2026-10-22 - Council Agenda Briefing Worksession

00:01Good morning. My name's Esther

00:02Manheimer, I'm mayor of the city of

00:03Asheville, and I'd like to welcome you

00:05to the October 22nd, 2026 agenda

00:09briefing work session. All council

00:11members and staff are participating

00:13virtually.

00:15This meeting's intended for discussion

00:16purposes only. No formal actions or

00:19votes will be taken. In addition, no

00:21public comment is taken during this

00:23meeting.

00:24The live meeting will be streamed on the

00:26city's YouTube channel, accessible

00:29through the YouTube icon on the city's

00:31website or via the live stream. You also

00:33have the option to listen to the meeting

00:36live via phone by calling 855

00:39925

00:412801

00:42and entering meeting code 10332.

00:48City Manager DK Wesley is on her way

00:50back from ICMA conference and will not

00:53be able to join us today. Council and

00:56staff, when I call your name, please say

00:57a quick hello.

00:59Vice Mayor Antanette Mosley.

01:01>> Good morning.

01:03>> Uh Council Council Member Maggie Ullman.

01:05>> Good morning.

01:06>> Council Member Kim Roney.

01:08>> Good morning.

01:10>> Council Member Bo Hess.

01:12>> Good morning.

01:14>> Council Member Shenika Smith.

01:16>> Good morning.

01:18>> Council Member Sage Turner.

01:20>> Good morning.

01:23>> Uh Assistant City Manager Ben Woody.

01:26>> Good morning.

01:28>> Assistant City Manager Jade Dundas.

01:31>> Good morning.

01:33>> City Attorney Brad Branham.

01:35>> Good morning, everyone.

01:38>> And City Clerk Maggie Burleson.

01:41>> Good morning.

01:43>> Okay. And now I'm going to turn it over

01:44to Assistant City Manager Jade Dundas.

01:49>> Uh thank you, Mayor, and good morning to

01:51you, Mayor, Vice Mayor, and council

01:52members. Um I'm going to jump right into

01:55the agenda briefing,

01:57um and the materials will start out with

01:59the uh the agenda for October 27th

02:03regular council meeting. Uh, meeting

02:05starts at 5:00 next Tuesday.

02:07Uh, and we'll begin that meeting with a

02:09couple of proclamations.

02:12Uh, the first is the Asheville Sister

02:15Cities Month.

02:16And the second proclamation is uh,

02:19National First Responders Day um, with a

02:22bit of a focus on our public works first

02:25responders and those that are out there

02:28working through down down trees and

02:30those sort of things. So,

02:31um,

02:33moving into the consent agenda. Um,

02:36there's not not a huge consent agenda.

02:39There's a lot of a lot of good

02:40information on here. The first uh,

02:43three A, B, C, and D are all related to

02:47uh, homelessness and the COC, but we'll

02:49start with B.

02:50Um, and this is a resolution to execute

02:53funding agreements for Homeward Bound

02:57and Operation Gateway and Pisgah Legal

02:59Services. Uh, to uh, provide implement

03:04the Right at Home homelessness

03:05prevention initiatives.

03:07Uh, we've been talking about the Right

03:09at Home initiative for a while now and

03:10this is actually putting it into uh,

03:13into effect. Item B2 uh, is on the same

03:17very is the same uh, but it's for

03:20uh, the AB Asheville Buncombe Community

03:23Christian Ministry ABCCM

03:25uh, and their but their their ability to

03:28um,

03:28help us with the distribution of those

03:30funds.

03:31Um,

03:32um, move if there's any questions,

03:34please stop me at any time. I've got

03:36staff here to help support some

03:38explanation of these if if necessary.

03:41Item C is a uh,

03:44resolution to ratify uh, the renewal of

03:47the planning

03:49uh, and homeless management information

03:52system grants HMIS otherwise known as

03:55HMIS. This is a

03:57system that is used throughout the

03:59community to help with the

04:02understanding uh,

04:04homelessness in our in our community and

04:07and so we're just renewing this. This is

04:08a regular part of

04:10that COC's work.

04:13And then item D is a resolution

04:16authorizing the city manager to execute

04:20interlocal agreement with Buncombe

04:21County

04:23to accept and administer their matching

04:25fund for Code Purple emergency shelter

04:27in the amount of 100,000

04:30dollars. So this is just contributions

04:32to the Code Purple efforts that will

04:34happen throughout the coming winter.

04:37Those are all related to homelessness

04:38and COC activities. Any questions on

04:40those?

04:44You're none. I got highlights on both of

04:46these items. So I'll just pretty much

04:48touch on most everything, I think. So um

04:51item E

04:53is a resolution to renew agreement with

04:56Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture

04:59Project. They are

05:02They produce the Asheville City Market

05:04for a number of years now and this just

05:06continues this agreement through

05:08the coming year. They've They've

05:11a good community partners for us.

05:15Just cancel them.

05:16>> Remind us like what our contribution is

05:19to that partnership. I know we've been

05:20doing it for a while and it's great. I

05:22just kind of want to remember what what

05:24we're contributing.

05:26>> I don't know if Chris is here, but I can

05:28certainly open the

05:31Don't remember that off the top of my

05:32head. And we can follow up if Chris is

05:33not here with that information.

05:35>> That's okay. No worries. I can

05:37It's a curiosity.

05:38>> Yeah.

05:39>> I think it's like

05:40putting up the barricades and stuff,

05:42right? And

05:44>> There was There is a financial number

05:46called out, but I believe Chris said

05:47Monday said it's in kind.

05:49>> Yeah, it's in kind.

05:51Right.

05:52>> Up to up to an amount. So yeah.

05:54>> Like the street closure aspect of it.

05:56>> Right. Right. Cool. Happy to do it. I

05:59think that's a great expense.

06:01>> Yeah. Great

06:02great partnership.

06:05>> Um

06:06item item F is Oh, I'm sorry. Councilman

06:10uh Council member Hess.

06:12>> Hey Jade, that brings me to a really

06:15interesting question. I know Vermont

06:18Avenue over in West Asheville

06:21has been asking for assistance

06:25from the city from especially for public

06:27safety for Halloween.

06:30Um I was wondering what

06:34criteria we use for in-kind

06:37like uh cuz I know they had been asking

06:39and I I'm supportive of them in that.

06:41So, what's the criteria that we're using

06:44to

06:45decide who gets the in-kind benefits and

06:47who doesn't.

06:50>> I we'll definitely have to follow up on

06:52that. Um and and I mean, we have

06:55partnership agreements with with groups

06:58throughout the city. Um I don't I I

07:00think there's probably a this a

07:01distinguishing factor there, but we'll

07:03have to provide that in in more detailed

07:05information. Ben.

07:08>> Um I'll try to answer a little bit. So,

07:10just looking at the um

07:13going back to the um

07:16agreement for the farmers market, that

07:18comes out to about $46,000 a year over a

07:223-year period. I think the contract's up

07:24to that amount.

