Fayetteville City Council Regular Meeting – June 9, 2025
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Fayetteville City Council Regular Meeting – June 9, 2025
The Fayetteville City Council met on Monday, June 9, 2025, at 6:30 PM in the Council Chamber. The meeting included recognitions, a public forum with 17 speakers, public hearings on a rezoning appeal and the Can Do Performance Financing Program, adoption of a nuisance party ordinance, implementation strategy for a youth protection safety ordinance, and adoption of the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 budget. The meeting adjourned after 11:00 PM.
Consent Calendar
- Approved meeting minutes from May 21, 22, 27, 2025.
- Approved City Council Policies Review Committee recommendations for policies 115-14, 115-14A, 115-14B, and 115-18.
- Adopted a resolution confirming the non-inclusion of Hill Street in the City of Fayetteville Street Plan.
- Authorized amendment to the ground lease with the Airborne and Special Operations Museum Foundation.
- Adopted the recommended FY 2026 Strategic Plan.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Sandra Stanley (Country Club North resident) opposed the removal of an exercise lane without community input, asking for reconsideration.
- Sincedric Barham, father of a son killed at Smokey Bones Restaurant on February 26, 2025, called for urgent action on gun violence, stating 22 homicides in 2025 as of June.
- Conchan Kamone (206 Campbell Avenue) requested support to prevent demolition of his home under code enforcement, citing care for three disabled individuals.
- Carol Ollinger (Hope Mills, representing Fayetteville residents) expressed concerns about the proposed curfew, including potential criminalization of youth and fines up to $500.
- Dennis Murphy discussed age-based ID policies at stores, sharing a personal story.
- Sean McMillan (District 8, retired soldier) opposed the youth curfew, arguing it criminalizes youth and urged independent police oversight.
- Ryan Ford (founder, Another Chance) requested funding for youth mentoring programs, stating he was a three-time felon at 18 now helping at-risk youth.
- Angela Tatum argued youth curfews are ineffective and called for real solutions, suggesting data-driven programs and community input.
- Arlene Fields (District 1) opposed the rezoning for a 7-Eleven at the intersection of Rose Hill, MacArthur, and Stacy Weaver Drive, citing traffic safety and premature development.
- Ben Holtquist (Strong Towns Fayetteville) urged investment in dense, net-positive areas like downtown and reducing sprawl, citing a net cost model.
- Shimon Virgil (born and raised District 2) called for bridging gaps between law enforcement and the community, noting his own incarceration experience.
- Chalico Hearst criticized homelessness funding and applauded the interim police chief, while raising concerns about voting irregularities.
- Dre Sean Spearman (founder of 26 Project) opposed the nuisance party ordinance, arguing it unfairly targets popular events and community gatherings.
- Additional speakers on the rezoning: Jonathan Charleston (attorney for applicant) argued the 7-Eleven would be a good neighbor with enhanced buffers, lighting, and traffic improvements. Donna Johnson, Tawanda Peterson, Jamie Davis, and Carlos Hance (College Lakes residents) opposed the rezoning citing safety, health risks from gas station emissions, property values, and traffic.
Discussion Items
- Rezoning Appeal (P25-13) : Applicant sought rezoning from SF-10 to LC at 549 Stacy Weaver Drive for a 7-Eleven. Staff found consistency with land use plan; zoning commission had denied. Council debated conditions and legal options. Applicant offered to withdraw and resubmit as a conditional rezoning. Council voted 6-0 to table the item pending withdrawal and resubmission.
- Can Do Performance Financing Program : Public hearing held. Two awards approved: $125,000 to Ashley Johnson (AA Holdings Corp.) and $300,000 to Letitia Perkins (Maybridge Development LLC). Funds support job creation and business growth. Approved unanimously.
- Nuisance Party Ordinance : Proposed ordinance to address disruptive gatherings. Councilmember Benavente moved to schedule a public hearing, but motion failed for lack of second. Ordinance adopted 9-1, with Benavente opposed.
