Fayetteville City Council Regular Meeting - March 13, 2025
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Fayetteville City Council Regular Meeting - March 13, 2025
The Fayetteville City Council held a regular meeting on Thursday, March 13, 2025, at 6:30 PM in the Council Chamber. The meeting included proclamations, public comments on multiple community issues, reports from city boards, and appointments to commissions. The council voted unanimously on most items, with one 8-1 vote to table an architectural agreement.
Consent Calendar
- Approved unanimously: Meeting minutes for six prior sessions (February 10, 11, 12, 24, 2025), a resolution requesting the Cliffdale Recreation Center as an early voting site, a Key to the City for E.E. Smith Band Director Roosevelt Pratt Jr., budget ordinance amendments for the Fort Bragg solid waste partnership and a federal transit grant, fare-free transit service for United Way's Dolly Parton Imagination Library, and two PWC bid recommendations (stator vane segments and circuit breakers).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Royal Soleil thanked the council for their support in her community work.
- Benjamin Holtquist criticized Owen Drive as a dangerous "stroad," arguing that dangerous street design leads to pedestrian fatalities. He cited an average of 10 deaths per year in Fayetteville from crossing streets and noted the city was mocked as the least walkable in America. He urged redesign for safety and accessibility.
- Stephen Brock raised concerns about Spring Lake recreation fields, stating that fill dirt with rocks has injured youth softball players. He described repeated unsuccessful attempts to contact county and Spring Lake officials about maintenance. He noted a recent approval to redo fields but asked for timely action.
- Calista Cuevas argued that the Cool Springs Downtown District's Fourth Friday policy selectively excludes religious and political groups while allowing advocacy organizations like Fayetteville Pride and Planned Parenthood. She requested a city proclamation affirming First Amendment protections and equal treatment.
- Dr. Gail Morphesis urged equal treatment for all groups at city events, recounting her own experience of being excluded from Arts Council performances due to funding priorities for people of color. She called for inclusivity.
- Jose Cardona criticized the Cool Spring Downtown organization's leadership structure and questioned its influence on city events. He also noted a polluted spring behind a church that flows into the Cape Fear River.
- Tracy Pelt Waterford requested the creation of a Faith Commission on the city's boards and commissions to include religious voices in community decision-making.
- Gwendolyn Fuller reported for the third time that speeding vehicles on McFeed Drive endanger senior residents. She also raised concerns about uninsured drivers with expired tags. The city manager directed public services to assess traffic calming options.
- Sean McMillan demanded a sentinel event review process for police-involved shootings, citing a recent police shooting of Isaiah Nichols. He also called for repeal of the no-camping ordinance that criminalizes unhoused individuals and restoration of independent oversight of the police department. He named 12 individuals who died in police custody or encounters.
Discussion Items
- Fayetteville Redevelopment Commission Annual Report: Chair Collie presented the report, summarizing the commission's role in HUD-funded programs, community engagement (Juneteenth, SBA town hall), and recommendations for the 2025-29 consolidated plan and housing programs. Two of eight seats are vacant. Council received the report unanimously.
- PWC Annual Report: Chairman Dr. Chris Davis reported that PWC contributed over $25 million to the city in 2024 and received nearly two dozen industry awards, including the AMWA Gold Award (one of five in the U.S.). He highlighted large projects: two community solar sites, water line extensions, carbon filter systems for PFAS, and partnership with Fayetteville State for a green energy training center (currently on hold due to federal funding review). Over $80 million in federal grants and loans are frozen. Phase 5 annexation is 68% complete, with costs growing from $240 million to over $400 million. PWC celebrated its 120th anniversary. Council received the report unanimously.
- PSAP (911 Center) Architectural Agreement (Item 10.01): Councilmember Green moved to table the item until the March 24 meeting. The motion passed 8-1, with Councilmember Hondros opposed.
- Appointments to Boards and Commissions (Item 10.02): Councilmember Hare, chair of the appointment committee, recommended 41 appointments to 17 boards and commissions. Several seats remain vacant. Councilmember Thompson requested clarification on "alternate" and "partial term" designations. Councilmember Hondros initially abstained from voting on the airport commission appointment (his wife's name), but the city attorney stated he had a duty to vote and no conflict, so the name remained. The motion passed unanimously.
