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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

City Council Regular Meeting - November 13, 2023

City Council — Monday, November 13, 2023

BodyFayetteville, North Carolina

SessionCity Council

DateMonday, November 13, 2023

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 1:59:24

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:17

Well, good evening, everyone.

0:19

Like to welcome you and call our November 13th Federal City Council meeting in order.

0:23

Thank you, those who are joining us in the audience, and those who are joining us by way of television or online.

0:30

Tonight we have the opportunity to show the true diversity and unity of this community.

0:37

We have typically we have invocation and we rotate that process amongst uh different people and clergy and faith leaders.

0:44

And tonight we have representation from the Hindu uh temple.

0:49

You have uh uh Mrs.

0:52

Behikar and pardon me if I mispronounce your name, uh Pastor Challenger from Greater Unity Tabernacle Christian Church, Rabbi Goldberg from the Beth Israel congregation, and Imam Adam Bayar from the Master Jid Omar Saeed.

1:07

So uh if they would please come to the podium, uh those names that I've called, and if you would render us a prayer for just a moment, starting with uh Miss Behakar from the uh Hindu Temple and ask that all would please stand uh for the invocations immediately following uh the last invocation by Imam Bayah, if we could repeat the pleasure of leaders.

1:35

And good evening, you all thank you for joining us.

1:49

Okay, um so thank you everyone for having us.

1:52

Uh my name is Paul and Patel, my my wife uh Dr.

1:56

Bahecker.

1:57

Um, as we begin this evening's meeting, ladies and gentlemen, our esteemed mayor and respected council members.

2:05

Um, as we gather today to deliberate on matters of importance for our community, let us take a moment to reflect and seek guidance.

2:12

Tonight we seek wisdom for our leadership to make decisions that are just and fair, courage to uphold the greater good and compassion to understand the needs of every individual in our city.

2:23

As we light the lamp of this meeting, may our discussions be constructive and our resolutions be beneficial for all.

2:30

May this gathering be guided by the principles of mutual respect, collaboration, and a shared vision for a brighter future for our city.

2:39

And thank you for our leadership for your dedication.

2:43

Thank you, Ms.

2:43

Pete.

2:44

Thank you.

2:46

Thanks for your back up.

2:48

Okay, thank you.

2:49

Thank you.

2:56

This time is Pastor Challenger from the Greater Unity Tabernacle Christian Church.

3:05

Good evening, Pastor.

3:06

Good evening.

3:11

Well, I thank God for another opportunity to come out tonight.

3:16

Um I wanted to ask if I could tell a little bit about who I am before I pray, because it's a lot easier to pray for somebody when you know who's praying for you.

3:31

Amen.

3:32

And so I want to take this time to tell you that I am Dr.

3:38

Cordelia Challenger, Apostle, and Pastor of Greater Unity Tabernacle Christian Church.

4:02

During the pandemic, over 3,000 people per month, 3,000 meals per month.

4:10

We now do about 200 to 300 meals per month.

4:16

We clothe, we take time to go out into the community to work with the people.

4:38

And they're called the widow's might second chancers, and we have the widow's might outreach.

4:48

And just to let you know just a little bit before I pray and thank God for another opportunity, and congratulations, Mayor, and God bless each one of you that are here tonight.

5:00

And congratulations, Mayor, and God bless each one of you that are here tonight.

5:05

Most holy and precious Father.

5:08

We come tonight to say thank you.

5:11

Father, and if we've fallen short in any way, we ask that you forgive us.

5:18

For Lord, we need your guidance.

5:20

We need your protection.

5:22

We need your mercy.

5:25

So Lord, we asked you to give us the knowledge, wisdom, understanding, to be able to accomplish everything that you would have us to accomplish.

5:35

God, we thank you for unity.

5:39

Because where there's unity, there's strength.

5:42

A house divided cannot stand.

5:45

God, so we come together touching and agreeing, and we know that anything we ask in your name, that you will do it for us.

