Fayetteville City Council Regular Meeting - February 10, 2025
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Fayetteville City Council Regular Meeting - February 10, 2025
The Fayetteville City Council met on February 10, 2025, for a regular meeting that included recognitions, public comments on various issues, a contentious discussion on funding for the Tennis Center project, reports from boards, a public hearing on bond issuance, and unanimous approval of an intergovernmental service agreement with Fort Liberty for solid waste collection.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of meeting minutes from January 27, 2025.
- Items 8.0A2 (Tennis Center funding) was pulled by Councilmember Green; the remaining consent items were approved unanimously.
- Other consent items included: Person & Russell Street Flood Mitigation grant acceptance, Safe Streets grant amendment, auction of decommissioned assets, PWC assessment roll, and PWC safe drinking water loan acceptance.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Calista Cuevas (address on record) expressed concern that Cool Springs Downtown District policy bars political and religious organizations from Fourth Friday events, citing rejection of Sandhills Republican Women in Action application. She argued that as a taxpayer-funded entity, Cool Springs must uphold First Amendment rights and called for a policy review to ensure equal access.
- Sean McMillan (Fayetteville resident) honored Reverend Dr. Nelson Johnson, urged council to revisit a resolution in support of immigrant communities, attend a February 22nd event on systemic racism, and repeal the no camping ordinance.
- Jose Cardona (233 Addison Street) discussed the problem of dead-on-arrivals at local hospitals, proposing a dedicated fast lane for emergency vehicles and advocating for higher pay for hospital staff.
- Eric Nelson (1935 Culpepper Lane) from Rayconda subdivision reported that a road washed out by Hurricane Matthew was poorly repaired and failed again during Tropical Storm Debby, leaving a 15-foot-deep chasm. He requested the city fix the road they built, citing emergency access concerns.
Discussion Items
- Tennis Center Capital Project Ordinance Amendment (8.0A2): Councilmember Green pulled this item, questioning the $1.9 million appropriation from leftover parks bond funds. She moved to table to February 24 for more review, citing lack of time to study the detailed breakdown. Assistant City Manager Lindsay confirmed that tabling would not stop ongoing construction on the building but would delay tennis courts. The motion to table failed 6-3. Councilmember Davis then moved to adopt the amendment with a friendly amendment to include the change order request breakdown in the record. That motion passed 6-3.
- Fort Liberty Intergovernmental Service Agreement (IGSA) for Solid Waste: Assistant City Manager Phelps and Brooke Redding presented the agreement to provide commercial solid waste collection on Fort Liberty via a contractor. The base cost is approximately $6 million with a 5% CPI-based annual increase. Benefits include local job creation (20+ positions), revenue for the city, and strengthened partnership. Councilmembers asked about contractor capabilities, backup plans (on-call contingency contract, performance bond), GPS tracking, and spillage prevention. Staff confirmed oversight and liquidated damages provisions. The agreement was approved unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Tennis Center funding: Approved (6-3) with requirement to include the change order breakdown in the record.
- Fort Liberty IGSA: Approved unanimously. Staff to bring the service provider contract back for approval.
- Public Hearing: Opened and closed for Lindenwood Education System private activity bonds (no speakers). Authorizing resolution approved unanimously.
- Administrative Reports: Moved to March work session (including Cool Springs Downtown District Q2 report, City Manager’s request tracker, Day Resource Center report). Motion by Councilmember Benavente, seconded, approved.
- Reports Accepted: Parks and Recreation Commission annual report and Firefighter's Local Relief Fund report accepted unanimously.
- Consent Agenda: Approved with item 8.0A2 pulled.
Additional Notes
- Recognitions included: 71st High School Falcons football team proclamation, retirement of Ruby Billups (44 years of combined military and federal service), Solid Waste Mascot contest winner Iris Niang with "Spiffy".
- New City Clerk Jennifer Ayer was sworn in by Assistant City Clerk Andrea Teppe.
- National Engineers Week (February 16-22, 2025) proclamation.
- New community safety staff introduced: Nichelle Gaines (community safety manager) and Orlando Smith (community impact supervisor).
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everyone. I'd like to call the February 10th, 2025, Fateville City Council meeting to order. With that being said, I'd like to welcome everybody, and I would like to welcome Pastor Malik Jefferson up to the podium, please. From Mount He Hebrew Zion Church, AME Zion Church. If everyone could please stand. Eternal God, our Father, before we ask you for anything, we first stop to say thank you for everything. Thank you for your grace, your mercy, and your love that is never ending. Well, God, we are standing here today because we're asking for prayer as we continue moving forward in this nation, God. Let your presence be felt in this business session right now, God. Let whatever decisions and ideas are made tonight, God be with mindset, knowing that it is affecting your people, God. Allow us to understand that you are still on the throne and that you are still in charge and you still have all power. Let us fill you in here right now. Touch our local officials right now, God. Give them the understanding that there is one God, and you are still high and lifted up. We give your name glory, we give your name praise and honor, and the name that only matters, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen. One nation under God. Liberty and justice for all. Jefferson, would you like to come up and tell us a little bit about your church and your where you're located and all the good things. Um, but since being there, um the impact has been felt in our community. We are now launching what's called the Brew Academy. It is an after school program at the Palm Forest Middle School, um, helping them as they uh continue to cultivate our young people and our next generation. So if you ever in the area, we would love for you to come by and visit us. And now we have service at 10 a.m. Bible study at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays and Sunday school at 845. Thank you so much. And welcome to the North Side. All right. Um, if I our next thing we have going up, I'd like to call our clerk of court, Jennifer Ayre. Yes, a depth Certain City Clerk. I'm sorry, why did I say that? I would never do that. You know that. So Andrea Teppe is coming up. Today we have a um something very special to us up here that um Andrea Tebby that used to work for us too here at the city is gonna present the oath of office to our city clerk, Jennifer Eyre with her beautiful children. We're trying to wrangle. Are you ready? Yes. Repeat after me. I Jennifer L. Ayer. I Jennifer L. Ayre. Do solemnly affirm, do solemnly affirm that I will support and maintain that I will support and maintain the constitution and laws, the constitution and laws of the United States. Of the United States. And the Constitution and Laws. And the Constitution and Laws of North Carolina of North Carolina. Not inconsistent therewith, not inconsistent therewith. And then I will faithfully discharge, and I will faithfully discharge the duties of my office.
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