I was on my annual family vacation last week so there was no post. This week’s post includes the last two weeks.
NC Metro Mayors – June 6th
The following is a legislative summary from Checkmate Government Relations of June 6th:
REINS Act
House Bill 402, formerly referred to as the REINS Act, proposes major changes to North Carolina’s administrative rulemaking process by increasing legislative oversight of economically significant rules. The bill would prevent any permanent agency rule with an aggregate financial impact of $20 million or more over five years from taking effect unless the General Assembly passes legislation affirmatively approving the rule. This criteria does not apply to rules required by federal law. Specifically, the bill would lower the threshold for requiring a fiscal note from a $1 million impact over 12 months to a $1 million impact over five years and establishes new supermajority voting thresholds for agency adoption of high-impact rules. A two-thirds vote of agency members present and voting is required for rules costing $1 million or more over five years and a unanimous vote is required for rules costing $10 million or more over five years. Federally required rules that meet or exceed $10 million over five years may be approved with a two-thirds vote. Altogether, the bill aims to check executive overreach and give members of the legislature more direct control over agency regulations with significant economic consequences.
This week, H402 received a favorable report from the Senate Rules Committee. It is eligible to be heard on the Senate floor as early as next week.
Kratom Product Regulation
On Tuesday the House Regulatory Reform discussed the Proposed Committee Substitute (PCS) for House Bill 468 to regulate kratom products. Kratom is a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia that contains leaves that are often used to treat pain and produces a stimulant effect in low doses and a sedative effect in higher doses. Kratom is currently not a controlled substance and is unregulated and legal in North Carolina. The PCS would establish restrictions on the sale or transfer of kratom in the State, and licensing requirements for those manufacturing, distributing, or selling kratom. Amongst these changes is a restriction of sales to those under 21 and the removal of packaging requirements.
This bill passed favorably out of committee and was referred to the Committee on Finance.
Honoring Elizabeth Dole
This week, the North Carolina House and Senate honored former U.S. Senator Elizabeth Dole. Elizabeth Dole, originally from the City of Salisbury, was the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate in North Carolina and served for six years. She served under five presidential administrations and held Cabinet positions as Secretary of Transportation and Secretary of Labor. A recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom and a recent inductee into the Women’s Hall of Fame, she continues to impact lives through the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, which supports military caregivers through the Department of Veterans Affairs. In her honor, a portion of I-85 through the City of Salisbury will be dedicated to her at a special Department of Transportation event this Friday.
Town Manager’s Report – June 6th
Sean’s Message
The Soccer Tournament (TST) has been a great event for Cary this week, even with a bit of rain. It’s been exciting to see our community in the international spotlight and so many fans enjoying the energy at WakeMed Soccer Park.
A big thank you to everyone working behind the scenes to make it a success – your efforts truly reflect what Cary does best.
Enjoy your weekend.
Sean
Special Olympics President’s Dinner and Opening Ceremonies
Last Friday, Councilmembers Lori Bush and Michelle Craig joined fellow elected officials, athletes, partners, coaches, and sponsors at the President’s Dinner and Opening Ceremonies for the 2025 Special Olympics North Carolina Summer Games—the largest state-level event of its kind.
This year’s Games are being held across Raleigh, Cary, Holly Springs, and Morrisville, with more than 1,300 athletes and Unified partners competing in seven sports: athletics, basketball, bowling, gymnastics, powerlifting, swimming, and volleyball. Cary is proud to host two of these events—swimming at the Triangle Aquatic Center and bowling at Buffaloe Lanes. The Special Olympics has received Cary Grant funding to help support the Summer Games.
Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the Special Olympics is a global movement that empowers individuals with intellectual disabilities through the power of sport. What began as a backyard summer camp has grown into a worldwide program serving over 5 million athletes in 172 countries, offering year-round training and competition in Olympic-style sports.
Special Olympics Summer Games Awards
On Sunday, Councilmember Michelle Craig had the honor of presenting awards at Buffaloe Lanes Cary Bowling Center as part of the Special Olympics North Carolina Summer Games. She shared that it was a pleasure to meet the athletes and witness the dedication of so many volunteers.
Per the Special Olympics NC website:
“Although Bowling does not belong to the Olympic sports, it is among the most popular sports in Special Olympics. It is a particularly beneficial sport to people with intellectual disabilities, irrespective of their age or sports abilities, since it ensures physical exercise and at the same time participation and social integration.”
