City Council Meeting – October 27, 2026

The City of Asheville City Council meeting on October 27, 2026, included several procurement and infrastructure matters. Council approved a resolution authorizing an agreement with the North Carolina Department of Transportation to reimburse up to $664,304 for bicycle, pedestrian, and aesthetic improvements associated with the I-26 Connector Project, Section I-2513AC. The work includes multi-use paths, sidewalks, greenway connections, lighting, and other design treatments. A separate agreement for another section of the connector project was scheduled for a later meeting. The consent agenda included the Malvern Hills Pool contract; public speakers supported the project and asked that the community be kept informed, but the transcript does not state the contract amount or vendor and does not clearly capture the final vote on the remaining consent items. Council also approved consent item J after a member raised concerns about HIDTA grant transparency and requested future reporting on how grant funds were used.

Council received a first-quarter financial update, with revenues and expenditures generally reported as tracking close to budget; staff said more reliable year-end projections would be provided after the second quarter. During the BearWise presentation, council discussed limited funding and a backlog for bear-resistant trash carts: 210 of 420 expected carts had arrived, with the remainder anticipated in December or January, and roughly 400 households remained on the waiting list. Council asked about funding, enforcement, grant options, and future budget planning, but took no related spending vote. Council also approved a conditional-zoning amendment for the London Road Apartments, increasing the proposed development from 208 to 252 units; members debated flood resilience and building requirements, with no construction contract award involved.