Public Meetings - Fayetteville, North Carolina

The Fayetteville City Council held a regular meeting on February 13, 2023, at 7:00 PM in the Council Chamber. The meeting included announcements and a proclamation honoring the Triple Nickel 555th Parachute Infantry Association, unanimous approval of the consent agenda, a public forum with seven speakers addressing public safety, infrastructure, and community concerns, and a series of failed votes to appoint a Public Works Commissioner. Announcements & Recognitions - Councilmember Hare announced a Mercury Road Corridor special projects meeting scheduled for March 2, 2023, from 5:30 to 7:30 PM in the Council Chamber. - The Mayor congratulated Josh Williams, a Fayetteville native and Kansas City Chiefs player, on his Super Bowl victory. - Councilmember Banks McLaughlin presented a proclamation declaring February 2023 as Triple Nickel 555th Parachute Infantry Association Month. Trooper Tabron highlighted the association's scholarship program, providing 48–52 scholarships of $1,000 annually to Cumberland County high schools. Consent Calendar - The consent agenda was approved unanimously by a motion from Mayor Pro Tem Dawkins, seconded by Councilmember Banks McLaughlin. Items included resolutions for the Phase 5 Annexation Utility Improvement Project, the State Action Plan for FY24, and bid recommendations for Greenock Avenue construction, pole mount transformers, generator replacement, and pad mount transformers. Public Comments & Testimony Seven speakers addressed the Council: - Rick Iwanski urged accountability, transparency, and reform regarding mental health response, citing available grant funding and the HEARTS program data. He quoted Habakkuk to emphasize the need for action. - Thureta Chance petitioned for city water and street lights on Moody Street, noting she pays for street lights out of her disability check. She expressed frustration with PWC charges for sewer without water service. The City Manager explained that Moody Street is in an unincorporated "donut hole" requiring a voluntary annexation petition. - Brian Mello described a lack of water at his residence since December 6, 2022, due to his landlord turning it off. He reported a cycle of referrals between code enforcement and the health department. The City Manager promised follow-up. - Angela Titan Milloy criticized the proposed hiring of a $71,400 assistant for the City Manager, calling it an institutional approach rather than a community-based solution. She advocated for the Office of Community Safety (OCS) and cited the HEARTS program as a model. - Jose Cardona proposed a bullet control system using rubber bullets and ballistic signatures to aid crime prevention. - Sean McMillan called for the establishment of a civilian-led Office of Community Safety, citing police violence cases and statistics showing FPD is among the most lethal in the state. He urged the Council to follow Greensboro and Durham's example. - Christian Mosley questioned the annexation of land without tangible benefits for the black community, mentioning historical land theft and discriminatory covenants. He demanded ownership opportunities for residents. Discussion Items The only item of business was the appointment of a Public Works Commissioner. Councilmember Benevente nominated Joe Helichek. The vote failed 4–5 (Benevente, McNair, Hondros, Jensen in favor; Colvin, Banks McLaughlin, Dawkins, Hare, Thompson opposed). Councilmember Banks McLaughlin then nominated former Councilmember Ted Mohn. That vote failed 3–6 (Banks McLaughlin, McNair, Jensen in favor; Colvin, Hondros, Benevente, Dawkins, Hare, Thompson opposed). Councilmember Benevente moved to reconsider Helichek; the vote again failed 3–? (only Benevente, McNair, Jensen in favor). Councilmember Hare nominated Christopher Davis; that motion also failed 4–5. No appointment was made before the meeting adjourned. Key Outcomes - The consent agenda was approved unanimously. - No appointment was made to the Public Works Commission after multiple failed votes. - The City Manager's office committed to follow up with public forum speakers on housing and code enforcement issues. - The next Mercury Road Corridor meeting was announced for March 2, 2023.

