Fayetteville City Council Regular Meeting - April 22, 2024
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Fayetteville City Council Regular Meeting - April 22, 2024
The Fayetteville City Council met on Monday, April 22, 2024, at 6:30 PM in the Council Chamber. The meeting included the swearing-in of a new city attorney, a proclamation for National Community Development Month, recognition of a young gospel singer, a city manager report on the upcoming Public Safety Summit and the Broadell community historic survey, a public hearing on the 2024-2025 HUD Annual Action Plan, authorization to apply for a state grant for Phillips Towing, and a motion to move a text amendment on tobacco and hemp retail to a work session.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the consent agenda unanimously, which included: approval of minutes from March 25, 2024; rezoning requests (P24-17 and P24-18); special use permits (SUP24-01 for a duplex and SUP24-03 for 111 townhomes); adoption of Special Revenue Fund Ordinance amendments 2024-10, 2024-13, and 2024-14; affordable housing loan commitments for Aubrey Hills and Eutaw Landing Apartments; a resolution of support for an FTA grant for battery-electric buses; acceptance of the OSFM Summer Fire Camp Program Grant; and four PWC bid recommendations for electrical infrastructure.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public signed up to speak during the public hearing for the 2024-2025 HUD Annual Action Plan.
Discussion Items
- City Manager Report: Assistant City Manager Jody Phelps announced the Public Safety and OCS Summit on April 30 at 1:00 PM at Fayetteville State University's Student Center. The summit aims to gather a broad cross-section of organizations to discuss mental health, homelessness, violence prevention, and youth intervention, and will inform the development of the Office of Community Safety.
- Broadell Community Historic Survey: Economic and Community Development Director Christopher Collie reported that the Broadell community was approved by the state for its historic significance. A second grant application (due May 10, 2024) will be submitted to nominate the area for the National Register of Historic Places. Staff emphasized ongoing community engagement.
- Administrative Reports: City Council considered two administrative reports: an update on the Broadell survey (already discussed) and a potential text amendment to Chapter 30 regarding tobacco and hemp retail. Councilmember Hare moved to move the text amendment item to a future work session for further discussion. The motion passed 9-1, with Councilmember Benavente voting in opposition.
- Public Hearing on HUD Annual Action Plan: Christopher Collie presented the 2024-2025 Annual Action Plan for CDBG, HOME, and HOPWA grants, totaling approximately $4.3 million. The plan includes continued funding for affordable housing, small business support, and homeless initiatives. A substantial amendment was noted due to a loan extension from a developer. No public speakers appeared, and the council voted unanimously to approve the plan.
- Authorization for Grant Application: The council unanimously approved a resolution authorizing the mayor and city manager to apply for a North Carolina Department of Commerce Rural Economic Development Grant for Phillips Towing Services, Inc. The company plans to expand operations with a corporate office and call center in Fayetteville, creating jobs.
Key Outcomes
- Swearing-in: LaCelle Holmes Pulliam was sworn in as the new city attorney.
- Proclamation: April 2024 was proclaimed as National Community Development Month.
- Consent Agenda: Approved unanimously.
- HUD Annual Action Plan: Approved unanimously after public hearing with no speakers.
- Phillips Towing Grant: Resolution to apply for state grant approved unanimously.
- Text Amendment: Motion to move administrative report on tobacco/hemp retail zoning to a work session passed 9-1.
- Meeting Adjourned: The meeting adjourned shortly after the last vote.
Meeting Transcript
Oh, good evening, everyone. Like to call our Monday, uh, April twenty second, Fable City Council meeting in order. We uh certainly welcome those who are in the audience today, and a lot of the families are here for special occasions tonight, and we welcome you. Uh, we also like to welcome those who are joining us remotely. So at this time we would ask that uh Pastor Woodhouse from the Hay Street United Methodist Church will come uh ask that everyone would stand for the prayer immediately following the prayer if we could repeat the Pledge of Allegiance. Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we thank you for the city of Fayetteville. We thank you for these elected officials who serve our city. We thank you for the staff and employees who work diligently to see that all of the citizens of our community thrive. We ask that you would send your Holy Spirit to give guidance to these council members and to our mayor and to each person gathered in this room, that they would be able to deliberate with one another in ways that are pleasing in your sight and upbuilding for our community. We thank you for giving them wisdom and guidance. We thank you that they have the best interest of our community at heart, and we ask these things in Christ's name. Amen. Amen. Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Well, thank you, Pastor. If you would uh give us just briefly tell us a little bit about your yourself and your ministry. I know you join us uh for coffee with the mayor, so we just want to introduce yourself to everyone if you could. Yes, sir. Um, I'm David Woodhouse. I serve as the pastor at Hay Street United Methodist Church, just across the road over here on the corner of Hay and Ray. And yeah, that way. And uh you may or may not know, but Hay Street traces its history back to 1796 and a gentleman named Henry Evans, who was a cobbler and a Methodist preacher, a man of color who was free. And he came through Fayetteville on his way down to Charleston and ended up staying here and built the first church building in our city back in those early days, and eventually the Methodists moved up here to the corner of Hay and Ray in 1930, 1834, and we've been there ever since, and we share that combined history with the good folks down there at Evans Metropolitan AMEZ Church. Uh so I appreciate the opportunity to be with you tonight. God bless all of you. God bless you. Thank you, Pastor. At this time, uh Council and those who are visiting, we have a very special moment. We're issuing the oath of office to our new city attorney, Miss Attorney Pulliam, if you would meet me at the podium so that we can take the oath. And uh you want to have a family member join for holding the Bible or whoever you'd like. They could also meet us at the podium. And we can join. I'll go on this side. The mayor stand left side. Y'all come on the side. You hold this for a minute. Hello, family. Congratulations to you. Thank you. All right. So at this time, as I read the oath of office, uh attorney, I ask that you raise your right hand if you could repeat after me. I please state your name. I LaCelle Holmes Poulium. Do solemnly affirm. Do solemnly affirm. That I will support and maintain the Constitution. That I will support and maintain the Constitution. And the laws of the United States.
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