Fayetteville City Council Regular Meeting – October 13, 2025
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Fayetteville City Council Regular Meeting – October 13, 2025
The Fayetteville City Council met on Monday, October 13, 2025, at 6:30 PM in the Council Chamber. The meeting opened with an invocation and Pledge of Allegiance, followed by a moment of silence for three lives lost in a recent fatal accident. Council members made announcements including the upcoming Pinwheel Masquerade Ball (October 18), early voting dates (October 16–November 1 at three sites), and Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The council approved the consent agenda, heard public comments, received the FY26 Q1 Strategic Performance Report, and held a public hearing on substantial amendments to two HUD Annual Action Plans, which were ultimately approved.
Consent Calendar
- Approved meeting minutes from September 17, 22, and 22, 2025.
- Approved P25-43: Rezoning of 79.39 acres at 4407 Distribution Drive from multiple districts to Heavy Industrial (HI), owned by STEELFAB OF VIRGINIA INC.
- Approved P25-44: Rezoning of 0.11 acres at 433 Hillsboro St. from residential to Limited Commercial (LC), owned by Shelby Tart.
- Adopted Capital Project Ordinance Close Out Amendments and Amendments to reflect grant funding updates for airport projects.
- Approved auction of six decommissioned city assets via GovDeals.
- Adopted an ordinance regarding new legislation impacting applicants.
- Approved a lease modification and extension agreement with Methodist University and a MOA modification with Fayetteville Soccer Club.
- Adopted a resolution declaring 0.03 acres on Wright Street surplus property, authorizing the upset bid process and sale.
- Approved a sole source request for PWC to purchase and install a 32-tap vacuum interrupting on-load tap changer from Reinhausen Manufacturing Inc. for $246,978.67.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Catherine Goldblatt called for improved pedestrian safety in Haymount and Terry Sanford neighborhoods, citing lack of high-visibility crosswalks and inadequate signage. She noted over 75 businesses and organizations support an open letter requesting expedited installation of crosswalks, repainting, and flashing signage.
- Benjamin Holtquist advocated for traffic calming measures, including roundabouts, road narrowing, speed humps, and other physical interventions, arguing that enforcement and education are insufficient. He referenced a recent fatal crash on Rose Hill Road.
- John Biller expressed concern about a sign at the mall depicting a Baphomet star and also criticized artwork at the city art center, requesting an ordinance to address the sign. He identified as a born-again Christian and a 30-year Army civilian.
- Conchang Komone appealed for help with his property at 206 Campbell Street, stating the city threatened to tear down the house despite his ongoing renovations. He reported health issues and requested a status update.
- Sean McMillan called for greater transparency and accountability in city government, urging the council to adopt a Sentinel Event Review process for police incidents and to restore independent oversight to the Office of Community Safety. He listed several individuals who died in police-related incidents.
Discussion Items
- City Manager Report: Doug Hewitt announced a new art exhibit at Fayetteville Regional Airport featuring 12 local artists, running through February 5, 2026, with an opening reception on October 23. He also congratulated Jeffrey Yates on receiving ICMA Credentialed Manager status. The city is on track for a timely, clean audit despite federal shutdown challenges.
- FY26 First Quarter Strategic Performance Report: Presented by Chris Lowry and Andy Brayboy. Key highlights include:
- Community Safety: $84,500 awarded in microgrants to 20 neighborhood projects; the Fayetteville Cares Day Resource Center recorded over 3,100 visits; OCS conducted 84 field visits, responded to 214 mental health/homelessness calls, and made 52 referrals; 59 community engagement events held. Fire 90th percentile response time: 6 minutes 54 seconds; police priority one response time: 8 minutes 51 seconds.
- Economic Growth: $2.14 million in ECD grants and loans; 3 new general contractors qualified; Future So Bright workforce initiative participation increased 282% to 84 participants.
- Housing: $1.1 million in construction financing dispersed (supporting 294 affordable units); $450,000 allocated to CHDOs for 9 single-family homes; 6 families transitioned from crisis to stability; 13 home buyers received $320,000 in down payment assistance; 6 blighted properties demolished.
- Transportation: Initial steps of Title VI/Service Equity Study completed; development of a master connectivity GIS overlay map incorporating three city plans.
