Cary #15 in US, Cary Tennis Classic Board, Tennis Event for 250 Celebration, Council Work Session, and Council Meeting

Purpose of this Blog

It is my hope that this blog will provide insight not only into who I am meeting with on behalf of the Town, but also the topics we discuss. I believe strongly in open and transparent government. This blog is one of several initiatives I implemented when I became mayor in 2007 to make the governmental process more accessible to our citizens.

This blog is written with sincerity, honesty, and a commitment to accuracy so our constituents can better understand the work we do. After all, we work for them!

Cary #15 Place to Live in US

According to Stacker, Cary ranks as the 15th best place to live in the United States. In its assessment, Stacker highlighted several of the community’s strengths:

“Cary, located near North Carolina’s Research Triangle, has been called one of the safest cities in America. The town is home to the North Carolina Courage of the National Women’s Soccer League and USA Baseball’s national training complex. Cary has its own public transportation system with fixed-route and door-to-door service.”

While town leaders have faced criticism regarding the budget, tax policies, and the former town manager, it is important to keep those discussions in perspective. Cary continues to earn national recognition as one of the best places to live in the country. In fact, this marks the third such distinction the town has received in the past month.

Cary Home Values Continue to Increase

According to a report provided by Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices York Simpson Underwood Realty, home values in Cary continue to rise. In my State of Cary address earlier this year, I reported that the average home price was $650,000. Their latest data from the past 30 days highlights this continued growth:

• Average home price: $717,414

• Average sale price: $706,847

Cary Tennis Classic Board Meeting

The Cary Tennis Classic Board met Monday evening for our final meeting before this year’s tournament, which runs from June 28 through July 5. We reviewed several exciting updates, including catering by Craft Public House, which will be a significant enhancement to the tournament experience compared to last year. We also discussed additional sponsorship opportunities and expanded premier seating options for attendees.

Another highlight of the meeting was planning for our July 4 celebrations, which will begin with the mayor’s 250 Celebration competition and continue with a community BBQ cookout.

Everything is coming together for what promises to be our best tournament yet. I hope to see everyone at the Cary Tennis Park for a week of outstanding tennis and community celebration.

Tennis Event for 250 Celebration

On Monday, I met with a group to discuss an exciting event scheduled for July 4 as part of the Cary Tennis Classic. The event will feature a fun competition open to participants of all ages, with gift cards and prizes awarded to winners.

Following the competition, all attendees will be invited to enjoy a BBQ cookout and watch the doubles finals and singles semifinals. More details will be announced soon, so stay tuned!

Council Work Session

Thursday evening the council held a work session to adjust the calendar and provide feedback on additional proposed budget changes.

The council has decided to cancel the June 18^th budget work session and move the July 28^th work session to July 21^st.

Here are some notable changes in the proposed budget from council:

• Revenue sources of $527,000 by charging for EV use on public property, increasing Parks and Rec fees, and increasing building permits
• Additional budget cuts:
  • Available for Mid-Year Funding: $250,000
  • Website Overhaul: $600,000
  • Chamber of Commerce: $30,000
  • Contracted Festivals: $92,500
  • Contracted Videos: $117,120
  • Renovation/Upfit of 911 Center: $1,000,000
• $1,687,128 added to proposed budget:
  • Remaining funds required for Housing to be funded at$5.3 million (the equivalent of one penny)
  • Funding in the Police budget for a contract with SafeChild
  • Additional funds for Public Works and Fire department personnel cost
• $10 million in fund balance above policy was available for use. As a result the council now favors a 2.75 cent tax increase which would make the rate 36.75 cents per $100 of value.
• Mayor Pro-Tem Bush and council member Bansal made a motion to take additional fund balance to lower the tax rate further. Staff advised against this saying we could go below our fund balance policy. The motion failed 5 to 2.

Council Meeting

The Cary Town Council held its first regularly scheduled meeting of June on Thursday night. The agenda included eight consent items, four public hearings, three discussion items, and a closed session.

The Public Speaks Out portion of the meeting included several speakers, most of whom expressed concerns about a potential tax increase. It was disappointing to hear misinformation continue to be repeated, including the claim that the town paid the former town manager a severance package, which is not accurate.

