Council Meeting Prep
Monday in preparation for the council meeting I contacted each council member to hear of any questions or concerns about the agenda. The agenda was very short so there was only a clarification. Later in the day I met with staff briefly to go over the agenda.
Town Manager One-On-One
After the agenda meeting, I met with the town manager for our weekly one-on-one. Some of the topics we discussed included a MacGregor Lake issue, the DEI task force, the future Center at the South Hills mall site, and the council appointment from last week.
Atlantic Tire Championship Board Meeting
Later in the evening I met with the Atlantic Tire Championship Board. Our discussion was mostly on sponsors and materials to present to sponsors. We also talked about new activities to be held during tournament week. Our meeting lasted about two hours.
World University Games Coming in 2029
Tuesday evening it was announced by the Executive Committee of the International University Sports Federation (FISU), based in Lausanne, Switzerland, that North Carolina will be the host of the 2029 FISU World University Games. The FISU World University Games are the world’s largest event for student athletes, ages 18-25. We are so proud that North Carolina has been chosen to host the World University Games in 2029, and we look forward to showing off to the world the amazing tennis, soccer, and baseball facilities that we have in Cary. In the years between now and then, we look forward to collaborating with our fellow host communities to make this an incredible event not only for the athletes but also for their friends, family, and fans as well as and most especially for Cary’s citizens and business owners.
Meeting with Senator Chaudhuri
Thursday afternoon I met with NC Senator Chaudhuri via zoom. We talked about how we could help each other in the upcoming legislative session. I asked that he protect us from losing local authority. We also talked about lobbyist that are representing the town. Cary is blessed to have two great senators representing them: Jay Chaudhuri and Gale Adcock.
Meeting with Council-Elect Ryan Eades
Thursday evening, I met with Ryan Eades who will be sworn in as a Cary Council member on January 26th. The purpose of the meeting was to get to know each other better and ask and answer each other’s questions. I described myself as fiscally conservative and socially liberal but politically left of center. He described himself as fiscally conservative and socially liberal and politically right of center. Our meeting lasted about 45 minutes. I look forward to all Ryan will bring to the council.
Council Meeting
Friday the council held its first regularly scheduled council meeting of the year. The agenda was very short and included two consent items, no public hearings, and two discussion items.
Under discussion the council unanimously approved a staff recommendation to appropriate $78,250 of funds from the Federal Equitable Sharing program for the purchase of six electric bicycles and one side-by-side utility vehicle to serve the Downtown police team and Cary’s Park system. In attendance were the officers that will be serving Cary’s downtown park.
In other action the council also unanimously approved a resolution approving the updated “Town of Cary (GoCary) Title VI Program” and authorized the Town Manager or designee to submit the Program to the FTA. You can find out more about the program update here. In staff’s presentation they talked about GoCary bus stops usage of solar. Compared to other municipalities, we about double the usage of solar.
The council meeting concluded after about twenty minutes.
Downtown Park Tour
Friday morning I joined Mayor Pro-Tem Frantz, council member Robinson, the town manager, assistant town manager, and several staff members in a tour of the downtown park construction. We were able to visit key components of the park which are mostly built such as the Academy Plaza, Gathering Place, Park Street Courts, Bark Bar, and the children’s play area. The two giant play structures (Birds) will be placed by crane on Monday, January 16th from 9 to 12 which will be exciting. The park is on schedule to open late summer. You can find out more about the park here.
Tet Vietnamese New Year Festival
Sunday I joined Secretary of State Marshall, NC Senator Adcock, Morrisville Mayor Cawley, and Raleigh Council Member Patton in the Tet Vietnamese New Year festival in Raleigh. The event consisted of traditional and current song and dance celebrating the Vietnamese culture. There was also amazing food and drink.
Town Manager’s Report
Sean’s Message
A few weeks ago, I went inside the fence surrounding the Downtown Park for the first time, and I was blown away. I don’t know how words alone could describe all the feelings that occur when you see and touch and are surrounded by the amazing architecture, materials, and craftsmanship.
This morning I had the opportunity to go inside again, but this time my attention was on what the Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem, and Council member Robinson were experiencing. I think it’s fair to say that they, along with the staff who accompanied us and the Directors who toured earlier in the week, were, well, blown away.
