Fayetteville City Council Regular Meeting – April 13, 2026
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Fayetteville City Council Regular Meeting – April 13, 2026
The Fayetteville City Council held its regular meeting on April 13, 2026, beginning at 6:30 p.m. The meeting included a financial update, a detailed presentation on proposed data center regulations, and a vote to have the city attorney present the legal framework for a potential moratorium on data centers. The consent agenda was approved with one item pulled for further discussion.
Consent Calendar
- The Consent Agenda (items 7.0A1 through 7.0A10) was approved unanimously, with one exception:
- Item 7.0A2 (Council Policies Review Committee recommendations) was pulled by Councilmember Green and will be discussed at a May work session.
- Approved items included meeting minutes, policy revisions, federal transit grant acceptance, and multiple PWC bid awards and resolutions for utility projects (totaling over $8.5 million in contracts).
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comments were scheduled or heard during the regular meeting. Several audience members displayed signs related to data centers but were asked to refrain from disruption.
Discussion Items
Financial Update (Item 8.01)
- CFO Tiffany Murray presented the city’s financial update through February 2026, stating the city is in a “strong financial position.”
- Fund balance: Fiscal year 2025 ended with $102 million total fund balance and $27 million unassigned fund balance, exceeding the 12% goal at 16% (adjusted for later appropriations).
- Revenues: $11 million higher than prior year, driven largely by property taxes. Sales tax revenue is projected to decrease by an estimated $3–4 million due to a county methodology change from per capita to ad valorem.
- Expenditures: Trending as expected; drivers include public safety salaries, employee 401k increases, body cameras, software licensing, and capital program management.
- Vacancy rate: 10.7% (192 unfilled positions), saving approximately $9.5 million. CFO recommended a citywide compensation study, noting general employees have not had a comp study in five years.
- Upcoming: $40 million GO bond issuance (closed March 24); possible stormwater revenue bond sale in late fall; implementation of GASB 103.
- Council discussed compensation studies, exit interviews, and the impact of county valuations. The report was received unanimously.
Unified Development Ordinance Amendments – Data Centers (Item 9.01)
- Development Services Director Dr. Newton and Planner II Demetrius Mutos presented a proposed text amendment (TA26-01) to regulate telecommunications and data storage facilities (data centers).
- The package defines data centers, establishes permitted zones (by right in heavy industrial; by special use permit in other districts), and sets standards for noise, buffers (150–200 feet from residential), generator testing (weekdays 9 a.m.–5 p.m.), and post-construction sound testing.
- Staff recommended adoption of the planning commission’s revised version (Option 2), noting that current zoning has no specific regulations.
- Councilmember McMillan moved to direct staff to organize a presentation and discussion on a potential moratorium for data centers, rather than proceeding with the proposed ordinance revisions. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Jones.
- Debate followed: Councilmember Hondros and others argued that adopting protections now while studying a moratorium is possible; Councilmember Ferguson urged a balanced view; Councilmember Jones supported the moratorium approach, citing need for comprehensive risk mitigation.
- The motion passed 5–4. The city attorney will present the legal framework for a moratorium at a future meeting.
- Council also agreed to move Administrative Report 10.01 (Public Notice Visibility Improvements) to a work session.
Key Outcomes
- Consent agenda approved with item 7.0A2 pulled to May work session.
- Financial update received unanimously; CFO to bring comp study recommendations during budget season.
- Data center ordinance not adopted; council voted 5–4 to have city attorney present rules on moratorium process at next meeting.
- Administrative Report 10.01 moved to work session.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, Council would like to call our April thirteenth, February City Council meeting in order. We welcome those who join us in the audience, those who were joining us remotely. Uh, we thank you for doing so. At this time, as with every meeting, we ask that Pastor Honorable former council member, Bishop Larry Wright, if he would come and lead us in prayer to pass the hill. I would please stand for the prayer immediately following. If we could repeat the Pledge of Allegiance. God, we're seeking your presence, your guidance, and unity. As we commence this meeting, Lord, we pray that you would help us, set aside all differences, and work together humongously for a better city. God, we thank you. As we behold your goodness, may your blessings rest upon this council. Allow them to make decisions that honor your will and benefit the citizens of this community. As Proverbs 16 and 3 says, commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plan. We commit our actions and our deliberations to you today, trusting that in your wisdom you will guide this council in all matters. Grant us discernment and clarity as we move forward in this great city. We invite your presence here tonight among this meeting. May your spirit guide them in discussion and decisions and actions. We pray, God, for our soldiers that may be in harm's way. We pray for their safety and their families and their safe return home. We pray, God, for our president and his cabinet. Give him the right decisions, the right insight, the wisdom to surround himself with leaders that will give him the information and have the courage to speak truth to power. God, as we here in Fort Bragg is our neighbors, God, we pray for Fort Bragg. We pray for the generals and those in command. Now, God, we pray for the staff of this great city, uh, city manager and the great staff and all the employees that work in this city. The strategies, God, that uh is our priority, safety, housing, youth, economic growth for jobs, and transportation. Lord, this council has a great responsibility. God, I pray that you would be with them. Bless the mayor, and God, this council, for they have a tremendous responsibility. Let them be as one as they make decisions for the betterment of all the people of this city. And we bless you and we thank you in the precious name of He that we serve in the mighty name of Jesus the Christ, amen. Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and the Republic. One nation. Under God's invisible with liberty and justice for all. You've been pasting a long time. I understand 27 years today. So let's give him a round of applause. 27 years of ministry. Yes. And we thank you for spending your your pastoral anniversary with us. But tell us a little bit about yourself and your ministry. Well, you know, I'm not a stranger here in this chamber, and uh we honor all of you. And of course, we've been uh in ministry here uh in the city for 27 years, and we're going to be celebrating uh this week, Friday and Sunday, and we just want to invite all of you to come out to be with us and to celebrate our 27 years uh here in the city. Of course, uh the Lord blessed us tremendously, and I just want to let everyone know that Fayetteville Technical College students uh were tremendously helpful in us uh putting together that facility so they have a program there that the students can get hands on uh there with nonprofits, and we took advantage of that, and it really works. Uh our ministry really focused on the word of God, uh preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ and sharing his love and sharing his word with the community. We have outreach, we give our clothing, we feed, and we do all of those things that's necessary to help uh our community to be all it could be. And so I look at what you do as ministry as well, and I looked at uh my time on the council as being a pastor on steroids because that's what you do on a daily basis. You serve God bless you and thank you. Thank you and continue to pray for us. Appreciate it. Thank you, sir. Thank you, Bishop Wright.
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