City Council Meeting (Feb 24, 2026)

City Council Meeting Recap: February 24, 2026

The Asheville City Council held a regular meeting on February 24, 2026, which included a work session on policy, finance, and infrastructure followed by a formal meeting. The session focused on recognizing local observances, approving routine contracts and grants, reviewing the city’s financial health, and opening the public comment period for the upcoming Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget.

Key Decisions and Votes

The Council voted to approve two proclamations designating February 2026 as “Black History Month” and February 23–27, 2026, as “Invasive Species Awareness Week.” Both were approved unanimously.

The Council unanimously approved the consent agenda, which included the following actions:

• Housing: Ratified documents with the Housing Assistance Corporation for $940,000 in HOME funding for the Apple Ridge affordable rental housing construction project in Henderson County.
• Alcohol Permits: Permitted the possession and consumption of malt beverages and/or unfortified wine at the Chai Pani Holi Celebration (March 6, 2026) and Downtown After 5 events (April 17, May 15, June 19, and August 21, 2026).
• Contracts and Services:
  • Authorized a five-year general services contract with City Wide Facilities Solutions for cleaning services at the Western North Carolina Nature Center, not to exceed $142,500.
  • Amended the Harrah’s Cherokee Center Asheville contract with Labor Finders Inc. to extend staffing services by four months.
  • Authorized a contract with Chonzie, Inc. for predictive modeling service line inventory (potholing/excavating) for the Water Resources Department, not to exceed $140,200.
  • Authorized a ten-year interlocal agreement for the Regional Wayfinding Program with the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority (TDA), Town of Black Mountain, Town of Weaverville, Town of Woodfin, and Buncombe County.
  • Authorized a one-year extension of the digital signage contract with GMV Syncromatics at the Asheville Rides Transit Center.
  • Authorized a contract with French Broad Paving, Inc. for the Fiscal Year 2026 Asphalt Resurfacing project, totaling $3,156,880.30 including contingency.
  • Authorized a contract amendment with Hazen and Sawyer, P.C. for the Edwin Place, Celia Place, and Canterbury Drive Drainage Improvements Project, increasing the total budget to $984,503.89.
• Grants and Budget:
  • Supported Buncombe County’s participation in the Commercial Property Assessed Capital Expenditure (C-PACE) program.
  • Accepted the Fiscal Year 2024 Assistance to Firefighters Grant from FEMA and adopted a budget amendment of $74,949.10 for wildland personal protective equipment for the Asheville Fire Department.
  • Adopted a budget amendment of $44,266.38 for the Asheville Fire Department to expend donation funds for special projects and internal initiatives.
  • Authorized the transfer of a 2018 Electric GEM Car to Mars Hill University.
  • Ratified the submission of an application for a 2026 Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation for the Hilliard Avenue Corridor Study.
• Ordinances:
  • Amended Section 10-85 of the Code of Ordinances regarding prohibited acts related to noise regulation.
  • Amended the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Fees and Charges Manual to increase fees at Aston Park Tennis Center, with an associated budget amendment of $12,100.

The Council also voted on appointments to various boards and commissions:

• Affordable Housing Advisory Committee: Passed (6-1) to appoint Mike Holmes and Michael Pesant.
• Audit Committee: Passed (7-0) to appoint Randall Hall.
• Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority: Passed (5-2) to appoint Kyle Highberg.
• Multimodal Transportation Commission: Passed (7-0) to appoint Jonathan Anzolitto.
• Neighborhood Advisory Committee: Passed (7-0) to appoint Lindsey Johnson-White, Lukas Ray, and Richard Wallace.
• Public Art & Culture Commission: Passed (7-0) to appoint Stacy Anderson and Kimberly Hundertmark.
• Sustainability Advisory Committee: Passed (7-0) to appoint Tynesha Carden.

Discussion Highlights

During the Manager’s Report, staff presented the second-quarter financial report, noting that revenues are on target but growth remains stagnant. Sales tax collections are trending slightly below budget as the city recovers from Hurricane Helene, while property tax collections are at 77% of the adopted budget. The projected fund balance usage is approximately $1.6 million, less than the $2.2 million originally budgeted. Staff noted that the Asheville Police Department is trending over budget due to increased personnel costs, and a hiring freeze instituted in February 2026 is expected to help offset some spending increases.

Staff also provided a capital projects update, highlighting ongoing work on the Walton Street Park and Pool project, which is undergoing adaptive reuse with significant community input. The presentation emphasized that while recovery projects are underway, federal processes will take time to ensure cost recovery. A detailed presentation on the Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget outlined a significant gap between projected revenues and expenses, driven by one-time strategies used in the current year, lingering impacts of Hurricane Helene, and inflationary increases in areas such as health care and transit. The city plans to address this gap through a combination of revenue increases, potentially including property taxes, and spending reductions.

Community Input

Several citizens spoke during the public comment period. Residents expressed concerns about potential property tax increases and the need for alternative revenue sources. One citizen raised concerns about the city’s use of Flock cameras and drones, questioning their effectiveness and impact on privacy. Another citizen spoke against a proposed soccer stadium project at UNCA, criticizing the university’s lack of transparency and community engagement. A speaker advocated for increased investment in public transportation, particularly the S5 bus route, and another questioned whether all neighborhoods receive equitable levels of city services. The Council encouraged UNCA to adopt a more inclusive and transparent community engagement process regarding the proposed stadium project.

Follow-ups

Staff agreed to schedule an updated presentation on city-owned property and a work plan for the full Council at the March 19 Agenda Briefing, in response to a request from Council Member Bo Hess. The public comment period for the proposed 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan Amendment, which adds affordable rental construction as a priority, remains open until March 6, 2026. The Council will continue the budget discussion in upcoming work sessions, with a proposed budget scheduled for release in May and a final public hearing before adoption in June.

Impact

This meeting set the stage for the city’s fiscal planning for the next year, highlighting the challenges of balancing the budget in the wake of hurricane recovery and inflation. The approval of the Aston Park Tennis Center fee increases and the Hilliard Avenue corridor study application reflects ongoing efforts to manage facility costs and improve infrastructure. The unanimous approval of the consent agenda ensured the continuation of essential services, including fire department safety equipment, street maintenance, and regional tourism wayfinding. The public hearing on the Consolidated Plan Amendment signals the city’s intent to expand its capacity to fund new affordable rental housing in the coming years.