I really want to encourage the remaining Council members and Directors to schedule a tour. Before we know it, the park will be complete, and seeing it at this point in its development simply is not to be missed.
Also this week, we finished taping the interviews that will comprise this year’s retreat video. As you know, we explored the concept of living inspired, and, not surprisingly, the park was mentioned many times.
As we approach another three-day weekend, I hope we can each take a moment to reflect a little more on what Live Inspired means to us and to do so within the context of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr holiday, officially our National Day of Service.
Whether Council or staff, we’ve chosen to serve, to work to make our community and the lives of those who comprise it, better.
In Cary, we are so fortunate that we aren’t alone in this. Our non-profits, our places of worship, our businesses, our artists, and our activities really do come together on the most important things – and it just isn’t this way everywhere.
Sean
Neighborhood Services Committee Kickoff
Cary’s Neighborhood Services Committee convened for their initial kick-off meeting this week. Dan Ault, Carla Witherington, and I shared our vision for the group including how their work contributes to creating the local government that doesn’t exist. Moving forward, this group of employees will meet regularly to think strategically and holistically about complex community issues such as traffic calming. This was demonstrated through recently installed offset speed humps along Loch Highlands Drive in attempt to calm speeds while avoiding impacts to emergency vehicle response times.
First Public Meeting of 2023
The first of three planned public meetings for the new community center to be located at Mills Park was held this week. The citizens in attendance given an overview of current trends with community center design and then given an opportunity to show their preferences. Special Thanks to all staff that helped with the event, 311, Public Works, and Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources staff.
RFQ Posted: Wake BRT Western Corridor Station Area Planning
Cary and Raleigh are actively preparing for a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor that will connect the two downtown areas. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) awarded a grant to support Transit Oriented Development (TOD) planning work in the station areas along this corridor. An RFQ to select a consultant to lead this effort has been posted, with a due date extension of February 1, 2023. Questions should be directed to Kelly Blazey, Transit Director.
Open Space Survey
Mailings were sent out last week to randomly selected citizens to participate in a survey regarding a new Open Space Plan and an updated Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Master Plan. The plan is linked here. The gathered information will guide recommendations for years to come. Additional public input will be sought over the coming months. A public survey is also available for all members of the community to provide their input on the future of Cary’s open space, parks, greenways, recreation and cultural resources.
Beaver Creek Pump Station Improvements
In December, a second bar screen and an odor control improvement project at the Beaver Creek Wastewater Pumping Station was completed and is now in operation. The Beaver Creek Pump Station receives wastewater from western portions of Cary, Apex, Morrisville, and the Wake County portion of RTP and conveys to the Western Wake Regional Water Reclamation Facility for advanced wastewater treatment. The installation of the second bar screen helps in the removal of debris from the sewer system, improves maintenance capabilities, reliability, and adds redundancy for more effective and efficient management of our remote wastewater facility. Enclosures were also added to house the trash dumpsters to dispose of the debris. These improvements streamline operations and further serve Cary’s goal of being a good neighbor at our utility facilities.
Upcoming Meetings
Human Relations, Inclusion, & Diversity
Tuesday
January 17 at 6:00 p.m.
Public Art Advisory Board
Wednesday
January 18 at 6:15 p.m.
Greenway Committee
Thursday
January 19 at 6:00 p.m.
Mayor’s Mailbox
- A complaint about the left turn signals at Tryon and Cary Parkway
- A complaint about construction around MacGregor Lake
- A concern about pedestrian safety at Penny Road and Ederlee Drive
- A complaint about a broken elevator at Willow Creek Apartments
Next Week
Next week’s activities include staff meetings, the delivery of Bird structures to the downtown park, a Wake County Mayors Association meeting, a Human Relations and Diversity Task Force Meeting, a Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Executive Board meeting, and an Affordable Housing Luncheon.
Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, January 22nd, 2023. Although I have Facebook and Twitter accounts those are not the best means of communications with me. Please send all Town of Cary questions or comments to Harold.Weinbrecht@townofcary.org and email personal comments to augustanat@mindspring.com.
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