Cary Academy Work Experience Program
On Thursday, five juniors from Cary Academy concluded their two-week Work Experience Program with a final project presentation to staff and Councilmember Sarika Bansal. Throughout the program, the students explored Cary’s organizational structure, municipal law, and toured various parks and facilities to gain a broad understanding of local government operations.
Drawing on their experiences, staff insights, and independent research, the students addressed a challenging question: Based on observed patterns of invasive species and their proximity to various land use features, which areas should be prioritized for habitat restoration and why?
In response, the group developed a sophisticated prioritization matrix that evaluated both urgency and feasibility for addressing invasive species across multiple parks. Their presentation also included thoughtful, practical policy recommendations for future land management strategies.
Leadership Cary Graduation
This week, Ryan Eades, Assistant Director of Special Projects, graduated from the Cary Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Cary program. Leadership Cary is a seven-month program that strengthens leadership skills while offering participants an in-depth look at the many aspects of the Cary community. The program fosters lasting connections with local industry leaders and equips participants to make a meaningful impact in the community.
Cary Chamber Member Guest Golf Tournament
Monday I provided welcome remarks and participated in the Cary Chamber Member Guest Golf Tournament. This event was designed for people of the business community to get to know each other. I had a great time talking with dozens of business leaders. And I had fun playing golf too.
Council Meeting Prep
I contacted each council member on Monday to hear of any questions or concerns about the upcoming agenda later in the week. There were none. Later in the day I met with staff to go over the agenda. We believed there were no controversial items and that the meeting would be relatively short.
Town Manager One-On-One
Later Monday the town manager and I met for our weekly meeting. We mostly talked about council actions and staff support for those actions.
TST Championships
Sunday and Monday I had the pleasure of attending all the semi-final and final matches of the TST (The Soccer Tournament). TST is an action-filled style of play with 7 on 7 playing on half a field. There are several rule differences from regular soccer designed to keep the game moving. At the end of regulation time, one is added to the highest total and that becomes a target score. Then both teams play until the target score is reached. One of the fun parts is that a player from each side is subtracted every three minutes. The men’s final saw the target goal reached with two players versus two players.
I predict TST will continue to grow. It is my hope that Cary becomes to TST what Augusta is to the Masters.
Cary Tennis Classic Board
The Cary Tennis Classic board met Tuesday night. This is the last meeting before the tournament starts on June 29th. The tournament will have electric line calling, will feature several new sponsors, and include abilities, wheelchair, kids’ day, and adult red ball & triples events. Tickets are currently on sale. I look forward to seeing everyone there.
Cary #5 Best Medium Sized City to Live
Thursday morning I was notified that Cary was the #4 best medium sized city to live in the U.S. according to according to US News. They said:
“Part of the North Carolina Research Triangle, Cary, is a safe, diverse community just 17 minutes from downtown Raleigh. Cary offers more than 200 dining options, and it has a variety of recreational amenities – 35-plus greenway trails and more than 70 miles for walking, jogging and cycling – in addition to sports, historical and cultural arts programs and services. Cary got its highest ranking in the job market category, earning the No. 35 spot for its higher-than-average household income and lower unemployment rate. Another notable mention is Cary’s No. 27 ranking in college readiness, pushing the city’s quality of life into the top 10% of all cities.”
One correction from that great summary… Cary has 100 miles of greenways, trails, and sidewalks.
It’s great to be recognized once again as one of the best places to live in the US.
Council Work Session
The council held a work session on the budget Thursday afternoon. Here are some of the points I noted:
- Sales Tax Revenue is up only 0.01% so far this year. The council and staff agreed to budget 1% growth in the proposed budget.
- Council agreed that the 1 ½ cent increase should be in the proposed budget.
- Staff made $27 million in cuts for this year’s budget. Without it the proposed budget would have to have had a 7 cents increase.
- Though staff is only getting 3% in the proposed budget, we will remain the market leader.
The budget discussion will continue June 24th.
Council Meeting
Thursday night the council held its first regularly scheduled meeting of June. The agenda included a proclamation recognizing pride month, the manager’s update, four consent items, one public hearing, and one discussion item.
There were no speakers for the Public Speaks Out portion of the meeting.
The public hearing was the second on the proposed FY 2026 budget. There were no speakers but two written comments. There will be another public hearing on June 26th before the council acts on the budget. Of course, we are constantly getting feedback outside meetings.