Five of the consent items were approval of minutes. The remaining three were the

Bid Award for Upper Brier Creek Sewer Interceptor Rehabilitation Project, the Verizon Wireless Equipment Agreement, and a resolution for new installment purchase debt for 15 vehicles including sanitation and heavy-duty trucks and public safety vehicles. All consent items were approved unanimously.

The first public hearing focused on the budget, with several speakers expressing concerns about a potential tax increase and what they viewed as wasteful spending.

The second and third public hearings addressed the Jacobs Creek annexation and rezoning requests. Following the hearings, some council members voiced concerns that single-family residential rezonings of this type could increase the town’s infrastructure costs and place additional demands on municipal services.

The final public hearing concerned ACT 39, a proposed amendment to the Cary Community Plan’s Carpenter Special Planning Area. Several speakers spoke in opposition to the proposed changes.

The first discussion item involved a request to amend the Official Zoning Map by rezoning approximately 0.51 acres at 6708 Bandelier Lane from Office/Research and Development (ORD) to Residential 20 Conditional Use (R-20 CU). The rezoning included conditions limiting the property to a single detached dwelling unit and associated accessory uses, as well as architectural and site design standards addressing building materials, building form, garage placement, future additions, and driveway access. The rezoning also preserved the existing Watershed Protection Overlay District (Jordan Lake Subdistrict). The request was approved unanimously.

The second discussion item was the selection of an independent auditor to conduct the Town’s annual financial audits. After reviewing submitted proposals, staff identified two finalists: Cherry Bekaert LLP and Mauldin & Jenkins, LLC. Staff then interviewed both firms to address questions and further evaluate their proposals. Following the interviews, Cherry Bekaert received a unanimous recommendation from the staff members involved in the selection process. The council unanimously approved the recommendation.

As its final discussion item, the council considered a revised Resolution Delegating Authority to Negotiate, Award, Approve, and Execute Contracts and Other Instruments. The resolution was adopted unanimously. Additional information can be found here.

Manager’s Report

Council,

It was great seeing everyone in meetings this week and thank you for all the work you’ve done on this year’s budget.

As a reminder, there will not be a Weekly Report next week, as Town Hall and most staffed facilities will be closed next Friday in observance of Juneteenth.

Have a great weekend and GO CANES!

Russ Overton

Interim Town Manager

Demolition Begins on Site of Future GoCary MMTC

Abatement for 21 properties is complete, and demolition of existing buildings on the future GoCary Multi-Modal Transit Center (MMTC) site is scheduled to begin later this month. Work will occur on Cary-owned property and within the public right-of-way between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. Weekend work is not anticipated but may be approved if needed.

Demolition is expected to continue through spring 2027, weather permitting. No road closures are anticipated at this time; however, advance notice will be provided if closures become necessary.

This work is an important first step in supporting a growing transit network that includes local and regional bus service, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), future commuter rail service, and Amtrak intercity passenger rail service.

Annual Street Improvement Project Update

Paving for the FY 2026 Street Improvements Project, which will resurface approximately 11 miles of roadway across Cary, is expected to begin later this month in the MacDonald Woods neighborhood and continue through July before moving to Copperleaf and Stonewater. Additional project locations are listed on the project webpage.

Since construction began in April, crews have focused on preparatory work, including upgrading more than 100 curb ramps to improve ADA accessibility and replacing more than 1,000 linear feet of curb and gutter. Work remains on schedule and is expected to be completed this fall, weather permitting. Staff will continue coordinating with residents and businesses and providing advance notice of upcoming construction activities.

Temporary Closure of Town Hall Parking Deck

The Town Hall Parking Deck will close on June 18 for ADA improvements and stairwell maintenance. The ADA improvements are expected to be completed by June 28, allowing the deck to reopen to vehicle traffic and parking that day. Cleaning and painting of the stairwells will continue through July 8, and the stairwells will remain closed during that work. The parking lot in front of Herb Young Community Center will remain open during construction. For more information about alternative parking options, visit carync.gov/parking.

Hurricane Watch Party Series at Downtown Cary Park

Park staff estimate that approximately 800 fans attended Downtown Cary Park’s first Cary for the Cup Hurricanes Watch Party last night, gathering to watch the game on the Great Lawn Pavilion’s big screen and cheer on the Canes.

