City of Asheville Staff Emails: Occupy Asheville

From: Jeff Richardson

Subject: RE: Occupy Asheville update

Date: 2011-10-18 08:29:21

To:

I am checking and will provide an answer hopefully this morning.



________________________________

From: Gordon Smith [mailto:gordonsmith@avlcouncil.com]
Sent: Monday, October 17, 2011 9:03 PM
To: Jeff Richardson
Subject: Re: Occupy Asheville update



Jeff,



Thanks for ongoing information. Having watched the group on Facebook,
I'm seeing them asking for donations of lots of personal hygeine items.
Could you please update us on general cleanliness and any public health
issues? Thanks.



Gordon

On Fri, Oct 14, 2011 at 4:35 PM, Jeff Richardson
wrote:

Dear Council,



Asheville staff just completed a meeting with Occupy Asheville. As
result:



1. COA has permitted public space Bottom of Lexington Avenue under
the I-240 Overpass (specifically the public metered parking area) in
that area, beginning this evening.
2. The event organizer is planning to attend the October 25 city
council meeting and request fee waivers for this space.
3. Please note the event organizer had several questions to
include: use of signage and tents, for example, that city staff will
continue to work with them over the next week period.



If you have specific questions, please advise.



Thanks and have good weekend.



Jeff



________________________________

From: Jeff Richardson
Sent: Thursday, October 13, 2011 5:04 PM
To: councilgroup
Cc: Bob Oast; All Department Directors; Melissa Williams; Marsha
Stickford; Jon Fillman; Harry Brown; Lt. Stony Gonce; Captain Daryl
Fisher; Lt. Jamee Crawford; Shannon Tuch; Dawa Hitch; Kelly Whitlock;
Jannice Ashley
Subject: Occupy Asheville update



Dear Council:



Since Tuesday evening, at the direction of city council, staff has
reviewed city owned public spaces in an effort to provide potential
public space options for Occupy Asheville to occupy for an indefinite
period of time. We just finished a meeting with representatives from
that group and covered in detail three public spaces that city staff has
analyzed and are prepared to work with through the normal permitting
process. Those parcels are:



1. Bottom of Lexington Avenue under the I-240 Overpass
(specifically the public metered parking area) in that area. This area
can be offered on a 24-7 basis and there are no permitted events there
for the remainder of the calendar year.
2. City employee lot nearest adjacent to Marjorie Street and corner
of Valley Street. (Gated currently). This lot can be permitted for their
use from 7pm-7am daily.
3. City street level public parking lot on Rankin Street (two
options), across and beside the Rankin Avenue Parking garage. 7pm to 7am
daily.



City staff answered questions regarding each of these options, and
explained the expedited steps to quickly permit any of these locations,
at their request.



Next Steps:



The group is going back and discussing these options today and tomorrow.
I have a follow up meeting with the group tomorrow at 3pm to discuss
this issue further.



Note:



There was considerable interest in occupying a public park in downtown,
within eye sight and sound proximity to government buildings and banks.
Staff explained that we do not have administrative authority to allow
occupying of the parks past 10pm daily. I will apprise you of any
further developments tomorrow.



Let me know if you have questions. Mark Barrett from the ACT was there
for the last part of the meeting, and interviewed group members, and
several city staff.



Jeff Richardson

Assistant City Manager

P.O. Box 7148

City of Asheville, NC 28802

828-259-5602



Our Quality of Service, Your Quality of Life

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