Graffiti ordinance on Asheville City Council agenda

Asheville City Council will consider an ordinance next week aimed at attacking the city’s problem with graffiti.

The Council will consider tougher penalties for the perpetrators while making property owners responsible for cleanup.  The ordinance calls for a three-way approach to dealing with  the issue: education, enforcement and rapid removal.

A city staff recommendation would establish a 90-day cleanup initiative — July 1 to Sept. 30 — and make property owners responsible for cleanup after that. During the cleanup initiative, the proposal would have the city help remove graffiti from buildings and require only 10 percent of the cost from property owners.

Beginning Oct. 1, property owners would become responsible for removal.  The city would help, but the cost would be the responsibility of the owner.

Part of the graffiti ordinance also includes escalating civil penalties imposed on perpetrators, beginning with a $200 fine and increasing with each additional violation.

This ordinance does not fine the property owner for failing to remove graffiti.

The agenda also calls for hearings on the closing of several roads and change to the wording of the Unified Development Ordinance.

In other items on the agenda, UNC Asheville has requested the closing of a portion of Edgewood Road and University Heights to help complete the university’s master plan, allow full control and maintenance of the roads by the university and ease parking and traffic control.

Another item on the agenda is a resolution to permanently close a portion of Asheland Avenue, at the request of adjoining property owners, to allow for further development of the area.

The proposed UDO amendment is a simple wording change meant to eliminate landscaping requirements where small additions to existing facilities are planned. The amendment is meant to address industrial operations making very small additions that, under the current wording, would face expensive landscaping costs.

The City Council meeting is set for 5 p.m. on the second floor of City Hall.

Proposed GraffitiOrdinance

 

 

Current Meeting Agenda

 City Council will hold a budget briefing beginning at 3:00 p.m. in the 1st Floor North Conference Room of the City Hall Building, to obtain budget policy direction on the annual operating budget.   The City Council regular meeting will begin immediately after the worksession at 5:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber.  

PRIOR to the budget worksession, City Council will be holding a pre-arranged interview at 2:46 p.m. for a vacancy on the Homeless Initiative Advisory Committee in Room 209 of City Hall.

 

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City Council Regular Meeting
April 22, 2014 – 5:00 p.m.
City Hall Building
Council Chamber

   AGENDA

The following has been set as the agenda for the April 22, 2014, regular meeting of the City Council. Information regarding City employees is governed by N.C. Gen. Stat. sec. 160A-168 – Council does not consider personnel matters in open session. At the conclusion of this agenda the meeting will be open for the presentation of other matters by members of Council and the public. Public comment will not be taken on items as to which no Council action will be taken at this meeting, including those items listed as reports or presentations or as discussion items. When Council action is anticipated as to any matter, it will be placed on a Council agenda for consideration, and public comment will be taken at that time.

Pledge of Allegiance

I. PROCLAMATIONS:

–           Employee Recognitions
–           April 20-26, 2014, as “Administrative Professionals Week”
–           April 21-26, 2014, as “National Community Development Week”
–           May, 2014, as “Motorcycle Awareness Month”
–           May 4-10, 2014, as “National Drinking Water Week”
–           May 6-12, 2014, as “Nurses Week”
–           May 16-25, 2014, as “Strive Not to Drive Week”

II. CONSENT AGENDA:

A.          Approval of the minutes of the meeting held on April 8, 2014.  Documents

B.         Resolution authorizing the City Manager to submit a grant application to the U.S. Dept. of Transportation TIGER Program for elements in the following
projects:  River Arts District Transportation Improvement Project, Five Points Roundabout, Clingman Forest Greenway, Town Branch Greenway, French
Broad River Greenway, and Livingston Street “Complete Streets” Improvements Project; and to authorize the City Manager to sign a letter of commitment to
provide matching funds if the City is awarded the grant.  Documents

C.         Resolution authorizing a land exchange with the UNC-Asheville Foundation, Inc. for city owned real property at Broadway Street for a greenway easement
along Reed Creek. – This action will be continued to May 13, 2014.  

D.1.      Resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into a contract with Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. for the development of the Multimodal Transportation
Plan.  Documents

2.      Budget amendment, in the amount of $336,000, from the Metropolitan Planning Organization as part of the United Planning Work Program and from
the City’s General Fund and Community & Economic Development  Capital Improvement Project, to set up the project budget for the development of
the Multimodal Transportation Plan.

