The City of Asheville's 2012-2013 Strategic Operating Plan has 8 goals across various focus areas: 1. Make housing more affordable through reforms, partnerships, and funding programs. 2. Operate fiscal responsibility by maximizing resources, maintaining fund balances, and exploring debt financing. 3. Take sustainability efforts to the next level through energy reduction, waste reduction, and green initiatives. 4. Make Asheville one of the safest cities through improved public safety, eliminating drug markets, and youth programs. 5. Integrate a multi-modal transportation plan with sidewalks, bike paths, transit, and a funding priority list. 6. Study parking and public transportation

1. CITY OF Asheville Strategic Operating Plan
2012-2013
> > Affordable
The City of Asheville will Goal I: Hold the line on taxes Goal II: Support the creation and preservation of affordable rental and home ownership
offer a standard of living and minimize fees. opportunities in Asheville so that all citizens have access to safe, sufficient and affordable
Objective 1: Explore housing.
that is affordable and
opportunities to enhance Objective 1: Implement reforms to Unified Objective 3: Support the Housing Authority
attainable for people of affordability by reducing utility Development Ordinance to encourage affordable to develop a comprehensive plan for public
all incomes, life stages costs through innovative energy housing development; expand commitments to housing; continue to pursue redevelopment of
and abilities. efficiency financing programs. mixed income neighborhoods and consider the public housing with a HOPE VI-type project.
formula “housing+transportation” for prioritizing
the location of affordable housing. Objective 4: Support initiatives to end chronic
homelessness in Asheville with an emphasis on
Objective 2: Explore opportunities for public/ the Housing First philosophy.
private partnerships and innovative financing
mechanisms to incentivize affordable housing Objective 5: Continue to provide funding for
development. affordable housing development loans through
the Housing Trust Fund; adequately fund the
Affordable Housing Trust Fund.
> > Fiscal Responsibility
The City of Asheville Goal I: Operate the City of Goal 2: Explore alternatives for enhancing the city’s long-term financial commitment to master
will support a stronger, Asheville to the highest levels plan implementation, infrastructure maintenance, capital improvements, and public facilities.
of fiscal responsibility.
more prosperous Objective 1: Leverage internal and external Objective 4: Seek efficiencies in master
Objective 1: Maximize partnerships for pursuing capital improvements plan implementation by identifying plan
community by making resources and create and infrastructure projects. interdependencies, funding sources and key
smart investments that meaningful performance partnerships.
accomplish lasting, measures for programs and Objective 2: Utilize existing revenue streams
services. to maximize capital investment through debt Objective 5: Research and provide a
tangible returns. financing and pay-as-you-go opportunities. recommendation on parking rates based
Objective 2: Sustain at least a on benchmark information and community
15% Fund Balance. Objective 3: Explore feasibility of a General participation.
Obligation Bond referendum now or in future
years.
www.AshevilleNC.gov

