City Council Meeting (Nov 18, 2025)

Meeting Overview The Asheville City Council held its regular meeting on November 18, 2025, beginning with a closed session followed by a formal public session. The meeting addressed a wide range of operational, infrastructure, and recovery-related business, alongside significant public commentary and specific personnel actions.

Key Decisions and Votes The Council took several concrete actions regarding city operations and personnel. A resolution was adopted to remove Jared Wheatley from the Planning and Zoning Commission; the vote passed 5-2, with Council members Mosley and Roney voting "no." The Council also denied a motion to approve a conditional zoning amendment for a housing development at 767 Haw Creek Road, with the vote resulting in 6-1, Council member Turner voting "no." Additionally, an ordinance establishing a downtown event-based Social District Pilot Program was withdrawn from the agenda.

Most other agenda items were handled via the Consent Agenda, where resolutions were adopted unanimously. These actions authorized the City Manager to execute various contracts and agreements, including the sale of city-owned property on Wilmington Street to the state for transportation improvements, leases for Parks & Recreation facilities and a new Police Department resource center, and contracts for infrastructure projects such as the Advanced Metering Infrastructure project, guardrail repairs, sidewalk construction, and McCormick Field improvements. The Council also authorized the City Manager to apply for and accept grants from FEMA, the North Carolina Emergency Management (NCEM) Disaster Relief and Mitigation Fund, and the State Budget & Management Office (OSBM) for disaster recovery. Furthermore, the Council adopted a section of the Buncombe County Helene Recovery Plan specific to Asheville.

Discussion Highlights and Community Input Public comment was dominated by concerns regarding immigration enforcement. Speakers expressed fear of increased ICE activity and its impact on the community, particularly for people of color, citing potential due process violations and a lack of transparency. One speaker stated, "a lot of people are scared and worried about what’s going to happen next, and the city council needs to step up." Commenters emphasized the importance of Asheville standing against what they described as "authoritarianism" and providing a safe haven. While the issue was heavily debated, no vote or immediate action was taken on a proposed resolution restricting ICE agents from using city property.

A separate portion of public comment focused on the removal of Jared Wheatley from the Planning and Zoning Commission. Speakers questioned the removal process, citing a lack of concrete evidence in the staff memo and expressing concerns about political influence.

Other discussion items included an update on the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) spending, a presentation on Riverfront Revitalization projects, and a closed session regarding legal matters related to a lawsuit. The Council also issued a joint statement about community safety regarding potential immigration enforcement, though there was discussion regarding the timing of its release.

Follow-ups and Next Steps The Clerk will re-advertise for another vacant seat on the Planning and Zoning Commission. The City Manager is authorized to proceed with executing the approved contracts and grant applications following standard departmental procedures. The next City Council meeting is scheduled for December 9, 2025.