07:26Um typically, the in-con like that's

07:29what that is is like waving uh fees and

07:31things. So, it's the idea that

07:33basically, the city's just absorbing the

07:35cost of

07:36it could be barricades, it could be

07:38fees, whatever it may be. So,

07:41um but you know, just to know when those

07:43costs are absorbed by like an enterprise

07:45fund for example, then the city's

07:47general fund will be used to offset

07:48that. So, again, it's just

07:51in-kind really us as an organization

07:53kind of absorbing fees,

07:55staff time, things like that.

07:58So, I say that so there is a cost to

08:00in-kind to the organization, but um

08:03again, the the farmers market is done.

08:05It's about I think it's went up over the

08:07years, but that and that is actually and

08:09Brad you're probably speak to this

08:11better. That is done through a specific

08:13statutory allowance related to economic

08:16development. So, it's a little bit of a

08:17unique situation, our ability to

08:20um

08:21create this contracting relationship

08:23with the with the farmers market.

08:26And like Jay, so we can we can dial this

08:28in a little more in the follow-up

08:29document to get more specifics.

08:32>> Yeah, thanks, man. No, that that was

08:34very helpful. I just

08:36No, my understanding is that the Vermont

08:38Avenue neighborhood were asking for

08:41those types of things, the barricades

08:44uh from the city at no cost and um maybe

08:47if we could just look at that for this

08:48year and um see if we can help them out.

08:50I know they ask every year and I think

08:52we decline them every year and I really

08:54like to support them.

08:56>> Well, I

08:57uh

08:58you know, there's a big long history to

09:00the city um

09:02subsidizing, supporting

09:04uh other groups that need city expenses

09:07to host their event and it's been you

09:10know, a long journey uh in separating

09:13out our legacy events that we still um

09:16provide some subsidy to

09:18uh versus

09:20kind of newer established events. So, I

09:22think if we were to just one-off allow

09:25the city to subsidize one neighborhood's

09:27event, we would have probably 20 other

09:30groups at our door saying, "How come you

09:32turned us away

09:34um previously and make us pay for

09:37the cost of the city providing

09:40services for our event." So, I just I

09:43mean, not that it's not a great awesome,

09:45super cool, fun night uh in West

09:48Asheville for Halloween. I just worry a

09:51little bit about the position we're

09:53putting

09:54us staff and us and if we if we just

09:57kind of one-off do that without some

09:59kind of um

10:00revisiting of the policy and the

10:02process.

10:03>> And Mayor, if I if I could add and this

10:05I think this

10:06Councilmember has this would be an

10:08option for Vermont. I mean, there's

10:09already a process that they can to the

10:11mayor's point, there's already a process

10:13that they can apply through

10:16and I don't know if they're a non

10:17There's a There's a differentiation if

10:19if the organizer's a nonprofit or not.

10:22So, I I don't know if they have

10:23nonprofit status, but there's already a

10:24process where they can go through it and

10:26there are fee waivers already available

10:28to nonprofits. So, it may just be that

10:31to the mayor kind of following up on the

10:33mayor's point, maybe we just need to

10:34take a look at what's the current

10:36process for us events on public

10:38properties and you know,

10:41I don't know if they've looked at going

10:42through that process yet cuz again,

10:43there are some waivers and things built

10:45into that based on the status of the

10:46organization.

10:48>> Yeah, that's a

10:50great idea.

10:51I thought we had a grant for street

10:53closures and I wonder um

10:55I know I've shared that with the Heart

10:56of West Asheville Business Association

10:58West Asheville Business Association

11:00cuz there we're partnering with um Arts

11:02AVL to administer that grant.

11:04>> That's right. We have many grants that

11:05are available through Arts AVL. So, I

11:08think maybe the first thing is is to get

11:10a contact from that organization and

11:13kind of take a look at the options that

11:15already exist and see if those work.

11:17>> Yeah, I know I think that's a great

11:19idea. I just

11:20um

11:21we have the money out there it sounds

11:24like and um this type of neighborhood

11:27thing especially for children and for

11:29families

11:30um

11:31is exactly the type of thing I want to

11:33see more of in our Asheville

11:35neighborhood. So, that'd be amazing.

11:36Thanks Ben. Thank you.

11:37>> Jade.

11:40>> Yeah, certainly. Um

11:41appreciate the question. So, um

11:44item F is a budget amendment to uh add

11:48$359,822

11:50to the city's budget to uh provide the

11:54uh law enforce local law enforcement

11:57bonus uh program through

11:59bonus program which was initiated by the

12:01uh North Carolina State Bureau of

12:03Investigation. This is a statewide uh

12:06program which gave uh a bonus pay to all

12:10sworn officers throughout the state.

12:12So, that's just the budget amendment to

12:15uh get get those district funds

12:16distributed.

12:19Item G

12:21is accepting grant funds from FEMA in

12:25the amount of

12:26$74,683.10

12:29for wildlife for wild I'm sorry,

12:31wildland personal protective equipment

12:34for the fire fire department. Um this is

12:37in Post

12:38recognizing some of the natural uh the

12:41the

12:42the need for us to bolster our our

12:45ability to get out there safely and and

12:47fight

12:48those natural disasters.

12:51Um item H is a contract amendment to the

12:55contract with Harper general contractors

12:58for the Malvern Hills Pools project. And

12:59so, Walter here is going to go into a a

13:02lot more detail on this. I will say that

13:05this is a CMAR a construction manager

13:07risk project and this is a normal part

13:09of that process um which Walter again

13:12will will will will touch on.

13:15But this is just

13:16authorizing the guaranteed maximum price

13:19for us to move forward with the

13:20construction of that pool.

13:23Item I is um

13:26authorizing the city manager to convey

13:28city property near Hominy Creek and

13:31Shelburne Road to NCDOT for the I-26

13:35connector project. This is the start of

13:38several of these

13:40items

13:41where DOT has identified land and and

13:44some of this land is city property

13:47and we'll just be conveying these over

13:49the next several months

13:51as that project progresses.

13:54Um item J is the 2027 high intensity

13:58drug trafficking areas. I'm sorry,

14:02Council member House was that on NCDOT

14:04or or J?

14:05>> The DOT thing.

14:07>> Okay.

14:07>> And excuse my naivety here on this, but

14:12I just have to ask. So, are we just

14:14giving this land over or do do we get

14:19some sort of reimbursement or payment

14:21for this or how does that work exactly?

14:23>> They're they're it's compensated.

14:25Yeah, I I

14:26and I don't know the amounts in this in

14:28this case, but all that they're takes

14:32are are compensated.

14:35>> Okay, thank you.

14:36>> Yeah.

14:38Yeah, uh great question, thank you. Um

14:40and so item J is a 2027 high intensity

14:44drug trafficking areas

14:46HIDTA

14:48grant funds, um and this is distributed

14:51from the office of national drug control

14:53policy.

