Wake County Mayors Association
Thursday I participated in a meeting of the Wake County Mayors Association. Nine out of twelve mayors were in attendance. Missing were the mayors of Fuquay Varina, Holly Springs, and Wendell. Some of the topics discussed were BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) federal funding, state legislation on threatening elected officials, and postal addresses not in municipalities (Cary residents have Cary, Raleigh, Morrisville, and Apex addresses – maybe others). Our meeting lasted about two hours.
State of Cary at Templeton
Wednesday morning, I gave the State of Cary address to the residents of Templeton in Cary. There were about three dozen in attendance including the founder of Lazy Daze, Jerry Miller. Their questions included when there might be a future bond and when highway 64 will be improved. I was there for a little over an hour.
CAMPO
Wednesday evening, I represented Cary at the CAMPO (Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization) Executive Board Meeting. CAMPO is a regional transportation planning organization serving communities in Chatham, Franklin, Granville, Harnett, Johnston and Wake Counties.
The agenda included seven consent items, three public hearings, and eight discussion items.
The board held a public hearing and approved the FY 2026 LAPP program. LAPP is a competitive funding program managed by CAMPO that prioritizes locally administered projects in the Region. These projects are funded using federal funding sources directly attributed to the region with a minimum 20% local match. This approval included $2 million for Cary to construct the Jenks Carpenter Road and Green Level Church Road Streetside trails.
The second public hearing was for Amendment #7 of the FY2024 – FY2033 TIP (Transportation Improvement Program). The TIP is a 10-year work program that lists regionally significant transportation projects within a Metropolitan Planning Organization planning area, including projects for all modes of transportation, and is updated every two years. This was approved unanimously.
The last public hearing was held for the FY2026 Unified Planning Work Program which is required by the federal government. This was unanimously adopted.
Regular agenda items included the FAST 2.0 Study Update – a scalable approach for integrating transit advantage infrastructure along area roadways to support better transit services, a project on the North Harnett Transit Study, a 2055 Metropolitan Transportation Plan analysis with deficiencies, the US 1 North Update include toll road options, changing the Executive Board meeting time, a draft of SPOT 7.0 (Strategic Transportation Prioritization Process), a draft of the FY2026 Wake Transit Work Plan, and Amendment #8 to FY2024 – FY2033 TIP.
Our meeting concluded after a little over two hours.
Cary Matters Taping
Thursday afternoon I joined council member Michelle Craig in taping an episode of Cary Matters. In this episode we highlighted Cary’s commitment to environmental sustainability. Topics discussed included the importance of the Mayor’s Monarch Pledge, the impact of Spring Daze Arts and Crafts Festival, and other environmental programs that showcase Cary’s dedication to conservation, education, and community engagement.
NC Metro Mayors
Friday I participated in a meeting of the NC Metro Mayors. Here is a summary of that meeting from the Executive Director:
On this week’s Coalition call, we focused on legislation from both chambers, which has received discussion this week. With the Senate’s bill filing deadline coming on Tuesday (March 25) and the House of Representatives’ deadline coming on Thursday, April 3, we expect a significant amount of additional bills to be released over the coming weeks. There have also been significant discussions behind closed doors regarding the budget, with House and Senate leadership beginning to determine funding parameters and address other issues.
The Coalition’s lobbying team and the NCLM Government Affairs team discussed multiple bills that align with the Coalition’s priority areas. Those bills included the following:
House Bill 47 “Disaster Recovery Act of 2025 – Part I”
House Bill 298 “Local Gov’ts/System Development Fees”
House Bill 432 “Protect Our Homes Act”
Senate Bill 291 “Regulation of Short-Term Rentals”
Senate Bill 314 “Eliminate ETJ Overlap”
Senate Bill 317 “Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act”
With the exception of House Bill 47, which the Governor signed on Wednesday night, the remainder of these bills have not received committee hearings, so their future is generally unclear. The group also discussed the potential for the Senate to release language regarding a fix to the downzoning issue created by Session Law 2024-57 (Senate Bill 382) before the bill filing deadline.
On Wednesday, Governor Stein released his 2025-2027 budget recommendations. Historically, these recommendations have not received much attention from General Assembly leaders, and that is likely to be the case in this session as well. We will compile a general summary of the Governor’s recommendations and provide those for educational purposes in next week’s email.
