At their June 28 meeting Asheville City Council members took the following actions:
• Passed a motion to partner with Buncombe County to issue a Request for Proposals to evaluate options for a new community media project to replace the defunct WNC Community Media Center. Council memeber Jan Davis voted against the measure, and Council Member Cecil Bothwell was not present at the meeting. Funding will be provided for a new community media project for three years, with the city and county splitting the cost. First year’s funding will be $60,000, and will drop to $40,000 and $20,000 in the following two years respectively. After three years, no money will be provided by either the city or Buncombe County. Proposals will be accepted from July 1 through August 1.
• Unanimously passed a rezoning request for a portion of the property occupied by Sunny Point Cafe on the corner of Haywood Road and State Street in West Asheville. The request was submitted after Sunny Point owners were issued a citation for having a parking lot and dumpster on a portion of their property zoned for residential use. The property had been split-zoned, with a residential portion holding a small brick home, as well as a garden the restaurant uses for some of its produce. The portion of the lot containing the restaurant was already zoned for commercial business. As part of the rezoning, Sunny Point must install a privacy fence and additional landscape buffer between the parcel and adjacent properties. The restaurant will also be required to enclose its dumpster and composting bins. The dumpster is to be limited to non-food waste.
• Passed 6-0 a resolution authorizing the city to contract with McGill Associations for $1.2 million to provide engineering services for the Lake Craig Project. Phase I of the project, which includes the engineering services as well as the roadway, utilities, and river relocation construction is expected to cost around $4.15 million. Construction is expected to begin around Summer 2012, with completion in Spring 2013.
• Heard an update from the Asheville Area Riverfront Redevelopment Commission. The the city-created commission is charged with promoting the sustainability and continued development of the riverfront, and has been in existence for one year. The group recommended that the city strengthen its presence in the area by promoting sustainable development and infrastructure improvements, such as sidewalks and water lines. The group also recommended that the city hire a consultant to to review regulations related to redevelopment in the riverfront.
• Appointed Flora Marr and Elizabeth Franks to the Civic Center Commission
• Appointed Gwynne Ruckenbrod and Jennifer Gordon to the Public Art Board.
Its all about local media ownership and control of our need to know. Supporting arguments can be found here: http://www.educateyou.com/urtv