Manager One-On-One
Monday evening, I met with the town manager for our one-on-one weekly. Topics of discussion included potential bond questions and the retreat. Our meeting was brief.
SkillPointe/NACCE Announcement
Wednesday morning I joined council member Craig at the Cary Chamber for an announcement by NACCE (National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship), headquartered in Cary, of the acquisition of the SkillPointe technology platform. Founders of SkillPointe agreed to donate the technology platform valued at over $6 million, to NACCE, which is a national leader in entrepreneurship education in community colleges.
According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, North Carolina’s labor force participation rate continues to face a worker shortage with only 55 workers for every 100 jobs. The SkillPointe platform helps grow the supply of skilled employees that employers need and lists over 1,000 community colleges and their 60,000 training programs organized under 80 in-demand career paths that require a low amount of training, connecting students to jobs with high earnings potential.
Downtown Cary Park Receives TBJ Space Award
Thursday evening I joined Mayor Pro-Tem Bryson-Robinson, council member Bansal, and several staff members for the Triangle Business Journal Space Awards in Raleigh. These awards were given to the top commercial and real estate projects. Cary received an award for the best State/County/Municipal project, and I was proud to accept the award on behalf of the town. Also receiving awards in the downtown area were SAAP (1st floor of the Walker) for the best restaurant project, and Mackenan Property Group for the West End beer garden on Chatham Street.
A few weeks ago, I was interviewed by Triangle Business Journal President and Publisher Jason Christie, about the Downtown Cary Park. You can see that interview here.
Cary #2 Safest and Affordable in South
The News and Observer reported that GoBankingRates, a personal finance website, released a list of the 25 safest and cheapest cities in the South based on costs of living and the rates of property crime and violent crime. Cary ranked #2. The website analyzed those factors in the most populated cities in Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Washington, D.C. Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Town Manager’s Report
Sean’s Message
In addition to the stories found below, I would like to thank the staff for their excellent work dealing with two difficult challenges that occurred on Wednesday. Chief Sult and Cary PD, along with Cary FD, were incredibly effective in safely concluding a stand-off in which no one was harmed. In the second example of grace under pressure, Chief Cooper led a large interdepartmental team in resolving a long list of issues related to a power outage on Town Hall Campus. Both of these matters required decisive leadership coupled with supreme technical capabilities, and I am proud of everyone involved. Let us never take them – or each other – for granted.
Sean
Sri Venkateswara Temple Parking Rezoning (23-REZ-09) Discussion
At the council meeting last week questions were raised about sidewalks and overhead power lines during the rezoning discussion. Regarding the timing of sidewalk construction along the existing Sri Venkateswara Temple site, the sidewalk is a commitment of the approved development plan for the new assembly hall (22-DP-6356) and specifically notes “sidewalk along NC-54 to be completed prior to Certificate of Occupancy issuance.” As for the question about the power lines in front of Bainbridge Cary Apartments (at the intersection of Chapel Hill Road and NW Maynard Road), there are no overhead utility lines along the Bainbridge Cary apartment site on Chapel Hill Road. Power lines are located on the opposite (north) side of Chapel Hill Road at this location.
Mills Park Food Waste Drop-Off Site
To celebrate the first week of service at the Mills Park food waste drop-off, Councilmembers Lori Bush and Sarika Bansal, accompanied by members of the Carolina Preserve Environmental Group, Towards Zero Waste volunteers, and Assistant Town Manager Danna Widmar, visited the drop-off site. The group engaged with citizens who are embracing this additional opportunity to compost in Cary, with half a ton of materials already dropped off. Both of Cary’s food waste drop-offs accept food scraps (raw and cooked), including meat and bones, as well as specific paper products such as pizza boxes and paper towels. Citizens are encouraged to deposit their items directly into the bins or in a Biodegradable Product Institute (BPI) certified compostable bag, which is also available free at the site to encourage participation.
Council Member Bush Named Chair of Jordan Lake One Water
We are pleased to announce that Councilmember Lori Bush has been named Chair of the Jordan Lake One Water Coalition. The membership of Jordan Lake One Water (JLOW) elected Councilmember Bush as Chair of the coalition and its Board of Directors at their last meeting. JLOW works collaboratively with stakeholders and state regulatory officials to envision integrated strategies and water policies for the watershed. This is an especially crucial time for the coalition, as the State Division of Water Resources is now initiating stakeholder meetings to discuss future regulatory policies within the watershed. Congratulations to Councilmember Bush! We are very thankful for your leadership in this important endeavor.
