Author: haroldweinbrechttownofcaryorg

Earnest Jones Property

Monday I joined several staff members in a tour of the 217.07 acres Earnest Jones property which was bought by the town in August of 2020 with funds from the 2019 Shaping Cary’s Tomorrow Bond Referendum. Cary plans to eventually use the land for recreational activities and open space preservation. The site consists of woodlands, agricultural fields, and a portion of Indian and Turtle creeks. It also contains the Markham-Ferrell House which is estimated to have been built in the 1790s. It is located along Earnest Jones Road, between Yates Store Road and Mount Pisgah Church Road in Chatham County. The site also abuts a Town-owned site on New Hope Church Road which will allow future access to the American Tobacco Trail. 

We spent an hour walking part of the property, touring the Markham-Ferrell House, seeing a few outbuildings like tobacco barns, seeing old farm equipment, and enjoying the natural beauty. It is my hope that we can make this property accessible to all while at the same time preserving the land and open space. I can see a potential botanical garden and walking trails as part of the future for this site. Staff is currently working on ideas to bring forward for council consideration.

Audit

Tuesday I met virtually with an auditor as part of the annual audit of the town. Officially, the auditor is working on behalf of the council and its citizens. The questions mostly focused on my awareness of any questionable activity. Which I had none. In fact, I stated that I was very comfortable with the town’s finances. My interview lasted about ten minutes.

Ya Liu Kickoff

Wednesday evening I joined Congresswoman Ross, NC Senator Wiley Nickel, NC House Representative Gale Adcock, Cary Council member Robinson, Cary Council member Smith, Morrisville Mayor Cawley, and several other dignitaries at the kickoff event for Cary Council member Ya Liu in her race for the NC House of Representatives. I provided remarks endorsing Ya as did several of the dignitaries. The event had approximately 150 in attendance.

Paragon Theaters in the Fenton

Thursday I participated in the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Paragon Theaters in the Fenton. The theater is the second in Cary and the 7^th owned by this group. I was joined by council members Smith and Robinson and several other dignitaries. Its claim to fame is that it has the largest movie screen in North Carolina. The screens have Axis 15 technology which means they are titled for optimum viewing. The reclining seats are zero gravity with heating, cooling, and a tray for food (which can be ordered at any time with your phone). The seats are divided with privacy walls so that you can only see the person next to you. The theater complex also includes a full-service restaurant and bar as well as a 16-lane bowling alley. The large screen theater is currently showing the Top Gun Sequel which I plan to see soon. Congratulations to Paragon Theaters on their opening.

NC Legislative Summary

The NC Mayors Association meeting for Friday was cancelled. But here is a summary of legislative activity from the Association’s lobbyists:

Legislative Schedule

The NC General Assembly intends to conclude the majority of their work for the 2022 legislative short session today (July 1). As of the writing of this newsletter, the House and Senate have filed separate adjournment resolutions (HJR1178 and SJR917). The Senate version adjourns the legislature on July 1, 2022 to reconvene July 26, 2022 while the House version adjourns the legislature on July 15, 2022 to reconvene August 12, 2022. Both resolutions call the legislature back once each month for the remainder of the year. Legislation that can be considered during those sessions are limited, however the House version includes a broader range of items that could be addressed. We will update you with the final resolution that is adopted in next week’s newsletter.

Budget Finalized

The budget proposal for the 2022-2023 Fiscal Year was released Tuesday evening. The budget revision plan spends $27.9 billion in FY 2022-23, a 7.2 percent increase. The proposal was released as a conference report meaning there was no opportunity for amendments.  The House and Senate Finance, Appropriations, and Pensions Committees met jointly on Wednesday to hear the details of the bill. On Thursday, the bill passed second reading in both chambers with bipartisan support. The vote was 85-27 in the House and 38-9 in the Senate. The third and final reading will be held today (July 1). 

Upon passage, the proposal will be sent to Governor Cooper for consideration. It is unclear at this point what action the Governor will take. He has ten days to sign, veto, or let the bill become law without his signature. If vetoed, we anticipate the legislature will return to attempt to override the veto.

Below are some of the highlights of the spending plan.

• Increases teacher pay raise by an average of 4.2 percent (6.7 percent over the biennium).
• Appropriates an additional $15 million recurring for the School Resource Officer Grant program and an additional $32 million for School Safety Grants to support students in crisis, school safety training, and safety equipment in schools.
• Redirects 2 percent of sales tax revenue to the Highway Fund for transportation purposes (increasing to 4 percent in 2023 and 6 percent in subsequent years).
• Allocates an additional $5 million for the GREAT Grants to expand broadband access in underserved areas.
• Continues enhanced COVID rates for nursing homes and long-term care facilities.
• Provides $883 million for water and wastewater infrastructure projects.

