Fayetteville City Council Work Session Summary – December 2, 2024
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Fayetteville City Council Work Session – December 2, 2024
The Fayetteville City Council held a work session on Monday, December 2, 2024, starting at 2:00 PM. The meeting covered seven major agenda items including updates on an innovation district, air service development incentives, parks projects, memorial signs, and a request to award a key to the city to a former council member. Multiple votes were taken, with most items receiving unanimous approval except for the key to the city request, which resulted in a tie vote.
Discussion Items
6.01 Innovation Districts Update
Assistant City Manager Strickland Oliveira led a presentation on innovation districts, summarizing research from four North Carolina examples (RTP, Winston-Salem, Charlotte, Durham). Staff proposed bringing in consultants from the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard to help define a district. Council members discussed aligning with existing strengths (education, military, healthcare, logistics) and potential partnerships with Fayetteville State University, Fayetteville Technical Community College, Methodist University, and local industry. The manager noted a new $500 million state innovation fund and a $900,000 planning grant for alternative energy. Council gave consensus to bring the topic back at the January strategic planning retreat. The motion to receive the report passed unanimously.
6.02 Air Service Development Incentives
Deputy Airport Director Deontay Watson presented the airport’s economic impact ($813 million in 2023 output) and a request for up to $400,000 in city funds to support a minimum revenue guarantee (MRG) program for attracting a low-cost carrier. The airport already offers incentives (waived landing fees, advertising, free gate use) but needs non-airport revenue due to FAA restrictions. Council members debated the cost vs. benefit, with some expressing concerns about budget constraints and others emphasizing the need to compete with other airports. Councilmember Thompson noted the city has sufficient general fund reserves. A motion by Councilmember Banks McLaughlin, seconded by Councilmember Hondros, directed staff to bring an appropriation ordinance for the MRG program to the next regular council meeting (December 9) and present program details at a future work session. The motion passed unanimously.
6.03 Hurley Plaza Project Update
Director Michael Gibson presented plans to complete Hurley Plaza with decorative baseballs, landscaping, and removable crash bollards for pedestrian safety, with a target completion before the next baseball season. The project had been delayed due to funding and design iterations. Council asked about benches and timeline. A motion to receive the report and instruct staff to proceed with the improvements passed unanimously.
6.04 Mayors Finch and Hurley Memorial Signs
Gibson presented black marble memorial signs for the late Mayor Hurley (at the plaza) and former Mayor Beth Finch (at what was formerly Cross Creek Park, now Beth Finch Park). The signs are similar to one previously installed for J.L. Dawkins and cost about $15,000–$20,000 each. Private fundraising may add more details. The manager noted that the Hurley plaza improvements from item 6.03 would define the location for the Hurley monument, and the Finch sign could be dedicated during Women's History Month in March. A motion to receive and instruct staff to move forward passed unanimously.
6.05 Parks and Recreation Bond Project – Cape Fear River Park Update
Gibson presented the first phase of the Cape Fear River Park, a 13-acre site. The $1.4 million phase includes green space, pathways, and a gateway feature. Councilmember Benavente raised concerns about an unsheltered encampment of approximately 20–30 people on the site. The homelessness coordinator, Mr. Redding, confirmed ongoing engagement and use of remaining ARPA funds ($110,000) for impact reduction. The city manager and assistant manager noted preparations for a white flag shelter agreement with the Salvation Army. Councilmember McNair assured that displacement would follow a plan. A motion to receive the report and direct staff to move forward with the first phase passed unanimously.
6.06 North Carolina Veterans Park Phase II Update
Gibson presented the first phase of Veterans Park Phase II, focusing on a 3.5-acre site near Murchison Road, including a corner feature to soften the intersection, walkways, and reflection areas. Funding is from remaining bond proceeds. A motion to receive the report and direct staff to proceed passed unanimously.
6.07 Key to the City for Former Council Member Waddell
Councilmember Benavente requested that the city award a key to the city to former Council Member Tisha Waddell, who served two terms (2016–2020) and resigned during a pandemic. He argued she met the policy criteria and deserved recognition. Councilmembers Green and Banks McLaughlin supported the request, noting her community involvement. Councilmember McNair expressed hesitation and asked for more time. Councilmember Thompson suggested the policy should be reviewed. The vote resulted in a 5–5 tie. The motion failed; no further action was taken. The council then adjourned.
Key Outcomes
- Innovation Districts Update: Motion to receive report passed unanimously. Staff will bring further discussion to the January strategic planning retreat.
- Air Service Development Incentives: Motion passed unanimously to direct staff to present an appropriation ordinance for up to $400,000 in city funds for a minimum revenue guarantee program at the December 9 council meeting, with program details at a future work session.
- Hurley Plaza Project: Motion passed unanimously to proceed with improvements.
- Memorial Signs for Mayors Hurley and Finch: Motion passed unanimously to proceed with installation.
- Cape Fear River Park Phase I: Motion passed unanimously to direct staff to move forward with the first phase ($1.4 million).
- Veterans Park Phase II: Motion passed unanimously to direct staff to proceed with the first phase.
- Key to the City for Former Council Member Waddell: Motion failed on a 5–5 tie vote.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everyone. We'd like to call our work session meeting to order. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. Hope you had a good holiday, good break. Um so council, we do have uh quite a few, quite a bit of ground to cover um today, and um possibly depending on the pace of everything, may have a uh closed session that um the managers asked to talk uh briefly on some uh attorney client previous. All right, so we'll we'll cover that, but we'll move on to uh item uh the first item is the invocation prayer. Whereas Councilman Davis. He said a prayer in church one day, set it on fire. So I know he can I know he can pray. We're not doing that today. Well, we thank you for getting us here today. We ask that you be in our midst. We think you that we'll make the sound decisions. We think that we make decisions that benefits this whole community at large in Jesus' name, amen. Amen. All right. All right, pledge of allegiance. One nation under God in the business. Thank you, Councilman Davis. What's going on, Champ? Um council moving to uh city manager's report. Uh I think he has something on the later part. Right. Yes, sir. Um thank you. Um we'll be um uh but I would be remiss if I also didn't say today is Michael Gibson's birthday, so if y'all could all wish him away. Is he even at work today? He will I I told him that um I would not bring it up, but y'all know that birthday is a very special year in your house. So um why you came in to work on time that's it. All right, well, so council moving to um uh approval of the agenda. Can we get a motion? So move for approval. All right, motion by council member here, sir seconded by council member Thompson discussion on a motion to approve. All right, council. I look to you to our uh system for your votes on that. Councilmember Hondra, you affirmative on that. All right. So that's unanimous motion carries moving to uh six point oh one innovation district update. Uh is it still Miss Oliveira? What is it? Uh it will be um Miss Strickland, Mrs. Strickland. So yes, sir. Thank you. But according to Social Security admin, right now it is still Oliveira. All right, well, congratulations, Miss Strickland Oliveira. Thank you, thank you. Um yes, sir. I've got a brief and very general presentation for you all about the innovation districts. If you all recall, uh, council gave direction to staff at the September 3rd work session to come back with some information about innovation districts.
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