# City Council Agenda Briefing (Virtual) (May 21, 2026) **Body:** City of Asheville — City Council **Date:** May 21, 2026 11:00 AM EDT (2026-05-21T11:00:00-04:00) **Link:** https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/2469 ## Summary On May 21, 2026, the Asheville City Council held a virtual agenda briefing to prepare for upcoming meetings and discussions. This session, which did not include public comment, focused on reviewing the agenda for the full City Council meeting scheduled for May 26th and the Public Safety Committee meeting on May 28th. The briefing provided an overview of key items and sparked initial discussions that will inform decisions in the coming days. A significant portion of the discussion centered on the upcoming May 26th City Council meeting, particularly regarding the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Annual Operating Budget. Councilmember Kim Roney raised concerns about wage and compensation/benefit packages, specifically the 401k match, prompting a commitment from staff to provide additional information on this topic. The Council also reviewed the consent agenda, which includes routine items such as approving a $40 million bond financing contract for capital projects, extending contracts for litter and biohazard debris collection, and adjusting the schedule for Policy, Finance & Infrastructure Committee meetings. The Council also reviewed a plan for Community Development Block Grant and Home Investment Partnerships Program funding, which will be up for discussion on May 26th. Beyond the budget discussions, Walter Ear presented a Capital Improvements Update, detailing progress on various city projects. The Public Safety Committee agenda was also thoroughly reviewed, with particular attention given to updates on animal welfare calls and enforcement actions, the Emergency Operations & Continuity of Operations Plan (led by Jeremy Knighton), and early warning systems in response to Hurricane Helene’s flood damage. A draft network plan for Asheville's public transportation system (ART), presented by Jarrett Walker and Associates, generated discussion about potential route adjustments. Ricky Angrera acknowledged the difficult decisions involved in these adjustments, particularly regarding coverage for low-income residents. Councilmember Bo Hess expressed concern about the increasing trend of overtime costs, prompting a request for City Manager DK Wesley and HR to investigate potential policy adjustments. Looking ahead, the Council will continue engaging with the community regarding the draft transit network plan through neighborhood meetings and a survey. Staff is expected to present a final report on this plan in August. Several action items emerged from the briefing, including Council members reviewing the consent agenda for May 26th, staff providing detailed information on compensation packages and overtime costs, and further analysis of ridership data for potential transit route adjustments. The upcoming meetings on May 26th (City Council) and May 28th (Public Safety Committee) will provide opportunities for formal discussion, votes, and community input. Residents are encouraged to visit the City of Asheville website for more information on these meetings and related documents. ## Agenda - [Welcome and Roll Call](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/2469/item/13412) - [Updates/Reports](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/2469/item/13413) - [Upcoming City Council Agenda Review](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/2469/item/13414) - [May 26, 2026](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/2469/item/13415) - [Public Safety Committee Meeting, May 28, 2026, at 11:00 a.m.](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/2469/item/13416) - [Review of 8 Week Agenda Items](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/2469/item/13417) - [Other Items/Updates](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/2469/item/13418) - [Q3 Financial Report and Memo, Lindsay Spangler](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/2469/item/13419) - [ART Comprehensive Operations Analysis (COA) Draft Network, Jarrett Walker and Associates](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/2469/item/13420) - [Closed Session](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/2469/item/13421) - [Adjournment](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/2469/item/13422) ## Votes - Councilwoman Turner moved to come out of closed session. — Passed, 6-0 - Councilwoman Roney moved for the adoption of the Consent Agenda. — Passed, 7-0 - Motion to adopt a resolution of the City Council of the City of Asheville, North Carolina, approving an amendment to an installment financing contract to provide for the financing of additional projects and authorizing the City Manager or the Finance Director to pursue on behalf of the City debt financing for capital projects with a draw program that includes an installment financing and the related issuance of interim Limited Obligation Bonds (LOBs) in an amount not to exceed $40,000,000 for construction of various general government capital projects. — Passed, 6-0 - Motion to adopt a resolution authorizing an increase in the total project funding for the Litter and Cleanliness Program of not-to-exceed $1,073,640 and authorizing the City Manager to execute contract amendments with WNC Landscaping LLC and Steri-Clean of NC to increase each total contract amount for litter and biohazardous debris collection and extending the renewal periods. — Passed, 6-0 - Motion to adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a contract amendment to add an additional $120,000 per year to this contract for the second and third year renewals, with Weisiger Group / DBA Carolina Caterpillar for Heavy Truck Repair and Service to supplement Fleet Maintenance, for a total not-to-exceed amount of $960,000. — Passed, 6-0 - Resolution Number 26-103 - Resolution amending the 2026 City Council meeting schedule — Passed, 7-0 ## Video & Transcript - Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ia6Nh_TkJv0 - Transcript: https://sunshinemeetings.org/transcript/1897/segments ## Documents - [Memo - Follow-Up.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/2469?document=8610) - [May 26.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/2469?document=8597) - [ART Comprehensive Operations Analysis (COA) Draft Network,.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/2469?document=8604) - [Memo.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/2469?document=8602) - [Public Safety Committee Meeting,.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/2469?document=8599) - [8 Week.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/2469?document=8600) - [Q3 Financial Report.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/2469?document=8601) - [Agenda - Spanish.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/2469?document=7714) - [Agenda.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/2469?document=7715) - [agenda_2026-05-21.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/2469?document=7712) - [minutes_2026-05-21.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/2469?document=9113) ## Sources - [City of Asheville WordPress](https://www.ashevillenc.gov/government/meetings/city-council-agenda-briefing-virtual-may-21-2026/) - [City Council agenda page](https://www.ashevillenc.gov/government/city-council-agenda/)