Fayetteville City Council Meeting April 14, 2025: Recognitions, Public Forum, Strategic Report, Park Renaming
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Fayetteville City Council Regular Meeting – April 14, 2025
The Fayetteville City Council met on April 14, 2025, at 6:30 PM in the Council Chamber. The meeting opened with an invocation and pledge, followed by proclamations, a special presentation, city manager announcements, public forum, consent agenda (with one item pulled), a quarterly strategic performance report, a public hearing on renaming Woodrow Park, and approval of FY26 strategic priorities. The meeting adjourned after administrative reports.
Announcements and Recognitions
- National Public Safety Telecommunicator Week (April 13–19, 2025) proclaimed by Mayor Mitch Colvin, honoring 911 dispatchers.
- Child Abuse Prevention Month proclaimed; the Child Advocacy Center reported 772 reports of child abuse/neglect in FY2024.
- Special Presentation: Gilbert Bays, a retired news reporter with 17 years in Fayetteville, received the City Key and Coin for his community service. He spoke emotionally about his career and dedication to the city.
City Manager Report
- New CFO: Tiffany Murray was introduced as the city’s new chief financial officer, bringing over 20 years of public sector finance experience.
- Marketing Communications Awards: The Marcom team displayed 20 years of awards and announced three second-place trophies from the North Carolina City and County Communicators (NC3C) conference for audio, regular programming, and a PSA.
Consent Calendar
- Approved meeting minutes from March 13, 19, and 24, 2025 (special, DOAI, regular).
- Set filing fee for municipal election (per G.S. 163A-1620).
- Considered Cumberland County’s proposed amendment to the Sales Tax Distribution Agreement.
- Adopted TA24-09, amending uses and standards in the UDO requiring special use permits.
- Repealed speed limit on Century Circle from 55 mph to 35 mph.
- Item 8.0A6 (Capital Project Ordinance for FTA grant and local match) was pulled from consent at the city manager’s request; the remainder of the consent agenda was approved unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
Thirteen speakers signed up; the following addressed the council (speaker name, affiliation if given, position/summary):
- Eric Washington (Washington Apparel) – Requested an exemption from the 175-foot distance requirement from a school for his private club alcohol permit; noted he had been denied multiple times.
- Jose Cardona – Expressed concerns about child trafficking, PFAS contamination from Chemours (polluted well water), and urged the city to place school resource officers (SROs) in schools instead of relying on the sheriff’s department.
- Crystal Maddox (Fayetteville Pride) – Invited council to the “Pride Not Prejudiced” prom on May 24, 2025; noted the LGBTQ+ community represents 20,000 voters.
- James House – Asked for improved resources for youth baseball and softball (e.g., batting cages, equipment), citing his daughter’s team receiving only four softballs.
- Monica Garrett – Criticized Cumberland County Schools for calling police on parents, diverting law enforcement from real crime; requested better accountability.
- Ben Holtquist (Strong Towns Fayetteville) – Discussed affordable housing: median income rose 26% but home values/rent increased over 36%; warned that subsidized housing without increasing supply worsens the problem; advocated allowing duplexes and ADUs in all residential zones.
- Georgiana Pinkney (Greater Life of Fayetteville) – Proposed “Through My Eyes Youth Historical Art Display” to showcase children’s artwork in public locations (airport, city hall, etc.); brought three young participants.
- Dylan Nye (active duty Army captain) – Challenged council to defend all community members regardless of identity, especially in the face of national headwinds against diversity.
- Lizette Rodriguez (Faithful Freedom for All) – Raised concerns about PFAS contamination; noted NC DEQ expanded testing radius, potential loss of $80 million in federal PFAS filters funding, and a proposed state rule that would allow polluters to self-monitor; urged council to join a letter of opposition.
- Sean McMillan (community safety advocate) – Called for adoption of a sentinel event review (SER) process for police incidents, referencing Governor Stein’s 2023 recommendation; listed names of individuals killed by police in Fayetteville; also urged repeal of the no-camping ordinance and a vote on a resolution supporting immigrant neighbors.
Staff Report: FY25 3rd Quarter Strategic Performance Report
Presented by Chris Lowry and Andrew Brayboy. Key highlights:
- Violence reduction & mental health: Police completed nine community partnership initiatives; 60 individuals utilized mental health liaison services; 20‑minute response time maintained; sixth round of community safety microgrants launched.
- Affordable housing & revitalization: Consultant hired for housing market analysis; conditional awards issued for 10 city-owned single-family lots; 22 blighted structures removed; code violation resolution by property owners increased.
- Youth engagement: Orange Street School restoration completed (ribbon cutting Feb. 27); junior officials training program on track; grant applications for recording studio and senior fitness equipment.
- Economic growth via city-owned properties: Six developers awarded conditional awards; property listings total value rose from $62,233 to $100,668 due to revaluation.
