Ribbon Cutting at Fenton
Monday morning, I joined Rob Canepa, General Manager at Fenton, for a ribbon cutting of Quinard Drive. This will connect Fenton to Maynard Road. The street side trails will get us closer to having a trail to the downtown park.
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Photos
Monday afternoon I joined members of the Sigma Tau Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and presented a proclamation recognizing the 35th anniversary of their charter. Thanks to all they do for our community.
Council Meeting Prep
Later Monday, I attempted to contact each council member to hear of any questions or concerns about the upcoming agenda. I along with council member Bush asked that the Piney Plains rezoning proposal be pulled from the Consent Agenda for discussion. Otherwise, there were no questions or concerns.
Monday evening, I met with management, other staff, and Mayor Pro-Tem Bryson-Robinson to go over the agenda.
Manager One-On-One
After the staff meeting, I met with the town manager for about an hour to discuss a variety of topics including the budget, the budget work session, council members, and the impacts of the upcoming election.
Council Work Session
Tuesday the council held a work session on upcoming meetings, the Academy Park Development agreement, and the FY 2026 budget. Here are some of my notes:
- The council will hold a special town hall on July 22nd. A variety of topics could be discussed with questions obtained from the audience.
- The quarterly meeting scheduled for August 14th has been cancelled.
- Upcoming work session topics:
- July 24: Social District Expansion, Utility Update, and residential lighting
- August 26: Meeting with Holly Springs officials
- August 28: AI Policy and Data Governance Update
- September 9: District C Community Meeting
- September 11: Open Space Plan, a discussion about cricket
- October 21: District B Community Meeting
- October 23: TBD
- November 13: Quarterly meeting and budget update
- November 18: closed session
- November 20: Biennial Survey review
- December 9: Policy 146 – Rules of Procedure for Town Council
- December 11: TBD
- The Academy Park (Walker) Development Agreement was approved in 2020. The remaining space next to Walnut Street was supposed to be office. Due to market conditions the owners are proposing an amendment:
- Condominium or Hotel Concept
- Must build additional structured parking
- Publicly accessible restaurant, bar, or event space on one of top floors
- Gravel lot options
- Council to approve new renderings
- The council unanimously approved reassessing 68 capital projects for the FY 2026 budget which was worth $87 million. The reasons:
- To limit the property tax increase
- Historic construction cost increases
- Working towards a long-term solution for a problem that does not appear to be temporary
- Reassessed Capital Projects mean:
- All funding was removed from 68 projects and returned to original source
- Project remains on reassess list
- Funding for projects could be requested in the future through a rolling budget
- The council unanimously approved solid waste fee changes:
- General Fund recommended budget includes a solid waste fee of $25
- Increase Solid Waste Fee by $1 ($26) – increase of $642,000 and 99.68% cost recovery.
- The rest of the work session was spent answering detailed line items in the budget.
Speaking Engagement in Spartanburg SC
Wednesday, I joined Cindy Steinmann, in speaking at the APWA (American Public Works Association) SC conference in South Carolina. Steinmann served in Bulloch County Georgia for ten years, beginning as a Management Analyst in December 2014.She previously worked for the City of Statesboro Georgia as the Development Project Manager since 2010.
The title of our talk was “Engaging in Infrastructure Decision-Making with Elected Officials.” I have given this talk multiple times in the last two years, but it was the first time with Steinmann. The talk usually focuses on elected officials’ common characteristics and how staff can be effective with various strategies.
I should note that this was not part of my role as mayor nor was it funded by taxpayer dollars.
Council Meeting
The council met Thursday night for the last meeting of the fiscal year. The agenda included four consent items, three public hearings, and one discussion item.
The consent agenda item for Piney Plains 19-REZ-25 was pulled for discussion. Citizens at the Public Speaks Out portion of the meeting spoke for and against this proposal. Those in favor were excited about the Habitat component. Those against complained mostly about the density even though a similar development is being built across the street with the Livano project. Several council members thought the proposal could be better and discussed tabling the project. After hearing from the applicant’s representative, it was clear they wanted the council to vote on the merits of what was proposed. A motion to approve the project was passed by a five to two margin.
