Fayetteville City Council Recap – Feb. 10, 2025

Published on February 11, 2025

Fayetteville City Council Recap – Feb. 10, 2025

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - The Fayetteville City Council met Feb. 10 at 6:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers to discuss matters relevant to the city.

The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m., followed by a prayer offered by Pastor Maliik Jefferson with Mount Hebrew A.M.E. Zion Church, and then the Pledge of Allegiance lead by Mayor Pro Tem Kathy Jensen and City Council.

There were seven ANNOUNCEMENTS AND RECOGNITIONS made by Mayor Colvin and Council.

The Oath of Office for appointment as City Clerk was administered to Jennifer Ayre by Andrea Tebbe.
Council member Deno Hondros announced that February is Heart Health Month.
Mayor Pro Tem Jensen presented the top ten Solid Waste Mascot Contestants and announced the winner. Third place went to Megan Moshman, second place went to Bradley Wallace, and the winner of the Solid Waste Mascot Contest is Iris Niang with her creation of “Spiffy”.
Council member D.J. Haire presented a Certificate of Appreciation and Coin to Ruby Billos in honor of her retirement as a federal service employee for 30+ years.
Mayor Pro Tem Jensen presented a proclamation to members of the Public Services Department, Engineering Division in honor of National Engineers Week.
Mayor Pro Tem Jensen and Council Members Brenda McNair, Derrick Thompson, and Courtney Banks-McLaughlin presented the proclamation to Vice Principal Green and Football Coach of the 71st High School Falcons Football Team in recognition of their 3A East Regional Championship.
Mayor Pro Tem Jensen announced February is also Black History Month.

During the CITY MANAGER’S REPORT, City Manager Doug Hewett reminded city council members and staff that the annual council two-day retreat is set for Feb. 11 at the Dorothy Gilmore Recreation Center. He then asked Assistant City Manager Jodi Phelps to the podium to introduce two newest staff members with the Office of Community Safety, Nichelle Gaines and Orlando Smith.

Council member Mario Benavente moved to APPROVE THE AGENDA, and the motion was seconded by Council member Derrick Thompson. It was approved UNANIMOUSLY (9-0).

The City Council held a PUBLIC FORUM during this meeting. This is a critical portion of the Regular Council meeting as the City Council seeks to have a collaborative resident and business engagement base. This opportunity allows for residents to address the council directly on specific issues in an effort to inform them of their opinions on specific topics. Four residents spoke during this public forum, sharing concerns regarding Cool Spring Downtown District exclusion of groups based on political and religious name, racial disparities in Fayetteville, the patient experience at Cape Fear Valley Hospital, and Siple Avenue.

The CONSENT AGENDA is a group of items that are considered routine whereby all items are passed with a single motion and vote. Members of City Council can remove items from the Consent Agenda for further discussion prior to voting.

Council member Haire moved to approve the consent agenda with the exception of item 8.0A2 (Construction Update and Adoption of Capital Project Ordinance Amendment to Appropriate Additional Funding for the Tennis Center Project). This was seconded by Council member Malik Davis. It was approved UNANIMOUSLY (9-0).

The City Council acted on 11 consent agenda items.

8.0A1 Approval of Meeting Minutes:

Discussion of Agenda - January 27, 2025
Regular - January 27, 2025

You can learn more about this item here.

8.0A3 Acceptance of Grant Award, and Adoption of Capital Project Ordinance and Capital Project Ordinance Amendment to Appropriate funding for Person & Russell Street Flood Mitigation Project. You can learn more about this item here.

8.0A4 Safe Streets and Roadways for All Grant Agreement Amendment – Revising Schedule. You can learn more about this item here.

8.0A5 Auction of 16 Decommissioned City of Fayetteville Assets. You can learn more about this item here.

8.0A6 PWC - Phase 5 Annexation Area 32 East Section I - Resolution Confirming Assessment Roll and Levying Assessments. You can learn more about this item here.

8.0A7 PWC - Adopt Resolution of the Fayetteville Public Works Commission to Accept a State Loan Offer Under the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1996. You can learn more about this item here.

