Downtown Safety and Cleanliness

You are receiving this email because you signed up to receive updates on the City's safety and cleanliness efforts downtown. Newsletters will continue to be sent monthly. You can unsubscribe at any time. 

The City of Asheville is committed to providing quality core services that support a vibrant and welcoming downtown for residents, businesses and visitors. View more information about continued and on-going services here.

Your input and involvement is critical to a safer, cleaner and more enjoyable downtown. We look forward to continuing to keep you informed and engaged.

The Latest

City of Asheville Seeks Input on 2024-2025 Budget Development

We want to hear from you! The City is kicking off the Fiscal Year 2024 - 2025 budget development process by seeking feedback from the community. Provide input in the following ways: 

• Participate in public comment at City Council meeting on Tuesday, January 23, 2024. You may comment by voicemail, email or in-person at the meeting. Find more information about making public comments here. 
• Take the budget priorities survey here. This short survey asks respondents to rank City services and categories of capital investment to help guide Council and Staff on priorities for the budget. The budget will remain open through February 23, 2024. The feedback will be compiled, analyzed and presented to City Council during their budget work session on March 12, 2024. 

Find more information about the call for input here and more information about the budget process here.

Annual Point in Time Count on 1/30 and 1/31

The United States Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) requires that all communities that receive HUD funding to address homelessness conduct a Point in Time (PIT) Count during in the last 10 days each January to identify how many people are experiencing homelessness on a given night. 

The PIT count is a one night “snapshot” of the homeless population in Buncombe County, including those in emergency shelters, transitional housing or who are unsheltered, i.e., sleeping outside or in other locations not suitable for human habitation. It provides a picture over time of trends and changes in the population, such as increases in veterans, unsheltered people, or people who are chronically homeless. Learn more about the PIT count and view data from previous years here. 

The City coordinates the annual PIT count with the help of volunteers and thanks everyone who has signed up already to help. More information is available here. 

Parking Security Enhancements

City Parking Services has completed the installation of 13 security cameras within the Harrah's Cherokee Parking Garage. Staff is continuing to test the camera and software systems, and taking steps to install cameras in the other City parking garages. 

Staff is also moving forward with a contract to provide 24/7 security coverage at the City's four downtown parking garages and ten surface parking lots. Parking Services will spend up to $481,834 for the first year of the contract out of their operating budget. The new security service is anticipated to roll out in February 2024.

Stay Connected 

Environment and Safety Committee Quarterly Updates (1/23)

City Council's Environment and Safety Committee meets on Tuesday, 1/23 at 11:00 a.m. At the meeting, AFD will provide a quarterly update on public safety initiatives, and APD will provide an overview of their department structure along with a quarterly update on crime stats. The meeting will be held virtually and streamed live. See the full agenda and viewing details on the Committee page here. 

City Council Meeting (1/23) 

City Council will hold a regular meeting on Tuesday, 1/23 at 5:00 p.m. Under new business, staff will provide updates on progress of a prefabricated restroom facility outside of the Rankin Avenue garage and seek authorization to proceed with its purchase and installation.  See the full agenda and viewing details here. 

Brewing Community Connections (1/24)

Join the Asheville Police Department for Coffee with a Cop on Wednesday, January 24 from 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. at Hotel Arras (7 Patton Avenue) to ask questions, chat and strengthen the connection between officers and the community. Follow the Asheville Police Department on Facebook to stay in the know on events like these.

Downtown Commission Meeting (1/26)

The Downtown Commission will hold their monthly meeting on Friday, 1/26 at 9:00 a.m. An update will be provided by the Assistant City Manager Ben Woody on the budget process along with notable safety and cleanliness highlights, and updates will be provided by Interim Police Chief Mike Lamb on downtown safety and crime stats. See the full agenda and viewing details on the Downtown Commission page here.   

Progress Updates on Addressing Homelessness

• Emily Ball, the City's Homeless Strategy Division Manager, provided an update on the City and community's progress to advance recommendations from the National Alliance to End Homelessness to the Downtown Commission at their December 15, 2023 meeting. View a recording of the update here.
• The Homeless Strategy Division continues to offer a monthly education series on homelessness in our community. View more information and register here.
• Learn more about the Continuum of Care (CoC) and consider joining as a member. View more information here.

Take Action

Report Crime

• Guidance on reporting crime
• Report crimes in-progress to 911
• Report non-emergency public safety concerns to APD's non-emergency line, 828-252-1110
• Anonymously share tips with APD using TIP2APD
• Submit a trespass letter to APD

Report Issues of Concern

• Use the Asheville App or contact the City's Constituent Services Coordinator for service requests including litter issues, lighting outages or maintenance needs

Schedule a Security Survey with APD

• Schedule a security survey by emailing APD's community engagement unit and/or utilize Crime Prevention through Environmental Design strategies

Enhance Security Camera Systems

• Register and upgrade security camera systems with the Buncombe County Sheriff's Office Real Time Intelligence Center

Organize a Community Clean-Up

• Register to organize a community clean-up through Asheville Greenworks with support from the City of Asheville.

Support Efforts to Address Homelessness

• Find support for issues related to homelessness
• Learn more about homelessness, the City's Homeless Strategy Division and how to join in the community's response to homelessness. 

Resources

Please visit the pages below to learn more and get involved. 

• City of Asheville News
• Virtual Engagement Hub
• Downtown Projects and Initiatives
• Boards and Commissions 
• Neighborhood Resources
• Homelessness Resources
• APD Crime Prevention
• APD Crime Statistics and Trends
   

 Contact Information

Find more information on the downtown safety and cleanliness project page.

Email us at downtownsafety@publicinput.com.