Civics in Fayetteville & Cumberland County

Your voice is protected by NC law

North Carolina’s G.S. 160A-81.1 and G.S. 153A-52.1 require Fayetteville City Council and Cumberland County Commissioners to hold at least one public comment period per month at a regular meeting.¹ You don’t need to ask permission to speak — it’s a statutory right. The boards can set reasonable rules (time limits, sign-up requirements), but they cannot deny the period itself.

This page is a non-partisan, plain-language guide to participating in local government. It covers:

• How to speak at a public meeting
• How to email or write to officials
• Apply to serve on a board or commission
• Leadership academies — the pipeline to civic service
• All current boards and commissions
• An example: when citizen engagement changed a decision
• Thinking critically as a citizen

For meeting agendas, minutes, video, and how to research specific issues, see the companion guide: How to Research.

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How to speak at a public meeting

Fayetteville City Council Public Forum

The city’s public forum is a standalone monthly meeting held the first Monday of each month at 6:15 p.m.² (separate from the regular Council meetings on the 1st and 3rd Mondays at 7:00 p.m.). The total public-comment time is one hour, split among signed-up speakers.

To speak:

1. Sign up in advance through the City Clerk’s office, or in person at City Hall (433 Hay Street) before the meeting starts. Call (910) 433-1989 if you need to confirm the current sign-up window.
2. Each speaker is typically allotted 3 minutes.
3. You may speak on any topic that concerns city government. You do not have to be a city resident.
4. The meeting is recorded and posted to Legistar³ — your comments become part of the public record.

Cumberland County Board of Commissioners

The County uses a different procedure: regular meetings on the 1st and 3rd Mondays at 6:45 p.m., with public comment built in.

To speak:

1. Sign up using the Request-to-Speak form, available 15 minutes before the meeting starts in the Commission chambers.⁴
2. Or call (910) 678-7771 in advance, or email Clerk to the Board Andrea Tebbe at atebbe@cumberlandcountync.gov, to request the form by email.
3. Each speaker is typically allotted 3 minutes.
4. You must be a Cumberland County resident, property owner, or business owner to speak during the public-comment period.

What makes a good 3-minute comment

You have 180 seconds. Use them:

• First 30 seconds — who you are and why you’re here. “My name is Jane Smith. I own a small business at 200 Hay Street. I’m here to ask Council to extend the outdoor-dining permit deadline.”
• Next 90 seconds — what you want and why. State the specific action you want (vote yes, vote no, study the issue, refer it back to staff). Give one concrete reason. One reason said clearly beats five reasons rushed.
• Final 60 seconds — what success looks like. “If Council extends the deadline, my staff can keep working through July. If not, I’ll have to lay off two people.” End with a thank-you.

What not to do:

• Don’t read a long letter at full speed — slow speech is more persuasive than crammed speech.
• Don’t attack individuals. Comments about a council member’s character will be ruled out of order.
• Don’t make threats, legal or otherwise. They never help and often hurt your case.
• Don’t bring a slide deck or a video; only spoken words are allowed during public comment.

Public hearings vs. public comment

A public hearing is different from a public comment period. Hearings are held on specific items (a rezoning, a budget) and you can only speak to that item. They’re often held during the regular meeting, not the public forum. Watch for “Public Hearing” on the agenda — the chair will open the floor, take comments, and then close the hearing before the vote.

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How to email or write to officials

For many issues, a clear email is more effective than a 3-minute speech — staff and council read email between meetings, and your message becomes part of the written record.

