Council Meeting Prep
Monday, I attempted to contact all council members about concerns or questions they may have had with the regular meeting agenda for Thursday. There were no questions. Later in the day I met with staff to go over the agenda. Our meeting was brief.
Speaking at National Conference
Tuesday morning, I joined past national president of the American Public Works Association in Atlanta for a presentation on elected official’s behaviors and strategies to get critical information to them in a timely manner. Our talk was well attended with 169 people in a room that held 150. This was the fifth time I have given this talk since May.
Turner Creek Elementary
Thursday afternoon, I had the pleasure of talking virtually to three of Turner Creek Elementary’s third grade classes. They have been learning about state and local governments, responsibilities of government leaders, and how government helps solve community problems.
I talked about the council, the town, and my duties as mayor. We followed this with about ten minutes of questions. I hope I am invited to speak with more students learning about government in the future.
Council and Wake County Work Session
Thursday evening the council joined Wake County commissioners along with our staff to discuss the affordable housing crisis as part of their “listening tour”. The Cary staff presented data that emphasized the crisis not only in our area but across the country. They also talked about all the Cary initiatives. I hope to share that data next week when I get a copy of the slides. After the presentation we discussed ways to move forward. One thing we all agreed on was that partnerships create a better outcome.
Council Meeting
The council met for its first meeting of September on Thursday. The agenda included two consent items and three public hearings.
In the Public Speaks Out portion of the meeting we heard a complaint about a road in west Cary (that was a NCDOT maintained road) and another complaint that we didn’t have public meetings about the budget (we had several meetings totaling hours of discussion).
The first two public hearings were the annexation and rezoning of a property at 4000 Green Level West Road which is east of White Oak Church Road and west of Autumn Shade Drive. The applicant is proposing detached dwellings. Some speakers complained of potential construction traffic and the builder who built their neighborhood. Others liked the proposal because it would allow the paving of a gravel road. It will now go to the Planning and Zoning board for their review.
The last public hearing was a rezoning proposal in the Wellington neighborhood near Tryon Road and Cary Parkway. The applicant is proposing up to seven townhomes on a one-acre lot. This lot is across from the Wellington shopping center. Most of the comments were in favor of the proposal. It will also go to the Planning and Zoning board for their review.
NC General Assembly Update
Here is a summary of this week’s legislative activities from Checkmate:
Mini-Budget Passed
This week, the North Carolina General Assembly passed House Bill 10, Require ICE Cooperation & Budget Adjustments. In July, the House and Senate adjourned without a compromise on a spending plan for the State’s revenue surplus. This month, the leadership announced that an agreement was reached for priority items. The mini budget includes:
- Language that requires sheriffs to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement of the United States Department of Homeland Security.
- An additional $215.5M for Opportunity Scholarships
- An additional $377M to the Division of Health Benefits for the Medicaid rebase to account for certain changes in Medicaid program costs.
- Various other public schools, community colleges, and special needs program funding.
The bill passed in the Senate and the House with party line votes. Governor Cooper is expected to veto the mini budget. The General Assembly maintains a Super majority and will override the expected veto.
RFK Name Removal
The North Carolina Supreme Court ruled in a 4-3 decision to reprint the ballots in order to remove Robert F. Kennedy’s name from the ballot per his request. Absentee ballot distribution has been put on hold to allow for these changes. It is expected in the next few weeks the new ballots will be ready to be sent off.
Veto Overrides
On Monday, the North Carolina Senate voted to override 5 bills previously vetoed by Governor Cooper.
House Bill 155 allows the DMV to authorize certain modified vehicles for 4-lane roads.
House Bill 556 would prohibit counties and cities from adopting certain ordinances or resolutions that would prohibit landlords from refusing to rent to tenants because the tenant uses federal aid for rent.
House Bill 690 prohibits any state agency from accepting a central bank digital currency.
Senate Bill 166 would amend various development regulations, various North Carolina State Building Codes, various construction contractors and design professionals’ regulations, and various environment and environmental health regulations. The bill would also reorganize the Building Code Council and restrict a municipalities’ ability to retroactively require backflow preventers.
Senate Bill 445 makes it illegal for a person to advertise property or rent property they have no authority to rent or sell.
The House bills will become law following the override vote. The Senate bills will have to be overridden in the House as well.