5:53

So tonight we stand together in unity, asking you for the strength to do the things that we must do, say the things that we must say, the hard things, the easy things, the things that we see, the things that we don't see.

6:08

God, we want you to see it for us.

6:11

Let us see with our hearts and not our eyes.

6:14

Let us feel with our eyes and not our mouth.

6:19

So God let us touch where there's no hatred, no crime and com the evilness.

6:29

God, we know that it's there, but help us, Lord.

6:33

That we will note it, but yet fight it with love.

6:38

God, we thank you and we praise you for this opportunity, God.

6:43

We ask you bless every councilman, bless every person on the council, strengthen them, guide them, direct them, cover them under the blood of Jesus.

6:57

These and all of the blessings we ask in Jesus' name.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Community Engagement█████████████13%

Code Enforcement█████████████13%

Procedural████████████12%

Homelessness██████████10%

Youth Programs█████████9%

Public Engagement████████8%

Zoning And Land Use████████8%

Public Safety█████5%

Public Transportation████4%

Summary of Proceedings

City Council Regular Meeting - November 13, 2023

The Fayetteville City Council met on Monday, November 13, 2023 at 7:00 PM in the Council Chamber. The meeting included a multi-faith invocation, recognitions of the Girl Scout Troop 1804 and Diwali proclamation, a city manager report on human relations, a consent agenda, public forum with 15 speakers, deliberation on a special use permit for a school, and reconsideration of a demolition order for a Collins Street property.

Consent Calendar

Approved 20 consent items including meeting minutes, a quitclaim deed for Scott Avenue, condemnation for Morganton Road sidewalk, budget amendment for Hartford Fire Safety Grant, legal representation for city employees, support for Fayetteville Dogwood Festival feasibility plan, water/sewer easements for Ray Avenue drainage, affirmation of historical marker language at Market House, and multiple PWC bid recommendations and resolutions. The consent agenda passed 9-1 with one opposition.

Public Comments & Testimony

Archie Barringer (chaplain) requested removal of slogans around the Market House, stating they represent a sad era and called for unity.
Brian Mello advocated for the homeless, criticizing that only two council members visited the Day Resource Center and urging better support for those trying to improve their lives.
Ann Schrader (environmentalist, founder of Eco Solutions) urged an update to the 2009 sustainability master plan and called for climate action, noting available funding.
Sharon Moyer (District 2 resident with visual impairment) described dangerous street crossings, especially at Morganton Road, and asked the city to use bond funds to paint crosswalks at major intersections and bus stops. She noted a pedestrian recently hit and in critical condition at Duke.
Joseph Wheeler opposed paying a director for the Contiguous Operational Committee (COC), arguing paid positions are failing the unhoused, and criticized the clearing of downtown that led to a friend's suicide attempt.
Tracy Smith (aunt of Lorenzo Irvin) described her nephew's death from fentanyl poisoning and alleged inadequate police investigation. She stated Detective Ashley Wofford never interviewed the family and that a sergeant said the district attorney will not prosecute death-by-distribution cases.
Chilico Hearst raised issues about a former police chief's remarks, requested a rental moratorium and landlord accountability for HUD vouchers, and asked to rename Bragg Boulevard.
Pamela Carter (District 2, B Street resident) opposed a proposed homeless shelter on B Street, citing lack of notification, recent violent crimes in the neighborhood, and the area's vulnerability.
Rudlin Brown (homeless) described difficulty accessing resources, discrimination, and said organizations are not using funds properly; she asked for more help instead of arrests.

Discussion Items

Special Use Permit (SUP23-08) – School at 4502 Rosehill Road: Continued from October 23. The council deliberated on evidence for the six approval standards. City Manager Hewitt clarified the evidentiary hearing was closed; staff provided administrative information on NCDOT road widening. Councilmember Benevente questioned whether sufficient evidence was presented. Councilmember Ingram read supporting facts from the application. Motion to approve with conditions passed 9-1.
Reconsideration of Demolition – 5002 Collins Street (Bonnie Doon): Councilmember Hare moved to remove the property from the demolition list, citing owner's repair efforts. City Manager Hewitt noted no permits pulled since 2018, unpaid assessments, and a demolition contractor backing out. Councilmember Hondros expressed concerns about inconsistent enforcement. Motion was amended to authorize legal and development services to work with the owner on a consent agreement with milestones and to return with a staff report at the next meeting. Motion carried.

