City Council Worksession on Policy, Finance and Infrastructure (In-Person) (Feb 24, 2026)

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City Council Worksession Recap – February 24, 2026

The City Council held a work session on February 24, 2026, focusing on key policy, finance, and infrastructure matters impacting Asheville’s future. This session served primarily as an information-gathering exercise, with formal votes on major proposals deferred to subsequent meetings. The meeting ran from 3:02 p.m. to 4:53 p.m.

Addressing Tropical Storm Helene Recovery & Budgetary Challenges: A significant portion of the work session was dedicated to discussing recovery efforts following Tropical Storm Helene and addressing a projected $30 million budget gap for the upcoming fiscal year. Staff presented recommendations for allocating Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (DR) funds, heavily influenced by feedback from the Recovery Priority Survey and input from the Infrastructure Recovery Board. The council strongly supported investing in community-led resilience hubs, recognizing their vital role during emergencies and emphasizing the importance of building back better. Discussions surrounding the budget gap involved exploring spending reductions, revenue increases (including fees and charges), and leveraging the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) to address fluctuations at the North Fork Reservoir. The rising costs of transit contracts were identified as a significant contributor to the budget shortfall, prompting discussions about potential service adjustments.

Infrastructure Investments & Development Opportunities: The council also engaged in discussions regarding long-term infrastructure investments and development opportunities. A key focus was the French Broad River Park & Azalea Park Resilience and Recreation projects, aiming to enhance resilience against future storms while improving recreational amenities. Additionally, the council explored a potential partnership with ATG Entertainment for mixed-use development on the Parkside land hold, potentially involving a public-private arrangement for a performing arts facility and parking.

Governance & Compliance Matters: The session included reviews of several governance-related items. The minutes from the previous meeting (December 9, 2025) were approved without dissent. The Audit Committee received a presentation on the FY2025 Single Audit, identifying qualified opinions related to subrecipient monitoring and deficiencies in CDBG program reporting. The council reviewed applications for various Board and Commission positions, including the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, Audit Committee, Board of Adjustment, BUNCOMBE COUNTY TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (TDA), Multimodal Transportation Commission, Neighborhood Advisory Committee, Public Art and Culture Commission, Sustainability Advisory Committee. The Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority (BCTDA) is debating whether to make an appointment, re-advertise or conduct interviews.

Next Steps & Future Considerations: Several action items emerged from the work session. City staff will draft contingent awards outlining requirements and funding levels for recommended DR projects, while also pursuing the HMGP for the North Fork Reservoir project. Council members directed staff to explore options for reallocating funds to support resilience hubs, with further discussion planned in future meetings. The Community Economic Development Department will implement corrective action plans to address findings from the Single Audit, and staff will continue working on addressing the projected budget gap. The City Council is scheduled to hold work sessions in March and April to discuss budget options, compensation strategies, and enterprise fund projections. Formal votes on major proposals will be taken in subsequent meetings, including a vote to consider a formal request to hold the Parkside land in March.

Citizen Engagement & Transparency: Throughout the session, emphasis was placed on citizen engagement and transparency. Opportunities for public input were announced, including an event at AB Tech regarding park projects. Citizens are directed to the meeting recording and committee webpage for more detailed information ([email protected]).