Author: haroldweinbrechttownofcaryorg

Cary Safest City

Monday the Triangle Business Journal (TBJ) reported that “Cary is still the safest city in North Carolina, according to the ranking – but it’s no longer in the top 10 in the country.

The locale came in at No. 18 this year, a drop from its 7th spot the year prior.” This was according to SmartAsset. But they did admit that Cary is still the safest city in the country according to GoodHire: “Interestingly enough, Cary was named the safest place in America in September, according to an analysis by GoodHire”.

It depends on what study and what criteria is used. The media can make that confusing by just reporting some of the information. Thanks to TBJ for reporting all the information.

NC Association of Zoning Officials

Monday morning I provided welcoming remarks to zoning officials from across North Carolina attending their Mid-Winter Workshop in Cary. In addition to the welcome, I talked about how important creating effective zoning policies and practices were to municipalities. I invited them, in their off time, to visit our downtown and Fenton which were close by.

Commuter Rail

The Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Executive Board created a subcommittee to participate in the decision-making process related to the Greater Triangle Commuter Rail project being developed by GoTriangle and I am part of that subcommittee. Our first meeting will be on February 28^th and will mostly be a foundational meeting. After that we will be discussing funding which is important because we will probably not receive federal funding as anticipated.

CAMPO

Wednesday I participated in a meeting of the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Executive Board. The agenda had three consent items, two public hearings, and four discussion items. The executive board unanimously approved the CAMPO work plan and the FY 2024 LAPP (Locally Administered Projects Program). LAPP is used by the MPO to prioritize and program local transportation projects in the region that utilize federal funding and are the responsibility of the MPO. LAPP projects are funded using the federal funding sources directly attributed to the region with a minimum 20% local match. The FY2024 LAPP program includes Cary’s proposed Higgins Phase IV greenway which will extend it from Shirley Drive to Walnut Street. Money received for this green will be $1.94 million.

COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic

Thursday morning I was contacted by Kirk of Kildaire Presbyterian Church who asked that I share covid vaccine information:

What: COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic at Kirk of Kildaire Presbyterian Church

When: Noon to 5 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 23

Where: Kirk of Kildaire Presbyterian Church, 200 High Meadow Drive, Cary

Contact: Hanna Hayden, hhayden@thereisgroup.com, (785) 477-4146

Atria Grand Opening

Thursday night I joined council member Jack Smith, NC Senator Gale Adcock, and NC Representative Julie von Haefen at the ribbon cutting for Atria in Cary a senior living facility with all the amenities. We were all given the opportunity to welcome the 50+ residents, about a third of their capacity, who moved in during December. I am sure Atria will be a huge success in our community.

NC Metro Mayors

Friday I participated in a meeting of the North Carolina Metro Mayors to hear about legislative actions. Here is a summary of that meeting from consultants KTS Strategies:

Consensus Revenue ForecastThe Legislative Fiscal Research Division and the Office of State Budget and Management issued their consensus revenue forecast. The forecast anticipates a one-time budget surplus of $3.25 billion for FY 2022-23. This brings total state General Fund revenue collections to $33.76 billion. The main drivers for the surplus as detailed in the forecast include:

• A smaller than expected decline in individual income tax collections, especially due to larger than expected tax payments from pass-through businesses electing to be taxed at the entity level, 
• Persistently high corporate profits, particularly among large multi-national corporations, 
• Resilient consumer spending despite longer-lasting inflation in goods and services subject to sales tax, and 
• Higher than expected investment returns on the General Fund balance. 

Senate President Pro-Tempore Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) issued the following statement on the forecast, “While this year’s surplus is welcomed news, we need to be cautious as we prepare the budget. We must continue to prioritize responsible spending, addressing our state’s workforce needs, and providing additional tax relief to our citizens.”

An updated joint revenue forecast will be issued in May following Tax Day in April.

Medicaid ExpansionThe House passed their version of Medicaid expansion this week. H76, Access to Healthcare Options, would provide Medicaid coverage to adults aged 18-64 with incomes up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level beginning on January 1, 2024. The bill also directs the Secretary of Commerce to create a “seamless, statewide, comprehensive workforce development program” and for the Department of Health and Human Services to develop a method to assist Medicaid enrollees in accessing appropriate workforce development services. 

H76 passed the Finance and Rules Committees on Tuesday with little debate. The bill passed third reading on Thursday with a vote of 92-22. It remains to be seen if the Senate will file their own expansion bill or take up this plan. The House version does not include any provisions related to Certificate of Need reform which has been a sticking point for the Senate in the past.

House Permanent RulesOn Wednesday, the House adopted their permanent rules for operating the 2023 regular session.  Many of the rules are the same as previous sessions regarding order of business, conduct of debate, and decorum. There will be a new rule related to veto overrides. Previously, a veto override vote could not be taken until 48 hours after being noticed on the calendar. The new rule states a veto override vote can be taken on the same legislative day it is received from the Senate or Governor or any day it is printed on the calendar. The Senate adopted their permanent rules in January. The Senate Rules Chair must give the Senate Minority Leader at least 24 hours’ notice that a vetoed bill may be considered by the Senate.

Medical MarijuanaThe Senate Judiciary Committee heard S3, NC Compassionate Care Act, on Wednesday. This is the same legislation that moved through the Senate last year.  Sponsored by Senate Rules Chair Bill Rabon (R-Brunswick) the bill would legalize medical marijuana for qualified patients with a debilitating medical condition. It would create an eleven-member advisory board to review petitions to add a new debilitating condition and create a Medical Cannabis Production Commission to oversee medical cannabis supplier licenses. The bill was up for discussion only in Wednesday’s committee meeting, but there may be amendments considered in next week’s meeting. Should the measure pass through the Senate again, it is unclear if there is enough support in the House to pass the legislation.

The meeting concluded after half an hour.

Town Manager’s Report

Sean’s Message

I enjoyed spending time with several Town staff, citizens, and Chamber members during the Business After Hours at Fenton’s PBR Cowboy Bar. For those of you who weren’t able to attend, the answer is no – I didn’t ride the bull.
Outside of last night’s fun, we continue our focus on preparing for an amazing retreat and plan to have the agenda to you early next week.
Have a good weekend, and I hope to see some of you at Monday’s historic house move.
Sean

Email Changeover Postponed

Today’s email changeover from @townofcary.org to @carync.gov has been postponed due to unforeseen technical challenges. Additional communication will be released early next week. We are still on track for the URL changeover on Tuesday, February 21. 

Ivey-Ellington is Headed Home

The Ivey-Ellington House is on the move. The house was recently moved through the back of the original site and is staged on the empty lot next to Academy Street Bistro, where it will remain through the weekend. On Monday, the house will move onto Academy Street and travel south to its new location at the former library site. To accommodate the final steps of this historic relocation, South Academy Street and sidewalks will be closed beginning at 7:00 am on Monday, February 20. The street and sidewalks will be reopened following the relocation.

New Cary Businesses

What a great week for Cary citizens as we welcomed three new business to the Cary business community: Sports & Social Cary, Howdy Homemade Ice Cream, and Gigi’s Playhouse. On Thursday, the new Sports & Social/PBR Cary opened in Fenton. There is no way to describe the 42-foot LED media wall – it is impressive to say the least! This is also home of the PBR Cowboy Bar featuring a mechanical bull upstairs. On February 10, Business Services Manager Bryan Hayes attended an opening for Howdy Homemade Ice Cream at The Walker in downtown Cary, which creates jobs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. On February 12, Gigi’s Playhouse opened in The Walker right next door to Howdy Homemade Ice Cream. Gigi’s Playhouse is an achievement center for individuals with down-syndrome. We are so thankful to these businesses that choose Cary to open a business.

South Walker Street Closure

South Walker Street near East Park Street will close one lane on February 28 to remove an existing tree, weather permitting. This work is needed in advance of the new sidewalk installation expected to start in March. The sidewalk will close one of the last remaining sidewalk gaps along South Walker Street, providing a fully ADA-accessible walkway from the First United Methodist Church parking lot to the Downtown Cary Park.

Cary Higgins Phase IV Greenway

The Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) Executive Board approved a $1.9 million grant this week to construct the Higgins Greenway Phase IV project. This phase will bring pedestrians and cyclists to downtown and supports Cary’s goals to create a walkable environment. An earlier phase Higgins Greenway Phase III, also received LAPP funding and will begin construction this year.

Wake County Small Project Funding

On Wednesday, staff presented a Cary Action Sports facility funding request to the Wake County Hospitality Tax Small Projects Review Team. If awarded, Cary’s $950,000 request would provide for an increase in upgrades to the Action Sports project included in the 2019 bond, such as, installation of a roof structure, seating, ramps, and an additional 1,500 square feet of indoor support facilities. These amenities would allow Cary Action Sports to host larger national and regional tournaments and events as well as elite camps and increased programming. Wednesday’s presentation was round two of the process and Cary’s Action Sports project is among the final six in consideration. 

RFQ Consultant Interviews: Wake BRT Western Corridor Station Area Planning

Cary and Raleigh are actively preparing for a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor that will connect the two downtown areas. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) awarded a grant to support Transit Oriented Development (TOD) planning work in the station areas along this corridor. A request for qualifications (RFQ) to select a consultant to lead this effort closed February 1. Cary hosted consultant interviews at the Urban Design Studio with City of Raleigh staff on Thursday and Friday. If you have any questions direct them to transit Director, Kelly Blazey. 

Valentines Day at Cary Senior Center

Marie Martin of the Garden Club has a non-profit organization called Moms Wishing Widows Well that provides Valentine’s Day flowers to over 200 widows in the area. Ms. Martin and her group of volunteers arrived early at the Cary Senior Center to assemble fresh bouquets for Valentine’s Day delivery.

Western Chatham Street Corridor Study Kicks Off

This week, the Urban Design Studio kicked off an urban design corridor study for West Chatham Street. The scope of the project extends along West Chatham Street from Academy Street to just west of the Old Apex/West Chatham Street roundabout. Topics of exploration include streetscape, traffic management, parking, stormwater, redevelopment potential, and utilities. Initial input was gathered from conversations with members of various Cary departments and a walking site tour with the consultant team. Sasaki Associates is the consultant for the project, and the corridor study is expected to take approximately six months.

Fire Graduates 25 Recruits

Fire held a graduation ceremony for the 25 recruits of Academy 26 on Feb. 10 at The Shepherd’s Church in Cary. It marked the end of an intensive eight-month academy during which the recruits earned all their required fire, rescue, hazardous materials, and rescue certifications. The 21 members of Academy 25 were also honored, as COVID-19 prevented them from having their ceremony when they completed their training in January 2022. Graduates had their badges pinned and received their shift assignments at the celebration. Both classes presented a leadership award to a deserving classmate, and family and friends enjoyed a screening of the class videos, produced by one of the Academy 26 graduates, with a reception following the event.

Evans Road / West Cary Middle School Pedestrian Crossing Enhancements

Public Works staff completed the installation of in-street warning signs at two pedestrian crosswalks on Evans Road, one near West Cary Middle School and one just north, near Evans Estates Drive. These signs are the latest in a series of enhancements to the two crossings of an NCDOT-maintained roadway in response to concerns regarding their visibility, particularly in the early morning hours. Traffic engineering staff coordinated with NCDOT personnel in a joint effort to add new pavement markings as well as additional signs and reflective devices to improve safety at the crossings. The in-street warning signs are anticipated to increase the consistency of drivers yielding to pedestrians in the crosswalk.

Upcoming Meetings

Athletic Committee
Monday
Feb. 20
6:00 p.m.

Cultural Arts Committee
Wednesday
Feb. 22
6:00 p.m.

Council-Staff Retreat
Friday-Saturday

Feb. 24-25

Planning and Zoning Board

Monday
Feb. 27
6:30 p.m.

Senior Advisory Board
Wednesday
March 1
2:00 p.m.

