4H Club
Monday morning I had the opportunity to visit with a 4H club who were working on restoring the community garden off Dry Avenue across from Bliss Reality. It was abandoned in 2015 and was totally overgrown. They have cleared out most of the brush and are now working on removing small tree trunks in the raised beds. It is my understanding that they meet every Monday morning to work on the community garden if you want to lend a hand.
Mental Health
Monday Wake County Commissioner Stallings shared the following:
“… I am excited to share this mental health training opportunity for adults who work with our youth that has developed over the past several months (planning started in August 2023). It was an idea brought to Andi Curtis at Wake Med from Raleigh City Councilwoman Christina Jones and area DBT psychologist Dr. Melanie McCabe. Dr. McCabe uses DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) in her mental health practice and she wants to offer training to adults who work with Wake County youth to help adults teach DBT skills to youth. DBT therapy is skills based, and aims to help youth learn behavioral and emotional regulation skills, social problem solving skills, and conflict resolution skills. A detailed DBT training manual has been developed for adults who work with youth in communities, and Dr. McCabe and her colleagues are willing to offer 2 separate training days free of charge to community members interested in receiving the training (parents, civic club leaders, parks and recreation mentors, camp counselors, faith leaders, coaches, 4-H leaders, etc) – March 7, 2024 and April 23, 2024.
A person interested in the training only needs to attend 1 day of training (8:30 am – 4:30 pm). There likely will be opportunities for consultation circles to develop for those who receive the training.
A number of community, education, and behavioral health stakeholders have been involved in the planning and organization of this work (including me).
The City of Raleigh and Alliance Health will be paying for the training manuals/materials and the lunches for the 2 training days. Efforts to collect data will also be included so we can track progress and success, which will help us determine the need for follow-up training or additional training opportunities if we end up having a wait list of people who want to receive the training.
I wanted you to know about this exciting opportunity, and to give you the opportunity to share with your Council colleagues and community networks so people can begin registering for the training …”
Wake County Mayors Association
Ten of the twelve Wake County Mayors met Monday night for the first of our monthly meetings in 2024. Absent were the mayors of Apex and Raleigh. Our discussions focused on the 2024 calendar, community accomplishments, and the upcoming property reevaluations. Most of the mayors believed they would not be able to do revenue neutral because of inflation and increasing costs. Our meeting lasted about two and a half hours.
CAMPO
Wednesday afternoon I attended a meeting of the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Executive Board (CAMPO). We are responsible for carrying out an annual work program which includes updating the Transportation Improvement Program (a seven-year project programming schedule) and the Metropolitan Transportation Plan (a minimum twenty-year forecast of projects and programs). The agenda for this meeting had two consent items, one public hearing, and eight discussion items.
The public hearing was for an amendment to FY2024-2033 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). These amendments had no significant impact on Cary were approved unanimously.
Under discussion items, the Chair, Mayor Jones, and vice-chair, Commissioner Lawter, were reelected.
CAMPO staff presented the LAPP (Locally Administered Projects Program) projects. Three Cary projects were part of the LAPP report:
- Crabtree Creek Greenway Connector (Weston Parkway Grade Separation) – Final plans have been submitted for approval. One remaining easement is needed. Construction authorization is planned in the next two to three months.
- Carpenter Fire Station Road Widening – Utility relocation which includes burying power lines on the east portion of the project began this month and is expected to take approximately a year. Construction authorization will be issued after this phase is completed.
- Old Apex Road Sidewalk Gap – Staff continues to coordinate with the railroad which is a lengthy process to obtain design and permit approval. Construction authorization is planned in the next two to three months.
Information was also presented on GoTriangle, the Unified Workplan for next fiscal year, a regional rail committee update, and the US 1 North project. The executive board unanimously approved a study for tolling US 1 North of I540 since that is not scheduled for freeway changes until the late 2030s.
The meeting concluded after about two and a half hours before going into closed session to discuss merit increases for the Executive Director.
Foutainworks and Retreat Prep
Thursday I met with a representative for Fountainworks, who will be facilitating our annual council-staff retreat at the end of February. We went over a few dozen topics, and I was asked to rate them as least to most important for the retreat. The Fountainworks representative will do this with each council member to decide what to cover at the retreat. Remaining topics will be covered and discussed at quarterly meetings or work sessions.
NC Representative Cervania meeting
Thursday afternoon I met with NC Representative Maria Cervania who represents parts of Cary. We talked about ways she could help Cary in her role as legislator. My main point was do no harm. So many times, legislation is introduced to fix an issue with one municipality by making a bill for all municipalities. That type of legislation can prove very harmful to some municipalities.
Private Citizen Meeting
Later Thursday I joined council member Smith, and Housing Director Whelehan to meet with two citizens about affordable housing. Based on their questions and comments they were mostly curious about our commitment to affordable housing and how they can help. I explained that one of the most impactful ways we can address affordable housing is through partnerships. Currently, Cary is exploring several partnerships including several churches.
State of Cary Slides Overview
Thursday evening, I met with town staff to go over the first set of slides for the State of Cary address. We narrowed down the slides to 36 and cleaned them up. I will give the address multiple times throughout the year and speak from these slides.
Interview with TBJ
Friday afternoon I did a taped interview with Jason Christie, the President, and Publisher of the Triangle Business Journal. Cary will be receiving an award on February 15th for one of its “spaces”. It was fun for me to talk about a place in Cary that is so special.
State of Cary Slides Final Overview
Friday evening, I joined two staff members for one more review of the State of Cary slides. They will be finalized by Monday, and I will practice from that version.