- Youth Engagement: Orange Street School STEM Initiative reached 351 participants; 104 youth events engaged 180 new youth; recreation projects ongoing.
- Council questions addressed OCS social media presence, police/fire response times, private partnerships for airport development, and housing program status. The city manager noted the upcoming launch of OpenGov for public financial transparency.
- Public Hearing – Substantial Amendments to HUD 2021-2022 and 2025-2026 Annual Action Plans: Staff reported shifting funds between activities and adding a new affordable housing activity. The public comment period (September 4 – October 5) received no comments. Proposed changes include moving $180,000 to neighborhood resources (new budget $640,000) and $100,000 to a new CDBG affordable housing program for small-scale cottage development and Tokay tennis courts. No public speakers testified. The council approved the amendments.
Key Outcomes
- Consent agenda approved unanimously.
- FY26 Q1 Strategic Performance Report accepted unanimously.
- Substantial amendments to the HUD 2021-2022 and 2025-2026 Annual Action Plans approved unanimously.
- Meeting adjourned.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everyone. We'd like to call our October 13th, 2025, Federal City Council Meeting Order. We welcome those who are joining us in the audience, those who are also joining us remotely. I think we have Councilmember Banks McLaughlin who will be uh calling in remotely. Uh Councilmember Banks McLaughlin, can you hear us? Yes, good afternoon. All right, good afternoon. Uh Council at this time, just uh we'll ask that Chaplain Alterman uh would come forth and would give us our prayer. At this time, we ask that I would please stand for the invocation immediately following the prayer if we could repeat the Pledge of Allegiance. Invite you to join me in a word of prayer. Lord Almighty, today we look to your character as the God of all wisdom, the Prince of Peace and the Creator of the universe, as we seek your blessing upon this city and its leaders. We humbly ask you to provide divine insight into the difficult and complex problems we face. Give our leaders the courage and strength to reject the easy wrong and choose the hard right. We pray you grow the unity of spirit in our city, that the welfare and prosperity of Fayetteville citizens would remain uppermost in the hearts and minds in our leaders, that the citizens of this city would grow in their love for each other and their neighborly goodness, rejoicing with those who rejoice and mourning with those who mourn. Finally, we pray that this fine city of Fayetteville would be a city on a hill, a beacon of light and a shining example of your grace and blessing poured out upon us. Lord, we give thanks for our city's leaders, the humble servants charged with governing and leading us, and we pray that your strength and their resolve, let them never grow weary in doing good, but hold on to the hope of reaping a just reward for their efforts. It is in the mighty and powerful name of him who is seated on the throne of heaven for all eternity that we pray. Amen. Amen. Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. One nation under God, individual. Thank you. Uh sir. Chaplain, if if uh you want to chair us, give us a little information about yourself, maybe where you're from and how long you've been in our community. Absolutely. I was born in Charlotte, North Carolina. Um, been here for uh Fayetteville for about six years off and on with uh the military life, and uh just privileged to get to serve the community and the soldiers and families um that live here. Thank you for what you do. Thank you for your service and thank you for joining us tonight. Let's give Chaplin a round of applause. All right, Council, at this time uh as we prepare for the announcements. Uh like to pause for just a moment and have a moment of silence. Uh today our city mourns with uh uh three families for the loss of their loved ones in a in a fatal accident. Um not too long ago when uh we asked for the prayers for the fourth uh young lady who is uh going through a recovery process. And so at this time, uh members of the ESMF Golden Wool family, as well as the entire community. We mourn and uh would like to give a moment of silence if we could uh in memory of those three young lives that were lost. Amen. Thank you. Thank you for indulging us and allowing us to to do that, and to the families uh in our community can please note you'll continue to be in our thoughts and in our prayers in these difficult days. Uh with that, I also will go to uh Councilmember Beneventi, who has an announcement as well. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh just wanted to let everyone know that uh this coming Saturday, October the 18th, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. The uh 12th annual pinwheel masquerade ball and auction will be happening. Uh we know that the um child advocacy center uh does this annually, and it's a great opportunity to support their work uh in assisting uh young people here in this community. Uh so just want to make everyone aware if they haven't gotten their tickets yet. Saturday, October 18th from 6 to 10, the Pinwheel Masquerade Ball and Auction to Unmask Child Abuse will be happening this Saturday. Thank you. Thank you, Councilmember Benavente.
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