# Town Council Workshop Sept. 17, 2024

**Body:** Town of Weaverville — Town Council
**Date:** September 17, 2024 6:00 PM EDT (2024-09-17T18:00:00-04:00)

**Link:** https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1882

## Summary

**Town Council Workshop Recap: September 17, 2024**

The Town of Weaverville Town Council held a regular workshop on September 17, 2024, at 6:00 pm in the Weaverville Community Room at Town Hall. The primary focus of the meeting was the Community Center Annual Report, presented by Community Center Manager Sarah Myers. The discussion covered the center’s operations, including private rentals, community programming, facility management, the Recreation Complex, the Dry Ridge Historical Museum, and the Weaverville Tailgate Market. The Council engaged in an open discussion to provide direction to staff regarding current performance and future goals.

During the presentation, Manager Myers reported that the Community Center’s usage is split evenly between private rentals and community programs, a balance the Council viewed as successful. The Town currently oversees more than 20 regular programs and special events managed by a volunteer steering committee. However, concerns were raised regarding the sustainability of the free program model, with the Town considering potential policy updates to help cover programming costs. Staff also highlighted operational challenges, specifically regarding post-rental cleaning and the need for additional support for ongoing building maintenance.

The Council discussed several specific operational areas, including private rentals, outdoor recreation, and market logistics. Regarding private rentals, the Council expressed openness to allowing nonprofits to rent spaces for fundraisers, provided they receive approval from the Town Manager. Discussions on the Outdoor Recreation Complex included its history as a pool, recent pickleball clinics, and ongoing noise mitigation efforts, such as sound barriers and tree planting. The Council directed staff to continue seeking noise solutions. Additionally, the Council noted the recent renewal of the Dry Ridge Historical Museum lease and raised concerns about balancing the museum’s free space usage with the Town’s broader growth plans.

Significant attention was given to the Weaverville Tailgate Market, which utilizes the entire Community Center on Wednesdays. The Council noted that this usage causes some disruption and minor damage, and they are considering relocating the Buncombe County Board of Elections voting to mitigate these impacts. On the topic of staffing and future planning, the Council agreed that the Community Center does not need to generate a profit and that community programs remain valuable. To address growing demands, the Council identified a need for succession planning and additional staff.

Several action items and follow-ups were established during the workshop. The Council directed staff to present a plan to potentially limit the number of private rentals per weekend. Staff also agreed to provide data distinguishing between resident and out-of-town private rental users. Furthermore, the Town will explore the possibility of renting the underutilized Community Room at Town Hall. No public comments were recorded in the available transcripts, and no votes were taken, as this was a workshop focused on discussion and direction rather than final legislative action.

## Agenda

- [Community Center Annual Report](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1882/item/26776)
- [Current Programming and Operations](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1882/item/26777)
- [Private Rentals](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1882/item/26778)
- [Community Programming and Arts (WCPA, formerly WCCHL)](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1882/item/26779)
- [Facility Management/Maintenance](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1882/item/26780)
- [Recreation Complex](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1882/item/26781)
- [Dry Ridge Historical Museum](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1882/item/26782)
- [Weaverville Tailgate Market](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1882/item/26783)
- [Current and Future Staffing](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1882/item/26784)
- [Goals/Benchmarks for Community Center Usage](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1882/item/26785)
- [Other Discussion or Direction to Staff](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1882/item/26786)

## Video & Transcript

- Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hdj3vBimZDY
- Transcript: https://sunshinemeetings.org/transcript/1385/segments

## Documents

- [minutes_2024-09-17.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1882?document=14418)
- [agenda_packet_2024-09-17.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1882?document=14417)

## Sources

- [YouTube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hdj3vBimZDY)