# City Council Agenda Briefing (Virtual) (Sep 3, 2026) **Body:** City of Asheville — City Council **Date:** September 3, 2026 11:00 AM EDT (2026-09-03T11:00:00-04:00) **Link:** https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/2944 ## Summary **Meeting Overview** On September 3, 2026, the Asheville City Council held a virtual work session presided over by Mayor Esther Manheimer. Attendees included Vice Mayor Mosley and Council Members Ullman, Smith, Roney, Turner, and Hess, alongside City Manager Ben Woody and various city staff. As a discussion-only session, no formal motions, votes, or public comments were accepted. The meeting focused on reviewing consent agenda items for upcoming meetings, providing updates on city programs, and discussing future planning initiatives. **Key Discussions and Decisions** The primary focus of the session was a review of consent agenda items scheduled for the September 8 regular meeting. City Manager Woody outlined several financial and operational updates, including a $4.2 million budget amendment to cover cash flow for Hurricane Helene recovery projects, such as the Gash Creek bridge and park replacements, which are reimbursable through FEMA. The amendment also includes a $105,000 transfer from the Dogwood Health Trust to fund a temporary skating rink. Other consent items included a contract for the Deaview Master Plan, continued funding for the KALA program, a Public Works grant for street closure management, and an $1.1 million ART Transit maintenance grant. Additionally, the council authorized applying for a competitive $48 million Federal Transit Administration grant to relocate the ART Operations and Maintenance Facility. Significant discussion also centered on programmatic updates. Marcus Kirkman, manager of the Asheville Business Inclusion (ABI) Program, reported that the city is pausing race- and gender-conscious goal setting in procurement through December 31, 2026, following state legislation that repealed the NC Hub Office. This pause aims to minimize legal risk while the city develops a new, race- and gender-neutral Small Business Enterprise (SBE) framework focused on business size and net worth. James Shelton provided an update on the Deaview Master Plan, announcing City Collective LLC as the partner for a 60-acre site funded by $475,500 in CDBG-DR funds. The 18-month planning process aims to double housing units and create an educational campus for Asheville Peak Academy. Chris Collins and Will Palmquist presented the scope for updating the Comprehensive Plan and Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), with new zoning codes targeted for adoption by late 2028. **Notable Council Debates and Requests** Council members raised several concerns regarding the wording and implications of the discussed items. Mayor Manheimer requested that the agenda wording for the $4.2 million budget amendment be corrected to clarify that the funds are primarily for Helene recovery, noting that the current phrasing misleadingly suggests the money is for the skating rink. Council Member Sage Turner expressed concern that the lengthy timeline for the Comprehensive Plan and UDO update might effectively create a moratorium on housing policy, urging the council to provide parameters to avoid prolonged delays. Council Member Maggie Ullman questioned the selection of Asheville Peak Academy as an educational partner for the Deaview project, expressing concerns about supporting private charter schools, while Council Member Bo Hess requested that the "Safe Shelter" program return to council to report on its progress. **Follow-ups and Next Steps** Several specific follow-up actions were agreed upon during the session. City Manager Woody and the City Clerk agreed to review and correct the wording of Item D on the consent agenda to prevent misinterpretation regarding the skating rink funds. City Manager Woody asked James Shelton to provide details on the distribution of $4.7 million in HOME-ARP funds, which Shelton explained will be split between affordable rental construction and supportive services. Regarding the mobile pay app, City Manager Woody stated that the Transportation Department will share written information later in the month, with a potential formal presentation at the October PEDE committee meeting. Additionally, Chris Collins and Will Palmquist agreed to follow up on the status of funding for updating downtown design guidelines, as requested by Council Member Sage Turner. **Impact on Residents** This work session provided critical context for upcoming decisions affecting Asheville residents, particularly regarding disaster recovery and long-term city planning. The budget amendments and grant applications directly impact the city’s ability to restore infrastructure damaged by Hurricane Helene and maintain public transit services. The pause on race- and gender-conscious procurement goals may affect how city contracts are awarded in the short term, while the new SBE framework aims to support small businesses based on economic criteria. Furthermore, the updates on the Deaview Master Plan and the Comprehensive Plan/UDO process highlight the city’s commitment to increasing housing density, improving zoning codes, and enhancing community infrastructure, with major regulatory changes expected to be ready for adoption by late 2028. ## Video & Transcript - Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlldDuYK2Jw - Transcript: https://sunshinemeetings.org/transcript/2096/segments ## Documents - [Agenda - Spanish.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/2944?document=12973) - [Agenda.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/2944?document=12972) - [8 Week.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/2944?document=13004) - [Planning, Economic Development, and Environment Committee.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/2944?document=13006) - [Housing and Community Development Committee.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/2944?document=13005) - [Asheville Business Inclusion Program.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/2944?document=13007) - [8 de septiembre.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/2944?document=13002) - [Agenda de 8 semanas.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/2944?document=13003) - [Deaverview Master Planning Partner Contract Update.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/2944?document=13008) - [Comprehensive Plan and UDO Update Process.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/2944?document=13009) ## Sources - [City of Asheville WordPress](https://www.ashevillenc.gov/government/meetings/city-council-agenda-briefing-virtual-sep-3-2026/) - [City Council agenda page](https://www.ashevillenc.gov/government/city-council-agenda/)