Economic Development Committee
Wednesday
March 1
5:15 p.m.

Mayor’s Mailbox

• A complaint about the proposed Kanoy rezoning in Chatham County
• A request to speak out against persecution of the Ethiopian Church in Ethiopia
• A complaint from an unincorporated area wanting Cary water

Next Week

Next week’s activities include staff meetings, the moving of the Ivey-Ellington House, a meeting of the Wake County Mayors Association, the annual NC League of Municipalities Town & State Dinner, being a panelist at the Triangle Community Coalition Mayor’s Panel, a council dinner in Wilmington, and the annual council-staff working retreat in Wilmington.

Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, February 26^th, 2023. Although I have Facebook and Twitter accounts those are not the best means of communications with me. Please send all Town of Cary questions or comments to Harold.Weinbrecht@townofcary.org and email personal comments to augustanat@mindspring.com.

Interview with Duke Student

Monday afternoon I was interviewed by a Duke student who is in the master’s Program of Public Policy. He is writing a paper on Boomburbs. Boomburbs are defined as incorporated places in the top 50 Metropolitan areas in the United States of more than 100,000 residents, but that are not the core cities in their metropolitan areas and have maintained double-digit rates of population growth (10% or more) over consecutive censuses between 1970 and 2000. While we have grown at a rate of around 2.9% the last 10 years and have more people coming to Cary to work than leaving Cary to work, we do meet the criteria for a Boomburb. His questions included my motivation for being mayor, how experience on the council has changed, the role of local government, and recent initiatives. Our interview lasted about an hour.

Council Meeting Prep

Monday I attempted to contact council members about questions and concerns they may have had with the upcoming agenda. Questions included the potential for affordable housing on an annexation where the town was the applicant, questions about changes in the sign ordinance, and a question about the street improvement process. Later in the day I met with staff to go over the agenda items.

Town Manager One-On-One

My last meeting Monday was my weekly meeting with the town manager. Our topics of discussion included the upcoming council-staff retreat, the future of the 217 acres in western Cary, the future of WakeMed Soccer Park, the Centre, and candidates for this fall’s Cary Town Council.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force Meeting

Tuesday I attended the monthly meeting of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force. The task force heard a presentation from Doug McRainey, Director of Special Projects, about the Center which will be where South Hills is today. The task force was very concerned about how the staff was reaching out to the DEI community to get their feedback on crucial issues regarding programming, access, and other issues. Staff agreed to work with the DEI task force on getting more information and to reach out to the DEI task force before future surveys.

The task force spent the rest of the meeting discussing items on the prioritization chart. The group agreed to define the four pillars at their next meeting: Access, Public Safety, Communication, and Council-Staff requests. The meeting concluded after about an hour and forty-five minutes.

TBJ Announcement About USA Soccer Generates News in Media Outlets

Wednesday morning the Triangle Business Journal reported that Cary was a finalist for the headquarters and training center for USA Soccer. This generated media requests from all local outlets. A team from Cary, including myself, traveled to USA Soccer headquarters in Chicago last August to pitch Cary. While the meeting was successful the challenges were many for USA Soccer. My understanding is that we are in competition with Atlanta. I am very excited for the potential USA Soccer brings to this area. I am confident that if they select Cary they will be very happy with their choice. We have a LOT to offer and are one of the most desirable places to live, work, play, and run a business in the nation. We’ll see what happens next.

Sports and Social, PBR Cowboy Bar

Wednesday night I joined several hundred VIPs in the preview event for the Sports and Social bar in Fenton. This bar features a 42 foot screen that can be divided into any number of configurations, ideal for March Madness, or just one giant screen. There are several types bars with various types of drinks throughout the facility. Included are games like shuffle puck, skeeball, hoops, arcade games, and more. The food is high-end for a bar and was delicious. I predict Sports and Social will be a regional draw. It is a great place to have fun, entertain yourself, and make memories.

And if that wasn’t enough the PBR Cowboy Bar is attached to Sports and Social. BTW, PBR stands for Professional Bull Riders and is not a type of beer. According to their website the:

“PBR Cowboy Bar is a powerhouse name in entertainment and one of the fastest growing concepts in the United States. The soul of PBR Cowboy Bar comes alive through great entertainment, the best in country music and its rich traditions.

PBR Cary will be the first location to open in North Carolina and will be opening within Fenton, a mixed-use development in Cary, outside of Raleigh. We are excited to introduce the concept to the market in the Triangle for the first time, and the area’s only professional endorsed mechanical riding bull.”

I think both of these bars will be a huge hit.

Sports and Social, PBR Bar Ribbon Cutting

Thursday I joined several dignitaries and two Wake County Commissioners at the ribbon cutting for the Sports and Social and PBR Cowboy Bar. I along with about five others game remarks. The venues will take entertainment to a new level in Cary and generate several jobs for our economy.

As part of the presentation, I was presented a special belt buckle from the Professional Bull Riders

Council Meeting

Thursday the council held its first council meeting of the month. The agenda included three consent items, three public hearings, and two discussion items. The Millstone Annexation public hearing was continued until the council’s March meeting. The remaining public hearings were the annexation and rezoning of the Kanoy tract. This drew several speakers to oppose the rezoning request including many from Chatham County. The Kanoy rezoning will go to the Planning and Zoning Board for their review and recommendation.

The first discussion item was the Act 28 Land Development Ordinance Amendments for signs. After several comments and questions the council approved this unanimously.

The last discussion item was the fiscal year 2023 street improvements bid award. The majority of thoroughfares in Cary are NCDOT maintained and are usually at a lower standard than Cary streets which the town maintains. Study has shown that paving proactively rather than reactively improves not only the driving experience but saves the town money in the long run. The bid was approved unanimously by council.

Gigi’s Playhouse Grand Opening

Sunday I provided remarks at the opening of Gigi’s Playhouse at the Walker. Their mission is to change the way the world views Down syndrome and to send a global message of acceptance for all. In my remarks I talked about how their values are in line with our values: joy, education, and inclusion; and at the same time, they provide self-esteem, independence, while helping develop abilities and skills. We are so blessed to have Gigi’s Playhouse in our downtown.

Earthquake in Turkey and Syria

This week there was a horrific earthquake in Turkey and Syria. At the time of this writing there were at least 28,000 killed with predictions that the eventual count will double. In addition, thousands are injured and hundreds of thousands are homeless. There are various ways to help if you feel the calling. If you are religious, I would ask that you pray for all those involved including the rescuers.

Town Manager’s Report

Sean’s Message

I’m going to keep it simple this week…have a great weekend.
Sean

Cary Nonprofit Capacity Building Kickoff Event

This week Cary held its inaugural Nonprofit Capacity Building Kickoff Event. In partnership with the North Carolina Center for Nonprofits, this program covers topics including board governance, strategic communications, fundraising, partnerships and collaboration, and financial management. Additionally, individuals who complete the program may apply their credit hours earned towards the Duke University Certificate in Nonprofit Management. Assistant Town Manager, Danna Widmar, and Council Members Lori Bush and Carissa Kohn-Johnson welcomed the group of nonprofit participants. Organizations represented in the nonprofit cohort include: Dorcas Ministries, The Carying Place, HOPE North Carolina, Heart of Cary Association, Bridge II Sports, Kiran, Communities in Schools, and White Oak Foundation.

CaryNC.gov is Coming

Beginning next Friday, Information Technology (IT) will begin implementing significant changes to Cary’s email addresses and select websites, changing the townofcary.org domain to the new, brand-friendly carync.gov . This new domain brings the website in line with other digital properties like Cary’s recently updated main social media handles (@caryncgov), which have been streamlined to bring a unified, instantly recognized brand voice to all Cary communications, internal and external. While this work is expected to take place over several days, IT is expecting minimal impacts to access to town services, emails, and websites. The old emails and website will also forward to the new addresses after the switch to ensure no information is lost in the process. For more information and answers to common questions about this project, visit townofcary.org/domainswitch.

Next Generation Marketing

With Kristy Buchanan now at the helm, our Marketing Team participated in a 2-day workshop facilitated by Warren Miller’s Fountainworks. Relationship-building and Marketing’s role within the organization as well as moving toward a national brand identity were among the topics. Feedback and input were provided by staff from public safety, 311, economic development, organizational development, and PRCR, with Sean participating in the event’s wrap-up.

Cary’s Pilot Food Waste Drop-off Adopted as Ongoing Service

Having surpassed its pilot goals, Cary’s food waste drop-off was deemed a success and is here to stay. Established in February 2022, the one-year pilot’s initial goal of collecting a minimum of 16 tons of food scraps resulted in an actual collection of 40 tons, exceeding the goal by 150%. Additionally, the community’s enthusiasm for the service resulted in a steady stream of collection of over 12,000 food scrap drop offs over the course of 12 months. This initiative supports Cary’s long-standing commitment to waste reduction and diversion by offering citizens an option to divert household food waste from landfills and return it to the earth as valuable compost. Good Hope Farm is a recipient of finished compost in the amount of 10% of the total weight of scraps collected and received its first delivery this year.

Dreamfest Food Drive Update

The Cary community helped to combat hunger during the month of January through the MLK Dreamfest Food Drive. Volunteer site coordinators signed up to host 19 individual food drives that collected more than 3,000 pounds of canned foods that helped feed 350 families. Held in partnership with Piedmont Conservation Council and Dorcas Ministries, this dynamic program empowered volunteers to coordinate with their own schools, churches, businesses, and neighborhoods to help build food security in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King.

Bond Park Shuttle

This spring, Bond Park is the site of an exciting demonstration in autonomous vehicle technology. The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has partnered with Cary to bring an all-electric, driverless shuttle to Bond Park. CASSI (Connected Autonomous Shuttle Supporting Innovation) will run a four-stop route from the Cary Senior Center to Bond Park Community Center weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. until June 2. The pilot begins at 10 a.m. on March 6.

NC Chinese Lantern Festival Generates More Than $7 Million of Economic Impact

The numbers are in, and the North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival continues to set new records. This year the event welcomed more than 216,000 visitors and generated more than $7.36 million in direct economic impact according to figures released by the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau (Visit Raleigh). The festival drew visitors from all 100 counties in North Carolina, plus visitors from 50 U.S. states and territories and six foreign countries.

The Soccer Tournament

Cary will host “The Soccer Tournament”which is a 7v7 world cup style, winner take all, $1,000,000 prize tournament. TST is a spinoff of the TBT (The Basketball Tournament) which has been running for many years now. TST is in its first year and will be a bit of a festival / soccer event, with multiple games on the first two days as teams play in groups to advance to the single elimination rounds. TST has secured some entries that are making headlines, Clint Dempsey (US soccer legend), a group of former US Women’s National Team players, and Wrexham AFC (known globally right now due to their owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, and the FX Docuseries – Welcome to Wrexham). The entry by Wrexham, along with the media presence of the owners has a lot of people talking about TST and Cary. TST will be rounding out the field of 32 in the coming weeks. TST will be held at WakeMed Soccer Park, June 1-4, with tickets going on sale March 1. 

Smartmicro Sensor for Traffic Management

Traffic Signal System staff is partnering with Control Technologies to evaluate an advanced out of pavement detection technology that features multi-lane and multi-object tracking at the southbound approach of Maynard Road and Cary Towne Boulevard. In addition to simple presence detection, the module can be used to realize dilemma zone protection, signal priority, signal phase extension, and other concepts to improve traffic flow and enhance road safety.
The intersection of Maynard Road and Cary Towne Boulevard was chosen for this treatment since it appears on NCDOT’s Highway Safety Improvement Program. With notable levels of left-turn and rear end crashes, staff will be using this technology to improve signal timing that may reduce certain types of crashes. In addition, supplemental signal heads and back plates will be added to improve conspicuity and advanced signal timing will be employed to provide better protection for left-turn vehicles.