14:54Uh the program has been in place with in

14:57Asheville for a number of years and this

14:59just continues that. Um

15:03Then item K

15:05uh is emergency is a uh

15:08emergency watershed protection

15:10um grant. Uh we're asking for

15:14uh the authorization uh to

15:18submit the grant and acceptance and

15:20approval and this is essentially uh for

15:24again damage related to Helene uh but

15:27but uh bank stabilization

15:30removal new removal of debris and

15:33project uh to protect homes and

15:35infrastructure throughout the city.

15:37We're

15:38uh and specifically in hit damaged

15:39areas.

15:41Uh this is it's a small grant that we're

15:44we're trying to find any any all of the

15:47available options.

15:50That concludes the consent agenda. If

15:52there are any questions, please

15:55let me know and and if not, we can move

15:58on to presentations and reports.

16:02Um item I I'm sorry, hey on uh the

16:06presentations and report is the Bearwise

16:08update. Uh we will have

16:10staff from um the the state

16:14and as resources commission I believe uh

16:17here to explain um

16:19the the their activities around uh

16:23bears and and in city limits and

16:26throughout the state throughout this

16:27part of the the state. Um that's my

16:30understanding we have worked with them

16:31in the past and they were essential in

16:33helping us to develop our ordinances as

16:35they are today.

16:36Uh and so um certainly grateful for

16:39their um assistance in the past and and

16:42hope hopefully they can

16:44uh provide some additional guidance if

16:46if needed as we go forward.

16:50Item B is manager's report is the first

16:54uh quarter one financial update which

16:55will be given by Tony McDowell and

16:57staff.

16:59Any questions on reports and

17:02presentations?

17:05Hearing none.

17:07Uh public hearing hearings uh we have a

17:09public hearing to consider amending the

17:11conditional zoning for at 21 London

17:15Road. Will Palmquist is here today if

17:18you have any questions on this item.

17:22Okay.

17:24>> I have a question on this one.

17:25>> Yes.

17:26>> Um so this is

17:29near Biltmore Village um

17:32and my understanding is

17:35that the purpose for the CZ is that they

17:37want more flexibility so that they can

17:40elevate the project further. Is that

17:44the primary purpose for seeking the

17:46variance?

17:49>> Hi, good morning. Will Palmquist here

17:50with Planning and Urban Development um

17:53so I'm sorry I didn't get to answer that

17:54question for you. Um so the request for

17:57the conditional zoning amendment is to

18:00um add more residential units and

18:02another story to the building.

18:05Uh

18:06as proposed does not elevate the

18:09building any higher than the previous um

18:12design is my understanding. But

18:14essentially we increase the number of

18:16units from 208 to 252 and then the

18:19number of stories from six to seven

18:22maximum.

18:25>> Oh, okay. Hmm, okay.

18:28So, there's no proposed elevation given

18:31that this site flooded in Helene or this

18:34site would have flooded in Helene.

18:37>> Um well,

18:39maybe not.

18:39>> Yeah, I guess I'm just getting turned up

18:40with what I've heard and I need to go

18:42through the details, but my

18:43understanding is that this

18:45would have had like a foot of flooding

18:48in the proposed design

18:50had it been built.

18:53>> That's possible. Um we can look more

18:55into the extent of the flood on this

18:57site. Um perhaps

18:58>> Definitely would like that information.

19:00Yeah.

19:03Um and then yeah, also like any context

19:06on

19:07given my understanding that this could

19:11be a flood impacted parcel. So So, let

19:14me go to the big picture. The big

19:15picture is

19:17I think this is a flood risk property

19:20and

19:22we have not been able to revisit

19:25our base flood elevation numbers, our

19:28basically

19:29flood risks. We don't have updated maps.

19:31And so, what I'm trying to understand is

19:33if we're going to give this approval or

19:35just to consider it in general, what is

19:38the risk to this project of future

19:41floods based on Helene information given

19:43that we don't have those maps yet. So,

19:45that's kind of and I just had some

19:47sparse information from different folks

19:48that I'm trying to sort through. So,

19:50getting a good sense of where the Helene

19:53flood was in relation to this property,

19:56what this

19:57proposed project's

19:59elevation plan is or flood mitigation

20:01strategy, I would like that information

20:03as well.

20:04>> Sure. I I'd love to pull some of that

20:06together. Yeah, I can say that part of

20:08the property is in the currently mapped

20:11100-year flood plain.

20:12The residential units are proposed to

20:14begin on the third floor. There's two

20:16levels of structured parking.

20:18So, they may be elevated out of the

20:20flood plain. There was some discussion

20:22at the planning and Zoning Commission

20:23about this topic, so I can summarize

20:26some of that.

20:27>> Great.

20:27>> Which is reflected in the recommendation

20:28of the approval a little bit as well.

20:32>> Great, thank you.

20:33>> You're welcome.

20:34>> Uh, Councilmember Allman, if I may add

20:36to what Will has said, I've had some

20:38discussions with the applicant's

20:40attorney in this as well, and I believe

20:42as a result of what was said at the

20:44Planning and Zoning Commission, you are

20:46likely to maybe see the addition of one

20:47more condition or some alteration of

20:49language which would allow the applicant

20:52some flexibility to ensure proper

20:54elevation with the changing flood plain

20:57uh, as part of this. So, I do think the

20:58applicant is trying to specifically

21:00address that. It may not uh, have been

21:02in the original set of conditions, but I

21:05do think you're going to see something

21:06by the time it reaches Council.

21:08>> Okay, that explains some of what I'm

21:09understanding, too, is yeah, like I just

21:11I'm very curious in the detail of that

21:13type of condition.

21:14Um,

21:16I think

21:17you know, as we're opening up the

21:18Unified Development Ordinance and

21:20starting to consider what is safe

21:22building in floodways and flood plains,

21:25um

21:26it's just on my mind a lot and this

21:28project is coming before we've been able

21:30to review all of that. So, just having

21:33the data to understand what happened,

21:35what could happen, what are they willing

21:36to do, um, is something I definitely

21:38want to dig into. Thank you.

21:44>> Thank you. Any other questions on that

21:45item?

21:47Councilmember Oh, I'll go ahead.

21:49>> Councilmember Allman.

21:50>> Could you give a summary of some of the

21:52top concerns that were named at Planning

21:54and Zoning?

21:58>> Sure. Um so, uh, there was concern about

22:03the location of the building in in

22:06partial flood plain, um, in that

22:08location.

22:09Um, so, as far as like emergency egress

22:13from the building would go in any kind

22:15of flooding events.

22:17Uh, also concerns about any, um

22:20uh, slopes, uh, stability issues for

22:23across the street on the other side of

22:24London Road where there is a hillside.

22:27um, Um, so maybe the cumulative effects

22:31of any of those conditions happening at

22:33the same time, for instance.

22:35Um, I think those are really the main

22:38the main concerns is is really just

22:39talking about the residents safety in

22:42the event of hazardous weather

22:44conditions like that.

22:46>> Thank you.

22:47>> You're welcome.