Noteworthy Bills

• S101, Require Cooperation with ICE 2.0 – This bill would require that ICE is queried when an individual charged with certain offenses is in custody and that person’s legal residency or citizenship is undetermined. It would also require a judicial official to order that a prisoner subject to a detainer and administrative warrant be held in custody for 48 hours or until ICE resolves the request. – Awaiting Senate concurrence vote
• S455, Conform Hemp with Federal Law – The bill permanently exempts hemp products from North Carolina’s controlled substance law. The approved language keeps over 1,500 hemp producers in business in North Carolina. – Signed by Governor on Thursday (June 30)
• H768, 2022 ABC Omnibus Bill – One provision of this bill removes the requirement for bars that don’t serve food to be classified as private clubs and sell memberships to customers. The bill also allows for alcohol to be sold at professional sporting events held on community college campuses. – Awaiting action from Governor
• H911, Regulatory Reform Act of 2022 – This is the annual omnibus bill that amends laws related to state and local government, agriculture, energy, environment, natural resources, and other various regulations. Some of the provisions include extending the deadline for small municipalities to adopt comprehensive land-use plans, amending licensure requirements for cosmetic arts, and clarifying the scope of licensed water heater installation and repair. – Conference report adopted by the Senate, on House calendar for today (July 1)

Town Manager’s Report

The town manager’s report for this week includes the following:

Sean’s Message

On Wednesday, I held our quarterly All Hands meeting with staff. Items we discussed included the FY 2023 budget and the one-year anniversary of the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Then, Assistant Human Resources Directors Laura Turk and Ashley Lategan joined me for a discussion on employee benefits. We ended the day on a bittersweet note as Chief Financial Officer Karen Mills reflected on her 31-year career with the Town of Cary. Karen brings so much care, knowledge, and empathy to this organization, and she will be dearly missed.

I will be traveling with my family for the upcoming holiday week. Have a fun and safe 4th!
Sean

Independence Day Celebration

Staff from multiple departments have been busy over the past few months planning and preparing for the upcoming Fourth of July Celebration at Koka Booth Amphitheatre. We have taken great care to plan for and provide a safe, enjoyable, and entertaining experience for our community. For event information click here. For SMS Alerts, text JULY to 51597.

Billy Strings at Koka Booth Amphitheater

Cary hosted performer Billy Strings for three nights at Koka Booth Amphitheatre on June 23, 24, and 25. It’s the first time in the venue’s 21-year history that a single artist has been hosted for multiple nights, selling more than 18,000 tickets. Fans flocked from around the nation, with many visiting the venue for the first time. Accolades were shared on social media by people in attendance.

Reedy Creek Road Project

The work on Reedy Creek Road is now substantially complete. As the project evolved, it addressed the concerns of multimodal transportation and traffic calming by introducing sidewalks, bike lanes, median islands, and roundabouts to what was once a two-lane roadway. Next steps will include the addition of medians and a larger roundabout this fall into the following spring as the appropriate plantings become available.

Security Day

On Monday, fifteen employees attended a Security Day hosted at Raleigh Convention Center. This training was presented by fellow event and venue security staff as part of the Crowd Manager Course through the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM). Topics included building a security culture, risk types, crowd dynamics, crowd types, profiling behaviors, mental preparedness for active shooter/bomb threats, building a hazard library, and de-escalating a non-compliant person. This was a valuable day and the group can apply this knowledge in their roles managing large events and venues in Cary.

PD’s Crisis Negotiation Team Brings Home First Place

On Wednesday, the Police Department’s Crisis Negotiation Team was awarded first place at the Blue Ridge Mountains Crisis Negotiator’s Challenge. Hosted by the North Carolina Justice Academy, the negotiator challenge presents area hostage negotiation teams with a real-world crisis scenario allowing them to demonstrate proficiency in gathering and managing intelligence information, developing a strategy, negotiating with role players, and managing risk. This year’s competition included hostage negotiation teams from the Raleigh Police Department, New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office, Lumberton Police Department, and Hendersonville Police Department. The event’s judges were so impressed with Cary’s team that they extended an invitation to compete at a national competition in Florida.

Senior Management Institute for Police Graduation

On June 23, Captain Kat Christian graduated from the 82nd Session of the Senior Management Institute for Police (SMIP) through Boston University’s School of Law. SMIP is a demanding three-week program of the Police Executive Research Forum that provides senior police executives with intensive training in the latest management concepts and practices used in business and government through discussions of the most challenging issues facing law enforcement executives today.

Upcoming Meetings

Hybrid Human Relations, Inclusion, & Diversity Task Force
Tuesday, July 5
6:00 p.m.

Hybrid Senior Advisory Board

Wednesday, July 6
2:00 p.m.

Mayor’s Mailbox

• A request to sign letters supporting refugees
• A request to do more to stop gun violence
• A request to help a family member get to the US (they were denied entry)

Next Week

Next week’s activities include staff meetings, the Fourth of July celebration, an anniversary celebration of one of the first Indian Americans to arrive in this area, private interviews, and a meeting of the North Carolina Metro Mayors.

Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, July 10^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.