Continuing our two-part transportation discussions, the group discussed upcoming work on federal transportation funding. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) is the current surface transportation plan signed in 2021 and appropriates monies to support highway and non-highway projects across the country. It is one in a long string of five-year funding programs. Though the IIJA is not scheduled to be reauthorized until 2026, members of Congress have intimated that they would like to approve a plan before the 2026 midterm elections, a feat which is becoming less and less likely due to the amount of time required to develop this type of bill. The group also briefly covered the current review process at the US Department of Transportation related to grant-funded projects, which could jeopardize funding for existing proposed projects.
After the discussion, Coalition members were again reminded to stay in contact with the members of their legislative delegation regarding budget and policy priorities. Please do not hesitate to reach out to Seth or any member of the lobbying team if you have any questions or gain any intelligence from your meetings that would interest the entire group. The lobbying team will continue to monitor General Assembly activities and provide updates during future Coalition calls.
NC Courage Ring of Honor Proclamation
Saturday night I attended the NC Courage’s first soccer match of the year. After the match I was part of the ceremony honoring Jessica McDonald as the second inductee into the Courage “Ring of Honor”. McDonald received numerous accolades including three NWSL Shields, two NWSL Championships, the 2018 NWSL Championship MVP, and the inaugural Women’s International Champions Cup. As one of four speakers, I read a proclamation honoring her and had the crowd participate by saying all the WHEREASs. It was a great event, and I was proud to be a part of it.
Town Manager’s Report
Sean’s Message
I’d like to thank Assistant Town Manager Danna Widmar, Budget Manager Liam Brailey, and first-time host Dana Williams, Talent and Culture Consultant, for leading a wonderful discussion recapping the Council/Staff Retreat and FY 2026 budget preparations at All Hands. Special thanks as well to the entire production team. The more we share with our employees, the better it is for everyone. Thank you, Council, for your continued interest in the creation of the FY 2026 budget.
On another note, please remember that the Waverly Place PDP rezoning is scheduled for the Planning and Zoning Board meeting on Monday night. As you may recall, this case has drawn significant citizen interest.
Enjoy your weekend.
Sean
2025 Chatham County Property Tax Reevaluation
Chatham County has completed its 2025 property revaluation process for land within its boundaries, including a small segment of properties in the Town of Cary.
A total of 2,513 parcels in Cary are impacted by Chatham County’s revaluation. The total assessed value of these properties has increased from approximately $1.1 billion in FY 2025 to $1.7 billion in FY 2026.
Based on Cary’s current municipal property tax rate of 32.5 cents per $100 of assessed value, the town is projected to receive approximately $2 million in additional revenue for FY 2026.
To assist property owners in understanding their new appraised values, Chatham County has provided the Comper website tool, which allows comparisons between assessed values and recent property sales in the market area.
Property owners who disagree with the new proposed value of their property can appeal to Chatham County, which has sole discretion in determining the final property assessments. Appeals must be submitted on or before May 19, 2025. For additional tax information, visit the Chatham County Tax Administration website or contact the Chatham County Appraisal Division at (919) 542-8211.
Wake County Property Tax Reevaluation Update
Wake County is adjusting its revaluation schedule, with the next revaluation set for 2027 and transitioning to a two-year cycle thereafter. By 2029, Wake County’s revaluation will align with those of Chatham and Durham counties.
State of Cary Address at the Templeton of Cary
On Wednesday, Mayor Weinbrecht and District C Councilmember Jack Smith visited The Templeton of Cary to present the Mayor’s State of Cary Address to its residents. The event attracted a full audience, with attendees offering insightful questions and comments following the presentation.
As the Mayor continues delivering the address across town, groups are welcome to request a visit by submitting this form. Additionally, the live State of Cary Address will take place at Cary Town Hall on April 22.
State of Women in Wake County Address
This morning, Councilmember Michelle Craig attended Congresswoman Deborah Ross’ State of Women in Wake County Address. The event featured a panel discussion with leaders covering topics such as professional and economic development, senior care, childcare, and small businesses. A networking session followed, where Councilmember Craig connected with council and staff members from Knightdale, as well as Alison Rogers, owner of Blush Cowork in Cary.
