Council Meeting Prep
Monday I attempted to contact each council member to hear of any questions or concerns about the upcoming agenda. There were none. Later in the day I met with staff to go over the agenda items. Based on our knowledge at the time we expected a short meeting.
Manager One-On-One
Monday evening, I met with the town manager for our weekly one-on-one. We were joined by Mayor Pro-Tem Bryson-Robinson. We talked about topics for the retreat in February and public response to the Gathering House in The Downtown Cary Park.
Gathering House
The Gathering House is in The Downtown Cary Park and has never been opened to the public. When the park was opened there was a disagreement with the contractor and the town about materials. After a year of negotiations we have come to an agreement and construction to change the materials will start. It is expected to be completed in the summer. Nearly all the costs associated with this change will be paid by outside parties and not the Cary taxpayers.
Leadership Cary
Tuesday afternoon I spoke to about three dozen people as part of the Cary Chamber’s Leadership Cary program. After talking with them about the structure of our municipal government and our roles, I talked about various topics such as the downtown park and the recent bond vote. There were several great questions including what type of businesses there should be in the downtown in the future. I believe variety of uses is our future success. My talk and visit lasted about 30 minutes.
HRID Board Meeting
Tuesday night I joined a meeting of the HRID board. The meeting included a presentation from the Cultural Arts Manager on diversity and accessibility, a discussion on the engagement levels of the Sustainably and Climate Action Plan, and a discussion on spring events the board wanted to be a part of. Afterwards, I provided comments on upcoming activities and events in the town.
Economic Forecast with Michael Walden
Wednesday morning I joined council members Smith and Bansal at the Economic Forecast presentation by Dr. Michael Walden. Here are some of my takeaways:
- Real GDP growth is back to pre-pandemic levels
- Employment is at pre-pandemic levels
- Unemployment is higher than the Feds would like but stable
- The labor force participation rate has been around 62.5% in the last two years
- Job openings have been trending downwards
- Growth in Labor productivity is back after pandemic slump
- Inflation remains higher than Feds would like it
- Inflation rate might level or go down, but prices will not
- Origins of current inflation started with $6 trillion of stimulus in pandemic with supply chain issues
- Average prices have increased 2% more than workers earnings since 2021. Lower wage workers have seen a bigger difference and higher wage workers close to no difference
- “Same Home” values are up $38% since 2021
- There are signs of slower growth but no recession
- Feds will slowly lower key interest rates slower through 2025
- Consumer purchasing power will return this year
- The economy will grow in the 1.5% to 1.5% range
- The jobless rate will stay between 3.5% and 4.5%
- The annual inflation rate will settle between 2.5% and 3%
- Short term worries include consumer debt and commercial real estate
- Long term worries include social security, debt, AI impacting labor market
- Household debt has increased to about 11.5% of disposable income
- Household debt delinquencies are up
- Commercial Real Estate delinquencies are up, and prices are down
- Social Security will run an accumulative deficit of $2.9 trillion between now and 2035
- Interest payments in the federal budget exceed Medicaid, Spending on Children, Veterans programs, international affairs, and Natural Resources and Environment
- Labor market is changing with the displacement of cognitive workers, retraining needed, higher education needed
- NC ranks #3 for people moving to the state
- Raleigh area is #2 in top performing cities
- NC birth rate continues to fall
- Contributions from foreign immigration are up strongly
- Last four years pharma and major tech have announced Johnson County, Chatham County, Rocky Mount, Hickory.
- Future may have “remote work communities”
- Public Policy makers have a limited impact on the economy’s direction
Council Work Session
Thursday evening the council held a work session that covered several topics including Zencity, 2025 early voting sites, moving some work sessions to Tuesdays in 2025, an annual meeting update, and how council can have better discussions in 2025.
A presentation on Zencity showed how it was used to generate daily reports used by staff and the council. Zencity is used to find out what citizens are talking about on various forms of social media. This allows us to address problems we would otherwise be unaware of and to correct misinformation. Staff have been collecting data with Zencity since 2017. If the council wants to use Zencity they must agree to a Code of Conduct and then do the onboarding process.
The council also discussed early voting sites and costs for 2025. Our choices were to have two sites for ten days, the most expensive option, or one site for eight days. We chose the Herb Young Community Center for eight days which would save about $100,000.
