Manager One-On-One
Monday I met with the town manager for our weekly one-on-one. Our topics of discussion included GoTriangle, CAMPO, Economic development, and the annual council-staff retreat.
#1 Organics Diversion Program of the Year
On Wednesday I was notified that the Town of Cary has been awarded the Organics Diversion Program of the Year Award by the U.S. Composting Council (USCC), marking a significant achievement in Cary’s commitment to sustainability and waste diversion. This award, presented annually at the USCC’s Annual Conference and Tradeshow, held in Phoenix this year, recognizes outstanding achievements in the composting industry and is one of the most prestigious honors in the field.
Cary is the first municipality to receive this award. Jenna Kostka, festivals and events supervisor, and Srijana Guilford, waste strategy and community impact consultant, received this award on Cary’s behalf.
Cary’s path to earning the Organics Diversion Program of the Year Award is built on two key initiatives: its popular Lazy Daze and Spring Daze festivals, and its year-round food waste drop-off program. Both programs work in tandem to engage residents and event-goers, promote sustainability, and reduce waste sent to landfills.
In 2024, Cary’s low-waste initiatives at festivals achieved an impressive 95% compliance rate among food vendors, contributing to the collection of over 4,000 pounds of compostable material at Lazy Daze alone — surpassing the total trash output. We value the support of local businesses and non-profits, including Toward Zero Waste and Compost Now, as Cary grows these programs in the community. This material and all of the organics collected at Cary’s drop-off sites are transformed into nutrient-rich compost locally. A portion of the finished compost is used at Cary’s Good Hope Farm to support urban agriculture.
Cary’s integrated approach to composting — combining large-scale public events with a permanent food waste drop-off program — is a model that other communities can emulate. With impressive results in both diversion rates and community engagement, Cary’s composting efforts reflect the town’s broader commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability.
Key highlights of Cary’s composting success include:
- 317,497 pounds (159 tons) of food waste diverted from landfills since 2022
- 30 tons of finished compost donated to Good Hope Farm to support local agriculture
- Over 38,000 drop-offs recorded at the initial food waste drop-off site
- 95% vendor compliance with composting standards at Lazy Daze and Spring Daze festivals
- 4,000 pounds of food waste collected at the Lazy Daze festival was diverted from landfills
For more information on Cary’s composting initiatives, visit Cary’s Composting webpage.
Raleigh-Cary Top 30 Most Dynamic Metros
Thursday I was notified by Heartland Forward’s communication director that the Raleigh-Cary area was ranked in the top 30 most dynamic metros. Here is what he said:
“Congratulations! We are excited to share that your metro area has been ranked in the top 30 of Heartland Forward’s “2024 Most Dynamic Metropolitans” report. Your metro’s high ranking is a testament to effective planning, smart policy and a shared commitment to your citizens – all worth celebrating.
Heartland Forward is the nation’s only think-and-do tank dedicated to advancing the economic opportunity of the 20 states we define as the heartland. For the past six years, this report has served as a benchmark to celebrate success and identify opportunities for growth in cities across the country.
The “Most Dynamic Metropolitans” report ranks 380 metropolitan areas by measuring key indicators like employment growth, average annual pay, real GDP, entrepreneurial activity and educational attainment. Using multiple data points, the report is a valuable tool for governors, U.S. mayors and economic development departments to evaluate their policies and identify best practices for growth, development and community health.
Key trends identified in the report include:
- AI investment and policy
- Advanced manufacturing innovation
- Post-pandemic tourism and recreation growth
- Oil, gas and alternative energy
- University-driven growth
…
Once again, congratulations on a fantastic 2024. We look forward to monitoring your metropolitans’ dynamic growth in 2025 and hope to see you back at the top next year!”
I am proud to live in a metro area that is recognized nationally as being the best of the best.
State of Cary Address
Wednesday morning, I gave my annual State of Cary address at Prestonwood as part of the Cary Chamber’s monthly breakfast program. It was a sellout with over 280 in attendance.
