Before councilwoman leaves, Yvonne Kinston makes several requests

Council member Yvonne Kinston is making several item requests to City Council before she leaves on Aug. 11.

Kinston was voted out during the 2022 City Elections, losing her spot to newcomer Deno Hondros.

In the upcoming work session for City Council, Kinston has proposed four agenda items. The items all have one common theme - to get City Council to review previous talked-about issues and get the other members to come to a solid place.

Market House Mural

Kinston is proposing City Council establish a solid timeline for a possible mural to be painted around the Market House. The new mural would replace the "Black Lives Do Matter. End Racism Now" painted around the Market House in 2020 and repainted in 2021.

This comes during the same meeting where the Diversity Equity & Inclusion Human Relations Department will give a presentation to the City Council about the repurposing of the Market House. Since March 28, the Fayetteville-Cumberland Human Relations Commission was directed to collect further community input on ways to repurpose the Market House.

The top responses included:

• Compile and publish true and accurate information about the history of the Market House utilizing the research of reputable historians and sociologists.
• Change the language of the Market House plaque to reflect the involuntary nature of the enslaved.
• Provide history using multiple media options (written and digital) and in formats that are accessible to those with sight and hearing limitations.
• Market House: Commission local artisans to create temporary exhibits that depict the Market House and Fayetteville's history, prioritizing Black history.
• Market House: Commission local artisans to create temporary exhibits that depict the Market House and Fayetteville's history, prioritizing Black history.
• Regularly publish communication that provides the community with updates on progress related to repurposing.
• Encourage continued community contribution by releasing “casting calls” for local artisans to develop artistic displays and, when possible, allow the community to vote on creative options informally.

The ad-hoc committee wants to recommend the council to vote to change the plaque at the Market House, provide information in different formats (i.e., QR codes, ADA, compliant methods, written, etc.), and use the four corners of Market Square to display rotating art exhibits by local artisans.

Storm Water Ordinance

Kinston wants to continue a discussion of sorting out concerns that citizens had with their storm water issues and maintenance. She would like the council to send this discussion back to the Storm Water Department and the Storm Water Committee.

One of a series of photos Councilmember Kinston plans on presenting to the work session.City of Fayetteville

City Council to Review Policies

In her last two requests, Kinston asks for the City Council to review the Member Policy and Procedures and then update and change any items that may be outdated. She also asks for the City Council to review the assignment of members or liaisons to committees and see if they comply with their term limits.