One item was PULLED FROM CONSENT FOR A SEPARATE VOTE UNDER 8.0B

8.0A2 Construction Update and Adoption of Capital Project Ordinance Amendment (CPOA) to Appropriate Additional Funding for the Tennis Center Project. This item was presented by Assistant City Manager, Adam Lindsey. Council member Lynne Greene moved to table Item 8.0A2 until the Feb. 24 Regular Meeting. Council member Benavente seconded the motion. The motion FAILED (3-6). Those in opposition were Mayor Pro Tem Jensen and Council members Davis, Haire, Thompson, McNair and Banks-McLaughlin. Council member Davis moved to adopt CPOA for Tennis Center. This motion was seconded by Council member Thompson. An amendment to the motion was made by Council member Hondros to have all the information pertaining to the project in the CCAM. Council Member Davis and Thompson accepted the amendment. The motion PASSED (6-3). Council members in opposition were Council Members Benavente, Hondros, Greene. You can learn more about this item here.

One report from BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS were presented to Council during this meeting.

9.01 Annual Report: Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks and Recreation Commission. This item was presented by Harold Smelcer, Chair of the Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission. Council member Greene moved to receive the annual report. Council member Davis seconded the motion, and it passed UNANIMOUSLY (9-0). You can learn more about this item here.

9.02 Firefighter's Local Relief Fund. This item was presented by Battalion Chief Jason Davis, NC Firefighter’s Relief Fund Chair. Council Member Hondros moved to accept the NC Firefighter’s Relief Fund annual report and seconded by Council Member Banks-McLaughlin. The motion passed UNANIMOUSLY (9-0). You can learn more about this item here.

The City Council held one PUBLIC HEARINGS during this meeting. This is a critical portion of the Regular Council meeting since for certain issues, the Fayetteville City Council may sit as a quasi-judicial body that has powers resembling those of a court of law or judge. The Council will hold hearings, investigate facts, weigh evidence and draw conclusions which serve as a basis for its decisions.

Residents wishing to provide testimony in response to a notice of public hearing or to participate in the public forum can obtain instructions to submit a statement by emailing cityclerk@ci.fay.nc.us or by calling 910-433-1312 for assistance. Individuals desiring to testify on a quasi-judicial public hearing must sign up with the City Clerk’s Office by 5:00 p.m. the day of the meeting. Instructions will be provided on how to appear before Council to provide testimony. All persons wishing to appear before the Council should be prepared to give sworn testimony on relevant facts.

The first public hearing was on the Authorization of the Issuance of Private Activity Bonds not to Exceed $175,000,000 by the Public Finance Authority Relating to the Acquisition of an Educational Training Facility Located at 3725 Ramsey Street presented by the city’s Economic and Community Development Director Christopher Cauley. There were no speakers for this item. Council member Benavente moved to approve the resolution authorizing the issuance of private activity bonds not to exceed $175,000,000 by the Public Finance Authority relating to the acquisition of an educational training facility Located at 3725 Ramsey Street. Council member Davis seconded the motion. It passed UNANIMOUSLY (9-0). You can learn more about this item here.

There was one OTHER ITEM OF BUSINESS on the agenda.

11.01 Fort Liberty and City of Fayetteville Intergovernmental Service Agreement (IGSA) for Solid Waste. This item was presented by Ms. Jodi Phelps, Assistant City Manager and Mr. Brook Redding, Special Projects Manager. Council member Davis moved to approve the IGSA transaction document with FLNC to initiate the management of solid waste services on the installation and direct staff to bring the service provider contract for approval. It was seconded by Council member McNair, and it passed UNANIMOUSLY (9-0). You can learn more about this item here.

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS on a Regular Meeting agenda are for City Council review and information only. Should it be the consensus of the collective City Council, Administrative Reports will be moved forward to be placed on the next Work Session agenda for further review and discussion. There were three administrative reports on the agenda, 12.01 Quarterly Report of Downtown Municipal Service District from Cool Spring Downtown District, Inc., 12.02 City Manager’s Update - City Council Agenda Item Requests and the 12.03 Day Resource Center FY25 Second Quarter Administrative Report. Council member Benavente moved Items 12.01, 12.02, and 12.03 to the March Work Session. This motion was seconded by Council Member Banks-McLaughlin and it passed UNANIMOUSLY (9-0). You can read more about those items here.

The meeting ADJOURNED at 8:22 p.m.

The next City Council Regular Meeting will be held on Monday, Feb. 24 at 6:30 p.m. in the Fayetteville City Hall’s Council Chambers. Meetings also air live on Spectrum Channel 7, at FayTV.net and on the FayTV app available on your streaming device. Meeting agendas, supporting documentation and minutes are publicly available here. For more information about the Fayetteville City Council, please visit fayettevillenc.gov/city-council.

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