Mayor Ed Johnson and the Fayetteville City Council on June 15 officially adopted a resolution declaring Fayetteville to be a “City of Civility,” joining many other Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) members in doing so.

“I think that the City of Fayetteville, in the time that I have been on this Council, has always demonstrated civility and respect in conducting our meetings,” said Mayor Johnson. He noted it was a formality for the Council to officially adopt GMA’s resolution.

GMA’s full press release is provided below.

City of Fayetteville named a City of Civility by Georgia Municipal Association

Fayetteville, Georgia – June 27, 2023 – The City of Fayetteville has been designated as a City of Civility by the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA). City of Fayetteville adopted a civility resolution in GMA’s new Embrace Civility program on June 15, 2023.

A 2019 poll by Weber Shandwick revealed that over 90% percent of Americans believe that incivility is a problem, with nearly 68% percent identifying it as a major problem. Civility is more than just politeness; it is about disagreeing without disrespect, seeking common ground as a starting point for dialogue about differences, listening past one’s preconceptions and teaching others to do the same. 

“Fayetteville shall be a city of innovation, opportunity, and uniqueness that fosters a vibrant and welcoming community for all.” – City of Fayetteville Vision Statement

GMA, in partnership with the Association’s nonprofit organization, Georgia City Solutions, created the Embrace Civility program to equip Georgia’s cities with resources to create more civility in their meetings and among their residents and meeting attendees. Civil behavior and speech are critically important to a healthy, functional, and respectful society. For public service to be effective, there must be an atmosphere of respect and tolerance and a commitment to a healthy public exchange of diverse ideas and viewpoints. 

“I commend the City of Fayetteville for embracing civility and adopting the resolution to become a GMA City of Civility,” said GMA CEO and Executive Director Larry Hanson. “We believe that Georgia’s cities have a great platform to model open, free, and vigorous debate, while maintaining the highest standards of civility, honesty, and mutual respect.”

To become a City of Civility, city councils are required to adopt a Civility Resolution and pledge to engage in civil behavior with each other as well as with residents and meeting attendees. Cities also have a civility pledge that can be published or recited at meetings. Learn more about the Embrace Civility program at www.gacities.com/civility.

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