# City Council Meeting (Oct 22, 2024) **Body:** City of Asheville — City Council **Date:** October 22, 2024 12:00 PM EDT (2024-10-22T12:00:00-04:00) **Link:** https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1528 ## Summary The Asheville City Council meeting held on October 22, 2024, was dominated by discussions surrounding the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene and laying groundwork for future city projects. Here's a breakdown of what happened, why it matters to you, and what comes next: **1. Responding to Hurricane Helene – Immediate Relief & Long-Term Recovery:** A significant portion of the meeting centered on addressing the damage caused by Hurricane Helene. Council members unanimously approved a plan to allocate **$1 million in existing funds** to provide grants for home repair and rental assistance, directly helping residents struggling with storm-related damage. They also approved a plan to use Community Development Block Grant funds for **business stabilization grants**, aiming to support local businesses impacted by the storm. The Council also approved a lease agreement for a temporary debris processing site, crucial for efficiently removing the massive amount of storm debris. This demonstrates the city's commitment to supporting residents and businesses during this challenging time. **2. Key Decisions & Approvals:** Beyond storm recovery, Council made several other important decisions: * **Ford Fleet Maintenance Contracts:** Approved contracts with two local Ford dealerships, ensuring the city’s fleet of vehicles remains operational. * **Harrah's Cherokee Center Chiller Replacement:** Approved funding for a much-needed upgrade to the cooling system at the Harrah’s Cherokee Center, improving energy efficiency. * **Emergency Shelter Funding Extended:** Extended funding for emergency shelter beds, providing a vital safety net for vulnerable individuals. * **Sidewalk Project Approved:** Approved construction of a new sidewalk on New Haw Creek Road, enhancing pedestrian safety and connectivity. * **Bond Referendum Discussion:** The Council discussed the upcoming November ballot referendum on an $80 million General Obligation (GO) bond. Good news for taxpayers: the property tax increase needed to fund these bonds has been delayed until 2026. **3. Voices from the Community:** The public comment period was lively, with residents raising concerns about the proposed temporary debris site at 65 Ford Street. Residents living near the area voiced worries about zoning regulations, potential health impacts, and overall management of the site. Other residents advocated for prioritizing assistance to public housing residents during recovery efforts and questioned how funds were being allocated. These comments highlighted the community’s desire for transparency and a focus on equitable recovery efforts. **4. What's Next? – Action Items & Future Steps:** * **Grant Programs Roll Out:** City staff and partner organizations will begin distributing grants for home repair, rental assistance, and business stabilization. * **Continued Storm Recovery:** The city will continue working with FEMA and state agencies to secure additional disaster relief funding. * **GO Bond Vote:** Residents are encouraged to participate in early voting for the November ballot referendum on the GO bond. * **Deaverview Future Planning:** Discussions are underway regarding a broader redevelopment strategy for the Deaverview area, following the decision to reallocate previously earmarked funds. * **Litter & Cleanliness Program:** The city will explore options for continued litter and cleanliness services beyond the current funding cycle. **5. Why This Matters to You:** The decisions made at this meeting directly impact the quality of life for Asheville residents. The storm recovery efforts provide crucial support to those affected by Hurricane Helene, while the infrastructure projects like the sidewalk construction and chiller replacement will improve our community’s safety and efficiency. The upcoming GO bond vote offers an opportunity to invest in affordable housing, transportation improvements, parks and recreation facilities, and public safety – shaping the future of our city. This recap aims to provide a clear overview of the key events and decisions made during this important City Council meeting. You can find more detailed information, including the full agenda and minutes, on the city's website: [https://www.ashevillenc.gov/government/city-council-meeting-materials/](https://www.ashevillenc.gov/government/city-council-meeting-materials/) ## Agenda - [Approval of the combined minutes of the agenda briefing worksession held on 19, 2024, and the formal meeting held on September 24, 2024.](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1528/item/20220) - [Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a contract amendment with WNC Landscaping LLC to increase the total contract amount, and authorizing an increase in the total project funding for the Litter & Cleanliness Program.](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1528/item/9096) - [Resolutions authorizing the City Manager to execute not-to-exceed on-call contracts for an initial one year term and option for two 1-year renewals with Parks Ford LLC. and Ken Wilson Ford Inc. for Ford service and repairs for the City’s fleet.](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1528/item/9097) - [Resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into a contract with Bolton Construction and Service of WNC, Inc. for replacement of the chilled water pump at the Harrah’s Cherokee Center - Asheville chiller.](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1528/item/9098) - [Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute an amendment to the interlocal agreement with Buncombe County to administer their American Rescue Plan Act funding for the emergency shelter beds project; and to extend the service agreements with Salvation Army, Safe Shelter, and Haywood Street Congregation to preserve and expand the availability of emergency shelter beds.](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1528/item/9099) - [Budget amendment, in the amount of $3,605,000, for the funds received from Buncombe County.](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1528/item/9100) - [Budget amendment (1) in the amount of $11.0 million in the City’s Special Revenue Fund; and (2) in the amount of $25.1 million in the City’s Water Capital Improvement Fund; both funded with Federal Emergency Management Agency reimbursements.](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1528/item/9101) - [Resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into a contract with VODA.ai for the Lead Service Line Inventory.](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1528/item/9102) - [Resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into a contract with Appalachian Site Works Inc. for the construction of the New Haw Creek Sidewalk Project.](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1528/item/9103) - [Resolution authorizing a lease agreement with Enka Samet, LLC for a temporary debris processing site at 264 and 274 Enka Heritage Parkway in response to the damage incurred during