2026-08-25 - City Council

Summary

Built from the official minutes (the August 20 agenda briefing is recorded in the same document). No video or transcript found.

All seven members present; meeting ran 5:00 to 9:37 p.m.
Council voted 5-2 to end the Flock license plate reader contract; Vice-Mayor Mosley and Councilwoman Smith voted no. A follow-on moratorium motion on Axon readers died for lack of a second.
Three housing zoning amendments (duplexes, accessory dwelling units, parking minimums) approved unanimously after a combined hearing with seventeen speakers, all in support.
Rezoning of part of 23 Heritage Drive for the ASPCA approved unanimously.
Consent agenda (items A through V) adopted unanimously (moved by Councilwoman Turner, seconded by Councilwoman Ullman); no public comment on it.
Presentations: Azalea parks and infrastructure recovery design; introduction of a Lead for North Carolina fellow joining the City.
Proclamation: Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month (September 2026).
Preceded by the 2026-08-20 - Council Agenda Briefing Worksession.

Resolution 26-180 moved by Councilwoman Roney, seconded by Councilwoman Turner; 24 speakers for ending the contract and pausing all plate reader use, two against. Interim Chief Stepp said data older than 21 days is purged. See the Issue page for each member's position.

Ordinances 5255 (duplexes), 5256 (accessory dwelling units, up to 1,000 square feet, 25-foot detached height cap) and 5257 (no minimum parking, required by state law) each passed unanimously on separate votes. A proposal by Councilwoman Turner to keep the sliding height rule drew opposition from Vice-Mayor Mosley and was not moved.

Hearing 5:34 p.m., no speakers; moved by Councilwoman Turner, seconded by Vice-Mayor Mosley; unanimous.

Presentation by Mr. McGirt and Mr. Miller on restoring Recreation and Azalea Parks, removing the Lake Craig Dam structure and rebuilding the Gashes Creek Bridge; 45 percent design due October 2026.

Resolution 26-168: $2,185,750 for five planning projects and $30,375,000 for two infrastructure projects.

Resolutions 26-166 and 26-167 and Ordinance 5249: accept $173,839 in HUD planning and HMIS funds for 2027 and ratify a youth homelessness application.

Resolution 26-163: Arts Council Event Support Grant renewal, $76,014 a year, up to $228,042 over three years, limited to events inside the downtown service district in years funded by its sales tax.

Resolution 26-179: apply to the state Debris Recovery and Disposal program (up to $3 million, no match, application due September 14, 2026).

26-162: Amazon Web Services renewal through CDW-G, $120,000 (contract cap $395,000). 26-164: Fiserv point-of-sale extension at Harrah's Cherokee Center, plus $50,000 to $287,911. 26-165: Buncombe County gives $65,000 for the Youth Leadership Academy. Ordinance 5250: employee grievance procedure rewritten to match state law. 26-169: FY2025-26 tax settlement and FY2026-27 order of collection. 26-170: County interlocal payments of $508,006 (interoperability system), $327,028 (centralized data entry) and $619,988 (identification bureau). 26-171: Reems Creek Fire Department automatic aid raised to $121,105.99. 26-172: Buncombe-Madison Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan. Ordinance 5251: $15,000 Duke Energy grant for fire shelters. 26-173: Black Mountain pays $26,625 toward Route 170 (about $841,464 annual cost). 26-175 and 26-176: paratransit with Buncombe County (+$114,618.48 for FY2026; up to $1,500,000 for FY2027 at $3.73 a mile). Ordinance 5252: $584,124 sidewalk fee-in-lieu funds into capital projects. 26-178 and Ordinance 5253: $80,898 Justice Assistance Grant ($67,053 police, $13,845 sheriff). July 2026 property tax refunds and releases.

Axon price list should be public, the transit operations analysis, preservation priority for a Collier Avenue site, and no budget for strategic partnerships.