Fayetteville City Council

• Mayor and all Council members at once: Use the contact form on the City Council Members page (the city does not publish a single all-council email).
• Your district’s council member directly: Look up your district on the Council Districts map (City Open Data Portal). Each member’s contact info is on the City Council Members page.
• City Clerk (for adding items to a future agenda or submitting written comments for the record): (910) 433-1989

Cumberland County Board of Commissioners

• Email all commissioners at once: web.commissioners@cumberlandcountync.gov
• Individual commissioners and bios: Commissioners directory
• Clerk to the Board: Andrea Tebbe — atebbe@cumberlandcountync.gov — (910) 678-7771 (use this address to submit written comments for the official record, or to add an item to a future agenda)
• Mail: PO Box 1829, Fayetteville, NC 28302-1829
• Fax: (910) 678-7770

Writing an email that gets read

Subject: [Specific item or vote] — [Your position in 5 words]
Example: Agenda Item 7 — Please support the outdoor-dining extension

Dear Mayor [Last name] and Members of Council,

I am a [resident / business owner / parent] in District [N]. I am
writing about [specific item, with the agenda number if there is one]
scheduled for the [date] meeting.

I [support / oppose] this item because:
  1. [One concrete reason, ideally with a specific number or example]
  2. [A second reason if you have one — don't pad]

If Council [does X], the result for me / my business / my neighborhood
will be [specific outcome]. If Council [does Y], the result will be
[different outcome].

Thank you for your time and your service.

[Your name]
[Your address]
[Your phone number]

Why specifics work

Council members hear hundreds of “support this” or “oppose this” comments. The ones that get cited in deliberations are the ones with a name, an address, an agenda item number, and a specific consequence. Anonymous mass emails are usually filtered out as form letters.

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Apply to serve on a board or commission

This is where most policy is actually shaped. Council and the Commissioners vote on what boards and commissions recommend.

City of Fayetteville

The City has 26 boards and commissions, of which 23 are open to citizen application.⁵ Volunteers serve as the link between residents and the governing body and help shape city policies and programs.

• How to apply: fayettevillenc.gov/boards — application is online
• Questions: Jennifer Ayre, Deputy City Clerk — (910) 433-1312 — boards@fayettevillenc.gov
• Current vacancies are announced periodically; the City posts them via news releases on the City Council page.

Cumberland County

• How to apply: Board Application portal
• Current vacancies: Board Vacancies page
• Eligibility: You must be a Cumberland County resident.
• Submit: Fax to (910) 678-7770 or mail to PO Box 1829, Fayetteville, NC 28302-1829.

Realistic expectations

Most board and commission seats meet 1–2 times per month for 1–2 hours, plus reading time. Terms are typically 3 years. The work is unpaid. You don’t need a credential — the city explicitly wants a mix of backgrounds. If you’ve been waiting for permission to participate, this is it.

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Leadership academies — the pipeline to civic service

Most Fayetteville and Cumberland County board members got their start in one of four local leadership programs. These programs are the most reliable way to build the relationships, knowledge, and credibility that lead to appointments — and several of them are free.

Are you a graduate?

If you’ve completed any of the four programs below, the City and County both look favorably on your board application. Mention it on your application. If you haven’t, the application windows reopen each year and there’s no fixed prerequisite — most participants come in with no government background.

1. Institute for Community Leadership (ICL)

A joint City–County program specifically designed to prepare residents for service on local boards and commissions.⁶ Alumni are actively recruited for appointments.

Detail
Cost	Free
Format	Seven monthly sessions, September–April (no December meeting)
Best for	People who want a direct path to a board appointment
Apply / learn more	leadership4us.org — see Program and Alumni

2. Leadership Fayetteville (Greater Fayetteville Chamber)

A 40+ year program that gives a deep, immersive understanding of Fayetteville, Cumberland County, and Fort Bragg / Fort Liberty.⁷ Class size is capped at 24 to maintain a tight cohort.

Detail
Cost	$950 tuition (covers meals, transportation, materials) — some employers cover this
Format	Nine full-day sessions, September–May
Class size	24 participants
Application window	Opens in spring (e.g., the Class of 2026 deadline was June 30, 2025)8
Best for	Mid-career professionals being groomed for civic, business, or nonprofit leadership
Apply / learn more	faybiz.com/leadership-fayetteville — contact Info@FayBiz.com

3. United Way of Cumberland County — Leadership Development Program (LDP)

A free board-training program designed specifically to prepare volunteers for nonprofit board service across Cumberland County.⁹ (Locally also referenced as the Multi-Cultural Leadership Development Program; the United Way’s current public branding is simply “LDP.”)

