Downtown Safety and Cleanliness Updates 6/17/25

Downtown Safety and Cleanliness

city hall and mountains looking west

You are receiving this email because you signed up to receive updates on the City of Asheville's safety and cleanliness efforts downtown.

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

Downtown Improvement District Launches Services

The Asheville Downtown Improvement District began to roll out services this spring, officially launching on June 2, 2025. Targeted services supplemental to those already provided by the City are being delivered throughout the downtown area. Services include enhanced cleaning, maintenance and hospitality programs designed to help keep downtown Asheville welcoming, cared for and economically resilient.

ADID Community Ambassadors will maintain a visible presence throughout the district 7 days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Core services include:

Daily litter and debris removal on sidewalks and streetscapes
Supplemental storm drain clearing
Graffiti removal and inspection of streetscape fixtures
Pressure washing and spot cleaning of public spaces
Maintenance and reporting for public spaces
Supplemental restroom cleaning and monitoring
Basic landscape and planter care
On-call rapid response for emergent cleaning and maintenance needs

The public can request ADID services by emailing service@ashevilledowntown.org or by calling 877-828-ADID (2343).

The launch of ADID services follows City Council’s establishment of a Municipal Service District in June 2024. A competitive process followed, with ADID selected as the service provider.

ADID is managed by the Asheville Downtown Association in partnership with the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce and Nexstreet, with strategic oversight provided by a diverse Board of Directors representing property owners, businesses, residents, and community partners.

The City and ADID will coordinate to ensure an aligned and efficient approach to service delivery.

Find more information and background on the establishment and implementation of the Downtown Improvement District, along with quarterly reporting from ADID, on the City’s project page here.

Learn more about ADID on the Asheville Downtown Association website here.

Helene Recovery

The City has launched www.AshevilleRecovers.org as a hub for all recovery related news, updates and engagement opportunities.

On the website, you can sign-up for the City's recovery newsletter, find resources, and navigate various recovery related topics and progress updates.

Recent updates include:

You can find more information about previous engagement efforts, and the City's overall strategy for recovery on the Asheville Recovers Engagement Hub here.

Parking App - Flowbird

The City of Asheville has launched a new mobile parking payment app, Flowbird, beginning June 2, 2025 following City Council approval on December 10, 2025. Flowbird was selected through a competitive bidding process after the City’s contract with its previous parking app provider expired.

Flowbird brings improved functionality and flexibility to Asheville’s parking system, allowing users to pay from mobile devices or computers, and offering new features such as a real-time map of meter availability and the ability to pay without downloading the app. Flowbird also supports a wider range of payment options, including all major credit cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay

The City will maintain its current parking zones and meters, ensuring a smooth transition for users. To support the transition, the City will continue to accept payments through the current provider, Passport Parking, until June 30, 2025.

To learn more, visit the Project Page here.

Recruitment Momentum Builds at APD

The Asheville Police Department continues to make strides in rebuilding its ranks. Currently, 15 recruits are enrolled in Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) and are on track to begin field training this August. Looking ahead, APD anticipates welcoming at least 20 recruits into the next BLET session— nearly triple the size of the 2020 class. This growth marks a significant milestone, positions APD to relaunch their in-house academy in August, a move that will enhance training consistency and deepen APD's investment in new officers from day one. The proposed pay plan proposed in the upcoming budget is intended to further support APD's recruitment and retention efforts, helping attract both new officers and lateral officers to build a stronger, more sustainable police force for Asheville.

Stay Connected

Fiscal Year 25-26 Budget adopted on June 10

City Council voted to adopt the fiscal year 2025-2026 budget at their meeting on June 10, 2025. The proposed budget was driven by City Council's Retreat held in February, and Budget Work Sessions held in March and April. Staff presented the proposed budget on May 13, and the Budget Public Hearing was held on May 27.

The budget includes a change to the current property tax rate to 44.19 cents per $100 of assessed valuation to fund continuing current operations, employee compensation adjustments and to maintain fund balance and a strong credit rating.

The budget reflects Council’s commitment to four strategic priorities defined at their retreat in February:

People – Housing stability, emergency relief, and support services
Economy – Supporting local businesses, workforce recovery, and food security
Infrastructure and Environment – Strengthening critical infrastructure, improving storm resilience, and protecting Asheville’s resources
Housing – Affordable housing solutions and rebuilding efforts

Community input also guided the FY26 budget. Priorities identified by the community included:

Strengthening infrastructure
Expanding housing solutions
Supporting economic recovery
Enhancing food security
Maintaining sustainability focus

Find more information about the adopted budget here. View the slide deck for the budget presentation here and a recording of the presentation here.

City of Asheville Board and Commission + Council Committeee Meetings

Asheville City Council recently launched a new structure for Council Committees to strengthen transparency, streamline decision-making, and better connect advisory board efforts with Helene recovery. The Committees are:

Policy, Finance & Infrastructure (PFI)
Focuses on budgeting, financial oversight, capital improvements, sustainable infrastructure planning and public engagement in the policy-making process.
Housing & Community Development (HCD)
Supports affordable housing, homelessness response, HUD investments, and post-disaster housing needs.
Planning, Economic Development & Environment (PEDE)
Guides land use, transportation, economic recovery, climate action, and resilience planning.
Public Safety (PS)
Advises on police, fire, emergency preparedness, and recovery-related public safety policies.

The process to reinstate the City’s remaining boards and commissions is tied closely to the launch and work of these Council Committees, as each of will provide policy leadership in key areas.

A Council Committee Work Session held on June 10 and a facilitated workshop with Board and Commission Chairs held on June 16 involved discussions about when and how to reinstate boards and commissions.

Find more information about the new Council Committee structure, and the re-starting of Board and Commission meetings on the City's Board and Commissions webpage.

Find the City Council Committee meeting schedule, and upcoming City Council Regular meeting agendas. All City Council meetings are streamed and remain available for viewing on the City's YouTube Channel.

Ways to Stay Informed on Downtown Safety and Cleanliness

The City continues to operationalize added safety and cleanliness measures downtown, and welcomes the partnership with the Asheville Downtown Improvement District to further enhance downtown's physical, cultural and economic environment.

Following the deployment and operationalizing of several key initiatives, and the City's intense focus oriented around Helene-recovery, these newsletter updates will no longer continue to be sent regularly. Below are good ways to stay-in-the-know.

Follow and engage in the work of City Council's Public Safety Committee
Sign up to receive annual updates from the City on the Downtown Improvement District at www.publicinput.com/downtownbid
Follow and engage in the work of the Asheville Downtown Commission
Check-out regular reporting of Downtown Projects and Initiatives at www.ashevillenc.gov/downtown
Follow the City of Asheville on Social Media
Find out more and follow the work of the Asheville Downtown Improvement District

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

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.

Contact Information

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

Email us at downtownsafety@publicinput.com.