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BY THE RECORDASHEVILLE
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Asheville City Council

June 22, 2021

Regular meeting

Other City businessWaterPublic safetyStreets and transitBudget and taxesHousingHomelessness

What it did

Votes recorded
17
Voted on separately
3
Routine items, one vote
14
Votes that split
1

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

From the City of Asheville's YouTube channel. Nothing loads from YouTube until you press play.Open on YouTube
Agenda Minutes The City's meeting page

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

  1. 14 routine items, passed together in one vote.

PRESENTATIONS & REPORTS

  1. Lead and Copper Rule Revisions - responsibilities of the City of Asheville water system: Water Resources department compliance

    “Manager Brenna Cook provided the history of the Lead and Copper Rule; Lead and Copper Action Levels; Lead and Copper Rule Revisions; 6-22-21 Page 15 Water Resources Response; Water Response Responsibilities; and potential responsibility for water customers.”

  2. Noise ordinance update

    “Development Services Director Ben Woody updated City Council on the revisions to the noise ordinance.”

  3. MANAGER’S REPORT: Reparation Speaker Series

    “City Manager Campbell said that on July 14, 2020, Asheville City Council passed a Resolution Supporting Community Reparations for Black Asheville.”

PUBLIC HEARINGS

  1. Public Hearing to conditionally rezone 70 Mills Gap Road from Industrial District and RS-2 Residential Single-Family Low Density District to residential Expansion/Conditional zone

    “At the applicant’s request, Councilwoman Turner moved to continue the public hearing to conditionally rezone 70 Mills Gap Road from Industrial District and RS-2 Residential Single-Family Low Density District to residential Expansion/Conditional zone to September 14, 2021.”

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

  1. Ordinance adopting the Fiscal Year 2021-22 Annual Operating Budget

    “Finance Director Tony McDowell said that this is the consideration of adopting the Fiscal Year 2021-22 Annual Operating Budget.”

NEW BUSINESS

  1. Resolution updating the Land Use Incentive Grant Policy

    “Community Development Programs Director Paul D’Angelo said this is the consideration of updating the Land Use Incentive Grant Policy.”

INFORMAL DISCUSSION AND PUBLIC COMMENT

  1. Public comment

    • shut down Pritchard Park
    • move forward with the noise ordinance
    • request to move the noise ordinance to the July 27, 2021, agenda
    • need to expand the property tax mitigation amount of $150,000
    • place 319 Biltmore Avenue into the reparations program
    • support for Asheville Police Department
    • request for citizens to be able to use the Council laptop without providing the information ahead of time
    • defund the Asheville Police Department and reallocate the funds into the black community
    • need support from the City for the YMI Cultural Center building restoration
    • need to increase affordable housing
    • use ARPA funds for eviction moratorium
    • affordability should be 60% AMI and below

Voted on separately

Each of these had its own motion and vote.

  1. Adopts the City budget for fiscal year 2021-22.

    Passed. Voted no: Kim Roney.

  2. Motion to adopt the Fiscal Year 2021-22 Annual Operating Budget failed.

    Failed.

    More from the minutes
    • “The Fiscal Year (FY) 2021-22 Proposed Annual Operating Budget was presented to City Council on May 25, 2021.”
    • “City Council conducted a public hearing on the Proposed Budget on June 8, 2021.”
    • “Mr. McDowell said that the proposed budget is based on internal work, Council priorities, and community input including a continuation of the reimaging public safety process.”

  3. Adopts the updated Land Use Incentive Grant Policy.

    Passed. Everyone present voted yes.

    Who it's for: Households earning up to 80% of the area median income: up to $81,920 a year for a family of four, or $57,360 for one person (HUD's 2026 income limits for tax-credit housing in the Asheville area).

    More from the minutes
    • “In November of 2010, City Council first adopted a Land Use Incentive Policy that provided incentives to encourage development projects that fulfill important public purposes directly addressing annual strategic goals set by Council such as affordable housing.”
    • “Allow a LUIG for partner developers who purchase an existing market rate building and would like to add at least 20% of the units, for individuals and families at or below 80% Area Median Income (AMI), for a minimum of 20 years.”
    • “25 pts. for converting at least 20% of the units, within 2 years, for individuals and families at or below 80% Area Median Income (AMI), for a minimum of 20 years.”

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.

