Fayetteville City Council Work Session - March 6, 2023
STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE
Fayetteville City Council Work Session - March 6, 2023
The Fayetteville City Council held a work session on March 6, 2023, at 5:00 PM. The meeting covered updates on the Murchison Choice Neighborhood Planning Grant, Catalyst Site 1 redevelopment, Fayetteville Forward Bond projects (public safety, infrastructure, housing), the dangerous building demolition process, a sales tax interlocal agreement, and several council member agenda requests. Key actions included approving a partnership with Fayetteville State University for the Catalyst Site, accepting bond reports with emphasis on homeownership, and advancing items on election cycle, litter, firearm storage, and proactive violence prevention.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of the agenda with a motion to suspend rules for item 5.07 (sales tax agreement) to allow immediate action. Motion carried 9-0.
Discussion Items
5.01 Murchison Choice Planning Grant - Final Update
- Chris Collie, Economic Community Development Director, presented the two-year planning process funded by a $450,000 HUD Choice Neighborhood Planning Grant. The transformation plan focuses on housing, people, and neighborhoods in the Murchison Road corridor. Early action projects included 19 little free libraries, community garden support, and public Wi-Fi at Murchison Town Homes. The implementation grant application (up to $50 million) is expected in early 2024, with $30-35 million sought for redevelopment of Murchison Town Homes (55 to 115 units) and Elliott Circle (110 to mixed-income units including single-family for sale). Council discussed the need for partnerships, a community grocery co-op, and mixed-income requirements. No action needed, but council expressed support.
5.02 Update on Catalyst Site 1 (Murchison Road Redevelopment Site)
- Staff recommended granting Fayetteville State University exclusive rights for two years to develop the 15-acre site (69 parcels) with housing and supportive uses. The city has invested $2.8 million in the area. FSU plans to address housing shortages for faculty, staff, and students (enrollment projected to grow to 8,000). Councilmember Ingram made a consensus motion to prepare a resolution and legal agreements for partnership. Motion carried 9-0.
5.03 Fayetteville Forward Bonds - Public Safety Project Roadmap
- Rob Stone presented a rolling wave project management plan for the $30 million public safety bond, covering a new 911 center and three fire stations (Stations 2, 9, 16). Timelines: 48-60 months for 911 center, 30-42 months per fire station. Council discussed co-location with the county, local contractor participation, and energy efficiency. No action required; update received.
5.04 Fayetteville Forward Bonds - Public Infrastructure
- Staff presented proposed locations for $15 million in street resurfacing (40 miles), $8 million in sidewalks (15.5 miles), $800,000 in bike lanes, and $1.25 million in intersection improvements (now funded by ARPA and state grants). Council members raised concerns about sidewalk priorities around schools and ADA ramp placement. Staff agreed to revisit school connectivity. No formal action, but direction given.
5.05 Fayetteville Forward Bonds - Housing Opportunity
- Chris Collie outlined the $12 million housing bond allocation: $9 million for rental development, $1 million for single-family development, $1 million for down payment assistance (expanded to 120% AMI), $1 million for repair/rehab, and $100,000 for land banking. Council debated the balance between rental and homeownership. Councilmember Ingram made a motion to accept all three bond reports with more efforts for homeownership. Motion carried 9-0.
5.06 Dangerous Building Case Process
- Staff presented the demolition process (47 steps, average 13 months) and comparison with other cities. Council discussed the high number of cases (140 new per year, 150-200 open) and the need to expedite the process. No action required.
5.07 Consideration of Cumberland County’s Proposed Sales Tax Distribution Interlocal Agreement
- Council suspended rules to consider the agreement immediately. The proposal extends the current distribution formula until July 1, 2025, then changes. Motion to approve carried 9-0.
5.08 Council Election Cycle - Council Member Thompson
- Proposal to change to four-year staggered terms for council and two-year terms for mayor. Councilmember Thompson requested a resolution of intent to begin the process. Consensus was reached (7-2) to bring back a resolution for formal consideration.
5.09 Litter Challenges - Council Member Jensen
- Request to categorize litter, illegal dumping, and other debris to better combat the issue. The corridors committee will work with staff and report back. Consensus carried (majority support).
5.10 Proposal for Ordinance to Prohibit Unsecured Firearms in Automobiles - Council Member McNair
- Request for staff research on an ordinance requiring firearms in vehicles to be locked. Council supported (7-0) to gather information and bring back a proposal.
5.11 Resource Support for 3-Mile Shotspotter Radius - Council Member Benavente
- Request for proactive social services and community resources in the targeted ShotSpotter deployment areas. Council agreed to have staff coordinate with funded organizations and report back. Consensus carried.
Key Outcomes
- Unanimous consensus to partner with Fayetteville State University for Catalyst Site 1.
- Unanimous approval of sales tax interlocal agreement.
- Unanimous acceptance of bond reports with emphasis on homeownership.
- Consensus to advance election cycle change to a resolution of intent (7-2).
- Consensus to research firearms ordinance (7-0).
- Consensus to pursue proactive violence prevention resources in ShotSpotter areas.
- Direction to prioritize sidewalks around schools.
Meeting Transcript
Well, good evening, everyone. We would like to call our March sixth, uh Favorite City Council work session to order. Thank you all who are joining us in the audience and those who are joining us remote. At this time, we will have the invocation, if we could please stand for that. Uh Councilmember Thompson in a praying mood tonight. I'm always in the prayer mood, Mr. So uh if you could lead us to prayer and then following which we'll repeat the pledge of allegiance. Let us pray, dear Lord. Here we are, dear Lord. Your service, and you are our guides. Here it is, dear Lord, that we are the sheep and you are the shepherd. Here we are, dear Lord. We are the clay, and you are the potter. Dear Lord, this day is every day. I pray that you will continuously guide us, direct us, lead us, strengthen us, encourage us, dear Lord. Help us along the way, dear Lord. Be that faithful servant that we know you are, who can do a ceiling abundantly above all we can ask or think. Move in this place, dear Lord. Have your way in this place, dear Lord. We pray for everyone under the sound of my voice, everyone in this room, our staff, our council, our mayor. Let's proceed and tonight go forward, heaven, Lord. Let it be your will, not our will, be done. We ask these things in your son, Jesus' name, dear Lord. Amen. Under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, Councilmember Thompson. All right, Council, moving on to the approval of the agenda. Uh Council, there's one item as we approve this uh at the conclusion. Uh asked if we could consider a motion to suspend the rules uh after five point oh seven uh just for that particular item, or if we can move that item to last, uh the sales tax agreement uh is needs to be signed and executed and submitted to the county before our next meeting will occur. So all of the other municipalities are doing it. I think they had scheduled meetings, and so uh asked that for your consideration so that we could get the proposed sales tax. Mr. Mayor, I'd like to make a motion to approve the agenda. Uh and move. We don't necessarily have to move it, and we can just suspend the rules when we get to it, correct? Okay. Um to approve the uh agenda. Thank you, Councilmember Ingram. It's a motion to approve. Council um Madam Attorney just had a quick question. If we suspend the rules for that item, are they then suspended for the subsequent items? No, sir. We just make the motion to suspend for that particular item. Thank you. All right, most about Council Member Ingram seconded. Is there a second? Seconded by Councilmember Hondrose. Uh any discussion on the motion. Any discussion on the motion? All right, Jennifer, we got our iPads up.
openpublica.com