The Fayetteville City Council held a special work session to discuss a proposed ordinance regarding house parties within the city limits.  During the discussions councilmembers were at odds on whether the ordinance was unconstitutional.

Background:  The ordinance was written in response to several  insidences of teen violence during residential house parties.

To view the proposed ordinance click here.    housepartyordinance

Talking points of the ordinance:

• House party is defined as a gathering of eight (8) or more individuals over the age of twelve (12) at or within a curtilage of a residence (curtilage – an area of land attached to a house and forming one enclosure with it)
• Registration of house parties – tenants and homeowners within the City of Fayetteville are encouraged to voluntarily register house parties with the Fayetteville Police Department.  The Fayetteville Police Department may conduct random house checks or directed patrols at registered house parties
• Unregistered house parties – owners and tenants may be subject to a civil penalty in the amount of five hundred dollars ($500.00) after the initial call for service by the police to an unregistered house party

Motion:  A motion was made by councilman Crisp to table the ordinance until the August work session.  The motion PASSED with councilman McDougald voting in opposion.

What Was Said:

Councilman Colvin Mitchell – “You have to have punitive response but we need to get the balance right not punishment.  There should be a path for non-compliance.  We need to spend more time to hash it out.  We need more time before Monday night.”

Councilman Chalmers McDougald – “I agree.  You come to my house you better have a search warrant.  I have a gathering once a month…I don’t think this is legal.  You gonna profile my house?”

Councilman Bill Crisp – “I have 10 or 12 at my house for dinner and not a month goes by where I don’t.  I can’t in good faith endorse this right now.”

Councilwoman Jenson – “Mitch and I are the closest in here to have parties.  Everyone has to change their mind.  Kids want this ordinance and they want it bad.  They are begging.  We don’t need to think of ourselves.  If we don’t do anything they won’t be safe.”

Mayor Robertson – “What does a random house check mean?”

Assistant Police Chief Anthony Kelly – “The ordinance doesn’t give you the right to go in a home.  It may need rewording.  We want to be fair.”

Councilman Crisp – “We are infringing on adults to protect children.”

 

On May 3rd, a group of organizations, businesses, residents, elected officials and city/county staff met at the Fayetteville Habitat Humanity office to discuss proposed revitalization efforts around the B Street Area.

Background (information is from the City of Fayetteville B Street 2010 police report) – The area is plagued with quality of life issues that correlate with crime that has occurred for over thirty years presenting a classic case of “broken windows.” Police have responded using reactive and proactive strategies as a band aid approach providing temporary relief through arrests. This strategy was developed to respond to causal factors, establish partnerships for community involvement and participation, and increase the likelihood of permanent improvement for the area.

Click here to view the police report regarding B Street.   http://www.popcenter.org/library/awards/goldstein/2010/10-33.pdf

Click the link below for the B Street map.  The area within the purple boundaries is the revitalization area.

bstreetmap

Talking points regarding the revitilazation

• Habitat For Humanity met with Fayetteville’s Chief of Police Harold Medlock to discuss the neighborhood revitalization project
• Habitat met with Habitat International for seed money.  International has initially approved a $100,000 grant
• Current residents have been asking for 20 years for help to revitalize the community
• The community coalition for this project is crucial for it’s success
• Habitat Development Director Erica Gordan is working with the Fayetteville police department in a grant application of 1 million dollars
• Fayetteville State University is also providing the research to help obtain the police grant
• Habitat will receive funding for the revitalization for the next 3 years
• The coalition will have town hall meetings on a regular basis
• A “Rock the Block” will be held on B Street in July
• There will be a range of housing products to include new construction, rehabilitation, painting projects

Habitat is using a “Five Step Approach to Asset Based Community Development.”

1. Mapping completely the capacities and assets within the targeted “B Street” area
2. Building relationships among local assets (the community & residents) for mutually beneficial problem-solving within the community
3. Mobilizing the community’s assets fully for economic development and information sharing purposes
4. Convening as broadly representative a group as possible for the purpose of building a community vision and plan
5. Leveraging activities, investments and resources from outside the community to support asset-based locally defined development

Breakdown of the B Street area.

22 rentals (some multi-family)
15 owner occupied
38 vacant lots
46 parcels zoned commercial with some residential on them
9 need condemned
1 lot next to a school could potentially be used as a community garden

130 total parcels

The B Street project includes:

What Was Said:

Elizabeth (B Street resident) – “I have lived 57 years on B Street.  I want to be able to sit on my porch and have a glass of tea and not worry about getting shot at.”

Tammy Laurence – “It’s not Habitat driving this train…it’s all of us.”

Donna Decker (Habitat Director of Neighborhood Revitalization) – “I am not a bit fearful of this neighborhood.”

What’s Next?

June 30 – Coalition Meeting
July – “Rock the Block”

 

It’s that time of year again.  The FRAR Annual Patriotic Luncheon.  Association members please join your colleagues for a fun way to give to RPAC.  Please follow the link below for more information!

June Luncheon Carnival flyer