Under Public Hearings the rezoning proposal 25-REZ-03 Calyx Senior Living of Cary at the corner of Harrison and Reedy Creek had two speakers against the proposal. They expressed concerns about wells, traffic, and buffers. Council members also expressed a few concerns. This will now go to the Planning and Zoning Board for their review and recommendation and will return to the council for a vote in a few months.
The other two public hearings were annexations that had no speakers. Both 25-A-01 Highcroft Ridge Townhouses and 25-A-05 Macedonia-Walnut Street Annexation passed unanimously.
The discussion item was the FY 2026 budget which was passed unanimously after comments of staff praise from each council member. Here is the press release about our budget:
At their June 26, 2025, meeting, the Cary Town Council approved a $510.9 million budget for Fiscal Year 2026, which runs from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. The budget allocates $420.3 million for operations and $90.7 million for capital projects, representing a modest 2.7% increase over the current FY25 budget.
“Speaking on behalf of my Council colleagues and staff, our goal with this budget was to keep the property tax increase as low as possible while still providing the high quality of services and experiences Cary residents expect and deserve,” said Cary Mayor Harold Weinbrecht. “The Council spent the better part of the year working on this budget, which reflects the tough reality many local governments are finding themselves in. Inflation, global economic uncertainty, and slower growth mean we’re heavily focused on maintaining our current assets and services, holding the line on new projects, positions, and initiatives, and facing significant pressure to secure additional revenue just to keep pace with rising operational costs.”
Budget Highlights
- Increases the property tax rate from $0.325 to $0.34 per $100 valuation – the lowest in Wake County and about $97 more a year for the median Cary home valued at $648,000
- Increases the solid waste fee by $3 to $26 per month to recover the full, actual cost for the service
- Increases water/sewer rates by 4%, which is about $2.96 more a month for a family of four
- Limits new spending to core initiatives such as $8.9 million for street maintenance, $5.8 million for public safety technology, and $2.4 million for traffic signal technology
- Drops the average employee potential merit pay increase from 5% to 3%
- And for the second consecutive year holds the number of employee positions to 1328, or about 7 employees per 1,000 residents –one of the lowest staff-to-citizen ratios for a full-service city of Cary’s size across the nation
“The budget we adopted was based on Town staff having dug deep to trim more than $25 million in funding for various programs and services,” said Weinbrecht. “The Council and I are grateful for their work. We hire, promote, and retain the best-of-the-best in my opinion, and they’re able to accomplish extraordinary things for our community.”
Capital Projects Review
As a part of the budget process, the Cary Council comprehensively reviewed 391 existing capital projects in response to two key financial pressures: rising operating/construction costs and flattening revenue. This review reflected the challenging balance between maintaining important initiatives and ensuring long-term financial sustainability.
The review resulted in categorizing the 391 projects as follows:
- 198 projects were determined to be complete with no work outstanding
- 125 projects were under construction and continue moving forward
- 68 projects were paused and placed in a “Reassess” category
“Reassess” projects are worthy initiatives that, because of rapidly escalating costs, can no longer be completed within the project’s available funding. These 68 projects have had the remaining funding removed, but the project information and work thus far will be retained for potential future reassessment as changing conditions warrant.
“This is not a short-term, one year budget situation. Outside forces have placed communities throughout the nation in a historic period when it comes to the sky-high costs of construction projects, with things like sidewalks costing 200 percent more than just a few years ago. We can no longer afford to do all that we wanted and planned for – all that our citizens wanted and hoped for,” Weinbrecht said. “Still, I’m optimistic about Cary’s future, and I look forward to continuing to work with our citizens in determining the course for Cary’s tomorrow.”
Budget Process
The FY 2026 budget was developed as part of Cary’s rolling budget process, in which budget conversations happen between Council, staff, and citizens year-round. Citizens are invited to share their thoughts and priorities through:
Email: 311@carync.gov
- Phone: Dial 311 or (919) 469-4000
- Public Speaks Out at regular Council meetings
- Social media: Find 311@caryncgov to send a DM or post publicly using #CaryBudget
- Text: text budget input to TXT311
The Adopted FY 26 Budget will be available online and in print this Fall. The Town Manager’s FY 2026 Recommended Budget, which differs slightly from the actual adopted budget discussed in this news release, remains available for review at carync.gov/budget.
