Fayetteville City Council Regular Meeting – November 18, 2024
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Fayetteville City Council Regular Meeting – November 18, 2024
The Fayetteville City Council held a regular meeting on November 18, 2024, at 6:30 PM in the Council Chamber. The meeting included an invocation, pledge of allegiance, announcements, proclamations (GIS Day), recognition of Public Services Department for Hurricane Helene response, a city manager report on loose leaf collection, a public forum with two speakers, and several agenda items. Key discussions centered on capital project close-outs, bridge ownership, park bids, and financial updates, with multiple items pulled from the consent agenda for separate votes.
Consent Calendar
- The consent agenda was approved with a motion to pull items 8.0A3, 8.0A4, 8.0A5, and 8.0A6 for individual votes. The remaining consent items were approved unanimously (Councilmember Davis voted in opposition).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Charles Matthews (resident since 1959, age 87) thanked the council for their work and specifically praised the mayor for addressing a manhole leak on his property. He also noted a planned walking trail in a predominantly Black neighborhood and expressed hope for continued city-PWC cooperation.
- Michael Austin (resident, pedestrian safety advocate) shared a personal story of a friend killed in a 2007 crosswalk accident on Monetta Drive. He called attention to unsafe crosswalks on Skibo Road and asked how residents who miss public meetings can provide input on pedestrian safety plans. The city manager responded that citizens can always email concerns, and staff provided an update on pedestrian planning updates expected in spring 2025.
Discussion Items
Item 8.0A3 – Capital Project Close Out Ordinance and $100,000 Appropriation for Mable C. Smith Park
- Action: Councilmember Green moved to approve the close-out ordinance separate from the appropriation. After debate, the close-out was approved 10-0 with a directive for staff to present detailed breakdowns of the $3.8 million in leftover funds (from various funds including parks bond, stormwater, etc.). A subsequent motion by Councilmember Davis to allocate $100,000 to Mable C. Smith Park passed 6-4 (Councilmembers Hondros, McNair, Green, and Benevente opposed).
Item 8.0A4 – Municipal Agreement with NCDOT for CSX Bridge Ownership (Skibo Road Sidewalk Project)
- Action: Councilmember Green questioned maintenance costs. A motion to table for more information failed (4-6 opposed: McNair, Banks McLaughlin, Hare, Thompson, Colvin, Jensen). A motion to approve passed 7-3 (Councilmembers Hondros, Green, Benevente opposed). Staff noted NCDOT will fix the bridge underside; the city will maintain the top as a multi-use path, with overall project cost estimated at $2 million.
Item 8.0A5 – Award Mable C. Smith Park Bid to Alpha Builders for $595,000
- Action: Councilmember Green expressed concerns about bid discrepancies (range of bids). A motion to table failed (4-7 opposed). A motion to approve with authorization passed 8-2 (Councilmembers Green and Hondros opposed).
Item 8.0A6 – Award Mazarick Park Tennis Center Building Bid to M&E Construction for $2,573,629
- Action: Extensive debate about site readiness and remaining site work costs. Councilmember Green moved to table for more information; that motion was replaced by a motion to approve from Councilmember Hare, which passed 7-3 (Councilmembers Green, Hondros, Benevente opposed). Staff confirmed the building pad is certified, and approximately $1.6 million remains for site work, but based on bids, that amount is insufficient to complete all remaining work. Staff will provide additional details to council.
Item 9.01 – Receive Community Police Advisory Board (CPAB) Report
- Action: Dr. Perkins, CPAB chair, presented the board’s strategic plan and three priorities. Councilmembers questioned the board’s effectiveness and lack of documented policy recommendations over three years. Councilmember Benevente read a letter from a resigned member criticizing the board’s culture. Councilmember Thompson defended the board’s volunteer efforts. The motion to receive the report passed (no vote tally given, but unanimous).
Item 10.01 – Receive FY 2025 First Quarter Financial Update
- Action: Assistant Manager Yates presented the financial status: general fund performing as expected, fund balance effectively at 15-16% after adjustments ($3.8 million surplus from project close-outs is separate). Police overtime higher than budgeted; staff will discuss staffing levels at a future meeting. Council also noted a dispute with the county over sales tax distribution calculations; the city has recalculated and shared worksheets but not yet paid the county’s invoice. The report was received (motion by Councilmember Hare, seconded by Councilmember Thompson, passed unanimously).
Key Outcomes
- Consent agenda approved except for four pulled items.
- Capital project close-out approved 10-0 with directive for staff presentation on fund sources; separate allocation of $100,000 to Mable C. Smith Park passed 6-4.
- CSX bridge ownership agreement approved 7-3 after motion to table failed.
- Mable C. Smith Park bid approved 8-2.
- Mazarick Park Tennis Center building bid approved 7-3.
- CPAB report received; council requested more detailed future updates.
- FY 2025 first quarter financial report received; staff to monitor police overtime and report on staffing.
- Next steps: Additional information on bid breakdowns, bridge maintenance costs, and site work costs to be provided. Second quarter financial report expected early February 2025. Bond issuance planned for late spring/early summer.
Meeting Transcript
Everyone, we'd like to call our November 18th Federal City Council meeting in order to welcome those who are joining us in the audience, those who are joining us remotely. At this time, we will ask that Pastor Timothy Carruthers, the pastor of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church. Pastor Tim, what's going on, buddy? Can you come up and uh give us the invocation? We ask that all would please stand for the prayer. Uh immediately following the prayer. If you could repeat the Pledge of Allegiance. Yes. Greetings. Let us pray. Oh God, we come with hearts of gratitude because we have gathered in this place that is made sacred by your abiding presence. We come in the spirit of community. We are thankful that you, the divine, have allowed us to rest under the canopy of your benevolence. And furthermore, you have entrusted us to operate in love and justice in this city and in this county. And we do not take our duties lightly. We acknowledge that we are existing in divisive times. So we come asking that you give this council and this mayor the ability and the willingness to not govern and oversee with the eagle's eye view, but they will consider the perspective of the worm, the least, the left out, the looked over. We come, not in the spirit of authoritarianism, dominionism, or otherism, but in the understanding that we love you by valuing the image of the divine that every citizen in Fayetteville have been bequeathed. We ask this in the name of the God of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Amen. Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, individual with liberty and justice. You want to spend a few minutes and tell us about yourself and your ministry? Well, Timothy Dave Carruthers is my name. Good to see you, uh, Mr. Davis. Um, and we try to ground our ministry uh with the understanding that civic responsibility is holy work. And so we try to merge this idea of faith and justice uh and embody that in our community. Well, we thank you, man. And you you come to us by way of Chattanooga. Chattanooga, Tennessee. Yes, sir. Well, welcome. Good to see you, my friend. Thank you for the prayer. Yes, sir, thank you. Let's give Pastor Carruthers and friendship a round of applause. Council, as we move to our announcements, I do have uh couple announcements. Mayor Pro Tim and then Councilmember uh Hare. Oh, Councilmember Thompson. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. So I would like to remind everyone that St. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Chap Church will be having their annual spaghetti dinner. Um it will be November 20th, and it will be at St. Constantine Helen Greek Orthodox Church. If you have not got your tickets, you can buy them there. There will be, we are known for our spaghetti dinner, and there will be lots of Greek pastries for you to be able to buy their baklava and all the good things. So a little fun fact. Um 66 years ago, my father went to the Greek church and met his wife.
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