Trip to Kansas City

Town Manager One-On-One

Monday I met with the town manager for our weekly one-on-one. Our discussion included my upcoming trip to meet with consultants on a potential recreation facility. Other topics included reevaluation and a potential bond this year.

Populous in Kansas City

Tuesday through Thursday I was in Kansas City with council member Bush and staff to meet with the consultant, Populous, to discuss concept ideas for a potential future Center to go at South Hills.

This potential facility would have a senior center, a community center, a competitive space, and a 4000-seat arena. Wake County has already committed $75 million if this facility is built. It would be a one-of-a-kind facility that would transform the South Hills part of Cary very much like the Downtown Cary Park has been a catalyst for downtown redevelopment. In addition to providing a much-needed senior and community center on the southern and eastern part of Cary, it has the potential to double the economic benefit from our sports venues.

A big thanks to council member Bush for hundreds of detailed questions and comments for the consultant. As we provided comments, the consultants were able to take those comments and create AI generated images which generated additional thoughts and comments. We were also able to look at and touch samples of ideas they had. The visit was very productive, and I look forward to furthering this concept.

Town Manager’s Report

Sean’s Message

This report features a variety of activities councilmembers and staff participated in this week.

Work continued this week on a potential recreation facility with a visit to Kansas City to meet with our consultant Populous.  As we further develop the concept, we will be seeking participation by other council members on a second visit, likely in March or April.  While I couldn’t attend, I do understand the trip was highly productive and informative!  Thank you to all who participated!

Retreat planning is in full swing with the directors hard at work developing their presentations. I look forward to presenting the topics for your consideration, post individual council feedback sessions, at the February 8 Council Work Session.

With January now behind us warmer weather will be here soon.  Enjoy your weekend!

Sean

Annual Regional Transportation Alliance Luncheon

Councilmembers Michelle Craig and Sarika Bansal joined staff for the annual Regional Transportation Alliance (RTA) State of Mobility meeting last week. Elected officials, transportation professionals, and business partners participated in interactive discussions focused on the priorities outlined in RTA’s Accelerated Metropolitan Mobility Strategy. Priorities include an enhanced regional transit system, rapid relief freeway improvements, and support for mobility innovations.

Driving Through Innovation

Yesterday, Cary ‘s Councilmember and SAS Global Public Sector Strategic Advisor Jennifer Robinson and staff member, David Spencer, were joined by NCDOT Sarah Searcy to play host and lead a panel for a Research Triangle Cleantech Cluster (RTCC) event “Cleantech Spotlight – Driving Innovation: Autonomous Transportation & Sustainability”.   Cary’s Chief Information Officer Nicole Coughlin moderated the panel focusing on lessons learned from Cary’s CASSI deployment and how government and businesses can collaborate to implement autonomous transportation projects to help reach their environmental and sustainability goals. 

Making Composting More Convenient

In support of the community’s interest and demand for growing composting opportunities, Cary opened a second food waste drop-off site at Mills Park, 425 Mills Park Dr. The expansion in service comes exactly one-year after the initial pilot drop-off became a permanent fixture at the Citizen’s Convenience Center and collected 80 tons of material from 26,000 drop-offs. In addition to reducing waste, the community’s efforts provide finished compost for Good Hope Farm equivalent to 10% of the of the weight of collected food scraps from both sites. As Cary continues to develop long-term waste management strategies, making food waste diversion convenient and accessible for citizens is a commitment that’s crucial in extending the landfill’s life and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. 

We’ve Got Mail

Beginning next week, Cary residents will start to receive their recycling stickers and magnets in the mail. The stickers and magnets will aid in our community effort of recycling right. Food for thought, the National average for recycling contamination is 17%, and in some areas across the nation there is up to 40% contamination. While Cary stands at 12%. Let’s continue to exhibit sustainable waste management practices.

Fenton Building Permit Update

During the month of January, some significant building permits were approved at Fenton. Building permits were approved for construction of a new 772-space parking deck and Doc B’s Restaurant.

Update on NCDOT’s Complete I540 Project

Complete 540 is being constructed in two phases, and Phase I crosses through southern Cary. Phase 1 (Sections A, B and C) extends 18 miles from NC 55 in Apex through Cary to I-40 and is currently under construction. This phase is nearing completion and expected to open Summer 2024.

Cary has partnered with NCDOT to identify where and how future Cary greenways, sidewalks and bike lanes will cross NC540. These proposed greenway/pedestrian/bike crossings were incorporated into NCDOT’s highway project. The future Camp Branch Greenway will cross under NC540 via a bridge on the highway. The Bells Lake Road interchange bridge will include the Optimist Farm Greenway which will be buffered from vehicular lanes; and a greenway tunnel will be constructed under the ramp at this interchange. These greenway and bike/pedestrian improvements are funded with Shaping Cary’s Tomorrow Bond, and staff continue to work with NCDOT as Phase 1 finishes construction.