NC Metro Mayors
Friday I joined the NC Metro Mayors for a weekly summary of legislative actions. The following is the summary by Checkmate Government Relations:
General Assembly Update
The NC House and Senate have not reached an agreement on the State’s $33 billion budget as both chambers will not budge on their proposed tax plan for the State. The new fiscal year begins July 1st and state agencies will continue operating at current spending levels. This week, both chambers prioritized passing key legislation before adjourning for the summer on Thursday. The General Assembly is now in recess until late August, and a budget agreement is unlikely before legislators return.
PAVE Act
House Bill 948, the P.A.V.E. Act, authorizes Mecklenburg County to levy an additional one-cent sales and use tax for the purpose of funding roadway infrastructure and public transportation systems. The bill also creates the Metropolitan Public Transportation Authority. H948 outlines a 60/40 distribution split of tax revenues (60% to the Authority, 40% to roadways), sets a maintenance of effort requirement for Charlotte and surrounding towns, and explicitly prevents NCDOT from altering project rankings based on Charlotte’s local funding.
The bill passed through the House and Senate this week and was sent to Governor Stein for his signature. Following this language being signed into law, the Mecklenburg County Commission will vote to add the provision to a local referendum.
Shrimp Trawling Ban
On Wednesday the House Republican caucus voted to not move House Bill 442, Flounder/Red Snapper Seasons & Shrimp Trawl, forward. H442 would ban shrimp trawling in the inland waters of North Carolina. 75% of all shrimp caught in North Carolina are caught in the sound. The bill quickly passed through the Senate last week but does not currently have a path forward in the House. Thousands of commercial fishermen and their families showed up to the legislature this week to argue against the bill.
Jerry Miller Passes
Jerry Miller, a world-renowned Cary artist, icon, and founder of Lazy Daze passed on Saturday. I recently presented him with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine. At that time, I summarized what he has meant to Cary with:
“Jerry Miller, born and raised in North Carolina, has dedicated his career to capturing the essence of his state through his detailed drawings of its architecture. His expansive body of work encompasses not just the grand and historical but also the everyday structures that define the landscapes of North Carolina. With a focus that spans across 72 of the state’s 100 counties, Miller’s portfolio includes 182 drawings of Cary, 121 aircraft, 58 public schools, over 217 personal homes, 196 churches, 132 Raleigh scenes, and 35 drawings of various college and university buildings. His unique approach has not only preserved the architectural heritage of North Carolina but has also celebrated it in a vivid and accessible format.
Jerry’s love for his adopted hometown of Cary sparked the creation of the Cary Lazy Daze Festival in 1976. What began as a small community event has grown into one of the nation’s premier contemporary crafts festivals, drawing attendees and artists from across the country. Through his initiative, Jerry has significantly contributed to Cary’s cultural vitality and its reputation as a hub for arts and crafts.
Throughout his illustrious career, Jerry has received numerous accolades that testify to his talent and commitment to community service. Notable among these are paintings commissioned for former U.S. Presidents George W. Bush and Ronald Reagan, and local figures such as Dr. Tom Stafford at NC State University. His artwork has also been selected to represent North Carolina in prestigious locations, including the White House.
Jerry’s influence extends beyond the arts into community and civic engagement. He has been the recipient of multiple awards including the Herb Young award, the Dick Ladd award, the Rotary award, the Jaycees award, and the Hometown Spirit Award. Additionally, his contributions to local heritage and the arts have been permanently honored with rooms named after him in several cultural institutions including the Lee County Art Center, the Templeton Art Center, and the Page-Walker Hotel Art Center.
His creative contributions have also found practical applications, such as designing the first watercolor flag for North Carolina in over two centuries and creating artwork for telephone books for Apex and Cary, enhancing the daily lives of the local community with his aesthetic vision. Moreover, Jerry’s commitment to educational and historical documentation is evident from his extensive work for Cary High School and his contributions to the book “Around and About Cary.”
Perhaps one of the most touching tributes to his impact is a bust made in his honor, now standing in a park at the Cary Arts Center, symbolizing his lasting legacy in the community he cherishes.
Jerry Miller’s life and work embody a deep-seated passion for North Carolina and its stories. Through his art, he continues to contribute to the cultural preservation and celebration of his state, ensuring that its architectural marvels, grand and humble alike—are remembered and appreciated for generations to come.”
