Fayetteville City Council Work Session - November 4, 2024
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Fayetteville City Council Work Session - November 4, 2024
The Fayetteville City Council held a work session on November 4, 2024, at 2:00 PM in the Council Chamber. The meeting covered eight major agenda items, including presentations on driving equality laws, the annual audit, ARPA portfolio update, special use permit reforms, zoning text amendments, paid parking program update, residential traffic management program, and a request regarding ghost guns. Key decisions included advancing several legislative initiatives and tabling the paid parking discussion for further stakeholder input.
Discussion Items
- Driving Equality Laws (6.01): Kat Kerwin (Local Progress) and Hamilton Brooks (Vera Institute) presented on pretextual traffic stops, racial disparities, and policy options. They highlighted Fayetteville's 2013-2017 informal policy under Chief Medlock that reduced disparities. Debate occurred over the existence of that policy and the role of state law preemption. Councilmember Benevante moved to have the public safety committee pursue partnerships; the motion was withdrawn after consensus to work through the established committee process.
- Audit and Financial Results (6.02): Robbie Bittner (PBMares) presented the annual audit for the year ended June 30, 2024, noting an unmodified opinion—the earliest presentation in 18 years. Two material weaknesses were identified (accounts payable cutoff and grant loan recording). Council commended staff and received the report unanimously.
- ARPA Portfolio Update (6.03): Special Projects Manager Brooke Reading reported that of the $40.1 million in ARPA funds, $25.1 million had been expended, $8.6 million encumbered, and $6.5 million remained unencumbered. To meet the December 31, 2024 obligation deadline, certain projects (e.g., tennis center, ADA compliance) would be transitioned to the Capital Improvement Plan. Council received the report unanimously.
- Review of Special Use Permit Processes and Text Amendment Recommendations (6.04): Staff presented a comparison of the city's 296 Special Use Permits (SUPs) against peer cities (e.g., Winston-Salem 58, Charlotte 45). The proposal reclassified many uses to permitted-by-right or not permitted. Councilmember Mahondros moved to accept staff recommendations and direct drafting of text amendments. After clarifying that legal process requires Planning Commission review, the motion carried 7-3 (objections from councilmembers who feared quadplexes could be built without SUP on lots over 1.37 acres).
- Proposed Text Amendments to UDO (6.05): City Attorney Johnny Harmon presented five amendments. Amendments 1-4 were approved: updating historic resources commission quorum (counting vacancies), allowing wireless communication tower standards, aligning DT2 drive-thru language with use table, and adding specialty eating establishments to drive-thru list. Amendment 5 (clear-cutting buffer reduction to 10 feet for lots under one acre) was sent to Planning Commission with a revised 20-foot buffer motion from Councilmember Hondros, seconded by Thompson, focusing on erosion and aesthetics.
- Paid Parking Program Update (6.06): Parking Manager Brian McGill reviewed program history, contract terms, and financials. The Franklin Street deck has 295 spaces, Hay Street deck 363 spaces. The program lost $1.5 million in FY24 after including debt. Gate arms and security concerns were raised. Councilmember Davis moved to table discussion until January 6, 2025, to allow staff to consult with downtown business owners. Motion carried with one dissenting vote (Banks-McLaughlin).
- Residential Traffic Management Program (6.07): McGill presented data showing 34 active compliant petitions but only 20 with signatures. Suggestions included mail-in ballots with QR codes, deadline enforcement, and a fast-track process (Mirror Lake Road example). Councilmember Hare moved to adopt a signature collection process through mailers/QR codes and investigate fast-track options, excluding HOA board authority. Motion carried without dissent.
- Ghost Guns (6.08): Councilmember Banks-McLaughlin requested a resolution to support state and federal regulation of ghost guns, citing a 1,000% increase in seizures. The council voted to pass a resolution urging state legislation requiring background checks, serial numbers, and seller records.
Key Outcomes
- Driving Equality: No formal vote; committee to explore partnerships and report back.
- Audit Report: Received and filed unanimously.
- ARPA Report: Received and filed unanimously.
- SUP Recommendations: Motion to adopt staff recommendations and develop text amendments passed 7-3.
- Text Amendments: Amendments 1-4 approved; Amendment 5 sent to Planning Commission with a 20-foot buffer requirement (motion carried).
- Paid Parking: Discussion tabled to January 6, 2025 (motion carried, 8-1).
- RTMP: Motion to adopt mailer/QR code petition process and investigate fast-track passed unanimously.
- Ghost Guns: Resolution passed to urge state regulation.
Meeting Transcript
Those who are in the audience and those who are joining us remotely at this time, like with every meeting, we typically start with an invocation, and uh Councilman Hair, I see you moving your mic. You want to go talk to the Lord for us. And I've been talking all the time. But you know, I did ask a slight question to Councilmember Green and asked her if she would like to do the invocation. And she said yes. Thank you for allowing us to be in a country and a state in a city where we can discuss openly our faith, our religion, and our government all in one breath. Lord, we thank you for your overseeing this meeting today. We ask that you keep us ever mindful of the task in front of us, Lord. And we ask, Lord, that your hand be on the elections tomorrow. Keep peace and calm, and that the peace would be coming from you, Lord, and the peace that only we as believers understand, Lord, that peace that passeth all understanding. And Lord, we help us ever be mindful also, Lord, that whoever is in the office that you are still on the throne. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Amen. Pleasure leaders of the United States of America. Which stands for one nation. Under God and Justice Crown. Thank you, Council Woman Green. Great prayer. Council, as we move to the next item, uh City Manager's report, Mr. Hewitt. Um yes, sir. Ask um Assistant Manager Yates to come forward for just for a brief introduction of someone to council. Good afternoon, assistant manager. Good afternoon. Um thank you, Mr. Hewitt. I just want to be quick introduction. We have um Dr. Watkins and MK Gamble with us from if you can stand up and wave. They are from the Science Policy Action Network Inc. They are going to lead our efforts with city staff and putting together a proposed and recommended framework for the SRO agreements, as you guys talked about in your different work sessions. Looking at the SRRO agreements as a holistic approach, looking at all the different variables that go there, whether that's community needs, social workers in the schools, so forth. So they are gonna lead that effort and getting gathering input from both the community, the sheriff's office, our police department, the schools, um, and you as the council as to what we're looking for. So you'll see more of them over the next 90 days or so as we were kind of work through that, and they'll be back, I believe, on the 18th for a more in-depth discussion of what that process looks like. So I just want to introduce them for you. Thank you, Mr. Yates. Thank you. Welcome. Uh you guys. Uh council, any questions, comments on it? Councilmember here. Uh no, sir, mayor. But just wanted to make a little slight announcement that I've had uh some death in my family, so I will be leaving this weekend. There's a good possibility that I may not be back Monday. Sorry to hear about that. We're going to DC, so Justin. So it can be stated that in the record or for that. Keeping your family in our prayers, and as well as the other council members uh that have recently lost uh family members.
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