Regular meeting of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners on December 17, 2024

The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners held its regular meeting on December 17, 2024, beginning with the Pledge of Allegiance and a reminder regarding ethical duties and open government practices. The Board unanimously approved the consent agenda, which included routine administrative matters and the approval of previous meeting minutes. The meeting focused heavily on recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene, financial updates, and ongoing community initiatives, with several key decisions made to support residents and county operations.

A significant portion of the discussion centered on disaster relief and financial stability. The Board unanimously approved a budget amendment to accept $199,296 from the state’s disaster relief fund, designated to provide one-time rental assistance to eligible residents impacted by Hurricane Helene. Additionally, the Board approved a revised Helene disaster leave policy, allowing employees to use up to 40 hours of paid leave for recovery-related purposes and permitting the use of sick leave in disaster situations, mirroring state policy. Finance Director Melissa Moore presented a first-quarter financial update for Fiscal Year 2025, noting that overall revenue was slightly ahead of last year with a 3.8% increase and property tax collection on track, while expenditures remained within budget, particularly in human services and education.

Regarding homelessness and housing, Homeless Program Manager Lacey Hoyle provided an update on Continuum of Care initiatives. Key developments included modifying the Ramada site deed restriction to include both veteran supportive and affordable housing, allocating ARPA funding for emergency shelter responses, and streamlining housing placement for disaster survivors through the "Back at Home" program. The Board also approved the Consolidated Application for HUD Continuum of Care funding and discussed new work groups aimed at improving coordinated entry and planning for the annual Point-in-Time count. These efforts were contextualized by the county’s significant response to Hurricane Helene, including shelter operations and outreach.

Public comment featured two speakers from Strong Towns and Asheville for All, Marty Benson and Nick Levine. Both advocated for the Board to re-evaluate and potentially abolish mandatory parking minimums, arguing that such regulations hinder housing development. Levine used a checkers analogy to illustrate the restrictive nature of current parking regulations. The Board did not take action on this request during the meeting, and no specific response from commissioners to these comments was recorded in the summary.

The Board also received an update from Strategic Partnerships Director Rachel Sawyer on the mandated feasibility study regarding the potential merger of the Asheville City and Buncombe County school systems. The study, which involves extensive data collection through surveys, interviews, and focus groups, is nearing completion with a final report expected by December 31, 2024. The Board will review the report and provide comments before it is submitted to the state. A joint meeting with the Asheville City and Buncombe County school boards is scheduled for January 16, 2025, to discuss the study's findings.

The meeting concluded with the Board entering closed session to consult with legal counsel regarding ongoing lawsuits, specifically Interim Solutions et al vs. Buncombe County and Estate of Mallory Chris vs. Buncombe County. No action was taken during this closed session. The next regular Board of Commissioners meeting is scheduled for January 7, 2025.