TO: Mayor and Members of City Council
THRU: Douglas J. Hewett, ICMA-CM, City Manager
FROM: Jackie Tuckey, Management Analyst
Kelly Olivera, Assistant City Manager
DATE: October 24, 2022
RE:
Title
North Carolina History Center Foundation Report and Adoption of Budget Ordinance Amendment 2023-7
end
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S):
Council District(s)
All
b
Relationship To Strategic Plan:
Goal 4: Desirable Place to Live, Work, and Recreate
Executive Summary:
In 2018, the City donated 17 parcels to the North Carolina Civil War and Reconstruction History Center Foundation. That action and others have supported the Foundation’s effort to develop a state-supported history center in Fayetteville. Since that time, the Foundation has received further support from the State of North Carolina and completed several phases of the masterplan. The NC History Center project was recently approved for funding by the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners for $7.5M. In order to access this funding, the History Center Foundation must receive $6.6M from the Fayetteville City Council.
Foundation members will provide a report on their efforts and answer any questions from Council. In making the presentation, it is also anticipated that the Foundation will seek support for funding the remaining $6.6M from the City’s earlier pledge of $7.5M.
Background:
Beginning in 2012, the Foundation presented the idea of developing a 60,000+ square
foot historical facility focused on the Civil War to be developed on the historic site of the
Fayetteville Arsenal.
In October 2015, the City provided the Foundation $100,000 to support the development of project plans and estimates in order to support further project development and fundraising efforts.
On December 12, 2016, the Council adopted Resolution No. R2016-081 “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Fayetteville in Support of the Proposed North Carolina Civil War History Center (attached).” The resolution expresses a willingness of the City to provide $7.5 million in funding “contingent upon [the Foundation] receiving matching
County support and State funding.” Cumberland County did subsequently act to provide a matching commitment.
In 2018, the City donated 17 parcels to the North Carolina Civil War and Reconstruction History Center Foundation to create the campus for the History Center. Credit for the donation of land, valued at $870,000, along with an earlier monetary grant brought the city’s remaining pledge to approximately $6.6M.
Since that time, the Foundation was allocated $59.6M towards the construction of the History Center by the State of North Carolina with their FY 21-22 budget adoption. Additionally, on September 13, 2022 the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners reaffirmed their earlier $7.5M pledge for construction of the History Center contingent upon the City reaffirming our funding pledge, too.
For several years there has been discussion about broadening and expanding the title of the history center to better reflect inclusiveness of this effort. At a community meeting held at Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church on October 11, 2022, the Secretary of the NC Department of Cultural Resources stated that the name of the history center would be the “North Carolina History Center on the Civil War, Emancipation & Reconstruction.” The logo is attached.
Issues/Analysis:
To be discussed at the Council meeting.
Budget Impact:
Should the Council proceed, staff would recommend funding $3M of the $6.6M pledge with the adoption of the attached budget action. While the appropriation of the $3M of funds would be effective immediately, the funds would not be released to the Foundation until July 1, 2023, in accordance with a Memorandum of Agreement that will be presented to Council at a future date, once crafted.
Options:
1) Reaffirm the City’s support for this project through authorization of Budget Ordinance Amendment 2023-7 and direct staff to work with the Foundation Board and the State of North Carolina to create a Memorandum of Agreement, with any conditions requested by Council.
2) Do not adopt Budget Ordinance Amendment 2023-7 and provide further direction to staff.
Recommended Action:
Reaffirm the City’s support for this project through adoption of Budget Ordinance Amendment 2023-7 and direct staff to work with the Foundation Board and the State of North Carolina to create a Memorandum of Agreement, with any condition requested by Council.
.
Attachments:
Resolution formally requesting funding of $6.6M
Letter from Ken Howard
State Budget excerpt funding the History Center
December 12, 2016 Resolution for Pledge of $7.5M for History Center
July 24, 2018 Letter regarding the City’s pledge balance
North Carolina History Center on the Civil War, Emancipation & Reconstruction Logo
Budget Ordinance Amendment 2023-7