Reclaim Water Holiday

On February 12, Cary’s annual 10-day maintenance shutdown of the reclaimed water system, “Reclaimed Water Holiday”, will begin. The scheduled shutdown provides Cary staff the opportunity to perform routine maintenance of the system while irrigation and reclaimed water demands are minimal. Cary staff mailed letters to our 937 reclaimed water customers on January 29, notifying them of the upcoming system shutdown. Citizens also have a valuable opportunity to perform essential maintenance of their own systems. Commercial customers who use reclaimed water for cooling tower operations were notified in advance via mail and by phone. Commercial users typically switch to their potable water backup feeds during the annual maintenance window. Following completion of maintenance and repair work, the system is scheduled to be restarted and back in operation by February 22. 

Cary and Lochmere HOA “Leave the Leaves”

As loose-leaf collection comes to an end, we had the privilege to partner with Megan Holler of the Lochmere HOA Landscaping Committee to give back their leaves. As the HOA is shifting a number of their landscaping practices to more sustainable ones, we felt like this was a perfect opportunity to give back to the community. The leaves were collected within the Lochmere subdivision and then given back to them to repurpose as mulch in natural areas and garden beds. The effort of repurposing leaves is one Cary has made every year to support programs within the town such as Good Hope Farm. Leaves are dumped at the farm which allows the farmers to add the leaf mulch to their gardens. Citizens can also request to have leaf mulch delivered to their home. 

GLOW with the Flow – Meet and Great GLOW Artists

More than 500 people attended the 2024 GLOW With the Flow – Artist Meet and Greet in Downtown Cary Park. There was great engagement with the VR experience led by Augmentality Labs as well as lots of people dropping in for some flow art using alcohol ink. Artists Matt McConnell and Erik Beerbower chatted with visitors while Rhett Hissam continued her installation on the Performance Pavilion stage and was able to share some of her process with onlookers. 

Getting’ Around with GoCary

Transit and PRCR Specialized Recreation and Inclusion staff partnered to provide a hands-on experience using GoCary. Participants spent time in the classroom learning about GoCary bus routes, understanding bus schedules, and using GoCaryLive.org to plan their trips and track their buses live. Then, the class traveled to the Cary Depot to talk with GoCary bus drivers and ride Route 4 to practice what they had learned.

Detective Andy Maurer Receives Distinguished Service Award

On Wednesday, Detective Andrew Maurer received the Attorney General’s Distinguished Service Award at the 71st Annual Attorney General’s Awards Ceremony in Washington, DC. Detective Maurer has faithfully served the Cary Police Department as a Task Force Officer on the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and was awarded this honorable distinction from United States Attorney General Merrick Garland for his part in disrupting and convicting a multinational suspect for attempting to provide material support to a terrorist criminal organization. Led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Justice, the Joint Terrorism Task Force is a locally based multi-agency partnership between various federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies tasked with investigating terrorism and terrorism-related crimes.

Two Renovated Playgrounds are Now Reopened

Ed Yerha Park and Bond Park playgrounds are now open for visitors! The freshly renovated playground at Ed Yerha Park has something for everyone. A mix of different styles of play equipment, sound and sand play, added shade structures to cool down the summer months, and new soft surfacing to protect from falls are key features. While the design theme for Lazy Daze Playground was naturalistic in keeping with other Bond Park facilities like the Challenge Course. This renovated playground includes play areas and swings for different ages, spring riders, merry-go-round, sand play, and nature play with boulders. 

Upcoming Meetings

Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources Advisory Board
Monday, February 5
5:15 p.m.

Information Services Advisory Board
Monday, February 5
6:00 p.m.

Zoning Board of Adjustment
Monday, February 5
6:30 p.m.

Human Relations, Inclusion, & Diversity Task Force
Tuesday, February 6
6:00 p.m.

Senior Advisory Board
Wednesday, February 7
12:00 p.m.

Historic Preservation Commission
Wednesday, February 7
6:30 p.m.

Town Council Meeting (Work Session)
Thursday, February 8
4:45 p.m.

Town Council Meeting (Regular)
Thursday, February 8
6:30 p.m.

Mayor’s Mailbox

  • Complaints about a rezoning proposal 22-REZ-14 next to Cameron Pond.
  • A complaint about a rezoning proposal 19-REZ-25 on Piney Plains Road. (This proposal, from 2019, has yet to be scheduled for a public hearing.)
  • A thank you for all that I do. (THANK YOU!)
  • A concern about crime in nearby municipalities that may be related to here.
  • A concern about transit issues.

Next Week

Next week’s activities include staff meetings, a State of Cary staff taping, a Human Relations, Inclusion, & Diversity Task Force meeting, a council work session, and a council meeting.

Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, February 11th, 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.