Councilmember Bryson Robinson Discusses Downtown Cary
This week, Councilmember Jennifer Bryson Robinson was interviewed about Downtown Cary for Morrisville Councilmember Steve Rao’s radio program, Leaders and Legends. In preparation for the show, staff compiled a list of appropriations to Downtown over the last 20 years.
Symphony Lake Dredging
Symphony Lake dredging is moving forward on schedule. The dredging work will continue through March, prior to the new season at Koka Booth Amphitheatre, with the silt being deposited at South Cary Water Reclamation Facility following removal from Symphony Lake. Council members interested in a tour in March to observe the dredging operations may reach out to Ginny Johnson to schedule.
Spring 2024 Program Registration
On Wednesday, registration opened for spring programs. Online registration remains popular with citizens, as 93% of the over 5,000 registrations were processed this way. Registration for non-residents will open on Wednesday, February 21. Additional services in RecTrac are now available online, such as room and shelter reservations, as well as volleyball court reservations.
Volunteers Help Grow Our Urban Forest
With community support, Cary is growing a more resilient urban forest and providing an adaptive approach to stormwater management through a native plant project. A multi-departmental collaboration utilized community volunteers to install native trees and shrubs including elderberry, sweet bay, and button bush along the edge of the natural wetland at Dunham Park. Staff provided hands-on instruction to the volunteers about the environmental benefits of ecosystem restoration.
Cary Updates Water Distribution System Master Plan
As part of Cary’s commitment to comprehensive planning to guide the future of our community, Utilities has completed a multi-year effort to update our Water Distribution System Master Plan. This Master Plan update reflects current projections for future water demands and right-sized new water distribution and transmission mains in support of growth and development throughout Cary’s utility service area. The updated plan helps ensure the successful long-term design, engineering, and development of Cary’s water system infrastructure.
American Legion Honors Public Servants
Cary Police Lieutenant Frank Schelah and Cary Fire Captain Zane Franks are the recipients of the American Legion Post 67 2023 Officer of the Year and Firefighter of the Year awards. They were honored on Tuesday at a dinner held at the American Legion. Police and Fire are incredibly proud of these employees and grateful for the service of the men and women of Post 67.
North Carolina State University Student Tour at North Cary Water Reclamation Facility
On February 9, North Cary Water Reclamation Facility (NCWRF) staff partnered with North Carolina State University to provide an opportunity for several future environmental engineers. The students were tasked with developing a Preliminary Engineering Report for a local municipal wastewater treatment plant as part of their senior design project. The students chose to visit NCWRF to see a well-maintained facility with state-of-the-art treatment capabilities. The ‘Pack’ of seniors were engaged, and we look forward to future visits with Dr. Francis de los Reyes III and his students.
Virtual Neighborhood Rezoning Meetings on March 6
Two rezoning meetings, 6200 & 6308 Holly Springs Road and Searstone PDD Amendment, will take place virtually on Wednesday, March 6 at 6:30 p.m.
Upcoming Meetings
Economic Development Committee
Wednesday, February 21
5:15 p.m.
Public Art Advisory Board
Wednesday, February 21
6:15 p.m.
Mayor’s Mailbox
- A complaint about “aggressive begging” in Cary.
- A thank you for removing anti-Semitic graffiti from a pedestrian tunnel.
- A complaint about a backhoe tearing up asphalt on Glasgow Drive.
- A complaint that Cary isn’t doing anything about affordable housing.
- A complement on one of our affordable housing initiatives Stable Homes Cary.
- A complaint about a proposed rezoning next to Cameron Pond.
- A complaint about the entrance to the library from the parking deck not being covered. (This is controlled by Wake County not Cary. They have received our feedback on this issue.)
- A concern that improvements to the parking deck are to charge a fee. (Installing gates at the parking deck will help better manager parking within the deck not to charge a fee.)
- A complaint about someone homeless living in a van.
Next Week
Next week’s activities include staff meetings, a Wake County Mayors Association outing, a tour of the South Hills proposed development, a CAMPO (Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization) Executive Board meeting, an Economic Development Committee meeting, and an event for the presentation of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine.
Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, February 25th, 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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