Event Recap
The Public Safety Committee of the City of Asheville held a virtual meeting on July 31, 2025. The agenda included the approval of previous minutes, public comment, a quarterly update from the Asheville Police Department (APD), a discussion on expanding the panhandling ordinance, and a presentation on technology in public safety.
Key Decisions The committee recorded two votes during the session. First, Antanette Mosley made a motion to approve the minutes from the May 29, 2025 meeting, which was seconded by Sheneika Smith and passed unanimously (3-0). Second, Sheneika Smith made a motion to approve moving the expansion of the City’s current public solicitation ordinance to full council in August or September. This motion, which includes the designation of new "high traffic" zones, passed unanimously (3-0).
Discussion Highlights Police Chief Mike Lamb and Deputy Chiefs Sean Ardema and Jackie Stepp presented the APD’s quarterly crime statistics, noting a decrease in violent crimes but an increase in property crimes, specifically larceny and motor vehicle burglaries. As part of the update, the APD proposed expanding "high traffic" zones for panhandling to include sections of Patton Avenue, Haywood Road, and South Tunnel Road.
The committee also heard a presentation on the proposed creation of a standalone Technology and Intelligence Division within the APD. This division aims to centralize technology assets, enhance real-time awareness, and improve data analysis. Jimmy Wingo, Technology Specialist, assured the committee that facial recognition technology is not currently used by the APD. Additionally, Council Member Bo Hess inquired about the impact of recently passed state legislation (House Bill 318) related to immigration enforcement; the City Attorney clarified that the law does not impact Asheville’s current practices or processes.
Community Input Two members of the public provided comments during the designated public comment period. Jensen Gelfond expressed concerns that expanding "high traffic" zones for panhandling would disproportionately impact vulnerable individuals and lead to unnecessary citations, advocating instead for infrastructure improvements to address pedestrian safety. Patrick Conant shared similar concerns regarding the panhandling ordinance, questioning the data supporting its expansion. Conant also raised questions about transparency and community oversight of the APD’s technology, particularly concerning data sharing.
Follow-ups No specific follow-up actions were explicitly agreed to by members or staff during the meeting beyond the decision to forward the ordinance expansion to the full City Council.
Impact The primary outcome of this meeting is that the proposed expansion of the public solicitation ordinance will be forwarded to the full City Council for final approval in August or September. The discussion highlighted ongoing efforts by the APD to address gun violence through partnerships with violence interrupters and community partners, as well as the city’s work toward establishing a 24/7 holistic drop-in center for individuals experiencing homelessness. Furthermore, the city intends to continue exploring grant opportunities to fund software needed for a real-time intelligence center.