Manager One-On-One
Monday I met with the town manager for our weekly one-on-one. We were joined by Mayor Pro-Tem Bryson-Robinson. Topics included retreat topics, CAMPO and GoTriangle funding dispute, and the budget.
NWSL Chief of Staff Meeting
Tuesday morning I joined Assistant Town Manager Curan in a meeting with Mma Afoaku, Chief of Staff to the Commissioner of the National Women’s Soccer League. In our meeting we discussed how Cary and the WakeMed Soccer Park can be involved in the 2026 World Cup which will be coming to the U.S.
HRID Meeting
Tuesday night I attended the monthly meeting of the Human Relations, Inclusiveness, and Diversity Board meeting. We heard from the town manager about the budget and the board made a few recommendations. They also discussed demographic data, and the various languages public safety information should be in. I provided a few remarks in the end on current and upcoming events. I also emphasized to them that everyone is welcome in Cary and that we embrace our diversity, whatever that diversity may be.
Council Work Session
Thursday evening the council held a work session on the budget to prepare for the upcoming annual council/staff retreat in Cary. After the retreat the council will start holding budget work sessions in March and April. The council will receive a recommended budget from the town manager on May 10th. Here are some of my takeaways from the work session:
- Individual council members have expressed interest in holding the tax rate flat, retaining our AAA bond ratings, maintaining existing infrastructure, and maintaining levels of service. The town manager said that these are in conflict.
- The majority of the town’s expenditures are police, fire, and public works.
- All councils have an obligation to think about future residents.
- The council may consider using BID (Business Improvement District) assessments for downtown.
- For years Cary has funded capital projects with overages from the annual budget. (Municipalities in NC have to have a balanced budget and can’t go over budget without pulling money from Capital Reserves) Overages are close to 0 now.
- Currently there is a council policy to have four months of operating budget in capital reserves which significantly exceeds requirements.
The council will discuss the budget on the second day of our retreat.
Council Meeting
The council held its first regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday. The agenda included four consent items, two public hearings, and two discussion items.
The public hearing on the Wake Western Regional Center drew a few speakers. One speaker said that he was concerned that people on welfare would be so close to his properties and that would cause more crime. The Wake Western Regional Center would provide services to Wake County residents that include healthcare support, employment assistance, and vital documentation. The proposed location is next to Dorcas Ministries.
The second public hearing was to split a lot on Charles Street, next to Chatham Street, for two single family homes. The existing home is dilapidated and hasn’t been lived in for years. One of the speakers complained that it wouldn’t fit the character/size of the current houses nearby. This is not true.
The two discussion items were for the annexation and rezoning of Alston Yards across from Parkside Commons. This is a large mixed-use development of over 46 acres. The proposal uses a land swap with the Town of Cary. It will have 400K square feet of office, 55K square feet of commercial, 1120 multifamily dwellings or less with a hotel, 25K square feet of community gathering space, 7 acres of open space, and 40K square feet for a town linear park. The council approved this unanimously.
NC Metro Mayors
Friday the NC Metro Mayors held their weekly meeting to get a legislative update. Here is a summary from the Director of Urban Affairs:
Checkmate Government Relations Legislative Update
As we enter the second week of the legislative session, bills continue to be filed in the House and Senate. Some committees have begun meeting, though we expect that to be a slow process as there are numerous new members of the leadership, especially on the House side. This week saw meetings of the Senate Committee on Health Care, the Senate Commerce and Insurance Committee, and the House Select Committee on Hurricane Helene Recovery. We have also heard a significant amount of discussion regarding how the government efficiency model we are seeing discussed at the federal level will permeate to the state level.
Down-zoning Provision – SB 382 [SL 2024-57, p. 131]
Discussions continue regarding solutions to address the challenges facing cities and towns from the downzoning language. NCLM Government Affairs team members continue to have conversations with legislators regarding solutions and relaying feedback provided by local leaders across the state. As we mentioned in last week’s update, we have already seen multiple bills filed, some of which repeal the provision in specific counties. Representative Jay Adams has also filed House Bill 24, a full statewide repeal of the downzoning provisions. Our team has been working with attorneys from across the state and in concert with the NC Association of County Commissioners to develop potential options to address this issue. In the next week, we expect there to be additional discussions with legislators in both chambers.
A question was asked in the meeting about having municipalities pass resolutions or draft letters signaling their opposition to the downzoning provisions and encouraging legislators to repeal the existing language. NCLM Government Affairs continues to encourage local leaders to pass these at their discretion and continue to share their stories of how the language impacts their communities.
We will continue to keep you informed of where the conversation is progressing and always appreciate insight from your respective areas.