2023 Reclaimed Water Holiday

Next week, Cary will begin its annual maintenance shutdown of the reclaimed water system, often referred to as the “reclaimed water holiday” . The scheduled shutdown provides reclaimed water customers and staff the opportunity to perform important routine maintenance on their systems while irrigation and reclaimed water use is low. Cary’s 944 reclaimed water customers were notified of the shutdown and commercial customers can switch to potable water backup supply during the annual maintenance window. Following completion of the maintenance shutdown, the system will be restarted and back in full operation by February 28. 

Upcoming Meetings

Greenway Committee
Thursday
Feb. 16 at
6:00 p.m.

Parks, Rec, & Cultural Resources
Saturday
Feb. 18 at 
1:00 p.m.

Mayor’s Mailbox

• A request for affordable housing at Dillard and Jones Franklin
• A request for a speed hump on Waldo Rood Boulevard at the Upchurch Farm community (NCDOT doesn’t allow humps on these types of roads)
• A request for information about the White Oak Greenway that “used to be a swamp”
• Several complaints about the proposed Kanoy Property proposal

Next Week

Next week’s activities include staff meetings, remarks to the NC Association of Zoning Officials, an Atlantic Tire Tennis Championships Board meeting, a meeting about commuter rail, a meeting of the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Executive Board, the grand opening of Atria, and a meeting of the North Carolina Metro Mayors.

Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, February 19^th, 2023. Although I have Facebook and Twitter accounts those are not the best means of communications with me. Please send all Town of Cary questions or comments to Harold.Weinbrecht@townofcary.org and email personal comments to augustanat@mindspring.com.

Taping the Short Version of the State of Cary Address

Wednesday I spent about two hours at town hall taping a 7 to 8 minute version of the State of Cary Address. The script for this modified version, created by staff, was just over 1000 words compared to the text I created of about 5500 words. The opening and closing segments were different from the original and involved me memorizing the script, and walking while talking. Many takes were recorded to allow for experimentation with various angles to see which looked the best. The remaining segments, except one, were recorded with a teleprompter with most of those segments being used for voice overs.

Metro Mayors Meeting

Friday I participated in the first Metro Mayors meeting of the year. The purpose of these weekly meetings is to inform the metro mayors of actions occurring in the legislature. Here is a summary from KTS Strategies for this week:

The North Carolina General Assembly officially convened the 2023-2024 legislative biennium on January 25. Republicans maintain control of the legislature. The Senate holds a supermajority with 30 Republicans and 20 Democrats. The House is one shy of a supermajority with 71 Republicans and 49 Democrats. There are also many new faces at the legislature with over 30 new members. While passing a budget is always the main priority, other major issues we expect to be addressed this session include Medicaid expansion, sports wagering, medical marijuana, mental health, and infrastructure needs.

The legislature is not up and running at full speed yet. We anticipate it will be another several weeks before committees and floor work begin in earnest while legislation is filed, and committees hold introductory meetings. So far, just over 100 bills have been filed. Below are links to view legislation that has been filed and committee assignments.

Bills & Laws – North Carolina General Assembly (ncleg.gov)
Committees – North Carolina General Assembly (ncleg.gov)

The meeting concluded after about 30 minutes. These weekly meetings will continue until the end of the legislative session.

Town Manager’s Report

Russ’ Message

On Monday, we had the privilege of welcoming Council Member Ryan Eades to our weekly Directors meeting. Each Director took the opportunity to introduce themselves and share a bit about their focus areas of service. It was great to hear from Ryan and find out more about his interests and goals as a councilperson. We look forward to spending more time with Ryan at the upcoming Council/Staff Retreat.
Today has been a busy one to cap the week. I started the day at the Share & Care event at the Herb Young Community Center and was impressed with the number of resources and services our community offers our citizens. Then later in the afternoon, I had the chance to meet several seniors at the public meeting for two new community centers. I always enjoy hearing input from our citizens on important future projects.
I hope you enjoy the extra sun this weekend!
Russ

Bike Plan Focus Group Engagement

As part of the development of Cary’s upcoming Bike Plan, staff is building a citizen-based focus group to help inform the plan and ensure community engagement and advocacy. Citizens interested in participating can complete this brief survey and applicants will be considered by the staff-led steering committee. This approach will ensure geographic distribution and representation from a diverse group of respondents. The goal is to recruit 12-15 citizens to serve on the committee. Those interested are encouraged to apply by 5 p.m. on February 17.

Family Greenway Walk – January 2023

Throughout January, 168 members of Cary Teen Council participated in the family greenway walk. To celebrate Year of the Trail in 2023, members were encouraged to take an hour walk on any Cary greenway, trail, or park and submit a fun picture of completion. Over 30 different walk locations were submitted, highlighting the variety of options and miles available across Cary for all to enjoy.

SCWRF Solar Facility – Renewable Energy Credits

The last step of the South Cary Water Reclamation Facility (SCWRF) Solar Facility ownership process was recently finalized, as we have secured the facility’s Renewable Energy Credits (REC’s) through the North Carolina Utility Commission. The REC’s represent the greenhouse gas, or carbon offset, achieved through the site’s solar energy production. Securing the REC’s is key to supporting Cary’s current and long-term carbon reduction goals, as Cary can now directly claim the related greenhouse gas emissions offset. The REC’s provide an offset of approximately 1,500 tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually.

Twelve New Officers Take Their Oath

On Wednesday, the Police Department administered the oath of office to 12 new officers. This was the largest number of officers sworn collectively in recent years. We welcome officers Caleb Russell, Harper Spell, Nick Beltz, Thomas Scott, Damian Rodriguez, Sean Luddley, Raul Garcia, Nick James, Lex Crisostomo, Wyatt Godwin, Colin Everett, and David Dibiase to Cary.

Cary’s Budget Process Presented to UNC MPA Students

On Tuesday, Financial Strategy Analyst Alice Mahood, and former summer 2022 budget interns, Liam Brailey and Jacob Orman, spent the morning at a UNC School of Government MPA budget class discussing Cary’s budget process with current students. They played the budget game the interns developed over the summer, discussed how Cary’s rolling budget process works, and how to foster collaboration through the budget process.

Share & Care 2023

Share & Care is a one-stop opportunity for persons with disabilities, family members, care providers, and anyone interested in gathering information to come to Cary and learn about the amazing services our community offers. Share & Care was held Friday morning at the Herb Young Community Center. Close to 50 booths were set up sharing information on everything from resources for seniors, GoCary, the CERT team, to our wonderful community engagement staff.

Upcoming Meetings

Parks, Rec & Cultural Resources
Monday 
February 6 at 5:15 p.m.

Information Services Advisory
Monday 
February 6 at 6 p.m.

Zoning Board of Adjustment
Monday 
February 6 at 6:30 p.m.

Environmental Advisory
Tuesday
February 7 at 6:00 p.m.

Human Rel, Inclusion & Diversity
Tuesday 
February 7 at 6:00 p.m.

Historic Preservation Commission
Wednesday
February 8 at 6:30 p.m.

Mayor’s Mailbox

• A complaint that the Swift Creek Elementary School rezoning process was not transparent enough.
• A complaint about silt from a developer site near MacGregor Lake.
• A request to pass an ordinance that prohibits discrimination (we did last summer).
• A request to pass an ordinance that prohibits pet stores that sell dogs and cats (outside our authority).
• A complaint about safety for a crosswalk on Morrisville Carpenter Road.
• A complaint about a homeless camp at Tryon Road and Regency Parkway.
• A request to correct an error on the town’s website.

Next Week

Next week’s activities include staff meetings, an interview with a student from Duke’s Public Policy Masters program, a meeting of the Human Relations, Inclusion, and Diversity Task Force, the Sports and Social Fenton opening and ribbon cutting, the first regularly scheduled council meeting of February, and the opening of Gigi’s Playhouse.

Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, February 12^th, 2023. Although I have Facebook and Twitter accounts those are not the best means of communications with me. Please send all Town of Cary questions or comments to Harold.Weinbrecht@townofcary.org and email personal comments to augustanat@mindspring.com.

Council Meeting Prep

Monday I contacted council members, including council member elect Ryan Eades, to hear of questions or concerns they may have had about the upcoming council agenda for the last regularly scheduled meeting of January. There were very few concerns. Later in the day I met with key staff members to go over the agenda items. We anticipated the council meeting would be relatively short.

Town Manager One-On-One

After the agenda meeting, I met with the town manager for my weekly one-on-one. Most of our discussion was on inclusionary zoning. Some municipalities in North Carolina, like Chapel Hill, have created inclusionary zoning ordinances which would require developers to include affordable units in their plans. The problem with this is that our authority comes from the legislature, and they haven’t given authority for inclusionary zoning. As a result, some municipalities’ ordinances are being challenged in court. Years ago, Cary had ordinances without legislative authority. Those ordinances required schools or roads to be built before or with development, called Adequate Public Facilities ordinances. Those types of ordinances were challenged and are now not allowed. I would not be surprised if the inclusionary ordinances were struck down by the courts. Unfortunately, losing a court battle like that will cost the municipalities, and taxpayers, a LOT of money.

State of Cary Address

Wednesday I presented the State of Cary Address at the Cary Eye Opener Breakfast to an audience of 365 at Prestonwood County Club. According to Cary Chamber records, this was the largest crowd ever for this event. My presentation was taken from the 5500-word text version of the State of Cary address I wrote over the last month and half. I spoke from 49 slides which took me around 35 to 40 minutes. To see the text and the slides go here. According to the feedback I received, the address seemed well received.

Public Meeting on The Centre

Wednesday night I attended a public meeting on the Centre which is planned to be built on the South Hills mall site. The purpose of the meeting was to get public input on what they would like to see at the Centre. The overall process is in the concept phase where public input is collected. This will be followed by design and then two years of construction. If the project is funded and remains on schedule it is planned to be open at the end of 2027. I anticipate a bond referendum on the Centre and other projects in 2024.

Ryan Eades Reception

Before the regularly scheduled council meeting on Thursday a reception was held for Ryan Eades who was sworn in later as a Cary Council member representing District D. Friends, family, staff, and elected officials gathered to congratulate Ryan and meet his family.

Council Meeting

Thursday night was the last council meeting of January. It began with the oath of office for Ryan Eades followed by eight consent items, five public hearings, and one discussion item.

The consent items included a rezoning and annexation for the rebuilding of Swift Creek Elementary School, a renaming Gracebay Place to Crayton Oak Drive for public safety reasons, a Cary-NCDOT street exchange for maintenance, a call for a public hearing for the Lewter Shop Road annexation, funding to convert field 4 at USA Baseball to artificial turf, and changing the council meeting schedule to add the council-staff retreat on February 24^th and 25^th.

Public hearings included the approval of an annexation for a hotel on North Harrison associated with rezoning case 16-REZ-15, approved in 2016, and Development Plan 20-DP-6905. There were also two public hearings on land development ordinance amendments, a rezoning public hearing for West Park Street, and a rezoning public hearing for Green Level West Road. These will come back for a vote after being reviewed by the Planning and Zoning Board.

The only discussion item was whether or not to use Construction Manager at Risk (“CMAR”) delivery method for the Centre project. In the discussion it was pointed out that this method was used for the downtown park and other large projects. After questions and comments the council unanimously approved the recommendation.

Council Candidate Meeting

Friday I met with a candidate who is planning to run for Cary Town Council in the fall. It is my practice to endorse incumbents but I am willing to meet with and provide advice to all candidates who wish.