The council unanimously voted to hold at least one work session a month on a Tuesday rather than before a council meeting in 2025. This would allow the sessions to not be time-constrained and give us the opportunity to do site visits.
Staff presented information about our upcoming council-staff annual meeting which will be held in Cary. Council feedback asked that topics be focused on large discussion items rather than presentations followed by feedback.
Council Meeting
The council held its first regularly scheduled meeting of the year Thursday night. There were no public hearings and one discussion item.
Under discussion was a future AI policy. After discussing it at length the council asked staff to come back with an all-encompassing AI strategy with initial focus on guardrails. The goal will be to eventually come up with a policy. It is important to note that staff use AI for many things and already have some practices and policies in place.
Town Manager’s Report
Sean’s Message
As we begin 2025, I’m energized by the opportunities that lie ahead for the Cary community. The start of a new year offers a fresh canvas to envision and shape our town’s future. Your continued partnership and dedication to our citizens remains the anchor to our success, and I look forward to working with you to build upon the strong foundation we have built in Cary.
Next week, I’ll be out of town attending the Public Sector Executive Summit on Generative AI and the Future City at Harvard Kennedy School. In my absence please contact Deputy Town Manager Russ Overton if you have a time-sensitive matter.
Stay safe and warm this weekend,
Sean
Dry Avenue and South Academy Street Intersection Improvements
Earlier today staff installed “No Turn on Red” signage on both right turning approaches of the Dry Avenue and South Academy Street intersection. Staff will continue to evaluate the intersection for future improvements as well.
Hanukkah Menorah Lighting
The Annual Menorah Lighting Ceremony was held at Downtown Cary Park on December 30. PRCR Director John Collins led the ceremony, joined by Councilmember Lori Bush, Rabbi Ariel Edery of Beth Shalom, Rabbi Yisroel Cotlar of Chabad of Cary, and Justin Bender of the Jewish Federation of Greater Raleigh. Together, they marked the 6th night of Hanukkah with meaningful blessings and the ceremonial lighting of the menorah candles.
Additionally in attendance to enjoy the ceremony were Mayor Harold Weinbrecht, Councilmembers Sarika Bansal, Carissa Kohn-Johnson, & Jack Smith, and NC State Representatives Maria Cervania and Ya Liu.
The evening’s highlights included heartfelt remarks from Councilmember Bush, who reflected on the significance of the holiday and the community coming together. Bush also read a unifying message from North Carolina Governor-Elect Josh Stein and had the honor of lighting the menorah for the 6th night of Hanukkah. The ceremony featured a lively performance by a traditional Klezmer band, delicious refreshments, and a spirited sing-along of traditional Hanukkah songs.
Kwanzaa in Concert
On December 29, Cary hosted Kwanzaa in Concert at the Cary Arts Center. Curated and emceed for the second year by Darrell Stover, the program featured traditional Kwanzaa performers and presenters embracing African culture through dance, drumming, storytelling, poetry, and the visual arts. A focus for this year was on the spirit of Ujamaa – Cooperative Economics – to encourage community support of these traditions and the youth to consider similar paths of creative productivity and entrepreneurship. Councilmembers Michelle Craig and Carissa Kohn-Johnson attended and participated in the procession to kick off the performances, and Councilmember Craig read the Kwanzaa proclamation.
Public Safety Hosts Chamber Leadership Group
Police and Fire hosted members of the Cary Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Cary group January 7. After touring the Wake County Detention Center, they came to Fire Station 2 to hear from Chief Mike Cooper and staff about how our firefighters keep citizens safe and tour the fire station and apparatus. They then went to Town Hall, where Police Chief Terry Sult and staff gave them an overview of the police side of public safety. They even got to meet K9 Officer Matthew Cotten and K9 Arlo. They ended their day learning about the Cary government from Mayor Harold Weinbrecht. Leadership Cary is a seven-month program that exposes participants to all aspects of the Cary community.
