Asheville City Council
March 28, 2023
Regular meeting
Other City businessStreets and transitPublic safetyHousingWaterBudget and taxes
What it did
- Lets the City Manager submit the HOME-ARP Allocation Plan as an amendment to the FY 2021-2022 Annual Action Plan (AAP)…Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
- Allows Asheville Police Department (APD) the initial purchase of a DNA Analyzer System bundle and service contracts…Passed. Voted no: Kim Roney.
- Rezones 283 Merrimon Ave, with conditions, from Institutional (INST) and Residential Multi-Family Medium Density (RM-8) to Institutional (INST) and Institutional - Conditional Zone (INST - CZ).Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
- Motion to approve the conditional zoning request for the property located at 283 Merrimon Ave.Outcome as recorded in the minutes.
- Votes recorded
- 19
- Voted on separately
- 6
- Routine items, one vote
- 13
- 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
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
13 routine items, passed together in one vote.
PRESENTATIONS & REPORTS
MANAGER’S REPORT 2022: Crime Data & Response Strategies Including Recruitment
“Police Chief David Zack said the following are the key takeaways from this presentation: (1) although violent crime trends are discouraging, Asheville Police Department (APD) is committed to ensuring Asheville continues to be a safe place to live, do business, shop, recreate and visit; (2) in 2022…”
Update on independent review Committee - water
“Capital Projects Director Jade Dundas said the following are the key takeaways from his presentation: (1) Committee making good progress and should be on track to meet the 90 day timeline for delivery of final report; (2) The Committees is principally doing its work in three subcommittees and…”
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Public hearing to consider conditional zoning of 283 Merrimon Avenue from Institutional District and RM-8 Residential Multi-Family Medium Density District to Institutional District/Conditional Zone: Page 25
“Page 25 Principal Planner Will Palmquist said that this is the consideration of an ordinance to conditionally zone 283 Merrimon Avenue from Institutional District and RM-8 Residential Multi-Family Medium Density District to Institutional District/Conditional Zone.”
Public hearing relative to adoption of the South Slope: a Southside Neighborhood Vision Plan resolution adopting the South Slope: a Southside Neighborhood Vision Plan
“Affordable Housing Officer Sasha Vrtunski said that this is the consideration of a resolution adopting the South Slope: A Southside Neighborhood Vision Plan (“South Slope Vision Plan”), which includes a vision for the future planning and development of the South Slope study area, a part of the larger Southside area.”
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Resolution to submit to the U.S. dept. of Housing & Urban Development the HOME-ARP Allocation Plan: community & economic
“Director Nikki Reid said that this the consideration of a resolution to submit the HOME-ARP Allocation Plan as an amendment to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021-2022 Annual Action Plan (AAP) to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).”
NEW BUSINESS
Resolution adopting the Municipal Climate Action Plan for Municipal Sustainability Goals and Initiatives
“Sustainability Director Bridget Herring said that this is the consideration of adopting the Municipal Climate Action Plan for Municipal Sustainability Goals and Initiatives.”
Ordinance adopting the Fiscal Year 2024 Fees & charges manual
“Budget Manager Taylor Floyd said that this is the consideration of an ordinance establishing the fees and charges for FY 2023-24.”
INFORMAL DISCUSSION AND PUBLIC COMMENT
Public comment
- need to draw attention to Asheville for potential in renewal technologies
- Asheville Howell-Reed Bill
- Asheville Tourists should help memorize something in the South Slope area
Voted on separately
Each of these had its own motion and vote.
Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
More from the minutes
- What the minutes say it will do: “The funding availability will be based on the amounts indicated in the table above for the selected eligible activities, with letters of support required from CoCs for the county or counties where the project will be located or where services will be provided.”
- The money, in the minutes' words: “The City of Asheville received notification from HUD of a special allocation of HOME funds, known as the HOME Investment Partnerships American Rescue Plan Program (HOME-ARP), in the amount of $4,699,862.”
- “The Asheville Regional Housing Consortium (ARHC) consists of contiguous units of local governments that come together to qualify for a direct allocation of HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) funds from the US Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD).”
- “Annual HOME funds provide formula grants to states and localities to fund a wide range of activities including building, buying, and/or rehabilitating affordable housing or providing direct rental assistance to low-income individuals and families.”
