City Government

Mayor

The Mayor is the elected Chief Executive Officer for the City of Fayetteville and is the presiding officer for the City Council. As Chief Executive Officer of the City, the Mayor has a statutory duty to oversee the enforcement of City policies, ordinances, administrative rules, and State laws, as well as direct City offices and employees to discharge their duties.

City Council

The City of Fayetteville operates under a Mayor-Council form of government. In this system the City Council is the legislative and policy-making body of city government. It sets city policy by passing ordinances and resolutions. The Council also determines the city budget and appoints and removes certain board and commission members.

The City Council is composed of eight council members and a Mayor. Two council members are elected in each of Fayetteville's four wards by city voters and are directly responsible to the people. General municipal elections take place on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in even-numbered years. Four council members are elected at one municipal election, and four council members at the next. The term of office for a council member is four years and a council member may serve an unlimited number of terms.

City Attorney

The City Attorney's office provides general legal advice, drafting of ordinances and resolutions, and special services to the City Council, the Mayor, the Planning Commission, and the Board of Adjustment as well as City departments and staff. This office also represents the City in land condemnation and other civil cases in state and federal courts and in appeals to state and federal appellate courts.

City Clerk

The City Clerk/Treasurer Division maintains the official records and public documents of the City of Fayetteville. The division provides staff support for the City Council agenda process and records the proceedings of City Council meetings; codifies and publishes City ordinances; prepares for City Elections; administers oaths of office; receives candidate and initiative petitions; and certifies and files financial statements, financial interest disclosures, code of ethics disclosures, pension board affidavits, and insurance certification; and coordinates the appointment procedures for the City's citizen boards, commissions, and committees.

District Court

The District Judge is an elected position responsible for the adjudication of all criminal and civil cases. This program provides a forum for the prompt resolution of cases filed. The court plans to continue improving its collections on fines and costs assessed and to set cases for trial within 60 days after the arraignment date. In 2001, Amendment 3 was passed by Arkansas voters. This Constitutional Amendment has effected the court. The first change was that all Municipal Courts become District Courts. This name change became effective on July 1, 2001. Other changes will depend on the outcome of the 2003 Legislative Session.