Jerry was the golden thread that is the fabric of our community. He will be sorely missed. Rest in Peace Jerry!
Town Manager’s Report
Sean’s Message
Last night’s meeting was very special, very meaningful for me. As I watched you, Council, and listened to your remarks about the budget, about our citizens, about the staff, and about Cary, I felt truly blessed to be part of such an amazing experience.
As several of you noted, this year’s budget was hard, and while I don’t predict the future, the next one and the one after that and the one after that will likely be just as – if not more – hard. Whether global economics or the limitations on our abilities to generate new revenues, so much is out of our hands, out of our control.
But, Council last night you talked about what we can control, what we should be held responsible for, and that’s hiring and retaining the “best of the best” when it comes to Town staff.
The success of bringing you a budget that you could and would unanimously adopt was the work of a very large team, one that we’ve been able to teach and empower and cultivate thanks to your support.
I am truly, truly blessed to be able to say – eight years in – that the people I work with are awesome! They are incredible!
And, Council, you are, too.
I’ll be out of the office until July 7 with my family on our annual summer vacation, and I can go without a second thought because of the confidence I have in my colleagues to do all of the things, to be there for whatever you, the organization and the community need.
I thank them for that.
Finally, there will be no Weekly Report next week due to the July 4th holiday.
With heartfelt appreciation to you, Council, for choosing me to be Cary’s Town Manager,
Sean
Carying Place Visit
Last Thursday, Councilmember Michelle Craig visited one of The Carying Place transition homes alongside the organization’s Executive Director and Director of Development. During the visit, they discussed how community members can get involved, through volunteering or donating, to support homeless and low-income working families with children.
Juneteenth Celebration
On Saturday, Downtown Cary Park held its annual Juneteenth Celebration for its second year. Mayor Weinbrecht provided remarks and was joined on stage by Councilmembers Michelle Craig, Lori Bush, and Sarika Bansal. Curated by historian and poet Darrell Stover, the celebration featured expressions of freedom through spoken word, history, dance, and live jazz and R&B performances.
Screening of Caregiving Documentary
On Tuesday, The Cary Theater welcomed a full house for an exclusive early screening of the acclaimed PBS documentary Caregiving, produced by Bradley Cooper. This special event brought together community members, professionals, and caregivers for a powerful evening centered on the challenges and triumphs of caring for loved ones.
Mayor Harold Weinbrecht opened the evening with thoughtful remarks highlighting Cary’s ongoing commitment to supporting caregivers and aging in place. Following the screening, Councilmember Carissa Kohn-Johnson moderated a dynamic panel discussion featuring Senator Gale Adcock, Dr. Ben Thompson, CEO Neal Shah, and Professor Erin Kent.
The event was organized by Michelle Barrett, Program Manager for Seniors and Aging, and Lani Simeona, Operations and Program Supervisor at The Cary Theater.
Downtown Cary Park Tour
On Tuesday, Councilmember Michelle Craig welcomed the Raleigh Regional Association of Realtors for a tour of Downtown Cary Park. The group was interested in the park’s amenities, as well as the economic development spurred by its opening.
Quinard Road Extension Complete
The Fenton developer successfully completed the extension of Quinard Road from the development site to SE Maynard Road. This new connection, which opened today, will enhance local mobility by providing an additional access point to SE Maynard Road, strengthening the overall roadway network in the area.
To celebrate the opening, Mayor Harold Weinbrecht joined Robert Canepa, General Property Manager at Hines, to be the first to ride in style on the new road.
Fish Relocation from Twin Lakes
In a carefully coordinated effort to support aquatic life and local ecosystems, Cary and Conti Civil partnered with Foster Lake & Pond Management to conduct a fish relocation operation on Monday. A dedicated two-person crew used specialized electrofishing equipment to gently collect bass and crappie from Twin Lakes ahead of the dam rehabilitation project.
The collected fish are being safely transported and introduced into private ponds, where they will continue to thrive in well-maintained environments. This relocation initiative is part of Cary’s broader commitment to responsible environmental stewardship.
Police Hosts NCDOT TIMS Meeting
Last week, the Police Department hosted the Wake County Traffic Incident Management (TIM) Interagency Team Meeting, organized by NCDOT. The meeting brought together stakeholders from across the county to improve traffic incident response, share best practices, and strengthen coordination. Retired Garner Police Chief Lorie Smith, the newly appointed Regional TIM Coordinator, facilitated the discussion.