Additional watch parties are planned for June 14 and, depending on the championship series, June 17. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets and join fellow fans to cheer on the Canes

Rose Park Manor Grand Opening

Last Friday, partners celebrated the grand opening of Rose Park Manor, a new affordable senior housing community near downtown Cary. Developed in partnership with Beacon Management Corporation, the community includes 81 affordable housing units reserved for seniors age 55 and older earning 60% or less of the Area Median Income (AMI). The project was made possible through significant investment from Cary and Wake County. Rose Park Manor advances goals identified in the Imagine Cary Community Plan and Cary Housing Plan by expanding housing choices for seniors, supporting infill development, and promoting walkable, transit-oriented living.

2026 NCAA Division II Baseball National Championship

From May 29 through June 6, Cary hosted the NCAA Division II Baseball National Championship for the 16th time in the last 18 years through a partnership with the University of Mount Olive, USA Baseball, and the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance (GRSA). The event, which attracted 8,136 attendees over 10 days, was the first NCAA Division II finals tournament played at the National Training Complex’s new field. During opening weekend, Fire Chief Mike Cooper threw the ceremonial first pitch, and the Fire Department Honor Guard presented the colors during three games, including the opening game of the championship series.

National Trails Day Celebration

On June 6, residents celebrated National Trails Day and Cary’s 100-mile greenway milestone with a Discovery Walk along Higgins Greenway. Beginning at Downtown Cary Park, the guided walk explored one of Cary’s newer greenway segments and highlighted its role in connecting people to recreation, transportation, and community destinations. Supported by the Friends of Page-Walker, the Greenway Committee, and the Public Art Advisory Board, the walk also showcased the corridor’s history, public art, and cultural significance.

Important Dates

Public Art Advisory Board
Wednesday, June 17, 6:15 p.m.

Council Initiated Items

The council has a process that allows members to introduce items for discussion at meetings, often leading to further action. Given the recent increase in these requests, I will begin sharing them here along with my perspective on their pros and cons.

Temporary moratorium on Data Centers

This proposal was submitted by Mayor Pro-Tem Bush, and I provided the second. It has been scheduled for the May 28^th Council meeting.

Data centers are centralized facilities that house IT equipment for storing, processing, and distributing massive amounts of data. While they are the vital backbone of the modern internet and AI, they also pose notable environmental and community challenges by requiring massive amounts of electricity and millions of gallons of water. This proposal would direct staff to put a moratorium on data center approvals.

PROS:

• They generate significant long-term property and sales tax revenue for local municipalities, often offsetting the need to raise taxes on residents.
• They provide the essential computing power required to run the cloud, stream media, and train heavy AI models.
• Modern facilities offer unparalleled uptime, physical security, and disaster recovery protections for critical business information.
• Unlike large manufacturing plants or warehouses, operational data centers generate minimal daily traffic and produce very little localized air pollution.

CONS:

• We may not have authority to permanently prohibit them.
• They demand immense amounts of electricity and millions of gallons of water for cooling, which can strain local utility grids and drive-up energy costs for surrounding communities.
• Unless heavily offset by renewable energy sources, heavy reliance on power can prolong the use of fossil fuel plants and contribute to electronic waste.
• The constant operation of high-powered cooling fans and backup generators can create significant, round-the-clock noise disturbances for nearby residents.
• While construction creates many temporary jobs, fully operational data centers typically require very few on-site staff, delivering fewer permanent local jobs than other large-scale developments.

Partnering with the school board to pilot school zone safety improvements

This proposal was submitted by Council Member Bansal, and I provided the second. It has been scheduled for the May 28^th Council meeting

Several schools in Cary, particularly middle schools and high schools, are experiencing transportation safety concerns on and around school property. While the schools are responsible for transportation operations on campus and NCDOT oversees roadway infrastructure decisions, progress on improvements has been slow and resident complaints have continued to increase. This proposal would direct staff to work collaboratively with the schools on programs and strategies to help address these concerns.

PROS:

• Allows the Town to take a more proactive role, even when we are not the primary decision-maker.
• Responds to growing community concerns regarding school transportation safety.

CONS:

• The Town is currently understaffed, so this effort could require shifting staff resources away from other projects.
• Potential solutions could result in additional costs to taxpayers if Cary contributes funding toward implementation.