Guest Speaker: Jim McCleskey
During today’s call, we had Jim McCleskey, Director of North Carolina’s Washington, DC office, join us for an in-depth discussion of recent activities on Capitol Hill as well as with federal agencies. A significant amount of effort is being focused on Western North Carolina and recovery activities from Hurricane Helene. Jim discussed how, with recent confirmations of multiple agency leaders, the pace of activity has picked up significantly. In the coming weeks, visits from the interim FEMA and EPA Administrators and the new Secretaries of Homeland Security and Transportation are expected in western North Carolina.
Jim spent significant time discussing the current status of the transportation-related projects in western North Carolina. It is currently estimated that there are roughly $5 billion in damages to roadways, bridges, and other transportation infrastructure, with $350 million already being spent on repairs to date. He outlined the various funding mechanisms utilized to repair federal, state, and private roads. While USDOT and FEMA monies can be spent to repair government roads, a bipartisan group of members of the state’s Congressional delegation has introduced legislation in both the House and Senate to allow private roads and bridges to be eligible for FEMA’s Public Assistance program. No action has been taken as of yet, but it will be an important issue to watch.
We also discussed the current conversations on Capitol Hill regarding the continuation of federal funding (the December continuing resolution expires in late March) and President Trump’s recent actions through Executive Orders to pause, delay, or suspend countless programs. While there remains a significant amount of gray area, there have been positive conversations related to multiple programs. NCLM staff will share additional information about the information coming out of department-level programs as we receive it.
Jim encouraged all attendees to reach out to him whenever they have any questions. His contact information is as follows:
Jim McCleskey, Director
North Carolina Washington Office
444 North Capitol Street NW, Suite 332, Washington DC 20001
(O) 202-624-5833
(M) 984-218-0086
Public Safety: HB 50 “LEO Special Separation Allowance Options”
Community & Economic Development:
Clean Fuel Advanced Technology (CFAT) Project Grant Funding; Federal Grants Freeze and Other Administrative Decisions of Federal Funding
Local Revenues & Local Control:
Down-zoning provision in SB 382 [SL 2024-57]
Town Manager’s Report
Sean’s Message
I hope you enjoy the latest updates from the week.
Have a great weekend.
Sean
Council Work Session February 6
The UNC School of Government has several informative blog posts about the budgeting process. In this post, they explain what happens if a budget is not adopted by July 1. In summary, without a budget, a local government has no authority to expend funds. Typically, “interim appropriations” are made which authorize limited spending on employee salaries, debt service, and “usual ordinary” expenses, which must be funded with available fund balance or current revenues.
25th Anniversary of Hum Sub
Councilmember Kohn-Johnson attended the special 25th-anniversary celebration of Hum Sub, joining community members and local leaders, in recognizing the organization’s enduring impact in fostering cultural connection and appreciation. The evening featured Invoking the River, a captivating performance by the renowned Chitresh Das, held at the A.J. Fletcher Opera Theater in Raleigh. The event underscored Hum Sub’s dedication to bringing the community together through signature celebrations like Basant Bahar and Hum Sub Diwali. Cary is grateful for Hum Sub’s contributions and the vital role cultural events play in enriching the community—both over the past 25 years and in the years to come.
Share and Care
Councilmember Michelle Craig attended Cary’s Share & Care event, a one-stop opportunity for persons with disabilities, family members, care providers, and anyone interested in gathering information to learn about the amazing services our community offers. Share & Care was held today at the Herb Young Community Center. Close to 50 booths were set up sharing information on everything from resources for seniors, GoCary, the CERT team, to our wonderful community engagement staff.
Impediments to Fair Housing Community Meeting
In conjunction with Cary’s continued preparation of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Consolidated Plan, Cary is partnering with Wake County, the City of Raleigh, the Wake County Housing Authority, and the Raleigh Housing Authority to develop a regional Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice (AI). This week, Cary staff and municipal partners participated in a community meeting at the NW Cary YMCA, to gather feedback from stakeholders on Fair Housing issues. The meeting was a part of a larger community engagement effort throughout Wake County which also includes a Fair Housing survey that can be found on Cary’s housing page.
Opportunities for High School Students
A new page on Cary’s website highlights the unique programs and opportunities available for high school students eager to learn about local government operations, public service careers, and essential life skills. Encourage a future leader to explore the possibilities at www.carync.gov/studentopportunities.
High House Road and West Chatham Street Pedestrian Refresh
Cary staff and contractors will be refreshing pedestrian access points at the High House Rd. and W. Chatham St. intersection. Improvements will include ADA ramp upgrades, installation of a new crosswalk and upgrades to the existing crosswalk, and new signage. Work began February 6 and is expected to continue for two weeks, weather dependent.