Tropical Storm Helene.](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1528/item/9104) - [Monthly municipal property tax refunds or releases per N.C. Gen. Stat. sec. 105-381.](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1528/item/9105) - [Manager’s Report - Update on 2024 General Obligation Bond Referendum](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1528/item/9106) - [Support Helene Recovery](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1528/item/20221) - [Resolution authorizing the allocation of $1 Million in Affordable Housing Capital Improvement Program funds to support Helene recovery in the form of home repair grants, rental assistance and associated administrative expenses.](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1528/item/9107) - [Resolution authorizing an amendment to the 2018-19 Annual Action Plan and the 2019-20 Annual Action Plan to allocate uncommitted Community Development Block Grant funds to support Helene recovery in the form of business restabilization grants.](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1528/item/9108) - [Budget amendment, in the amount of $929,070.](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1528/item/20222) - [Resolution to rescind the $1,035,000 Housing Trust Fund allocation and the $1,465,000 Affordable Housing Bond funds awarded to the Housing Authority of the City of Asheville for a tax credit project at Deaverview that is no longer being developed; and reallocate the $1,035,000 to the Housing Trust Fund balance and $1,465,000 Bond Funds to Hurricane Helene related Home Repair Grants to low and moderate-income households; and authorize the City Manager to approve the allocation of Bond funds for Home Repair Grants to partner organizations and to execute any and all documents necessary to give effect.](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1528/item/9110) ## Votes - Resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into a contract with Bolton Construction and Service of WNC, Inc. for replacement of the chilled water pump at the Harrah’s Cherokee Center - Asheville chiller. — Passed, 6-0 - Budget amendment, in the amount of $3,605,000, for the funds received from Buncombe County. — Passed, 6-0 - Resolution authorizing the allocation of $1 Million in Affordable Housing Capital Improvement Program funds to support Helene recovery in the form of home repair grants, rental assistance and associated administrative expenses. — Passed, 6-0 - Resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into a contract with VODA.ai for the Lead Service Line Inventory. — Passed, 6-0 - Resolution authorizing a lease agreement with Enka Samet, LLC for a temporary debris processing site at 264 and 274 Enka Heritage Parkway in response to the damage incurred during Tropical Storm Helene. — Passed, 6-0 - Budget amendment (1) in the amount of $11.0 million in the City’s Special Revenue Fund; and (2) in the amount of $25.1 million in the City’s Water Capital Improvement Fund; both funded with Federal Emergency Management Agency reimbursements. — Passed, 6-0 - Budget amendment, in the amount of $929,070, to allocate uncommitted Community Development Block Grant funds to support Helene recovery in the form of business restabilization grants. — Passed, 6-0 - Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute an amendment to the interlocal agreement with Buncombe County to administer their American Rescue Plan Act funding for the emergency shelter beds project; and to extend the service agreements with Salvation Army, Safe Shelter, and Haywood Street Congregation to preserve and expand the availability of emergency shelter beds. — Passed, 6-0 - Resolutions authorizing the City Manager to execute not-to-exceed on-call contracts for an initial one year term and option for two 1-year renewals with Parks Ford LLC. and Ken Wilson Ford Inc. for Ford service and repairs for the City’s fleet. — Passed, 6-0 - Resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into a contract with Appalachian Site Works Inc. for the construction of the New Haw Creek Sidewalk Project. — Passed, 6-0 - Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a contract amendment with WNC Landscaping LLC to increase the total contract amount, and authorizing an increase in the total project funding for the Litter & Cleanliness Program. — Passed, 6-0 ## Video & Transcript - Recording: https://www.youtube.com/live/k8_NPK5VCxI?si=0HimJO-mC0-s4CpD - Transcript: https://sunshinemeetings.org/transcript/1137/segments ## Documents - [Presentations A - Manager's Report.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1528?document=3729) - [New A - 1 - CIP $1M Allocation, Helene Recovery.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1528?document=3769) - [Consent D - Harrah's Chilled Water Pump Replacement.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1528?document=3816) - [New A - Presentation - Recovery Resources TS Helene .pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1528?document=3743) - [Consent B - Litter & Cleanliness Program Amdt.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1528?document=3793) - [agenda_2024-10-22.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1528?document=3710) - [Consent A - Minutes.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1528?document=3824) - [Consent C - On-Call Contracts.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1528?document=3780) - [Consent G - Lead Svs Line Predictive Modeling Contract.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1528?document=3800) - [Consent F - Helene Budget Amendment.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1528?document=3820) - [Consent E - Co Interlocal Agrmt - ARPA.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1528?document=3783) - [New A - 2 - CDBG Allocation, Helene Recovery.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1528?document=3776) - [Consent H - New Haw Creek Sidewalk construction .pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1528?document=3788) - [Consent J - Tax Refunds.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1528?document=3811) - [Consent I - Enka Samet Debris Processing Site.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1528?document=3812) - [Agenda - Spanish.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1528?document=3750) - [New A - 3 - Rescind $2.5 Deaverview funds.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1528?document=3764) - [Agenda.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1528?document=3759) - [minutes_2024-10-22.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1528?document=3717) ## Sources - [City of Asheville WordPress](https://www.ashevillenc.gov/government/meetings/city-council-meeting-oct-22-2024/) - [Agenda Briefing](https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1TsR02zHKHtInQVsTsfd1fIublkeHPUSa?usp=drive_link) - [Resolutions](https://drive.google.com/file/d/10ibPa0fi8iK1C7VVok0ABOx2FN4yDvsD/view?usp=drive_link) - [Ordinances](https://drive.google.com/file/d/10nLBAADCvkkS4KHDn2xLAHgixTYN_xeR/view?usp=drive_link) - [Public Input](https://publicinput.com/g1267) - [City Council agenda page](https://www.ashevillenc.gov/government/city-council-agenda/)