The Fayetteville City Council met on May 26, 2026, at 6:30 PM in the Council Chamber. The meeting included announcements, approval of a consent agenda (with three items pulled for separate discussion), three public hearings, two evidentiary hearings, and reports from boards and city departments. Key actions included adoption of the Community Public Safety Advisory Board (CPSAB) charter, renewal of the School Resource Officer (SRO) agreement with Cumberland County Schools, approval of a field renaming, adoption of a text amendment creating a Medical Arts Campus zoning district, approval of a Special Use Permit (SUP) for transitional housing, and tabling of a SUP for a salvage yard. The Council also heard public comments on the proposed FY 2026-2027 budget.
Well, good evening, everyone. We'd like to call our May 26th City Council meeting to order. We welcome those who are joining us in the audience, those who maybe joined us uh virtually. We welcome you as well. At this time, as with every meeting, we start with the invocation. We'll ask that Rabbi Scott Klein, U.S. Army Chaplain, as Rabbi comes forward, we asked it, please everyone would stand for the prayer. Immediately following, if we could repeat the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I invite everybody to join me in prayer. Almighty God, sovereign of the universe. We gather tonight in this chamber of leadership, grateful for the privilege to serve and guide the city of Fayetteville. We look across the room at our neighborhoods, recognizing the profound strength found in our rich diversity, a mosaic of backgrounds, cultures, and faiths that unite us as one community. As we mark Jewish American Heritage Month, we express our gratitude for the rich history and enduring spirit of the Jewish people, whose journey is fundamentally guided by the timeless values of justice, compassion, and tikun Olam, the sacred charge to repair the world. May this calling to heal our fractured spaces and uplift our neighbors, inspire all of us alongside residents of our heritage and every heritage to actively build and bless the city. Amen. Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. With liberty and justice. She does amazing work. All right, Council. With that, I'll go to Councilmember McMillan. You had a special guest that wanted to come in. Greet us. We sure do. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. This time I'd like to introduce the Zenida Cranford Mentor Mentee Mentorship Program. This is a youth-centered nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering girls ages 12 through 17 through positive intervention, personal development mentorship, leadership opportunities, and community engagement. It's founded on the belief that prevention is more impactful than punishment. Uh ZCMMP proudly considers itself a founding success story of the city of Fayetteville's empowering community safety microgrant initiative. Through this support, they've continued to demonstrate how preventative mentorship programs and positive youth engagement can serve as effective tools in strengthening community safety and reducing youth vulnerability. Their organization advocates for positive intervention, approaches that focus on exposure, guidance, relationship building, emotional support, leadership development, and community involvement rather than punitive measures. At this time, I'd like to invite Miss Nishi Chapawala to the podium. The impact of ZC MMP can also be seen through the personal growth and achievements of their participants. One example is Nishi. She will be performing the national anthem at the city council meeting. Uh, a reflection of the confidence, leadership and social growth, the mentorship, and positive community support can help cultivate in young people. Moments like these reflect ZC MMP's commitment to helping youth recognize their talents, stepping outside of their comfort zones and growing into leaders within their community. At this time, I'd ask you all to stand as you're willing and able for the singing of our national anthem. Oh say can you see by the dawn? What's so proudly we have the twilight last gleaming whose broad stripes and bright stuff through the fight or the ramp were so gallantly streaming and the rockets right the bombs bursting that our flag was still there's bingled ban yet with the land of the free thank you, Councilman McMillan. Thank you, Miss Nishi. Beautiful, beautiful uh song that you rendered us, and and thank you for uh the hard work that you and uh organization are doing in our community. With that, I'll turn to Councilmember Jones. Thank you so much, Mr. Mayor. Uh, very quickly, I would like to announce a new farmers market here in Fayetteville. It's the roots of resilience farmers market after five. Uh it is located at 4616 Murchison Road.