Town Manager’s Report

Sean’s Message

I was once again blown away by the Mayor’s State of Cary Address at the Chamber Eye Opener on Wednesday. He does an incredible job of summarizing the past year and highlighting what’s to come for Cary in the new year. You know it is an impactful presentation when you leave the room feeling uplifted and reenergized.
On Thursday, Council held a reception honoring incoming Council Member, Ryan Eades. During the meeting, Ryan was sworn in as Council D Representative by NC Senator Gale Adcock, with his family at his side. Staff and I look forward to getting to know Ryan more as we embark on this new relationship.
Have a good weekend.
Sean

Downtown Park Neighborhood Meeting

On Wednesday, the Downtown Cary Park hosted its third Neighbor Meeting at the Cary Arts Center. Mayor Pro Tem Don Frantz and Council Members Lori Bush, Carissa Kohn-Johnson, and Ryan Eades joined 67 neighbors and downtown business representatives at the meeting which resulted in an engaging conversation between staff and attendees. The Downtown Cary Park General Manager, Joy Ennis, introduced the other members of the Downtown Cary Park team, followed up on outstanding items from the last meeting, provided an update on construction, and gathered feedback on programming ideas and items the neighbors would like to see at the market.

Green Bike Lane Striping

Dedicated bicycle lanes are being added to Laura Duncan Rd. in an effort to not only improve mobility for cyclists, but also to calm traffic speeds through this area by narrowing the travel lanes. As an added visual enhancement, green markings, similar to those seen at Fenton, have been included to highlight potential conflict zones (intersections) where cyclists and drivers should have a heightened awareness. Inspections and Permits staff are on-hand to coordinate with the project contractor, ensuring the markings are completed as planned. Once completed, Police and Transportation staff will monitor the corridor and collect data to help quantify the impact of the new bike lanes.

Touring New Hanover County’s In-Vessel Composting Operations

Staff toured the New Hanover County landfill to get first-hand experience of a North Carolina government-run composting operation that has been operational since 2017. Being on-site enabled staff to have a rich conversation with county peers who generously offered details about challenges and success with their in-vessel compost system over the past five years. Of particular interest were the site size and design, operational and maintenance recommendations, and organic materials used to create compost for their county residents. It was exciting to see this style of composting and imagine the possibilities of how it may support Cary’s future solid waste management. 

Community Center Public Meeting

A public meeting for a proposed new community facility to be located at the South Hills Mall site was held this week. Attendees were provided an overview of current trends with community center design and then given an opportunity to share their preferences. The public engagement for this project is in conjunction with the online survey which to date has been completed by more than 3,000 citizens and will remain open until February 28. An additional public meeting has been scheduled at the Cary Senior Center on February 3 from 1-3 p.m. that will cover this community center and the other one in the Mills Park area.

Prepping for Cary’s NPDES Stormwater Permit Audit

The State audits stormwater program documentation and selected facilities every five years to ensure they comply with EPA requirements to maintain the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. Cary’s NPDES Phase II permit cycle is concluding, and in preparation for permit renewal, Stormwater staff has been preparing for the extensive audit for the past year, and staff at each facility have been conducting internal audits in preparation.

Black Creek Sewer Rehab Update

The Black Creek Greenway between Dynasty Drive and North Cary Park is open to the public, following completion of sewer rehabilitation in December 2022. The second phase of sewer rehabilitation along the Black Creek Greenway is now underway, and the Black Creek trail is closed between North Cary Park and the Crabtree Creek Greenway. A detour is in place to route greenway traffic around the work area. This is shown on our webpage at https://carygreenwaydetour.com/.

At the same time, work is beginning on the final leg of the project between the Crabtree Creek Greenway and the trailhead at Old Reedy Creek Road. Citizens may observe that special construction mats are being placed outside of the greenway to facilitate construction access near the trailhead, which will be followed by installation of temporary above-ground piping, sewer cleaning and rehabilitation of sewer lines and manholes.  No closures are anticipated along the greenway for the final segment of the project.

Upcoming Meetings

Senior Advisory Board
Wednesday 
February 1 at 2:00 p.m.

Community Center Public Meeting
Friday
February 3 at 1:00 p.m.

Mayor’s Mailbox

• A complaint about safety near Morrisville Carpenter Parkway and Davis Drive.
• A request to create new ordinances for stray cats.
• An email praising our fire department.
• A concern about sidewalks safety in Carpenter Village.
• A congratulations to staff for a successful Dreamfest 2023.

Next Week

Next week’s activities include staff meetings, and a taping of the short version of State of Cary address.

Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, February 5^th, 2023. Although I have Facebook and Twitter accounts those are not the best means of communications with me. Please send all Town of Cary questions or comments to Harold.Weinbrecht@townofcary.org and email personal comments to augustanat@mindspring.com.

Wake County Mayors Association

Monday night I met with the mayors of Wake County in Cary. Attending were mayors from Cary, Fuquay Varina, Garner, Holly Springs, Knightdale, Morrisville, Rolesville, Wake Forest, and Wendell. Our special guests were Congresswoman Deborah Ross, and Congressman Wiley Nickel. The congressional members talked about the new congress and how they saw things proceeding. They vowed to continue to work with each of the municipalities. Once our congressional leaders left the mayors talked briefly about ongoing projects in their towns. Like Cary, each of them is likely to see a transformation in the next few years.

Human Relations, Inclusion, and Diversity Task Force

Tuesday I attended a meeting of the Human Relations, Inclusion, and Diversity Task Force. In their previous meetings they held brainstorming sessions to come up with ideas of where to begin focus. At this meeting they attempted to narrow the focus more. Based on the almost two-hour discussion, one of the big efforts will be communication with citizens on a variety of issues. This task force meeting was one of the most intelligent, articulate, and polite meetings I have ever witnessed. I am confident that their recommendations will lead to meaningful changes.

CAMPO Executive Board

Wednesday I participated in a meeting of the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Executive Board. The agenda included four consent items and four discussion items. The consent items were approved unanimously and included minutes, the Wake Bus Plan Project Prioritization Policy, Safety Performance Measures and Targets for 2023, and the endorsement of the Paved Trails and Sidewalk Feasibility Grant application.

The first discussion item was the election of officers. Mayor Vivian Jones of Wake Forest was elected as the Chair and Butch Lawter of the Johnston County Commissioners was elected Vice Chair. Having served as Chair and Vice Chair from 2016 through 2019, I am confident that both will do an excellent job.

The next discussion item was an update on commuter rail in the region. A two-year feasibility study found that Wake, Durham, Orange, and Johnston counties collectively add more than 32,000 residents a year, resulting in crowded roads and ever-lengthening commute times. The region’s population is expected to grow by over 1,000,000 people by 2050. The region is projected to add over 800,000 jobs by 2050, and over 350,000 of these jobs are projected to be near the proposed commuter rail corridor. As the foundation of a robust regional transit network, a commuter rail line would allow the Triangle to manage and sustain projected growth.

The third discussion item was the work plan for CAMPO for the next fiscal year.

The last discussion item was a report on the Locally Administered Projects Program (LAPP) Investment Program. This included a list of projects in the MPO for funding in the fiscal year. Cary will receive $1,935,895 for phase IV of Higgins Greenway.

The meeting concluded after about an hour.

State of Cary Address Work

Thursday and Friday were spent working on the State of Cary address. The final draft resulted in about 5500 words which will be represented on 37 PowerPoint slides. I will be presenting this address for the first time on Wednesday, January 24^th, 8 AM at the Cary Chamber’s Eye Opener Breakfast which will be held in the Prestonwood County Club’s ballroom.

Affordable Housing Luncheon

Sunday I participated in a discussion on affordable housing at Cary Presbyterian. The meeting started with a showing of  Segregated by Design which is an animated documentary on the history of how federal, state, and local governments unconstitutionally segregated major metropolitan areas in the United States through law and policy. The 18-minute film is based on the book The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How our Government Segregated America by Richard Rothstein who also narrates. This was followed by Devin Ross from One Wake who encouraged the attendees to organize against local and other officials to make change.

I talked about our DEI department’s and the DEI task force’s efforts to combat racism in Cary. Then I talked about Cary’s Housing Plan, how we are addressing affordability, and the challenges that face us. I encouraged all in attendance to partner with the town for solutions.

Town Manager’s Report

Sean’s Message

I’m looking forward to seeing you next week at two very special occasions.
First, is Wednesday morning when we’ll all gather to hear from and support the Mayor in his annual State of Cary Address at the Chamber Eye Opener. For those who haven’t spent time “on the inside” of this event, Mayor Weinbrecht himself writes the State of Cary; staff’s role is simply to help by confirming facts and figures and doing light editing for flow and grammar. So, what we hear and see during the Address is truly top of mind for him.
Then, history will be made at Thursday’s regular Council meeting when Ryan Eades will take the oath of office and officially begin his service to our community as the newest member of Council. The staff and I have been enjoying getting to know Ryan over these past few weeks, and we’re excited to see what he’ll bring to Cary’s success.
Have a safe and relaxing weekend.

Sean

Cary Celebrates MLK Jr. with Dreamfest!

Cary celebrated the Rev. Dr. Martin L. King Jr. holiday with a weekend filled with programs to honor his legacy, focus on the issue of civil rights, and provide opportunities for community service. The celebration included an Interfaith Prayer Service, film screenings at The Cary Theater, one of which provided an opportunity to dialogue with the film director, and the main Dreamfest program at the Cary Arts Center. The Dreamfest event was attended by NC Senator Cheri Beasley, Council Member Carissa Kohn-Johnson, with a keynote address presented by Dr. Harry L. White Jr., Pastor of Watts Chapel Baptist Church. Soul stirring performances were presented by Pure Life Theater Company, The North Carolina Central Repertory Dance Co. and a winter clothing and backpack drive, sponsored by The Sigma Rho Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. for Reedy Creek Magnet Middle School students.
Additionally, more than 200 volunteers gathered at Good Hope Farm on Monday for an annual day of service. Volunteers spread over 100 yards of leaf mulch from Cary’s curbside collection service. In the spirit of building food security, the event also acted as a host site for the Dreamfest Food Drive, inspiring volunteers to donate approximately 500 pounds of canned food to Dorcas Ministries.

2023 North Carolina Transportation Summit

The North Carolina Department of Transportation hosted the 2023 North Carolina Transportation Summit at the Raleigh Convention Center. Transportation staff attended the event to listen to industry leaders on the future of mobility in North Carolina. Gov. Roy Cooper and Sec. of Transportation Eric Boyette opened the event by sharing updates on significant economic development projects coming to North Carolina and the transportation investments being made to accommodate the thousands of jobs being created.

Trash Pack Partnership

Members of the North Carolina State University research team led by Professor Pal met with staff and presented an update on the research project to improve identification and characterization of waste stream organics. Our partnership to provide waste supports their work to train an AI-driven system that could ultimately be used to inform decisions on selecting material that can be used in waste-to-energy conversion and other waste–to–use opportunities. The fascinating presentation provided a glimpse of future possibilities for waste management and sparked thoughts about how Cary can move toward it.

Chatham Street Development Updates

First, on W Chatham Street, development plans were approved this week for the redevelopment of the former Northwoods Building site and surrounding property owned by Northwoods Jordan Building, LLC, First Baptist Church, and the Town of Cary. Existing structures will be removed at 116 W Park St., 120 W Park St., and 119 S Harrison Ave. The project includes the exchange and recombination of property between Northwoods Jordan Building, LLC, First Baptist Church, and the Town of Cary. Closing on the properties is planned for February 2. Construction is expected to begin this spring following the move of the Ivey-Ellington House on February 20.
Next, on E Chatham Street, phase 1 of Meridian East Chatham is expected to begin at the end of this month. Phase 1 will include installation of stormwater infrastructure along E Chatham Street between Templeton Street and E Circle Drive. During this phase, two-way traffic is expected to be maintained along E Chatham Street for most of the project duration. Intermittent flagging operations may be needed to support construction activities as well as detours. Future phases include waterline replacement along E Chatham Street, sewer improvements, and service connections. Updates will be provided as the schedule and scope are better defined.

Upcoming Meetings

Cultural Arts Committee
Wednesday
January 25
 6:00 p.m.

Public Meeting: The Centre
Wednesday
January 25
6:00 p.m.

Reception for Ryan Eades
Thursday
January 26
5:30 p.m.

