# City Council Agenda Briefing (Virtual) (Dec 4, 2025)

**Body:** City of Asheville — City Council
**Date:** December 4, 2025 11:00 AM EST (2025-12-04T11:00:00-05:00)

**Link:** https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/46

## Summary

The Asheville City Council held a virtual agenda briefing on December 4, 2025. The primary purpose of the meeting was to review the upcoming formal agenda for December 9, 2025, as well as to provide an eight-week look ahead at future legislative and administrative items. No formal votes or decisions were taken during this briefing session; rather, staff presented the materials and context for items scheduled for the upcoming formal meeting.

**Upcoming Consent Agenda Items (December 9)**
Staff provided detailed overviews of several routine items scheduled for the December 9 consent agenda. A significant portion of the discussion focused on infrastructure and public safety. The Council is expected to consider a resolution authorizing a contract with JR Merrimon & Co., LLC to perform a service line inventory in the Shiloh Community. Staff clarified that this inventory is a necessary step to identify lead pipes, fulfilling requirements from the USAPA and NCDEQ, and is part of a broader, ongoing effort to replace lead service lines. Additionally, the Council will consider ratifying a lease agreement with TANGER ASHEVILLE LLC for a new location for the West Asheville Police Department’s office and resource center. Staff noted that concerns had been raised by the West Asheville Business Association and the Heart of West Asheville business coalitions regarding this project, and meetings are scheduled to address these concerns.

Other consent items include the acceptance of a donation from the Asheville Police Foundation, which includes a pickup truck, trailer, and ATV, valued at over $200,000. The Council will also consider resolutions related to transportation and planning, including supporting the French Broad River Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Safe Streets for Western North Carolina plan, applying for a grant to conduct a feasibility study for Hilliard Avenue improvements, and applying for a NCDOT Public Transit Apprenticeship Grant. Furthermore, the Council is expected to approve a budget amendment to address accounting treatments and carry-over appropriations, as well as resolutions to execute or amend contracts with vendors such as Loomis Armored US, LLC, Benevate LLC, CDR Maguire, Inc., and Southern Disaster Recovery, LLC, many of which relate to Tropical Storm Helene recovery efforts.

**Policy, Finance, and Infrastructure (PFI) Worksession (December 9)**
The briefing also covered the agenda for the December 9 PFI worksession. This session will include the approval of minutes from previous meetings and a presentation on the Fiscal 2020 audit by the Director of Finance and a consultant. Staff also previewed a discussion on Capital Improvement Program (CIP) updates and facilities investment rules, using the transit maintenance garage as a case study to illustrate how the city evaluates facility investments.

**Future Agenda and Legislative Updates**
Looking ahead, staff outlined items scheduled for the January 13 and January 27, 2026 meetings. The January 13 agenda will include the ratification of a B Tree Debris Removal Study and the Neighborhood Enhancement Program (NEP) for Water Distribution. The January 27 meeting will feature public hearings on UDO Amendments & Rezonings. Additionally, staff provided a legislative update regarding a state amendment that removes the one-year waiting period previously required after a rezoning application denial.

**Follow-ups and Next Steps**
During the briefing, a council member inquired about the timeline for developing programmatic proposals for Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds and the level of Council involvement in prioritizing these funds. In response, staff committed to providing more information on this topic at a future PFI meeting. The Council’s next formal meeting is scheduled for December 9, 2025, where the items reviewed in this briefing will be placed on the agenda for vote.