I started working on the address in December and had the first draft in early January. That was followed by bullets for each slide. Staff took those and made a PowerPoint presentation with pictures. We then reviewed the slides to narrow them down to fit in a 40-to-45-minute time frame. You can find the entirety of my message here and the slides I used here.
For my opening for the Cary Chamber event, the staff and I agreed to do walkup music to set a casual lighter tone for the address. I entered with Mariah Carey’s “All I want for Christmas” and then explained to the crowd that I proclaimed Cary to be spelled C-A-R-E-Y for one day last November 1st. One of the slides show me reading the proclamation to her and we played her response: “That was amazing. I need to move there.” Then I challenged the realtors to follow up with her.
I thought the presentation went well (no major gaffs on my part). The presentation was about 40 minutes and was followed by two questions. I will be giving the presentation several other times this year. A 5 to 10 minute version will be created and put on line at a later date.
Lunar New Year
Thursday evening, I was joined by the entire council at the Lunar New Year event at Prestonwood Country Club. This was hosted by the Triangle Area Chinese American Society and the Chinese American Friendship Association of North Carolina. Ya Liu, former Cary Council member, helped organize the event. Attendees included dozens of elected officials including Congresswoman Ross, Congresswoman Foushee, and NC Attorney General Jackson. I read a proclamation recognizing the Lunar New Year Celebration and wished everyone good fortune, health, and happiness. Afterwards, I was presented with a painting by Jason Shi on behalf of the town.
NC Metro Mayors
Friday the NC Metro Mayors met virtually for a legislative summary. Here is a summary of the first week from the NC League of Municipalities Director of Urban Affairs:
Legislative Update:
Mayor Williams said he would happily share the toolkit with the group once it was completed.
House leadership also announced the creation of the House Select Committee on Government Efficiency. All indications are that this committee will be different than a more traditional regulatory reform committee as this committee will be specific to government efficiency. It has been reported that the committee is modeled after the federal Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), and we expect that many of the proposals from the federal group will be funneled down for potential state consideration. The Senate has also formed its own Regulatory Reform committee, which we have not seen in prior sessions.
Regarding committee leadership, we wanted to note some changes to the leadership of both chamber’s Transportation Committees. On the Senate side, Senator Bill Rabon, who was instrumental in the Airport Improvement Program, has returned as Co-chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, joining Senators Lazzara and Sawyer. Representative Jay Adams is the new Co-chair of the House Transportation Committee, joining Representatives Iler, McNeely, Shepard, and Tyson.
Legislative notes prepared by the Checkmate Government Relations Team.
Down-zoning Provision – SB 382 [SL 2024-57, p. 131]:
The down-zoning provision in Senate Bill 382 has created uncertainty in both cities and counties with their ability to do county or city-initiated zoning. An issue that municipalities are having with this provision is that there is a retroactive effect. If any zoning fell under that provision that the local government had approved in the prior six months, then that zoning approval could be invalid. The provision restricts cities from evolving their zoning code over time. Mayors should continue to speak with and provide specific and concrete examples to their Legislators.
Over the past week, NCLM Government Affairs team members have held meetings with Senator Berger’s staff and numerous legislators about options to address these concerns. While our preference would be for a full repeal, it is understood that we may need to explore other options to address this issue and resolve it as soon as possible. With bill filing beginning this week, we have already seen multiple bills filed, some of which repeal the provision in specific counties, and a singular bill filed by Representative Jay Adams for a full statewide repeal of the downzoning provisions. Our team has been working with attorneys from across the state, as well as in concert with the NC Association of County Commissioners, to develop potential options to address this issue, and in the next week, we expect there to be additional discussions with legislators in both chambers. We will continue to keep you informed of where the conversation is progressing and always appreciate insight from your respective areas.