White Flag Shelter Awareness
White Flag Warning is a program in North Carolina that provides temporary emergency shelter for people experiencing homelessness when severe weather is expected. A White Flag is declared when the temperature or windchill is expected to be below 35°. White Flag Shelters are open from 5 p.m. – 7 a.m. on declared nights. A list of White Flag Shelters accessible by transit from Cary is maintained on our website and available at stations. Cary participates in the Wake County Continuum of Care NC 507, a collaboration of over fifty public, private, and nonprofit entities working together to address homelessness in Wake County. Cary partners primarily with two local nonprofits to support people experiencing housing instability or homelessness: Dorcas Ministries through the Stable Homes Cary Program and The Carying Place through the Journey Home Program. Cary has also funded area organizations, including Triangle Family Services, to provide street outreach and emergency assistance.
Cary Housing Survey
To further the goals of the Imagine Cary Community Plan and Cary Housing Plan , Cary supports work in the key initiative areas of new housing development, housing rehabilitation, and housing stability support services. Cary uses a blend of local and federal funds, including Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. Every five years, Cary prepares the Consolidated Plan which serves as the primary vehicle for prioritizing the use of the entitlement funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Cary is projected to receive over $700,000 next year and $3.5 million in federal funding over the next five years and is gathering community input to guide how these funds, as well as local dollars, will be used. Starting next week, citizens will be encouraged to respond to the survey to help guide the investment of this critical housing funding. See the survey on the Cary Housing webpage.
Duke Health at Green Level – Phase 2
Duke Health has received approval to move forward with an early grading permit for Phase 2 of their Green Level Destination Center medical campus. Phase 2 will include the first portion of the hospital – a 111,000 square foot emergency ambulatory care facility. This building will complement the existing 102,000 square foot medical office building along Green Level West Road that opened in 2022. Duke Health anticipates moving forward with clearing and grading in this area in late January or early February.
East Chatham Street Nighttime Road Closure
Beginning the evening of January 13, contractors working on the Cedar Street Parking deck will close E. Chatham St. between N. Walker St. and N. Academy St. This work will take place nightly from 10:00 pm to 5:00 am Sunday through Thursday for approximately two weeks (weather dependent). This closure allows for the safe installation of precast concrete panels that wrap the parking deck. All vehicular traffic will be detoured to E. Cedar Street and all pedestrian traffic will be detoured to the south side of E. Chatham during this closure.
Annual Disinfection Switchover Begins
The Cary/Apex Water Treatment Facility (CAWTF) will begin its annual disinfection switchover on March 1. In accordance with state and federal recommendations, each year the treatment facility switches from its normal disinfection mixture of chlorine and ammonia to free chlorine, which is more potent. This change, combined with the flushing of Cary’s water lines, cleanses the system and helps ensure safe, high-quality water throughout the year. During the switchover period, which will last until April 10, residents and customers may notice a minor increase in chlorine odor. In areas near active hydrant flushing, water may also appear slightly discolored. This activity is part of the normal water system maintenance process and occurs in tandem with several of our neighboring municipalities. For more information, visit www.carync.gov/waterchange.
Motown Christmas 2024
Cary and Pure Life Theatre Company continued the tradition of producing the Motown inspired show “The Motown Sound of Christmas” at the Cary Arts Center. Featuring some of the Triangle’s finest singers and dancers, the show offered new music selections and surprises celebrating the holidays and the artists who typified the Motown sound.
Downtown Cary Park Skating Rink Recap
Downtown Cary Park has wrapped up an incredible second season with our skating rink. Over 6,000 participants laced up their skates and took to the rink, enjoying this family-friendly activity between Dec. 1 and Jan. 4. We were thrilled to offer sensory friendly, toddler, and specialized recreation skate times, making the fun more inclusive for all. Thank you to everyone who came out and made this season so memorable.
Upcoming Meetings
Environmental Advisory Board
Tuesday, January 14
6:00 p.m.
Greenway Committee
Thursday, January 16
6:00 p.m.
Mayor’s Mailbox
- A complaint about litter on US1.
- A complaint about property taxes
- A complaint about the Eastern Gateway
- A complaint from a developer that they can’t pour concrete starting at 3 in the morning so they can have a continuous pour.
Next Week
Next week’s activities include staff meetings, a meeting of the Cary Tennis Classic Board, a review of the State of Cary slides, and a meeting of the Executive Board for the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization.
Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, January 19th, 2025. 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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