Wake County Mayors, CAMPO, and Juneteenth

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!

Wake County Mayors Association

The Wake County Mayors Association met Monday evening, with mayors from Cary, Fuquay-Varina, Garner, Holly Springs, Morrisville, Rolesville, and Wendell in attendance. Discussion topics included municipal budgets, strategies for addressing the needs of residents experiencing mental illness, the issuance of proclamations, and planning for upcoming July 4th celebrations.

CAMPO Executive Board

Wednesday afternoon, I met as a voting member with the Executive Board of the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO). CAMPO is the federally designated transportation planning agency for the greater Raleigh and Triangle region, overseeing regional mobility planning across Wake, Chatham, Franklin, Granville, Harnett, and Johnston counties. The agenda included three consent items, one public hearing, and three discussion items.

All three consent items were approved unanimously. These included approval of the meeting minutes, the FY2027 Wake Transit Work Plan and Project Agreement, and Amendment #4 to the FY2026–FY2035 Transportation Improvement Plan.

The public hearing concerned approval of the Triangle Mobility Hub’s Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA). In May, GoTriangle’s project team presented a comprehensive overview of the project’s early planning phases, public engagement results, and site-selection process, which resulted in a recommended location for the new mobility hub. The proposed site is located in Research Triangle Park on the southwest corner of the NC 54 and Miami Boulevard intersection. Following the Public Hearing, the Executive Board unanimously approved the LPA.

Of the three discussion items, two required board action and were approved, while the third was presented for informational purposes only. The Board approved the technical recommendation for the Triangle Bikeway East Design Project, allowing design work to advance to the 30 percent completion stage. The Board also approved the regional impact target modal mix for SPOT 8. A modal mix refers to the distribution of transportation investments among roads, bicycle facilities, pedestrian infrastructure, aviation, and ferry services. The target modal mix is a key component of CAMPO’s adopted prioritization methodology and helps guide staff in developing draft point assignments for transportation projects. The FY2028 Locally Administered Projects Program (LAPP) target modal mix was presented for information only.

Before adjournment, a commissioner from Granville County, which has a population of approximately 65,000 residents, expressed concerns that the county rarely receives transportation funding and argued that the current process makes it difficult for smaller counties to compete successfully for available funds. CAMPO staff indicated they would meet with county representatives to explore potential adjustments that could improve funding opportunities.

Juneteenth Celebration

On Saturday, I was joined by five of my fellow council members at the Juneteenth Celebration at Downtown Cary Park. During the event, I had the honor of offering the following remarks before presenting a proclamation:

“Good afternoon, everyone.

Juneteenth reminds us of the enduring importance of freedom, the resilience of those who endured injustice, and the continued work of building communities rooted in understanding, respect, and opportunity for all. It is a time to reflect on our shared history while celebrating the richness of black heritage and culture and the many contributions that continue to strengthen our nation and our community.

Here in Cary, we are proud to celebrate Juneteenth as an opportunity to come together, learn from one another, and honor the stories, traditions, and experiences that shape our community and nation.

Today’s Juneteenth Celebration has been thoughtfully curated by Historian Darrell Stover. We invite you to experience the spirit of “freedom dance,” where movement takes center stage, honoring expression, resilience, and joy through live performances and moments that invite everyone to join in.

In recognition of this celebration of freedom, I would now like to read a proclamation.

Happy Juneteenth!”

This year’s theme, “Freedom Dance,” attracted performers and dance companies from across North Carolina. I had the opportunity to speak with one attendee who traveled from Goldsboro specifically to take part in the celebration, a testament to the event’s growing reputation and impact.

This marked the seventh year that Cary has hosted a Juneteenth celebration, and each year the event continues to grow in both attendance and significance. My thanks to Darrell Stover and the many volunteers, performers, staff members, and community partners whose hard work made this year’s celebration such a success.

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 28th 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 28th 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 16th 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 16th 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.
  • Questions about peacemaking in local politics.
  • A complaint that I was bragging about increasing home prices (I was merely providing information, not bragging. Sorry to come across that way.)
  • A question about the progress of the Marigold Affordable Housing project.
  • A complaint about panhandling.
  • A comment about “racing on Ederlee Drive on Regency Woods Place”.
  • A complaint about maintenance of stop signs.
  • A complaint about the rezoning proposal at Searstone.
  • A complaint about council’s proposed creation of fees for using EV charging stations.
  • A request to use the old Cary Town Center site for Major League Baseball. (I would love that, but Epic owns the property not the town).
  • A request to bring Little Caesars to Cary (Out of my scope as mayor).

Next Week

Next week’s activities include staff meetings, meetings with residents, a meeting with the Searstone applicant, a State of Cary, a council work session on e-bike safety and a smoke free ordinance, and a council meeting to vote on budget.

Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, June 28th, 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.