“Fireworks” in store for June 19 Council meeting

Posted on June 18, 2018June 18, 2018 by Daniel Walton

Two weeks before the Fourth of July, the meeting’s agenda promises a grand finale of rhetorical explosions over two matters of unfinished business. The first is the Asheville city budget, which Council member Brian Haynes has said he will not support as long as it contains funding for additional officers to staff the Asheville Police Department’s downtown district. The second is a series of resolutions to rescind and replace the three motions on police policy previously proposed by Young and passed by Council on May 22.

UNC Asheville students sample aquatic organisms.

Regional watersheds expected to recover after record rainfall

Posted on June 16, 2018June 11, 2018 by Daniel Walton

While the flood’s immediate aftermath may negatively impact water quality and populations of aquatic life, research suggests that WNC’s watersheds readily recover from similar events over the long term. But area experts emphasize that humans do play a role in maintaining the resilience of the region’s streams, rivers and lakes as development continues along their banks.

Ten things to know about the Asheville city budget

Posted on June 15, 2018June 11, 2018 by Daniel Walton

On Tuesday, June 19, Council will put the result of its planning process to the test as its members vote to adopt the proposed budget. The document must account for $180,388,554 in spending, enough to fund the current work of over 1,200 employees and invest millions in the city’s future.

Kimberlee Archie, Asheville's equity and inclusion manager.

Human Relations Commission holds first meeting on Thursday

Posted on June 12, 2018June 13, 2018 by Daniel Walton

Established based on recommendations from a special Council-appointed Blue Ribbon Committee, the new group will be charged with improving human relations and equity throughout Asheville’s government — including the Asheville Police Department, which has drawn fierce criticism in recent months from Council and the public over its response to the beating of a black Asheville resident by a white former APD officer last year.

Mission Health CEO Dr. Ron Paulus shares his rationale behind the health system's intended sale to Hospital Corporation of America.

Mission Health sale could create massive community nonprofit

Posted on June 8, 2018June 8, 2018 by Daniel Walton

HCA’s purchase price for the system, plus Mission’s remaining net cash and investments, would fund a nonprofit foundation specifically devoted to boosting public health in the region. At a meeting of the Council of Independent Business Owners, President and CEO Ron Paulus claimed that the new organization’s assets, which could range from $1 billion to $2 billion depending on the final sale price, would make it one of the three largest foundations in North Carolina and the richest foundation per capita anywhere on the planet.

Jaime Joyner, assistant director of the city’s Human Resources Department, explains the role of the city manager in a public input meeting at the Skyland Fire Department in South Asheville.

Asheville ramps up search for next city manager

Posted on May 30, 2018May 28, 2018 by Daniel Walton

The Asheville City Council will make one of its most consequential decisions when it hires its next city manager, a powerful administrator with broad authority for most aspects of city government. To inform its search, the Council is gathering input from residents.

Asheville City Council member Vijay Kapoor issues statement on policing changes

Posted on May 29, 2018May 29, 2018 by Daniel Walton

In the letter, Kapoor writes that he will ask Council to “reconsider” its actions at the upcoming meeting on Tuesday, June 19. Speaking with Xpress, he clarified that he’ll be calling for the motions to be rescinded and their substance explored through the normal committee process.

Police group threatens legal action against Asheville City Council on recent policy changes

Posted on May 25, 2018May 25, 2018 by Daniel Walton

The words City Council adopted on May 22 could land the five members who supported them in hot water, according to lawyers from the N.C. Police Benevolent Association. Language in the city’s charter suggests that the consequences could be serious, possibly even including loss of office if convicted of giving an order to a city […]

Council member Keith Young made three motions aimed at improving equity in policing practices, including one ordering Interim City Manager Cathy Ball to direct the APD to require written consent for voluntary searches of vehicles and personal property.

City Council drives through policing changes in contentious meeting

Posted on May 23, 2018May 28, 2018 by Daniel Walton

By the end of a six-hour session, Council had approved multiple items showing an unprecedented level of urgency for policing reform. Multiple split votes, however, showed the concern of some members over the process of making those changes.

Budget public hearing to take place at May 22 Council meeting

Posted on May 21, 2018May 21, 2018 by Daniel Walton

City residents will comment on Asheville’s $180 million spending plan at Council’s regular meeting in council Chambers at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 22. Police equity concerns and Strategic Partnership Fund grants are also on the agenda.

Attendees of the Spring City Manager's Development Forum enjoy a city-catered lunch before hearing updates from city staff.

Planning, permitting focus of spring city manager’s development forum

Posted on May 18, 2018May 18, 2018 by Daniel Walton

Roughly 80 attendees had lunch on the city while hearing updates related to development, design and construction at the May 17 city manager’s development forum. City officials said permitting activity is significantly lower in the current fiscal year than last year.