## Agenda

- [Approval of the minutes](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/46/item/2026)
- [Approval of the minutes of the (1) special meeting held on November 13, 2025; (2) special meeting held on November 14, 2025; (3) special meeting held on November 16, 2025; and (4) combined minutes of the briefing worksession held on November 13, 2025, and the formal meeting held on November 18, 2025.](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/46/item/20079)
- [Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a contract with JR Merrimon & Co., LLC to perform service line inventory in the Shiloh Community for the Water Resources Department.](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/46/item/2027)
- [Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute an Easement Agreement with Emerson Ridge Subdivision Homeowners' Association, Inc., for property located on Spivey Mountain Road.](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/46/item/2029)
- [Resolution to ratify the execution of a lease with TANGER ASHEVILLE LLC at Suite 822, Tanger Outlet "Shopping Center", Asheville, NC, to provide a new resource centre location for the Asheville Police Department West.](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/46/item/2028)
- [Resolution authorizing the City Manager to amend a general services contract with Benevate LLC, dba Neighborly Software to include funding and modules for Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery, LLC, to include all prior spending and future spending under said contract for the purpose of Tropical Storm Helene-related debris removal recovery efforts; and the associated budget amendment in the amount of $26,000,000 to be reimbursed with FEMA-PA and State of NC funds.](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/46/item/2039)
- [Resolution authorizing the City Manager to amend a general services contract with Benevate LLC, dba Purchasing System Cooperative Purchasing Agreement](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/46/item/2030)
- [Budget amendment in each of the City's annual operating funds to: 1) Appropriate from restricted and assigned fund balance the required budget authorization for prior year contracts, purchase orders, and other carry-over appropriations that rolled from Fiscal Year 2024-25 to Fiscal Year 2025-26; and 2) Adjust the budget to reflect a change in the accounting treatment of cost allocation charges in the General Fund.](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/46/item/2031)
- [Motion adopting the 2026-27 Budget Calendar.](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/46/item/2041)
- [Resolution authorizing the City Manager to accept donation of a pickup truck, a trailer, and an all-terraine vehicle from the Asheville Police Foundation to the Asheville Police Department.](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/46/item/2032)
- [Resolution authorizing the City Manager to extend the contract with Loomis Armored US, LLC, for safepoint, cash pickup and delivery services for an additional 5 years through December 2030.](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/46/item/2033)
- [Resolution supporting the French Broad River Metropolitan Planning Organization's Safe Streets for Western North Carolina Safety Plan.](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/46/item/2034)
- [Resolution authorizing the City Manager to accept, expend, and disburse Federal Transit Administration Grants apportioned to the Asheville Urbanized Area for Fiscal Year 2017 and Fiscal Year 2018 from the Section 5307 Urban Transit Funding, Section 5307 Job Access Reverse Commute, and Section 5310 Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Programs; and to execute all necessary agreements between the City of Asheville and applicable transit subrecipients for the disbursement of approved funds.](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/46/item/2035)
- [Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute an agreement with Vertosoft under The Interlocal Purchasing System Cooperative Purchasing Agreement for the purchase of Swiftly Real-Time Transit Planning Software under a three-year contract plus two one-year options.](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/46/item/20080)
- [Resolution authorizing the City Manager to apply to the French Broad River Metropolitan Planning Organization for the annual Fiscal Year 2025 Section 5307 Job Access Reverse Commute Grant Program to fund existing transit operations for Routes 170, S3, and S6.](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/46/item/2040)
- [Resolution authorizing the City Manager to apply for a Fiscal Year 2027 Unified Planning Work Program grant from the French Broad River Metropolitan Planning Organization for a planning study for the Hilliard Avenue corridor, and if awarded, accept the funds and sign all necessary agreements.](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/46/item/2036)
- [Resolution authorizing the City Manager to apply for the N.C. Dept. of Transportation (NCDOT) Public Transit Apprenticeship Grant Program and if awarded, authorize the City Manager to enter into an agreement with NCDOT to fund the Apprenticeship for Fiscal Year 2027.](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/46/item/2037)
- [Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a contract with CDR Maguire, Inc., for the purpose of Tropical Storm Helene-related debris removal monitoring recovery efforts; and the associated budget amendment in the amount of $4,000,000 to be reimbursed with FEMA-PA and State of NC funds.](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/46/item/2038)
- [Resolution authorizing the City Manager to amend the not-to-exceed contract with Southern Disaster Recovery grant management.](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/46/item/20081)
- [December 21, 2025 as "Evergreen Arbor Day"](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/46/item/20082)
- [Consideration of a resolution appointing a member to the Planning & Zoning Commission.](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/46/item/20083)

## Video & Transcript

- Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBDFp0GnCmw
- Transcript: https://sunshinemeetings.org/transcript/101/segments

## Documents

- [Consent K - FY 2017 and FY 2018 Section 5307 and 5310 fund disbursement.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/46?document=1108)
- [Consent J - Safe Streets for WNC Safety Plan.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/46?document=1117)
- [Consent L - Vertosoft TIPS Cooperative Contract for Swiftly.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/46?document=1125)
- [New A - Planning and Zoning Commission - Applications.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/46?document=1138)
- [Consent M -FY2027 UPWP Grant Application.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/46?document=1102)
- [Consent F - Fund Balance Reserve.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/46?document=1152)
- [Agenda - Spanish.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/46?document=1026)
- [Consent D - Subsurface Easement Disposition to Emerson Ridge LLC.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/46?document=1028)
- [Agenda.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/46?document=1034)
- [Consent C - 822 Tanger Outlets APD .pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/46?document=514)
- [Consent P - CDR Maguire Debris Monitoring.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/46?document=1081)
- [Consent N - FBMPO - Apply for Section 5307 (JARC) Funds .pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/46?document=1093)
- [Consent S - 2026 Council Mtg Schedule.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/46?document=1058)
- [Consent I - Armored Carrier Service - Contract Extension.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/46?document=1037)
- [Consent V - Tax Releases and Refunds .pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/46?document=1042)
- [Consent U - Bd of Elec Examiners.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/46?document=1045)
- [Location Map.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/46?document=8986)
- [Consent T - HACA - Rocky River Apartments.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/46?document=1052)
- [Consent R - City Hall Chiller Replacement Design Build.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/46?document=1065)
- [Consent Q - So Disaster Debris Removal Contract Amdt.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/46?document=1072)
- [agenda_2025-12-04.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/46?document=1020)
- [ .pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/46?document=8981)
- [Surveyed area.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/46?document=8983)
- [Resolution w/ Public Hearing Certification.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/46?document=8985)
- [Map.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/46?document=8982)
- [October 2025 Refunds and Releases Report.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/46?document=8984)
- [Consent G - FY27 Budget Calendar.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/46?document=1155)
- [Consent A - November 18 Minutes.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/46?document=1157)
- [Consent A - November 13 Minutes.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/46?document=1159)
- [Consent A - November 16 Minutes.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/46?document=1161)
- [Consent A - November 14 Minutes.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/46?document=1163)
- [Consent H - Donation of Items from Asheville Police Foundation to APD.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/46?document=1144)
- [Consent E - CDBG-DR Neighborly Software .pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/46?document=1148)
- [Consent B - Shiloh Com Service Line Inventory.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/46?document=1150)
- [Consent O - Transit Apprentice FY 27.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/46?document=1086)

## Sources

- [City of Asheville WordPress](https://www.ashevillenc.gov/government/meetings/city-council-agenda-briefing-virtual-dec-4-2025/)
- [City Council agenda page](https://www.ashevillenc.gov/government/city-council-agenda/)