Clean, Safe and Healthy Environment

A Council Vision Focus Area

Asheville continues to be a leader in innovative technologies and conservation efforts in response to global climate change. The City is powered by locally-generated, clean sources of energy, and air quality problems have disappeared. Views of surrounding mountains have regained clarity unknown since the late 1800s. Clean energy is not the only priority when preserving our high quality of life. Recognized as a Tree City USA for decades, streets, greenways, and parks embody an urban forest. Emphasis on local resilience spurs the use of municipal land for gardening, farming, and urban orchards.

Known as a food destination city, most restaurants serve locally grown foods. Thanks to an extremely high-quality water source nestled in the gentle folds of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville continues to attract companies that depend on clean water – from breweries to high tech start-ups to restaurants and food manufacturers. Our modern transportation system has increased options that reduce carbon emissions. Successful waste, recycling, and curbside composting programs have greatly reduced the city’s landfill needs.

Note: Asheville operates on a fiscal year (FY) basis that runs from July 1 through June 30, with the fiscal year designated by the year in which it ends. For example, FY25 begins on July 1, 2024 and ends on June 30, 2025.

Work Supporting Clean, Safe and Healthy Environment

FY25

(July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025)
  • Community Cleanliness Improvements (In Progress)(Began in FY23, due to complete in FY25) Engage contractors to carry out ongoing cleanup of roadside litter and sites containing biohazardous material to address community cleanliness concerns.
  • Lead Awareness Project (In Progress)(Began in FY23, due to complete in FY25) Develop a service line inventory, replacement plan, consumer education campaign, and consumer funding options for lead pipe replacement in accordance with the Environmental Protection Agency’s 2021 Lead and Copper Rule Revisions.
  • Solid Waste Master Plan (In Progress)(Began in FY24, due to complete in FY25) Evaluate the City of Asheville’s existing solid waste management system and provide short- and long-term recommendations to improve and enhance the efficiency and quality of the system and increase waste reduction and diversion.

FY24

(July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024)
  • Police Recruitment Strategy (In Progress)(Began in FY23, due to complete in FY24) Develop and implement a recruitment strategy to attract and hire diverse, qualified candidates for employment at the Asheville Police Department.
  • Community Cleanliness Improvements (In Progress)(Began in FY23, due to complete in FY25) Engage contractors to carry out ongoing cleanup of roadside litter and sites containing biohazardous material to address community cleanliness concerns.
  • Integration of Climate Justice Initiative into City Operations (In Progress)(Began in FY23, due to complete in FY24) Create procedures to incorporate Climate Justice Initiative recommendations into departmental project planning and execution.
  • Lead Awareness Project (In Progress)(Began in FY23, due to complete in FY25) Develop a service line inventory, replacement plan, consumer education campaign, and consumer funding options for lead pipe replacement in accordance with the Environmental Protection Agency’s 2021 Lead and Copper Rule Revisions.
  • Single-Use Plastic Reduction (In Progress)(Began in FY23, due to complete in FY24) Create a phased approach to reduce the consumption and associated pollution of single use plastic bags and expanded polystyrene food containers.
  • Urban Forestry Master Plan RFP Preparation (In Progress)(Began in FY24, due to complete in FY24) Develop a request for proposals for the development of an Urban Forestry Master Plan.
  • Solid Waste Master Plan (In Progress)(Began in FY24, due to complete in FY25) Evaluate the City of Asheville’s existing solid waste management system and provide short- and long-term recommendations to improve and enhance the efficiency and quality of the system and increase waste reduction and diversion.
  • Municipal Climate Action Plan Phase I: Tracking and Reporting (In Progress)(Began in FY24, due to complete in FY24) Track and report on technical assistance provided to departments and develop a program to make climate and sustainability-related data progress towards goals publicly available.
  • Downtown Safety Initiative and Community Cleanliness In Progress(Began in FY24, due to complete in FY24) Develop a sustainable approach to address community safety and cleanliness issues in the downtown business district.
  • Implement Community Responder Program (In Progress)(Began in FY24, due to complete in FY24) Test a multidisciplinary response team to proactively assist people who are unsheltered and/or experiencing addiction or behavioral health issues to better connect them to services, reduce the number of business interruptions, and reduce load on public safety employees.