- Administrative Report – SafeLight Program Feasibility (Item 11.01): The council discussed the report and will revisit it at a future work session. No action was taken.
Key Outcomes
- All consent agenda items and reports approved unanimously.
- PSAP architectural agreement tabled to March 24, 2025 (8-1 vote).
- 41 appointments to boards and commissions approved unanimously (with one name involving a spouse remaining on the ballot; member voted in favor).
- City staff to follow up on McFeed Drive traffic calming and public services contacts for Spring Lake recreation issues.
- Council affirmed continued partnership with PWC and Red Cross.
- Next meeting: March 24, 2025 work session (PSAP discussion).
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everyone. We'd like to call our Thursday March 13th meeting to order, a different night than what we accustomed to, but City Council was at the National League of Cities in DC. So I'm glad they had a safe return and a good trip and represented our city. At this time, as with every meeting, we will call the meeting to order. Item two point oh is the invocation. We ask that Imam Abdul Hanif from the Masjid Omar B. Said, uh, if he could come forward, we ask that all would please stand uh for the prayer immediately following if we could repeat the pledge. Good evening, sir. Good evening. Mr. Mayor, City Council members, and distinguished guests. Let us pray. With God's name, the merciful benefactor, the merciful redeemer, we come before you seeking your divine guidance in a world filled with complexities. We yearn for clarity and direction. Bless this city leadership to recognize the inherent potential within each of us. And we ask that this potential be nurtured and directed towards good. Infuse their hearts with compassion, enabling them to understand and empathize with the suffering of others. One nation. Ameem Hanif, if you could, we thank you for joining us tonight. You want to tell us a little bit about yourself or the mass jet I'm familiar with it, but maybe some who are watching may not be. I'm a member of Master Omar Ibn Saeed at 2700 Mercoson Road. We're under we're an Islamic community under the leadership of Imam W. D. Mohammed who proclaims in word and deed the universal message of Islam. There's only one God and one human family. We are in the month of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. This is the month of fasting where we fast from dawn until sunset. This is the month of prayer, reflection, and charity. And it mocks the beginning of the revolution of the Holy Quran to Mohammed the Prophet. But thank you so much, sir. We appreciate that. Thank you for sharing with us what you do, and thank you for the work that you all do. We thank you for the invitation. Yes, sir. All right, Council, as we move forward, we have uh some very special recognitions that we have prepared uh proclamations for uh with the presentation. I'd like to ask uh Mr. Phil Harris, the executive director of the American Red Cross if he could meet me at the podium for special presentation, Mr. Pickleball. How are you, sir? Not here tonight for that. That's Mr. Over the Edge, my partner and over the edge for the United Way. Um and done. Come on, let's do it again. Whereas this March, we celebrate American Red Cross Month by recognizing the compassionate acts of people in Fateville in Cumberland County, and by renewing our commitment to lend an helping hand to our neighbors in need. Since Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross more than 140 years ago, generation after generation has stepped up to deliver relief and care across our country and around the world, bringing out the best of humanity in time of crisis, advancing this noble mission, the volunteers, blood donors, and supporters who now give back through the Sand Hills chapters, are unwavering their commitment to prevent the human suffering in the face of today's emergencies. And whereas their voluntary and generous contribution sign a beacon of hope in people's darkest hours, whether it's delivering shelter, food, and comfort during disasters, providing critical blood donations for hospital patients, supporting service members and veterans and their families, saving lives with first aid, CPR, AED, and other skills, or delivering international aid and reconnecting loved ones separated by global crisis. And whereas this work to uplift our community is truly made possible by those who selflessly answer the call to help whenever or wherever it's needed. We hereby recognize this month of March in honor of the remarkable service, and we ask everyone to join their commitment for care for one another. Now, therefore, I Mitch Colvin, the mayor of the City of Fayetteville, North Carolina, on behalf of the City Council and our 208,000 residents, do hereby honorably proclaim this month of March in the year 2025 as American Red Cross Month.
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