Mayors Association

Monday I attended a meeting of the Wake County Mayors Association. In attendance were the mayors from Cary, Fuquay-Varina, Garner, Knightdale, Morrisville, Rolesville, Wake Forest, Wendell, and Zebulon. We talked about annual budgets which most towns had already approved. Based on the information provided, Cary will have the lowest tax rate by about five cents. We also talked about development and issues related to development. Our meeting lasted a little over two hours.

Chiefs of Police Association Meeting

Tuesday morning I joined council member Robinson in a meeting of North Carolina Police Chiefs Association held at the SAS Executive Briefing Center. I provided remarks along with the Association Executives and SAS representatives. Then we spent about an hour listening how SAS software can pull all the streams of information together to allow better decisions in policing. I was blessed to be among such great leaders from around the state. I look forward to Cary being able to leverage technology that is created within our municipal borders.

Agenda Prep

Later Tuesday I attempted to contact council members to hear of their concerns or questions about Thursday’s agenda. There were very few questions. Later in the day I met with Mayor Pro-Tem Frantz, management, and directors to go over the agenda. Our meeting concluded within fifteen minutes.

Town Manager One-On-One

My last meeting Tuesday was my weekly one-on-one with the town manager. Topics included the storm cleanup, and we agreed the town should be lenient on accepting debris curbside. Other topics included the non-discriminating ordinance with Wake County, and our technical strategy with data.

Fenton Hotel Developer

Thursday I joined the planning director in a meeting about a future hotel at the Fenton. Attending were representatives from the developer and their branding consultants. The big take away from this meeting is that the developer wants to build something that is unique for Cary and that residents will identify as Cary’s own. I am excited about what we might see.

New Police Chief Reception

Thursday afternoon I attended a reception for Terry Sult who was recently named as Cary’s new police chief. Chief Sult was the police chief in Hampton, Virginia from 2013 until 2020 before retiring and then coming out of retirement to serve as Cary’s interim police chief. Previously he served as chief in Sandy Springs, Georgia, and Gastonia, North Carolina, following a 27-year career with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. We are so very blessed to have someone with the talent, experience, and vision as Chief Sult.

Council meeting

Thursday evening the council held its last meeting of the month and for the fiscal year. The meeting included nine consent items, four public hearings, and two discussion items.

NDO Ordinance

The council unanimously approved a resolution permitting Wake County’s Nondiscrimination Ordinance to apply within Cary’s corporate limits. Included with the approval was an interlocal agreement (ILA) authorizing the Town Manager or Deputy Town Manager to “execute an agreement substantially like the ILA and to provide such notices and take such actions as ILA contemplates. Bottom line is while there were protections already in place this gives our citizens additional protection than those traditionally covered by federal and state law.

FY 2023 Budget

The council also unanimously approved the fiscal year 2023 budget. The budget totals $443.6 million which was a 10.9% increase from the prior year. This expenditure increase is largely offset with sales tax revenue expectations. It will keep our tax rate unchanged at $0.345 per every $100 of assessed valuation. There will be a $1.50 increase per month to the solid waste and recycling fee. The utility fee will also increase by 3%.

Our meeting concluded after about 45 minutes.

North Carolina Metro Mayors

Friday I participated in a meeting of the North Carolina Metro Mayors. Here is a summary of that meeting from the Executive Director:

General Update  

• Sports betting, Medicaid expansion, and budget negotiations consumed the majority of conversations in the General Assembly this week.  
• House and Senate leadership entered final negotiations on the budget Thursday morning, and we anticipate a proposal to be released early next week. 
• The House and Senate now have individual plans for Medicaid Expansion across North Carolina. This topic will be at the center of negotiations for the remainder of session.  
• Floor votes are expected to be held every day next week, keeping the General Assembly on track to adjourn before the July 4^th holiday. 

Transportation

S793– Sales Tax Revenue Transfer 

• The letter of support distributed on behalf of the Metro Mayors was well received in both chambers.  This was a great way to demonstrate our collaborative partnership with the business community on topics like this.  Thanks to all the mayors for their quick feedback, we have heard from a number of legislators thanking the mayors for adding their voices to this issue. 
• The effort to use STATE sales tax revenues for transportation is currently being discussed among leadership. The Speaker and Senate Pro Tem will ultimately make the final decision as to whether or not it makes the cut for the short session.  We will continue to keep a close eye on this provision as budget negotiations come to a close.  

Public Safety

Nothing new to report 

Economic Development 

H291 – Commercial Prop. Plan Review  

• H291 would have some unintended consequences and is likely to increase fees for developers.  
• This bill continues to be discussed but does not appear to be moving any further at this point.  
• We would advise you to discuss with your planning staff how this bill would impact your municipality. It is important for your delegation to understand how you handle the process and how this bill would impact cost and timelines 

Local Control/Local Revenues  

H1165 – Salisbury Voluntary Annex. Temp. Moratoria
S911 – Leland Annexation  

• These local bills are examples of the types of legislation dealing with annexation that are surfacing more and more at the General Assembly and could potentially come as a statewide set of circumstances.
• This is a complicated subject around fiscal issues and urban development that we need to work on educating both the legislature and our colleagues in the counties.Mayor Alexander suggests we partner with NCLM, perhaps including some sort of task force to strategically work on this issue during the interim.