The discussion item was a resolution to rename a portion of Green Level West Road to High House Road. This portion of Green Level West has always been east of Green Level which has made it confusing. The council unanimously adopted the resolution renaming the portion of Green Level West Road extending from NC 55 to Green Level Church Road to High House Road. There were a few residents that lived on this portion of road, and they will be compensated for the cost of road renaming.
NC Metro Mayors
Checkmate Government Relations provided a legislative summary of what was presented at the North Carolina Metro Mayors Meeting as follows:
Energy Bill
Senate Bill 266, The Power Bill Reduction Act, passed through the House this week. The bill eliminates the state’s 2030 interim carbon reduction goal for large electric utilities, shifting away from a fixed timeline in favor of long-term planning toward 2050 carbon neutrality. It also allows utilities to recover financing costs for new baseload power plants during construction without going through a general rate case if the Utilities Commission finds that doing so will save customers money and the costs are deemed prudent in annual reviews. This change is intentionally designed to accelerate infrastructure development. Fuel cost recovery rules would also be revised, with expanded eligible costs and a new quarterly adjustment process. Importantly, the Act will codify the ability for utilities to fully securitize the costs of retiring coal plants, potentially reducing the financial impact on customers.
The Power Bill Reduction Act will await a concurrence vote from the Senate before being sent to the Governor.
Freedom to Carry NC
On Wednesday the North Carolina House voted 59-48 to pass Senate Bill 50, which would authorize constitutional carry in the state. Notably, two Republicans, Ted Davis (New Hanover) and William Brisson (Sampson), voted against the bill. Currently the law in North Carolina requires an individual to obtain a concealed handgun permit in order to carry a concealed firearm. To obtain a permit you must be at least 21 years of age and complete an approved firearms safety and training course. Senate Bill 50 would allow those that are 18 years of age, and not otherwise prohibited by law, to carry a concealed weapon without the requirement of a permit. This bill will now be sent to Governor Stein. The Governor has ten days to sign the bill into law, veto the bill, or allow the bill to become law without his signature. If the Governor vetoes the bill, a three-fifths majority in both chambers is required to override the veto. In the current makeup of the General Assembly, that would require every House Republican and one democrat to override a veto.
Town Manager’s Report
Sean’s Message
Thank you again for the thoughtful discussion during last night’s work session on the FY 2026 Recommended Budget. After speaking with each of you throughout the evening, we have a consensus to extend the June 24 Work Session. We will plan to begin at 4:45 p.m.
As mentioned during the meeting, I’m sharing the presentation slides from last night for your review. I appreciate the continued dialogue as we move closer to finalizing the budget.
Please note, there will be no Council Weekly Report next Friday due to the shorter work week. Town Hall will be closed on June 19 in observance of Juneteenth.
Enjoy your weekend.
Sean
Planned Protest – June 14
The Town is preparing for the impacts of a planned “No Kings” protest taking place in Cary tomorrow, June 14 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. The event will be held at Greenwood Forest Baptist Church, located at 110 SE Maynard Road, and is part of a broader, multi-jurisdictional protest movement occurring across the region during the week of June 11–19. Police, Fire, Public Works, and 311 are all appropriately engaged.
Removing Trees for Public Safety
To help keep citizens safe, two champion trees located on South Harrison Avenue have been scheduled for removal next week. A full risk assessment of both trees revealed extensive internal decay and compromised structural integrity. In pursuit of our continued effort to maintain a strong tree canopy staff is developing a replanting plan.
TST Recap
For the third consecutive year, Cary hosted The Soccer Tournament (TST) at WakeMed Soccer Park. The world’s most electrifying 7v7 soccer tournament drew over 51,730 fans and generated a major buzz throughout the community. The US Women claimed the $1 million prize with a dominant win over Bumpy Pitch FC in the women’s final, while Bumpy Pitch FC took the men’s Title by defeating Pumas De Alabama. Beyond the pitch, the tournament delivered a major boost to local businesses and showcased Cary as a premier destination for global sporting events.
Kids Together Playground’s 25th Birthday
On Saturday, Mayor Pro Tem Jennifer Bryson Robinson and Councilmember Carissa Kohn-Johnson joined the community at Kids Together Playground as Marla Dorrel Park celebrated 25 wonderful years. The anniversary party brought joy to all ages with visits from KATAL the Dragon, a dazzling magic show, hands-on crafts, bubbles galore, and delicious cupcakes. The event was a true celebration of community, filled with laughter, connection, and the spirit of inclusive and accessible play that defines Kids Together Playground. Here’s to 25 more years of wonder and play!