  1. Changes the budget for the refunding of the recent bond anticipation notes.

    Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.

    More from the minutes
    • The money, in the minutes' words: “Action Requested: Adoption of budget amendment in the amount of $35,403,247 in the City’s General (2100) Fund to account for the refunding of debt.”

  2. Motion to support Homeward Bound in its purchase of the Days Inn located at 201 Tunnel Road.

    Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.

    More from the minutes
    • What the minutes say it will do: “This project will be an adaptive reuse of the existing motel and will create 85 affordable housing rental units for people experiencing chronic homelessness.”
    • The money, in the minutes' words: “Homeward Bound has requested that the City’s funds be structured as a grant to Homeward Bound in the amount of $2 million for acquisition costs to provide 85 permanent supportive housing units.”
    • “The motel sits on a 2.95 acre site and contains 128 guest rooms in two, 2 story buildings.”
    • “Homeward Bound will convert 85 of the 128 rooms into permanent supportive housing units by adding a small kitchenette to each of the 85 units.”
    • “Space will also be provided for community partners to deliver on-site supportive services to residents.”

  3. Signs an agreement with Air Products for the purchase of liquid oxygen at the Mills River Water Treatment Plant.

    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 five year contract with Air Products in the amount of $322,674 beginning in July 2021.”

  4. Applies for from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant, and accepts it if awarded.

    Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.

    More from the minutes
    • What the minutes say it will do: “This equipment would be utilized to support the department's Air Management and Cancer Prevention Policies.”
    • The money, in the minutes' words: “Action Requested: Adoption of a resolution authorizing the City Manager to apply for and if awarded accept the Assistance to Firefighters Grant of $130,910.”
    • “To fill bottles for these members, AFD relies upon neighboring fire departments that support a countywide air unit which responds to the incident scene.”
    • “This unit is reliable, but there are times where it is unavailable due to being used by one of the other 21 Buncombe County fire departments or being serviced.”

  5. Lets the City Manager enter into an extension of a contract with Rivertop Contracting for Median Maintenance improvements.

    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 one year extension of a contract with Rivertop Contracting in the amount of $32,222 for the Median Maintenance contract.”

  6. Lets the City Manager execute a contract amendment with Sam Schwartz Consulting LLC for the I-26 Connector Project design work.

    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 approve an amendment to the Sam Schwartz Consulting, LLC contract to increase the contract by $7,000, raising the contract total to $207,000, for I-26 Connector Project design work.”
    • “Sam Schwartz Consulting, LLC has prepared a report on behalf of the I-26 Connector Project Aesthetics Committee that is currently being reviewed by the NCDOT.”
    • “The work for the Aesthetics Committee included reviewing the possibility of reducing the overall French Broad River crossing's footprint, the possibility of reducing the project’s impact on property within Asheville, and maintaining the anticipated capacity of the proposed design.”

  7. Lets the City Manager grant an easement on City right-of-way for an existing loading dock at 99 Riverside Drive.

    Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.

    More from the minutes
    • The money, in the minutes' words: “The property owner will be charged fair market value for the square footage that is needed, for a total amount of $5,000.”
    • “The Real Estate Office has proposed a permanent easement instead of an encroachment, because this improvement is a permanent part of the building and is an existing issue.”
    • “A survey has been completed and the easement area is 312 square feet.”

  8. Lets the City Manager sign a license agreement with US Cellular at 57 Crestwood Drive.

    Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.

  9. Accepts the Annual Flood Mitigation Actions Report and supporting the re-certification as a member of the Community…

    Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.

    More from the minutes
    • “Staff time is currently programmed into the annual operating budget.”

  10. Signs a contract with Dude Solutions to renew contract for facility dude license, the City’s carbon tracking system.

    Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.

  11. Adopts an ethics policy for advisory boards and commissions.

    Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.

    More from the minutes
    • What the minutes say it will do: “The policy will help ensure that all public meetings are a welcoming, respectful, safe, and productive atmosphere to conduct business.”

  12. Amends Chapter 13, Article II, of the code of ordinances relating the Rules and procedures…

    Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.

  13. Lets the City Manager accept land donation at Old Haywood Road and Eastview Circle.

    Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.

    More from the minutes
    • “The parcel is 0.12 acres and is located across the street from Fire Station #10 at the corner of Old Haywood Road and Eastview Circle.”

  14. Changes the dates of Council meetings.

    Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.

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.