Asheville City Council brief: Oct. 13 meeting

Posted on by Brian Postelle

At its Oct. 13 meeting, Asheville City Council decided to extend its current contract with public access channel URTV for 90 days while it and the Boards and Commissions Committee look at details in the organization’s management. URTV operates without oversight by the Council, but the city and Buncombe County have to renew a contract that allows for funding through Charter cable bills.

Vice mayor Jan Davis said the extension ensures the channel will get operating funds, while also giving the committee three months to look at management concerns, such as open meetings and public records policies, and procedures for dismissing URTV Board members.

Also in Council:

• The developer of the Montford Commons project asked Council for $9 million in financing for public infrastructure on the site, saying funding from Housing and Urban Development won’t cover those details. City staff is looking at the funding gap to determine what if any involvement the city should have.

• Council approved the design for phase one of the Reid Community Center rebuild, but Mayor Terry Bellamy waned some assurance that the theater space will be followed up by phases two and three, which contain a gymnasium, pool and classrooms.

For extensive Council coverage, see the Oct. 21 issue of Xpress. Click here to see a run down Council member’s votes from the meeting.

— staff writer Brian Postelle

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4 thoughts on “Asheville City Council brief: Oct. 13 meeting”

  2. D. Dial

    “You make it, they air it”

    Opps, Rebecca left out the caveat(if you can remain in the good graces of the powers that be @ URTV).

    If not you will be harassed outta there, by various unsavory characters. Some with either felony histories or associates with felony histories.

  3. mike50

    I know that crazy fellow at URTV, the one with the robe. I would like to hear what he has to say but he uses too much reverb to understand what he is going on about. I suppose this passes for entertainment. By the way, not one more dime.

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