Asheville City Council
January 14, 2025
Regular meeting
Helene recoveryWaterOther City businessHousingBudget and taxesHomelessnessPublic safety
What it did
- Signs a contract with the Asheville Downtown Improvement District (ADID) for a three year term with two additional one year options for renewal…Passed. Voted no: Kim Roney.
- Signs a a1.2 million contract with Thomas Construction Co. Inc. for the Neighborhood Enhancement Project Area 7 - Water Distribution Project.Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
- Signs a $512,500 contract with Patton Construction Group, Inc. for the Burton Street Park Playground and Basketball Court Replacement Project; further authorizing…Passed. Everyone present voted yes.
- Changes the budget for the Municipal Building Roof Replacement Project.Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
- Votes recorded
- 11
- Voted on separately
- 2
- Routine items, one vote
- 9
- 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
9 routine items, passed together in one vote.
PRESENTATIONS & REPORTS
Manager’s report
“Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Overview Steve McGugan, Assistant Director - Hazard Mitigation from the NC Dept. of Public Safety explained that the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) is 1 of 4 Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) grants provided by FEMA, focused at providing post-disaster…”
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Public hearing authorizing the City Manager to execute a contract with the Asheville Downtown Community Improvement District for delivery of Downtown Business Improvement District Services
“Assistant City Manager Ben Woody said that this is the consideration of a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a contract with the Asheville Downtown Improvement District for delivery of downtown Business Improvement District services.”
Public hearing to consider zoning text amendments to chapter 7 of the Code of ordinances to Better align Existing City regulations with the North Carolina State Building Code
“Mayor Manheimer said that because Assistant City Manager Ben Woody is scheduled to meet with the Council of Independent Business Owners, and property owners later this week, City Council will listen to staff’s presentation and hold the public hearing; however, they will not vote until the January 28 meeting.”
NEW BUSINESS
Boards & commissions
“Vice-Mayor Mosley, Chair of the Boards & Commissions Committee, said that this is the consideration of appointing a member to the Asheville-Buncombe Air Quality Agency Board. 1-14-25 Page 27 Evan Couzo resigned as a member of the Asheville-Buncombe Air Quality Board effective November 14, 2024,…”
INFORMAL DISCUSSION AND PUBLIC COMMENT
Public comment
- support for expansion of Asheville Housing Authority from 7 to 11 members
- concern about mass deportation
- disaster relief needs to be a priority and needs more funding
- urge for more assistance for residents displaced from Tropical Storm Helene
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: “This project will relocate and replace the existing playground at the community center in order to allow for NCDOT to expand the parking area.”
- “The City is currently building the capacity for Minority & Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBE), but this takes time.”
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
- What the minutes say it will do: “The project will mostly replace existing problematic water lines; which have been identified as a need through a prioritization and master planning process, due to age, pipe failures and future water capacity needs.”
- The money, in the minutes' words: “The Water Resources Department requests authorization to contract with Thomas Construction Co, Inc for the bid amount of $10,175,349.00 plus a 10% contingency in the amount of $1,017,535.90, for a total amount not to exceed $11,192,884.90 for a term ending at project completion.”
Changes the budget for the Municipal Building Roof Replacement Project.
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
More from the minutes
- What the minutes say it will do: “The project is meant to replace damage from Tropical Storm Helene and is expected to be fully funded with a mix of insurance and FEMA funds.”
- The money, in the minutes' words: “Action Requested: Adoption of: a budget amendment in the amount of $701,800 in the City’s General Capital Projects Fund which is anticipated to be funded with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reimbursements and insurance funds, for the Municipal Building Roof Replacement 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 license agreement not to exceed $325,000 with Highland Brewing Company for the purpose of temporary public access to the Gashes Creek Neighborhood.”
- “The temporary access has been utilized by Gashes Creek residents as well as numerous agencies as part of the response efforts and continuity of operations, including: NC DOT, MSD, COA (multiple departments) Delivery Companies, School bus access etc.”
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 divided into three phases.”
- The money, in the minutes' words: “Action Requested: Adoption of a resolution to authorize the City Manager to enter into a Professional Services Contract with PC Construction Company for the North Fork and William DeBruhl Water Treatment Plants Filter Rehabilitation project for a total of $314,144.00.”
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 county received 5,826 applications for housing assistance. 3,867 (66%) of the applicants were residents of Asheville and 4,479 (77%) requested rental assistance.”
- “Quality Affordable Housing”
- “Newly received CDBG grant funds will be quickly distributed to City residents who meet the program’s eligibility criteria.”
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
Motion to adopt the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Budget Calendar.
Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
More from the minutes
- “Formal presentation of the City Manager’s Proposed Budget on May 13, 2025.”
- “A public hearing on the Proposed Budget on May 27, 2025.”
Monthly municipal property tax refunds or releases per N.C. gen. stat. sec. 105-381.
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.