City Council Regular Meeting Recap – September 14, 2026

ANNOUNCEMENTS 

• Council Member Antonio Jones announced a District 3 district-wide community meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 29, at 6:30 p.m. at the Country Club Community Outreach Center located at 651 Country Club Drive.
• Mayor Pro Tem Derrick Thompson announced that Sept. 15 through Oct. 15 is Hispanic Heritage Month and asked the community to recognize the contributions the Hispanic population has made to our community and society. 
• Mayor Pro Tem Thompson announced that September is Suicide Prevention Month and urged residents to reach out to individuals experiencing difficulties. 
• Mayor Pro Tem Thompson also announced the upcoming WIDU Anniversary, with a Women’s Empowerment Luncheon on Oct. 22 and a Prayer Breakfast on Oct. 23.
• Council Member Haire announced a Divine Nine Get Out to Vote Praise and Worship event on Sept. 20 at 9 a.m. at Kingdom Impact Global Ministries, located at 2503 Murchison Road.  
• Council Member Malik Davis announced the Fayetteville NEXT Commission’s 910 Future Fest will be held on September 26 at Segra Stadium and tickets are now available for purchase. 

CITY MANAGER REPORT 

• Dr. Hewett recognized and announced the upcoming retirements of several valued City of Fayetteville employees. Their years of dedicated service, leadership, and commitment have made a lasting impact on our City and community. 
  • Ms. Tracey Trogdon, Assistant 911 Communications Manager, 29 years of service. '
  • Mr. David Guy, Traffic Signal Technician III, 11 years of service.
  • Mr. Leonard McDonald, Maintenance Worker, 5 years of service.
• Dr. Hewett introduced Mr. Christopher Cauley, Economic and Community Development Director, to announce that the City received a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for an automated permitting system to help fast-track the City’s development processes.   
• Mr. Cauley also announced the launch of the Stronger Partners Initiative to help local nonprofit leaders strengthen their organizations, build capacity, and deepen their impact in our community. The initiative will include invitation-only Stronger Partners Roundtables, with the first session beginning September 30. 
• Dr. Hewett shared that the Fayetteville Woodpeckers are in the Carolina League Championship with the Charleston RiverDogs, with the championship game taking place on Tuesday, September 15th. 
• Dr. Hewett invited Mr. Nathan Cuffee, Fayetteville NEXT Commission Chair, to announce the details of the upcoming 910 Future Fest on Sept. 26. 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA  

Council unanimously approved the agenda, sending Item 7.0A6 - Authorize Advanced Reimbursement Schedule for Cape Fear Regional Theatre to the Oct. 5 Work Session, and moving Item 8.01 - Receive the Office of Community Safety Annual Report to the Sept. 28 Regular Meeting. 

CONSENT AGENDA 

Council voted unanimously to approve the consent agenda, except for agenda items 7.0A5 (Adopt Ordinance Amending Section 5-5 of the City Code to Authorize Alcohol Sales by Permitted Vendors at The Courts at Glenville Lake and Other Designated City Facilities) and 7.0A11 (Authorize the Fayetteville Regional Airport to Extend Alcohol Sales Hours) for a separate vote, and 7.0A3 (Accept and appropriate the $112,795 FY25 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Award), 7.0A10 (Adopt Transit’s (FAST’s) Service Standards Update) and 7.0A12 (Approve Special Revenue Project Ordinance Amendment And Capital Project Ordinance Amendments To Consolidate Funds Needed To Complete The Airport Lift Station Project) for brief presentations from staff. 

7.0A1 Council approved meeting minutes from: 

• August 19, 2026 - Agenda Briefing 
• August 24, 2026 - Special 
• August 24, 2026 - Discussion of Agenda Items 
• August 24, 2026 - Regular 

7.0A2 Council declared 0.49 acres on Webb Street as surplus property and authorized the upset bid process and sale of the property. The City received a $10,125 bid for the undeveloped parcel, and the sale will return the property to the tax rolls. 

7.0A4 Council accepted $5,000 from the Arts Council of Fayetteville-Cumberland County to support the 2026 Independence Concert and Fireworks and appropriated the funds. 

7.0A7 Council adopted a resolution supporting Project Crossing and authorized an application for a $152,000 N.C. Department of Commerce Building Reuse Grant. Sigma Crossings & Railroad Products, Inc. plans to establish a manufacturing facility at 595 S. King St., invest approximately $3.7 million, and create 15 full-time jobs with an average annual wage of $57,700. 

7.0A8 Council accepted and appropriated a $401,310 Federal Transit Administration grant. Combined with $94,282 in matching funds from the Mid-Carolina Council of Governments, the funding will support non-medical transportation for seniors and individuals with disabilities and FAST's administration of the program. 

7.0A9 Council accepted a $1,267,092 Federal Transit Administration grant to support the purchase of two replacement buses for FAST fixed-route service. 

7.0A13 Council accepted and appropriated a $2,069,806 N.C. Department of Transportation Division of Aviation Airport Improvement Program grant and authorized the City Manager to execute the grant agreement. 

7.0A14 Council accepted the Transportation Security Administration Law Enforcement Officer Reimbursement Program for Fayetteville Regional Airport. The program will provide up to $146,000 annually to reimburse a portion of the cost of Fayetteville Police Department officers assigned to the airport security checkpoint. 

ITEMS PULLED FROM CONSENT 

7.0B3 Council voted to accept and appropriate a $112,795 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant. The Fayetteville Police Department will use the funding for dual-purpose K-9s, ballistic protection, communications equipment, protective gear and training tools for Emergency Response Team personnel.  

7.0B5 Council voted to amend the City Code to allow alcohol sales by permitted vendors at The Courts at Glenville Lake and other designated City facilities. The amendment does not allow visitors to bring alcohol onto City property.  

7.0B10 Council unanimously adopted updated FAST service standards. The revisions lower the thresholds used to determine eligibility for bus stop amenities, including benches and shelters, at current and future FAST bus stops. 

7.0B11 Council voted to authorize extended alcohol sales hours for approved concessions within the TSA-screened portion of Fayetteville Regional Airport. Sales may begin one hour before the first flight and end one hour before the last flight each day, subject to state law, ABC permitting requirements and airport operating conditions. 

7.0B12 Council unanimously approved budget amendments consolidating existing grant and airport funding needed to complete the Airport Lift Station project. 

STAFF REPORTS 

8.01 Council tabled the Office of Community Safety Annual Report until the September 28, 2026, regular meeting. 

OTHER ITEMS OF BUSINESS 

9.01 Council unanimously approved 26 appointments to 14 City boards and commissions. Council also unanimously voted to dissolve the Joint Appearance Commission, which has not met since 2019. 

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS 

10.01 Council moved the Downtown Municipal Service District FY26 Fourth Quarter Update from Cool Spring Downtown District, Inc. to the October work session. 

The meeting adjourned at 7:31 p.m. 

The next City Council regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 28 at 6:30 p.m. in the Fayetteville City Hall Council Chamber. Meetings also air live on Spectrum Channel 7, FayTV.net, and the FayTV app on streaming devices.