White Oak Elementary Mapping Project Presentation
Councilmember Sarika Bansal visited White Oak Elementary on Tuesday to participate in a student-led mapping project presentation. As part of the visit, Councilmember Bansal shared insights into her role in the Town of Cary and engaged with each student by offering brief comments and questions following their presentations. The interactive session celebrated student creativity, fostered civic engagement, and highlighted innovative ideas for community park spaces.
Evening of Impact Celebration
Councilmember Jack Smith attended the Evening of Impact Celebration hosted by The Headstrong Project on Wednesday at The Umstead Hotel in Cary. The event brought together community, military, and political leaders to honor veterans and highlight the importance of trauma-focused mental health care for those who have served. Attendees heard a powerful keynote from former Navy SEAL Matt Bissonnette, who shared his story of service and recovery
Duke Health Phase 2 Groundbreaking
On Thursday, Councilmember Sarika Bansal and Assistant Town Manager Scot Berry attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the next phase of the Duke Health Cary Campus. The event marked a major milestone in the continued expansion of healthcare services in Cary. Community leaders gathered to celebrate the investment in advanced medical facilities and Duke Health’s growing presence in western Cary.
Dublin, Ohio Visits Cary for Benchmarking Tour
A delegation of ten city staff members from Dublin, Ohio, visited Cary from Sunday through Tuesday for a benchmarking tour.
On Sunday, the group toured USA Baseball with PRCR Assistant Division Manager Chris Duty and spent the afternoon experiencing The Soccer Tournament (TST) at WakeMed Soccer Park.
Monday’s agenda, hosted by Assistant Director of Development Services Rob Wilson and Urban Designer Eve Anderson, focused on Cary’s downtown. The morning included discussions on Cary’s history, the Town Center Area Plan, Downtown Park, and ongoing downtown developments. Downtown Park Ambassador Robin Donegan led a tour of the park, followed by a walk-through of the One Walker development with local developer Bill Zahn, who shared insights on Cary’s public-private partnerships. In the afternoon, the group visited Fenton, where Rob and Eve presented the project’s background and lessons learned, concluding with a site tour and a conversation about Cary’s staff culture.
The visit wrapped up Tuesday at the Research Triangle Park (RTP) “Hub,” where Rob and Eve accompanied the group to Boxyard RTP. Travis Crayton, RTP’s VP of Planning and Public Policy, gave a presentation and tour highlighting RTP’s vision for a mixed-use downtown. The tour included “The Horseshoe,” the first phase of Hub RTP, featuring a central gathering area, residential units, office space, and restaurants.
Local Government Career Expo
Assistant Human Resources Director, Laura Turk, and Senior Talent and Culture Consultant, Seth Parker, attended the Local Government (LOGO) Career Expo on Saturday, held at the UNC-Chapel Hill Friday Center. Cary, along with more than 40 other local government employers, partnered with the Central Pines Regional Council for this event to connect with, educate, and inspire job seekers about the broad range of career opportunities and the benefits of pursuing a mission-driven career in local government.
Statewide Industry Meeting
On Wednesday, Environmental Outreach Program Coordinator Sarah Justice and Waste Strategy and Impact Program Analyst Srijana Guilford attended the North Carolina Composting Council’s (NCCC) annual meeting at NC State University’s Plant Sciences building. Sarah participated in a panel discussion with the US Composting Council’s (USCC) president Frank Franciosi, and other industry leaders to explore compost’s role in policy, infrastructure, and agriculture. As a longstanding member of both the USCC and the NCCC Chapter, Cary continues to share insights from its award-winning municipal composting programs, like the Food Waste Drop-off and Good Hope Farm, to help strengthen composting efforts across the region.
Cisco Live
This week, Chief Information officer Nicole Coughlin attended Cisco Live 2025 to co-host a fireside chat with other leaders in the field including Cisco’s Public Sector Senior Vice President Gary DePreta and Dan Caroselli from the Los Angeles Bureau of Street Lighting to share stories of innovation and collaboration connecting communities through technology. At this year’s conference Artificial Intelligence (AI) and security were key topics.
Kit Creek Water Main Connection Project Completed
Construction of the Kit Creek Water Main Connection Project was completed this week. Sanford Contractors, Inc. successfully installed 4,000 feet of 12-inch water main, including a trenchless crossing beneath NC 885.
