Fayetteville City Work Session Recap – Feb. 24, 2025

Published on February 26, 2025

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - The Fayetteville City Council met Feb. 24 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 6:33 p.m., followed by a prayer offered by Pastor Jeff Isenhour with Arran Lakes Baptist Church, and then the Pledge of Allegiance led by Mayor Mitch Colvin and City Council.

There was one presentation during the ANNOUNCEMENTS AND RECOGNITIONS portion of the meeting made by Mayor Colvin and Council.

Mayor Colvin presented the Key to the City to Pastor Jeff Isenhour in recognition of devoted interest and untiring commitment to the community.

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

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 Thompson moved to approve the consent agenda. This was seconded by Council member D.J. Haire. The consent agenda passed (8-1) with Council member Mario Benavente was in opposition. The City Council acted on 15 consent agenda items:

7.0A1 Approval of Meeting Minutes:
- February 3, 2025 - Work Session
- February 6, 2025 – Special Meeting
- You can learn more about this item here.

7.0A2 Bid Recommendation - Fort Bragg IGSA - Authorization to Enter into a Contract with Zero Waste Solutions for Commercial Waste Collection at Fort Bragg. You can learn more about this item here.
7.0A3 P25-01: A map amendment request to rezone 6105 A Yadkin Road (REID 0409206960000), owned by Moore Enterprises Inc., from Single-Family Residential 6 (SF-6) to Community Commercial (CC). You can learn more about this item here.
7.0A4 Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Acquire Real Property Located at 6147 and 6151 Raeford Road for the Police Department’s Cross Creek District Office and Adoption of Capital Project Ordinance and Capital Project Ordinance Amendment to Appropriate the Funding. You can learn more about this item here.
7.0A5 Adoption of Historic District Design Standards and Associated Text Amendments to the Unified Development Ordinance. You can learn more about this item here.
7.0A6 Adoption of Resolutions to Rescind Demolition Ordinances NS 2023-013 for 1805 Ramsey Street (District 2) and NS 2024-003 for 3248 Chandler Street (District 4). You can learn more about this item here.

7.0A7 Uninhabitable Structures: Demolition Recommendations.
- 415 W Russell Street, District 2
- 541 Orange Street, District 2
- 1700 Clinton Road, District 2
- You can learn more about this item here.

7.0A8 Resolution Authorizing Condemnation of Permanent and Temporary Easements on Properties Needed for Tryon Drive Drainage Improvement Project. You can learn more about this item here.
7.0A9 Resolution Authorizing a Municipal Agreement with the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) for Improvements on Gillis Hill Road from South of Celtic Drive to North of Stoney Point Road. You can learn more about this item here.
7.0A10 Faison Avenue - Non-Compliant Speed Hump Petition. You can learn more about this item here.
7.0A11 PWC - Resolution Approving License Agreement with Alltell Corporation (d/b/a Verizon Wireless) for Use of Space on Water Tower Located at 601 Castle Rising Rd and Authorizing the Entry into a Contract for the Same. You can learn more about this item here.
7.0A12 PWC - Authorize the Condemnation of Easements and the Delegation of Authority to the General Manager in Accordance with N.C.G.S. 160A-12. You can learn more about this item here.
7.0A13 PWC - Bid Recommendation - Annual Material Contract for Construction Operations and Storms. You can learn more about this item here.
7.0A14 PWC - Recommendation - Reject all Bids for the Two Continuous Rated 67KV Delta to 13.09Y/7.56 KV WYE with LTC Rated 50/74.7/93.3 MVA Power Transformers at ONAN, ONAF, ONAF. You can learn more about this item here.
7.0A15 PWC - Bid Recommendation - Purchase of First and Second Stage Bucket Sets. You can learn more about this item here.

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

8.01 The Public Arts Commission annual report was presented by Will Deaton, Planning and Zoning Manager with the city of Fayetteville. Council member Thompson moved to receive the annual report. Council member Malik Davis seconded the motion. It passed UNANIMOUSLY (10-0). You can learn more about this item here.

Four STAFF REPORTS were presented to Council.

