# City Council Agenda Briefing (Virtual) (Oct 8, 2026)

**Body:** City of Asheville — City Council
**Date:** October 8, 2026 11:00 AM EDT (2026-10-08T11:00:00-04:00)

**Link:** https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/3039

## Summary

**City Council Agenda Briefing Recap: October 8, 2026**

**Meeting Overview**
On October 8, 2026, the Asheville City Council convened for a virtual Agenda Briefing Worksession, facilitated by Assistant City Manager Ben Woody. This informational session served as a preparatory review for the formal City Council meeting scheduled for October 13, 2026. As is standard for worksessions, the body did not accept public comments, nor did it take any final votes or make binding decisions. The primary focus was to preview consent agenda items, public hearings, and new business, while also addressing operational updates and community concerns raised by council members on behalf of their constituents.

**Key Discussions and Council Concerns**
A significant portion of the briefing was dedicated to public safety and service delivery in the downtown area. Council Member Bo Hess raised urgent concerns regarding open-air drug use, fighting, and mental health issues along the Patton Avenue corridor. He called for immediate city action, specifically requesting increased police presence, sanitation and restroom stations, and dedicated case management teams. Assistant City Manager Woody emphasized the need for urgency, stating, "The city needs action... They want us to act with urgency, especially on these public safety initiatives." Additionally, Council Member Shanika Smith highlighted the importance of hearing community responses to interventions and ensuring broader business representation beyond the Downtown Association.

Other operational issues were also addressed. Council Member Maggie Ullman noted complaints from visitors at the airport who were being turned away from buses because they could not pay via the mobile fare app. She further expressed concern that parking meters and mobile apps did not accept all card types, such as certain MasterCard or American Express cards, describing the situation as "strange." Council Member Kim Roney supported the mobile fare app but emphasized the need for robust emergency response planning to ensure visitors are not left behind during peak tourism seasons.

**Agenda Review and Administrative Updates**
The council reviewed several items slated for the October 13 meeting. The consent agenda includes proclamations for Domestic Violence Prevention and National Diabetes Awareness months, a budget amendment for the Downtown Improvement District (DID), and contract renewals for French Broad Riverfront Park and downtown parks. Council Member Hess requested more information on park maintenance staffing before proceeding. Regarding new business, the council discussed accepting funding from the "Destination Home" initiative to prevent homelessness upstream.

Public hearings for conditional rezonings were also previewed, including a Habitat for Humanity project on French Broad Street/West Chapel Road and a proposed Costco location. Staff agreed to prepare a side-by-side comparison of the Costco proposal’s changes regarding roads, access, and greenways for the public hearing. Furthermore, a vote on substantial amendments to the Whole Market Allocation Plan is scheduled for the October 13 meeting. Administrative updates included a report on stormwater assets from Public Works and a discussion on the potential cancellation of Housing and Community Development (HCD) and Planning, Economic Development, and Environment (PEDE) committee meetings for October due to a lack of actionable items.

**Follow-Up Actions**
Several specific follow-up actions were explicitly agreed to by staff during the briefing:
*   **Park Staffing Data:** Assistant City Manager Ben Woody agreed to provide Council Member Hess with data on the number of Parks and Recreation staff dedicated to landscaping and lawn mowing, as well as total staff counts, to clarify contract spending versus internal capacity.
*   **Costco Proposal Comparison:** Planning staff agreed to prepare a document showing the differences between the first round and current round of the Costco proposal, focusing on roads, access, greenways, parking, and trees.
*   **Regional Planning Support:** Staff agreed to be ready to provide a letter of support or modify regional planning documents if necessary to secure state or federal funding for road improvements related to the Costco project.
*   **Mobile Fare and Parking Review:** Assistant City Manager Jay Dundas agreed to send a memo to the council with research on mobile fare vendors. Assistant City Manager Woody agreed to include a review of parking meter and mobile app payment acceptance (specifically card types) in this follow-up.
*   **Emergency Response and Crime Data:** Assistant City Manager Woody agreed to provide an update on emergency response planning to the PEDE committee (or all council if canceled) and to provide data linking the Downtown Association’s lighting program to crime reduction in parks, as requested by Council Member Sage Turner.

**Impact on Residents**
This briefing highlights the City Council’s active engagement with pressing downtown safety and accessibility issues. By prioritizing follow-ups on public safety resources, payment system accessibility, and housing initiatives, the council is addressing immediate quality-of-life concerns for both residents and visitors. The focus on clarifying park maintenance staffing and reviewing payment technologies aims to improve transparency and service efficiency. These preparatory steps ensure that the October 13 formal meeting will be equipped with the necessary data and comparisons to make informed decisions on zoning, budget allocations, and public safety measures.

## Video & Transcript

- Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lHSiRrfdpk
- Transcript: https://sunshinemeetings.org/transcript/2156/segments

## Documents

- [Agenda - Spanish.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/3039?document=14086)
- [Agenda.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/3039?document=14087)
- [8 semanas.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/3039?document=14115)
- [13 de octubre.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/3039?document=14114)

## Sources

- [City of Asheville WordPress](https://www.ashevillenc.gov/government/meetings/city-council-agenda-briefing-virtual-oct-8-2026/)
- [City Council agenda page](https://www.ashevillenc.gov/government/city-council-agenda/)