The meeting concluded after about half an hour.

Town Manager’s Report

The town manager’s report for this week included the following:

Sean’s Message

I hope you enjoy this week’s report and have a nice weekend!
Sean

Juneteenth Celebration

Congresswoman Ross, and Council Members Jack Smith and Ya Liu attended the Celebrate Freedom event at the old library site on June 19. Council member Liu read opening remarks and Council Member Smith read the Juneteenth Proclamation. The event served as a space for celebration, remembrance, and tradition for many in the Cary community.

Cary Housing Program Expands to Job Training Initiative

To help fill the gap between housing needs and job loss due to the pandemic, Cary has partnered with Passage Home to launch a job training initiative for under employed residents. This job training program will help residents earn certifications for positions in leading employment industries and includes job placement after graduation from the program. This initiative is funded by Cary’s Community Development Block Grant program and works with job seekers one-on-one to understand their situation and unique barriers to self-sufficiency. The program also helps job seekers overcome challenges with childcare, transportation, and education to help in the success with their future career.

New Pride Training Programs for Staff

As part of Cary’s celebration of PRIDE month, the Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion launched a LGBTQ+ educational program series for staff. The three workshops were LGBTQ+ Allyship 101, Allyship 102 & Beyond, and Safe Zone training. These workshops were developed to equip staff with knowledge, awareness and skills to become more inclusive, informed and supportive allies to the LGBTQ+ community.

Old Chatham Golf Club Update

This week Cary welcomes Old Chatham Golf Club as a full-fledged Cary water customer. Over two years ago, Cary started with a desire to help a business neighbor achieve their goals. Temporary water connections were made to meet the seasonal needs of the golf course. Today, permanent underground piping and vaults have been installed and now seamlessly deliver Cary water. Having a relatively large volume user at the outer edge of the water system not only benefits revenue but helps to maintain high water quality.

Summer Camps 2022 Open for Business

Cary summer camps opened on June 13 at eight locations with over 500 campers in attendance. The variety of offerings is never-ending this summer, with full day to half-day camp options. Camp themes include visual arts, ceramics, performing arts, outdoor recreation, full day summer camp, STEM, sports, skateboard, tennis, and other specialty offerings. Camp activities will serve over 5,700 kids this summer across a dozen facilities.

Yoga Day

Cary celebrated International Day of Yoga on June 21. Close to 70 participants began their day with a refreshing sunrise yoga class at Bond Park lakefront or ended their day with a virtual class or sunset yoga in the Garden Plaza at Page-Walker.

Good Hope Farm Summer Produce Starts

Cary’s Good Hope Farm launched their annual summer produce service last week. Collectively, 19 farmers are providing eight weeks of produce to 25 families through this dynamic program. Participants enjoy fresh vegetables, supporting local farmers, and learning more about the historic farm site. Additionally, an average of 50 pounds of produce each week will be donated to Dorcas Ministries Food Pantry to help provide food security to families in need.

Tree and Forest Management

A healthy urban forest requires tree and forest management in addition to plantings that add to the canopy. Recently, staff cleared up space under a heritage oak tree in Jack Smith Park to support the well-being of this champion oak tree. It is now able to flourish, and its beauty and grandeur are more readily apparent for park visitors to enjoy.  

State Firefighter of the Year Award

After being honored with a public service citation by the local Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) post, Fire Assistant Chief of Training and Safety Kevin Annis, was awarded the state VFW Firefighter of the Year award in June. Cary’s Franklin-Reedy Post 7383 held a banquet in May to honor local nominees from 2019 and 2021, since COVID precluded having a ceremony and selection process in 2020. Fire Captain Brian Couch, 2019’s nominee, and Chief Annis, the 2021 honoree, attended, along with law enforcement and EMS professionals. Chief Annis was notified later that month of his selection as the recipient of the state award, for which there was a ceremony on June 12.

Animal Services Receives Four New Kennels

The Citizens Assisting Police (CAP) Team donated four mobile kennels to our Animal Services Team. Having four kennels that can be easily moved around and cleaned out on wheels is a beneficial asset for the Animal Services staff. We appreciate the ongoing support of the wonderful CAP Team.

DBE Policy Statement

Cary maintains a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program as a condition of receiving federal financial assistance from the US Department of Transportation for transit service.  As the DBE Liaison Officer (DBELO), TeLeishia Holloway is responsible for implementing all aspects of the DBE program, including dissemination of our policy statement to Town Council. If you have any questions regarding the policy, TeLeishia may be reached via email.

Virtual Neighborhood Rezoning Meeting

Neighborhood meetings will be held virtually on WebEx from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. on July 13. The following cases will be discussed:

• 22-REZ-06 Green Level Church Rd at Mills Farm Rd
• 22-REZ-11 4309 Pine Rail, 1304 Batchelor Rd
• 22-REZ-15 Swift Creek Elementary School Renovation/Replacement

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

Upcoming Meetings

Hybrid Athletic Committee
Monday, June 27
6:00 p.m.