Town Manager’s Report
Sean’s Message
I recently met with the managers of Wake County, Morrisville, and RDU to update each other on current issues and shared interests along our jurisdictional boundaries. This was a very positive meeting and important in helping ensure our relationships stay strong by maintaining open and effective communications for potential future collaborations. I have a great deal of respect for these colleagues and always find our time together to be incredibly valuable.
Have a good weekend.
Sean
Walnut Street Community Meeting
Last night, Police held a community meeting for neighbors along the Walnut Street corridor. Councilmembers Carissa Kohn-Johnson and Michelle Craig joined Chief Sult, Police staff, and Deputy Manager Russ Overton, to listen to citizens and answer questions regarding pedestrian and vehicular concerns along this corridor. There were good comments by citizens and discussion of many short-, middle-, and longer-term solutions. Staff told citizens that Cary would be bringing back plans for a “road diet” that included a median and narrower lanes including more bicycle and pedestrian facilities. Chief Sult reiterated that there will be more opportunities for citizen dialogue and discussion moving forward, and the focus is on education, engineering, and enforcement. Police has enhanced enforcement in the area while working to collect and analyze traffic information for continued problem-solving efforts with Town staff and the community.
2024 MLK Dreamfest Weekend
During the long weekend, Cary honored the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a diverse range of programs which invited citizens to reflect on social justice issues championed by Dr. King. The weekend included a live comedy show, a “Tellebration” storytelling for kids, and a “Dreamfest Celebration” multi-performer showcase production at the Cary Arts Center on Saturday evening. Sunday featured an Interfaith Service at Christ the King Lutheran Church and a Village Gathering at Cary First United Methodist for a community meal and discussion. Citizens were invited to conclude the Dreamfest weekend with a Day of Service at Good Hope Farm.
Accessory Dwelling Unit Community Meeting
Cary is proposing an ordinance amendment to broaden the locations where accessory dwelling units (ADUs) can be constructed. Over 90 citizens joined a virtual meeting on January 17 to provide input. This initiative aligns with the 2021 Cary Housing Plan, aiming to enhance housing options and meet diverse resident needs. Citizens are encouraged to send comments and questions about the proposed amendment to 311@carync.gov . Next steps will include a review of public input into draft language for an ordinance amendment and then presenting the draft findings to Cary’s Town Council for a public hearing in the coming months.
Imagine Cary Community Plan Interim Update
Starting next week, staff will present the draft Imagine Cary Community Plan Interim Update to Cary’s Boards and Commissions. They will provide an overview, answer initial questions, and follow up with each board and commission in their March meetings to gather feedback and comments on the draft. The initial draft will be available for public review and feedback from January 23 to March 31.
Fire Hosts Civil Unrest Class
Fire partnered with Wake Tech Community College to host a Civil Unrest and Planning for Public Safety Agencies class on January 18 in the Council Chambers. About 100 attendees, including members of Cary Fire and Police, as well as other regional public safety partner agencies, learned about current and emerging threats. They also gained insights into the requirements for planning and safely responding to riots or violent protests in their community.
Fire Hosts GiGi’s Playhouse Friends
Crews from Fire Station 2 had already established a relationship with GiGi’s Playhouse, located in their district. They further strengthened this connection on Wednesday when some GiGi’s friends visited the firehouse, bringing food for a great bonding experience over lunch and a station tour.
Transportation Staff Visits Reedy Creek Middle School
Transportation staff, David Spencer and Anthony Campbell, visited with tech savvy students at Reedy Creek Middle School to talk tech in Cary. The discussions with 6th, 7th, and 8th graders focused on the innovative Smart Cities applications occurring in Cary which incorporates Big Data, video analytics, predictive algorithms, and drones.
GLOW Kicks off with Under the Silver Moon Lantern Parade
On Saturday night, more than a thousand spectators and participants gathered in Cary’s Downtown Park for a community parade and celebration of light with handmade lanterns, music, and entertainment. Academy Street Artwork Projects and internationally renowned visual teaching artist Gowri Savoor, led a series of lantern-making workshops in preparation for the Under the Silver Moon Lantern parade as a part of the GLOW 2024 outdoor exhibition. Brian Magee took some amazing photos of the event.
West Chatham Street Closure Planned
As a reminder, beginning Monday January 22, West Chatham Street will be closed between Harrison Avenue to Academy Street. The temporary road closure is expected to last one week.
Upcoming Meetings
Planning and Zoning Board
Monday, January 22
6:30 p.m.
Cultural Arts Committee
Wednesday, January 24
6:00 p.m.
Council Work Session
Thursday, January 25
4:45 p.m.
Council Meeting
Thursday, January 25
6:30 p.m.
Mayor’s Mailbox
- Dozens of complaints about rezoning proposal 22-REZ-14 next to Cameron Pond.
- A request to give State of Cary Address.
- Interest from a business to get involved in Cary.
- A complaint from a non-profit about being relocated from South Hills because it was sold.
- Complaints about property reevaluation. (These are done by Wake County and the average increase in Cary is 56%. Some will be more, and some will be less. Mine was 64%.)
- A complaint that there aren’t enough parking garages in downtown Cary. (We have the Walker parking deck. Under construction soon the Meridian Cary deck at Harrison and Chatham, the Rogers deck across from the Cary theater, the Meridian East deck at Chatham and Hunter, and the Number 5 deck at the roundabout of Chatham and Old Apex.)
- A complaint about the rezoning that will connect Middleton Avenue.
Next Week
Next week’s activities include staff meetings, preparations for the first State of Cary address, State of Cary address for the Cary Chamber, meeting Seniors at town hall, a council work session, the second regularly scheduled council meeting of January, and a tour of the proposed South Hills development.
Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, January 28th, 2024. Although I have Facebook and Twitter accounts those are not the best means of communication 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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