Federal Grant Freeze:
On Monday, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released a memorandum to federal agencies calling for a freeze of trillions of dollars of federal grant funds and other federal assistance programs. This memo caused a significant amount of concern across the country due to the uncertainty it presented for countless programs. Since its release, the action has received bipartisan opposition and was ultimately rescinded because of a federal court injunction.
It is unclear how this proposal may be resurrected, but there may be continued cause for concern related to federally funded programs. We encourage all municipalities to review their utilization of federal monies and what the impact would be if a freeze were to take effect. During the call, we also heard about a pilot program currently underway in the City of Durham to build a toolkit related to understanding federal funding. Mayor Williams said he would happily share the toolkit with the group once it was completed.
SHEILD Proclamation
Friday morning I met with four representatives from SHIELD North Carolina. Their mission:
“Shield North Carolina prioritizes collaboration to combat human trafficking in North Carolina through empowerment, prevention, and advocacy.”
I presented them with a proclamation that designated January as Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Afterwards, we took a few photos. If you would like to learn more, they will be offering a Human Trafficking 101 (Virtual) on February 10th at 7 pm. You get the meeting link at https://www.shieldnc.org/trainings .
Town Manager’s Report
Sean’s Message
Council,
It was so good being with you at the third annual Lunar New Year Gala last night! I was truly inspired to see the positive impact we are making in – and with – our community.
One of the highlights for me was witnessing the Council enjoying camaraderie and the strong sense of connection throughout the event. The night certainly left a lasting impression on me.
A special thanks to our former Councilmember and now NC House member Ya Liu for including me in this wonderful celebration.
Enjoy your weekend.
Sean
State of Cary Breakfast
On Wednesday, Mayor Weinbrecht delivered the 2025 State of Cary address at the annual State of Cary Breakfast held by the Chamber of Commerce. More than 280 attendees gathered as the mayor provided key highlights and data from the past year while offering insights into Cary’s future. The full presentation and accompanying slides are available at carync.gov/stateofcary.
Organics Diversion Program of the Year
On Wednesday, Cary became the first municipality to ever receive the prestigious Organics Diversion Program of the Year Award from the U.S. Composting Council. This award honors outstanding achievements in the composting industry, and Cary earned recognition through its innovative food waste drop-off program and composting efforts at the Lazy Daze and Spring Daze festivals.
Since 2022, these initiatives have successfully diverted 317,497 pounds (150 tons) of food waste from landfills. Last year alone, 95% of festival vendors met composting standards, and Lazy Daze saw over 4,000 pounds of food waste diverted. This achievement highlights Cary’s strong commitment to sustainability and sets an example for other communities striving to reduce waste and support local agriculture.
A special thanks to Councilmember Lori Bush and the entire Council for their leadership in making this success possible!
Regional Transportation Updates
On Wednesday, the CAMPO and Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro (DCHC) Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) held a joint meeting to review key regional transportation projects. MPOs collaborate with local governments to develop and coordinate transportation plans that improve mobility across the region.
A key highlight was an update on the S-Line rail project, a passenger rail corridor designed to connect communities across North Carolina and beyond, boosting both regional travel and economic growth. The meeting also covered the rebranding of DCHC MPO to Triangle West MPO, reflecting a refreshed identity for future collaboration.
Board members discussed the Destination 2055 Metropolitan Transportation Plan, a long-term strategy to address transportation challenges such as population growth and infrastructure needs. Updates on safety programs, rail studies, and joint planning initiatives reinforced a shared commitment to making travel in the Triangle region safer, more efficient, and better connected.
East Chatham Street Road Closure Next Friday
On February 7, East Chatham Street will be closed between North Walker Street and North Academy Street starting at 7:00 a.m. as contractors dismantle and remove the tower crane used for the Cedar Street Parking Deck construction. The closure is expected to last up to two days.
Detour signs will direct through traffic to Chapel Hill Road via Harrison Avenue and East Durham Road. Pedestrians will be rerouted to the south side of East Chatham Street during this time.
