Fayetteville council adopts implementation plan for youth protection ordinance, removes juvenile adjudication language

Fayetteville City Council accepted staff nd police recommendations on implementing the youth protection (curfew) ordinance on Monday, approving a citywide outreach and enforcement plan and directing staff to return with follow-up reports this summer. Council also voted to remove a provision in the ordinance that had said juveniles —if found in violation— "are subject to being adjudicated delinquent." The implementation plan establishes a 30-day education period beginning June 9, followed by active enforcement set to begin July 9.

City managers and public safety staff said the plan pairs enforcement with expanded youth programming and community outreach. City Manager—rooke Redding described a multi-department task force that worked with partners including the Department of Social Services and the Department of Juvenile Justice to create a coordinated response. "This briefing reflects that coordinated work and we'll cover enforcement strategy and structure, youth programs, communications approach, and the road map ahead," Redding told council.

Nut graf: The city framed the package as a mix of education, services and enforcement: a 30-day grace period for outreach (June 9——), three pilot "late-night" youth events this summer, and new training and interagency protocols for officers handling contacts with juveniles. Staff said the ordinance will be enforced with officer discretion and a focus on referrals and supports rather than immediate criminal processing for first-time or single curfew-only incidents.

Implementation details and enforcement timeline The plan calls for a 30-day public education period from June 9 to July 9 during which staff said officers will not issue citations for curfew violations but will provide parents and youth with information and referrals. After July 9, the Fayetteville Police Department will begin enforcement of the ordinance with training for all sworn officers, written procedures for juvenile contacts and coordination channels with DSS and DJJ.

Michelle Gaines of the Office of Community Safety described the pilot youth programming: evening events from 7—0 p.m. at three sites this summer (Community Outreach Center on June 28; College Lakes Recreation Center on July 11; Cliffdale Recreation Center on Aug. 15). Gaines said the events will offer supervised recreation, mentoring spaces, and food, and that the city is centralizing a calendar of youth opportunities so families can find alternatives to being in public during curfew hours.

Chief Joyce of the Fayetteville Police Department said training will emphasize youth-centered approaches and officer discretion. "During that 30-day grace period, which will run from June 9 to July 9, no citations will be issued during that time frame," Chief Joyce said. He added that officers will continue to address any criminal offenses discovered during contacts.

What the council changed: juvenile adjudication language Council voted to remove the ordinance clause that read in part: "A juvenile who violates any section of this article is subject to being adjudicated delinquent." Council members said they wanted to reduce the risk that a first-time curfew-only contact would lead automatically to juvenile court processing. City legal staff said petitions remain a possible step in cases involving other offenses, recurring behavior, or when DSS/DJJ involvement is required under state law.

Community supports and remaining questions Staff said funding and programming are in early stages: the proposed FY26 budget includes $150,000 for the Office of Community Safety and additional microgrant funding in economic and community development for partner programs. Staff will return in late summer with updates on the pilot events, the expanded Crime Stoppers reward framework, and recommendations on special-event bag/mask policies.

Ending note: Next steps and oversight Council directed staff to implement the outreach and pilot programming immediately, to begin formal enforcement July 9, and to return with quarterly updates and any legal or operational changes needed. The council vote to accept the implementation package (and to remove the juvenile adjudication sentence from the ordinance) passed in a 9-1 vote.

Quotes "This briefing reflects that coordinated work and we'll cover enforcement strategy and structure, youth programs, communications approach, and the road map ahead," Brooke Redding, city manager's office. "During that 30-day grace period—rom June 9 to July 9 nd no citations will be issued during that time frame," Chief Joyce said.

Ending: Council members said they want the city to emphasize alternatives to enforcement and to track program results; staff will provide quarterly reports and return with required policy refinements.