Key Outcomes

Consent agenda approved 9-1.
Special Use Permit for school at 4502 Rosehill Road approved 9-1 with stated findings.
Property at 5002 Collins Street stayed from demolition; staff to negotiate a consent agreement and report back by next meeting.
Public forum heard 9 speakers on various topics including Market House, homeless services, crosswalk safety, drug overdose investigation, and rental policies.
Girl Scout Troop 1804 presented Silver Award project on teen gun violence prevention; council received their public awareness campaign.
Proclamation declared November 12, 2023 as Diwali in Fayetteville.

Meeting Transcript

Well, good evening, everyone. Like to welcome you and call our November 13th Federal City Council meeting in order. Thank you, those who are joining us in the audience, and those who are joining us by way of television or online. Tonight we have the opportunity to show the true diversity and unity of this community. We have typically we have invocation and we rotate that process amongst uh different people and clergy and faith leaders. And tonight we have representation from the Hindu uh temple. You have uh uh Mrs. Behikar and pardon me if I mispronounce your name, uh Pastor Challenger from Greater Unity Tabernacle Christian Church, Rabbi Goldberg from the Beth Israel congregation, and Imam Adam Bayar from the Master Jid Omar Saeed. So uh if they would please come to the podium, uh those names that I've called, and if you would render us a prayer for just a moment, starting with uh Miss Behakar from the uh Hindu Temple and ask that all would please stand uh for the invocations immediately following uh the last invocation by Imam Bayah, if we could repeat the pleasure of leaders. And good evening, you all thank you for joining us. Okay, um so thank you everyone for having us. Uh my name is Paul and Patel, my my wife uh Dr. Bahecker. Um, as we begin this evening's meeting, ladies and gentlemen, our esteemed mayor and respected council members. Um, as we gather today to deliberate on matters of importance for our community, let us take a moment to reflect and seek guidance. Tonight we seek wisdom for our leadership to make decisions that are just and fair, courage to uphold the greater good and compassion to understand the needs of every individual in our city. As we light the lamp of this meeting, may our discussions be constructive and our resolutions be beneficial for all. May this gathering be guided by the principles of mutual respect, collaboration, and a shared vision for a brighter future for our city. And thank you for our leadership for your dedication. Thank you, Ms. Pete. Thank you. Thanks for your back up. Okay, thank you. Thank you. This time is Pastor Challenger from the Greater Unity Tabernacle Christian Church. Good evening, Pastor. Good evening. Well, I thank God for another opportunity to come out tonight. Um I wanted to ask if I could tell a little bit about who I am before I pray, because it's a lot easier to pray for somebody when you know who's praying for you. Amen. And so I want to take this time to tell you that I am Dr. Cordelia Challenger, Apostle, and Pastor of Greater Unity Tabernacle Christian Church. During the pandemic, over 3,000 people per month, 3,000 meals per month. We now do about 200 to 300 meals per month. We clothe, we take time to go out into the community to work with the people. And they're called the widow's might second chancers, and we have the widow's might outreach. And just to let you know just a little bit before I pray and thank God for another opportunity, and congratulations, Mayor, and God bless each one of you that are here tonight. And congratulations, Mayor, and God bless each one of you that are here tonight. Most holy and precious Father. We come tonight to say thank you. Father, and if we've fallen short in any way, we ask that you forgive us. For Lord, we need your guidance. We need your protection. We need your mercy. So Lord, we asked you to give us the knowledge, wisdom, understanding, to be able to accomplish everything that you would have us to accomplish. God, we thank you for unity. Because where there's unity, there's strength. A house divided cannot stand. God, so we come together touching and agreeing, and we know that anything we ask in your name, that you will do it for us.

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