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 March 8, 2021 | ISSUE 83 | FayettevilleNC.gov  Tree plantings underway at Murchison Road Corridor Tree plantings are underway at a section of the Murchison Road Corridor. Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks and Recreation crews are planting Cherry and Oak trees along Murchison Road between the MLK Freeway Bridge and the Rowan Street/Bragg Boulevard Bridge. The plantings are part of the Murchison Road/Bragg Boulevard Study adopted by the Fayetteville City Council. Drivers can now see significant progress. The work area is marked with orange construction cones. Plantings began in January and will likely end in April. The planting schedule is dependent upon daily weather conditions. A total of 100 trees will be planted. When plantings are complete, lights will be added to trees, creating a lit gateway to the Rowan Street/Bragg Boulevard Bridge. In the future, art can be displayed in the plaza between the trees. The total cost of the tree plantings, so far, is $15,000. Costs will be covered with money from the City of Fayetteville Tree Preservation Fund. “As we move forward with Murchison Road Corridor improvements, we want to preserve and enhance the natural environment,” Mayor Mitch Colvin said. “I feel investments in landscaping and beautification help strengthen and define our community values and increase our civic pride. I am excited to see the beginning of a great transformation for this area.” The Arbor Day Foundation named Fayetteville a 2019 Tree City USA. City leaders are awaiting a decision on the 2020 application.  Plan for overpass mural moves forward The plan for an overpass mural at I-295/Ramsey Street is moving forward. The Fayetteville City Council accepted the Public Arts Commission recommendation to approve a design created by Raleigh Artist JP Jermaine Powell. N.C. Department of Transportation Engineers will review the design for roadside safety and environmental requirements. If approved, mural painting could begin this spring. Work may conclude by July. The overpass mural is part of the City’s Corridor Revitalization Project. Project leaders chose I-295/Ramsey Street as the first mural location because of its proximity to I-95. Traffic volume and available funding were also contributing factors. A committee, including local art professionals, used a blind competition to select the mural artist. The committee reviewed work of 14 artists without seeing artist names. The Committee chose Powell, after seeing his design strengths. Powell later attended a meeting with residents of North Fayetteville. Together, they decided on mural themes and symbolism: a windmill (symbol of agriculture, history and energy), yellow and green colors (inspired by Pine Forest High School) and silhouettes to represent neighbors and recreation activities. “I wanted the mural to tell a story of how the rich and historical past of this community will lead to a vibrant, community-led future,” Powell said. Upon completion, an anti-graffiti coat will be applied to the mural. Project leaders say the mural could last 8 to 10 years before significant repairs are necessary. The total budget for the project is $130,000. The project is supported in part by Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks and Recreation. The Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County has a $35,000 cooperative agreement with the National Endowment for the Arts to support the project. To find out more about how National Endowment for the Arts grants impact individuals and communities, visit www.arts.gov.  Lindsay hired as Assistant City Manager Adam Lindsay will be the newest Fayetteville Assistant City Manager. Lindsay begins the role on March 1. “My entire municipal career has been spent in North Carolina and I am excited to be able to now call Fayetteville home for my family and I and to be a part of such a great team,” Lindsay said. Lindsay brings a wealth of experience to his new role and most recently was the Town Manager of Clayton from September 2016 – August 2020. Lindsay also served as Assistant City Manager for the Town of Southern Pines. Prior to that, he was Director of Budget, Performance, and Strategic Management for Rockingham County. Lindsay earned his Master of Public Administration degree at UNC-Chapel Hill. He received a Bachelor of Arts Communication degree from N.C. State University. “Adam brings a breadth of experience on dealing with municipal issues currently facing our community,” said City Manager Doug Hewett. “Equally impressive, though, is Adam’s ability to connect and communicate with others to resolve tough issues. He will be a great addition to our team.”  City Council defines and sets strategic goals The Fayetteville City Council conducted their annual strategic retreat on Feb. 19 and 20, defining and setting their strategic goals for the next fiscal year at the conclusion of the retreat. The retreat was conducted this year on Zoom due to COVID, with several residents on the call, in addition to city staff. This year’s strategic goals are defined by council as follows: Safe and Secure Community Responsive city government supporting a diverse and viable economy City investment in today and tomorrow Desirable place to live, work and recreate Financially sound city providing exemplary city services Collaborative citizen and business engagement The 2-day retreat was facilitated by Dr. Deb Manzo, who directs the North Carolina Performance Excellence Coaching Program. Anti-Litter Campaign for Cleaner Communities Cumberland County Solid Waste is teaming up with the City of Fayetteville and the nonprofit Sustainable Sandhills to launch an anti-litter campaign called 5 for Friday. The program formally launched on Feb. 26.The campaign’s goal is to encourage businesses, schools, community groups and individuals to reverse litter by having people pick up five pieces of trash and recyclable materials every Friday. “If 5,000 people picked up five pieces of litter every week, Cumberland County would reduce its litter footprint by 1.3 million pieces of litter,” said Cumberland County Solid Waste Management Director Amanda Bader. County and City residents are invited to sign the 5 for Friday pledge online at 5forfriday.org. As the campaign grows, you may see 5 for Friday decals and posters on windows or in spaces throughout Fayetteville and Cumberland County. The mascot, Stan the Can, will appear in social media videos and at events to promote this campaign. “We encourage residents to post their litter pickups on social media and use the hashtags #5forFriday and #StantheCan to help spread awareness of the campaign,” said Sustainable Sandhills Sustainability Program Manager for Waste Management Katrin Franz. “Please bag trash in your vehicle and put it inside a trash can. The more residents and businesses help, the cleaner our community will be, we are all in this together,” said Fayetteville Assistant Public Services Director Daniel Edwards.  COVID-19 Information Updated COVID-19 information is on our website, which can be reached either by going to the homepage (FayettevilleNC.gov) and clicking on the alert banner, or by going to FayettevilleNC.gov/COVID19. The information on that page is updated each weekday.MORE CITY NEWS  Watch FayTV (the City’s Government Access Channel) programming at your convenience on the City’s YouTube channel! Subscribe to the channel and get notified of new content. Click here to subscribe.  In this City Update, learn more about the Lafayette Trail and its connection to Fayetteville.  In this City Update, learn more about the new mural that will be painted at one of the gateways to Fayetteville.  In this episode of the Fayetteville 411, the coach of the Fayetteville Marksmen Hockey and the Executive Vice President joins the show to talk about their upcoming season in October.  Things To Do Calendar Fayetteville Woodpeckers Downtown Parking Community Watch Meetings Schedule Housing Snapshot Permits Council District Map Council District Finder Council Meeting Agendas Council Meeting Minutes Archive Crime Mapping City of Fayetteville App (Apple App Store | Google Play) FayFixIT App (Apple App Store | Google Play) Police App (Apple App Store | Google Play) Open Data Portal Transparency & Accountability Webpage City Happenings E-Newsletter Archive |