22:50>> Councilmember House?

22:52>> Uh, well, the there's a there's a great

22:54concerns. Um,

22:56and I'm think I missed this. Did it pass

22:58or did it did it fail planning and

23:02zoning?

23:03>> So, it it passed unanimously. There were

23:05some conditions attached to the

23:07approval.

23:09One of the conditions was a

23:10recommendation that the applicant work

23:12with city staff to explore mitigating

23:16building design and operational changes

23:18that would mitigate any of those

23:20hazards.

23:21So, Brad was kind of alluding to that

23:23with with the potential that they could

23:25ask for more overall height that they

23:27could elevate the building with. So,

23:29perhaps we'll be seeing something with

23:30that, but we have not received anything

23:32formally at this time.

23:34>> Okay.

23:35And that's kind of I think what

23:36Councilman Olman was talking about. So,

23:39maybe in between then and when we get

23:42it, there'll be those improvements.

23:43Okay, great. Awesome. Thank you.

23:48>> All right. And Councilmember House,

23:50while I was while that was the

23:52conversation was happening, I went back

23:53and looked at item I, which is the NCDOT

23:56uh property conveyance, and they they're

23:58going to pay us $243,375

24:02for that for that that one single

24:04transaction.

24:06>> And then where does that money go?

24:08Does that just the general fund?

24:10>> Believe so.

24:12>> Okay. Hmm, am I going to let this sink

24:15in?

24:20>> Okay. Um,

24:22we have no unfinished business items. We

24:24do have one new business item, and this

24:27is also related to I-26 and and NCDOT

24:31the connector project that they're doing

24:34um

24:35you a council will recall that we had we

24:37have had a lot of activities around uh

24:40the aesthetics of this of this uh

24:43work this project um which include um

24:48you making improvements for

24:49considerations for bicycle

24:51and pedestrians as well.

24:53Um so that was good activity. We had the

24:56aesthetics committee involved in that

24:58work as well. So right now we are at a

25:00point of being able to um

25:03we're at a point of being able to

25:04contribute our the city funds to those

25:07improvements and betterments. And um so

25:10we're going to you're going to hear

25:11about these in two different sections

25:13and turn Ashley uh here will will have a

25:16presentation ready for you on Tuesday to

25:19discuss the difference between the two

25:20sections uh and then also uh

25:24it just it

25:25give you some consideration some idea of

25:27what those betterments are going to look

25:28like. The section that should be that

25:31that is on um new business is the

25:33smaller section

25:35uh and so it it it's it's the area

25:39uh it it so so you also like said you

25:42there is more significant improvements

25:44in a larger area and that will be coming

25:46to you in the future.

25:50Um that concludes the uh the review of

25:54the October 27th regular council agenda.

25:59Uh

25:59yes Maggie.

26:02Unless something

26:02>> Thank you. I just wanted to call

26:04council's attention to you have a

26:05special meeting at 4:30 on the 27th in

26:10the chamber to appoint the new clerk. So

26:12just heads up.

26:17>> Thank you Maggie.

26:20Um

26:20>> We also have a

26:21retreat on the 29th, right?

26:27Okay.

26:29Is that all day?

26:33>> I believe it's 10:00 to 3:00.

26:37>> Let's rock and roll.

26:40>> I don't Is it 10:00 to 3:00? Are we

26:42going to find out any more information

26:43about that? It's kind of another

26:45surprise retreat.

26:48>> Yeah, I'd love to have pre-read and

26:49homework so I know how to prepare

26:51myself.

26:52>> I mean, in talking with DK about it, it

26:54sounded like it was going to be a vision

26:57and um

26:59you know, one of Anyway, Jamie popped on

27:01so maybe she's going to tell us more.

27:03>> I'd love it to be an action retreat.

27:06>> It's I don't I think it's more of a um

27:09Jamie, you talk. It's more of 30,000 ft.

27:11>> Yeah, thanks for the question. So, the

27:14day is going to be facilitated by Obed

27:16Pasha and Kim Nelson from the School of

27:18Government. They'll go through um the

27:21overview of the strategic planning

27:23process and then we will do some group

27:26work around the vision, mission, and

27:30values based on the survey that you all

27:33did and staff did. So, we'll be

27:35providing information on that.

27:37And you will get information ahead of

27:39time, early next week, no later than

27:41Tuesday.

27:46>> So, pretty high level, not like I want

27:49to redo Weaver Park or um we need more

27:52bear trash cans. It's It's um

27:56>> Yeah.

27:56>> This is high level.

27:58>> That will come later. That's going to

28:00come in another work session in January

28:03where you'll dive a little deeper into

28:04goals.

28:06>> Sweet.

28:10>> All right.

28:11>> Uh Jamie, did we get the time right? Or

28:13or do you want to clarify the time?

28:15>> 10:00 to 3:00, yes.

28:16>> 10:00 to 3:00.

28:17>> Mhm.

28:18>> This means there's going to be a

28:19fabulous lunch for you to enjoy.

28:21>> yeah, to enjoy.

28:22>> Okay.

28:23>> And wine.

28:26>> The time is correct on everyone's

28:27calendars or it should be as well, 10:00

28:29to 3:00.

28:33>> All right. Uh thank you for the

28:34questions and Jamie, thank you for

28:36helping out with that.

28:38Um

28:39looking at the 8-week agenda, we just

28:41covered the 27th.

28:45No meeting on the 3rd.

28:47Uh on the 10th, we have the the November

28:5110th, I'm sorry, the the next council

28:53meeting.

28:54Um

28:55there are

28:57one thing of note on that meet on that

28:59agenda as of right now is the lease

29:02agreement with RiverLink for 91

29:04Riverside Drive. It's an activation of a

29:06space that's been idle for

29:09quite a while and RiverLink is

29:12stepping in to help um

29:15make that space a little more active and

29:17a little more uh

29:18uh it part

29:20work with to kind of re- re- help us

29:22with the recovery of the River Arts

29:24District.

29:25Um

29:27some

29:30There's a couple of project-related

29:32items coming uh to that. Uh one one of

29:35them is um

29:37adding CDBG-DR

29:39funds to Azalea and French Broad River

29:42projects. Those continue to move again,

29:45unfortunately, at the at the pace that

29:47is dictated by the the federal

29:49processes, but but we are working it

29:51still uh very collaboratively

29:53collaboratively with our partners to at

29:56the uh to at the fed- federal and state

29:58levels to work through to work through

30:00those projects. Yes, Councilmember Bass.

30:03>> Just kind of along those lines and

30:05thinking into the future, um is there

30:10a timeline that we're putting Weaver

30:13Park back

30:15either on a work session or public

30:17safety or council so that we can get

30:20that taken care of?

30:22>> Uh We've

30:24We've as met with been meeting with the

30:26committee community. We we established

30:29some of the activities that we're going

30:30to be putting uh in the efforts we're

30:32going to be putting into Weaver Park.