- Branding & communication: Positive/neutral news stories outpaced negative (129 vs. 44 in Q3); social media audience grew to 72,000; website visits nearing 1 million; video views surged to 573,000. Council accepted the report unanimously.
Public Hearing: Renaming Woodrow Park to Haymount Park at Woodrow
- The request originated from Councilmember Green and was supported by the Friends of Haymount group. The Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission voted unanimously for the name change.
- One speaker in favor: Sandy Parker (co-chair, Friends of Haymount) – She described planned wellness events (yoga in the park starting May 3) and stated the new name would honor the historic Haymount district. Council voted unanimously to approve the renaming.
Other Items of Business: FY26 Strategic Planning Retreat Debrief
- Julie Brennan of Fountain Works (remote) presented the retreat outcomes. Council agreed on five strategic priorities (not in order of importance):
- Enhance economic growth throughout the city.
- Comprehensive approach to community safety.
- Continued commitment to revitalization and housing needs.
- Increased parks and recreation opportunities for youth engagement.
- Evaluate and expand transportation and other connectivity for residents.
- Underlying philosophy: The city should be efficient, effective, and responsive. Council voted unanimously to accept the priorities.
Key Outcomes
- Consent agenda approved (except item 8.0A6, which was pulled).
- FY25 Q3 Strategic Performance Report accepted unanimously.
- Woodrow Park renamed to Haymount Park at Woodrow (unanimous).
- FY26 Strategic Priorities adopted unanimously.
- Several public forum speakers made requests; no immediate action was taken, but council noted referral pathways (e.g., for alcohol permit appeal, housing initiatives).
- The meeting adjourned after administrative reports.
Meeting Transcript
Well, good evening, everyone. We apologize about the delay and start and we had a closed session, and the council had to uh to get conclude that meeting to get down here, but thank you for your patience. Uh we are glad to see everyone who's joining us in the audience, those who are joining us virtually, we welcome you at this time as with every meeting. We start with the invocation. Ask the assistant Pastor Dirk Hinnigan from Mount Sinai Baptist Church. Pastor Hennigan could meet us at the podium. All right, ask that I would please rise for the prayer. Immediately following the prayer, if we could repeat the Pledge of Allegiance. Tonight, Lord, ask that you bless us all with wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. But most of all, give us the ability to have a clear mind to make good decisions for this city. We ask that you please continue to put a hedge of protection around us so we can love one another and continue to do great things in your name. Amen. Pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. Right now, um the church is getting ready to gear up for hurricane season. Last year we played a very important role as a small hub for this community. So this year we want to do something bigger and better. Yes, sir. All right. Any other uh elected officials, make sure we don't miss anyone. All right, well, we welcome you, uh Mr. Chairman. Uh Council, at this time, we will move to our announcements. Um we have any announcements. Where's Judge Whitfield at elected officials? How are you doing, Judge? Let's give our elected officials uh chairman and Judge Whitfield round of applause. Thank you. All right, now you're hiding back there, Judge. All right, as we move uh to the next, we have uh some very special presentations tonight. Um we will start with the two proclamations and then we have another very special presentation. So the National Public Safety Telecommunication uh Telecommunicator Week uh asked that uh members of the City 911 staff, the representatives if you can meet me at the podium at this time, Mayor. If I could also ask uh Lisa Reed to come forward too. Thank you. Lisa Yes, uh I did, ma'am. Come on up. Come on. I'll be in the shy back. I'll be over here. Whereas the week of April 13th through April 19th, 2025, National Public Safety Telecommunicator Week will be held to honor 911 telecommunicators across the nation for their commitment, service, sacrifice to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week. And whereas telecommunicators are the first and most critical contact our citizens have with emergency services, their safety of police officers, firefighters, and paramedics is dependent upon the quality and accuracy of information obtained by telecommunicators from citizens who call 911. And whereas telecommunicators are in the single vital link for our police officers, firefighters, and paramedics by monitoring their activities by radio, providing them information, ensuring their safety. Telecommunicators of Fateville 911 dispatch have contributed substantially to the apprehension of criminals, suppression of fires, and treatment of patients. And whereas every day and night, the City of Fateville 911 telecommunicators answers hundreds of emergency non-emergency calls. They are a critical component of emergency communications and provide critical life-saving emergency services. They connect callers to emergency care and provide valuable resources to those in need, exhibiting compassion, understanding, and professionalism during most stressful situations. Now, therefore, I Mitch Colvin, mayor of the City of Fateville, North Carolina, and on behalf of the City Council and more than 208,000 citizens do hereby honorably proclaim April 13th through the 19th, 2025 as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. In witness thereof, I here on do set my hand of the cause of the great seal of the city of Fateville to be a fixed this first day of April in the year 2025. Mayor Mitch Colvin. Thank you very much. Council, thank you, Ms.
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