Remarks by Esther E. Manheimer
143 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 1 of 6
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“Okay, we're live. Welcome to the Asheville City Council meeting for October 13th, 2026. Could you please take a moment to silence your cell phones? And if you want to sign up to speak under any of the agenda items, you can do so out in the hall. And if you... change your mind and you didn't sign up to speak for something, you can go out at any time and sign up to speak. So with that, please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance.”
City Council · Oct 13, 2026
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“Okay, I am going to read our chamber decorum statement. Members of the public attending council meetings or addressing the council shall abide by the following rules. Everyone shall follow the instructions of the mayor or any other presiding officer or official and shall refrain from impeding or interrupting the conduct of business. This shall include but not be limited to clapping, yelling, or other audio expressions of approval or disapproval of comments made during the meeting. Persons addressing the council are expected to observe the decorum of the chamber, to be respectful of the…”
City Council · Oct 13, 2026
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“So, Council, we have two proclamations. The first is Domestic Violence Prevention and Awareness Month. And Councilmember Maggie Ullman is going to present this proclamation. And we have both Kaitlyn, I think, or Kaitlyn, I don't know, Doyle, and April Burgess-Johnson here for this. And anyone else you have with you, please feel free to bring forward. Yes, you can. Yes, that's the proclamation microphone.”
City Council · Oct 13, 2026
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“Okay, we have one more proclamation tonight, and that is National Diabetes Awareness Month. And we have Joanne and Jeremy Rinker here. And if you have anybody else with you, please feel free to come forward.”
City Council · Oct 13, 2026
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“Whereas diabetes is a chronic disease affecting more than 38 million Americans, including hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians, and remains a leading cause of heart disease, kidney disease, vision loss, nerve damage, and other serious health complications, And whereas early detection, access to quality healthcare, diabetes self-management education, healthy nutrition, physical activity, and advances in diabetes technology can significantly improve health outcomes and quality of life for individuals with diabetes. And whereas National Diabetes Awareness Month provides an opportunity to…”
City Council · Oct 13, 2026
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“Okay, next we have the consent agenda and we have a request to pull off items D and E for a separate vote. Do I have a motion to adopt the consent agenda without items D and E?”
City Council · Oct 13, 2026
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“Second. Okay. Yes, we do not have anyone signed up to speak under the consent agenda, so all those in favor please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? All right. That was a unanimous vote to adopt the consent agenda. Do I have a motion to adopt items D and E so we can have a conversation about items D and E? So moved. Second. All right. I have a motion to second. Okay. So I'm going to turn it over to you, Bo, to make a few comments about items D and E and why we're considering these separately. Okay.”
City Council · Oct 13, 2026
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“Well, we already have a motion, but just say what you prefer.”
City Council · Oct 13, 2026
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“Well, so what these, we were talking about this earlier, these two contracts are on here for one, they're one-year contracts with an opportunity to be renewed without further council action for four more years after that. So what I understand Councilman Hess is saying is let's just authorize a year, no more than that. And I think when talking to the manager, and I haven't had a chance to talk to you, Brad, We put out an RFP for these for this type of contract, so under this scenario, we can't change it because the respondents responded with what we asked them for. I see. It's up to the…”
City Council · Oct 13, 2026
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“Well, and with, I would, with A, the request for a deep dive on how the Parks and Rec projects are funded and not funded. And then B, with the request that the manager inform us before making a decision about whether to renew this next year.”
City Council · Oct 13, 2026
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“And I'm assuming that will come up during the budget conversation.”
City Council · Oct 13, 2026
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“All right, so we have a motion and a second and two requests for the adoption of items D and E. All those in favor, please raise your hand. All those opposed, please raise your hand. Did you get all that, Maggie? Okay, that was a six to one vote to approve items D and E on the consent agenda. We have one presentation and report tonight, and that is a stormwater asset inventory and assessment project, which I'm really excited to hear about because I've been seeing markings all over the city marking our stormwater infrastructure. So I assume that was why, not just some random graffiti artist…”
City Council · Oct 13, 2026
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Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
City Council · Oct 13, 2026
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“I appreciate the humor. Will you go to the site plan? You may have said this and I missed it. So the little squiggle...”
City Council · Oct 13, 2026
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“Are you talking about that little leg that sticks down to the road?”
City Council · Oct 13, 2026
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“I would assume the way I've seen these properties divided up, somebody divided it up a jillion years ago and thought, we might need this access point, so they left it there.”
City Council · Oct 13, 2026
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“Well, you said metric ton of it right away.”
City Council · Oct 13, 2026
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“Thank you. Do we want to hear from the applicant now about that? Please.”
City Council · Oct 13, 2026
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“Okay. We have a couple of people signed up to speak under public comment first. If I can find my public comment tab.”
City Council · Oct 13, 2026
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Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
City Council · Oct 13, 2026
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Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
City Council · Oct 13, 2026
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“I did. That was so strange, I thought. The Vice Mayor seconded it.”
City Council · Oct 13, 2026
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Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
City Council · Oct 13, 2026
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“Well, and the sandwich board's like in front of the store, right? Once you get into the property.”
City Council · Oct 13, 2026
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“They're probably used to it, though, because I assume there's sandwich boards at other Costcos. Yeah.”
City Council · Oct 13, 2026