At its meeting tomorrow, Asheville City Council is set to vote on the controversial Larchmont affordable-housing development and on renewing URTV’s agreement for one year. The city’s budget woes are (again) another topic that Council will tackle.
After passing 5-1 at the end of a grueling, often contentious five-hour long Planning and Zoning Commission meeting earlier this month, the Larchmont project, a 60-unit affordable-housing apartment complex located just off Merrimon Avenue, comes before Council for final appoval. Some residents of the surrounding neighborhood have asserted that the project is too large and intrusive for the area, though some of the neighbors have also spoken in its favor, citing a need for denser affordable development.
Council will also consider a year-long agreement with public-access station URTV (now known as the WNC Community Media Center). The agreement would turn over $60,000 in cable-fee funds collected by the city to the channel, a step down from the $100,000 the media center had originally requested. Under the agreement, URTV would continue to operate the channel and be required to abide by state public-records and open-meetings laws, while Council would cease appointing members to the channel’s board.
In a pre-meeting worksession Council will continue its deliberations over how best to manage an anticipated $3 to $5 million budget deficit in the next fiscal year.
Council meets at 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 23, on the second floor of City Hall. The worksession begins at 2 p.m. in the North Conference room on the first floor.
— David Forbes, staff writer
URTV had issues about being open & following Open Board Meeting Laws of NC.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFfV2Ge4HQI
http://www.zshare.net/video/6288203403e6b73f
We need to keep public access should URTV recive 40% less in funds then I would encourage them to fundraise & communtiy outreach.
RB
Gotta hand it to them, they sat for 5 hours before they brought out the big rubber stamp. Was never a doubt which way this was going to go. Maybe those few that have not or do not work for the developer will get a job now. 400 petitioners insured that City Council sat and let the people talk but noone could hear what they said.
Bravo! City Council for renewing the managment contract with the WNC Community Media Center!
The unanimous vote to renew the management agreement more than DOUBLED the funding the Media Center receives! (the previous agreement alotted only $25,000/year)
As support from council members, county commisioners and the community at large continues to grow, so too grows the hope that the WNC Community Media Center will be around for a long time.
Thanks City Council for your unanimous support of this great community resource.
I love URTV, I watch Brother Christopher regularly expound on the meaning of the Universe and slam local political figures. And where would we all be without I Ching readings? That being said I have a suggestion for City Council, defund this inanity… what a waste.