The city of Asheville is launching a new question and answer effort from the public, this time via Facebook, complete with a video introduction.
Tag: City of Asheville
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Haywood benches reversed “to deter criminal activity” ***updated 12:26 p.m. Tuesday***
Two benches at the intersection of Haywood and Walnut streets were reversed last week: They’re now back to back instead of facing each other. A city spokesperson says the step was taken when, after investigating complaints of drug dealing and other criminal acts, the police “found that certain people were using the positioning of the benches to view and discreetly communicate police activity to one another.”
Proposed ordinance triggers fight over a sustainable Asheville
A proposed ordinance that would allow considerably more density — and faster approval — for green, affordable development saw a reversal last week when the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission voted it down 3-2 and recommended a scaled-down version instead. The rules triggered a debate about exactly how Asheville will pursue the oft-touted goal of sustainability.
South French Broad water interruption shuts down YWCA ***UPDATED 3:30 p.m.***
A “scheduled water interruption” in the South French Broad Avenue area has shut down water to homes, along with the YWCA’s child care center and summer camp. According to YWCA marketing director Ami Worthen, however, the organization received no notice of the interruption beforehand. Shortly after 2 p.m., water returned to the area.
Without more funds, URTV will close in September ***Updated Thurs. 11:30 a.m.***
Unless additional funding is received, public-access channel URTV — now known as the WNC Media Center — will cease operation in September of this year, according to a notice sent last week to the city of Asheville and Buncombe County. Both city and county officials claim that URTV is receiving funding as it always has.
City appoints interim financial director
The city of Asheville has appointed John P. Smith, a former city manager of Fayetteville, N.C., and North Myrtle Beach, S.C., as interim finance director as the city faces the tricky task of closing its budget gap.
Four city HR staff arrested, charged in fraud investigation **Updated 2 p.m.***
The Asheville Police Department issued a release this morning announcing the first charges in the alleged fraud by several employees of the city of Asheville Human Resources Department. These include the director and assistant director of the department, who the city has no announced “are no longer employed.”
Assistant city manager to head HR department in midst of fraud investigation
In the midst of an ongoing investigation into possible fraud in the the city of Asheville’s flexible-spending program, Assistant City Manager Jeff Richardson is taking over the Human Resources Department, and will audit the program monthly until it can find a third-party administrator.
City calls for Master Plan committee members
Didn’t get to be part of the Downtown Master Plan Advisory Committee? Here’s your chance to sit on the Downtown Master Plan Action Committee.
Firefighter accused of cyclist shooting no longer employed by city
Firefighter Charles Alexander Diez, facing felony assault charges for allegedly shooting at cyclist Alan Simons‘s head last month, is no longer employed by the city of Asheville. City staff would not reveal whether Diez was fired, or chose to leave his job.
Nips and tucks
Asheville’s budget for the next fiscal year will come in at around $135 million, Chief Financial Officer Ben Durant predicts. And if City Council approves the budget he’ll propose on May 12, it will be balanced, with revenues equaling expenditures. That’s an accomplishment even in a good year, but all the more so given that […]
Shuler nails down federal money for hybrid buses
Amid the din of arriving and departing buses at Asheville’s Transit Center on Coxe Avenue, Rep. Heath Shuler announced today that he had secured $238,000 in federal funding for the city’s planned transition to hybrid buses.
City unveils final Downtown Master plan
After months of debate and $170,000 in taxpayer money, the city of Asheville on Thursday unveiled the final version of the Downtown Master Plan, intended to shape the future direction of downtown economically, culturally and architecturally.
City of Asheville survey
This document contains a survey that the city of Asheville will circulate in April to gauge citizens’ opinions of the city’s performance. Developed by the National Research Center, Inc. and the International City/County Management Association, the National Citizen SurveyTM, hits on a wide variety of topics, from transportation to crime to general demographics. Alongside the […]
URTV will change oath
A controversial oath administered to URTV board members at their last meeting will be “clarified” to address concerns about a confidentiality clause, a press release from the public access channel announced Wednesday.
Let’s talk about the Downtown Master Plan
The draft document of the Downtown Master Plan has been public since last week, but Thursday, Jan. 15, is the official rollout date, when Asheville residents can hear—and comment on—details addressed in the draft, such as building-height and new compliance guidelines and the already-controversial Asheville Design District, a proposed new downtown-management entity. (View the document […]
A time to reflect
It’s been a really tumultuous time for our country recently—and also for Asheville and Buncombe County. So now we move forward, and while I’m filled with optimism both for our nation and for this city, I’m not ready to say “We have overcome” and forget the struggle that got us to this place. There are […]
Asheville Downtown Master Plan draft lays out potential future ***UPDATED***
In the future, Asheville’s downtown might be managed by a powerful independent board, with different types of development for each neighborhood “core,” better support for the arts, more green building, a shuttle system and police cameras on street corners. Those are some of the many initiatives presented in the draft of the long-awaited Downtown Master Plan. The city will hold a Jan. 15 forum on the plan.
An Asheville infrastructure wish list
President-elect Barack Obama will ask lawmakers to pass a massive economic stimulus package when he takes office, and Asheville’s elected officials want to be ready if any money comes their way.
Leaf collection season in full swing
The city of Asheville’s leaf collection season has begun. Here’s all the info you need to rid your property of Mother Nature’s detritus — or boost your compost.
The Green Scene
Environmental awards have been piling up like fall leaves around here. Xpress thought you might like to know who’s been winning what, and why. Asheville’s got (compressed) gas Eight years ago this month, Mark Combs persuaded Asheville’s City Council to add natural-gas-fueled vehicles to its fleet. The public-works director argued that grants were available for […]