Radar-Activated Warning Sign Installed
Staff installed an upgraded intersection warning sign on Cary Glen Boulevard, featuring flashing LEDs that activate when radar detects a vehicle significantly exceeding the advisory speed. This enhanced sign aims to remind drivers to slow down as they approach the intersection of Hollowridge Court and Lantern Ridge Lane, where sight visibility is challenged by the steepness of the road profile.
The decision to install this sign followed a pilot study in Cary, where similar devices successfully reduced vehicle speeds.
New Crabtree Creek Greenway Connection Opens
This week, a newly completed section of the Crabtree Creek Greenway opened, connecting Bond Park to High House Road. Funded in part by a $1.57 million Federal LAPP Grant, the project broke ground in March with Lanier Construction as the primary contractor.
The new greenway extends north from Bond Park, passing under Cary Parkway, running alongside the Preston soccer fields, and linking to High House Road and a new street-side trail.
By filling a critical gap in the Crabtree Creek Greenway corridor, this project improves bicycle and pedestrian access to Bond Park’s baseball and soccer fields while also enhancing transit connectivity via a GoCary stop on High House Road. The completed trail strengthens Cary’s greenway network, supporting both recreation and active transportation for the community.
Indian Wells Railroad Crossing to Permanently Close
In 2015, Cary, CSX Railroad, and NCDOT signed a Railroad Crossing Consolidation Agreement to close two at-grade crossings at Carpenter Fire Station Road and Morrisville Carpenter Road. In exchange, a new at-grade crossing was approved for O’Kelly Chapel Road as part of the Parkside Town Commons development.
As the final step in this agreement, the Indian Wells Road (formerly Morrisville Carpenter Road) crossing will permanently close by spring 2025. Kite Realty is responsible for scheduling this work. To maintain traffic flow, Saunders Grove Lane will be restriped to connect with Carpenter Upchurch Road. Residents and businesses will be notified via postcards and electronic message signs.
For more details, visit carync.gov/indianwells.
Sewer Rehabilitation
SAK Construction crews have begun work on a maintenance project to rehabilitate the Brier Creek Interceptor Sewer, a large-diameter pipeline along the west side of Lake Crabtree.
The first phase involves installing cured-in-place liners in sewer lines upstream (west) of Aviation Parkway. A temporary sewer bypass system, including pumps and above-ground pipes, is being set up to manage flows. This phase is expected to be completed by summer 2025.
The project will renew over 8,000 feet of 36-inch and 42-inch sewer lines, extending their service life by 50 years. The $8.2 million project is scheduled for completion by winter 2026.
Upcoming Meetings
Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources Advisory Board
Monday, February 3
5:15 p.m.
Information Services Advisory Board
Monday, February 3
6:00 p.m.
Zoning Board of Adjustment
Monday, February 3
6:30 p.m.
Human Relations, Inclusion, and Diversity Advisory Board
Tuesday, February 4
6:00 p.m.
Senior Advisory Board
Wednesday, February 5
12:00 p.m.
Virtual Neighborhood Rezoning Meeting
Wednesday, February 5
6:30 p.m.
Town Council Meeting (Work Session)
Thursday, February 6
4:45 p.m.
Town Council Meeting (Regular)
Thursday, February 6
6:30 p.m.
Mayor’s Mailbox
- A lecture from a former council member on how to manage taxes and budget.
- A concern that Cary will end DEI programs. (NO! Equity is a core value.)
- A complaint about litter on US 1 (Unfortunately maintained by NCDOT)
- A concern and request for Cary to do more about invasive plant species.
- A complaint about the cost of public art on Bus Stop Shelters.
- A concern about a shooting incident at Williamsburg Manor.
- A complaint about property taxes and that we should make our community less desirable and more affordable. (Um… no on the less desirable)
Next Week
Next week’s activities include staff meetings, a meeting with the NWSL president, training on Zencity, meetings with the Macon Georgia mayor, a council work session, a council meeting, and a meeting of the NC Metro Mayors.
Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, February 9th, 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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