The city manager briefed council July 24 on items scheduled for the Public Safety Committee on July 31, including an Asheville Police Department quarterly briefing, a proposed expansion of the panhandling ordinance to address high-traffic zones and an informational item on launching a technology and intelligence division within APD.

Deborah Campbell said Chief Lamb will present crime statistics and that the panhandling/high-traffic zones proposal would be presented by Deputy Chief Sean Artema and is slated for committee action with the intent to move to full council rapidly. Campbell also said staff will present information about an expanded drone program and other technologies being considered as part of a technology and intelligence function intended to support APD, noting that technology has been used to augment limited personnel resources.

Why it matters: Council members framed the items as responsive to recent shootings and downtown safety concerns; the panhandling ordinance expansion and use of new technologies would change enforcement tools and could require additional policy and oversight discussion.

Next steps: The Public Safety Committee will meet July 31 to hear the APD update and consider the panhandling ordinance expansion recommendation; any committee recommendation could be forwarded to full council for possible ordinance action.