30:33There are some uh

30:35there are there are schedules around

30:37those individual activities, which we've

30:39we we we provided a general we can

30:41certainly provide an update on that.

30:44>> And I may have missed this, Jade. When

30:45is the new play structure going to be

30:48put in? I think I missed that piece.

30:51>> There is There is a piece being added to

30:53the existing structure. Um, and I I

30:56can't

30:56>> Well, there's also there's a whole like

30:59>> I don't know that that is I don't know

31:00that that decision's been made at this

31:01point.

31:02>> Okay, so that means it should maybe we

31:05should talk about it and then maybe

31:06bring it up.

31:08Okay.

31:08>> Yeah, follow-up conversation.

31:09>> There's a whole piece of that park that

31:11is being unused right now that we could

31:12put a new play structure on.

31:15Awesome.

31:18>> Yeah, we'll definitely have to work

31:19through and

31:20uh show this this is a is a is a flood

31:23plain flood way area, which is has its

31:26limits. So, we'll we'll definitely have

31:28to continue that conversation.

31:30>> Well, I think that's part of the issue

31:32is that that wasn't addressed the first

31:34time around for $800,000. So, it's

31:36actually worse than it was before. So,

31:38in my mind, I'm thinking if we have a

31:40new play structure, maybe in the process

31:44of that we can also mitigate some of

31:45those flooding concerns.

31:48And also, I don't want it to drag on for

31:50months and months and months. I think we

31:52could do this now in the fall and the

31:54winter. So, by the time the North

31:56Asheville Little League folks get back

31:58online, they have a functioning park.

32:00North Asheville is a functioning park

32:02for the children and families out there.

32:04>> We'll definitely have to follow up with

32:05that conversation.

32:06>> I think Yeah, I mean, I think um

32:09if if you all need a majority of council

32:12to support

32:14going beyond the planned um

32:18I I know you guys have a list of things

32:19you're planning to address. You're going

32:20to You're going to fix the field. That's

32:22supposed to happen by the end of

32:24December. You're going to replace the

32:25mulch in the playground cuz it's got

32:27rocks in it.

32:28Um, that's happening pretty soon. You're

32:31going to reopen the bathrooms. That's

32:33happening pretty soon.

32:35Um, and then you're adding this piece to

32:37the play structure.

32:39Um but I think after it's all said and

32:42done, there's probably and and Jade,

32:45maybe you can share with us what you

32:47what since staff met with the community

32:49and I don't know that council was

32:50present at that. Maybe you can share

32:52with us what more you learned about that

32:54um around the

32:56scoreboard, um additional benches, and

33:00uh cuz some benches have now been

33:02installed and um

33:04uh any other

33:06things to address the play structure,

33:08which

33:10which is

33:11I think even with the additional ramp,

33:13it's going to still be insufficient.

33:16>> Well, and and Mayor and I appreciate

33:18those adjustments, if you will. However,

33:21the issue is still that parks and

33:23recreation are still not engaging with

33:26the

33:27neighborhood, so that even where the

33:29benches are placed, we've gotten emails

33:32when we went to the Weaver Park meeting,

33:34they're placed awkwardly and not in the

33:37right spot, right? Um the sandbox needs

33:40fixed. I mean, I think besides law

33:43enforcement and fire, our parks are the

33:46most public-facing

33:47piece of city government. And I think we

33:50have got to get that right. And the the

33:53public is watching us because what

33:55they're saying is if they can't even

33:57spend the money to get the parks right,

33:59how can we trust the city government to

34:01spend money to get anything right? So,

34:03we have to get Weaver Park right. This

34:05is a priority.

34:06It's important for our children and

34:08families, and I think now is the time to

34:10do it before spring time comes next

34:12year.

34:16>> Well, it looks like Walter popped on.

34:18Maybe he wants to add something to this.

34:23>> Oh, Kim, go ahead and we can uh I'll

34:25I'll address Council Estes' uh comments.

34:29>> Yeah, so because I've been communicating

34:32with folks involved with the North

34:33Asheville Little League, as well as the

34:35neighborhood, I guess that some of my

34:37curiosity is around why we're not

34:39leveraging the partnerships. The

34:42scoreboard. I thought there had been

34:43some fundraising and with partners to

34:46address the scoreboard issues. The

34:49the grading of the field. I know it's

34:50hard for folks who maybe aren't um

34:54super engaged in how the Little League

34:55is working, but if we for example had

34:59heavy machinery on the field and then we

35:02plant grass on top, you might not notice

35:04that there's divots in the field, but it

35:05creates a liability if young players are

35:08running across the field and they don't

35:09see that the way the earth is moved and

35:12it could cause hazards while people are

35:14playing. So, I know we've had some

35:16professional expertise offer help and

35:18volunteer. Um um So, how we're

35:21leveraging our partners would be helpful

35:24to understand.

35:25Um also, I know the grass needs to be

35:27planted if not already um very soon

35:29because the dipping temperature is going

35:31to be really hard to have it play ready

35:33by the spring.

35:35So, timelines would be helpful.

35:39>> Thanks, Councilwoman

35:40um

35:41So, when it comes to the the park

35:43itself, we are tracking

35:45uh several items on uh remediation of

35:49like the the the mulch as uh Mayor

35:52Manheimer addressed. Um as uh

35:56as Jade had mentioned, we are working on

35:59improving the play structure itself.

36:02There are limitations as he mentioned

36:04with the flood plane as well um

36:08Councilwoman we are limited by uh

36:11procurement laws and you know while a

36:15private entity might be able to get this

36:16done over the spring, just the lead time

36:19on getting playground equipment that is

36:21rated for uh commercial use is would

36:25likely exceed the the spring time frame.

36:27So,

36:28um

36:29after a decision is made to make any

36:31changes,

36:32um

36:33it it would take

36:34uh a little longer than certainly spring

36:37next year. So,

36:38>> Well, what The structure is

36:40>> The

36:41structure was large and in that same

36:44area. So, how did that not run a foul?

36:48Um

36:49And and Brad, please speak to this, how

36:52this procurement law, I mean, this is

36:55the type of stuff that people get

36:57frustrated with with government when we

36:59get in our own way, right? So, maybe

37:02Brad can talk to us a a little bit about

37:04what it looks like to actually get

37:06things done um in a timely

37:12>> Yeah, thanks for the question, Council

37:13member Hass. And I I don't want to step

37:15on what Walter's is already explaining,

37:17but just for awareness of the public,

37:20because I know Council's familiar with

37:21this, um state law dictates how we

37:24purchase anything or how we contract

37:26with any vendor who would do work on the

37:28city's behalf. And for the kinds of

37:30dollars that we are talking about for

37:32this particular project, uh the city,

37:34just like any city and any local

37:36government in North Carolina, is

37:37required to go through a public

37:39procurement process that has certain

37:41time frames prescribed by state law,

37:44certain limitations on our selection

37:46process, meaning otherwise that even if

37:49we wanted to and even if money was

37:50available, we don't have the ability,

37:52the legal right to simply go out

37:54tomorrow and make those purchases or

37:56contract for the services.