- Youth Protection Safety Ordinance – Implementation Strategy: Staff presented the plan including a 30-day educational grace period, enforcement beginning July 9, 2025, three pilot youth engagement events (June 28, July 11, August 15) from 7-10 PM, and officer training. Council debated legal vulnerabilities, data on juvenile contacts, and potential criminalization of youth. Council voted 9-1 to accept the implementation strategy and amend the ordinance by removing Section F1 (which allowed a juvenile to be adjudicated delinquent for curfew violations). Councilmember Hondros was the lone dissenting vote.
- Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Budget Adoption: City Manager presented final budget with added funding for parking lot improvements, $100k for ECD innovation, $500k for sidewalks, and other adjustments. Councilmember Benavente proposed adding $500k to the Office of Community Safety for youth programming related to the curfew; motion failed (no vote tally provided). Budget adopted (motion by Councilmember Hair, seconded by Thompson). Councilmember Benavente voted no, citing lack of cuts, property tax concerns, and insufficient youth programming funding. Councilmember Green rebutted that cuts were made during work sessions.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Calendar : Approved unanimously.
- Rezoning Appeal (P25-13) : Tabled (6-0) to allow withdrawal and resubmission as conditional rezoning.
- Can Do Program : Two awards approved ($125k and $300k) unanimously.
- Nuisance Party Ordinance : Adopted 9-1.
- Youth Protection Ordinance Implementation : Accepted with amendment to remove juvenile delinquency provision (F1). Vote 9-1.
- FY 2025-2026 Budget : Adopted (motion carried; councilmember Benavente voting no).
Meeting Transcript
Well, good evening, everyone. We'd like to call our Monday, June 9th, uh City Council meeting the order. We welcome those who are joining us in the audience, those who are logging in, joining us virtually. We welcome you. Uh, at this time, we're gonna ask Pastor Jamel Johnson, senior pastor at Mount Sinai Missionary Baptist Church, if he would come to the podium and lead us in our invocation. We ask that all would please stand for the prayer. Immediately following, if we could please repeat the Pledge of Allegiance together. Pastor, how are you, sir? Let us pray. We thank you for this day that you have allowed us to see. You have been good to us all day long. Yes. You have allowed us to breathe your air, and we want to say thank you for allowing us to have life. We thank you, Lord, for the liberties in which you have allowed us to experience in this city and in this country. We pray God that you would forgive us of our sins, our transgressions, and our wrongdoings. We pray, Lord, that you would wash us and cleanse us, renew us, that we may be in right standing with you, so that we may trust you and lean upon you. We ask God that you would bless this city of Fairville. Let it continue to be a beacon of light for others across this country to look to to see what right looks like. We pray, Lord, for a spirit of righteousness to be invoked all across this city. We pray, Lord, that you bless this council meeting this evening. We pray, Lord, that your wisdom would reside over this meeting, that it would govern every thought and govern every action. We thank you for our mayor. We thank you for every council person. We thank you, Lord, for all staff and government officials who run this city of Fairville. We ask God that you would endow them with your Holy Spirit and give them Lord your strength to do the job that they need to do. And then, Lord, please let it rain down uh all over this city that you will bless all citizens of Cumberland County and the city of Fairville. We bless your name, and in the precious name of Jesus we say, Amen. Amen. Under God. Many do uh know you. Your father was a former city council member. Uh Reverend Johnson, but uh if you can tell us a little bit about yourself and the ministry that you have, uh Mount Sinai Missionary Baptist Church on Merchant Road. Uh thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, my name is uh Jamel Johnson, and I do pastor to Mount Sinai Missionary Baptist Church. Uh twelve seventeen Mercoson Road, a hundred and three years in existence and ministry there. Um, graduate of Eastmith Senior High School. And um the Ministry of Mount Sinai believes in young people. Uh one of our I will say our cornerstone ministries is our after school tutorial ministry. Uh, we believe in education. I'm a firm believer in education, and so that's where we put a lot of emphasis uh as far as outreach ministry worship services every Sunday, 8 30 a.m. and 11 30 a.m. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Yes, sir. Thank you, Pastor Johnson. Appreciate you joining us tonight. Council, at this time we'll move to our announcements and recognition. Uh I'll turn it over to Councilmember Thompson uh for a special recognition of Mr. David Council.
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