The Fayetteville City Council held a work session on Monday, February 6, 2023, at 5:00 PM in the Council Chamber. The meeting covered a wide range of topics including the state legislative action plan, homelessness coordination, transit rebranding and fare reinstatement, text amendments to the Unified Development Ordinance, criminal enforcement of ordinances, and several councilmember-initiated items. Key decisions included approval of the state action plan with a modification to advocate for a direct flight to Washington, D.C., direction to reinstate transit fares effective July 1, 2023, and consensus to move forward with studying a co-located 911 call center, commercial building certification, PWC board appointments, and an analysis of the public cost of gun violence. Consent Calendar - The agenda was approved unanimously after a motion by Councilmember Ingram and second by Councilmember Hondros. Public Comments & Testimony - Councilmember Banks McLaughlin provided a personal testimony about losing her daughter to gun violence, urging support for the proposed cost analysis study. Her statement influenced some council members' positions. Discussion Items - State Action Plan FY2024 (Item 4.01): John Eastland of KTS Strategies presented the proposed legislative priorities, including public safety, transit, affordable housing, and economic development. Councilmember Jensen pushed for a specific line item advocating for a direct flight from Fayetteville to Washington, D.C. The council gave consensus to accept the plan with that modification. - Continuum of Care on Homelessness (Item 4.02): Debbie Brown, COC chair, outlined the COC’s structure, coordinated entry system, and funding needs. She requested city-county collaboration, a focus on using 100% of affordable housing funds for the chronically homeless, and funding for an executive director. The council directed the homelessness and mental health committee to continue discussions and work with the county. - Transit (FAST) Rebranding (Item 4.03): Transit Director Tiffany Neal presented new logo, bus stop signs, and shelter options. The council received the report and gave consensus to proceed with community feedback and rollout. - Reinstatement of Transit Fare Collection (Item 4.04): Staff recommended reinstating fares on July 1, 2023, noting that federal relief funds for fare-free service had been exhausted. Council debated the impact on riders. A motion to direct staff to reinstate fares effective July 1 passed 8-2, with Councilmembers Banks McLaughlin and Ingram opposed. - Proposed Text Amendments to the Unified Development Ordinance (Item 4.05): Staff presented 19 amendments categorized as cleanup, development community requests, and policy issues (including separation standards for bars and churches, and an airport entrance corridor overlay). The council accepted the report, forwarding all items to the Planning Commission. Councilmember Ingram opposed, expressing concern over potential changes to separation standards. - Criminal Enforcement of Ordinances (Item 4.06): Assistant City Attorney LaCelle Puliam reviewed the state law changes requiring explicit council authorization for criminal enforcement. She highlighted cases where civil remedies were insufficient. Council debated balancing enforcement with support services. A consensus motion passed to amend the relevant ordinances to include criminal enforcement language, with direction to the city manager to incorporate resources like the Continuum of Care. - Co-Locating 911 Call Center with Cumberland County (Item 4.07): Councilmember Hondros requested staff explore co-location to potentially save funds. The council directed staff to study the feasibility, costs, and benefits, with a vote of 9-1 (Councilmember Thompson opposed). - Commercial Building Certification (Item 4.08): Councilmember Hare asked to align commercial abandoned properties with residential rules, limiting boarding-up to three years. The council unanimously directed staff to gather information and bring back options. - PWC Appointment (Item 4.09): Councilmember Benavente moved to schedule a vote on appointments to the Fayetteville Public Works Commission at the next regular council meeting. The council unanimously agreed. - Cost of Gun Violence in Fayetteville (Item 4.10): Councilmember Benavente requested a study analyzing the public cost of gun violence from 2012 to 2022, referencing a similar study from another city. A lengthy debate ensued, with some members supporting data-driven prevention and others questioning the city’s role. Councilmember Banks McLaughlin offered emotional testimony. The item was discussed but no formal vote was taken; the meeting adjourned shortly after. Key Outcomes - State Action Plan: Approved with modification to include advocacy for a direct Washington, D.C. flight. - Transit Fare Reinstatement: Staff directed to reinstate fares effective July 1, 2023 (8-2 vote). - Text Amendments: Accepted and forwarded to Planning Commission (1 opposed). - Criminal Enforcement of Ordinances: Consensus to amend ordinances to enable criminal enforcement, with supportive services to be included. - 911 Call Center Co-Location: Staff directed to study feasibility (9-1). - Commercial Building Certification: Staff directed to develop options aligning commercial and residential boarded-up time limits (unanimous). - PWC Appointment: Vote scheduled for next regular council meeting (unanimous). - Cost of Gun Violence Study: Discussed but no action taken; council moved to adjourn.

