# City Council Worksession on Policy, Finance and Infrastructure (Jul 28, 2026)

**Body:** City of Asheville — City Council Worksession on Policy, Finance and Infrastructure
**Date:** July 28, 2026 3:00 PM EDT (2026-07-28T15:00:00-04:00)
**Location:** 70 Court Plaza, Asheville, NC 28801, USA

**Link:** https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/2883

## Summary

**Meeting Overview**
On July 28, 2026, the City of Asheville City Council held a Worksession on Policy, Finance, and Infrastructure. The meeting focused on three primary informational items: an update on the Helene Recovery Boards, a collaborative presentation on addressing concerns related to unhoused residents, and a property transfer request for the organization "My Daddy Taught Me That."

**Key Decisions**
The council approved the minutes from the June 23, 2026 meeting by unanimous vote. The council also voted unanimously to enter a closed session to discuss privileged and confidential information, economic development incentives, and personnel matters. No vote was taken on the property transfer for "My Daddy Taught Me That"; staff noted that this item is scheduled for the consent agenda at the regular council meeting that evening.

**Helene Recovery Boards Update**
Staff presented a status update on the four recovery boards established in August 2025, noting that while the boards are functioning well administratively, survey data indicates lingering uncertainty among board members regarding how their recommendations are incorporated into council decision-making. Assistant City Clerk Alex Smith acknowledged that this is a recurring issue in recent surveys and stated that the city is working to improve the feedback loop by showing board members exactly where their recommendations go within the council process. Council Member Kim Roney raised concerns about timing lags, noting that boards meeting every other month can cause delays for urgent funding decisions, and asked if special meetings could be scheduled. She also suggested that when the spring 2027 survey is re-administered, the city should simultaneously survey new members of the 13 regular advisory boards to ensure they are included in the data. Additionally, Council Member Roney proposed a "one-sheet" summary process for advisory board recommendations to ensure the council clearly sees what was recommended. Chair Esther Manheimer clarified that the uncertainty in the survey data stems from the fact that recovery boards have not had many formal policy votes to cast, as most work has been project-based.

**Unhoused Residents and Community Response**
A collaborative presentation was delivered by the Asheville-Buncombe Continuum of Care (COC), the Asheville Fire Department Resource Engagement Support Team (REST), and other partners. The presentation outlined the complexity of the situation, noting that approximately 60% of individuals in the point-in-time count were last housed in Asheville, and that there is an estimated need for 90 additional shelter beds. Jade Dundas, Director of Capital Projects, stated that no single entity could solve the crisis alone and noted that the federal funding structure creates perverse economic incentives. Melina Arrowood, COC Board Chair, highlighted a significant lack of permanent supportive housing for individuals with behavioral health needs. Christian Chambers, Executive Director of Safe Shelter, reported that the organization has placed about 21 people into treatment since the start of the year.

Council Member Sheneika Smith engaged in extensive questioning regarding the data and resources. She asked for clarification on the methodology used to determine if unhoused individuals were from Asheville or transient, and expressed concern that resources intended for local residents are being consumed by individuals discharged to the streets from other areas. She asked for an update on the Ramada property as a potential source of additional shelter beds, noting that the Salvation Army is closing its shelter on October 1, removing 65 beds. Council Member Smith also highlighted the displacement of unhoused individuals due to I-26 Connector construction and asked for details on the West Asheville Street Engagement team, including who is on it and whether they are tracking outcomes like treatment admissions. She advocated for the county to license more group homes and permanent supportive housing, arguing that regulatory hurdles are preventing care for the most vulnerable. Additionally, Council Member Smith criticized the city’s agreement with Greyhound, stating that the corporation is using city property for free while other cities charge up to $300,000, and suggested the city should charge a fee to fund direct services. She also suggested creating a fund to help return individuals who explicitly state they do not want to be in Asheville back to their home states, and asked for an early warning system to identify individuals in transitional housing or treatment who are at risk of being discharged to the street. In response, Jade Dundas stated that the city is working with partners to improve data tracking and that the COC is developing a strategic plan to address these systemic issues.

**Property Transfer for My Daddy Taught Me That**
Staff presented a brief informational update on a property line adjustment to support expanded afterschool and summer programs for the organization "My Daddy Taught Me That." The request involves the sale of city-owned property at Hunt Hill to the organization, which serves over 160 young people weekly. Staff noted that the item is on the consent agenda for the regular council meeting that evening.

**Follow-ups**
Assistant City Clerk Alex Smith agreed to follow up on the specific methodology used in the point-in-time count to determine residency status. Jade Dundas agreed to provide a follow-up on the status of the Ramada property and the Salvation Army shelter closure, as well as on the city’s property on Wall Street (former GRIND/ABC store location) and whether there is interest in its use for hazard mitigation or other purposes. Jade Dundas stated that the COC will hold a debrief with its board and membership after the meeting to discuss the feedback received from council. Additionally, the COC will issue an RFP for emergency shelter planning, tentatively set for September, and the COC board will select providers for the "Right at Home" program in September, with services to begin by December. Staff stated they will provide an update on the co-responder program at the upcoming Public Safety Committee meeting.

## Agenda

- [Welcome and Roll Call](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/2883/item/42242)
- [Approval of Minutes](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/2883/item/42243)
- [Item #1 Helene Recovery Boards and Council Committees Update](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/2883/item/42244)
- [Item #2 Concerns Related to Unhoused Residents: A Collaborative Community Response](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/2883/item/42245)
- [Item #3 My Daddy Taught Me That Property Transfer](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/2883/item/42246)
- [Closed Session](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/2883/item/42247)
- [Adjournment](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/2883/item/42248)

## Video & Transcript

- Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pneY-RgNRSo
- Transcript: https://sunshinemeetings.org/transcript/2043/segments

## Documents

- [Proposal.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/2883?document=11340)
- [Presentation.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/2883?document=11335)
- [Presentation.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/2883?document=11337)
- [agenda_2026-07-28.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/2883?document=11342)
- [Map.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/2883?document=11339)

## Sources

- [City of Asheville WordPress](https://www.ashevillenc.gov/government/meetings/city-council-worksession-on-policy-finance-and-infrastructure-jul-28-2026/)