ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) –
The Asheville City Council is attempting to address critics’ concerns before a final showdown Tuesday over creation of a downtown Business Improvement District, or “BID.”
Emotions have been running high in recent weeks, leading up to a final vote scheduled for a council meeting at 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 11, at Harrah’s Cherokee Center in downtown Asheville.
Business groups have been advocating for creation of the district to collect special property taxes within the downtown zone to use for public safety and cleanliness efforts that supplement city services, calling it a key driver for economic development downtown.
But critics, including advocates for the unhoused population, have questioned the role of planned downtown “ambassadors” who will interact with the public, and raised concerns about governance and accountability if an unelected panel is given day-to-day oversight for a pool of taxpayer dollars.
The City Council took a preliminary vote last month, establishing the boundaries and tax rate for a potential district. Before a planned final vote on Tuesday, the council will consider a resolution directing city staff members to include specific requirements for the way the district would operate before they issue a formal Request for Proposals seeking a management entity.
A draft “Resolution Regarding Structure of a Downtown Business Improvement District” would: require extra training for “community stewards” (no longer called “ambassadors”) who will interact with the public; add transparency requirements for a 17-member steering committee; and give giving more seats to renters and other community members, including a homelessness advocate.
Under the proposed resolution, the “dedicated, unarmed community stewards” would:
• “Ideally have lived experience with poverty.”
• Be required to have “anti-racist training, equity training, mental health first aid training and de-escalation training.”
• Be directed to have a “highly visible presence; proactively engage with the public; provide directions and assistance; offer safety escorts (to downtown visitors) on an on-call basis.”
• Be trained to “connect members of the unhoused community to resources like the Community Responders, Community Paramedics, homeless service providers, etc.”
Although the resolution doesn’t carry the same weight of law as an ordinance, it would declare the council’s intent and shape the requirements for bidders spelled out in the RFP process.
The draft resolution addresses accountability and transparency questions by requiring a BID service provider to comply with all public records and open meetings laws. Meanwhile, it would re-shape the district’s governing structure significantly, compared to the original plan proposed.
Some council members questioned the original plan because it guaranteed board seats to the largest commercial property owners within the downtown district, even if they were out-of-town entities like major hotels.
The new resolution calls for a 17-member steering committee made up of Buncombe County residents, including:
• Four commercial property owners.
• Four business renters.
• Three residential property owners.
• Three renters.
• One representative from “The Block,” a historically African-American district within the heart of the downtown.
• One member of Asheville-Buncombe Continuum of Care, a planning body that works to prevent and address homelessness issues.
• One member at large.
Meanwhile, the resolution says that various industries all “shall be” represented on the board, including food and beverage, entertainment, hospitality, office and retail. And it would give non-voting “ex-officio” seats to a member of the City Council and designees of the city and county managers.
A copy of the proposed resolution can be found HERE.
A large crowd is expected for Tuesday night’s meeting, which also includes a debate over salaries for firefighters, police and other city workers within a final budget for fiscal year 2025.
The downtown district issue drew dozens of speakers during a public hearing earlier this spring. In recent days, the debate has spilled into the streets. Last week, Asheville police investigated a case of vandalism apparently related to the debate, after someone slashed the tires and spray painted a “NO BID” message on a BMW belonging to a member of the committee advocating creation of the district.
PRIOR COVERAGE from 828newsNOW.com:
VANDAL STRIKES CAR OF DOWNTOWN ‘BID’ PLAN BACKER
ASHEVILLE COUNCIL VOTES TO ADVANCE DOWNTOWN DISTRICT PLAN
HOMELESSNESS DOMINATES DEBATE OVER DOWNTOWN BID district