- “This special allocation of HUD HOME-ARP funds is targeted specifically to assist individuals or households who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, and other vulnerable populations.”
Motion to approve the conditional zoning request for the property located at 283 Merrimon Ave.
Outcome as recorded in the minutes.
More from the minutes
- “church building with one-story and three-story additions to the south, as well as a one-story residential structure located in the southeast corner of the lot.”
- “Any future adaptive re-use or redevelopment will likely be reviewed as a “by-right” development within the existing and proposed zoning districts.”
- “Access to the site is currently provided by two curb cuts on Annadale Ave.”
Adopts the Municipal Climate Action Plan for Municipal Sustainability Goals and Initiatives.
Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
More from the minutes
- What the minutes say it will do: “The purpose of the Municipal Climate Action Plan (MCAP) is to update the City’s 2009 Sustainability Management Plan with updated and newly adopted resolutions around climate mitigation and adaptation.”
- “Goal 3 is the City supports sustainability and resilience for area residents and businesses.”
Changes the City's fees and charges for Fiscal Year 2023-24, with the deletion of the water fees.
Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
More from the minutes
- “There was discussion and consensus of Council to not approve the water rates at this meeting, but for staff to come back with a recommendation for a possible path forward to minimize or freeze residential water rates, as we are putting the burden of our infrastructure on full-time residents.”
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.
Signs a contract with NEOGOV to implement a comprehensive Human Resources system.
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
More from the minutes
- The money, in the minutes' words: “The total five-year contract amount is not to exceed $1,300,000.”
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 Design Workshop, Inc. for the development of a Comprehensive Parks & Recreation Master Plan for a total contract amount not to exceed $238,000.”
- “It is important that the City understands current resident recreation needs & existing parks facilities conditions, to appropriately plan for and meet the level of service desired by Asheville residents”
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
More from the minutes
- The money, in the minutes' words: “The maximum total fee amount of $149,000 for the annual audit is budgeted in the Internal Audit operating budget.”
- “Proposed contract presented to the Policy, Finance, and Human Resources Committee on March 14, 2023 and to the City’s Audit Committee on March 16, 2023.”
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 amending a contract with Responder Support Services, LLC to add funds to the contract in the amount of $74,000 for a total three-year contract of $470,000 to provide ongoing embedded behavioral health support to Fire and Police Department employees and their dependents.”
Changes the contract with Mountain Goatscapes for invasive plant maintenance services.
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
More from the minutes
- What the minutes say it will do: “This contract renewal will continue to provide invasive plant maintenance services at McCormick Field, Tempie Avery Center, Stephens Lee Center, and Seven Springs Park .”
- The money, in the minutes' words: “Motion to authorize the City Manager to execute an amendment to the contract with Mountain Goatscapes, for invasive plant maintenance services to extend the contract for one year for an amount of $32,820 for a total contract amount not to exceed $93,848.”
- “The Parks & Recreation Department is responsible for the maintenance of over 600 acres of open space.”
Applies for the Expanding Digital Opportunities in Western North Carolina through Land of Sky…
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
More from the minutes
- The money, in the minutes' words: “The City will be responsible for maintenance after the initial 5 year period at approximately $500 per bus per year, for a total of $16,500 for all 33 buses.”
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 an amendment with Legerton Architecture, P.A. in the amount of $4,500 for additional architectural services on the Stephens-Lee Recreation Center Capital Improvements project.”
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
More from the minutes
- “The addition of the walking trail around a multi-use field will invite the community to use the currently under-used space where a fenced softball field is currently located.”
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
Signs a contract with J. Bartholomew.
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
More from the minutes
- What the minutes say it will do: “The grant funds will be used on capital improvements for the historic Stephens-Lee Recreation Center.”
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
More from the minutes
- “Lee Garden Lane in its entirety (the existing speed limit is the statutory 35 miles per hour)”
- “John Walker Avenue in its entirety (the existing speed limit is the statutory 35 miles per hour)”
- “U.S. 25 (Biltmore Avenue) from Hilliard Avenue to Aston Street (the existing speed limit is 35 miles per hour)”
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
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.