FY23

(July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2023)
  • Police Recruitment Strategy (In Progress)(Began in FY23, due to complete in FY24) Develop and implement a recruitment strategy to attract and hire diverse, qualified candidates for employment at the Asheville Police Department.
  • Community Cleanliness Improvements (In Progress)(Began in FY23, due to complete in FY25) Engage contractors to carry out ongoing cleanup of roadside litter and sites containing biohazardous material to address community cleanliness concerns.
  • Municipal Climate Action Plan (Complete)(Began in FY23, Completed in FY23) Updated the 2009 Sustainability Management Plan to incorporate all policies, plans, and resolutions for climate mitigation and adaptation. The update will provide a roadmap for ongoing implementation. The plan was adopted by City Council in March 2023 and implementation is underway in FY 2024. Impact: Improved ability to manage adopted goals and prioritize the highest impact activities for climate mitigation and adaptation.
  • Integration of Climate Justice Initiative into City Operations (In Progress)(Began in FY23, due to complete in FY24) Create procedures to incorporate Climate Justice Initiative recommendations into departmental project planning and execution.
  • Lead Awareness Project (In Progress)(Began in FY23, due to complete in FY25) Develop a service line inventory, replacement plan, consumer education campaign, and consumer funding options for lead pipe replacement in accordance with the Environmental Protection Agency’s 2021 Lead and Copper Rule Revisions.
  • Single-Use Plastic Reduction (In Progress)(Began in FY23, due to complete in FY24) Create a phased approach to reduce the consumption and associated pollution of single use plastic bags and expanded polystyrene food containers.
  • Update City Ordinances to Prohibit Plastic Leaf Bags (Complete)(Began in FY23, Completed in FY23) The City Council passed an update to City Code 15 to prohibit the use of plastic bags for leaf waste. The change took effect August 1, 2023. To ease the transition for residents, the City is distributing paper leaf bags at Community Centers and Fire Stations through the fall while supplies last. Impact: Reduced consumption and pollution associated with single use plastic bags.
  • 60-Day Downtown Safety Initiative Complete(Began in FY23, Completed in FY23) The City conducted a 60-day pilot initiative in May and June 2023 to improve safety and cleanliness downtown. The effort involved coordination across many City departments as well as with community organizations and businesses. Efforts included a new Community Responder Pilot program led by the Fire Department, enhanced downtown patrol and business outreach efforts by the Police Department, cross-departmental safety assessment walks to identify opportunities to make improvements, volunteer cleanup events, improvements to lighting, and detailed tracking of actions taken. The effort transitioned to ongoing services on July 1, 2023, along with increased investments in cleanliness and security funded through the FY 23/24 budget. Impact: Improved safety and cleanliness downtown.
  • Community Responder Program Pilot (Complete)(Began in FY23, Completed in FY23) Tested a multidisciplinary response team under the Asheville Fire Department in May and June 2023 to proactively assist people who are unsheltered and/or experiencing addiction or behavioral health issues to better connect them to services, reduce the number of business interruptions, and reduce load on public safety employees. The effort carried out 146 wellness checks and addressed 12 first aid/wound care needs over a 60-day period, and also gathered valuable qualitative and quantitative data on resource needs. This effort transitioned to an ongoing city-wide program on July 1, 2023. Impact: Assisted in connecting people to services, a reduction in the number of business interruptions, and longer-term reduced load on public safety.

FY22

(July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2022)
  • 911 Services Consolidation (Complete)(Began in FY22, Completed in FY22) City Council approved an Intergovernmental Agreement with Buncombe County to consolidate 911 services effective January 1, 2022 in order to enhance safety, provie more consistent and effective service delivery, and expand opportunities for alternate response methods through consolidated training and procedures.
  • Nuisance Response Restructuring (Complete)(Began in FY22, Completed in FY22) Moved noise complaints and animal control from the Asheville Police Department (APD) to the Development Services Department (DSD).
  • Buncombe County Community Paramedic Program (Complete)(Began in FY22, Completed in FY22) Integrated Buncombe County’s community paramedic program with the Asheville police and fire departments for emergency respose to calls for overdose, suicide, or mental health crises.
  • Office of Data and Performance (Complete)(Began in FY22, Completed in FY22) Created the Office of Data and Performance to support the use of data to assess and identify community trends and problems, utilize data to proactively address and solve problems, support cross departmental and community initiatives.

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