central section of the site with additional outdoor amenities.”
- “The two multi-family buildings are proposed as a larger L-shaped 4-story structure with 96 units along the north and western sides of the developed area and a rectangular 3 story building along the southern side with 30 units.”
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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Council voted to approve the award of CDBG-DR Multi-Family Housing Program funds to Commonwealth Development Corporation (District East Commons), and Laurel Street (319B Biltmore).
- What the City says it's for: “This award funds the second phase of a project on a City-owned property, with the first phase (109 workforce + affordable units) already fully funded with City support.”
- “The application for the CDBG-DR Affordable Multi-Family Housing Construction funding opportunity closed on February 25, with the volume of submissions signaling significant demand for multifamily housing construction.”
- “To proceed, the City Council must authorize agreements between the City and developers and award CDBG-DR funds for the construction of Affordable Multi-Family Housing within the City of Asheville.”
- “The projects are also time-sensitive to meet the community's recovery needs, quickly initiate much-needed affordable multifamily housing construction, and activate CDBG-DR funds.”
Council requests the release of Property from a Deed of Trust related to Limited Obligation Bonds.
Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
More
Council voted to request the release of Property from a Deed of Trust related to Limited Obligation Bonds.
What that means
- Bonds:
- Bonds are loans the City pays back over many years, with interest.
Council adopts a resolution to permanently close a portion of unopened right-of-way.
Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
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Council voted to adopt a resolution to permanently close a portion of unopened right-of-way on the western edge of Saint Dunstan’s Road, between 159 Saint Dunstan’s Road and 183 Saint Dunstan’s Road.
- “Instead, this excess unopened portion of the right-of-way area has served as driveway access to the parcels/homes there, and until recently the property owners were unaware that their properties did not access Saint Dunstan's Road.”
- “The closure will allow these homes to construct driveways that will connect to the legal public right-of-way of Saint Dunstan’s Road.”
- “This excess unopened portion of the right-of-way has served as driveway access to the parcels/homes.”
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
9 items, approved in one vote without separate discussion. Any member can pull an item out for its own vote.
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Council voted to adopt Bond Order authorizing the issuance of Water System Revenue Bonds of the City of Asheville, North Carolina, in an aggregate principal amount.
- The money, in the minutes' words: “In January 2026, City Council adopted a resolution providing staff with authorization to enter into a contract with TP Howard Plumbing, Inc, including contingency, totaling $8,948,500 for the Neighborhood Enhancement Project (NEP) Area 8 - Water Distribution.”
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.
- Bonds:
- Bonds are loans the City pays back over many years, with interest.
Official title
More
- The money, in the minutes' words: “Motion to adopt a budget amendment in the amount of $1,400,000 to the HCCA operating fund to reflect updated fiscal year 2025-26 (FY26) revenue and expenditure projections.”
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 multi-year agreement with the Mills River Partnership, Inc. for the Mills River Watershed Best Management Practices project over three fiscal years contingent upon funding each year.
- The money, in the minutes' words: “Motion to adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a multi-year Agreement with the Mills River Partnership, Inc., for the Mills River Watershed Best Management Practices project for a not-to-exceed amount of $180,000.00 over three (3) fiscal years contingent upon funding each year.”
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 VHB Engineering NC PC.
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Council voted to approve a contract with VHB Engineering NC PC for design and engineering services for Helene Recovery Project - Citywide Road Structures Repairs and Replacements to repair and replace damaged bridges and large culverts.
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 building automation at Harrah’s Cherokee Center - Asheville.
More
Council voted to change its contract with Diakin Applied Americas Inc. for building automation at Harrah’s Cherokee Center - Asheville.
- What the City says it's for: “This amendment will adjust the contract to include both parts and labor when addressing warranty coverage of the controls equipment of the HVAC system at the facility.”
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 contract with Creditron for a maintenance agreement for a mail scanner for the Water Resources Department.
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 Duke Energy for utility relocations for the Johnston Boulevard Sidewalk Utility Relocations Project; and to execute any change orders that may arise during the project up to the contingency amount.
- What the City says it's for: “This project will construct around 1 mile of sidewalk along Johnston Boulevard (S.R. 1319) between Patton Avenue (U.S. 19) and Iona Circle, near the Johnston Elementary School in Buncombe County.”
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.
Consent Agenda
9 consent-agenda items, approved together in one vote.
Public Hearings
Public hearing and adoption of the preliminary resolution authorizing the issuance of 2026 Interim Limited Obligation Bonds
“The City has been utilizing a multi-year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and Debt Model since fiscal year 2013-14.”
- Vote: Council approves the negotiation of an Installment Financing Contract.
- Vote: Council requests the release of Property from a Deed of Trust related to Limited Obligation Bonds.
- Vote: Council adopts a resolution to permanently close a portion of unopened right-of-way.
- Vote: Council denies a request to rezone 99999 Caribou Rd from Residential Single-Family Medium Density (RS-4) to Residential Expansion - Conditional Zone (RES EXP-CZ).
- Vote: Council rezones 1116 Sweeten Creek Rd, with conditions.
New Business
Resolution Number. 26-96 - Resolution authorizing the award of Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery multi-family housing funds to Mountain Housing Opportunities/South Creek Development (Terrace at River Hills),…
“Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery Project Manager Elma King said that this is the consideration of a resolution authorizing the award of Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) multi-family housing funds to Mountain Housing Opportunities/South Creek…”
- Vote: Council approves the award of CDBG-DR Multi-Family Housing Program funds to Commonwealth Development Corporation (District East Commons).
- Vote: A motion to approve the award of CDBG-DR Multi-Family Housing Program funds to Mountain Housing Opportunities/South Creek Development (Terrace at River Hills) died without a second.
Declaration of Policy for Public Safety Tools, Asheville Police Department Grant Award, Budget Amendment, and Axon Contract
“Mayor Manheimer said that public comment on the consideration of the resolution to declare and reaffirm the protection of civil liberties of all residents and visitors; the Community Project Funding Award, the budget amendment, and the Axon contract would be combined; however, a separate vote will…”
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.