Fayetteville City Work Session Recap – March 3, 2025
Published on March 04, 2025
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - The Fayetteville City Council met March 3, at 2 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers for the monthly work session to discuss matters relevant to the city.
The meeting was CALLED TO ORDER at 2:02 p.m. followed by the invocation offered by Council member D.J. Haire and the Pledge of Allegiance lead by the Mayor and City Council.
Council member Haire moved to APPROVE THE AGENDA. This was seconded by Council member Malik Davis. The motion PASSED UNANIMOUSLY (8-0).
There were nine OTHER ITEMS OF BUSINESS discussed during the work session.
The first item discussed was the Cumberland County 2025 Revaluation Presentation and Update. This item was presented by Cumberland County Tax Administrator Joe Utley. During his presentation provided numbers and the process for the 2025 property revaluation. Cumberland County Tax Administration has completed the 2025 Revaluation of real property within Cumberland County. As required by North Carolina state law, all real property must be reappraised at least every eight years. The purpose of the revaluation is to ensure tax assessments are uniform, fair and equitable for all citizens. You can learn more about this item here.
The second item presented to the City Council was the Fayetteville Cares Day Resource Center’s FY 2025 second quarter report, which was presented by Cory Lamkins, Fayetteville Cares Day Resource Center Director. The Day Resource Center is a multi-disciplinary day center for people at risk or currently experiencing homelessness. The Day Resource Center reported significant successes, few challenges the center faces, and future goals. You can read more here.
Interim President & CEO Ashanti Bennett then provided the Downtown Municipal Service District FY 2025 Second Quarter Update from Cool Spring Downtown District, Inc. (CSDD). This quarterly report is from Oct. 1 – Dec. 31, 2024. The CSDD provides enhanced services for an arts and entertainment focusing on the Downtown Municipal Service District (MSD). This service contains five service elements: Economic Vitality and Development; Art and Design Enhancements; Promotion and Marketing; Special Events and Programming and Partnership, along with Organizational Support and Conflict Resolution. You can read more about this item here.
The next item on the agenda presented was about School Resources Officer Program Framework and Recommendations from the Science Policy Action Network, Inc. (SPAN). This item was presented by Dr. Richard Watkins and MK Gamble with SPAN. SPAN has worked with the city, Cumberland County, Cumberland County Schools, and students to develop a comprehensive model for School Resource Officers (SRO). In addition to working with the stakeholders within the city, SPAN has conducted a thorough academic literature review, and review of best practices within the state and nationally. This presentation focused on results of the research and a recommended framework for moving forward with a comprehensive SRO program. In August 2024, the city entered into an agreement with the Cumberland County Schools (CCS) to provide SROs within the city limits. At that time, the agreement was for one year, with the anticipation that a comprehensive agreement and scope of services would be developed for the 2025-26 school year. Mayor Pro Tem Kathy Jensen moved to direct staff to schedule a joint meeting with the County and CCS to begin the development of a long-term SRO agreement. It was seconded by Council member Deno Hondros. The motion gained consensus with Council member Mario Benavente opposed to the consensus motion.
Council member Hondros then moved to direct staff to gather additional information on best practices for school nurses, mental health professionals, and guidance counselors based on the number of students in a school setting with an amendment by Council member Benavente to gather the Cumberland County’s Sheriff’s SRO data from the previous year, prior to Fayetteville Police Department assuming the roles for schools within the city limit. This motion was seconded by Council member Benavente; it gained consensus. You can read more here.
Mayor Pro Tem Jensen moved to excuse Mayor Colvin from the meeting. It was seconded by Council member Lynne Greene. The motion gained consensus.
Fayetteville Area System of Transit (FAST) Director Tyffany Neal then presented on the Request for Fare-Free Transit (FAST) Service for the United Way Dolly Parton Imagination Library Story-Times. FAST has been working with the United Way of Cumberland County and other agencies in efforts to address literacy rates in Fayetteville and the surrounding community. To tackle literacy challenges from an early age, the Literacy Council is launching its first initiative "Imagination Library Story-Time" in partnership with Cumberland County and Fort Bragg Libraries. Beginning in March 2025, this weekly program will provide families with young children engaging opportunities to develop a love of books and reading. To remove transportation as a barrier for young children to access this program, the United Way requested FAST transit services be fare-free from 8 a.m. until noon each Saturday in March. Council member Benavente moved to authorize fare-free transit (FAST) service from 8 a.m. until 12 p.m. each Saturday in March 2025. It was seconded by Council member Courtney Banks-McLaughlin. The motion gained consensus and will be on the consent agenda during the March 13 City Council Regular Meeting. You can read more here.
The next agenda item discussed the Proposed FACT Committee By-Laws Revision Modifying Meeting Frequency. The proposed change to the by-laws was presented by the Fayetteville Advisory Committee on Transit (FACT) Chairperson Austin Campbell. Within the past year, FACT consistently struggled to reach a quorum. This proposal recommended changing the current FACT Committee meeting schedule from monthly to every two months. The committee anticipates improved attendance by shifting to a bi-monthly meeting schedule as members will have more time to prepare and engage meaningfully in each meeting. This change is also expected to increase overall satisfaction and participation from committee members. Council member Benavente moved to accept the revision of the FACT by-laws to reflect a bi-monthly meeting structure and was seconded by Council member Davis. The motion gained consensus. You can read more here.
The next item discussed was in regard to the Substantial Amendments to the Housing and Urban Development 2022 - 2023 and 2024 - 2025 Annual Action Plans presented by Assistant Economic and Community Development Director Alex Baker. City Council adopted the 2022 HUD Annual Action Plan allocating $400,000 of Housing Opportunity for People With Aids (HOPWA) funds for Tenant Based Rental Assistance and $200,000 for Housing Development (Housing Trust Fund). Similarly, City Council adopted the 2024 HUD Annual Action Plan allocating $652,526 of HOPWA funds for Housing and Support Services and $200,000 for Housing Development. Staff has attempted to utilize HOPWA funds to develop more income restricted units in our community but have not been successful at investing those funds. After attending HOPWA training, staff has determined that this is not an effective use for these funds and that they are needed as Housing and Support Services to enable our Project Sponsor to be fully funded for the remainder of this Fiscal Year. City Council is asked to review and consider the proposed Substantial Amendments to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) 2022 - 2023 Annual Action Plan (AAP) and the 2024 - 2025 AAP to move $400,000 from Housing Development to Housing and Support Services within the Housing Opportunities for People With AIDS (HOPWA) program. Council member Haire moved to accept the report and was seconded by Council member Benavente. This motion gained consensus. You can read more here.
The Office of Strategic & Performance Analytics (SPA) tracks each City Council Agenda Item from its approval to completion. Strategic and Performance Analytics Manager Chris Lowery presented a summary to highlight each City Council Agenda Item Request and provide a status of these approved items. Council member Davis moved to accept the report, and it was seconded by Council member Greene. The motion gained consensus. You can read more here.
Lastly, Council member Benavente requested to gift The Magnificent Marching Machine of E.E. Smith High School Band Director Roosevelt Pratt, Jr. the Key to the City due to his leadership and achieving the highest reputation across the state and country for excellence. This request gained consensus. You can read more here.
The meeting adjourned at 4:58 p.m.
The next City Council Regular Meeting will be held on Thursday, March 13 at 6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers in City Hall. 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/citycouncil.
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