Sister Cities Celebrates St. Patrick’s Day
On Sunday, Councilmember Michelle Craig joined Cary Sister Cities at Crosstown Pub and Grill for a St. Patrick’s Day celebration. Cary Sister Cities strives to further global understanding and relationships, with a special focus on Cary’s five Sister Cities, one of them being County Meath, Ireland.
Community Ramadan Dinner at Divan Center
On Wednesday, Councilmember Michelle Craig attended a community Ramadan dinner at Divan Center in Cary. The Divan Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing the social, spiritual, cultural, and educational needs of the community. The dinner brought together community members, friends, and faith leaders from various traditions to foster greater understanding and community spirit.
Cary Branching Out Program Paused
Due to the federal termination of funding, the Cary Branching Out Program is being discontinued. The Branching Out Program was funded through the US Forest Service Urban & Community Forestry IRA grant to expand the existing My Tree, Our Tree,tree giveaway program into neighborhood tree planting, pocket forests, volunteer training, and tree care assistance programs. Working with Project Pando, we were still able to successfully giveaway over 600 trees between the two tree giveaway events scheduled over the spring with the final Branching Out event taking place at Cary’s Arbor Day celebration on March 22. Cary remains committed to the environment and will continue to engage the community in forestry education and stewardship. We will continue to explore opportunities for programming and ways to improve our urban forest canopy.
Water Resources Year in Review
The 2024 Water Resources Year in Review report is now available, offering insights into Cary’s water utility services, water and wastewater system capacities, and key historical trends. This year’s report highlights significant changes, including the continuation of reduced water consumption per capita, highlighting the community’s commitment to water conservation. The report also examines the water demand for the larger Cary/Apex Water Treatment Facility (CAWTF) service area, emphasizing how local demand patterns affect overall system capacity and planning efforts. For a deeper dive into how these numbers relate to treatment capacity, rainfall impacts, and seasonal variations, read the full 2024 Water Resources Year in Review report.
King Street and Linda Court Infrastructure Renewal
Work on King Street and Linda Court was completed this week as part of Cary’s annual water main replacement program. A new water main was installed, and water services were successfully transferred to the new pipeline, and the pavement has been resurfaced as part of the project’s restoration. Infrastructure improvements are still in progress throughout the Oakwood Heights neighborhood.
PRCR System Plan and Bike Plan Open House
The Bike Plan and the Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources System Plan are nearing completion after several years of work. On March 25, staff will host two open house sessions at the Senior Center, where citizens can drop by anytime between 1:30 – 3:00 p.m. or 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. to learn more and provide feedback before the plans are finalized for adoption into the Imagine Cary Community Plan. For more information and to submit feedback online, visit carync.gov/bikecary and carync.gov/prcrplan.
Upcoming Meetings
Planning and Zoning Board
Monday, March 24
6:30 p.m.
Town Council Meeting (Work Session)
Tuesday, March 25
5:30 p.m.
Town Council Meeting (Regular)
Thursday, March 27
6:30 p.m.
Mayor’s Mailbox
- Complaints about the Waverly rezoning proposal.
- A request from a new resident for information about town activities.
- A complaint about the lack of a traffic signal at Bond Park.
- A request to stop Palestinian protests in the Downtown Park. Adding: “A disgruntled and scared taxpayer. Discrimination is now OK if you are discriminating against a Jew. PS – We are not colonizers, and we are not all white.”
(The police chief responded, saying:
Thank you for expressing your concern. First and foremost, I want to let you know we take such protests very seriously, having a number of protocols to ensure the safety of our citizens. This particular group of protestors are well known to us, and we communicate with them on a regular basis to make sure they understand the legal boundaries of the First Amendment Right to free speech.
Additionally, we have officers on the ground and by cameras mounted all around the park and downtown. We do so each time there is a protest no matter what the content. We had several officers there for that protest. However, the Mayor is correct that unless protestors exhibit behaviors specifically restricted by law the right to free speech and assembly is protected. Should the behaviors exhibit violations of law we stand ready to keep the public safe.)
Next Week
Next week’s activities include staff meetings, a council tour of the Ivey Ellington, a council work session, a State of Cary Presentation at Carolina Preserve, a council meeting, a NC Metro Mayors meeting, and a Basant Bahar event.
Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, March 30th, 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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