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Fayetteville council hears second-quarter update on FY25 strategic priorities including mental‑health co‑response and housing investments
Summary
City staff told the Fayetteville City Council on Feb. 24 that its FY25 strategic plan has advanced projects in violence reduction and mental‑health response, affordable housing and youth engagement; council received the report unanimously and asked staff to integrate the county where appropriate.
City staff presented the second‑quarter update on Fayetteville’s FY25 strategic plan at the Fayetteville City Council meeting on Feb. 24, reporting progress on five priorities: violence reduction and mental‑health response; affordable housing and revitalization; youth engagement; economic development on city‑owned property; and city branding and communication. Council voted unanimously to receive the report.
Chris Lowery, strategic and performance analytics manager, told the council the city completed 15 collaborative initiatives in quarter two and recorded 47 individuals served by the city’s mental‑health liaison. "In quarter 2, we've completed 15 collaborative initiatives with various community partners," Lowery said, adding the city is building an OCS (Office of Community Safety) staffing plan and exploring co‑response models with local partners.
The presentation listed concrete housing milestones: adoption of a Section 108 lending policy, closing on three affordable housing projects that leveraged about $3,600,000 in city investment, and launching a single‑family housing development program that made 47 lots available for affordable housing. Staff said an RFQ for a historic‑preservation grant in the Bragg Hill community was issued and that ARPA funds were being used to remove blighted properties without tapping the general fund.
On youth engagement, staff reported continued work on the Orange Street School renovation and a ribbon cutting scheduled for Feb. 27 at 4 p.m. The second floor will house STEM programming, including a technology/art studio, science lab and recording studio. The parks and recreation division also received grants for youth football safety equipment and applied for program support for a summer concert and fireworks event.
Council members pressed staff on outreach and partnership details. Council member Benavente suggested adding online survey prompts to the redesigned city website so the high‑traffic site could capture resident priorities; staff agreed they could add a fillable feedback form. Council member Thompson asked that Cumberland County be shown as an explicit partner on violence‑reduction materials; staff said Cape Fear EMS and other county‑linked providers are current touch points and that county agencies will be included as the effort matures.
Why it matters: the report ties multiple city programs — mental‑health co‑response, housing investments, youth programming and property disposition — to council priorities and funding decisions. Council requested follow‑up work plans and implementation timelines to be presented for approval later in the budget cycle.
Staff said quarter‑three updates will return in May 2025 and that concrete work plans for priorities set at the council’s recent retreat are expected for implementation beginning July 2025.