Police accountability and transparency focus of City Council meeting

Posted on May 16, 2018May 21, 2018 by Daniel Walton

Amid calls for increased public access to policing data, Asheville City Council left the city’s volunteer board dedicated to hearing residents’ concerns about law enforcement in place for now. At the same time, the elected officials noted many vacancies on the Citizens Police Advisory Committee and signaled their longterm intent to dissolve the body once the newly forming Human Relations Commission has gotten up and running.

City to share proposed budget at May 15 meeting

Posted on May 14, 2018May 14, 2018 by Daniel Walton

For now, the work sessions and haggling are over. Interim City Manager Cathy Ball will present the city’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2018-19 to Asheville City Council and the public at Council’s regular meeting in Council Chambers at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 15. The document reflects Council’s consensus on issues such as parking […]

Asheville Area Arts Council board member Eunice Ward (left) and program manager Mamie Fain (right) collect feedback from the community during the Creative Sector Summit Resource Happy Hour.

Area nonprofits discuss approaches to overhead funding

Posted on May 13, 2018May 9, 2018 by Daniel Walton

Nonprofits are often judged by their overhead ratio, the percentage of their total expenses made up by administrative and fundraising costs. But as Jeanette Butterworth with WNC Nonprofit Pathways, is quick to point out, organizations need funding to spend their funds well.

Students in the Green Opportunities Greenway Construction Training program smooth out the temporary trail on the Town Branch Greenway behind the Wesley Grant Southside Center.

Green Opportunities partners with city to build greenway trail

Posted on May 12, 2018May 9, 2018 by Daniel Walton

Funded by a $10,000 grant from Mountain Area Workforce Development, a $5,000 grant from New Belgium Brewing Co. and $2,400 from the city Transportation Department, the project established a 6-foot-wide trail on the Town Branch Greenway surfaced with fine gravel. The trail will serve pedestrians and cyclists until its planned removal in 2020 to make way for the greenway’s permanent path.

Mission Health sale, policing top conversation at CIBO breakfast meeting

Posted on May 4, 2018May 7, 2018 by Daniel Walton

Mission Health President and CEO Dr. Ron Paulus sees system expansion through mergers as a nearly inevitable survival tactic in the current healthcare environment. “There are many leaders — not me, but Mayo Clinic and others — that believe within 25 years, there will be maybe four or five health systems in the U.S.,” he said.

A GOOD HARD LOOK: Vice Mayor Gwen Wisler and Mayor Esther Manheimer pore over their options for closing the city's budget gap at an April 24 work session. Photo by Daniel Walton

City Council approves parking changes in budget work session

Posted on April 27, 2018April 27, 2018 by Daniel Walton

In a move estimated to yield an additional $800,000 of annual revenue, Council unanimously decided to provide free parking at city parking decks only for vehicles that exit within one hour.

BEST FOOT FORWARD: Patrick Conant, a volunteer with the nonprofit civic technology advocacy organization Code for Asheville, presents his group's "Petition for Police Accountability Through Data Transparency." Photo by Daniel Walton

Asheville Council takes step toward police data transparency

Posted on April 25, 2018May 7, 2018 by Daniel Walton

“In the words of Bernie Mac, bust a move.” Asheville City Council member Keith Young summarized the sentiments of many in attendance at Council’s April 24 meeting as he encouraged interim City Manager Cathy Ball and other city staff to speed up their work on promoting data transparency for the Asheville Police Department. Council considered […]

Budget balancing to present hard choices for City Council

Posted on April 23, 2018April 23, 2018 by Daniel Walton

Asheville City Council will pull a doubleheader on Tuesday, April 24, as it grapples with how to address a projected deficit of $2.2 million for the budget for fiscal year 2018-19, which begins on July 1. The Council begins at 3 p.m. with a budget work session in the First Floor North Conference Room of […]

Asheville students protest gun violence at downtown rally

Posted on April 20, 2018April 20, 2018 by Daniel Walton

Several hundred students from Asheville-area schools gathered in front of the Vance Monument before marching to Pack Square Park on Friday, April 20, in protest of gun violence and support of gun law reform. The rally, organized by student leaders from Odyssey High School, was part of a nationwide student walkout on the anniversary of […]

Parents criticize Asheville City Schools response to Parkland tragedy

Posted on April 13, 2018April 12, 2018 by Daniel Walton

Parents of students in Asheville City Schools pushed back against what they saw as a tepid response from district leaders after the Feb. 14 school shooting in Parkland, Fla., saying local administrators were slow to acknowledge families’ fears and provide concrete information. At a March 6 parent forum, some additional details about the district’s safety planning were made available.

Author: Daniel Walton

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