Town Manager One-On-One
Monday the town manager and I held our weekly meeting. Our topics of discussion included the Cary Tennis Classic, a VIP tour of the Downtown Cary Park with interested parties from out of town, the potential bond this fall, affordable housing, and road diets on Walnut Street and other areas of Cary.
Youth Leadership Cary
Tuesday morning I spoke to around 40 high school juniors from various Cary high schools about local government, community leadership, and potential career paths. I answered several questions before taking a picture with them.
State of Cary Glenaire
I had the opportunity to present the State of Cary address to Glenaire on Wednesday afternoon. This was the second time I have gave this address and included a few updates since the January presentation. I estimate that there were between one hundred and one hundred fifty in attendance. It was very well received and there were about a dozen questions afterwards.
CAMPO
Wednesday I participated in a meeting of the CAMPO (Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organizations) Executive Board. The agenda included two consent items, one public hearing, and six discussion items.
Under consent the committee unanimously approved minutes and an Apex Rail Switching Operations Relocation Study with an Interlocal Agreement and authorized the CAMPO Executive Director to execute the agreement.
After the Public Hearing the board unanimously approved Amendment #3 to FY2024-2033 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).
Under the discussion the board unanimously approved US 401 Corridor Study recommendations and the interlocal agreement for the US 1 North Toll Study and
authorizing the CAMPO Executive Director to execute the agreement.
The board also received information on the Triangle Transportation Choices/Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Program, the draft FY 2025 Wake Transit Work Plan, an update on the NC 540 Bonus Allocation, and amendments and updates to the Executive Board Bylaws recognizing new members.
State of Cary Templeton
Thursday morning I presented the State of Cary address to about three dozens residents of the Templeton Senior community. This was my third presentation of the year. They were very interested in my remarks and followed up with great questions. This is my fourth time giving my address to them.
State of Cary Abbreviated Version Taped
Friday morning I did a taping of an abbreviated version of the State of Cary Address. We spent about an hour and a half taping various segments at the Downtown Cary Park. Hopefully, this will be short enough to use online.
Town Manager’s Report
Sean’s Message
There will not be a Weekly Report next Friday. As a reminder, most staffed facilities, including Town Hall, will be closed on Friday, in observance of the holiday. Have a great weekend and enjoy this week’s edition of the Weekly Report.
Sean
Mayor Presents State of Cary
This week, Mayor Weinbrecht provided an updated State of Cary presentation to residents at the Templeton of Cary and Glenaire. After the presentations, he greeted many of the residents and answered questions they had about Cary.
Youth Leadership Cary
On Tuesday, 40 area high school juniors participating in the Chamber of Commerce’s Youth Leadership Cary program spent the day with Cary staff to learn about local government and potential career paths. The day began with a welcome from Mayor Weinbrecht, then an information session on the council-manager form of government, visits to 311, 911, and Cary’s traffic center, and a tour of the Downtown Cary Park were among the opportunities the participants experienced.
Visit at Duke with Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math athletes
On Tuesday evening, Councilmember Lori Bush and Chief Information Officer Nicole Coughlin engaged with women Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) athletes at Duke University, highlighting the concerning statistic that about 50% of women in STEM majors switch to other fields after their sophomore year. To tackle this challenge, Duke alum Sue Hartnett founded ReWriting the Code, an initiative that Cary actively supports through its summer internship and mentorship programs.
Draft Housing Annual Action Plan Open for Public Comment
Every year Cary invites organizations working in high impact housing initiative areas to apply for funding. Applications are evaluated based on alignment with Cary Housing goals and Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) national objectives. As required by HUD, staff prepares a draft Annual Action Plan for public comment then brings it forward to Council for action. The public comment period for the 2024-2025 Annual Action Plan begins today and closes on April 23. Staff anticipates bringing the draft plan forward for a public hearing and Council action at the April 25 Council meeting. This year, Cary received a record number of funding applications from partner organizations and developers committed to furthering work across the housing continuum. The draft plan, which can be viewed on the Housing webpage, recommends awards totaling over $7.2 million.