37:58Uh all of that, just like all of your

37:59projects, have to be done on the state's

38:02schedule for procurement. So, that's a

38:04timing limitation factor as well as it

38:07plays a role in some of the other issues

38:09that that Walter's explaining.

38:11>> And I would add that there are some

38:13local procurement um constraints as well

38:16that the city has passed in past years,

38:19uh way, you know, many, many, many years

38:20ago that are tighter even than the

38:23state's um

38:25rules. So, those could be looked at in

38:26the future.

38:27>> What if we're not purchasing it, but

38:29it's uh donated?

38:33Brad?

38:36>> So, there there there are options for

38:37donation, either of funds or equipment.

38:40Uh like anything,

38:42there are details that are case-by-case

38:45specific on any donation.

38:47Uh we have to have the legal allowance

38:49to accept it based upon the intended

38:51use. Uh if it's any sort of a a piece of

38:54equipment that would be used by the

38:55public, it has to be rated in such way

38:57that would prevent any kind of

38:58additional or unnecessary liability.

39:00But, it is possible. There are just As

39:02with anything, there are requirements

39:04and boxes to be checked and limitations

39:06that we have to abide by.

39:09>> I guess I'm just frustrated because we

39:11had an opportunity

39:13to get this right the first time around

39:16with the first $800,000 with listening

39:19to the neighborhood and actually giving

39:21folks what what they deserve. And now

39:23here we are trying to figure out a way

39:26to do our job right the

39:29the second time.

39:30So, that's what's frustrating and I

39:31think that's what's what's what is

39:33frustrating to North Asheville. So, you

39:37know, again, like the mayor said, I

39:38don't know what we need to do. Maybe

39:40it's a conversation with us and Brad,

39:42but I'm I'm

39:44willing to get it done for for those

39:46folks.

39:48>> Councilman Hases, this is a great time

39:49for me to enter my comment because

39:53I agree and I share in the frustration.

39:55I share in the neighborhood's

39:56frustration. And you know, it's played

39:58out in other areas in town. It's not

40:00just this one park. And I'm starting to

40:02wonder, so our role is really policy,

40:05right? So, we're not as a council in the

40:08nitty-gritty about the colors and sizes

40:10of design equipment and things. And and

40:12I'm not sure that we're supposed to be

40:14at that level. But, what we can do is

40:17review our policies on how these RFPs

40:21are going out, how these design and bids

40:22are coming in, and when we want to see

40:24them along the way, and how many touch

40:26points the neighborhood has. We can do

40:28do those things through policy. So, I'm

40:30kind of having a a larger step back

40:32view. I want to fix these things that

40:34need to be fixed, but I also want to

40:36make sure we don't have other things in

40:37the queue right now that are going

40:39through this same process without us

40:41being aware. Like, I don't know if

40:43there's other designs and parks in play

40:45that we're not seeing, but maybe should.

40:48And then I would request of our council

40:49members, you know, maybe we've got a lot

40:51going on the next couple weeks, but

40:54maybe we put it into our work agenda

40:57that we discuss policy and review of

40:59things like very public-facing entities

41:02like parks.

41:03>> Thank you, Council Member Turner.

41:05And and we can certainly do that. While

41:07the the one of the

41:09intentions of the quarterly update is to

41:11provide information about the progress

41:14and the the projects across the city

41:17regardless of their parks or our street

41:19infrastructure or whatever structure.

41:21But we can certainly focus on that in

41:23the future. We we can bring policy

41:26to council through the PFI

41:30meetings

41:31and and

41:33get down in the weeds regarding that and

41:36and certainly take a look at how we how

41:38we can go about bringing these projects

41:41to

41:42uh

41:43fruition.

41:44Council Member Rooney.

41:48>> Yeah, the other bucket of concerns that

41:50I'm hearing from the community is why

41:53when we're installing new infrastructure

41:55are we not addressing accessibility

41:57concerns so the infrastructure works for

41:59everyone.

42:00Um I think

42:01what I was hearing from staff is that

42:03this playground wasn't designed for

42:04accessibility

42:06and yet there are ramps that go to the

42:09playground um that

42:11are perceived as accessibility

42:13structures and I I would think

42:14appropriately so. The problem is that

42:17the ramp goes into what has already

42:19become a mud puddle because it's not

42:22designed um

42:24for stability at the end of the ramp.

42:26So when I think about like what this

42:28looks like as a policy issue moving

42:30forward is while we're

42:31building new infrastructure, making sure

42:33that it works for everyone. And then

42:35when it comes to this more immediate

42:37repair, um just maybe finding a way to

42:39put eyes on that because if somebody's

42:42um

42:43maybe it's an adult who's accessing it

42:45because a child is using the property

42:48um or the um playground and then they

42:50end up not being able to access it or it

42:52becomes a tripping hazard. It was just

42:54kind of surprising to me that so quickly

42:57um the ramp was being used enough that

42:58it created this hole and this divot or

43:01maybe a ditch. Um so there's an

43:03immediate concern for the folks that are

43:05using the playground, but also like a

43:07policy concern around why we wouldn't

43:09have accessibility features while we

43:11can.

43:12>> Yeah, sir certainly look at that um with

43:15regard to uh how we're moving forward

43:17with those projects. Uh Councilwoman

43:18Nollman.

43:20>> Um

43:23Councilman Hesta, thanks for bringing

43:24this up. I think

43:26um

43:27by just the amount of discussion, I hope

43:29staff can see that there's just like a

43:30lot of interest. Um and [clears throat]

43:32the things I wanted to add in are um

43:36I think uh starting a bond program is

43:38really important for our community's

43:40financial health. And so um getting

43:43these projects right is important for

43:45every neighbor and every community

43:46member, but also for our financial

43:48stability because if we have bond

43:50projects that are perceived as failures,

43:53that's going to be hard for us to get

43:54staff the money they need to do the jobs

43:57that they want to do because you all

43:59wake up every day to serve the community

44:00just like we do. Um so I think that's

44:03for me a big part of why this project is

44:05really important. Um it's my

44:07neighborhood park. I personally value

44:09it, but there's a bigger picture to me.

