Fayetteville Council debates youth safety program modeled after Charlotte Ordinance

The Fayetteville City Council held a special meeting on May 5, 2025, to discuss youth safety measures and potential curfews. The meeting began with Council Member Davis prompting a discussion on a motion proposed by Council Member Mohandros, which aimed to gather more information regarding the implementation of a curfew and associated penalties.

During the discussion, Council Member McNair emphasized the need for clarity on the penalties for curfew violations, highlighting the importance of input from city staff, including the police chief. However, the motion to seek further information failed with a vote of 7 to 3, indicating a lack of consensus among council members.

Following this, Council Member Thomas proposed advancing a youth safety protection program modeled after the Charlotte Ordinance. This proposal aimed to address enforcement and penalties, which were outlined in the ordinance. Thomas suggested adjusting the curfew time from 10:00 PM to 11:00 PM to accommodate local football games, ensuring that the ordinance would reflect the needs of the community.

The motion to adopt the Charlotte model was seconded by Council Member Davis and sparked further discussion among council members. Council Member Benavente sought clarification on whether the proposal would replicate the Charlotte ordinance verbatim.

The meeting underscored the council's ongoing efforts to enhance youth safety in Fayetteville, with a focus on establishing clear guidelines and penalties. The next steps will involve further deliberation on the proposed youth safety protection program and its alignment with community needs.