Council Meeting
Thursday
January 26
6:30 p.m.

Mayor’s Mailbox

• A request to spend more money on Pickleball.
• A request for a traffic signal at Laura Duncan and Cary Parkway (NCDOT makes decisions on signals. They may not allow this because of the proximity to the signal at Old Apex and Cary Parkway)
• A complaint about needed sidewalk repairs in Carpenter Village
• A complaint about the carpool situation at Panther Creek High School

Next Week

Next week’s activities include staff meetings, the State of Cary address, the Downtown Park Neighborhood meeting, The Centre Public Meeting, and the last regularly scheduled council meeting of January.

Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, January 29^th, 2023. Although I have Facebook and Twitter accounts those are not the best means of communications with me. Please send all Town of Cary questions or comments to Harold.Weinbrecht@townofcary.org and email personal comments to augustanat@mindspring.com.

Council Meeting Prep

Monday in preparation for the council meeting I contacted each council member to hear of any questions or concerns about the agenda. The agenda was very short so there was only a clarification. Later in the day I met with staff briefly to go over the agenda.

Town Manager One-On-One

After the agenda meeting, I met with the town manager for our weekly one-on-one. Some of the topics we discussed included a MacGregor Lake issue, the DEI task force, the future Center at the South Hills mall site, and the council appointment from last week.

Atlantic Tire Championship Board Meeting

Later in the evening I met with the Atlantic Tire Championship Board. Our discussion was mostly on sponsors and materials to present to sponsors. We also talked about new activities to be held during tournament week. Our meeting lasted about two hours.

World University Games Coming in 2029

Tuesday evening it was announced by the Executive Committee of the International University Sports Federation (FISU), based in Lausanne, Switzerland, that North Carolina will be the host of the 2029 FISU World University Games. The FISU World University Games are the world’s largest event for student athletes, ages 18-25. We are so proud that North Carolina has been chosen to host the World University Games in 2029, and we look forward to showing off to the world the amazing tennis, soccer, and baseball facilities that we have in Cary. In the years between now and then, we look forward to collaborating with our fellow host communities to make this an incredible event not only for the athletes but also for their friends, family, and fans as well as and most especially for Cary’s citizens and business owners.

Meeting with Senator Chaudhuri

Thursday afternoon I met with NC Senator Chaudhuri via zoom. We talked about how we could help each other in the upcoming legislative session. I asked that he protect us from losing local authority. We also talked about lobbyist that are representing the town. Cary is blessed to have two great senators representing them: Jay Chaudhuri and Gale Adcock.

Meeting with Council-Elect Ryan Eades

Thursday evening, I met with Ryan Eades who will be sworn in as a Cary Council member on January 26^th. The purpose of the meeting was to get to know each other better and ask and answer each other’s questions. I described myself as fiscally conservative and socially liberal but politically left of center. He described himself as fiscally conservative and socially liberal and politically right of center. Our meeting lasted about 45 minutes. I look forward to all Ryan will bring to the council.

Council Meeting

Friday the council held its first regularly scheduled council meeting of the year. The agenda was very short and included two consent items, no public hearings, and two discussion items.

Under discussion the council unanimously approved a staff recommendation to appropriate $78,250 of funds from the Federal Equitable Sharing program for the purchase of six electric bicycles and one side-by-side utility vehicle to serve the Downtown police team and Cary’s Park system. In attendance were the officers that will be serving Cary’s downtown park.

In other action the council also unanimously approved a resolution approving the updated “Town of Cary (GoCary) Title VI Program” and authorized the Town Manager or designee to submit the Program to the FTA. You can find out more about the program update here. In staff’s presentation they talked about GoCary bus stops usage of solar. Compared to other municipalities, we about double the usage of solar.

The council meeting concluded after about twenty minutes.

Downtown Park Tour

Friday morning I joined Mayor Pro-Tem Frantz, council member Robinson, the town manager, assistant town manager, and several staff members in a tour of the downtown park construction. We were able to visit key components of the park which are mostly built such as the Academy Plaza, Gathering Place, Park Street Courts, Bark Bar, and the children’s play area. The two giant play structures (Birds) will be placed by crane on Monday, January 16^th from 9 to 12 which will be exciting. The park is on schedule to open late summer. You can find out more about the park here.

Tet Vietnamese New Year Festival

Sunday I joined Secretary of State Marshall, NC Senator Adcock, Morrisville Mayor Cawley, and Raleigh Council Member Patton in the Tet Vietnamese New Year festival in Raleigh. The event consisted of traditional and current song and dance celebrating the Vietnamese culture. There was also amazing food and drink.

Town Manager’s Report

Sean’s Message

A few weeks ago, I went inside the fence surrounding the Downtown Park for the first time, and I was blown away. I don’t know how words alone could describe all the feelings that occur when you see and touch and are surrounded by the amazing architecture, materials, and craftsmanship.
This morning I had the opportunity to go inside again, but this time my attention was on what the Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem, and Council member Robinson were experiencing. I think it’s fair to say that they, along with the staff who accompanied us and the Directors who toured earlier in the week, were, well, blown away.
I really want to encourage the remaining Council members and Directors to schedule a tour. Before we know it, the park will be complete, and seeing it at this point in its development simply is not to be missed.
Also this week, we finished taping the interviews that will comprise this year’s retreat video. As you know, we explored the concept of living inspired, and, not surprisingly, the park was mentioned many times.
As we approach another three-day weekend, I hope we can each take a moment to reflect a little more on what Live Inspired means to us and to do so within the context of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr holiday, officially our National Day of Service.
Whether Council or staff, we’ve chosen to serve, to work to make our community and the lives of those who comprise it, better. 
In Cary, we are so fortunate that we aren’t alone in this. Our non-profits, our places of worship, our businesses, our artists, and our activities really do come together on the most important things – and it just isn’t this way everywhere.
Sean

Neighborhood Services Committee Kickoff

Cary’s Neighborhood Services Committee convened for their initial kick-off meeting this week. Dan Ault, Carla Witherington, and I shared our vision for the group including how their work contributes to creating the local government that doesn’t exist. Moving forward, this group of employees will meet regularly to think strategically and holistically about complex community issues such as traffic calming. This was demonstrated through recently installed offset speed humps along Loch Highlands Drive in attempt to calm speeds while avoiding impacts to emergency vehicle response times.

First Public Meeting of 2023

The first of three planned public meetings for the new community center to be located at Mills Park was held this week. The citizens in attendance given an overview of current trends with community center design and then given an opportunity to show their preferences. Special Thanks to all staff that helped with the event, 311, Public Works, and Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources staff.

RFQ Posted: Wake BRT Western Corridor Station Area Planning

Cary and Raleigh are actively preparing for a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor that will connect the two downtown areas. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) awarded a grant to support Transit Oriented Development (TOD) planning work in the station areas along this corridor. An RFQ to select a consultant to lead this effort has been posted, with a due date extension of February 1, 2023. Questions should be directed to Kelly Blazey, Transit Director.

Open Space Survey

Mailings were sent out last week to randomly selected citizens to participate in a survey regarding a new Open Space Plan and an updated Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Master Plan. The plan is linked here. The gathered information will guide recommendations for years to come. Additional public input will be sought over the coming months. A public survey  is also available for all members of the community to provide their input on the future of Cary’s open space, parks, greenways, recreation and cultural resources.

Beaver Creek Pump Station Improvements

In December, a second bar screen and an odor control improvement project at the Beaver Creek Wastewater Pumping Station was completed and is now in operation. The Beaver Creek Pump Station receives wastewater from western portions of Cary, Apex, Morrisville, and the Wake County portion of RTP and conveys to the Western Wake Regional Water Reclamation Facility for advanced wastewater treatment. The installation of the second bar screen helps in the removal of debris from the sewer system, improves maintenance capabilities, reliability, and adds redundancy for more effective and efficient management of our remote wastewater facility. Enclosures were also added to house the trash dumpsters to dispose of the debris. These improvements streamline operations and further serve Cary’s goal of being a good neighbor at our utility facilities.

Upcoming Meetings

Human Relations, Inclusion, & Diversity
Tuesday
January 17 at 6:00 p.m.

Public Art ​​​​​​​Advisory ​​​​​​​Board
Wednesday 
January 18 at 6:15 p.m.

Greenway Committee
Thursday
January 19 at 6:00 p.m.

Mayor’s Mailbox

• A complaint about the left turn signals at Tryon and Cary Parkway
• A complaint about construction around MacGregor Lake
• A concern about pedestrian safety at Penny Road and Ederlee Drive
• A complaint about a broken elevator at Willow Creek Apartments

Next Week

Next week’s activities include staff meetings, the delivery of Bird structures to the downtown park, a Wake County Mayors Association meeting, a Human Relations and Diversity Task Force Meeting, a Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Executive Board meeting, and an Affordable Housing Luncheon.

Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, January 22^nd, 2023. Although I have Facebook and Twitter accounts those are not the best means of communications with me. Please send all Town of Cary questions or comments to Harold.Weinbrecht@townofcary.org and email personal comments to augustanat@mindspring.com.

Swearing In of NC Senator Gale Adcock

Wednesday I had the great honor and privilege of giving the oath of office to NC Senator Gale Adcock. Gale was elected to the Cary Council in 2007 when I became mayor and served 7 years including time as Mayor Pro-Tem. Afterwards she was elected to the NC House where she served until now. I am grateful to know Gale and be able to call her a friend. I look forward to her representation of Cary and surrounding areas as our NC Senator.

Council Special Meeting to Appoint

Thursday the council met to interview to finalist to fill the remainder of the term for the District D seat formerly held by Ya Liu who was elected to the NC House. We interviewed two candidates and picked Ryan Eades to fill the vacancy. Here is my statement on the appointment:

“On behalf of the entire Cary Town Council and after a great deal of personal reflection and thoughtful discussion, we have tonight voted to appoint Ryan Eades to fill the rest of former Cary Councilmember Ya Liu’s District D term. We would like to thank those who applied and showed interest in being a part of the Cary Council. While those we interviewed were both exceptional people, we felt that Ryan’s experience and intimate knowledge of the Town’s business processes positions him to be a productive member of the Council on day one. We congratulate Ryan and look forward to his taking the Oath of Office on January 26, 2023.”

The meeting to interview and appoint took about three hours.

Former Mayor Harold Ritter’s Memorial Service

Friday I joined council members Smith and Robinson in attending the memorial service for former Cary Mayor Harold Ritter. I was asked to provide remarks which were based on the following:

“Good afternoon. Harold Ritter and I have a lot in common. Most obviously of course is our first names. We both graduated from NC State. We also lived most our lives, but not all, in Cary. And we have a passion for this community. But the rarest thing we share is being selected to lead the oldest service organization in Cary. In fact, it’ll be 152 years old this year. Of course, I’m referring to being a Cary Mayor. Harold Ritter was Cary’s 33^rd Mayor. I am number 37, and I am also the nephew of Cary’s 32^nd Mayor, my uncle, Fred Bond.

Serving as a Cary Mayor is a lot of things…It’s a humbling and rewarding responsibility.

Sometimes it’s fascinating, and sometimes it’s frustrating. And a lot of times it can be really, really fun.

But for all families of mayors, mine included, it is a sacrifice – their sacrifice- because we lose out on so much time with their loved one. We graciously thank the Ritter family for sharing Harold with us for all those years. (pause) But being a Cary Mayor is also sometimes heartbreaking, as it is today when I represent our entire community in mourning the loss of Harold Ritter.

While many of today’s Caryites didn’t get the opportunity to know him, we are all blessed for the work he did in making Cary one of the most beautiful places in America. 

Harold and his wife Gerry moved to Cary in 1957. He became involved in many community activities including the scouts, the Jaycees, Lions, and Civitans.  