9.01 Chris Lowery, Strategic & Performance Analytics Manager and Andy Brayboy, Senior Corporate Performance Analyst presented the FY 2025 second Quarter Strategic Performance Report. Council member Brenda McNair moved to accept the quarterly report, and it was seconded by Council member Davis. The motion passed UNANIMOUSLY (10-0). You can learn more about this item here.
9.02 Mr. Jeffery Yates, Assistant City Manager then presented the FY 2025 Second Quarter Financial Update. Council member Thompson moved to accept the quarterly report, and it was seconded by Council member Banks-McLaughlin. The motion passed UNANIMOUSLY (10-0). You can learn more about this item here.
9.03 Fire Chief Kevin Dove presented the third staff report which highlighted the Fayetteville Fire Department’s FY 2024 Fourth Quarter Review. Council member Deno Hondros moved to accept the quarterly review, and it was seconded by Council member Davis. The motion passed UNANIMOUSLY (10-0). You can learn more about this item here.
9.04 The final staff report was presented by Police Chief Kemberle Braden. This report highlighted the Fayetteville Police Department’s FY 2024 Fourth Quarter Review. Council member Banks-McLaughlin moved to accept the quarterly review, and it was seconded by Council member McNair. The motion passed UNANIMOUSLY (10-0). You can learn more about this item here.

The City Council held one PUBLIC HEARING 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@fayettevillenc.gov 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 Approval of Economic Incentives for Project CrossFit presented by presented by Mr. Robert Patton, Jr., Fayetteville-Cumberland Economic Development Corporation Vice-President. There were no speakers for this agenda item. Council member Hondros moved to approve the economic development incentive grant to be paid out over five years to support Project CrossFit. Mayor Pro Tem Kathy Jensen seconded the motion. It passed UNANIMOUSLY (10-0). You can learn more about this item here.

City Council held one EVIDENTIARY HEARING during this meeting.

This evidentiary hearing was about Special Use Permit (SUP) to allow for the reduction in the separation requirement between Automotive Wrecker Services and any residential district, school, or childcare center, located at 3424 Cumberland Rd (REID #0426015026000) and being the property, Kodjo Sam Kouassi, Sam’s Towing. This item presented by Will Deaton, Planning & Zoning Manager.

There were two speakers in favor of this item.

Council member Thompson moved to approve the reduction of the separation requirement between an automotive wrecker service and residentially zoned property subject to the submitted site plans and conforming to the current Unified Development Ordinance standards as depicted on the attached site plan, as presented by staff, based on the standards of the City's development code and the evidence presented during this hearing. And that the application is consistent with applicable plans because: (1) the development is located in a Heavy Industrial (HI) zoning district and (2) that this use complies with the findings listed and (3) the proposed permit is in the public interest because the proposed SUP does fit with the character of the area. This Special Use Permit shall become effective with the approval of the Order of Findings by the City Council.

The special use complies with all applicable standards, conditions, and specifications in this Ordinance, including in Section 30-4.C, Use-Specific Standards.
The special use will be in harmony with the area in which it is located.
The special use will not materially endanger the public health or safety if located where proposed and developed according to the plan as submitted and approved;
The special use is in general conformity with the City's adopted land use plans and policies;
The special use will not substantially injure the value of the abutting land, or the special use is a public necessity; and
The special use complies with all other relevant City, State, and Federal laws and regulations.

The motion was seconded by Council member Banks-McLaughlin. It passed UNANIMOUSLY (10-0). You can learn more about this item here.

There was one OTHER ITEM OF BUSINESS on the agenda.

12.01 Additional Polling Location for November 2025 Municipal Election Council. The Cumberland County Board of Elections reached out on February 14, 2025, inquiring if the City of Fayetteville plans to request an additional One Stop Early Voting polling location for the November 2025, Municipal Election as was done in 2023. The Board of Elections has advised the approximate cost for an additional polling location is $40,000.00. Mayor Colvin presented this item to Council members. Council member Benavente moved to add Cliffdale Recreation Center as an additional polling location for the November 2025 Municipal Election. Council Member Banks-McLaughlin seconded the motion. It passed UNANIMOUSLY (10-0). You can learn more about this item here.

There was one ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT during this meeting that focused on a proposal to enact a clean-up ordinance for vehicle collision sites, Wrecker Operators to Clear Debris from Accident Sites. At the request of the City Council, the City Attorney's Office researched whether the city could enact an ordinance requiring all wrecker/tow operators to clear debris from accident sites within the city of Fayetteville. Currently, there is no ordinance requiring such. However, wrecker operators on the city's approved wrecker rotation list are required to clean debris from crash sites. Council member Benavente moved to authorize the City Attorney’s Office to draft an ordinance for Council’s consideration. This motion was seconded by Council member Haire, and it passed UNANIMOUSLY (10-0). You can read more about those items here.

The meeting ADJOURNED at 9:05 p.m.

The next City Council Work Session will be held on Monday, March 3 at 2 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 at Fayettevillenc.gov/city-council.

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