Charlie Henderson’s Memorial
Sunday I attended the memorial service for Charlie Henderson, Cary’s first full time attorney. I had the pleasure of working with Charlie when I was on council from 1999 to 2003. There was a capacity crowd at the service, and most were at the reception held at the Page-Walker. We are grateful for the 28 years of service Charlie gave the town but more importantly are blessed to have known him.
Senior Recourse Expo at HSNC
Next Sunday, September 22nd there will be Senior Resource Expo held at HSNC (Hindu Society of NC) in Morrisville. Some of the providers represented include:
- Home Care Givers
- Independent and Assisted Living
- Personal care: Nutrition, PT, OT, and Massage
- Medicare
- Financial Planning
- End of life planning
- Home Improvement
- Senior centers
- Town facilities
- And others
The event is open to the public.
Town Manager’s Report
Sean’s Message
I’ve enjoyed just how especially engaged, Council, each of you has been over the past several weeks. Whether the topic is bonds, planning items, or fostering stronger Council relationships, you continue to grow together in your effectiveness and service.
I never want to take for granted just how much Ginny Johnson and her team – including the tech group – do with logistics to help sessions like last night’s work session seem effortless and work smoothly so that all of us can focus on the topics at hand. Thank you, Ginny!
Last but not least, a big thank you to Russ for covering the Council meeting for me at the last minute. I am so fortunate to have such capable colleagues.
Have a great weekend.
Sean
Staff Presents at PWX Conference
This week, Mayor Weinbrecht presented at the 2024 Public Works Expo in Atlanta, Georgia, focusing on effective communication with elected officials and strategies for success.
Public Works Director Matt Flynn and Energy Manager Sara Caliendo also spoke at the conference. They teamed up with Kim Lundgren from Kim Lundgren Associates to present “Innovating Climate-Ready Communities.” Their presentation showcased Cary’s forward-thinking initiatives, including alternative fuel fleet vehicles, green stormwater infrastructure with flood sensors, strategies from the Urban Forest Master Plan, and smart solar project selections for municipal facilities.
White Oak Foundation Resource Center
On Wednesday, Councilmember Michelle Craig joined Housing staff at the White Oak Foundation Resource Center in western Cary. Pastor Charles Tyner and White Oak staff member Yvonne Harrison shared a tour of the White Oak campus, including the Resource Center, church, and new public daycare facility. The White Oak Foundation provides crisis assistance, homeownership assistance, services to seniors, and food security programming to residents of Cary. The foundation is also working towards constructing 30 affordable townhouses and 60 affordable senior multi-family units. Cary has partnered with White Oak by providing technical assistance, financial support for development, and community programming.
Nicole Coughlin Honored with ORBIE award
Chief Information Officer Nicole Coughlin was honored with the prestigious 2024 Carolina ORBIE Award for Nonprofit/Public Sector CIO of the Year. This esteemed award celebrates Chief Information Officers who exemplify excellence in technology leadership, innovation, and driving significant impact within their organizations. Nicole’s recognition places her among an elite group of global technology leaders who have earned this honor over the past 25 years. Please join me in congratulating Nicole on this incredible achievement.
2024 Organics Collection Feasibility Study
Building on the success of Cary’s food waste drop-off sites and compost education efforts, the 2024 Organics Collection Feasibility Study (Volume 1 and Volume 2 ) offers valuable insights into strategies for diverting household food scraps from Cary’s waste stream and managing organic waste through composting instead of sending it to the landfill. The study will help guide potential opportunities for further waste reduction in Cary. We look forward to future discussions about its findings.
Sidewalk to West End Breweries Installed
This week, contractors installed sidewalk connections between the W. Chatham Street roundabout and the property housing Vicious Fishes and South Line breweries. Since their opening in Fall 2023, both breweries have attracted patrons from across the Triangle, raising concerns about parking and pedestrian connectivity for both visitors and business owners.
Over the summer, refreshed pavement markings and Zicla bumpers were added to the roundabout to slow traffic and improve pedestrian visibility. The new sidewalk connection encourages pedestrians to use the crosswalks at the roundabout, providing a safer option than crossing mid-block along Old Apex Road. Cary also has an Old Apex Road sidewalk project planned for construction in 2025.
West Cornwall Pedestrian Safety
This week, contractors working for Cary installed new pavement markings along West Cornwall Road. The design aims to enhance pedestrian safety by narrowing the travel lanes to slow traffic and prevent parking too close to the raised crosswalk. This technique, known as crosswalk “daylighting,” improves pedestrian visibility for drivers.
