Fayetteville City Council Special Meeting – April 8, 2026: Strategic Planning, CIP, Sports Complex, and Policy Initiatives
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Fayetteville City Council Special Meeting – April 8, 2026
The Fayetteville City Council held a special meeting on April 8, 2026, starting at 10:00 AM and continuing into the afternoon. The meeting covered a strategic planning debrief, presentation of the recommended FY2027-32 Capital Improvement Program (CIP), authorization of a contract for the McArthur Road Sports Field Complex, and policy discussions on water/sewer assessment assistance, senior technology literacy, and gun safety billboards. Council members present included Mayor (presiding), Mayor Pro Tem, and councilmembers McNair, Jones, McMillan, Hondros, Green, Ferguson, Davis, and Thompson. Councilmember Hare was absent due to a commitment in Raleigh.
Consent Calendar
- The council unanimously approved the meeting agenda (motion by Mayor Pro Tem, second by Councilmember Green).
Discussion Items
5.01 – FY27 Strategic Planning Retreat Debrief (Fountainworks)
Fountainworks consultants Julie and Laura facilitated a recap of the council retreat held March 23, 2026. The council reviewed four proposed priority areas: community safety, economic growth, housing/neighborhood revitalization, and transportation/connectivity. A significant debate centered on the wording of the third priority, specifically whether to use "older neighborhoods," "legacy," "mature," or "existing" and whether to include "refurbishment" alongside "revitalization." After extensive discussion, council reached consensus on: "Expand housing and neighborhood revitalization efforts with emphasis on mature neighborhoods and attainable housing needs." Councilmember Hondros raised concerns about transparency, noting that retreat notes were not in the agenda packet. Councilmember McMillan praised the facilitation. The council voted to adopt the four priorities (including the refined language) on a voice vote consensus.
5.02 – Presentation of Recommended FY2027-32 Capital Improvement Program
ACM Yates presented the manager's recommended CIP, totaling approximately $670 million over six years, with $97 million for FY2027. The CIP is balanced at a four-cent committed tax rate, with options for one or two additional pennies. Projects include infrastructure maintenance, public safety equipment upgrades, stormwater improvements, transit bus replacement, and park renovations. Councilmembers raised questions about the funding of timekeeping system upgrades, airport runway expansion, drainage assistance program eligibility, and the scoring methodology for single-access neighborhood projects. The council directed staff to add Langdon Street streetscaping to the parking lot and to provide the one-way-in/one-way-out neighborhood priority list. The council voted to receive the CIP report (motion by Councilmember Hondros, second by Councilmember Ferguson) without formal adoption, with the understanding that further work sessions would follow.
5.03 – Authorization of McArthur Road Sports Field Complex Contract ($13,663,000)
Staff recommended awarding the contract to Group III Management as the lowest responsive, responsible bidder after the initial low bidder (Eastern Builders) was disqualified for lacking a valid general contractor's license. Bids were tight (top three within $200,000). Councilmembers scrutinized the bidding process, contractor experience, and design specifications. Group III representatives noted they built ball fields at Fort Bragg and have extensive local experience. The design team (Crawford Design) confirmed commercial-grade specs. An owner's advisor (Turner Townsend) will oversee construction. After debate, the council voted to authorize the city manager to execute the contract (motion by Councilmember Ferguson, second by Councilmember Jones). The motion carried.
5.04 – Expanding Water and Sewer Assessment Assistance Program – Phase V Annexation
Staff presented options to expand eligibility from 80% to 120% of area median income and increase connection fee assistance. Councilmembers discussed raising the $2,000 assessment cap to the full $5,000 and increasing the plumber connection fee from $900 to 50% of actual cost. Mayor Pro Tem advocated for inclusion of rental properties under certain conditions. Councilmember Davis suggested evaluating a phased approach. The council voted to receive the report and direct staff to bring back operational specifics and funding implications for the May budget work session (motion by Councilmember Hondros, second by Councilmember Ferguson).
