Fayetteville City Council Regular Meeting Recap – November 24, 2025

Published on November 25, 2025

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - The Fayetteville City Council met Nov. 24, at 6:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers for their regular council meeting to discuss matters relevant for the City and its residents.

ANNOUNCEMENTS & RECOGNITIONS

Cumberland County Board of Commissioners Chairman Kirk deViere presented the County Crest and Coin to Mayor Pro Tem Kathy Jensen, Council members Mario Benavente and Courtney Banks-McLaughlin.

Mayor Mitch Colvin presented the Key to the City and Coin to Mayor Pro Tem Jensen in grateful recognition of her devoted interest and untiring commitment to the citizens of Fayetteville while serving the Fayetteville City Council for District One and Mayor Pro Tem from 2013 – 2025.

Mayor Colvin presented the Key to the City and Coin to Council member Courtney Banks-McLaughlin in grateful recognition of her devoted interest and untiring commitment to the citizens of Fayetteville while serving the Fayetteville City Council for District Eight from 2019 – 2025.

Mayor Colvin presented the Key to the City and Coin to Council member Mario Benavente in grateful recognition of his devoted interest and untiring commitment to the citizens of Fayetteville while serving the Fayetteville City Council for District Three from 2022 – 2025.

Council member Benavente presented a proclamation to members of the Korean Presbyterian Church in recognition of Kimchi Day.

Mayor Colvin presented a proclamation to staff members in honor of Native American Heritage Month.

Council member Lynne Greene presented a Community Award to Council Member Benavente on behalf of Fayetteville Freedom for All.

CITY MANAGER REPORT

City Manager Douglas Hewett announced that City services will be closed on Thursday for the Thanksgiving holiday. Solid waste customers that are usually serviced on Thursdays will be serviced on Wednesday this week, with Friday operations resuming as normal. Recycling customers that are serviced on Thursday will be serviced on Saturday this week. FAST Transit will resume normal schedule on Friday. Recreation centers reopening from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Friday.

Dr. Hewett also shared that the Mayor and City Council Inauguration is being held on Monday, Dec. 1 at 6:00 PM at J.W. Seabrook Auditorium at Fayetteville State University located at 1200 Murchison Rd. He then announced that Dickens Holiday will be returning this week, as well as holiday lights at Segra Stadium, and the downtown holiday tree lighting.

Lastly, he shared that he will provide information at the next regular Council meeting regarding the New Year's Eve celebration in downtown.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

City Council approved the meeting agenda following a motion by Council member Derrick Thompson and a second by Council member Courtney Banks-McLaughlin. Council member Benavente proposed a friendly amendment to add item 7.0A11, a resolution supporting the immigrant community and Fourth Amendment rights, but Council member Thompson did not accept the amendment. The agenda passed in a 6–3 vote, with Mayor Pro Tem Jensen and Council members Benavente and Hondros opposed.

CONSENT AGENDA

Council approved the consent agenda, pulling items 7.02A - Adopting Council Policy 160.09.2 - The Policy for Residents to Request “No Parking” in Multi-Use Lanes, 7.08A - Adopt Capital Project Ordinance for Stadium View Project and 7.09A - Adopt Resolution of the Fayetteville City Council Authorizing the City Manager to Acquire the Real Property Located at 920 and 922 Washington Drive for a separate vote with an 8 – 1 vote. Councilman Benavente voted in opposition.

7.0A1 Approve Meeting Minutes:

November 10, 2025 - Work Session
November 10, 2025 - Discussion of Agenda Items
November 10, 2025 – Regular

7.0A3 Council approved and adopted two demolition ordinances for the following residential buildings:

827 E. Orange Street
4714 Ashton Road

7.0A4 Council adopted a resolution supporting “No Parking” on Broadfoot Avenue from Morganton Road to Raeford Road / Arsenal Avenue is recommended due to safety concerns.

7.0A5 Council authorized the City Manager to negotiate and enter into a contract for professional architectural services with Davis Kane Architects for Fire Station Nine.

7.0A6 Council approved the Capital Projects Ordinance allocating the remaining ARPA interest earnings to the electric bus grant match, the Maker’s Space build-out and the grant match reserve. This approach aligns with the one-time nature of the funds, advances key Council priorities, and positions the City to maximize external funding opportunities for the benefit of Fayetteville residents.

7.0A7 Council accepted an awarded grant funding for the Criminal Justice Improvement Committee Law Enforcement Equipment Grant from the Governor's Crime Commission and adopted the Special Revenue Fund Project Ordinance 2026-9 to appropriate $47,093 for the replacement of outdated radio equipment used by the Fayetteville Police Task Force.

7.0A10 Council adopted a resolution in opposition of the Town of Fuquay-Varina's request to seek an approval for an Interbasin Transfer (IBT) Certificate. This directs staff to prepare a formal communication to the State of North Carolina.

ITEMS PULLED FROM CONSENT

Three agenda items from the consent were pulled for a separate vote.

7.0A2 Council moved agenda item 7.0A2 - Adopting Council Policy 160.09.2 - The Policy for Residents to Request "No Parking" in Multi-Use Lanes to a regular meeting in January for a public hearing with a 5-4 vote. Mayor Colvin and Council members Benavente, Thompson and Brenda McNair voting in opposition.

7.0A8 Council approved the Capital Project Ordinance, allocating $5.7 million from the General Fund balance to support the public infrastructure improvements required for the Stadium View project and authorized the City Manager to finalize and execute all necessary funding agreements.

7.0A9 Council adopted a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute all related documents necessary to acquire property located at 920 and 922 Washington Drive for needed parking at the Senior Center East Recreation Center.

EVIDENTIARY HEARINGS

Council heard one evidentiary hearing during this meeting.

8.01 An evidentiary hearing was held for a Special Use Permit request Special Use Permit (SUP) in order to complete necessary modifications and improvements to the existing Arran Lakes Substation. This allows the expansion of a major utility and reduction of the required setback to 40-ft subject to the submitted site plans and conforming to the current Unified Development Ordinance standards as depicted on the site plan. Council unanimously approved the request based off the evidence presented with an 8-0 vote.

OTHER ITEMS OF BUSINESS

9.01 Council authorized the City Manager to sign a contingent loan commitment letter and subsequent loan documents in the amount of $2,883,811 to support the construction of Central Park Villas, a proposed 84-unit garden-style affordable housing community.

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS

Administrative report items are for informational purposes only and were not presented.

10.01 Administrative Report on Downtown Municipal Service District Boundary and Inclusion of Park View Townhomes. Council reached a consensus to move this agenda item to the January Work Session.

10.02 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Final Phase and Next Steps

10.03 Festival Park Security Protocol Implementation Update

The meeting adjourned at 9:11 p.m.

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