Memorial Day
Monday I participated in a Memorial Day Observance at the Veterans Freedom Park. Council member Smith, our only veteran, was the emcee. I was also joined by council members Kohn-Johnson and Craig. I read a proclamation recognizing the importance of this day:
DESIGNATING MAY 27, 2024 AS THE
OBSERVANCE OF MEMORIAL DAY IN CARY
WHEREAS, Memorial Day has been set aside as a national holiday for all Americans to remember the sacrifices made by those who have given their lives in service to the United States through their military service; and
WHEREAS, we come here today to undertake the solemn duty of remembering those brave Americans; and
WHEREAS, we honor those we have lost throughout our country’s history; the proud men and women who served in the Air Force, the Army, the Coast Guard, the Marines and the Navy that have fought in wars so that future generations would have freedom; and
WHEREAS, in Cary we are fortunate to have a place dedicated for us to gather to honor these men and women and to pay tribute to them and their families; and
WHEREAS, the National Moment of Remembrance is a voluntary observance for each of us in our own way to take a moment of remembrance and respect to honor and give thanks to all of those who have risked their lives so that we may enjoy our freedom,
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Harold Weinbrecht Jr., Mayor of Cary, North Carolina, on behalf of the Cary Council, do hereby designate May 27, 2024, as “An observance of Memorial Day in Cary,” and I urge all citizens to participate in honoring our country’s service men and women.
PROCLAIMEDthis 27th day of May 2024.
Needless to say, I was honored to be in the presence of so many heroes who served our country.
Also, part of the ceremony was hearing from mothers of two Gold Star families.
Afterwards, the Garden Club dedicated a Gold Star marker next to the Blue Star marker that was dedicated last year. What a great observance to honor our veterans.
TST Interview
Friday morning, I was interviewed by Spectrum News about next week’s TST soccer tournament. I shared that we expected 70,000 attendees, which is double last year’s attendance. This event will be on the world stage and is expected to have a $15 million direct impact. It is a great opportunity to see some of the best players, men and women, in the world. The men and women’s teams will each be vying for $1 million prize.
Cary #8 City on the Rise
The News and Observer reported that Southern Living ranked Cary is the #8 city on the rise:
“The Research Triangle’s innovative energy has rubbed off on this once-small suburb. A thriving arts and culture scene, excellent restaurants and ever-growing downtown make Cary a worthy standalone destination,” the report says. “The long-awaited and recently opened 7-acre Downtown Cary Park now provides a centralized gathering space, further adding to the reasons the city landed on Livability’s 2023 Best Places to Live list.”
NC Metro Mayors
Friday I joined a meeting of the NC Metro Mayors to get a legislative summary. Here is information provided by the Executive Director:
It was a very quiet week at the General Assembly. Speaker Tim Moore’s father passed away on Monday and the House canceled all committees and votes so members could attend the funeral. The Senate did not hold votes but did have a few committee meetings.
The Appropriations chairs are making progress on the budget. The Transportation area chairs have made the most progress so far and they were some of the only members in town this week. Activity at NCGA will pick up again next week, with committee work to be done on Tuesday-Thursday and floor votes expected later in the week.
The mayors also heard from the Secretary of the NC Department of Environmental Quality about PFAS. This is not an issue for Cary which removed PFAS years ago.
Town Manager’s Report
Sean’s Message
Council, as you will see, this Weekly Report is full of a number of very important project updates – projects that will have direct impacts on our citizens in the next several days. For this reason, I recommend you read what follows at your earliest convenience so you will be better prepared to answer any questions you may receive as these projects unfold. Thank you to our staff, as well as our contractors and consultants, for all of your hard work which keeps Cary at the Top of the Arc.
I hope you all enjoy your weekend.
Sean
2024 Memorial Day Remembrance
On Monday, hundreds of Cary citizens gathered at Veterans Freedom Park to remember and honor the U.S. military personnel who have served or are still serving in the line of duty. Mayor Harold Weinbrecht read the proclamation, joined by Councilmembers Michelle Craig and Carissa Kohn-Johnson. Councilmember Jack Smith emceed the event, and Congressman Wiley Nickel delivered his remarks. The event included a formal dedication of a Gold Star Memorial at the park, coordinated by the Cary Garden Club, with powerful tributes by Gold Star mothers.
Mayor Interviews with Spectrum News About TST
This morning, Mayor Weinbrecht was interviewed by Spectrum News to discuss the upcoming Soccer Tournament and its impacts on Cary and the greater Triangle region. The segment will air throughout the morning of June 5 on Spectrum News 1. The Soccer Tournament takes place June 5 to June 10 at WakeMed Soccer Park.
S&P Affirmed Cary’s ‘AAA’ Rating
On Wednesday, Standard and Poor’s (S&P) affirmed Cary’s ‘AAA’ bond rating with a stable outlook. According to S&P, Cary’s credit strengths include a “strong and growing local economy” and “strong financial policies and practices.” Cary has now received affirmations of its ‘AAA’ rating from all three rating agencies. Fitch Ratings affirmed their ‘AAA’ rating last summer, on July 25, 2023, and Moody’s affirmed their ‘AAA’ rating earlier this year on February 14, 2024. The ‘AAA’ rating is the best possible rating for a local government.
