Fayetteville City Council Regular Meeting - December 9, 2024
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Fayetteville City Council Regular Meeting - December 9, 2024
The Fayetteville City Council held its regular meeting on Monday, December 9, 2024, at 6:30 PM in the Council Chamber. The meeting included recognitions, public forum, consent agenda approval, reports from boards and commissions, a public hearing on Unified Development Ordinance text amendments, and approval of the Can Do Grant Program. All votes were unanimous except one (9-1).
Consent Calendar
- Approved unanimously, with item 8.0A4 pulled for an up-or-down vote.
- 8.0A4: Adoption of Budget Ordinance Amendment to transfer Office of Community Safety funding to the City Manager’s Office, formally establishing the Office of Community Safety. Approved unanimously after discussion.
Public Comments & Testimony
Eight speakers addressed the council during the 30-minute public forum.
- Kathy Greggs (CEO, Fayetteville Police Accountability Community Task Force) advocated for civilian police oversight, referencing a 2020 Senate Bill 682 and urging correct attribution of the initiative. She stated that data-driven information must be correct to address driving while Black and poverty.
- Angela Holden (resident of Holland Homes, Fayetteville Housing Authority) reported mold issues in her building (black, green, yellow) causing health problems, missing documents, and alleged hacking. She requested code enforcement assistance.
- Peggy Thompson (resident, 516 Bravery Lane) spoke on mental health and homelessness, sharing her son’s experience of being kicked out of a shelter and sleeping in freezing temperatures. She noted that shelters close during holidays and urged faster action on a permanent shelter (planned for 2027).
- Angela Tatum (Fayetteville Freedom for All) expressed support for the Office of Community Safety, requesting public town halls, a breakdown of the $2.3 million allocation, and clarification on the shift from one director to two positions. She cautioned against polarizing rhetoric and advocated for independent oversight, mental health response, violence interruption, and unhoused response.
- Lizette Rodriguez addressed the death of Lawrence Artiste in police custody, citing unanswered questions and a lack of transparency compared to a canine incident earlier in 2024. She urged the council to implement a mandatory sentinel event review whenever a citizen dies or is seriously injured in police custody.
- Jose Cardona proposed using buses or vans as temporary shelters for the homeless during cold weather, criticizing the slow pace of county action and urging direct funding to effective nonprofits like Operation Inasmuch.
Discussion Items
- City Manager Report: Doug Hewitt announced a pedestrian plan drop-in event on Thursday, December 12, 2024, at the FAST Transit Center (11:30 AM–1:00 PM and 4:30–6:00 PM). More info at fayettevillenc.gov/walkingsafe.
- Reports from Boards and Commissions:
- Historic Resources Commission (9.01): Chair Michael Pennick reported five members, monthly meetings, and a need for new members to maintain quorum. The commission looks forward to new design standards. Report received unanimously.
- UDO/Housing Committee Update (9.02): Councilmember Hondros (chair) presented the committee’s work on development/redevelopment, including review of sign ordinances, landscaping, clear-cutting buffers, and attainable housing. A consultant is working on sign ordinance updates. The committee meets monthly; next meeting January 21, 2025. Report received 9-1 (Councilmember Hare opposed).
- FCEDC Annual Report (9.03): Robert Van Geons reported 112 new projects in 2024, 5,000 new jobs, and $1.3 billion capital investment over seven years. Unemployment dropped from 9th to 20th highest in the state. Projects include Project Arrow (300+ jobs, $867M), STS, and Amazon (1,000+ jobs). He stressed the need for a mega-site (900+ acres) and infrastructure investments. Report received unanimously.
- Wrecker Review Board Presentation (9.04): Specialist Biggerstaff presented on the board’s oversight of 22 rotational tow companies. No suspensions in 2024; all companies passed inspections. Discussion included concern about debris left at accident scenes and a suggestion to regulate all tow companies via local ordinance. Report received unanimously.