Detail
Cost	Free
Format	A series of informative classes focused on board governance, fundraising, fiduciary duty
Best for	People interested in nonprofit board service rather than government boards
Apply / learn more	unitedway-cc.org → Leadership Development Program — contact Crystal Moore-Williams, Community Impact Director, (910) 483-1179 ext. 229

4. Cumberland County Citizens’ Academy

A six-week annual program that tours participants through county departments and introduces them to elected officials and department heads.¹⁰ Shorter and lower-commitment than the others — a good first step.

Detail
Cost	Free
Format	Six weekly sessions; classes meet at different department locations across the county
Eligibility	Cumberland County residents (high-school age or older), County employees, and business owners
Best for	Curious residents who want a structured tour of how the county actually operates
Apply / learn more	cumberlandcountync.gov/citizensacademy — applications accepted year-round; applicants are placed on a waitlist until the next cohort dates are announced

Choosing between them

If you want to…	Start with
Get appointed to a City or County board	Institute for Community Leadership (free; explicitly designed for this)
Build a regional professional + civic network	Leadership Fayetteville (paid; deep + selective)
Join a nonprofit board	United Way LDP (free; nonprofit governance focus)
Understand how the county actually works	Cumberland County Citizens’ Academy (free; shortest commitment)

None of these are prerequisites for civic engagement — you can speak at a meeting tonight without graduating from any of them. But the residents who become long-term, influential community voices have usually done at least one. Most have done several.

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Current boards and commissions

City of Fayetteville

These are the boards open to citizen application. Roles vary from policy-shaping (Planning Commission, Public Arts Commission) to quasi-judicial (Board of Adjustment, Zoning Commission). See the full directory for descriptions, meeting times, and current vacancies.

• Audit Committee
• Board of Adjustment
• Citizens’ Police Advisory Board
• City Planning Commission
• City Zoning Commission
• Fayetteville Advisory Committee on Transit
• Fayetteville-Cumberland Human Relations Commission
• Fayetteville Next Advisory Commission
• Historic Resources Commission
• Joint City–County Appearance Commission
• Joint City–County Senior Citizen Advisory Board
• Linear Park Inc. Board
• Millennial Commission
• Personnel Review Board
• Public Arts Commission
• Stormwater Advisory Board
• Taxicab Review Board
• (and others — full count is 23 open to citizens)

Cumberland County

• Board of Health — policy and rule-making for County Public Health
• Transportation Advisory Board (TAB) — liaison for transit users
• Animal Services Board — hears appeals under the County animal-services code
• Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission (joint)
• Fayetteville-Cumberland Human Relations Commission (joint)
• Cumberland County Planning Board
• Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities & Substance Abuse Board
• Library Board of Trustees
• Board of Equalization & Review (tax appeals)
• Juvenile Crime Prevention Council
• (and others — see the full Board Descriptions page)

Meeting schedule (most-watched boards)

Body	Meeting schedule	Where to find agendas, minutes, video
Fayetteville City Council	1st & 3rd Mondays, 7pm	Legistar Calendar
Fayetteville City Council Public Forum	1st Monday, 6:15pm	Legistar Calendar
Cumberland County Commissioners	1st & 3rd Mondays, 6:45pm	CivicClerk Portal
City Planning Commission	2nd Wednesday, 4pm	City Development Services
County Planning Board	2nd Tuesday, 6pm	County Planning & Inspections
Historic Resources Commission	3rd Thursday, 4pm	City Development Services
Board of Adjustment	4th Tuesday, 4pm	City Development Services

Times occasionally shift — always confirm against the official calendar before showing up.

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An example: when citizen engagement changed a decision

This isn’t a partisan story; it’s a procedural one. In 2021, Fayetteville City Council was working with the U.S. Department of Justice to decide the future of the downtown Market House. The DOJ process gathered input from 80 pre-selected participants out of more than 200,000 city residents.¹¹

Several residents and council members objected to the narrow scope of public input. Councilmember Courtney Banks-McLaughlin moved to restart the engagement process to include broader, open public participation. The Council voted to do so — pausing a decision that had been on track to move forward, specifically because of concerns raised by citizens that the process itself was too closed.

