The City Council held their annual planning retreat. The day long meeting took place at the Cape Fear Botanical Gardens. A full council was in attendance in addition to city administration and staff. The following are top priroties for the coming year.
1. Crime & safety
2. Economic Development
What Was Said:
Councilman Crisp – “We’ve been depending on the Alliance and the Chamber. We’re depending on other people. We want to drive our train because it hasn’t been done.
Councilman Colvin – “We haven’t seen rapid progress. We have to support small business in our community.”
Councilwoman Jensen – “We need a campaign to make people feel guilty for not spending money in Fayetteville.”
Mayor Pro Tem Davy – “Tony Chavonne is doing a good job with the downtown alliance and he will begin bringing ideas back to the council.”
Councilman Mohn – “Could we lobby the General Assembly to add Shaw Heights to the city?”
Ted Voorhees (City Manager) – “It has been suggested in concept but no.”
Mohn – “Can we get a bill?”
Councilman Arp – “It should have been annexed…it has an impact on the city.”
3. Parks & Recreation
What Was Said:
Jensen – “We need to take the elephant and chip away.”
Voorhees – “We need a bond package…none of us bought our house with cash. This gives us the ability and a responsible way for large capital.”
Council suggestion – updated Parks & Recreation plan
4. Customer Service
5. Homelessness
What Was Said:
Mayor Robertson – “We have a boarded up building and we have had some cold nights. Without this being on the radar, staff will not see it as a priority.
6. Land Use Plan
Other Business:
Deteriorating Neighborhoods
What Was Said:
Scott Shuford (Development Services Director) – “There are gaps created in neighborhoods…need to be more active. We have got to overcome the local developer not interested in inner city development.”
Colvin – “Is there an incentive to close the gap?”
Victor Sharpe (Community Development Director) – “With low to moderate income, we can acquire land and encourage them to build developments..take a risk. We have land but local developers are not willing to take the risk and part of it is location. If we can come up with the right project…”
Rochelle Small-Toney (Assistant City Manager) – “We need a land bank. The city acquired properties and puts it back out on the street.”