Planning and Zoning Board
Monday, June 27
6:30 p.m.

Mayor’s Mailbox

• A complaint that Cary celebrates Juneteenth “to secure the vote of the black minority which represents less than 10 percent of the Cary population.”
• A concern that drones are not regulated enough
• A request to help remove invasive species from Cary greenways
• A request to install communication boards on Cary playgrounds for non-verbal/non-speaking children
• A complaint from someone who was “wrongly arrested in April of 2020.”

Next Week

Next week’s activities include staff meetings, a tour of the Ernest Property (200 acres bought by Cary for a park and open space), an audit fraud interview, a meeting with a vocal class, Cary Council member Ya Liu’s kickoff event for NC House, a ribbon cutting for the Fenton’s Paragon Theaters Grand Opening, and a meeting of the North Carolina Metro Mayors.

Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, July 3^rd. 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.

Cary Chamber Golf

The week began with a Cary Chamber Member Golf Guest tournament on Monday. This was a time for local business leaders to have fun and start new relationships. I played with council member Jack Smith, Cary Chamber Chairman of the Board Rick Stephenson, and Cotton Incorporated CEO Berrye Worsham. Our businesses are the backbone of our town and have contributed greatly to our success. Thanks to all who believe and invest in our community.

CAMPO

Wednesday I participated in a meeting of the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Executive Board. The agenda included three consent items and six discussion items.

The unanimously agreed to direct CAMPO staff to get further information from three submitting agencies via more detailed proposals on financial and administrative structures. The three agencies were Raleigh (current), Cary, and Triangle J COG.

The Executive Board received information on NCDOT Mileage Based User Fee Pilot Program, the Western Wake Traffic Signal System Integration Study, an update from the Mobility Coordination Committee, the Locally Administered Projects Program (LAPP) FFY2024 Program and Target Modal Investment Mix, and the FY2024-2033 Preliminary Draft State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP).

The Western Wake Traffic Signal Study presented three options for Cary, Morrisville, Apex, Fuquay Varina, and Holly Springs:

1. Have each municipality do their own system.
2. Have Cary manage the signal system for all five municipalities.
3. Keep Cary and Morrisville together (as it is today), and have Apex, Fuquay Varina, and Holly Springs do their own signal system.

This will be decided at a later date.

The STIP (State Transportation Improvement Program) report stated that there is 54% less funding for highway projects that were already approved. This will result in the delay of several NCDOT projects in and around Cary except for Aviation Parkway widening, McCrimmon Parkway widening and Green Level Church Road bridge replacement at Kit Creek. Project delays are proposed throughout the division and state. No Cary greenway, bike/ped or transit projects were delayed. If design was funded and underway, that phase of the project will continue however ROW (Right of Way) and CON (Construction) dates may have shifted. Below is a summary of the NCDOT’s projects in Cary:

1.     Aviation Parkway Between I-40 and NC 54 (U-5811)

1. Current:  ROW 2029, CON 2031
2. Proposed:  ROW 2028, CON 2030, Accelerated 1 year

2.     Crossroads Junction, the I-40/I-440/US 1/US 64 Interchange Project (I-5701 and I-5703)

1. Current: design-build ROW/CON 2026
2. Proposed: design-build ROW/CON 2027

3.     Green Level Church Road Bridge Replacement (B-5673)

1. No Schedule Change: ROW 2023, CON 2025

4.     Holly Springs Rd Intersection Improvements from Ten-Ten Rd to Cary Pkwy (U-6217)

1. Current: ROW 2029, CON Unfunded
2. Proposed: ROW and CON Unfunded

5.     Maynard Road Railroad Grade Separation (P-5718)

1. Current: ROW 2025, CON 2028;
2. Proposed: ROW and CON Unfunded

6.     McCrimmon Parkway from West of Davis Drive to Church Street (U5747)

1. No Schedule Change, ROW 2021, CON 2028

7.    Ten Ten Road Improvements from Apex Peakway to Kildaire Farm Road (U-5825)

1. Current: ROW 2027, CON Unfunded
2. Proposed: ROW and CON Unfunded

8.    Trinity Road Railroad Grade Separation (P-5734)

1. Current: ROW 2025, CON 2028;
2. Proposed: ROW and CON Unfunded

9.    US 64 Improvements from US 1 to Laura Duncan Road (U-5301)

1. Current: ROW 2026, CON 2029
2. Proposed: ROW and CON Unfunded

The CAMPO Executive Board and Cary will be working to try and swap some of these unfunded projects in the ten-year STIP.

Green Hope High School Graduation

Wednesday night I attended the Green Hope High School graduation. Other elected officials included Wake County School board members, and Morrisville mayor Cawley and several council members. There were 570 students that received their diplomas.

Thanks to Principal Dr. Camille Hedrick for all her years of service as moves to retirement.