Walnut Street Pedestrian Warning Lights Complete
Contractors working for Cary recently completed a second installation of in-road pedestrian warning lights on Walnut Street near R.S. Dunham Park. Similar to the first installation on Harrison Avenue, this system includes LED-enhanced warning signs, decorative poles, and audible pedestrian push buttons. Completion of this work marks another step forward for the Walnut Street Road Diet project and furthers Cary’s commitment to pedestrian safety.
GoCary Downtown Loop Begins June 1
Beginning June 1, Cary will enjoy greater access to downtown attractions with the launch of the new GoCary Downtown Loop (DL) . The Downtown Loop will provide service between destinations like Cary Town Hall, Downtown Cary Park, and other downtown attractions along Chatham Street. Parking is available at the Town Hall parking deck, with a DL bus stop conveniently located on Wilkinson Avenue. The Downtown Loop will operate every 25 minutes, Thursday through Sunday. For DL hours of operation or to track your bus in real-time, download the new GoCary App today. For inquiries or further assistance, please email BetterTransit@GoCary.org.
New Sidewalk Along Byrum Street
Next week, contractors working for Cary will begin constructing a new sidewalk along Byrum Street. This project is being coordinated with additional sidewalk improvements by private developments in the area. Upon completion, there will be a fully connected pedestrian route between Kildaire Farm Road and Walnut Street. Lane closures will be necessary to ensure the work is completed safely. Construction of Cary’s portion of the sidewalk is expected to take approximately two months.
Morrisville Carpenter Road Median Planting
As part of the recently completed Carpenter Fire Station Road Bridge and Intersection Improvements project, staff worked with the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and NCDOT to create a median landscape plan that complements the Carpenter Historic District. The plants selected for this median are native species that thrive in hot and dry conditions. Contractors working on behalf of Cary will begin installing the Morrisville Carpenter Road median landscaping on June 3. Work will take place between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. and is expected to be completed by the end of June. Temporary lane closures will be in place during working hours, but impacts on traffic are expected to be minor.
Ivey-Ellington Tree Removal
The rehabilitation of the historic Ivey-Ellington House continues. Recent work includes preparing the exterior for new paint, restoring the home’s historic windows to working condition, and starting the reroofing process. Next week, following a recommendation by a third-party arborist and confirmation by Cary’s urban forester, contractors will remove two hazardous trees on the site. The tree removal work will take place on Monday, June 3. While the work will take place within the construction fence surrounding the home, crews will have staff and barriers in place to direct pedestrian traffic away from the immediate work area. This fall, landscape work will continue on-site, incorporating native plants and trees.
Dog Park Membership System Transition
Starting in June, we will begin a two-month process to upgrade the technology associated with Cary’s dog parks. The new software for selling and renewing passes will be RecTrac, the same system used by PRCR and Downtown Cary Park for class registration, POS, rentals, and more. Integrating our dog park pass sales into RecTrac will streamline operations and improve the customer experience when purchasing or renewing a pass. We will update the hardware at each dog park to integrate with RecTrac, beginning with the Downtown Cary Park’s Barkyard. Dog Park members will have uninterrupted access to facilities as we transition and will start receiving communications about this transition next week. For updates starting in June, visit www.carync.gov/dogparks.
2023 Asset Management Report
The 2023 Annual Asset Management Report was recently completed and provides a dashboard view of the current state of Cary’s linear, utility assets. The report tracks infrastructure added through capital and development initiatives and helps verify that key performance targets are being achieved. Over the past year, the focus has remained on improving GIS data, maintaining buried linear infrastructure, and continuing work on risk-based capital planning. One of the highlights of the report is the creation of GIS route optimization maps that have benefitted leaf collection, water meter maintenance, and sewer main leak testing.
Sharing Greenway Etiquette with the Community
As part of its ongoing greenway safety campaign, Cary is connecting with local businesses to share greenway rules and etiquette that foster a safe and enjoyable experience for all greenway users. Look for the greenway’s informational banners at bike shops and other local businesses as engagement continues throughout the year.
2024 NCAA Division I Women’s Lacrosse Championship
This past weekend, Cary hosted its 37th NCAA National Championship. WakeMed Soccer Park, in partnership with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance, hosted the 2024 NCAA Division I Women’s Lacrosse Championship in front of 9,192 fans. Immediately after Boston College was crowned the 2024 National Champion, the sports turf group began preparations for The Soccer Tournament (TST).
Upcoming Meetings
Parks, Recreation, & Cultural Resources Advisory Board
Monday, June 3
5:15 p.m.
Information Services Advisory Board
Monday, June 3
6:00 p.m.
Zoning Board of Adjustment
Monday, June 3
6:30 p.m.
Human Relations, Inclusion, & Diversity Task Force
Tuesday, June 4
6:00 p.m.
Senior Advisory Board
Wednesday, June 5
12:00 p.m.
Virtual Neighborhood Rezoning Meeting
Wednesday, June 5
6:30 p.m.
Historic Preservation Commission
Wednesday, June 5
6:30 p.m.
Mayor’s Mailbox
- One agreement with the proposed budget from the town manager.
- Three disagreements with the proposed budget from the town manager.
- A thank you for “fantastic service” from our fire department. (That is why they are the best of the best).
- A complaint about rezoning proposals in Regency. (They have yet to have public hearings, so any vote is months away.)
- A concern and questions about an easement on someone’s property.
Next Week
Next week I will be on a family vacation. It will be one of the few times in the year where my wife and I can visit with both daughters, my son-in-law and of course my grandson. I will also spend time resting as I continue to recover from shoulder surgery.
Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, June 16th, 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.
Harold's Blog 