The Fayetteville City Council met Jan. 6, at 2 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers for the monthly work session to discuss matters relevant to the City.  

Following the meeting being called to order, invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance, City Manager Doug Hewett gave a report on the state of the City. During the report, he shared that the city’s Economic and Community Development Department issued a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for local nonprofits and qualified partner organizations in November that will close Sunday, Jan. 26. 

Funding availability includes an Emergency Home Repairs program, Community Development services focusing on low-to-moderate income individuals and households, Homeless Response Support and Prevention, Affordable Housing Development, Opioid abatement programs, and Housing Opportunities for Persons with Aids programs and services. 

Afterwards, the Council began discussion on 11 Items of business, starting with the State Action Plan. 

The plan was prepared by City staff prepared, with input from Council, for consideration and formal adoption. The adopted plan will communicate and coordinate state funding and legislative advocacy agenda priorities. The proposed State Action Agenda addresses items the City will focus advocacy on in the year ahead impacting economic development for the region, the City’s relationship and support of the military installation and service members, improving public infrastructure and transportation, advancing public safety goals, and affecting the quality of life for Fayetteville residents.

A total of $12 million was requested in state funding for the 2025 with three key focuses including: 

 QUALITY OF LIFE

• $2 million for homeless support initiatives to include shelter and emergency shelter operations.
• $2 million for Cape Fear River Park Trail Extension Phase II.
• $2 million for Solid Waste & Transit facility modernization and improvements. 

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 

• $1 million for workforce development initiatives including STEM and NextGen workforce.

PUBLIC SAFETY

• $3 million for regional law enforcement training center. 
• $1 million for mental health co-response. 
• $1 million for community-based violence interruption programs.

More detailed goals were also broken down within the the State Action Agenda within those focuses including: 

Infrastructure and Transportation

AIR SERVICE

• Runway Extension: Less restrictive NC Airport Improvement Program (AIP) guidelines.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM

• FAST (Fayetteville Area System of Transit) West Fayetteville Hub: Seek funding for construction of west Fayetteville hub to increase access, service and operational efficiency.
• Service Expansion to Ft. Liberty to expand transit services for military communities.
• Expansion of Passenger Rail Connectivity: State support and advocacy for completion of passenger rail routes from FAY to RAL and FAY to WLM.

INFRASTRUCTURE

• Protect Grant Projects: Align local transportation priorities with Protect Grant eligibility and DOT priorities.
• Dam Infrastructure: Coordinate with state agencies to include Iron Lake and College Lakes dams in hazard mitigation plans.
• Pedestrian and Safety Projects: Request state funding for implementing completed safety studies.

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION/TRAILS

• Cape River Trail Extension: Advocate for state funding to support the trail’s recreational and environmental benefits.

Housing & Community Development

• Affordable and Workforce Housing: Legislative policy, actions and funding programs to increase affordable and workforce housing in Fayetteville.
• HOME and CDBG Funding Supplement: Consider supplemental state funding and programs aligning with federal programs to more efficiently address stabilizing individuals and families.
• VASH Voucher Program: State policy and funding support to offset costs of the program.
• Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP)/Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP): Alignment of housing initiatives with state fair housing priorities and address barriers to program engagement with state support.

Public Safety

• Recruitment and Retention: Advocate for legislative changes to extend the Law Enforcement Officers Separation Allowance (LEOSA) to firefighters.
• Support Law Enforcement recruitment and retention efforts with state support, policy and programs.
• Firefighter Cancer Benefits: Advocate for the continuation of the NC Firefighter Cancer Benefit Program beyond 2025
• School Resource Officers: Expand public education funding to support School Resource Officer Program.
• Office of Community Safety: Seek state funding for pillars of the office addressing youth intervention, gun violence, homelessness, and mental health.
• Ghost Gun Regulation: Support legislation that prohibits and imposes strict penalties for ownership and use of ghost guns in NC.
• PFAS Disposal: Work with state agencies to address PFAS foam collection and disposal challenges.

Quality of Life & Economic Development

• Tax Allocation: Equitable tax distribution among local government entities.
• I-685 Connectivity: Interstate connectivity linking I-95 and I-295 to the proposed I-685 through Cumberland County.
• Sewer/Water Extension: Support sewer and water infrastructure expansion that encourages increased economic development activity.
• Blight Removal: Support and funding for programs that enhance the City’s ability to engage in blight removal in key development areas.
• Corridor Improvements: Support City corridor improvements to support key corridors of Murchison, East Fayetteville, Airport, Bragg Blvd and I-295 interchanges.

The next item council, staff and partners discussed was the Federal Action Plan for 2025. Before the presentation began, Assistant City Manager Jodi Phelps highlighted successes from the previous community project successes through federal funding/federal action plan. During this presentation, the City’s federal lobbyists briefed City Council on the drafted Federal Action Plan and presented their work with the City to communicate and coordinate federal funding and legislative advocacy agenda priorities. 

The City’s 2025 federal priorities will align with one of four key focus areas that support the City’s Strategic Plan.

1. Supporting workforce growth and economic independence.

2. Advancing housing opportunity and community infrastructure.

3. Ensuring a high-quality quality community-based veteran and military support system.

4. Providing sufficient mental health and community safety resources to meet needs.

The federal advocacy agenda is developed annually as a result of input from staff and Council and closely aligned with interests and priorities of legislators and agencies. With all input incorporated, the document will be formally adopted by Council and shared with federal representatives during office visits and conversations with our congressmen and senators.

Both of the action plans will move forward to the Jan. 13 regular meeting for consent by city council.