North Carolina Metro Mayors

Friday I participated in a meeting of the North Carolina Metro Mayors. Here is a summary of that meeting from the Executive Director:

General Update

• It was another fairly quiet week at the NC General Assembly.  The majority of legislation heard in committee and on the floor were local bills. 
• Majority Leadership anticipates finalizing a deal for budget at the beginning of next week and sharing the proposal with Governor Cooper before it is released.  No details have been disclosed, but we anticipate the proposal to include tax reductions, additional salary changes, and funding for state construction projects. 
• The General Assembly is still on track to adjourn by July 1.
• We expect legislative committee things to ramp up next week as the legislature may consider larger policy issues such as sports betting and medical marijuana.  The Senate has suggested they plan to complete most committee work by the end of next week.

Transportation

S793– STATE Sales Tax Revenue Transfer to Transportation

• Each member of the General Assembly received the support letter from the Metro Mayors supporting legislative efforts for additional funding for transportation (MMC letter attached).
• This effort to secure additional funding for transportation may end up being addressed in the budget that is being finalized early next week. So time is of the essence for advocacy efforts.  Any phone calls or outreach to your member of the General Assembly (or efforts to engage your business community to help) should target this weekend or Monday.  This is particularly important in regard to your state House members, as that Chamber seem less supportive of the effort.
• Senator Sawyer, Senate Transportation Co-Chair, has expressed her gratitude for our support and efforts on this issue.

Public Safety

H1011 – Greenville/Wilmington Traffic Investigators & H1024 – Durham Traffic Crash Investigators

• Both bills have received good hearings in the House.  The challenge will come in the Senate.
• The City of Durham was advised this week to develop a strategy for the long session for Metro Mayors cities that are interested in this type of legislation.
• We will continue to monitor the progress of these bills – it may well eb an issue that will be carried over to the LONG SESSION

Economic Development

H291 – Commercial Prop.

• This bill is being used to unfairly blame local governments for holding up permits associated with multi-family and commercial development.
• The bill would create a “shot clock” of 21 days to give final approval for plans filed for commercial developments.
• A number of jurisdictions use a series of parallel processes to approve plans.  This 21-day timeline would likely force cities (and counties) that review and approve plans to do the myriad of reviews in a sequential order to avoid risk of violating the 21-day final review requirement.  This could ultimately create the unintended consequence of, actually lengthening the approval process instead of expediting it. NCLM advocacy staff have been attempted – unsuccessfully – to slow the bill.  
• Please talk to your plan review staff about their perspective on this issue.  The next hearing on this bill will be in the Senate Judiciary Committee early next week.  Please have conversations with your Senators about this bill, especially those that are on the Judiciary Committee.  Consider alerting your own contract lobbyists to make contact with Senate Judiciary members if your staff agree this is a problem.

Local Control/Local Revenues

H1165 – Salisbury Voluntary Annex. Temp. Moratoria

• This bill places a temporary moratorium on the City of Salisbury’s ability to voluntarily annex any territories outside of the City’s extraterritorial jurisdiction.
• H1165 was fast tracked and passed out of the House this week with a vote of 70-40.

S911 – Leland Annexation

• S911 modifies the requirements and procedures for the Town of Leland to conduct satellite annexations. The bill contains five requirements for the municipality to annex noncontiguous property.
• This bill passed out of the Senate State and Local Government Committee this week and has been referred to Senate Rules.

Friday Storms

Friday night severe storms came through Cary causing damage and power outages. The following information was provided by the Director of Public Works:

I am glad the storm didn’t last any longer than it did. There was lots of damage in many parts of Cary.

Fellas Bond Memorial

Saturday I attended a memorial service for Fellas Bond (Former Mayor Fred Bond’s wife). As Cary’s first lady, she fielded a lot of calls and complaints when Mayor Bond was in office. She always handled them with grace and kindness. On a personal note, I was blessed that she was my aunt and loved me like I was her own. She will be missed. RIP Fellas!

Mayor’s Mailbox

• A complaint about the lack of a pedestrian cross walk
• A concern about a legislative bill that will expedite building permits in municipalities

Next Week

Next week’s activities include staff meetings, a meeting of the Wake County Mayors Association, opening remarks at the Chiefs of Police Association Meeting, a meeting with hotel developers from the Fenton, a reception for new Police Chief Sult, a regularly scheduled council meeting, and a meeting of the North Carolina Metro Mayors.

Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, June 26^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.

Pre-Agenda Meeting

Monday I attempted to contact council members to hear of questions and/or concerns about the upcoming regularly scheduled council meeting. Since the agenda was very light there were none. Later in the day I meet virtually with Mayor Pro-Tem Frantz, Directors, and Management to go over the agenda.

Town Manager One-On-One

My last meeting Monday was my weekly meeting with the town manager. Topics included EMS response times and the priority of future parks.

First Meeting of DEI Task Force

Tuesday night I virtually joined the first DEI Task Force meeting. Their agenda included introductions and the start of creating their work plan. The task force members were tasked with thinking about things that should be included in their work plan before their next meeting on July 5^th.

Economic Development Committee

Wednesday I joined council members Smith and Robinson in a meeting of the Economic Development Committee. The meeting started with a discussion about restructuring the committee to allow more input from the citizen members. In addition, the committee agreed that adding two more citizen members would be beneficial.