In addition to the new markings, pedestrian warning flags were installed at the raised crosswalk to give walkers an extra tool for increased visibility. Staff from various departments met with Glenaire representatives to discuss and demonstrate the use of the flags. Staff will continue to work with Glenaire to gather community input on the flags’ effectiveness.
New Stop Signs at South Dixon and Dry Avenue
Recent traffic control changes were made at two downtown intersections. New stop signs were installed, converting both S. Dixon Ave at Willow St. and Dry Ave at S. West St. to all-way stop configurations. This decision followed a staff review, which concluded that the all-way stops and new pavement markings would improve safety due to the unique alignment of these intersections.
The new stop signs feature LED lights that blink continuously to alert drivers to the updated traffic pattern. These LED-enhanced signs will remain in place for a few months before being replaced with standard stop signs. The LED signs will then be repurposed at other intersections planned for similar upgrades.
Complete 540 Phase 1 Opening September 25
On September 25 at 6 a.m., the NC Turnpike Authority will open Complete 540 Phase 1, a 17-mile stretch from the NC 55 Bypass in Apex to the I-40/US 70 interchange in Garner. This section features six travel lanes, a 70-foot-wide median, and a 70-mph speed limit. When the highway opens this month, expect final construction activities and tolling consistent with other NC 540 sections.
Two interchanges will face delays: the Bells Lake Road interchange (exit 47) and the exit ramp from NC 540 to Old Stage Road (exit 43) will both remain closed until November 2024 for construction and the removal of a temporary asphalt plant. Staff has worked with NCDOT to include future pedestrian and bike facilities at these interchanges.
Phase 2 of Complete 540, extending the highway 10 miles from I-40 in Garner to Knightdale, is under construction and will complete the 540 loop by late 2028. Fore more details and an interactive construction map, visit ncdot.gov/complete540.
Compliance Update on EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule Revision
Next week, Cary will complete two major requirements of the EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule Revision (LCRR). First, Cary will publish its water service line inventory online and then submit the results to the NC Department of Environmental Quality. These actions are being undertaken by water systems throughout the country and must be completed by Oct.16.
Early next week, Cary will publish its service line inventory as a searchable map available on Cary’s service line inventory webpage. Citizens will be able to search their address, view the service line material category, and identify the method by which their category was determined.
More information on the EPA’s lead and copper rule revision can be found on our website or by contacting 311.
NC State Students Explore Cary’s Transportation System
NC State Engineering students visited Cary’s Operations Center this week for hands-on experience with our transportation system. While their coursework provides a strong foundation, they sought practical insights into engineering and traffic management. Cary staff demonstrated fiber optic cable splicing, offered a look into the Traffic Management Center, and explained how the town manages its transportation corridors. The students asked insightful questions and expressed interest in potentially working for Cary in the future.
The Cary Film Festival 2024
Last week, The Cary Theater hosted the 7th annual BEYOND: The Cary Film Festival, attracting over 1,000 attendees. This year’s festival featured 25 short films and five feature films from six countries, with 20 films directed or co-directed by women.
In 2024, BEYOND expanded its festival landscape to include the Academy Pavilion at Downtown Cary Park, where several filmmaker workshops were held, and the Mayton, which hosted the Awards Brunch.
Five awards were presented to filmmakers from North Carolina, Georgia, and Norway. The Grand Jury award for Best Screenplay went to North Carolina native Lauryn Massenburg for her screenplay, Puddin’.
We are grateful to once again host this event with local partners including The RBF Champagne Bar, Chatham Street Wine Market, Brew Coffee Bar, the New Carolinas Film Collective, and Geluna Gelato.
Upcoming Meetings
Public Art Advisory Board
Wednesday, September 18
6:15 p.m.
Greenway Committee
Thursday, September 19
6:00 p.m.
Mayor’s Mailbox
- Several concerns about a Wake County project to drain Bond Lake for maintenance.
- A thank you for participating in the Environmental Symposium.
- A request to meet about private school education.
- A complaint about the Lochmere HOA and their “negotiations” with a proposed developer’s redevelopment of Waverly.
Next Week
Next week’s activities include staff meetings, a meeting with Amtrak, a Wake County Mayors Association meeting, CAMPO, the Cary Chamber Annual Banquet, a volunteer appreciation event, and a meeting of the NC Metro Mayors.
Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, September 22nd, 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@carync.gov and email personal comments to augustanat@mindspring.com.
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