Bo Hess
Council member since Dec 2024
Bo Hess has served on Asheville City Council since Dec 2024. Across 716 recorded votes from Dec 2, 2024 to Sep 8, 2026, Hess voted yes 697 times and no 11 times (1.6% of yes/no votes cast), was absent for 2 and never recused. Hess was on the losing side of 11 votes, made 52 motions and seconded 35, cast the most no votes on Zoning & Land Use items (8), and on split votes agreed most often with Esther E. Manheimer (78% of 51).
716recorded votes
11no votes (1.6%)
11times on the losing side
52motions made
2absences
Yes 697No 11Absent 2No vote 3Ballot 3
Who Hess votes with
Agreement on split votes (items where at least one member voted no) that both members voted on.
| Colleague | Agreed | Shared split votes |
|---|---|---|
| Esther E. Manheimer | 78% | 51 |
| Maggie Ullman | 74% | 47 |
| Sage Turner | 57% | 49 |
| Sheneika Smith | 53% | 51 |
| S. Antanette Mosley | 49% | 51 |
| Kim Roney | 25% | 51 |
No votes by topic
| Topic | No votes |
|---|---|
| Zoning & Land Use | 8 |
| Housing | 2 |
| Boards & Appointments | 1 |
Every no vote by Bo Hess (11)
| Date | Item | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 28, 2026 | Motion to deny the rezoning of 3 S. Tunnel Road from Urban Place Form District to Regional Business Zoning & Land Use | Failed 2–4 |
| Jun 23, 2026 | Resolution authorizing a Substantial Amendment to the CDBG-DR Action Plan to reallocate $19,200,000 to the Single-Family Home Repair Program Housing · RES 26-140 | Passed 6–1 |
| Jun 9, 2026 | Ordinance amending the FY 2026-27 Fees and Charges Manual to incorporate changes to Parking Fund fees Zoning & Land Use · ORD 5224 | Passed 5–2 |
| Mar 24, 2026 | Public hearing / ordinance adopting (amending) the Fiscal Year 2026-27 Fees & Charges Manual Zoning & Land Use · ORD 5206 | Passed 6–1 |
| Feb 24, 2026 | Resolution appointing members to the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (Mike Holmes; Michael Pesant) Housing · RES 26-36 | Passed 6–1 |
| Oct 28, 2025 | Public hearing on UDO amendment to Section 7-14-1 (non-conforming structures to ADUs without Board of Adjustment review) - continued to January 27, 2026 Zoning & Land Use | Passed 6–1 |
| Aug 26, 2025 | Ordinance No. 5169 to conditionally zone 93 and 95 [Merrimon Avenue area] Zoning & Land Use · ORD 5169 | Passed 5–2 |
| Aug 26, 2025 | Ordinance amending the membership and appointments to the Human Relations Commission of Asheville Boards & Appointments · ORD 5162 | Passed 5–2 |
| Aug 26, 2025 | Resolution No. 25-194 establishing four Helene Recovery Boards and temporary operational structure of current city advisory boards and commissions Zoning & Land Use · RES 25-194 | Passed 6–1 |
| Mar 11, 2025 | Motion to deny UDO amendment on cottage development standards (carried over from Feb 11 meeting) Zoning & Land Use | Failed 3–4 |
| Mar 11, 2025 | Motion to deny UDO amendment on flag lot standards (carried over) Zoning & Land Use | Failed 3–4 |
Most recent votes
| Date | Item | Hess | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 8, 2026 | Ordinance amending Chapter 4 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Asheville by adding a new Section 4-209(c) in order to provide additional protections for tenants from unsafe dwelling conditions Housing · ORD 5261 | Yes | Passed 7–0 |
| Sep 8, 2026 | Motion to amend the proposed Section 4-209(c) tenant-protection ordinance so the prohibition on collecting rent applies only upon issuance of an order prepared in accordance with Section 4-217(b) Housing | Yes | Passed 7–0 |
| Sep 8, 2026 | Resolution authorizing the City Manager to submit an application to the Dogwood Health Trust Leverage Fund for grant development assistance, to accept grant funds if awarded, and enter into any agreement documents necessary for such acceptance Budget & Finance · RES 26-188 | Yes | Passed 7–0 |
| Sep 8, 2026 | Resolution authorizing the City Manager to submit an application to the Fiscal Year 2026 Federal Transit Administration Low or No Emission Grant Program to construct a new Asheville Rides Transit Operations and Maintenance Facility Transportation · RES 26-187 | Yes | Passed 7–0 |
| Sep 8, 2026 | Resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into the Fiscal Year 2027 N.C. Dept. of Transportation State Maintenance Assistance Program funding agreement Transportation · RES 26-186 | Yes | Passed 7–0 |
| Sep 8, 2026 | Resolution ratifying the grant application and award acceptance from the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security 2024 Homeland Security Grant Program for the Barricade Trailer Project; and associated budget amendment Public Safety · RES 26-185 / ORD 5260 | Yes | Passed 7–0 |
| Sep 8, 2026 | Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute the agreement with the Asheville City Schools Foundation for the disbursement of college scholarship funds to graduating seniors from the City of Asheville Youth Leadership Academy Economic Development · RES 26-184 | Yes | Passed 7–0 |
| Sep 8, 2026 | Motion to recuse Vice-Mayor Mosley from participating in the City Collective, LLC Deaverview Master Plan contract (Consent Item E) due to a conflict of interest Administrative | Yes | Passed 6–0 |
| Sep 8, 2026 | Resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into a contract with City Collective, LLC to develop a Master Plan for land in the Deaverview neighborhood owned by the City of Asheville and Housing Authority of the City of Asheville Housing · RES 26-183 | Yes | Passed 6–0 |
| Sep 8, 2026 | Budget amendment in the amount of $4.2M for additional Helene Disaster Recovery and Response expenses, funded with Federal and State Emergency Management Agency reimbursements, to fund upcoming expenses such as a temporary bridge for Gashes Creek and a recent obligation for Parks content replacements and grants management costs; and transfer $105,000 in donations from the Special Revenue Fund to the General Capital Projects Fund to support the temporary skating rink project Budget & Finance · ORD 5259 | Yes | Passed 7–0 |
| Sep 8, 2026 | Resolution to permit the possession and consumption of malt beverages and/or unfortified wine at Oktoberfest on October 3, 2026 Administrative · RES 26-182 | Yes | Passed 7–0 |
| Sep 8, 2026 | Resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into a contract with Opticos Design, Inc. to develop an update to the Living Asheville Comprehensive Plan and new development regulations, including the Unified Development Ordinance, and Standard Specifications and Details Manual; and approval of an associated budget amendment to transfer funds to the Special Revenue Fund for the contract Zoning & Land Use · RES 26-181 / ORD 5258 | Yes | Passed 7–0 |
| Sep 8, 2026 | Approval of the minutes of the special meeting held on August 25, 2026; combined minutes of the agenda briefing worksession held on August 20, 2026, and the formal meeting held on August 25, 2026 Administrative | Yes | Passed 7–0 |
| Aug 25, 2026 | Resolution calling for the City of Asheville's Manager to terminate the City's contract with Flock Public Safety · RES 26-180 | Yes | Passed 5–2 |
| Aug 25, 2026 | Monthly municipal property tax refunds or releases per North Carolina General Statute section 105-381 Budget & Finance | Yes | Passed 7–0 |