City Council Meeting Recap: May 27, 2025

The Asheville City Council held a regular meeting on May 27, 2025, following an earlier Agenda Briefing Work Session on the same day. The meeting focused heavily on financial stability, recovery efforts related to Tropical Storm Helene, and infrastructure investments. All items presented for a vote were adopted unanimously by a 7-0 margin.

Key Decisions and Votes

The Council approved a series of resolutions and budget amendments, all passing with a unanimous 7-0 vote:

• Emergency Response: Ratified an emergency contract with Herc Rentals, Inc. for the Mills River Water Treatment Plant Emergency Response for Tropical Storm Helene.
• Budget & Debt:
  • Approved a technical budget amendment to the Fiscal Year 2024-25 General Fund budget in the amount of $42 million to account for the refunding of debt.
  • Approved documentation and authorized officers to pursue debt financing associated with the issuance of up to $35 million in limited obligation bonds for McCormick Field improvements.
  • Amended the North Carolina Cashflow Loan Agreement and Promissory Note, authorizing the City Manager to execute the associated documents.
• Contracts and Services:
  • Authorized a new one-year contract for bond counsel legal services with Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein, LLP, including two one-year renewal options.
  • Authorized a contract with The FMRT Group, LLC for continuing Before-Hire and After-Hire Psychological and Medical Services for the Asheville Police Department.
  • Authorized a contract with Zips Car Wash, LLC for continuing Vehicle Automated Washing Services for the Asheville Police Department.
  • Authorized a lease agreement with Art Garden AVL LLC to lease a portion of 43 Wall Street to use as an art studio and gallery.
  • Authorized a contract with Clark Nexsen for the Malvern Hills Park Improvements Project.
  • Authorized a contract with Smart Builders Construction, LLC for the Weaver Park Improvements (lower side) Project.
  • Authorized a contract with HBA Worldwide LLC d/b/a GenX Security Systems for the Debris Site Solar Security Project.
  • Authorized a contract with Exterior Diagnostic Services, LLC for the Parking Garage Capital Improvements FY25 Project.

Discussion Highlights

During the meeting, the Council recognized "Food Waste Reduction Month," "WNC Nature Center Day," and the "Pollination Celebration Month" with proclamations. The Council also held a public hearing on the proposed Fiscal Year 2025-26 Budget, which totals $256.1 million. The proposal includes a 3.26 cent property tax rate increase to fund compensation adjustments for city staff and first responders, as well as a $24.4 million Capital Improvement Program. Additionally, the Council held a public hearing on a rezoning request for 46 Green Hill Avenue, changing the zoning from a mix of Residential Single-Family High Density (RS-8) and Commercial Industrial (CI) to solely RS-8. Staff and the Planning & Zoning Commission recommended approval, citing alignment with the city’s comprehensive plan.

The Council also discussed the I-26 Connector project, reviewing a letter to the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) regarding design changes. Councilwoman Kim Roney raised concerns about communication regarding the letter, emphasizing the importance of ensuring all council members have access to information before it is shared with other bodies. In a separate follow-up document from the meeting, staff confirmed they did not provide NCDOT with a list of items not to be changed during the I-26 optimization process.

The Council also approved the exclusion of $155,029.19 in proceeds from the sale of an ABC Board property at 133 Old Charlotte Highway from standard income calculations, allowing the ABC Board to use the funds for capital improvements to its retail locations. Furthermore, the Council approved an additional $607,000 Housing Trust Fund loan for the Fairhaven Summit Affordable Housing Development, bringing the total city HTF contribution to $1,482,000.

Community Input

The transcript summary indicates that no public comments were taken during the Agenda Briefing Work Session. While public hearings were held for the budget and the rezoning request, the provided summaries do not report specific remarks from members of the public during these hearings.

Follow-ups

• I-26 Connector: Council members were encouraged to review the draft letter regarding the I-26 connector and provide feedback. Maggie Burleson, City Clerk staff, agreed to add the NC DOT letter to the agenda for presentation and discussion.
• Budget: Finance staff will follow up after the public hearing to address any additional concerns or issues related to the proposed budget.
• HMGP: Staff stated they are focusing on developing resources and open space management strategies rather than a scored matrix for property evaluation for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.

Impact

These decisions reflect the City’s focus on financial resilience and recovery from Tropical Storm Helene. The approval of the $42 million budget amendment and the amendment to the state cashflow loan allow the City to manage debt and utilize expedited FEMA funding for recovery efforts. The issuance of bonds for McCormick Field and contracts for park improvements (Malvern Hills and Weaver Park) and parking garage repairs signal significant investment in local infrastructure and community amenities. The approval of the Art Garden lease provides studio space for artists displaced by the hurricane, while the additional funding for Fairhaven Summit supports the completion of 77 affordable housing units. The Council also amended its meeting schedule to include bi-monthly Policy, Finance & Infrastructure (PFI) Work Sessions starting in June, with a special PFI meeting scheduled for June 10, 2025, which is also the date the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Budget is scheduled for formal adoption.