E-Bike Safety

This proposal was submitted by Council Members Bansal and Richards and presented at the April 16^th meeting. It will come back to council with recommendations for a future meeting.

The council initially launched a pilot program in June 2022 to allow e-bikes. After a one-year trial period, the program was made permanent, with a posted speed limit of 15 mph on greenways. Recently, however, there have been complaints that e-bikes, scooters, and similar devices are traveling at excessive speeds and creating potentially hazardous conditions.

PROS:

• We are listening to our citizens’ complaints.
• Preventing e-bikes and scooters will possibly make greenways safer.

CONS:

• There is basically no way to enforce an ordinance that has e-bikes or not.
• Any enforcement effort would require additional officers and officers’ time. We are currently underfunding officers and require overtime to maintain existing levels of service.
• We are revisiting a decision that was made after a one-year trial and review of data.

Smoke Free Ordinance

This proposal was submitted by Mayor Pro-Tem Bush and Council Member Craig and presented at the April 16^th meeting. It will come back at a future council meeting with recommendations.

PROS:

• Eliminates toxic secondhand smoke.
• Current ordinance does not match state law and Raleigh/Wake ordinance.

CONS:

• Any enforcement effort would require additional officers and officers’ time. We are currently underfunding officers and require overtime to maintain existing levels of service.

Affordable Housing on Old Library Site

This proposal, submitted by Mayor Pro Tem Bush and Council Member Bansal, would place a podium-style parking deck with affordable housing on the former library site. This has yet to be scheduled for a meeting agenda.

PROS:

• Adds parking across from Downtown Cary Park.
• Create affordable housing units in the downtown area.

CONS:

• May underutilize one of the municipality’s most valuable properties. Downtown Cary Park generates approximately $16 million annually in economic impact, and this site could represent an opportunity for a more transformative use.
• The town has already invested millions in renovating the Ivey-Ellington House, positioning this area as a premier destination.

How Cary Government Works

Cary’s government, like most cities in North Carolina and most mid-sized cities in the U.S., uses a council–manager form of government. This system works a lot like a company, but for local government. Residents elect a council and a mayor, who set policy by passing laws, approving the budget, and guiding the town’s overall priorities. The council then hires a professional manager to run the town’s day-to-day operations.

Think of it like a company: the council acts like a board of directors, making policy and representing the public, while the city manager acts like a CEO, overseeing all departments, such as finance, public works, police, and fire, and managing town staff. The mayor leads council meetings, represents the town publicly, and has limited executive authority. While the council and mayor make policy decisions and receive regular reports, they usually see only high-level summaries rather than the detailed inner workings of each department.

In short, just as a board hires a CEO to run a company, Cary’s council hires a manager to run the town, ensuring professional management while elected officials focus on big-picture decisions and community priorities.

You can find additional information about how Cary’s government works on the town’s website here.

Mayor’s Mailbox

• Complaints on the budget.
• A complaint about structure safety at Downtown Cary Park.
• Suggestions for Cary recycling.
• A complaint about potentially charging Cary residents to park in Cary and non-residents to visit parks.
• A complaint about the Trenton Road rezoning 25-REZ-12.
• A complaint about a mural on the Brew Coffee building.
• A request to honor a student who won a national award.
• A complaint about the intersection at Highcroft Drive and Green Hope School Road.
• A complaint about Cary workers blowing leaves at the Amtrak Station.
• A complaint about the proposed Searstone rezoning 24-REZ-02.
• A request to speak at a Sampson High School Alumni Association meeting in Cary.
• A request to not allow fireworks at events like Diwali.
• A request to give details on how Powell Bill funds were used.
• Complaints on the proposed Act 39 Carpenter Special Planning Area Comprehensive Plan Amendment.
• A complaint that we are not stopping or limiting irrigation due to the drought: “We must ban irrigation completely.” (Cary has had permanent alternate day irrigation in place since the early 2000s. Unlike Raleigh, our water source at Jordan Lake has a 6-month supply).
• A complaint about free fare fixed route transit.
• A complaint that Cary allows “racing on Ederlee Drive”.

Next Week

Next week’s activities include staff meetings, a Wake County Mayors Association meeting, a CAMPO (Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization) Executive Board meeting, and a Juneteenth event.

Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, June 21^st, 2026. 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.