E.         Resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into an agreement with the N.C. Dept. of Transportation for improvements on I-240 from I-26/I-40 to SR
1781 (Broadway) in Asheville.  Documents

F.         Budget amendment, in the amount of $3,651, for a series of small donations we have received from the Asheville Parks and Greenways Foundation
and other private donations for various projects.  Documents

G.        Resolution authorizing the City Manager to sign a lease with the U.S. General Services Administration for satellite Asheville Police Department
property storage space at the Veach-Baley Federal Complex, located at 151 Patton Avenue in Asheville.  Documents

H.        Resolution authorizing a 60-day extension to the Pack Place Education, Arts & Science Center Inc. lease.  Documents

I.          Resolution authorizing implementation of May 19, 2014, as a “Fare Free Day” to promote transit during Strive Not To Drive Week.  Documents

J.         Resolution directing staff to prepare a report on a Municipal Service District for the South Slope and setting a public hearing for
May 27, 2014.   Documents

K.       Resolution directing staff to prepare a report on a Municipal Service District for trhe River Arts District and setting a public hearing
for May 27, 2014.   Documents

L.        Resolution directing staff to prepare a report on a Municipal Service District for north Charlotte Street and setting a public hearing for
May 27, 2014.  Documents

M.        Resolution in opposition to new FDA regulations for farmers.   Documents

III. PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS: None

CITY COUNCIL HAS ESTABLISHED THE FOLLOWING TIME LIMITS FOR PUBLIC HEARINGS:

•    APPLICANTS HAVE UP TO TEN MINUTES TO COMPLETE A PRESENTATION.
•    ELECTRONIC PRESENTATIONS ARE LIMITED TO AGENDA ITEMS WITH PRESENTATION MATERIALS PROVIDED PRIOR TO THE MEETING BY
CITY STAFF,
APPLICANTS, OR ORGANIZED OPPOSITION.
•    INDIVIDUALS HAVE UP TO THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK TO CITY COUNCIL.
•    A PERSON REPRESENTING A GROUP OF THREE OR MORE PERSONS (NOT INCLUDING THE SPEAKER) PRESENT IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER
HAS UP TO 10 MINUTES TO ADDRESS CITY COUNCIL.
•    PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR ANY ITEM MAY NOT EXCEED ONE HOUR.
•    ADDITIONAL INFORMATION MAY BE PROVIDED IN HARD COPY AND/OR WRITTEN FORM.IV. PUBLIC HEARINGS:

IV. PUBLIC HEARINGS:A.         Public hearing to permanently close University Heights and a portion of Edgewood Road.  Documents

B.         Public hearing to permanently close a portion of Asheland Avenue.  Documents

C.         Public hearing to permanently close an unnamed alley off of South Ann Street. – City staff has requested this public hearing be continued
until May 27, 2014.

D.         Public hearing to consider the Community Development Block Grant and HOME Investment Partnership Act funds Consolidated Action Plan for
Fiscal Year 2014-15.  Documents

– Resolution authorizing submission of the City’s Consolidated Annual Action Plan for 2014-15 to the U.S. Dept. of Housing & Urban Development.

E.         Public hearing to consider a signage plan for Asheville Outlets, located at 800 Brevard Road, Asheville, N.C.  Documents

F.         Public hearing to consider an amendment to the Unified Development Ordinance to remove unnecessarily restrictive and potentially
expensive regulatory requirements in the Commercial Industrial District and Industrial District by eliminating landscape requirements where
small additions to existing facilities are planned.  Documents

V. UNFINISHED BUSINESS:  None.

VI. NEW BUSINESS:

A.         Ordinance amending Chapter 10 (Nuisances) of the Code of Ordinances by adding an article on the regulation of graffiti.  Documents

B.         Resolution authorizing the Mayor to enter into an interlocal agreement with the County of Henderson regarding real property located on
Ferry Road in the County of Buncombe, State of North Carolina

C.         Resolution adopting the 2014-15 Legislative Agenda.  Documents

D.         Resolution adopting the 2014-15 City Council Strategic Operating Plan.

E.         Resolution appointing a member to the Homeless Initiative Advisory Committee.  Documents

VII. INFORMAL DISCUSSION AND PUBLIC COMMENT:

VIII. ADJOURNMENT.

BOARD/COMMISSION VACANCIES:  Downtown Commission.  Deadline is Wednesday, May 7, 2014, at 5:00 p.m. Call 259-5601 for an application form.

 

 

 

 

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