TO: Mayor and Members of City Council
THRU: Douglas Hewett, ICMA-CM, City Manager
FROM: Jodi W. Phelps, Assistant City Manager
DATE: June 8, 2026
RE:Title
Approve Standardization of Peer City Analysis Title
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COUNCIL DISTRICT(S):
Council District(s)
All
b
Relationship To Strategic Plan:
This item supports all adopted City Council strategic goals and objectives.
Executive Summary:
This report informs Council on the standardization of peer city benchmarking across the City and the operationalization of the list. This work is the result of a Council Member Request that gained the consensus of Council at the April 6, 2026 Work Session. This list serves as the consistent reference group when staff evaluates programs, services, policies, fees, compensation structures and other municipal functions against comparable North Carolina municipalities. In addition, it provides guidance and context on how the City will evaluate the use of other U.S. cities to ensure a full review of best practices nationwide.
Background:
Benchmarking against peer municipalities is a widely recognized best practice in local government management. It enables evidence-based decision-making, promotes competitive positioning, and supports accountability to residents and elected officials. Previously, peer city comparisons were conducted on an ad hoc basis, resulting in inconsistent reference groups across departments and analytical efforts.
To promote consistency, credibility, and efficiency in benchmarking activities, the City Manager's Office has established a standard list of peer cities to be applied uniformly across all City departments and analytical functions.
Issues/Analysis:
PEER CITY LIST
The standard peer city list consists of the ten (10) largest municipalities in North Carolina by population, including the City of Fayetteville. This population-based criterion was selected because it provides an objective, data-driven, and publicly verifiable basis for peer group composition.
The list is as follows:
|
Rank |
City |
Approx. Population |
|
1 |
Charlotte |
~925,000 |
|
2 |
Raleigh |
~482,000 |
|
3 |
Greensboro |
~302,000 |
|
4 |
Durham |
~299,000 |
|
5 |
Winston-Salem |
~251,000 |
|
6 |
Fayetteville |
~210,000 |
|
7 |
Cary |
~185,000 |
|
8 |
Wilmington |
~125,000 |
|
9 |
High Point |
~120,000 |
|
10 |
Concord |
~110,000 |
Population figures are approximate and based on the most recent U.S. Census Bureau estimates. The composition of this list will be reviewed periodically and updated as warranted by significant changes in population rankings.
IMPLEMENTATION
The standard peer city list has been communicated to all City department directors and will be incorporated into the following analytical and planning activities:
• Compensation and classification studies
• Fee schedule analyses and rate-setting reviews
• Budget comparisons and fiscal benchmarking
• Service level evaluations and performance measurement
• Policy and program development research
• Grant applications and funding analyses requiring comparative data
Departments may supplement this standard peer list with additional comparators when justified by the specific nature of an analysis (e.g., subject-matter-specific peers or regional context); however, the standard list shall always be included as the baseline reference group in such cases.
Flexibility to Include Additional Peer Cities
The City recognizes that certain analyses may benefit from a broader or more tailored peer group beyond the standard ten North Carolina cities. Accordingly, staff retains the flexibility to incorporate additional peer cities on a research-specific basis when any of the following conditions apply:
• The analysis involves a specialized service, function, or industry sector where relevant comparators are best identified by operational characteristics rather than geography or population size alone;
• A funding agency, accrediting body, or professional association prescribes a specific peer group as part of a grant, certification, or compliance requirement;
• A department director or the City Manager determines that demographic, geographic, economic, or service-delivery similarities make an out-of-state or non-ranked municipality a meaningful comparator for the purpose at hand; or
• A research request originating from Council indicates programs, services or operations of interest in additional cities not included in the standard ten.
When additional peer cities are incorporated, staff reports shall identify the supplemental comparators and provide a brief rationale for their inclusion. The standard ten-city list shall remain the baseline and shall always be reported alongside any expanded peer group to ensure consistency and comparability across analyses.
Incorporation of National Best Practices
Peer city benchmarking will not be limited to comparative data alone. Where applicable, staff will supplement local peer comparisons with national best practice research to ensure that Fayetteville’s policies, services, and programs are evaluated against the highest standards in municipal government. Sources for national best practice guidance may include, but are not limited to:
• International City/County Management Association (ICMA) research, standards, and performance benchmarking programs;
• National League of Cities (NLC), Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA), American Public Works Association (APWA), and other recognized professional associations;
• Academic and policy research institutions specializing in local government, urban management, and public administration; and
• Nationally recognized high-performing municipalities identified through awards programs, peer networks, or industry publications as leaders in a given service area or functional domain.
This approach ensures that Fayetteville is not only competitive among its North Carolina peers but is also actively learning from and positioning itself alongside leading municipalities across the country. Staff reports incorporating national best practices shall clearly distinguish between local peer comparisons and national benchmark references.
Budget Impact:
There is no budget impact to this item.
Options:
1. Accept the recommendation and allow staff to continue implementation of the standard-ten peer city list.
2. Provide guidance and send item back to staff for further review.
Recommended Action::Recommended Action
Accept the recommendation and allow staff to continue implementation of the standard-ten peer city list.
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Attachments:
Draft standardization memo to SLT, formally affirming peer city list and process.