Located in northwest Cary, this project improves system resiliency and provides a critical backfeed serving Biogen and nearly 800 homes in the Kitts Creek subdivision. Over the past week, pavement restoration was completed, sidewalk cuts were repaired, and the water main corridor was reseeded.
Crosswalk Pilot Testing
This week, staff installed updated pedestrian-activated warning devices at crosswalks located at the White Oak Greenway crossing on MacArthur Drive and on Dillard Drive, east of Columbus Avenue. The installations are part of a 45-day pilot with one of Cary’s suppliers to test new Smart Hub controller equipment.
The new system not only operates the flashing beacons but also enables remote monitoring, activation tracking, and system adjustments. Staff worked closely with the supplier on installation and will provide feedback throughout the pilot to help refine the technology.
The equipment was provided at no cost, will be owned by the Town, and carries no obligations after the pilot concludes. Insights from the trial will help guide future decisions on deploying similar devices across Cary.
The Cary Cup
Last weekend, Cary hosted a 133-team youth soccer tournament in partnership with The Soccer Tournament (TST). The event was a collaborative effort involving Cary staff, the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance (GRSA), local soccer clubs, and sponsors, bringing energy and excitement to Thomas Brooks Park, Middle Creek Park, and Pleasant Park in Apex.
More than just a tournament, the event featured a festival-like atmosphere with games, free parking and tickets to TST, and meet-and-greet opportunities with TST teams. All 22 division championship games were played at WakeMed Soccer Park, on the same fields used by the pros, creating a memorable experience for the young athletes.
NCAA Division II Baseball National Championship
Last week, Cary, the University of Mount Olive, USA Baseball, and the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance (GRSA) hosted the NCAA Division II Baseball National Championship for the 15th time.
This 10-day event was a true team effort, with staff from PRCR and Public Works dedicating hundreds of hours to create an experience that remains a favorite among NCAA officials and participating teams. The Fire Department’s honor guard proudly presented the colors at three games, including game one of the championship series. A record 44 home runs were hit during the event, adding to the excitement and energy of the tournament.
Upcoming Meetings
Athletic Committee
Monday, June 16
6:00 p.m.
Public Art Advisory Board
Wednesday, June 18
6:15 p.m.
Cary Mayor Rumors for 2027
Rumors that these next two years on the Cary Council will be my last are simply not true. I fully intend to seek re-election and am grateful to have the unwavering support of my family, friends, and constituents.
As the only living Mayor who has led Cary through a recession and some of the most challenging financial times, I see it as both my responsibility and my calling to continue my service on the Cary Council. I am committed to working alongside my colleagues to help guide our community through today’s uncertainties.
In the coming months, I encourage all citizens to focus on the important Cary Council election ahead, where three seats are up for decision. Once those choices are made by our community, we can then look ahead to November 2027.
Until then, I remain dedicated to my oath and to serving as Cary’s Mayor. I’m excited for what lies ahead—tomorrow and beyond.
Mayor’s Mailbox
- Several complaints about the Waverly proposal 23-REZ-12 decision. Unfortunately, most of these complaints are based on information that is inaccurate or misleading. Sadly, the insults and misinformation continue from the Lochmere community. For example, one lady said I threatened to have people arrested. Absolutely false!
(Fortunately, this does not represent the majority of those living in Lochmere and the surrounding areas and certainly does not represent most of the Cary citizens. In Cary, we should be able to agree, disagree, and agree to disagree all while respecting each other’s point of view. While this is not what we witness on the state and national levels it is what we expect here in Cary. I continue to be disappointed that people believe it is OK to insult others with comments.)
- A request to prevent a cannabis dispensary. (All our authority comes from the legislature. If it is allowed, then we can’t prevent it.)
- A complaint about left turns onto Morrisville Parkway. (This is a NCDOT intersection. Staff is assisting in this matter.)
- A complaint about code enforcement.
- A complaint about signage on highways (NCDOT controls these. We are working with them.)
- A complaint about the manager’s proposed tax increase.
- Questions about increased budget costs.
- A request to make cuts in GoCary, the Downtown Cary Park operations, Historic Preservation, Environment and Climate Initiatives, Greenway Expansions, Town events, Nonprofit and art funding, and the solid waste fee.
Next Week
Next week’s activities include staff meetings, a Wake County Mayors Association meeting, a CAMPO executive board meeting, a Japan delegation meeting, a Cary Matters taping, a North Carolina Metro Mayors meeting, and the Juneteenth celebration.
Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, June 22nd, 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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