2. > > Green & Sustainable
Asheville will be the Goal I: Set and develop a plan for Goal II: Take the City of Asheville’s sustainability program to the next level.
southeastern leader implementing a community energy reduction Objective 1: Continue to identify strategies Objective 3: Review the City of Asheville’s
goal.
in clean energy and costs for maintaining the city’s annual ordinances that relate to tree topping, as
energy reduction goal of 4 percent. well as parking lot tree requirements for
and environmental Objective 1: Work with regional partners to
spacing and shade.
create incentives for green building, energy
sustainability. conservation and energy independence. Objective 2: Implement ways to reduce
city-wide solid waste. Objective 4: Consider leasing City-
Objective 2: Seek partnerships for a community owned land parcels to area farmers and
energy audit and develop metrics to track gardeners.
community energy reduction.
> > Safe
Asheville will be one Goal I: Make Asheville one of the safest cities in America based on Goal 2: Maintain accreditation and
of the safest and most approved metrics for similarly sized cities; bring benchmark metrics ISO ratings of Asheville Fire & Rescue
back to City Council for approval and tracking. Department.
secure communities
Objective 1: Implement strategies to Objective 4: Support recreation and Objective 1: Develop an action plan for
when compared to significantly improve public safety in employment alternatives for youth at risk of maintaining fire and rescue standard of cover
similar cities. neighborhoods in Asheville with the highest gang exposure. throughout the city.
levels of crime.
Objective 5: Support the Safe Routes to Objective 2: Increase participation in state
Objective 2: Continue efforts to eliminate School program by applying for funding for fire code inspection schedule to 90 percent.
open air drug markets in Asheville. one school this year.
Objective 3: Track and monitor performance Objective 6: Continue to support the
of the Nuisance Court and the “Changing Asheville Police Department’s internet child
Together” program. abuse program.
> > Multimodal Transportation
Integrate and implement a Objective 1: Continue Objective 3: Clearly Objective 5: Make progress Objective 7: Study alternative
construction and maintenance develop a long-term Capital in solving the Merrimon options for downtown parking,
multi-modal transportation plan of pedestrian and bicycle Improvement Program funding Corridor problem by pursuing to include the creation of a
including sidewalks, bike paths, infrastructure. plan for sidewalk, bike lane an N.C. D.O.T. analysis using downtown trolley.
signal preemption, transit, and greenway projects their Complete Streets Policy.
Objective 2: Seek beyond a pay-go strategy. Objective 8: Seek to
greenways, streets, rivers and partnerships for investments Objective 6: City Council strengthen transit service by
access to the river, and other in greenway and sidewalk Objective 4: Leverage adoption of a Complete offering holiday and Sunday
system improvements resulting infrastructure, including cost existing funds to pursue a Streets policy. service, better airport service;
sharing options. pedestrian and bike friendly seek opportunities to increase
in a funding priority list. community opportunity. “choice riders”.
www.AshevilleNC.gov

3. > > Job Growth & Community Development
Asheville will support a Goal I: Create more collaborative and effective working partnerships between the City of Asheville, the business community,
dynamic and robust local and other key organizations to effectively manage the City’s regulatory environment while accomplishing economic development
goals.
economy with balanced
and sustainable growth. Objective 1: Support diversified job Objective 5: Provide leadership in buying Objective 8: Support local and regional
growth and business development. green, local products and services. Sustainable Community Initiatives and seek
investments in Sustainable Community
Objective 2: Support business through Objective 6: Work cooperatively with target areas, such as the East of the River
limited taxes, fees, and regulations. state and county elected officials facilitate Initiative; seek opportunities for recognition.
practical water system management,
Objective 3: Partner in regional economic agreement on issues surrounding the Objective 9: Finish the Eagle Market Street
development strategies and key local Asheville Regional Airport, MSD board and Redevelopment Project.
initiatives, including the HUB, Land of Sky, North Carolina Agricultural Center, and to
the Chamber’s 5x5 Plan and the Sports have a more direct role in the N.C. General Objective 10: Strengthen community
Commission; continue partnership in the Assembly. relationships through the creation of a
Economic Development Coalition. Neighborhood Advisory Committee.
Objective 7: Seek partnerships for the
Objective 4: Continue partnerships with 4th of July and New Year’s Eve fireworks
local institutions of higher learning. displays.
Goal II: Support a strong local economy by continuing to implement sustainable Goal II: Maintain Asheville’s
growth and development policies. commitment to being an
“employer of choice” in the region.
Objective 1: Promote sustainable, high- Objective 4: Maximize opportunities for
density, infill growth that makes efficient sustainable infill development by pursuing Objective 1: Attract and retain quality
use of existing resources; seek progress on a form based code planning policy, employees with an emphasis on local
specific corridors. complimentary incentive policies and labor pool development opportunities and
strategic capital investment. by paying sound wages and benefits;
Objective 2: Continue efforts to rejuvenate prioritize employee compensation in the
the riverfront area; seek additional funding Objective 5: Consider tools and programs FY 12-13 budget process.
opportunities and a possible partnership the City could use to promote job growth
with the County. and creation. Objective 2: Enhance diversity in the City
as an organization so that the workforce
Objective 3: Complete the Downtown Objective 6: Improve the affordability more closely resembles the community,
Master Plan implementation. of water and stormwater utility rates especially in the area of public safety.
for residential customers and ensure
effectiveness and value for fees charged.
www.AshevilleNC.gov