Asheville City Council
April 9, 2019
Regular meeting
Streets and transitOther City businessHousingHomelessnessBudget and taxes
What it did
- Rezones 3 Avon Road, with conditions, from Community Business I (CBI) to Community Business I Conditional Zone (CBI CZ).Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
- Changes the contract with J. Brady Contracting Inc. to complete the HVAC & Mechanical Modernization phase for the U.S. cellular Center…Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
- Changes the City's fees and charges for Fiscal Year 2019-20.Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
- Lets the City Manager execute a ground lease with Buncombe County for the East Asheville Library.Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
- Votes recorded
- 14
- Voted on separately
- 4
- Routine items, one vote
- 10
- Votes that split
- 0
Why it matters
Regular meetings are where Council votes on laws, the budget, contracts and zoning. Routine items pass together in one vote, called the consent agenda.
The recording
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
Walk Friendly Community Award
“Grace Curry, and other members from the Bike/Pedestrian Task Force, presented the City of Asheville with the Walk Friendly Community Award.”
Proclamation proclaiming April, 2019, as “Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month”
“Vice-Mayor Wisler read the proclamation proclaiming April, 2019, as "Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month" in the City of Asheville.”
Proclamation proclaiming April 22, 2019, as “Earth Day”
“Councilwoman Mayfield read the proclamation proclaiming April 22, 2019, as "Earth Day " in the City of Asheville.”
CONSENT AGENDA
10 routine items, passed together in one vote.
PRESENTATIONS & REPORTS
Water system update
“Director of Water Resources David Melton provided Council with an update on the water discoloration test results, noting communication improvements moving forward.”
PARKING AT MEMORIAL STADIUM/MCCORMICK FIELD/MOUNTAINSIDE PARK 4-9-19: Page 17 Director of Parks and Recreation Roderick Simmons and
“Transportation Director Ken Putnam provided Council with an update on parking at Memorial Stadium/McCormick Field, and responded to Council’s questions raised.”
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Public hearing to consider Conditional Zoning on property located at 3 Avon Road from commercial business i District to commercial business i/conditional zone for the construction of a new Buncombe County East Asheville Library Branch…
“Urban Planner Jessica Bernstein said that this is the consideration of an ordinance to conditionally zone property located at 3 Avon Road from Community Business I District to Community Business I District/Conditional Zone for the construction of a new Buncombe County East Asheville Library Branch building.”
NEW BUSINESS
Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a ground lease with Buncombe County for the East Asheville Library located on city-owned property at 902 Tunnel Road: real estate program
“Director Nikki Reid said that this is the consideration of a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a ground lease with Buncombe County for the East Asheville Library.”
Ordinance adopting the Fiscal Year 2019-20 fees & charges
“Assistant Finance Director of Budget and Forecasting Tony McDowell said that this is the consideration of an ordinance amending the fees and charges manual for Fiscal Year (FY) 2019-20.”
Resolution amending the Asheville Standard Specifications & Details Manual adding microcell technology and aesthetic standards
“Principal Planner Shannon Tuch said that this is the consideration of a resolution to amend the City of Asheville Standard Specifications and Details Manual to add a new "Section 11.”
Boards & commissions
“Vice-Mayor Wisler, Chair of the Boards & Commissions Committee, said that this is the consideration of appointing a member to the Citizens-Police Advisory Committee.”
INFORMAL DISCUSSION AND PUBLIC COMMENT
Public comment
“Most people are not aware of the fact that counties throughout the nation have Local Boards comprised of citizen volunteers.”
Voted on separately
Each of these had its own motion and vote.
Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
What's planned: “The construction of a new library building and site upgrades”
More from the minutes
- “The project site consists of a 1.8 acre portion of a single parcel located at 3 Avon Road (PIN 9658.87-7320) that is owned by the City of Asheville.”
- “The new building will be a single story in height.”
- “The proposed CB1 CZ zoning would be applied to only the rear portion of the site and excludes the frontage along Tunnel Road, which contains the Fire Station No. 8 building.”
Lets the City Manager execute a ground lease with Buncombe County for the East Asheville Library.
Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
More from the minutes
- What the minutes say it will do: “The lease with LEAF will expire at the end of June 2019.”
- “The City of Asheville owns a 2.76 acre parcel at 902-904 Tunnel Road and several uses are contained within the site (PIN 9658-87-7320-00000).”
- “The existing library and community center would be demolished and new facilities rebuilt within the proposed lease area.”
- “The new library would be a 14,800 square foot, one story complex and would include multi-use areas for different age groups, staff offices, a large meeting room, parking and a cafe.”
Changes the City's fees and charges for Fiscal Year 2019-20.
Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
More from the minutes
- “Proposed fee adjustments for FY 2019-20 include minor adjustments in the General Fund, along with continued incremental annual increases to Water and Stormwater rates.”
- “All of the proposed fee adjustments would become effective July 1, 2019, with the exception of changes to the charges on the combined utility bill for water and stormwater, which will become effective September 1, 2019.”
- “Small increase in the annual costs to Asheville residents and customers.”
Amends the City of Asheville Standard Specifications and Details Manual to add a new "Section 11.
Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
More from the minutes
- “While FCC Order number 18-133 is currently being challenged in court by a number of municipalities across the county, City staff believes prudence requires that the City issue its aesthetic standards prior to the April 15, 2019 deadline.”
- “Proposes basic standards that would “conceal” installations designed to improve aesthetics over what could occur if left unregulated.”
Routine items, passed together
The consent agenda: items Council approves in one vote, without separate discussion. A member can ask to pull an item out for its own vote.
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
More from the minutes
- The money, in the minutes' words: “Motion to adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to amend the contract with J. Brady Contracting, Inc. in the amount of $3,378,130 to complete the HVAC & Mechanical Modernization phase of the U.S. Cellular Center Improvements project; and to adopt the associated budget amendment.”
Signs a contract with Allison Contractors LLC for the bus shelters - phase 2 bond project.
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
More from the minutes
- The money, in the minutes' words: “Action Requested: Adoption of a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a contract with Allison Contractors, LLC for the construction of bus shelters, concrete pads and attached sidewalk at some locations in the amount of $116,969.00 plus a 10% contingency of $11,696.00.”
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
Who it's for: Households earning up to 60% of the area median income: up to $61,440 a year for a family of four, or $43,020 for one person (HUD's 2026 income limits for tax-credit housing in the Asheville area).
More from the minutes
- “The proposed new lien priorities (Bellwether Loan replaced TD Bank Loan): 1.”
- “Per City Council vote on November 10, 2015, the Eagle Market Place project was modify the amount and type of its affordable housing units.”
- “The original agreement included 62 units for households at or below 60% of AMI.”
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
More from the minutes
- “The Committee proposes amending its Bylaws to replace the provision in Article VIII with a new provision regarding Parliamentary Authority.”
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
Sells one 2010 cat 305c cr Mini Excavator deemed surplus City Personal Property.
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
Lets the City Manager approve a resolution making.
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
More from the minutes
- “The City entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Duke Energy in January 2017 for property located at 319 Biltmore Avenue and later entered into an Option to Purchase the property in October 2017 in order to redevelop the property for an affordable, mixed income community.”
- “In 2018, the City developed site concepts and performed pro-forma analysis for affordable housing on 319 Biltmore and is taking next steps to market the site for redevelopment.”
- “The site is one of the “High Impact Sites” included within the Affordable Housing Bond program.”
The plain-language lines are written by fixed rules from each item's official title, which is on each decision's page. Every vote the minutes record is listed; procedural motions, like approving the minutes or adjourning, are left out.