With a horticultural degree from NC State, he didn’t like how downtown Cary looked in the early 1970s and even described it as a mess. This prompted the mayor at the time, Fred Bond, to create an Appearance Commission and make him chair. The commission was quick to act but not quick enough for Harold. So in 1973 he decided to run for the Cary Council which was called the Cary Commission back then. Upon Fred Bond’s decision not to run for reelection in 1983 Harold decided to run for mayor and was elected with 62% of the vote. During his time as mayor, he saw the town grow from about 5,000 to over 40,000.

Many things Cary citizens enjoy today, such as Hemlock Bluffs, our greenway system, our award-winning parks system, the Page-Walker Hotel, and the Herb Young Community center can be attributed to work of Harold Ritter. Harold once said that out of all that he achieved one of his biggest achievements was the beautification of Cary. That focus on Cary’s beautification is still a part of everything we do today. And to think this started with one man’s passion and love for nature’s beauty in Cary and beyond.  

Harold Ritter’s gifts to us were many and I haven’t even mentioned his accomplishments on the state level. Not only do we enjoy more of nature’s beauty because of him, but a higher quality of life.  

On behalf of a grateful town, council, staff, and over 180,000 people that call Cary home, we give our sincerest thanks for the life and service of Harold Ritter. God bless him and may he rest peacefully in the arms of his savior.”

The service was held at Greenwood Forest Baptist and was well attended.

Ya Liu and Maria Cervania Oath to NC House

Friday night I attended the swearing in ceremony for former council member Ya Liu and Cary citizen Maria Cervania to the NC House. There were several dozen in attendance including dignitaries from state and local levels. Maria was sworn in by Secretary of State Elaine Marshall and Ya was sworn in by NC Senator Gale Adcock. I was so proud to see two more Caryites in the NC House.

Town Manager’s Report

Sean’s Message

I think of myself as a pretty optimistic guy but never so much so than at the start of each new year. The preceding time off rejuvenates and restores me. It replenishes my capacity to deal effectively with challenges the new year inevitably bring. I get excited about all of the known – and not yet known – possibilities that lie ahead. 
Last night is a perfect example. 
The Council turned an unknown into a great known by unanimously appointing Ryan Eades to fill Ya Liu’s unexpired term. 
On behalf of the entire staff, I want to welcome Ryan to his new role and say just how much we are all looking forward to helping make him successful. 
Ryan, as much as you know about Cary and this organization, I predict that this will be one of the most incredible times of your life, and I cannot wait to see how you help us evolve. 
Here’s to the “new us,” to Cary, in 2023, which has the potential to be our best year ever. 
In appreciation, 
Sean

Congresswoman Ross Secures $1 million for Cary Mixed Income Development

President Joe Biden recently signed into law the omnibus funding package for Fiscal Year 2023, which includes $1,000,000 in funding for the 921 SE Maynard mixed-income housing development in Cary. Congresswoman Deborah Ross secured this funding for Cary and stated, “I fought for this funding because I know it will make a positive difference in our community. I look forward to working with local leaders and seeing how these projects will create tangible progress in Wake County.”

Ivey-Ellington House Update

You’ve likely already heard the exciting news about the relocation and rehabilitation of the historic Ivey-Ellington House in downtown Cary! The house is currently located at 135 W. Chatham Street and will be relocated to 308 S. Academy Street (the small southern portion of the former library site). On Monday, January 9, relocation preparations will begin, including new foundation work at the former library site and the removal of non-historic additions at the existing house site. Currently, the house is scheduled to be relocated on February 20. For more information on the relocation timeline please visit the project website linked here.

Tracking Down Drainage Solutions

Stormwater drainage issues originate from a variety of sources, but when a resident called 311 seeking help from Cary for a drainage issue in the backyard of her Balmoral Drive property, she was surprised to learn that the root of her problem tracked back to CSX Railroad. Staff determined that the culvert under the railroad track was blocked and causing water to back up in her yard as well as her neighbor’s property. Staff provided the homeowner with a local railroad contact and facilitated a conversation to help resolve the issue. An important member of the Cary community, CSX assessed the situation and ultimately determined that the best solution was to replace the culvert. Construction in the Old Apex Rd. area is currently underway to replace the damaged pipe and is expected to be completed in approximately two and a half weeks, according to CSX contractors.   

First Walk 2023

On January 1, members of the Greenways Committee and Cary Teen Council held the annual First Walk to start the year on the right (or left) foot. Outdoor lovers joined in the early morning walk along the Black Creek Greenway starting at Bond Park boathouse. 114 citizens took advantage of warm temperatures and enjoyed a nice stroll along one of Cary’s most popular greenway trails.

GoTriangle Community Involvement Meetings

Staff was notified by GoTriangle of their intent to conduct public outreach in Cary to determine next steps in the Greater Triangle Commuter Rail project. GoTriangle asked staff to help them find a location for the public information meetings, but staff will not be participating in the meetings. Additional information will be shared when staff learns more about the engagement from GoTriangle, but for more on the project click here. 

Meridian East Chatham

Meridian East Chatham is beginning the first phase of construction for a new 5-story mixed-use building with 220 apartments, 8,200 SF of retail space, and structured parking. The first phase of construction will include a construction entrance on East Chatham Street and an on-site staging area to support the installation of the new storm drain system on East Chatham Street from Urban Drive Park to western boundary of the project. Impacts to traffic is expected. Staff is working with the development team to create a traffic control plan and will share details in a future update. 

GLOW Returns to Downtown

Starting on Monday, three GLOW installations will be going in downtown including “Evolution Field” by artist Matt McConnell that will appear on the front lawn of Town Hall. This installation premiered at Burning Man Festival in 2022. GLOW light and technology installations “pop-up” unannounced and are discovered mainly at night because of the unusual light effects. 

The GLOW pop-up series will officially kick-off with a Community Lantern Parade on Saturday, January 14 with participants walking with their handmade lanterns and LED lights on the streets surrounding Town Hall. The parade will begin at Herb Young Community Center parking lot at 6:15 p.m. 

Globe Road Interconnect De-Activated

Cary water users in the Kitty Hawk, Globe Road and Nelson Road industrial area are now back on Cary water. Cary worked with the City of Raleigh to utilize the Globe Road water system interconnect to support the NC Department of Transportation for approximately three months while they replaced a large failing storm culvert on Nelson Road. After the newly installed utilities underwent proper flushing, pressure and bacteriological testing, Cary completed the Globe Road deactivation procedures which included system flushing and pressure monitoring. At noon on Tuesday, Cary water and sewer service returned to normal operations in the area.

End of Year Event Recap

Downtown Cary was busy with multiple events for community members to enjoy in December. The Cary hosted 5 fun-filled shows December 8-11, where ticket holders received candy canes, jingle ball necklaces, and interactive cards. A special snowflake projection was installed in the theater and timed to create a snowfall effect during the song “Snow” and the final rendition of “White Christmas.” This annual event continues to be a hit with the community with three sold out shows and nearly 700 attendees over the 4-days.
Then on December 19, Councilmember Lori Bush addressed approximately 250 people gathered in front of the Cary Arts Center for the Hanukkah Menorah Lighting. In addition, Congresswoman Deborah Ross, Phil Brodsky, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Raleigh-Cary, and Rabbi Ariel Edery of Congregation Beth Shalom also provided remarks before Rabbi Yisroel Cotlar of Chabad of Cary lit the candles. The event included a sing-along, a craft for children, goody bags, dreidels, chocolate gelt (coins), and hot chocolate to stay warm on the chilly night.

Lastly on December 30, the annual Cary Kwanzaa Celebration was held at the Cary Arts Center. The celebration included an African Dance performance by the Magic of African Rhythm and musical performance by the Fruits of Labor. Kids were entertained by an interactive drumming workshop “Buckets and Beats,” and a Vendors Market featured an array of goods from multi-cultural area businesses. Cary Kwanzaa is a communal, cultural celebration that honors African American people and their heritage. The Kwanzaa Celebration is produced by Cary in partnership with the Ujima Group Inc.

2023 AARP Tax-Aide Service

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide provides in-person and remote tax assistance free of charge to anyone, with a special focus on taxpayers who are 50 or older, or who have low to moderate income. This Tax-Aide service will be provided at Herbert C. Young Community Center.

Tax-Aide volunteers are located nationwide and are trained and IRS-certified every year to make sure they know about and understand the latest changes and additions to the tax code. In-person appointments are available 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. beginning Monday, January 30 and continue through Monday, April 17.

Hours of Operation: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday

More information can be found on the website at Herbert C. Young Community Center.

Virtual Neighborhood Meeting January 11^th

The Neighborhood Meeting will be held virtually on WebEx from 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm. The following case will be discussed on January 11:

• 22-REZ-26 4224 & 4300 Green Level West Rd Rezoning

For more information and to register visit the Virtual Neighborhood Rezoning Meeting page.

Upcoming Meetings

Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources Advisory Board
Monday
January 9
5:15 pm

Information Services Advisory Board
Monday
January 9
6:00 pm

Zoning Board of Adjustments
Monday
January 9
6:30 pm

Environmental Advisory Board
Tuesday
January 10
6:00 pm

Mills Parks Community Center Public Meeting
Wednesday
January 11
6:00 pm 

Historic Preservation Commission
Wednesday
January 11
6:30 pm

Virtual Neighborhood Rezoning Meeting
Wednesday
January 11
6:30 pm
WebEx

Council Meeting
Thursday
January 12
6:30 p.m.

Mayor’s Mailbox

• A request to help with a stray cat problem
• A request for a proclamation
• A request for a proclamation that doesn’t fit the town criteria (See Guidelines and Procedure)
• A complaint about garbage truck “regurgitation”
• A complaint that I was not a “believer” in being a “Presperterian” and because I didn’t inform them about the worst hurricane season (What??? OK; unfortunately, I receive crazy emails from time to time)
• A thank you for the Harold Ritter proclamation
• A thank you for giving Gale Adcock the oath

Next Week

Next week’s activities include staff meetings, a meeting of the Atlantic Tire Championships board, a meeting with NC Senator Jay Chaudhuri, the first regularly scheduled council meeting of the year, a tour of the downtown park construction, and a Vietnamese event.

Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, January 15^th, 2023. Although I have Facebook and Twitter accounts those are not the best means of communications with me. Please send all Town of Cary questions or comments to Harold.Weinbrecht@townofcary.org and email personal comments to augustanat@mindspring.com.

Dr. Goodnight’s Birthday Message

Monday, December 19^th I taped a message celebrating Dr. Jim Goodnight’s 80^th birthday. He has had a significant impact on our community through the years. The world-wide recognition of SAS has resulted in businesses choosing to locate to Cary and their success has helped existing Cary businesses to expand. His philanthropic work has made a big impact in our community. Such as the Veterans Freedom Park, the SAS Championships, donating land for a fire station, and creating learning programs and institutions.

Mayors Association Annual Banquet

The Mayors Association held their annual banquet on Monday, December 19^th. It was held in Garner at the Grand Marquise Ballroom with approximately 150 guests. All 12 Wake County mayors were in attendance. In addition to great food and conversation, we were treated to entertainment by the Hall Sisters. A good time was had by all, and it was a great way to close out the year.

Biennial Survey

The results of the biennial survey were made available right before Christmas. The survey was based on the responses from 400 Cary residents. The results showed Cary had an overall grade of A- as a place to live. Overall, 2 grades improved, 16 remained the same, and 15 declined. There were 23 A’s and 10 B’s. To review all the results go here.

Former Mayor Harold Ritter dies

On New Year’s Eve I was notified that former Cary Mayor Harold Ritter had died. Harold Ritter served as Cary’s Mayor for four years after Mayor Fred Bond. He was mayor during the time Cary began to change from a small town into the mid-sized city it is today. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife, family, and friends. Cary is forever grateful for his years of service to make our community a better place. Rest is peace Harold!

