The Fayetteville City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, April 10, 2023, at 7:00 PM in the Council Chamber. The meeting included proclamations, a public forum, public hearings on a charter amendment for four-year staggered council terms and a shared active transportation program (micro-mobility), and presentations on Phase 5 annexation utility assessments. Key actions included adoption of the consent agenda and approval of the micro-mobility pilot program by an 8-2 vote.
Public Forum (10 speakers):
Public Hearing on Charter Amendment (Four-Year Staggered Terms) – 37 speakers:
Public Hearings on Shared Active Transportation Program and Annexation Assessments: No speakers signed up.
Shared Active Transportation Program (Micro-Mobility – Electric Scooters/Bikes):
Phase 5 Annexation Utility Improvement Projects (Areas 23.2 and 24A):
Well, good evening, everyone would like to call our Monday, April 10th, Favel City Council meeting in order. Welcome to all of you who are joining us in the audience. Those who are joining us remotely. At this time, we will have our prayer. We'll ask that Pastor Angela Marks with his hands outreach. She would come to the podium. Good evening, Pastor. We ask that all would please stand for the prayer immediately following if we could repeat the Pledge of Allegiance. Good evening, Pastor. Good evening. Let us pray. Dear Lord, Maker and Creator of all things, we are grateful for another opportunity to gather in your presence for America's can do city that we love so much. We ask that you give the mayor, city leader, staff, city council, and citizens wisdom so they may solve problems, distinguish between right and wrong, and bring order, stability, and prosperity to our community. Lord, open the hearts and minds of each and every individual. Allow their hearts to be soft and tender towards one another and ears attentive to listen. May the spirit of justice and mercy rule in each and every heart so that we may be known as a city that prospers from the influence of just men and women. Father, we seal this prayer with the words of Apostle Paul and First Timothy chapter 2, verses 1 through 2. I urge then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for all people, who are kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. These things we ask in the name of Jesus, Amen. Of the United States of America, and to the Republic, which is one nation under God, individual with liberty and justice for all. Well, thank you, Pastor. It was a powerful prayer. Tell us a little bit about yourself and your ministry. My name is Angela Marks. I am an awesome, awesome employee of the City of Fayetteville that work in the South Waste Department, and I'm grateful to serve our great city. I serve many, many, many other churches across all kinds of denominations here in the city of Fayetteville, specializing youth and children, and I'm honored to say I am an international children's ministry leader. Thank you. All right, moving right along. Council, we have a few announcements and recognitions. At this time, we would ask that Miss Faith Baumer, uh the Volunteer Prevention and Volunteer Coordinator and members of the Child Advocacy Center Board, if you can meet me at the podium at this time. Mayor has a proclamation for the Child Advocacy Center. And as he's presenting it, I'll read it. Whereas the Child Advocacy Center was founded in 1993 by a group of concerned local professionals seeking to coordinate services for child abuse victims and their families, and whereas the CAC received 808 reports of child abuse and neglect during fiscal year 2021 and through 2022 and completed 569 forensic interviews for child victims of sexual and physical abuse, and whereas child abuse and neglect not only cause immediate harm to children, but is also proven to increase the likelihood of criminal behavior, substance abuse, and long-term health problems such as heart disease, obesity, and diabetes, and whereas research also shows that parents and caregivers who have social networks and know how to seek help in times of trouble are more resilient and better able to provide safe environments and maturing experiences for their children, and whereas the child advocacy center coordinates multidisciplinary team case reviews where professionals from multiple agencies come together to plan the best course of legal and supportive action for the victim, and whereas effective child abuse prevention programs succeed because of partnerships created among citizens, social service agencies, schools, faith communities, civic organizations, law enforcement agencies, and the business community, and whereas our children are our most valuable resource. Every child is precious and deserves to grow up in a healthy, safe, nurturing environment free from the threats, dangers, and harmful effects of child abuse and neglect, and whereas all citizens should come become involved to provide safe, nurturing environments for children in all areas of their lives at home, in school, and in the community, offering them the opportunity to grow up to be caring, contributing members of the community. And now, therefore, Mitch Colvin, mayor of the city of Fayetteville, North Carolina, and on behalf of this city council and more than 208,000 citizens to hereby honorably proclaim the month of April in the year 2023 as Child Abuse Prevention Month, and witness whereof Mayor Colvin hereinto set his hand and cause the great seal of the city of Fayetteville to be affixed this ninth day of February 2023, Mayor Colvin. So, as was said, my name is Faith Faymer, and I'm with the Child Absolut Center as the Prevention and Volunteer Coordinator, and we are so appreciative to what the community's already done to include the proclamation tonight. We've been around our entire county and had seven pinwheel plannings in the last two weeks. Each of those places received a thousand pinwheels, so 1,000 times 7 equals 7,000, right? So, in addition to that, there's multiple people that have purchased pinwheel kits. Um I know Councilmember Kathy Jensen has got some, she's going to pick up soon. So there's plenty of pinwheels all around the community, and our hope is that when you see those pinwheels, you'll be reminded of those 808 children that we had a referral for, but also the children that have never had a referral that are still sitting in their homes or in their schools, afraid to speak and to share. Thank you. Thank you all so much for what you do for the community as well. Um at this time would ask that Miss Lisa Reed, 911 manager and fellow telecommunicators, recognition of telecommunications week, uh if you can meet me at the podium at this time. The mayor has prepared prepared a proclamation for our 911 folks. Whereas emergencies can occur at any time that requires police, fire, or emergency medical services, and whereas when an emergency occurs, the prompt response of police officers, firefighters, and paramedics is critical to the protection of life and preservation of property. And whereas the safety of our police officers and firefighters is dependent upon the quality and accuracy of information obtained from citizens who telephone the Fayetteville Police Fire Communications Center. And whereas public safety telecommute communicators are the first and most critical contact our citizens have with emergency services. And whereas public safety telecommunicators are the single vital link for our police officers and firefighters by monitoring their activities by radio, providing them information and ensuring their safety. And whereas public safety telecommunicators have contributed substantially to the apprehension of criminals, suppression of fires, and treatment of patients, and whereas each dispatcher has exhibited compassion, understanding, and professionalism during the performance of their job in the past year.