The Fayetteville City Council met for its regular meeting on Thursday, January 26, 2023, at 7:00 PM in the Council Chamber. The meeting included approval of a consent agenda, discussion of legal representation for two police employees, and a public hearing on text amendments to regulate community reintegration centers (formerly halfway houses). The meeting concluded with adjournment after a motion carried. Consent Calendar - The consent agenda was approved unanimously, with the exception of Item 7.019 (Request for Legal Representation of City Employees), which was pulled for separate discussion. The consent agenda included approval of meeting minutes (December 28, 2022 Special; January 3, 2023 Work Session; January 9, 2023 Discussion of Agenda Items), seven rezoning cases (P22-46, P22-49, P22-50, P22-51, P22-52, P22-53, P22-56, P22-58), adoption of Capital Project Ordinances 2023-13 and 2023-14 (Lake Rim Park and Reid Ross Track improvement projects), adoption of Capital Project Ordinance Amendments 2023-19 and 2023-20 (Dam Safety and Preservation Program), adoption of Capital Project Ordinance 2023-15 (Airport Improvement Program Grant for AFFF testing), adoption of Budget Ordinance Amendment 2023-10 (First Responder Grant), adoption of Budget Ordinance Amendment 2023-11 and Special Revenue Fund Project Ordinance Amendment 2023-4 (NRCS-EWP bank stabilization), adoption of Budget Ordinance Amendment 2023-12 (Spring Lake Recreation Facility operating budget), revision of Millennial Advisory Commission Bylaws, demolition recommendations for four uninhabitable structures, approval of Extended Jurisdiction Agreement with Fayetteville State University Police, approval of Federal Action Plan FY 2024, lease of Suite 301 of R.C. Williams Building, and consideration of Cumberland County's Sales Tax Distribution Interlocal Agreement. Discussion Items Item 7.019: Request for Legal Representation of City Employees (Ryan Haddock and Amanda Bell) - The council debated whether to approve legal representation for two police employees involved in an incident. City Attorney McDonnell explained that state statute and city ordinance allow representation for employees sued for actions within the course and scope of their duties. The city manager confirmed an investigation had been completed and appropriate action taken, but personnel privacy laws prevented disclosure of specifics. Councilmember Benevente raised concerns about accountability and the need for transparency, noting past instances where representation was denied for actions outside scope. City Manager Hewlett outlined three policy changes instituted in response: (1) improved complaint process with written timelines, (2) enhanced notification to him and the police chief about complaints and video evidence, and (3) creation of a new city manager's office position focused on public safety oversight. Councilmember Thompson asked whether the actions were illegal or just poor judgment; the city attorney declined to opine in open session. Councilmember McNair clarified the criteria for denial. After discussion, a motion to approve legal representation passed 6 to 4, with Councilmembers Hondros, McNair, Jensen, Dawkins, Hare, and Thompson in favor, and Councilmembers Benevente and others opposed (two opposed, but tally showed 6-4; the transcript indicates six in favor, four opposed). Item 8.01: Public Hearing on TA23-001 – Text Amendments for Community Reintegration Centers (formerly Halfway Houses) - Dr. Newton presented proposed amendments to the Unified Development Ordinance, including: (1) changing the name from "halfway house" to "community reintegration center" to align with federal terminology; (2) limiting allowable zoning districts to only Community Commercial (CC) and Mixed Use (MU) instead of the previous broader list (removing Office Institutional, Limited Commercial, Downtown, and Mixed Residential); (3) capping the number of residents at 30 if within a half-mile of single-family residential, or 40 if within 500 feet of multifamily (with ability to exceed these caps via special use permit if located outside those radii); (4) retaining the existing half-mile separation from other similar uses (therapeutic, group homes, etc.). No members of the public signed up to speak. Council discussion focused on distance requirements, security, and notification language. Councilmember Hare made a motion to adopt the amendments with modifications: (a) apply the half-mile distance to both single-family and multifamily uses (instead of 500 feet for multifamily), (b) require that security provisions be part of the application, and (c) include a description of the facility's population (federal inmates) in public notifications. Councilmember Ingram seconded. Councilmember Benevente argued that overly restrictive rules could hinder reintegration and increase recidivism, and preferred leaving details to the quasi-judicial special use permit process. Councilmember Thompson shared a personal anecdote about a friend's successful reintegration. Councilmember Jensen stressed the need to decide that night. After debate, Councilmember Hare withdrew the security component, leaving the half-mile distance for both residential types and the notification description. The motion carried 8 to 2, with Councilmembers Hondros and Benevente opposed. Key Outcomes - The consent agenda was approved unanimously except Item 7.019. - Legal representation for two police employees (Ryan Haddock and Amanda Bell) was approved by a vote of 6 to 4. - Text amendments for community reintegration centers (TA23-001) were adopted with modifications: a half-mile distance requirement for both single-family and multifamily residential zones, and a requirement that public notifications include a description of the facility's population. The security provision was removed but staff indicated it could be addressed administratively. The final vote was 8 to 2. - The meeting adjourned unanimously.