North Carolina’s Future Cities Competition
On January 25, Transportation Department staff Luana Deans and Chelsea Stern served as judges for the state-wide Future Cities Competition, where middle school teams from across North Carolina showcased innovative ideas for floating cities of the future. The creativity and ingenuity on display was truly inspiring, with teams presenting models and solutions to keep their futuristic citizens safe and healthy. Cary is proud to support opportunities that spark the next generation of problem-solvers and forward-thinkers.
Cary-Apex Quarterly Meeting: AMI Warehouse
Each quarter, Cary and Apex Utilities and Water Resources staff meet to coordinate projects affecting our jointly owned facilities at the Cary-Apex Water Treatment Facility (CAWTF) and the Western Wake Regional Water Reclamation Facility (WWRWRF). This quarter’s meeting was held at Cary’s new Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) Warehouse on January 31. Apex staff, who are just embarking on their AMI journey, toured the warehouse to learn best practices from Cary’s experienced AMI team.
2025 Reclaimed Water Holiday
Starting February 10, Cary will begin its annual 10-day maintenance shutdown of the reclaimed water system, also referred to as the “Reclaimed Water Holiday”. The scheduled shutdown provides staff with the opportunity to perform routine maintenance of the system while irrigation and reclaimed water demands are minimal. There were 1,037 letters mailed on January 27, notifying customers of the upcoming system shutdown. Citizens also have a valuable opportunity to perform essential maintenance of their own systems. Commercial customers who use reclaimed water for cooling tower operations were notified in advance via mail and phone and typically switch to their potable water backup feeds during the annual maintenance window. Following completion of maintenance and repair work, the system is scheduled to be restarted and back in operation by February 20.
NCDEQ Staff Visits Cary’s Utilities Needs
Over the past two weeks, multiple staff from Cary’s Public Works and Utilities Departments hosted North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) staff who have been conducting annual inspections of our utility infrastructure, regulatory compliance, and program management. NCDEQ staff have visited the Cary/Apex Water Treatment Facility, North Cary Water Reclamation Facility, South Cary Water Reclamation Facility, the Western Wake Regional Water Reclamation Facility and met with staff to inspect the management of Cary’s Wastewater Collection System including several site visits. Cary operates a regional utility operation that serves Cary, Morrisville, Wake County’s portion of Research Triangle Park and the RDU International Airport. Cary staff appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with NCDEQ and are please to share the inspections were a success.
A Taste of Black History at the Cary Senior Center
Cary’s Senior Center hosted its 4th annual Taste of Black History event today. Over 80 older adults enjoyed a cultural cuisine experience paired with Black history facts, fun, and trivia. The event offered a unique and enjoyable way for seniors to honor and celebrate Black History Month, combining cultural education and culinary delight.
Celebrating World Wetlands Day with Environmental Service
Fourteen volunteers gathered at Dunham Park to celebrate World Wetlands Day through Cary’s Spruce program. Part of the Walnut Creek watershed, the wetlands in this neighborhood park play an important part in storing carbon, trapping pollutants, and temporarily detaining stormwater before slowly releasing it to area streams. As part of Spruce’s environmental service-learning goals, staff provided ecosystem education to the volunteers who then worked a collective 28 hours to remove approximately 200 pounds of litter from our urban wetlands.
Under the Silver Moon Lantern Parade
The Under the Silver Moon Community Lantern Parade lit up the Downtown Cary Park last Saturday evening with handmade lanterns, live music, and great community turnout. The Lantern Parade kicks-off GLOW pop-up light art installations throughout downtown during the dark winter months. Whether you walked in the parade or watched from the sidelines, your support made it an event to remember. Visit the GLOW webpage for the full details.
Upcoming Meetings
Environmental Advisory Board
Tuesday
February 11
6:00 p.m.
Economic Development Committee
Wednesday
February 12
5:15 p.m.
Historic Preservation Commission
Wednesday
February 12
6:30 p.m.
Greenway Committee
Thursday
February 13
6:00 p.m.
Mayor’s Mailbox
- A complaint about a utility bill.
- A request to have the Children’s hospital by UNC Health and Duke Health at the old mall site (Epic Games owns this not Cary).
- A request to build a community center on the old mall site (Epic Games owns this not Cary).
- A complaint about the railroad crossing closure at Indian Wells (it is required as part of an agreement to allow the Olive Chapel crossing.)
- A complaint about the budget and taxes.
- A request to help the town in beautifying the city. (YES! Thank you!)
Next Week
Next week’s activities include staff meetings, a Cary Tenns Classic Board meeting, an Economic Development Board meeting, and a NC Metro Mayors meeting.
Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, February 16th, 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.
Harold's Blog 