The quarterly report from the Cary Chamber included the following information:

• Advanced Manufacturing and a HealthCare Technology firm is expanding with an estimated capital investment of about $80 million. The number of new jobs is unknown currently.
• There are three recruitment projects in the pipeline with the potential for 1105 jobs and $105 million in capital investment.
• The product trend continues to be consistent over the past 12 months, mostly interest in the Industrial and Life Science space, with consultants and corporations looking for existing or shell buildings. There were a few a looking at build-to-suit opportunities averaging in size from 50,000 – 250, 000 square feet. Raw land request on average ranges from 20 – 40 acres, with some as much as 150 plus acres.
• There are two separate development firms on large industrial / flex space type of product sets. The first is in west Cary with 15 acres and a planned building size of around 170,000 sq ft, of which can be 2 buildings, or one large building. The other is a large tract in northwest Cary near the airport. This tract is 142 acres and is planned to have just over 700,000 sq ft of flex/ industrial space. Both projects are estimated to have their site /development plans approved from the Town within the next 4-6 months.
• Interest in the class A office market is starting to pick up somewhat, but based on office professionals, the office market will take more time before it comes back, and at what extent is still unknown. We have been working towards gaining interest in locating some of the smaller office projects into our new downtown development opportunities. Most office professionals seem to feel that it is estimated around 18 -24 months.

Under Old and New Business, the committee discussed remanent parcels around town and agreed that the town should consider purchasing some as open space.

The report from the Economic Development Director included a video concept of the “Center” sports and entertainment venue in South Hills. Staff continues to work with the landowners on an agreement.

In the committee’s general discussion, topics included the 30^th anniversary of our sister city relationship with Hsinchu city, social districts, and how to market Cary’s people and talent. The meeting concluded after about an hour and a half.

Town Council Meeting

Thursday the council held its first regularly scheduled council meeting of the month. The meeting started with a reading of a proclamation recognizing the Cary Fire Department’s 100 years of service. I presented the proclamation to Battalion Chief Tracy Williams. Chief Mike Cooper also provided a few remarks. The public speaks out portion of the meeting had two speakers asking for gun reform due to gun violence across the United States. Unfortunately municipalities have very little authority when it comes to gun regulations. Our only public hearing was on the budget and there were no in-person speakers. After a brief closed session, the meeting was adjourned with a meeting time of about 45 minutes.

Weatherstone 5^th Grader Recognition Ceremony

Friday I had the joy of being the Guest Speaker at the Weatherstone Elementary 5^th Grade Recognition Ceremony. Here is an excerpt from my remarks:

“… I am so proud of you and what you have accomplished. When you were in the middle of 3^rd grade, you had to suddenly move into remote learning, leaving behind your school, teachers, and friends. While you were able to see your friends and teachers on a computer screen is not the same as seeing them in person. So that had to be tough, but you stuck it out, you adapted, and you learned how to be flexible. Those are skills that will serve you well as you move through school and throughout your life.

A lot has changed since you first arrived at Weatherstone. And, as you might suspect, a lot has changed since I was in elementary school. In fact, I finished the 5^th grade 55 years ago. It was very different back then:

To be ready for that change we must always be learning, including myself. If we never stop learning, there is no telling what we can do. In fact, you may surprise yourself. I never planned to work with computers or be a mayor, but I was able to do that because I never stopped learning. And the adults in this room are the same. Their choices in their lives have a lot to do with what they learned. So if you want more choices in life you need to learn all you can.

So my message to you as you move into the sixth grade is to never stop learning. And if you only remember one thing that I say today remember this: Each and every one of you has gifts and talents. And those gifts and talents can help you succeed in whatever you pursue.

Before I close, I need to thank Principal Chadwick, Vice Principal Thomas, and all your phenomenal teachers and staff that work hard to encourage you and empower you. To the teachers, please know that you are a gift. Thank you! And thanks for dedicating your life to building our future. You have built a strong foundation with these students as they move forward in their education.

To the parents and guardians here today, to say the past few years have been difficult is an understatement. But you persevered. You navigated parenting, schooling, running a household, working, and many other things during this pandemic. I admire your dedication and unconditional love for your children.

And last, but not least, CONGRATULATIONS to our soon to be 6th graders—I am so proud of each of you! You have accomplished so much during your time at Weatherstone Elementary and I wish you luck as you continue your education journey towards graduating from high school as the class of 2029!”

After speaking the principal presented me with a T-shirt that included all the names of the 5^th grade graduating class. How cool is that!

North Carolina Metro Mayors

Friday the North Carolina Metro Mayors met to get an update on the legislature. Here is a summary of legislative actions from KTS Strategies:

Budget Negotiations

House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittee Chairs held closed-door meetings all week to work out their area-specific portions of the budget.  House and Senate leadership have already reached an agreement on topline spending. We anticipate the chambers to reach a budget agreement within the next two weeks which would keep the legislature on track to conclude the short session by July 1.

