Fayetteville City Council Work Session – September 8, 2026

The Fayetteville City Council held a work session on the afternoon of September 8, 2026, beginning at 2:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber. The meeting covered several business items, including a parking management contract, a road culvert repair, streetlighting policies, council policy updates, and two council member agenda requests. The session also included a city manager’s report on a major federal grant award, recognitions, and a public forum dominated by opposition to proposed data centers. Key decisions included sending the parking contract back to staff for further refinement, authorizing design for the Stamper Road culvert repair, and directing staff to develop options for residential streetlight funding.

Consent Calendar

• The agenda was approved unanimously by council members present.
• Updates to City Council Policies 150.1, 155.2, and 155.6 (regarding utility assessments, property disposal under $30,000, and real property leases) were reviewed by the Policy Committee and will be brought forward for adoption on a future consent agenda.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Approximately 30 speakers signed up, with many rollovers from the previous meeting. The majority of speakers addressed the proposed hyperscale data center near Eastover, urging the council to pass a moratorium. Speakers expressed concerns about environmental impacts, water usage, noise, property devaluation, and lack of community benefit. Several speakers also apologized for previous heated remarks, thanked council members who listened, and called for a pause to study the issue thoroughly. Other topics included: speed limit reductions on Rim Road and 71st School Road, soccer field shortages at Jordan Soccer Complex, and election integrity concerns. A few speakers voiced support for the Murchison Choice Neighborhood grant and thanked council for that investment.

Discussion Items

• 6.01 Parking Management Services Contract Update – Staff recommended Pivot Parking (P2 of North Carolina LLC) as the new parking contractor, replacing Republic Parking. The proposed contract was for two fiscal years with a possible three-year extension. Council members raised concerns about the lack of a financial plan, the requirement that the contractor return within 30 days with revenue recommendations, the condition of pay kiosks, signage, and the need for downtown stakeholder input. After discussion, the council reached consensus to send the item back to staff to incorporate the concerns raised and to schedule a work session (tentatively September 28) for further review. No formal vote was taken.
• 6.02 Stamper Road Culvert Failure & Road Closure – Staff presented an emergency repair project for a culvert failure that closed Stamper Road. Design costs were estimated at $300,000, funded from leftover stormwater enterprise project balances. The project timeline is 6–8 months for design and 6–8 months for construction. Councilmember Hondros raised questions about coordinating with PWC on water/sewer lines and about using design-build to expedite. Council gave consensus to proceed with a Capital Project Ordinance to initiate design, approved by a voice vote with a motion by Councilmember Davis and a second.
• 6.03 Thoroughfare Streetlighting and Subdivision Streetlighting – Staff presented an overview of unlit thoroughfares (56 miles) and seven unlit residential subdivisions (most in annexed areas). The current CIP for thoroughfare lighting is $530,000; no funding exists for residential lighting. Three policy options were presented: charter option (special assessments), ordinance option (petition process with assessments), and project option (city-funded CIP). Council discussion focused on equity for annexed areas, using the city as the account holder for utility bills, and avoiding liens on residents. A motion by Councilmember Hare to direct staff to bring back options including the city as account holder and to explore funding for the residential installations passed unanimously.
• 6.04 City Council Policies Review Committee Recommendations – The Policy Committee (Chair Mayor Pro Tem Thompson, members Hare, Jones, Ferguson, Hondros) presented recommended revisions to policies 150.1, 155.2, and 155.6. No questions were raised. Council agreed to bring the revised policies to a future regular meeting for consent approval.
• 6.05 Council Member Agenda Item Request – Park Lighting Hours (Mayor Colvin) – The mayor requested a review of the policy on park lighting hours to allow extended hours at high-use parks (e.g., tennis, pickleball, soccer). Staff noted current practice allows lights for rentals and programs. The council voted to send the item to the Policy Committee for further study.
• 6.06 Council Member Agenda Item Request – Research How to Encourage or Compel Owners to Repair Private Streets and Parking Lots (Councilmember McNair) – Councilmember McNair presented a request for a staff study of private streets and parking lots, their condition, ownership, legal options, and policy ideas, with a report due by December 2026. After discussion about private property rights and potential impacts, council voted to refer the item to the Policy Committee.

Key Outcomes

• Parking Contract: Sent back to staff for additional work and a work session (no vote).
• Stamper Road Culvert: Consensus to proceed with a Capital Project Ordinance for design (approved by voice vote).
• Streetlighting: Staff directed to bring back options, including the city acting as account holder for residential streetlights, and to explore funding for the seven unlit subdivisions (motion passed unanimously).
• City Council Policies: Approved to be placed on a future consent agenda.
• Park Lighting Hours: Referred to the Policy Committee.
• Private Streets/Parking Lots: Referred to the Policy Committee.
• Public Forum: No action taken; a motion by Councilmember McMillan to suspend rules to add a data center moratorium agenda item failed for lack of a second. The meeting then adjourned.

City Manager Report: Announced that the city was awarded a $25.115 million Choice Neighborhood Implementation Grant (the top-scoring grant among 13 submissions nationwide) for the Murchison Corridor, leveraging over $530 million in public and private investment. The council recognized the Murchison Choice Ambassadors, city staff, and the Housing Authority.

Recognitions: The council recognized the Terry Sanford High School boys’ golf team (national champions), FAST Transit’s 50th anniversary, the National Day of Remembrance (September 11), Blue Star Welcome Week, and presented a special key to the city to Pastor T.W. Campbell for his decades of community service.