Writing State of Cary Address

The remainder of the year was spent researching and writing the first draft of the State of Cary address. In the address you will hear about Cary’s accomplishments of the past year, and the significance of this year and the next five years. I will need to have the first draft completed in the next week so that staff can fact check and provide feedback.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I spent New Year’s Eve at home with my wife mostly watching the football playoffs. It was a great way to relax and bring in the New Year. I hope you have a Happy New Year!

New Year’s Day Walking Tour

On Sunday, January 1^st I joined a few dozen people in a walking tour of downtown Cary. The tour was given by Cary resident Katherine Loflin who can trace her ancestors to this area from the 1700s. Ms. Loflin has done extensive research into Cary’s history and was able to share some of the stories she had found. I was able to learn things about Cary’s history that I had not heard before. It was a great tour and I hope she gives another one again in the future.

Mayor’s Mailbox

• A question on why Epic Games is not moving forward with redeveloping the old mall site
• A question about future Cary Community Center Projects
• A request to visit Carpenter Village’s lighting competition
• A complaint about no bathroom at the Amtrack Station
• A complaint from the “Armenian Origin constituents” about a past proclamation we made
• A complaint on Christmas Eve about power outages: “I always thought Cary was a top city in the south, apparently not” (BTW Duke Energy maintains the power grid not Cary. I passed along the complaint and Duke Energy responded.)
• Compliments on the Academy Street holiday lighting
• Best wishes during the holidays

Next Week

Next week’s activities include staff meetings, an Economic Forecast, Gale Adcock’s swearing in ceremony to the NC Senate, District D applicant interviews, former Mayor Harold Ritter’s funeral, and Ya Liu’s and Maria Cervania’s swearing in ceremony to the NC House.

Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, January 8^th, 2023. Although I have Facebook and Twitter accounts those are not the best means of communications with me. Please send all Town of Cary questions or comments to Harold.Weinbrecht@townofcary.org and email personal comments to augustanat@mindspring.com.

Council Meeting Prep

Monday I attempted to contact each council member to hear of any concerns or questions about the agenda for the upcoming council meeting. Most questions were about the developer agreement for the REZ-05-22 rezoning at West Chatham and Old Apex. Later I met with Mayor Pro-Tem Frantz and key staff members to go over the agenda items.

Town Manager One-On-One

After the agenda meeting, I talked briefly with the town manager about various topics including the council appointment process.

NC Tennis Association Meeting

Thursday I joined the Director of Parks in a call with a couple of NC Tennis Association Board members. We discussed potential partnering opportunities.

Council Group Pictures

Before the council meeting on Thursday the council had group pictures made. This was the first with newly elected council member Carissa Johnson. We also did a picture without Ya Liu since she will be resigning on December 31^st to take her seat in the NC Legislature.

Farewell Dinner for Ya Liu

The council held a dinner for Ya Liu before her last meeting and presented a small gift. It was attended by the entire council, management, and directors.

Last Regular Council Meeting of the Year

Thursday night the council held its last regularly scheduled meeting of the year. The agenda included the results of the financial audit, seven consent items, and three discussion items.

Representatives from Cherry Bekaert, LLP gave a report that stated Cary’s financial records were “clean” and that they were awarding their highest rating.

The first discussion item was for the 20-REZ-12 Macedonia Place Rezoning. The applicants were requesting a removal of the senior housing requirement. They offered affordable housing and a few environmental actions. This was approved by council 6-1 with several council members stating that seniors could live in the regular apartments. The council majority also believed that having 10% of the units be affordable housing was more important. It was also stated that the extra apartments were important to increase volume which would result in more affordable housing. My dissenting vote was based that senior housing in Cary is needed now more than ever and that need outweighed the new offerings even though they were important.

The last two discussion items were for the 22-REZ-05 rezoning at Old Apex Road and Chatham Street. Several concerns were raised by email from citizens that lived nearby and included roundabout safety, stormwater runoff, parking, and connectivity to Samuel’s Keep. These were discussed by council. Data shows there have been no injuries at the roundabout since it was installed which was a huge improvement from the intersection. Stormwater runoff will have to handle a 100-year storm. While Cary requires only one space per unit, the applicant stated that they would create more parking in the deck that they build. Our ordinances require the applicant to create a stub to Samuel’s Keep but there would still be a gap on the Samuel’s Keep side which would keep the connectivity from occurring for the near future. After much discussion the council unanimously approved the rezoning which will have retail and apartments.

Town Manager’s Report

Sean’s Message

Based on each of your remarks, Council, I know you join me in feeling the bittersweetness of Council member Ya Liu’s resignation from the Council last night. Like you, I am happy for Ya to continue her journey of service to Cary and beyond in the State legislature, but I will miss her.
In a word, working and becoming friends with Ya has been wonderful. 
In my experience, Ya consistently demonstrated the most important characteristics of being a great Council member: kindness, grace, deep support for the staff, and “team first.” Pursuing her passions never came at the expense of others.
Ya, I will miss our frequent communication, but I know that we will stay connected because that’s what friends do.
Over the next few weeks and like so many others, I will be enjoying time away from the office during the upcoming holidays. I love this time of reflection and rejuvenation, and I wish each of you safe and enjoyable time with friends and family.
With appreciation,
Sean

CIF Showcase December 2022

Research and Development (R&D) team’s purpose to orchestrate innovations that transform the lives of citizens everywhere was on full display Tuesday, Dec 13 in Town Hall Atrium. Along with their Alliance Partnership Network, R&D hosted the inaugural Civic Infrastructure of the Future (CIF) Showcase, featuring the innovative work of a unique public-private partnership. External representatives from Slack, Box, ZenCity, Swarm, Oasys, InTown, Blake Consulting, and G&H joined staff to showcase their innovations, advancing our collective mission of creating the local government of the future.

Planting Trees and Growing Civic Services

On Sunday, under the leadership of scout Ian Fuller, 21 members of Troops 212 and 226G planted 60 trees at the South Cary Water Reclamation Facility. Groupings of Nuttall oaks, sugar maples, redbuds, and Sweetbay magnolias and a row of Yaupon Hollies will contribute to carbon sequestration, provide beauty, add wildlife habitat, and enhance the growing and diverse ecosystem at the facility. Many thanks to this industrious group of scouts for supporting the environment and Ian’s application for the Distinguished Conservation Award.

Fire Employee Receives Hometown Hero Award

Master Firefighter Daniel Havens received the Hometown Hero Award on behalf of the North Carolina Automobile Dealers Association (NCADA). NCADA, a nonprofit, recognizes first responders who go above and beyond the call of duty. Havens, the Johnson Subaru of Cary nominee, was among 50 first responders in the state recognized for their work at the ceremony. He received the recognition award from Governor Cooper.

Western Wake Tennis Association Community Spotlight

Bill Reynolds, Tennis Programs Specialist, is the recipient of the Community Spotlight for the Western Wake Tennis Association (WWTA). Bill is the WWTA Junior Team Tennis Co-Local League Coordinator who oversees Junior Team Tennis, supervises teaching staff and stringers, coordinates the sanctioning for USTA Tournaments at Cary Tennis Park, and provides leadership for USTA events around the state.

Deputy Fire Chief Completes Executive Planning Course

Deputy Fire Chief Michael Martin attended and completed the U.S. Fire Administration’s two-week on-campus Executive Planning course last weekend at the National Emergency Training Center (NETC) in Emmitsburg, Maryland. The NETC, supported by the Department of Homeland Security, is home to the National Fire Academy, U.S. Fire Administration, and Emergency Management Institute. This course, attended by 20 fire service leaders from across the country, assists fire department leaders in thinking strategically and adaptively to help meet the future needs of their communities. It facilitated a balcony view mindset to help create and foster learning organizations.

2022 Biennial Survey Results Available Online

The results of the 2022 Biennial Survey are now online, located here. Overall, Cary continues to receive an excellent report card from our citizens with 23 grades in the A range and 10 grades in the B range. The opinion of our citizens is an important factor in making the best decisions for our community’s future, and we thank the 400 residents that participated in the research.

Upcoming Town Holidays, Events and End of Year Info

With the end of the year approaching, our updates for you will be limited and there will not be another Council Weekly Report until January 6, 2023. In the meantime, if there are time sensitive updates to share, they will be emailed directly to you. 
In observance of the upcoming Christmas and New Year holidays, most staffed facilities will be closed December 23 – 27 and January 2.

Upcoming Meetings

Planning and Zoning Board
Monday
December 19
6:30 p.m.

Mayor’s Mailbox

• A complaint that the leaf pickup has fallen behind schedule
• A complaint about the rezoning proposal 22-REZ-05 at West Chatham and Old Apex Road roundabout

Next Week

Next week’s activities include staff meetings, a taped message, and the Mayors Association meeting. This is the slowest time of the year for me. I will be spending that time with family and writing the State of Cary address.

Well, that is all for this week. Due to the holidays my next post will be on Monday, January 2^nd, 2023. Although I have Facebook and Twitter accounts those are not the best means of communications with me. Please send all Town of Cary questions or comments to Harold.Weinbrecht@townofcary.org and email personal comments to augustanat@mindspring.com.

Enzyvant

Monday I attended an economic development event by Enzyvant who announced that they will be headquartered in Cary and will refit a manufacturing facility in Morrisville to develop an in-house regenerative medicine. Regenerative medicines seek to replace tissue or organs that have been damaged by disease, trauma, or congenital issues. Enzyvant is a company that treats rare diseases in children. Their manufacturing facility is expected to be completed during the second half of 2024. Once completed the facility will provide the size, flexibility, and processing capability to serve the company’s commercial and clinical research needs for regenerative medicines.

At this event I provided remarks on behalf of the elected officials which included the Morrisville Mayor and several Morrisville council members. Other speakers included several individuals associated with Enzyvant.

During my visit I learned about one of their drugs recently approved that saves lives of children born without a thymus, which could cause profound immunodeficiency, vulnerability to potentially fatal infections and life-threatening immune dysregulation. To put it simply, without a thymus you have no immune system and can die from a cold. This drug is individualized, made in roughly two weeks, and then put inside the patient. The patient should then be protected for the rest of their lives. I am so proud that Enzyvant, a company that literally saves lives, is headquartered in Cary.

Town Manager One-on-One

Monday evening the town manager and I met virtually. Topics included the new Parks Director, the council appointment process, the future redevelopment of town hall campus, the future parking deck next to the Rogers, the downtown Christmas tree (which may be dying), and the downtown park.

Atlantic Tire Championships Board Meeting

Tuesday night I attended a meeting of the Atlantic Tire Championship board. We had two guest speakers, Kelly Gaines, the Executive Director of the NC Tennis Association and Doug McRainey, head of special parks projects including the tennis center expansion. Kelly provided information about running the Winston Salem Open while Doug provided information about the tennis center expansion. Afterwards the board reviewed the numbers for this past tournament and set meetings for the coming year. One interesting stat for this year was that attendance increased 58%.

Passing of Bob Matheny Former Zebulon Mayor

Tuesday I was notified that Bob Matheny, former mayor of Zebulon for 28 years had passed. He served in many roles including the President of the NC League of Municipalities. More than anything else he was a great guy and a friend. A person that I looked up to. I, along with many others, will miss him.

First Responders Breakfast

Wednesday morning I joined council members Liu and Johnson at the First Responders breakfast. Our keynote speaker was Cary resident Marjorie K. Eastman, author, veteran, and former candidate for U.S. Senate. Her address was very fitting for the Police, Fire, EMS, and Veterans in attendance. We appreciate her service and for her words to our heroes.

Economic Development Committee Meeting

Wednesday I participated in a meeting of Cary’s EDC (Economic Development Committee). The committee was recently expanded to include three new members. Each of the new members told a little bit about themselves and their experience. Cary is blessed to have EDC members with extensive corporate backgrounds.

The town manager reported on how the EDC might change to provide feedback on more business decisions. He recommended a half day meeting to flesh out ideas sometime in January.

