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 verifiab...
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