Cary Chamber Leadership Conference

Manager One-On-One

Monday afternoon I met with the town manager for about half an hour. Our topics of conversation included the Cary Chamber Leadership Conference, historic preservation, data security, and security for political visitors.

Cary Chamber Leadership Conference

On Wednesday and Thursday, I joined council members Bansal and Smith at the Cary Chamber Leadership Conference in Wrightsville Beach. There were 130 attendees including staff members, business leaders, and community leaders. The agenda included several interesting speakers over a day and a half.

I was the first speaker on Wednesday and introduced Cary’s Legacy video. The video captures the legacy of opportunities and leadership that made Cary great. After the video I called on several attendees for their impression.

Chris Chung of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina spoke of the economic environment and what is impacting it. He mentioned that the next election will likely change the economy regardless of who is elected.

Michael Landguth, CEO of RDU International Airport, talked about the recovery of the airport since the pandemic and its growth. RDU continues to expand the number of direct flights. His presentation showed future changes to the airport’s parking structures and gates. He also talked about how the big runway will need to be redone, which is expensive and complex construction since it is concrete.

Nichole Coughlin, Chief Information Officer from Cary, updated the attendees on AI (Artificial Intelligence). Her presentation focused on navigating the hype, facing the reality of AI, and preparing for the future.

North Carolina Senator Gale Adcock gave a fascinating update of legislative actions from a perspective of being on the inside. We are blessed to have our former Cary Mayor Pro-Tem looking out for our interests at the state level.

Jeff Cox, President of the North Carolina Community College System, gave an educational workforce outlook for North Carolina and the country. He emphasized what many of us know, that workforce talent is not meeting the needs of many businesses. And that community colleges are helping train in specific trades at an affordable cost. The work-school internship programs are becoming very popular, and employers usually hire those interns. He lauded Wake Tech and all that it is doing in our area.

Russ Overton, Cary’s Deputy Town Manager, gave a presentation on the proposed bond for this fall. He explained the items on the bond and talked about the cost. New law requires the bond to be listed with costs and interest rates. Sadly, those listed rates will be more of worst-case scenario than reality. Those rates will be listed as over 5.5% when, in reality, it will be closer to 3%.

Ted Abernathy, the Managing Partner of Economic Leadership, gave an economic outlook for the U.S. and North Carolina. North Carolina, and especially the Raleigh metro area, is among the leaders in the nation in many categories and should continue that success.

Dr. Melissa Furman, a professor at Augusta State University, spoke about generational differences in the work environment and how to handle burnout. We have heard her speak on similar topics before and she is very informative and entertaining.

The conference was full of great information and discussion. Being able to connect with Cary’s leaders was also very beneficial. I just wished I had the time to enjoy the beach rather than just seeing it through a window.

Town Manager’s Report

Sean’s Message

This week’s annual Cary Chamber Leadership Conference not only showcased the Mayor and staff but also reinforced over and over again the strong, positive relationships the Town has with our business community and community leaders. I couldn’t be more proud.

For the first time, we showed publicly the “Legacy of Leadership” retreat video, which was a resounding success. The Mayor used it as a jumping off point to lead the 130 attendees in a discussion about the future based on Cary’s tradition of seeing – and seizing – opportunities, in whatever forms they come in.

Nicole Coughlin was a featured speaker on Artificial Intelligence. And Russ Overton, along with John Collins, Cassie Shumacher-Georgopoulos, and Heather Whelehan, reviewed the proposed 2024 Cary Community Bond Referendum.

The Chamber’s board voted unequivocally to support the bonds.

There were many new faces at this year’s meeting, and staff, Council, and I took full advantage of the networking opportunities to help establish effective relationships for the future.

I appreciate the ability to participate in these events and value the time with you, Council, as well as staff and our citizens.

On a personal note, our daughter turns 18 today – Happy Birthday, Emma!

Sean

Wake County Hospitality Alliance Visits Cary

The Wake County Hospitality Alliance (WCHA) invited representatives from the Town Manager’s Office and Police Department to speak Wednesday at The Mayton. Marketing and Creative Manager Kristy Buchanan explained Cary’s strategy to reach more audiences outside of North Carolina, while Captain Kat Christian and Lieutenant John Reeves answered questions and shared more about their community partnerships. The WCHA strives to improve our area’s quality of life by promoting and protecting travel and tourism at the local level.

The Franklin Mixed-Use Development Plans

Staff have begun an initial round of review for the proposed redevelopment of 214 S Walker Street. The project, named “The Franklin,” is a mixed-use proposal including 40 multi-family units, 2,380 square feet of non-residential, and structured parking on 0.37-acres.  Based on current grade, the building would appear to be six stories tall from E. Park Street and seven stories from the north (looking south) on S Walker Street. The site is zoned Town Center – High Intensity Mixed Use District (TC-HMXD) which allows the proposed land uses. The proposed maximum building height would only be allowed if the Council approved a development agreement with the applicant. As this proposal is very early in the process, staff will continue to work with the developer on how to proceed. If you have any questions, please contact Scot Berry.