44:11Um I also appreciate the idea Councilman

44:14Hesta that you brought up of what if the

44:17um

44:18what if we could get stuff donated. And

44:21I recently met with um

44:23folks from the Friends of the Nature

44:25Center. And y'all, I really encourage

44:27you to sit down and talk with them. This

44:29model is very interesting to me. It's a

44:32really effective model to bring outside

44:34resources in to support our Nature

44:36Center. If you've gone If you've ever

44:38had like a birthday party and there's an

44:39education program, that's not actually

44:41provided by city staff. That's provided

44:44by the Friends of, and they they

44:46fundraise for it essentially. And I

44:48really wondered what it could look like

44:50over time if maybe we started a Friends

44:52of the Park System program because

44:55whether it's our B Jones Park or Weaver

44:57Park or Malvern Hills, there's so much

44:59love for our park systems and so many

45:01places where folks want to contribute

45:03potentially by fundraising or providing

45:05their expertise. And

45:08the friends of is such a cool

45:09partnership where my perception is the

45:12friends of and

45:14um

45:15and the staff running the nature center

45:17really work hand in hand. And so, you

45:19know, what would it look like if we

45:21could grow that capacity and have a

45:23friends of fundraising for

45:26awesome equipment, following the city

45:28procedures and gifting the materials or

45:30gifting gifting the equipment. Like I

45:32think that there's a path where it's not

45:34just some

45:35outside groups that don't understand the

45:37complexities of what our requirements

45:39would be. I think that we might be able

45:40to build that capacity. And then

45:43everybody gets better parks and more

45:44parks. Wouldn't that be great? So,

45:47um

45:48again, I hope that you're hearing a lot

45:49of interest in getting this and all

45:51future bond projects right because we

45:53deserve it, but also for the financial

45:55implications of it. And I'd really be

45:57curious to um as we talk as a team about

46:01financial planning and strategic

46:03planning,

46:04something like a friends of the park

46:06system might be one of those new revenue

46:08sources that could help us deliver

46:10service better through better

46:11partnerships and better mutual aid with

46:13community members.

46:16>> Councilman Omen, I love that idea. That

46:18is a great idea.

46:20Um I What I'm I kind of I'm thinking

46:22about the friends of the transit or

46:24friends of art. You know how they help

46:25us with the uh

46:27bus benches?

46:28You know, and I wish we had a more

46:30formal partnership.

46:32>> Cuz that one's a little rogue, but that

46:34could be

46:34>> I like rogue. I like

46:36that. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

46:37>> Yeah. I'm with you.

46:41>> All right. Yeah. Thank you. Noted. We'll

46:44we'll certainly

46:46work through that as far as bringing

46:47back to council more information about

46:49parks as they develop.

46:51We'll certainly focus on policies moving

46:53forward and and contemplate

46:56about the friend I will have to I'll

46:58have to go back and look. We have We

47:00have a couple of friends groups that

47:02uh are successful in certain ways.

47:04>> Oh yeah, the Muni, the Friends of the

47:06Muni. I just learned I don't know if

47:08anybody knows about this, but they just

47:10planted like $20,000 of native plants at

47:13the municipal golf course as this

47:14invasive meadow has been taking over and

47:16they've removed all these invasives too.

47:19Like what a great community partnership

47:22where this mutually is supporting the

47:24goals that we all have. That's another

47:26good example.

47:27>> We're and we

47:29We We probably got to move along, but

47:31and I don't I hope staff, I know you

47:33guys are probably feeling a little beat

47:34up cuz we we have done some park

47:36partnerships. We did a Minnehaha Creek.

47:38We done We have We So we have some

47:40examples but they're kind of one-off. So

47:42just establishing and we used to have a

47:45Parks and Rec

47:47um

47:48Uh anyway, we could we we can

47:51>> Well, maybe it's time to resurrect it.

47:52We There's def

47:52>> Yeah, no, 100% and if there's interest

47:55from the community in doing it, that's

47:57seize the moment. Seize the moment.

48:00Okay, Jay, take us to

48:01>> Yeah, yeah, thank you. Um so we've got

48:05uh

48:05So that that would be review of the of

48:07the

48:09November 10th meeting. There's no

48:11meeting on November 17th, November 24th,

48:13or December 1st. Uh there is

48:16uh December 8th meeting.

48:18Um right now there's a a downtown

48:21cleaning contract through public works

48:23um and a uh

48:26um motion to adopt the uh budget

48:29calendar for the coming year.

48:30Um and then the presentations is the

48:33fiscal year 26 audit.

48:36Um

48:37with that completed, there are no um

48:41committee meetings uh between

48:45prior to the next council meeting on the

48:4710th. So we'll talk about the uh

48:49the next committee meetings um at the

48:51next agenda briefing. So uh hopefully in

48:55in light of the conversation and and

48:57being maybe responsive to the

48:59conversation that we had is I'm going to

49:01have turned it over to Walter to talk

49:02about Melbourne Hills. This is a is a

49:04project that we've met with uh community

49:06members uh and and uh that done an

49:09extensive outreach. This is a bond

49:11project uh and certainly feel uh

49:14confident that we're uh moving in a good

49:16direction with this project. So, we'll

49:18turn it over to Walter.

49:22>> Thanks, Jay, and uh Council, thank you

49:24for your patience. And so, yes, this is

49:27an attempt to uh

49:29do exactly what we've been talking

49:30about, which is to get better at

49:32communicating with Council in the

49:33development of um

49:36capital projects and parks projects. So,

49:38uh the Melbourne Hills Park Pool update,

49:41uh next slide, please. Uh just to give

49:44y'all a

49:45uh update on the background, how we got

49:47here, and public engagement, and then um

49:51the

49:52contract amendment that will be in front

49:54of Council on Tuesday.

49:56And then the next steps going forward.

49:58So, next slide, please.

50:01So, to remind folks, this is a we are

50:03replacing a 91-year-old municipal pool

50:06uh at Melbourne Hills Park with a

50:08modern, code-compliant, accessible

50:10aquatic facility. Uh in 2017,

50:13uh the Parks Department had a assessment

50:16done uh that determined that the pool

50:18had exceeded its useful life, uh but in

50:20order to extend the life, we um

50:24complied with some recommended repairs

50:26uh until it became infeasible to

50:28continue to do those repairs and extend

50:31the life. So, in 2023, the pool um had

50:34to be closed, and then um it became a

50:36priority on the 24 bond.

50:40And the result of a lot of community

50:41engagement that uh we'll talk about here

50:43in the

50:44uh next couple of slides is the next

50:46slide.

50:47So, um this is the result uh through a

50:50lot of engagement with the community,

50:51with our designer and staff, um this is

50:54the pool resulting uh design.

50:57And then, next slide.

50:59So, extensive public engagement and

51:01steps went into that design. Um

51:03Clark Nexsen was the architect awarded

51:05the contract in spring of 25. We did a

51:08community preference survey to go

51:11into some options that could be viewed

51:14by um

51:17stakeholders

51:19which were then presented to community

51:21members

51:23through the fall of 25

51:26at various locations as well as in a

51:29concurrent online survey and then

51:33we met with community members in about a

51:35year ago today

51:37before that design was settled on one

51:40that met balanced needs of budget,

51:42safety, code, and community needs.

51:45And next slide.

51:48So how public input shaped this project?

51:50There were aspects that you know we

51:52could have and we did incorporate into

51:55the design whether it was

51:56features,

51:58preferences, and potential uses for the

52:00pool and the pool facilities, the

52:02building.

52:04Other things that we couldn't

52:05necessarily um

52:08be as flexible on were safety, budget,

52:11and local and state federal regulations

52:13obviously.

