City Council Worksession on Policy, Finance and Infrastructure (In-Person) (Aug 26, 2025)

Key Decisions

The City Council Worksession on Policy, Finance and Infrastructure held on August 26, 2025, recorded one formal vote. Council Member Sage Turner moved, and Council Member Maggie Ullman seconded, a motion to approve the minutes of the June 10, 2025 City County Worksession. The motion carried unanimously with a 7-0 vote. No other formal votes were taken during the worksession.

Discussion Highlights

The primary focus of the session was the city’s ongoing recovery efforts following Tropical Storm Helene, with staff providing detailed updates on three major federal funding sources: FEMA Public Assistance, the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), and the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR). Staff reported that the city has submitted a request for approximately $400 million in FEMA Public Assistance funds and has received over $10 million in reimbursements to date. Regarding the HMGP, staff noted there are 48 applications currently in the queue, with an October 31, 2025 deadline for private property owners. Council members expressed concern about potential funding being left on the table and advocated for pursuing an extension of this deadline.

Staff also announced that the city has received full grant authority from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the CDBG-DR program, allowing the city to begin rolling out programs with a $225 million grant. Staff highlighted that Elma King has been hired as Program Manager and recruitment is underway for three additional team members. The city has 66 days to spend down the CDBG-DR grant, and staff indicated they will provide more detailed financial tracking updates in the future.

A significant portion of the session was dedicated to the development of the Long-Term Recovery Plan (LTRP), a consolidated county-wide document that incorporates feedback from community engagement efforts, including the Envision Buncombe survey and a ULI advisory panel. The plan categorizes proposed projects into four priorities: Infrastructure & Environment, People, Economy, and Housing. Staff presented the timeline for finalizing the plan, noting that the final draft will be presented to the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners and shared publicly on September 16, 2025, with a public comment period concluding on October 31, 2025. Plan adoption is anticipated in November 2025.

The council also reviewed applications for a vacancy on the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority (TDA) Board, which carries a three-year term. The board development committee recommended Amy Kelly for the appointment. The council discussed the applications, including a debate regarding whether to waive residency requirements for one candidate, as the seat is reserved for owners or operators of lodging properties with 100 or fewer units.

Follow-ups

Staff explicitly agreed to investigate the possibility of extending the HMGP deadline and to initiate conversations with state officials regarding this extension. Staff also agreed to incorporate recovery progress updates on the AshevilleRecovers.org website, provide a map of properties affected by the HMGP while respecting privacy concerns, and provide an update on the acreage affected by the HMGP program. Additionally, staff committed to continuing recruitment efforts to fill remaining CDBG-DR program team positions and to develop a strategic implementation plan for CDBG-DR in partnership with the selected vendor.

Impact

This worksession provided residents with a detailed look at the city’s strategy for managing federal disaster recovery funds and rebuilding local resilience. The discussions highlighted the urgency of approaching grant deadlines and the city's efforts to maximize cost recovery while ensuring transparent communication with the public. The development of the Long-Term Recovery Plan represents a forward-looking approach to rebuilding, informed by extensive community input, and will guide future infrastructure, housing, and economic development projects in the coming year.