Staff Completes Wastewater Energy Efficiency Training
On Tuesday, managers from the water reclamation facilities successfully completed the Water and Wastewater Training Program, offered by the NC Department of Environmental Quality State Energy Office and Division of Water Infrastructure. This expert-led program provides water and wastewater professionals with practical strategies for energy management, cost savings, and operational efficiency.
Traffic Signal Improvements Begin
Construction is beginning this month on the new traffic signal at High House Road and Bond Park Drive. Initial work includes grading and preparing for the installation of upgraded curb ramps. The traffic signal itself is scheduled for installation next spring, following the fabrication of the metal mast arms and signal poles.
Western Area Reclaimed Water Outage
On July 1, staff will temporarily isolate the western portion of the reclaimed water distribution system. This section, supplied by Durham County, requires repairs at their treatment and pumping facilities. The outage will not impact Cary’s potable water systems.
Cary’s critical reclaimed water customers, such as those using reclaimed water for cooling towers and toilet flushing, have been notified and are prepared for the outage.
Reclaimed service is expected to be restored within 24 to 48 hours to minimize impacts on residential and commercial customers.
Union Street Infrastructure Renewal
With the paving of Union Street on Wednesday, the sewer infrastructure renewal is now complete. Originally planned as a quick rehabilitation, the project shifted to a full sewer replacement between Ann Street and Normandy Street due to existing conditions. This work marks the completion of the latest phase of Cary’s Annual Water Main Replacement Program.
In total, the project replaced 3,300 feet of water main and 1,900 feet of sewer main, strengthening infrastructure in the Oakwood Heights neighborhood and along Boyd Street, Union Street, and Madison Avenue.
NCDOT Repaving
Similar to Cary’s street repaving program, NCDOT will begin repaving state-owned streets in Cary starting June 29, with work continuing through the fall. The project will begin on Lake Dam Road, from Tryon Road to the I-40 bridge.
To minimize traffic disruptions, lane closures and nighttime work will be necessary, but no full road closures are expected. For more details and a complete list of streets scheduled for resurfacing, visit the resurfacing and street maintenance webpage.
Virtual Neighborhood Rezoning Meeting – July 9th
The following neighborhood meetings will be held on Wednesday, July 9, at 6:30 p.m.
For more information and to register visit the Virtual Neighborhood Rezoning Meeting page.
Upcoming Meetings
None Scheduled
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.
Granddaughter
Tuesday I was blessed with the birth of my granddaughter. Though she was a few weeks early, she is doing fantastic. I was able to visit and hold her on Saturday. Everyone is doing well. I can’t wait to spend more time with her.
Mayor’s Mailbox
- Complaints about a development plan review for the Franklin at East Park Street and Walker Street. The proposal is for a mixed-use building, primarily multi-family with 40 units, and a small amount of retail. This use has been permitted at this location since 2003 and is not a council decision.
Unfortunately, that does stop a few people from making comments like “this place looks awful disgusting I can’t wait to move”
- Complaints about the proposed budget. Comments include “the over building and density causes most of the problems anyway.” “Cary continues to overspend, I am happy to vote with my feet.” “Refrain from frivolous indulgences like art projects and entertainment”, “Shame on you. You no longer represent the people. You have become nothing more than a corrupt panderer for the developers.”
- A request to vote no on a legislative action (Um… those votes would be by the legislature and not the mayor)
- A complaint about development at Weatherstone Creek.
- Several cut-and-paste complaints about 19-REZ-25 Piney Plains Multi-family with habitat housing. An accusation of corruption after it was approved.
- Recommendations for approval for 19-REZ-25 Piney Plains Multifamily with habitat housing.
- A request to display American flags on Academy Street for July 4th.
- Comments about US bombing in Iran.
- A request to make Diwali a State Holiday (only the Governor can do that).
- A complaint about a garbage truck leaking.
- A compliment for my Juneteenth remarks.
- Several complaints from someone with a mental health issue.
Next Week
Next week’s activities include staff meetings, a meeting with TowneBank executives, July 4th celebrations, and the Cary Tennis Classic.
Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, July 6th, 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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