The eventual decision (a 9-1 vote to repurpose rather than demolish or relocate the building) is a separate question from this procedural one. What’s noteworthy for this guide is that the process changed because citizens objected to the process. That’s a recurring pattern in local government: substantive outcomes are hard to flip, but procedural choices — who gets heard, how long the comment window is, whether a hearing is held — are often genuinely open to public influence.

Other things that have shifted in Fayetteville and Cumberland County after sustained citizen engagement, in recent years:

• Public comment forum was expanded from 30 minutes within the regular meeting to a full hour at a standalone meeting, after residents argued the old format didn’t allow enough time.²
• A data-center zoning ordinance was paused in 2026 after residents raised noise, water-use, and grid-impact concerns, sending it back to staff for revisions.¹²

These examples are deliberately mixed — some outcomes that activists on the left wanted, some on the right, some neither. The point isn’t who won. The point is that the process responds to engagement that is specific, persistent, and well-documented.

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Thinking critically as a citizen

Being a responsible citizen isn’t only about showing up. It’s about how you evaluate what you see and hear. A few habits worth practicing:

Read the primary source before the news article

The agenda packet on Legistar or CivicClerk is the primary source. The news article is a summary written by a person under deadline. Both are useful — but if you only read the article, you’re getting one person’s interpretation. The 10 minutes to open the packet PDF and read the actual staff memo is almost always worth it.

Distinguish a fact from an opinion from a prediction

• Fact: “Council voted 8-2 to approve the rezoning on March 17.”
• Opinion: “Council made the wrong call.”
• Prediction: “This rezoning will increase traffic on Bragg Boulevard.”

All three may be true; only the first is verifiable today. When you’re forming your own position, separate which is which. When you’re listening to someone else, ask which one they’re really making.

Notice who is paying for the message

Every flyer, op-ed, mailer, social media ad, and yard sign was paid for by someone. That doesn’t make it wrong — but it changes what it is. A “concerned citizens group” funded by a developer is making a different kind of argument than a neighborhood association of unpaid volunteers. Both are legitimate; both deserve scrutiny. Look at the bottom of the page for the “Paid for by…” line. It’s required by law for most campaign material and tells you a lot.

Verify before you share

The single most common way misinformation spreads about local government is well-meaning residents sharing a screenshot or a paraphrase on Facebook. Before you share something explosive about a council vote, a zoning decision, or a budget item:

1. Find the meeting. Was this in a regular meeting, a work session, a closed session?
2. Read the actual motion. What did the vote actually authorize? “Council approved X” can hide a lot of nuance.
3. Watch the video clip, not a paraphrase. Both the City and County post full video.
4. Look for the date. Old controversies recirculate every election cycle. A 2022 vote presented as last week’s news is unfortunately common.

Steelman the other side

Before you write your comment or send your email, write out — for yourself — the best possible version of the argument you disagree with. Not the worst version. The best one. Then write yours. You’ll either find your position is stronger than you thought, or you’ll discover it needs revision. Either outcome makes you a more effective citizen.

Be open to changing your mind

This is the rarest civic virtue and the most valuable. The people whose comments council members remember are not the ones who never budge. They’re the ones who said, last meeting, “I oppose this,” and this meeting, “After reading the revised packet, I support it because X changed.” That kind of evidence-driven update is more persuasive than any single speech.

Engage in good faith

A few practical guidelines:

• Disagree with the position, not the person. Council members and commissioners are your neighbors. So are the people who showed up to oppose you.
• Assume staff are doing their best. They almost always are. Frustration with a slow process is rarely the fault of the individual at the counter.
• Distinguish persuasion from pressure. A reasoned argument and a thousand identical form-letter emails accomplish very different things. The first changes minds; the second mostly hardens them.
• Show up more than once. Anyone can make a speech. The residents who shape policy show up to ten meetings, build relationships, and follow through.