Next the President of the Cary Chamber provided updates on the town’s economic activity for the last quarter. Here is a summary:

• MetLife is recruiting for 400 positions in software engineering, data science, cyber security, and service operations.
• Current pipeline includes 500 jobs and $1.4 Billion in Capital Investment potential
• Enzyvant announced 80 jobs in life science
• Development firm has planned to build of around 162,000 sq ft, of industrial space. It can be 2 buildings, or one large building. This developer is targeting late January 2023 to begin their grading and infrastructure work for their site.
• Another industrial build is near the airport. The tract is 142 acres and has 700,000 sq ft. The project is estimated to have their site plan approved in the next 4 to 6 months.
• A building formerly known as the old Oxford University Press company on Evans Road has been prepared as a shell space. This building is a great space for Life Science, Biotech, advanced manufacturing, and logistics.
• Class A office is still slow. There are some small opportunities for 15,000 to 45,000 sq ft. The best areas to accommodate needs are located in Downtown, Fenton, and Regency Park.

The town’s Economic Development Director asked the group to think about what information they would like him to present to the new EDC.

The next EDC meeting is scheduled for March 1^st however the committee will try in meet within the next couple of months.

Retreat Interview

Thursday morning I did a video tapped interview which will be part of a larger taping of all council members, staff, and some members of the public. The answers to the questions will be part the annual council-staff retreat in February. Most of the questions were related to inspiration and what is inspirational to you.

The taping was done in the skybox of the Walker which overlooks the downtown park under construction. Of course, I had to have my picture made with the park in the background.

Roger’s Deck and Future Town Hall

Thursday afternoon I met briefly with the town manager and staff to discuss the appearance of the future parking deck that will be adjacent to the Rogers. It will be the same height as the Rogers and have a facade that will make it look nicer than a typical parking deck.

I also talked about the future of town hall campus with the town manager and staff. There were a lot of ideas being presented. I believe the future town hall campus should be like the rest of Cary, something special. We may see ideas brought forward next year.

Town Council Work Session

Thursday evening the council held a work session in the police department training room to discuss the Green Level Destination Center Planning Area and the Council District D vacancy appointment process.

The destination center presentation had representatives from the future Duke Hospital and multi-family developers adjacent to the hospital. The hospital wants to rezone to allow 500 beds instead of 100. Council members didn’t provide feedback that would object to this. The combined multi-family in the area would result in 2250 units which would be a significant change in density. There were concerns expressed about traffic and what this would do to nearby major intersections such as Highway 55 and High House Road. I expressed concerns about the worse case traffic scenario where the 2250 units would have 2 cars each with none working at the hospital or nearby facilities. This in addition to the 7500 jobs would create a minimum of 12,000 trips. I asked that data be presented during the public hearing on the premise that many workers adjacent to facilities actually work at those facilities. Other council members expressed concerns over walkability and the overall flow of the project. It will be interesting to see what is presented at the three public hearings (one for the hospital, and one each for the two multi-family projects).

The next part of the work session was the appointment process to potentially fill the seat left by Ya Liu once she goes to the NC House in January. The process was led by Mayor Pro-Tem Frantz. He asked each council member to pick their top two candidates for interviews. The results showed Sarika Bansal with 4 votes, Ryan Eades with 4 votes, Kengyeh Chu with 2 votes, and Cindy Sinkez with 1 vote. Council member Robinson made a motion that the council continue the process with the anticipation of appointing which passed 5 to 2. This is to let the candidates know that we aren’t going through the process with the intent of leaving the seat vacant. However, that option is still available after the interviews. There was a second motion by council member Bush to change the process to allow a third candidate for interview which failed. The next step will be to schedule interviews with the two finalists and the council. This may or may not happen before the end of the year.

Cary Christmas Parade

On Saturday I joined Mayor Pro-Tem Frantz, and council members Smith, Liu, and Johnson in the Cary Jaycees Christmas Parade. The parade was streamed on WRAL for the first time ever. I rode in a classic 1968 Cutlass with Former Planner Debra Grannan her husband, and my wife. For the first time we were not allowed to throw out candy, but fortunately for the kids along the route, Cary Teen Council Members walked along the edge of the road and handed out candy. There were many other safety measures added to this parade such as more space between entries. This caused the parade to last about 1 ½ hours. From my observations, this was the largest crowd ever. I hope to even see more people next year.

Town Manager’s Report

Sean’s Message

Think for just a minute about where you were and what you were doing when you heard that a shot had been fired inside Cary High School in October.
I was at the SAS Championship with the Mayor and Jack Smith. 
Yesterday I had the privilege of meeting with many of the key responders to the incident and hear what it was like for them as they worked to keep kids safe while piecing the puzzle together that day.
Lillian Hamilton, Barnabas Edmonds, Jim Young, Albert Jones, Chris Bernhardt, Josh McCabe, Barbara Clemmons, Steve Wilkins, Doug Workman, Bradley Evans, and Ken Quinlan shared their “Secret Sauce,” so to speak.
Their success, then, now, and in the future – is being part of a teams that stay together for a long time. The 911 team. The SRO team. The Investigations team.
They can work together seamlessly with little to no explanation. They know context by the tone of a voice or a glance. They’ve built trust with each other and between teams over years of training and responding.
On all our behalf, I thanked them for their courage and commitment, and I promised to do everything we can to keep supporting them in their incredible work.
In appreciation,
Sean

Heart of the Holidays

New milestones were reached this year for a number of Cary’s Heart of the Holidays programs. The Gifting Tree Project increased from 80 to 91 total participants and sold out within hours. More than 1000 people attended the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at Town Hall featuring performances by nine different local groups, with Hometown Spirit Award winner Bob Moncsko flipping the switch. More than 600 Letters to Santa have already been dropped in Santa’s Mailbox, with Sunday as the final day. From record attendance at Heart of Holidays events to the throngs coming downtown to take in the lights, it is clear citizens are enjoying the holiday spirit.

All Hands

On Tuesday, I met with my Cary colleagues for our quarterly All Hands. This gathering served as an opportunity to celebrate Cary’s recent recognition by Engaging Local Government Leaders (ELGL) as the best place to work in local government. I also shared my thoughts on a variety of topics, including Cary’s new Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources director and the ongoing implementation of our new ERP system. We wrapped up with a visit from Rashonda Harris and Stephanie Reed who discussed their recent work through Cary’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. It’s hard work, but they are a great team to help build the organization’s DEI muscle.

Black Creek Sewer Rehab – Moving to the Next Phase

Over the past several months, crews have been rehabilitating sewer lines and manholes along the Black Creek Greenway between W. Dynasty Drive and North Cary Park. They are currently finishing restoration and cleanup along this section of the project. The greenway along this corridor is scheduled to reopen to the public on Tuesday, December 13th. At the same time, our sewer rehabilitation contractors are relocating their operations to the next phase of sewer infrastructure for rehabilitation between North Cary Park and the Crabtree Creek Greenway. This will require closure of the Black Creek Greenway in the construction zone until Spring 2023. Current information regarding the status of the greenways, including detour routes, is available here.

Cary Chamber of Commerce First Responders Breakfast

On December 7, Cary Chamber of Commerce hosted their annual First Responders Breakfast at Prestonwood Country Club, and staff from police, fire, and emergency communications were in attendance. Other regional first responders included Wake County EMS, Wake County Sheriff’s Office, and regional hospital staff were recognized for their service. Veterans from American Legion Post 67 were also on hand and recognized for their service. The show of appreciation by the local business community was greatly appreciated by Cary staff. 

Solar Energy Continues to be a Hot Topic in Cary

Although temperatures are cooling down, solar energy continues to be a hot topic for Cary residents. A Solar Energy virtual lunch-and-learn attracted 65 registrants who enjoyed a presentation from industry experts and Cary staff. Solar education supports our ongoing designation from the Department of Energy as a Gold Level SolSmart community and our recent regional partnership in the Solarize the Triangle program. While SolSmart focuses on reducing barriers to accessing solar installation, Solarize the Triangle  provides reduced pricing through group purchasing options via a collaboration with the Triangle J Council of Governments. Since the start of the program in August, 546 kW of renewable solar power have been purchased through 59 homeowner contracts. Once completed, these installations will mitigate over one million pounds of CO2 per year which is equivalent of 100 gas-powered passenger vehicles driven for one year. 

Director Leadership Dialog

On Monday, our Director Group gathered for a final Director Leadership Dialogue of 2022. As with other dialogues, this three-hour session was facilitated by our partners at CRA | Admired Leadership^®. The discussion centered on decision-making and collaboration, with a particular focus on how Directors can model and teach these skills and behaviors in their respective teams and departments. In addition, we used the opportunity to discuss priority topics for the group to focus on as we continue these conversations in 2023. 

NCAA College Cup 2022

Multiple departments have been working to prepare for the 2022 NCAA College Cup at WakeMed Soccer Park. The Women’s event ended with an electric atmosphere in overtime crowning UCLA as champions in front of a record finals crowd in Cary of 9,510 which also aired on ESPN. The Men’s semifinals are set for December 9 at 6:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. with the finals on Monday, December 12 at 6:00 p.m. Reduced ticket prices are being advertised through local soccer clubs, Cary Chamber and other promotions such as Groupon for the championship game.

Victorian Christmas at the Paige-Walker

On Saturday, December 3, the Page-Walker Arts & History Center was filled with holiday cheer for the Victorian Christmas. More than 500 people attended the event, and enjoyed cookies and cider, music by the Triangle Folk Ensemble and Victorian Carolers, the beautifully decorated historic hotel, kids crafts, visits with Father Christmas, and the return of the horse-drawn carriage rides. The event was a delightful lead-in to the Christmas Tree lighting at Town Hall.

NC One Water Conference Recognition

Cary’s wastewater collection and water distribution systems were both recognized this week at the NC One Water Association annual conference in Charlotte as top performing large wastewater collection and water distribution systems. This is the fourth consecutive year that Cary has been named number one in the state for the Wastewater Collection System Award and the fifth consecutive year that Cary has been recognized for the Water Distribution System award. Cary also placed second in the best tasting water contest. At the same time, Senior Project Manager, Betsy Drake, was recognized with the prestigious Golden Manhole Award for her many years of service to the NC One Water Association. Cary staff continue to be inspired to do their best in managing and maintaining our water and wastewater services. 

Mobile Surveillance Trailers Go in Service

Fire and Police staff completed a training on operating the Town’s four newly acquired mobile surveillance trailers. They are now in service and available to be deployed for special events or other situations that call for mobile monitoring, such as this weekend’s parade. Credentialed personnel can access the video feed and control other features, such as camera angles, speakers, and lights, via a website. 

Upcoming Meetings

Greenway Committee
Monday
Dec. 12 at
6:00 p.m.

Athletic Committee
Monday
Dec. 12 at
6:00 p.m.

Environmental Advisory Board
Tuesday
Dec. 13 at
6:00 p.m.

Public Art Board
Tuesday
Dec. 13 at 
 6:15 p.m.

Cultural Arts Committee
Wednesday
Dec. 14 at
6:00 p.m.

Historic Preservation
Wednesday 
Dec. 14 at
6:30 p.m.

Council Meeting
Thursday
Dec. 15 at
6:30 p.m.

Mayor’s Mailbox

• An ongoing complaint that a crime was committed by someone who placed an “offensive” ornament on one the trees lining Academy.
• A complaint about the repaving process for Fairlane Road
• A request for contact information with Bojangles so that they could open a franchise
• A question about short term rentals in Cary

Next Week

Next week’s activities include staff meetings, a meeting with the NC Tennis Association Board, Council pictures, Farewell dinner with Ya Liu, and the last regularly scheduled council meeting of the year.

Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, December 18^th. Although I have Facebook and Twitter accounts those are not the best means of communications with me. Please send all Town of Cary questions or comments to Harold.Weinbrecht@townofcary.org and email personal comments to augustanat@mindspring.com.