Ivey-Ellington Parking Lot Closure

Beginning next week, crews working on behalf of Cary will close the Old Library Parking Lot for asphalt resurfacing from July 22 to July 26. This work supports the Ivey-Ellington Rehabilitation Project, which has recently completed the installation of new ADA parking stalls and storm drain lines, which required sections of asphalt to be removed.
Crews will now prepare these sections to receive new asphalt and will integrate the new ADA parking stalls with the rest of the parking lot.

Paramount Pump Station Update

The Paramount Pump Station, in service for over 25 years, is undergoing necessary improvements to support regional growth. Cary has contracted with J.F. Wilkerson Contracting Co. Inc. to build a new 1 MGD pump station, replacing the existing one. Construction began in early July with tree clearing and site grading, and the project is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.
Notifications have been sent to nearby residents and business owners, with more information available on the Town of Cary and Morrisville websites. The construction will not affect the use of the nearby greenway or the operation of the existing pump station.

Turquoise Creek Drive Water Main Replacement Begins

Starting on Monday, July 22, an extensive utility replacement project will begin on Turquoise Creek Drive in Preston. This project, expedited due to the deteriorating condition of the water main, involves replacing 1,000 feet of gravity sewer and 2,500 feet of the old water main. Once the utility work is completed, the entire road will be repaved. The project is expected to take six months to complete.

Growing the Urban Forestry Program in Cary

Implementation of Cary’s newly adopted Urban Forest Master Plan is underway. Public Works recently hired Kelly Blair as the new Urban Forestry Expeditor. He will work closely with Urban Forester Leslie Moorman to operationalize the tree care program. Kelly, previously the Assistant City Arborist/Tree Crew Supervisor for Wilmington, brings extensive experience in tree care, landscape maintenance, and grounds management. He holds several certifications from the International Society of Arboriculture, including Tree Climber Specialist, Municipal Specialist, and Board-Certified Master Arborist, and is ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualified. Bringing Kelly on board is a significant step toward understanding and managing our urban canopy.

Community Beehive Project

Cary is participating in Garden Supply Company’s host-a-hive program and partnering with them on programming at the Downtown Cary Park. The beehives, which were decorated by our community during a June pollinator week event at the park, have been installed at Garden Supply Company on Old Apex Road. The beehives will soon be filled with a colony of bees, and later this year, Garden Supply will harvest the honey and provide it to Park staff for use in future programs.

Downtown Cary Park Jurassic Park Reel Success

Downtown Cary Park recently posted an Instagram Reel promoting their free Jurassic Park Movie Night on July 19. Some staff members recreated one of the most iconic scenes in cinema history, and followers took notice. The Reel has more than 61,000 plays, 2,500 likes, and nearly 2,000 shares. Comments on the post praise the “actors” for their performance and highlight how these events and programs bring our community together.

2024 State-Wide Athletic Committee (SWAC) Tournament

Despite crazy storms and hot temperatures, the Cary 12U Baseball and 14U Softball All-Star teams participated in the 2024 SWAC Tournament. Our 12U Baseball team had a strong tournament, while our 14U Softball team went undefeated through four rounds to take the title. Congratulations to both teams!

Virtual Neighborhood Rezoning Meeting – August 7

The following neighborhood meetings will be held virtually from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 7:

  • 24-REZ-09 Cary Area EMS Rezoning
  • 24-REZ-10 3001 Van Gogh Lane Rezoning

Upcoming Meetings

Council Meeting (Work Session)
Thursday, July 25
4:45 p.m.

Council Meeting
Thursday, July 25
6:30 p.m.

Mayor’s Mailbox

  • Two complaints about Regency Parkway proposals.
  • A complaint about a proposed development on Walker Street.
  • Three complaints about the Waverly Place rezoning proposal. Two thank you from the Lochmere Board correcting misinformation being spread.
  • A complaint that I am “ruining downtown”.
  • A complaint about access to tennis courts.
  • A complaint about development, lack of affordable housing, “people are more than their wages.”
  • A complaint about the property tax rate.
  • A request for a letter of support.
  • A request to build a permanent farmers market facility next to the Ivey-Ellington house.
  • A complaint about frequent power outages.
  • A complaint about Google pages for town council are out of date.
  • A complaint that not providing documents related to stormwater is causing “severe emotional distress”.
  • A complaint about mosquitoes being eliminated by pesticides.

Next Week

Next week’s activities include staff meetings, Diwali dance practice, a council work session, and a council meeting.

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