5.05 – Senior Technology Literacy Initiative
Staff proposed a multi-pronged program including 20 iPads already procured, youth-led training (via FCYC), partnerships with the library and Council on Older Adults, and a potential survey to assess needs. Councilmembers emphasized including cybersecurity training for seniors, expanding access to underserved areas (e.g., Oak Run), and exploring microgrants for nonprofits. The council voted to receive the report and incorporate the comments (motion by Councilmember Jones, second by Mayor Pro Tem).
5.06 – Gun Safety Billboards
Staff presented a comprehensive public awareness campaign using existing city contracts (radio, digital billboards, social media, FPD movie nights, NC Safe Week) at no additional cost, plus a proposed $5,000/year for targeted streaming ads. Councilmember McNair championed the initiative. Councilmembers suggested including WIDU radio and the Fayetteville Press newspaper (both under existing contracts). The council voted to direct staff to explore implementation of the campaign and return during budget season for the paid streaming component (motion by Councilmember McNair, second by multiple members).
Key Outcomes
- Strategic Priorities Adopted: Council approved four priority areas with refined language for housing (mature neighborhoods, attainable housing).
- CIP Received: The recommended FY2027-32 CIP was received for further study; no adoption pending budget work sessions.
- McArthur Road Sports Complex Contract Authorized: City manager may execute $13,663,000 contract with Group III Management (motion carried).
- Water/Sewer Assessment Assistance: Staff to bring back program expansion scenarios in May.
- Senior Technology Initiative: Staff to proceed with existing resources and report back during budget cycle.
- Gun Safety Campaign: Staff to launch free platforms immediately and propose a paid streaming budget for FY2027.
- Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned without further items.
Meeting Transcript
Well, good morning, everyone. Thank you for uh coming to our special strategic planning um and capital improvement meeting. We welcome those who join us in the audience, those who may be remotely joining us. We thank you for we thank you to uh uh the council members that we know this is kind of unscheduled, so we have a few council members that uh will not be here today. Uh council member Hare uh had a commitment at in Raleigh uh on some advocacy, and um I think the others will will be here filling in the blanks, but uh we'll move forward with it. We'll call it a meeting order. As with every meeting, we typically start with a prayer. Uh asked that we would please stand for the prayer immediately following. If we could repeat the Pledge of Allegiance, I'm gonna ask Councilmember Brenda McNair if she could lead us in the prayer. Father, we thank you for your love and kindness. We thank you for your grace and your mercy. God, we thank you for the light that is shining up on our city. Father, we ask your wisdom and your knowledge and your understanding up on this meeting today. Church, the uh council members that are here and those that are not here, uh city staff, I see the manager. Father, I pray that we are in harmony with each other so that we can move this city forward in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, individuals with liberty, just as for all. Thank you, Councilwoman McNair. Um and council with that, we will ask for the approval of the agenda. Entertain a motion, we'll use our sure system. All right, the mayor pro Tim is a motion to approve, seconded by council member green. Uh any discussion on the motion to approve. All right, council, I'll look to you for your votes for that. Gotta get ahead, count on here. So we got seven vote. Uh eight. Okay. All right. All right. Motion motion carries. Uh council with that, we'll move to 5.01 uh fountain works uh strategic plan. We see uh see them here. We see our strategic planning team. And um I don't see Mr. Hewitt. I did have a question for him about that, but I guess he'll he'll pop in shortly. Uh, but uh I'll turn it over to you, uh Mr. Mr. Lowry. Oh, Jeff's here. Yeah, yes, sir. So um thank you, uh ACM Yates. So as we get into this, just to kind of recap, uh typically we after we came out of our strategic plan, uh this came to us before a council meeting, and we wanted to have a little bit more discussion to make sure that what was what was presented, you know, that uh all questions were answered and everything was in alignment. Uh today, um I know out of the strategic plan that's adopted, you typically build the capital project recommendations. But today you're doing both ends so before we adopt this and and if council has any any amendments, changes or adjustments, uh, how do we align what today's goals are with being that you have recommended projects already? Absolutely. So good question. Thank you, Mayor.
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