Tag: Asheville City Council
Showing 694-714 of 1615 results
Letter writer: A contradiction in terms?
” So, basically, we’re going to tell you one thing and do what we’ve always done; this is just to mollify those folks always whining about overdevelopment.”
State legislator moves to force Asheville’s hand on district elections
City Council moved ahead with plans to poll city voters on whether or not they’d like to see districts put in place for seats on the Council. Three new members of the city’s school Board of Education were appointed, and the issue of homestays in accessory dwelling units returned to the Council chamber.
Council to pick Board of Education members on Feb. 28
Council will interview six candidates for three open spots on the five-member Asheville City Schools Board of Education on Feb. 28. The finalists — Yvette Jives, James Lee, Amy Ray, Joyce Brown, Patricia Griffin and Mary Ellen Lewis — were selected from 27 applicants who met residency requirements for seats on the board. Council is expected to announce the new board members during its regular meeting.
Show ’em your plans
Asheville
Universal preschool access could help next generation thrive
An diverse and influential group looks to incrementally implement universal preschool in Buncombe County. Xpress takes an in-depth look at the organization, logistics and potential costs behind the effort.
Mile by mile: Improving bus service could help alleviate Asheville’s food deserts
Expanded bus routes and hours could help more Asheville residents gain consistent access to healthy food. But a more effective city transit system may be a little way down the road.
City Council gets personal, celebrates successes at retreat
While last year’s City Council retreat focused on strategy, this year was all about tactics. Council celebrated the successes of 2016 — including passing a $74 million bond referendum, launching an equity initiative and retaining control of the city’s water system — and outlined tweaks to how it will operate in 2017.
Commissioners ask staff to look at property tax breaks; talk teachers, infrastructure, more at retreat
Goals and priorities emerged when the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners held its retreat on Friday, Feb. 17. Among priorities are continuing to increase teacher pay while looking at expanding access to preschool across the county.
Developers to face more scrutiny on hotels, big buildings in Asheville
Through their elected leaders, Asheville voters will now have more say-so over development projects downtown and new hotels citywide.
Council to vote on tightening downtown development rules
After more than a year of public input and review, proposed development changes that would bring more downtown projects before Council for review will go to a vote on Tuesday, Feb. 14. The new rules also include a provision for Council to review all hotel projects with 21 rooms or more anywhere in the city.
Letter writer: Look closely at district voting push
‘The current Council may be ineffective, but its composition is a testament to the efficiency and integrity of at-large representation — at nearly half female, one-in-seven minority, it mirrors the makeup of the city.”
CIBO panel explores Asheville City Council district elections
The Council of Independent Business Owners returned to the topic of district elections for seats on Asheville City Council at its monthly Issues Meeting on Feb. 10. Unsurprisingly, opinions on the wisdom of making a change were mixed.
Whitesides questions commission, Fryar sees window for criticism at county-city meeting
The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners and Asheville City Council held their first joint meeting in more than one year on Tuesday, Feb. 7. While it was mostly presentations and information updates, Commissioners Al Whitesides and Mike Fryar used the time to question the African-American Heritage Commission and energy efficiency, respectively.
City Council to study three sites for affordable housing bond funding
At City Council’s first budget work session since city voters approved a $74 million bond referendum, elected officials considered how to move forward on planning for the use of the funds. In one key decision, Council members agreed to assess three properties for potential city-led affordable housing development.
Rich Lee announces second run for Asheville City Council
Rich Lee, the fourth-place finisher in the 2015 Asheville City Council elections (meaning he missed out on a seat by a few hundred votes) has announced he will run again in 2017.
County, city to hold joint meeting to discuss partnerships, goals
County commissioners and City Council members will meet up to discuss their common goals and projects. The gathering is the first of its kind in more than a year. Intended to showcase synergies between the two governmental entities, the meeting agenda doesn’t include any official action items.
City Council denies 185-room hotel
City Council voted unanimously to deny the zoning request for a 185-room hotel at 192 Haywood St. at its Jan. 24 meeting. Police Chief Tammy Hooper gave an update on policing in the city in 2016.
Haywood Street hotel back on Council’s agenda for Jan. 24
Asheville City Council will consider another large hotel for downtown Asheville at its meeting on Jan. 24. With 185 rooms in a nine-story building at 192 Haywood St., the proposed Embassy Suites Hotel is the type of project that has generated widespread public attention and no small measure of controversy — and which Council seems hard-pressed to curb under existing zoning regulations.
Letter writer: Welcome to TrAsheville?
“So here is my challenge to the Asheville City Council and Buncombe County Board of Commissioners for 2017: Create a few dozen part-time jobs, and title them Street Sweeps.”
City hosts luncheon for board and commission chairs
City Council hosted chairs of the city’s boards and commissions at a luncheon at the U.S. Cellular Center on Jan. 10.