The compounding effect

A single 3-minute comment is rarely decisive. A 3-minute comment followed by an email, followed by attendance at the relevant board meeting, followed by an op-ed in CityView, followed by a one-on-one coffee with the council member’s aide — that combination wins. Local government rewards sustained, multi-channel engagement far more than dramatic one-time appearances.

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Tell us what’s missing

Civic procedures change. Council times shift, board vacancies open and close, sign-up windows get updated. If you find something on this page that’s out of date, or a procedure you wish was documented:

• Email: wiki@faydta.com
• Or see Wanted Pages for content already on our list.

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References

Footnotes

1. N.C.G.S. § 160A-81.1 (cities) and § 153A-52.1 (counties), each providing: “The council/board shall provide at least one period for public comment per month at a regular meeting of the council/board.” Cities and counties may set reasonable rules but cannot eliminate the period. Full text: 160A-81.1 · 153A-52.1 ↩

2. “Fayetteville Council Limits Public Comments to New Standalone Meeting,” CityView, https://www.cityviewnc.com/stories/fayetteville-council-limits-public-comments-to-new-standalone-meeting/ — describes the move of the public forum to the first Monday at 6:15 p.m. and the expansion from 30 minutes to one hour. ↩ ↩²

3. Fayetteville City Council Legistar portal — agendas, packets, minutes, and video for all Council meetings. https://cityoffayetteville.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx ↩

4. “Register to Speak — Board of Commissioners,” Cumberland County. Sign-up sheet is available 15 minutes before the BOCC meeting; Request-to-Speak forms may also be obtained by calling (910) 678-7771. https://www.cumberlandcountync.gov/departments/commissioners-group/commissioners/register-to-speak ↩

5. “City encourages residents to apply for boards and commissions,” CityView, https://www.cityviewnc.com/stories/city-seeks-residents-to-apply-for-boards-and-commissions/ — reports the city’s 26 boards and commissions, 23 open to citizen application, and the contact information for Deputy City Clerk Jennifer Ayre. ↩

6. Institute for Community Leadership — joint Fayetteville/Cumberland County program. Seven monthly sessions September–April, no December meeting; no charge. Designed to prepare graduates for board and commission appointments. https://leadership4us.org/program ↩

7. “Leadership Fayetteville,” Greater Fayetteville Chamber. 40+ year program with immersive, hands-on sessions covering Fayetteville, Cumberland County, and Fort Bragg / Fort Liberty. https://www.faybiz.com/leadership-fayetteville/ ↩

8. “Applications open for Leadership Fayetteville Class of 2026,” BizFayetteville, April 2025. Class runs September 2025–May 2026; nine full-day sessions; tuition $950; 24 participants selected; application deadline June 30, 2025. https://bizfayetteville.com/more-news/2025/4/14/applications-open-for-the-leadership-fayetteville-class-of-2026/4159 ↩

9. “Leadership Development Program,” United Way of Cumberland County. Free board training designed to identify, develop, and enhance leadership skills, preparing graduates for placement on Cumberland County boards and committees. Contact: Crystal Moore-Williams, (910) 483-1179 ext. 229. https://www.unitedway-cc.org/what-we-do/initiatives/leadership-development-program/leadership-development-program.html ↩

10. “Citizens’ Academy,” Cumberland County. Free, six-week program open to Cumberland County residents (high-school age and older), County employees, and business owners. Includes tours of County facilities and meetings with elected officials and department heads. https://www.cumberlandcountync.gov/citizensacademy ↩

11. “City wants more citizen involvement in Fayetteville’s Market House decision,” Carolina Public Press, https://carolinapublicpress.org/52741/city-wants-more-citizen-involvement-in-fayettevilles-market-house-decision/ — reports the Council’s decision to restart the engagement process after residents and Councilmember Banks-McLaughlin raised concerns that the DOJ-led process had included only 80 pre-selected participants out of more than 200,000 city residents. ↩

12. “Fayetteville Hits Pause on Data Center Ordinance,” CityView, https://www.cityviewnc.com/stories/fayetteville-hits-pause-on-data-center-ordinance/ — reports the Council’s decision to pause and revise a proposed data-center zoning ordinance after public concerns. ↩