Three Federal Grant Awards
Cary was awarded three federal grants totaling $5,520,709 to improve pedestrian, bicycling and transit infrastructure in our community. The Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) Executive Board approved the LAPP (Locally Administered Projects Program) grants last week. The three projects include Optimist Farm Greenway, which will improve bike and pedestrian connectivity in south Cary, GoCary Communications Equipment upgrades on vehicles which will enhance communication efficiency and safety, and GoCary’s Bus Operations and Maintenance Facility project. These grants represent not only a financial boon but also a vote of confidence in Cary’s transportation vision and sustainability.
Ashworth Drug Store – Gone But Not Forgotten
The Page-Walker History Archives is the proud recipient of some wonderful Ashworth’s memorabilia donated by Mr. Ralph Ashworth. The items which include many photos, apothecary bottles, pharmacy items and even the first prescription Ralph ever filled will be on public display at the Page-Walker to commemorate the beloved business in the coming months.
Model Train Show
Last Saturday, the North Raleigh Model Railway Club showcased their N-Scale model trains at the Herb Young Community Center. People of all ages gathered to watch these trains wind through miniature cities and countryside landscapes. Visitors even had the opportunity to become Junior Engineers by operating the tracks and driving the trains. Operation Lifesaver provided valuable railroad safety tips, and club members hosted small workshops on scenery building. Throughout the day, over 1,000 visitors enjoyed the train show.
North Carolina Information Technology Leadership Forum 2024
Government Technology’s annual Information Technology Leadership Forum took place in Raleigh on Wednesday. The event provides a space for leaders to collaborate while addressing the most important policy, management and leadership issues surrounding the future of digital government. Chief Information Officer Nicole Coughlin participated in the panel ‘Smart Collaboration in the Triangle and Beyond’ and shared her perspective on the importance of working collaboratively.
Signalized Pedestrian Crossing Now Operational
After resolving several unforeseen challenges, a crosswalk at the NC 55 and O’Kelly Chapel Road intersection now has a pedestrian crossing signal. Staff are happy to report that contractors have completed an upgrade project at this intersection to not only provide pedestrian traffic signals, but also add high-visibility crosswalks and pedestrian warning signs. This work was expedited by our design consultant, NCDOT, and our construction contractor.
Animal Services Visits Girl Scout Troop 619
Juniors in Girl Scout Troop 619 are working towards a bronze award by making a difference in the community. The team is working to raise awareness on responsible pet ownership and the value of rescues. This week, Animal Services Officers Haggist and Wilson took time to educate the scouts about their roles and facilitated a discussion with the girls on potential ideas to contribute to the upcoming Dog Daze and Pet Expo.
Black Creek Greenway Plant Rescues
On Saturday, volunteers from NC Native Plant Society along with Cary staff gathered at North Cary Park and hiked down to the Black Creek Greenway. The group rescued plants located within the clearing limits of the upcoming Black Creek Greenway Renovations Project that was awarded by Council at the March 14 meeting.
2024 Tobacco Road Marathon
On Sunday, the Tobacco Road Marathon once again electrified the streets of Cary, North Carolina, as runners from all over the country gathered to test their mettle against the clock and the American Tobacco Trail (ATT). On this mild March morning, 3,034 eager participants embarked on a 13.1 or 26.2-mile journey through Thomas Brooks Park and the scenic ATT. In a stunning display of athleticism, the fastest full marathoner of the day, Alex Ekesa crossed the finish line in an astonishing time of 2 hours, 24 minutes, and 37 seconds.
Upcoming Meetings
Planning and Zoning Board
Monday, March 25
6:30 p.m.
Council Work Session
Thursday, March 28
4:45 p.m.
Council Meeting
Thursday, March 28
6:30 p.m.
Mayor’s Mailbox
- An email campaign of complaints about the quarry next to Umstead Park (The Cary Council is not a decision maker and at the time of this writing I have received 2606 emails asking the Cary council to stop mining).
- A complaint about the Downtown Cary Park TV commercials.
- A request for Cary to enact a guaranteed income program.
- A complaint about a future rezoning proposal on Piney Plains.
- Multiple complaints from a citizen on e-bikes on greenways (they are allowed but everyone must adhere to the 15-mph speed limit).
Next Week
Next week’s activities include staff meetings, a VIP park tour, a Cary Tennis Classic event, a meeting with NC Senator Adcock, a council work session, and the last regularly scheduled meeting of the council.
Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, March 31st, 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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