52:14So those that feedback was incorporated

52:18into this design. Next slide.

52:21So how we incorporate that and I'll get

52:23to what was incorporated and what that

52:25feedback was after this one but so again

52:28online preference surveys, design open

52:30houses, pop-up design feedback

52:32opportunities,

52:33online

52:35comment windows based on conceptual

52:36designs, and then again one-on-one

52:38meetings with um

52:41between staff and community leaders.

52:43Next slide.

52:45So what we heard was that there was a

52:47desire for more space at the 5-ft and

52:50deeper zone so a larger deep end. Um

52:54a sloped entry sometimes known as a zero

52:56entry or beach beach entry. And then

53:00you know there's a lot of sentiment for

53:01the original pool design as a West

53:03Ashvilian you know myself, um,

53:06there's a lot of we all have a lot of

53:08attachment to, um,

53:10to, uh, the these amenities that the the

53:13uh, the community has has had over a

53:15long period of time.

53:16Um,

53:17and, uh, again, trying to balance those

53:20with the the budget of the city and, uh,

53:22the budget of the project, um, we came

53:25away with the design that reflects the

53:26key takeaways and stakeholder feedback.

53:29Um, you can see all of the different

53:31varied designs and their associated

53:33budgets as they were presented, um, in

53:36the link below on the project page.

53:40Next slide, please.

53:43So, what is a CMAR? It's a construction

53:46manager at risk and Harper Construction

53:48was selected as the construction manager

53:50at risk for this project. Um, the why

53:53behind it is it's a delivery method that

53:55is, um, that was chosen in order to

53:58expedite,

53:59uh, the start and completion of the

54:01pool. Benefits of this type of

54:03construction contracting method is that,

54:05uh, it allows the construction manager

54:07to get early engagement and with the

54:10design team and with staff and they have

54:11familiarity with the plans so that you

54:13don't just get a a hard bid, um, with

54:16only a couple weeks for the contractor

54:18to to figure out what's in the plans.

54:21Um, again, this opens up that window so

54:23that we can find more opportunities for

54:25cost savings, uh, better cost control

54:27during construction, and then, again,

54:29faster delivery of the construction

54:31project itself. And then perfect A great

54:33examples of this are McCormick Field,

54:35which came in, uh, on time and under

54:37budget, and then Rad Tip as well that

54:39came in, um, under budget and I believe

54:41as well on time. So, um, the how it

54:44works is that, uh, there's a selection

54:46process, a pre-construction services

54:48contract gets awarded, and then, uh,

54:51through the design process, the bidding

54:52process will happen, and then we bring a

54:55construction contract amendment called a

54:57guaranteed maximum price, um, amendment.

55:00It's a AIA or,

55:03contract language, but, uh, it's a

55:04construction amendment.

55:06That that, again, that's what you'll be

55:08or that's what will be before you in

55:10front in front of council on Tuesday.

55:13And then uh so the next steps are um

55:18uh

55:19once approved, construction will begin.

55:21We expect to have

55:23the pool open by the summer of 2028 for

55:26the pool season

55:28of that year. Um we'll continue

55:31communication with the neighborhood

55:33through bi-monthly email updates uh as

55:36construction progresses uh starts and

55:38progresses and then city council will

55:40see this um through quarterly council

55:43updates and uh through the city manager

55:46as needed. And then we will continue to

55:48be responsive to the neighborhood and

55:49community members um through our capital

55:52projects division um

55:54and uh

55:56very hopefully will feel like no time at

55:59all, but uh soon we'll have the ribbon

56:01cutting to

56:02uh bring this amenity back to the

56:03community um

56:05when it's ready to be uh to be reopened.

56:08So, next slide.

56:11Again, uh for anybody

56:13um that wants to subscribe to the page

56:16or for any updates, um the project page

56:18is linked below

56:20and um

56:22just stay tuned for updates. Any

56:23questions?

56:26>> Councilwoman Noonan.

56:27>> Thanks for the detailed update, Walter.

56:30Um

56:31I was wondering if

56:33um

56:34there

56:35you noted that we're anticipating people

56:38being able to swim in the summer of

56:402028.

56:41Um

56:42and

56:43it just seems like so many projects get

56:46delayed and so wondering if we have any

56:49things written into our contract like I

56:52don't know, like we just did something

56:53with Hawk Creek where they started to

56:55speed up

56:57construction when we started basically

56:59threaten them to they have to pay a fine

57:01every day they're late. Like are we

57:02doing anything to ensure that people

57:04will definitely 100% be able to swim

57:07that summer?

57:08>> There are um we can't control and

57:10there's existential factors, but

57:13assuming that there's not some supply

57:16shortage somewhere what's within our

57:18control. Yes, there are liquidated

57:20damages as a standard to every

57:22construction contract that we issue. Um

57:25It's effectively a fee for every day

57:27that it's beyond the expected

57:30the contract completion date.

57:32>> Great. And so the contract completion

57:34date is set for like

57:36May 2020.

57:37>> I don't have the exact date for you.

57:39>> Yeah, I would love to know that. Thank

57:40you.

57:43>> Councilwoman Running.

57:45>> Yeah, thank you, Walter. Um

57:48given that we're dealing with the pool,

57:49but also the area around the pool and

57:51the facility, um can you confirm that

57:54this project is going to also be updated

57:56on our capital improvements dashboard?

57:59Just as far as the lines.

58:01>> Yes.

58:02>> Thank you so much.

58:09>> All right. Thank you, Walter.

58:11>> As an aside, that Melbourne Hills has a

58:14great playground.

58:18Just just saying.

58:20It's a good one.

58:23>> Thanks, thanks, everyone.

58:26>> Appreciate it, Walter.

58:27Well, that concludes the all of the

58:29topics on the agenda briefing today. Um

58:34there's any other questions or follow-up

58:36discussion I'd be glad to uh

58:39entertain that. Otherwise, we can

58:41adjourn.

58:44Ann Becker, Mary.

58:47Done.

58:48Oh, Councilwoman Running.

58:50>> Before we wrap, um are we not able to

58:53discuss the Save the Woods resolution?

58:57>> Uh I'm that

58:59>> I

59:00we have had a request from some of the

59:02folks to pass a resolution on

59:05that they have proposed and I've talked

59:07with them and asked

59:09that we Give me a second to meet with

59:12the Chancellor first cuz I don't want to

59:15surprise our partner in the community

59:17without letting them know that we're

59:19going to be considering something before

59:20we put it on the agenda and that seemed

59:23agreeable. So

59:25I know Bo's already made the connection.

59:27I believe um

59:29so that we can set up that meeting.

59:32>> Yes, I did.

59:33And uh

59:35um the

59:37um advocacy groups

59:40And but hoping that we can um

59:43after we talk to everybody pass

59:44something.

59:46Yeah.

59:50>> All right.

59:51Well, thank you all. Um

59:53Yep.

59:53>> Thanks.

59:54>> Have a great day.

59:55>> All right.