- Public Hearing: Proposed Text Amendments to Chapter 30 – Unified Development Ordinance (10.01): Staff presented four amendments: (1) HRC quorum calculation excluding vacancies; (2) Aviation hazards; (3) Adding specialty eating establishments to DT-2 drive-through uses; (4) Requiring a 20-foot buffer (instead of none) on clear-cutting permits for sites one acre or less. After discussion clarifying that the buffer is to be left in place (not cleared and replanted), the council adopted all amendments unanimously.
- Other Items of Business: Can Do Grant Program (11.01): Robert Van Geons presented the program, a $5 million revolving loan fund (non-interest-bearing) for established small businesses (≤15 employees) in low-to-moderate income census tracts. Businesses can apply for up to $750,000; average expected $100k–$500k. Must create one full-time job per $25k funded, hire at 10% above median wage for the job classification, and commit to using capital for equipment, real estate, etc. Minority-, women-, and veteran-owned businesses receive extra scoring points. Program launches January 1, 2025. Approved unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Agenda (except 8.0A4): Approved unanimously.
- Item 8.0A4 (Office of Community Safety): Approved unanimously after an up-or-down vote. The budget ordinance amendment transfers $2.3 million to establish the office, with hiring expected to begin in early 2025.
- Public Hearing – UDO Text Amendments: Adopted unanimously.
- Can Do Grant Program: Approved unanimously. The program will be administered by FCEDC with a loan committee; individual projects will come back to council for public hearing and approval.
- All Reports Received: Unanimous (UDO report 9-1).
- Adjournment: Motion carried, meeting adjourned.
Meeting Transcript
Again, so welcome uh to the December 9th, 2024 meeting. Uh, at this time, with just like with every meeting, we always start with the invocation. We ask that Minister Renee Elder, Covenant Love Church, if she would come to the front, ask all would stand. Renee. I said, Renee, that's 6 30 p.m. You beat me there. So I'll catch you tonight. But uh, if you will, please lead us in prayer. Good people. Let us all bow our heads with humble hearts and Jesus on our minds. Oh heavenly Father, as we usher in your spirit into this place, be with us, usher us into the new year with your peace, your grace, and your mercy. We ask Father God for your blessings, your continued blessings. Breathe on us, Lord. Fill us with love, fill us with peace, and fill us with your joy. It is in Jesus' name that I come before you humbly, graciously, and with a thankful heart. In Jesus' mighty name, I ask these blessings. Amen. Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic of which it stands one nation. Under God, individual with liberty and justice for us all. Can't get away that easy. So, Renee, we thank you for the prayer. Tell us a little bit. Most of us know you, many people know you. Uh, talking to the to the mic face this way, for us, Renee. They'll see you on the monitor. There you go. Uh, but tell us a little bit about yourself and and the good work you do for veterans. As you know, my name is Renee Elder. I am a native of New York. I came here in 1990 six through the military. I retired, me and my husband. And when I became homeless, there was no program here in Fayetteville that could help me. So I decided to create my own organization called Veterans Empower and Veterans. It helps. From training, and I'm a little nervous, so just forgive me, and again, I apologize. So um, my organization is a great organization. Many people here, um, the council members, um, have known me for years, and they know that my program has gotten countless amount of veterans off the street into homes, their own homes. Currently, we have um seven homes, and all of them stay occupied. Our program provides a hand up, not a handout. When they move into the housing, they're fully furnished. Um, we get furniture through different organizations. Um, of course, Renee goes and she plead and she began, she get what she wants. So they know me so well now. When they see me coming, they just be like, open up the warehouse, let her go back in and pick what she wants for her veterans. So we have a food pantry. Um we partnership with publics, and they give us food on a weekly basis, and we make food boxes. To this date, my organization has given out over 9,000 food boxes from 2000, nope, from 19, 2008 to the current time. Not only that, but jobs. We've worked with different managers and HRs and Home Depot Lowe's, um, food lions, and just respective different food um restaurants, McDonald's, um, Taco Bells, and we've gotten veterans, homeless veterans off the street and gotten them employment, and we also employ them. We we've started um lawn care services, we have house cleaning services, and I have a venue that I hire the homeless veterans, and we we pay them as much as we can.
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