The Fayetteville City Council held a regular meeting on December 8, 2025, at 6:30 PM in the Council Chamber. The meeting opened with an invocation and pledge, followed by city manager reports, a 30‑minute public forum, consideration of a multi‑item consent agenda, a report from the Fayetteville Redevelopment Commission, and action on an affordable housing land option. New council members (McMillan, Ferguson, Jones) were seated, and several decisions were made, including approval of most consent items, a split vote on policies, and unanimous authorization for a 6.32‑acre affordable housing development.
Fifteen speakers signed up; nine spoke. Their positions are summarized below:
8.0A3 – City Council Policies Review Committee Recommendation Councilmember Green pulled this item. She moved to approve Policy 155.1 (the portion presented) but added “deed in lieu of foreclosure” as an acquisition option. Councilmember McMillan moved to send Policy 155.6 (city lease policy) to the January 5, 2026 work session for further refinement on transparency and accountability. Both motions passed unanimously. During discussion, McMillan expressed concern that the lease policy lacked details on public notice of available properties and oversight, stating he wanted to avoid nepotism and ensure multi‑channel listings.
Report from Fayetteville Redevelopment Commission (9.01) Chair Derek Scott presented the annual report. Highlights:
Council members asked about corridor redevelopment, funding for the home buyer program (running out of grant funding but using local dollars), and scoring criteria for microgrants. Councilmember Jones raised concerns that community watch groups may feel pushed aside by youth‑focused programs; staff explained the tiered scoring system.
10.01 – Option to Purchase Agreement for Catalyst 1 Site Economic Development staff requested authorization for the City Manager to sign an option to purchase 6.32 acres (the northern portion of the Catalyst 1 site) with JBS Developers and the Fayetteville Metropolitan Housing Authority for an affordable housing community (84 units). An appraisal set fair market value at $545,000, affirmed by a city‑contracted review. Council voted unanimously to authorize.
10.02 – Appointments to Boards and Commissions The Appointments Committee recommended five individuals to fill vacancies on the Board of Appeals, Fayetteville Advisory Committee on Transit, Historic Resources Commission, Linear Park Committee, and Planning Commission. Council unanimously approved the slate.
Well, good evening, everyone. We'd like to call our December 8th, 2025. They will city council meeting in order. We welcome those who are joining us in the audience. We welcome the new council members who are seated tonight for the meeting. So we are glad to have you, those who are joining us also remotely. At this time, as with every meeting, we start with the invocation and the prayer. We asked that Pandela Pastor Angela Marks from the With His Hands outreach. She will come to the podium. Ask that all would please stand for the prayer as Pastor Marks comes forth. And immediately following the prayer, if we could repeat the Pledge of Allegiance in unison. Hi, Pastor. Thank you. Let us pray. Father, in the name of Jesus, we come before you tonight, thanking you for another opportunity to assemble today as a new council. God, we thank you for the leaders of this great city. We thank you for our mayor, our city council. God, we thank you for all of the cabinet here on tonight. God, we even thank you for the residence. God, we pray right now that we will bind ourselves together in unity, one in spirit as America's can-do city. God, we thank you that Fayetteville is a city on a hill that can't be hidden. We are so grateful for the opportunity to serve this city. We pray that you would bless every member of City Council. God, we pray that they will seek your wisdom and making decisions, and God, that they won't let their differences um take separate them, but they will bond together for the work of this great city. We look forward to the journey of hope. We look forward to the journey of expectation of what you're going to do in this new year as this council moves the city forward. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Sure. Well, one thing is that I am a proud employee of the city of Faiville. I work in the Salah Waste Department as a routing administrator. Thank you for your service. Um, not only spiritually, but also to help them walk out their purpose and their gifts to better the world. Thank you. Um, maybe not. Um, hi, everybody. Good evening. Glad to be here with you all tonight. Um, here to talk to you about our upcoming fifth annual New Year's Eve spectacular that is happening on the 31st in Festival Park this year. Uh, New Year's is smack in the middle of the week, so it's a Wednesday. Just be prepared for your next day. It's gonna be good. Uh, we announced our headlining talent a few weeks back. We've got three bands, three uh nationally touring um award-winning artists that are gonna be at the festival park stage this year. We have Bubba Sparks, uh, Young Jock and 702 that are gonna be joining us on the stage that evening. Um, and joining them as well. We will have some local artists. We have three different performing groups that are gonna be on stage. So, from about the time doors open at 7:30 until we crawl out at about 12:30 uh after the um not ball drops but the star rises. We are gonna have live music in that stage.