Medical Marijuana

The Senate gave final approval to S711, NC Compassionate Care Act. The legislation would legalize the use of medical marijuana for qualified patients with a debilitating medical condition. On Monday, the bill passed third reading on the Senate floor (36-7) with 1 Democrat and 6 Republicans voting against the measure. The bill has been sent to the House for consideration.

This week, the House passed S448, Amendments to Schedule VI of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). The bill would remove Marijuana and THC derived prescription drugs that have received approval from the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA), from Schedule VI of the CSA. The North Carolina Commission for Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services could submit objections to any decision that comes from the FDA. House proponents made it clear in their discussions this was not marijuana legalization and dealt with prescription drugs already approved by the FDA. The bill passed third reading in the House on Wednesday (92-9) and has been sent to the Governor.

Medical Debt

On Tuesday, the House Banking Committee discussed H1039, Medical Debt De-Weaponization Act. Requested by the NC Department of State Treasurer, the bill would require hospitals and other large health care facilities and providers to disclose prices and financial assistance, provide minimum levels of free care, and prohibit certain collections practices. Facilities would have to adopt a written financial assistance policy (Medical Debt Mitigation Policy or MDMP) and provide free care for patients at 200 percent of the federal poverty level. The bill would give the Attorney General the authority of enforcement. No vote was taken on the legislation during the committee.

Remote Instruction

The House approved S671 this week. The proposed committee substitute (PCS) heard in the House Rules Committee would allow schools that provided full-time virtual instruction in the 2021-2022 school year to continue providing such instruction in the 2022-2023 school year and allow districts to opt for virtual learning days in the event of inclement weather. It would also authorize public school units to establish remote academies that meet certain requirements beginning in the 2023-2024 school year. The bill passed on the House floor Thursday with a vote of 73-22. It will be returned to the Senate for a concurrence vote.

Community Voice Tree Summit

Saturday I attended the Community Voice Tree Summit and provide remarks. There were 75 to 100 people in attendance. Here is an excerpt from my remarks:

“… Trees are a huge part of what makes Cary, Cary. Our trees shade us, feed us, clear our air and our water. In Cary 70% of the land is privately owned so our trees need our combined attention.

As you may know there have been tree plantings at town-owned sites to enhance our canopy such as those planted at Heater Park and Dorothy Park. Those plantings are to ensure we have a new generation of trees when the older trees mature and phase out. And that is our main focus, planning the next generation of Cary’s tree canopy.

We want to hear your thoughts, feedback, ideas and of course your questions. Everything expressed today will be considered as we create a plan to effectively manage the forest of our future here in Cary.

And while this plan will look out 10 years into our future, our trees will live and benefit our community well beyond that. So your ideas today will have a long impact. …”

I was in attendance for about an hour and a half.

Town Manager’s Report

The Town Manager’s Report for this week included the following:

Sean’s Message

Mayor and Council, I am pleased to confirm that Terry Sult has accepted our offer to serve as Cary’s fulltime Chief of Police, effective immediately.
As you know, Terry has an extensive operation and administrative background, bringing with him not one but three tours as a police chief in three states. 
When we hired Terry 8 months ago as our interim chief, both he and we were certain that being interim would be the end of our relationship. But Terry found something in Cary he’d never seen before: our co-created culture, including your support, Council. Terry learned firsthand who we are and the remarkable community we serve, and so he asked to compete for the fulltime position. He wanted it so much that he’s coming out of retirement to have this experience, and we couldn’t be happier or more grateful.
I want to thank Renee Poole and Russ Overton for leading our extensive search and evaluation efforts. I also want to thank the dozen+ staff from police and other departments as well as the citizens who participated in candidate evaluation.  
Please note, there won’t be a Council Weekly Report distributed next week. The next report will be shared on June 24.

In appreciation,
Sean

May Quarterly Follow-Up

Following up on the environmental questions from the May quarterly, staff prepared two fact sheets and a recycling graphic. Details about the electric sanitation truck, including a comparation with the standard diesel truck, are available in the Electric Sanitation Truck Fact Sheet. Details about the compost produced from the food waste drop-off and distributed to Good Hope Farm are provided in the Food Waste Drop-off Fact Sheet . A draft version of a graphic regarding recycling has been prepared and is posted online here. The next recycling contract is scheduled for execution in early 2023 and updates to the graphic will be made at that time.

225 E. Park Street

Development Services has been in close contact with the demolition contractor for the house located on 225 E. Park Street. According to the demolition contractor, their plan is to demolish the house by the end of next week. Prior to beginning demolition of the house, the owner allowed the Police Department to use the house for training. The owner plans to rebuild on the property in the future.

Fire Celebrates 100^th Anniversary

Fire celebrated its 100th anniversary this week beginning Friday evening by screening a movie on the lawn at the old library site with refreshments and family-friendly activities. A fire truck parade took place on Saturday followed by a street dance with a live band featuring a Fire retiree on bass guitar. Monday, all nine fire stations opened their doors for an open house that included station and apparatus tours, a new fire prevention video premiere, dinner cooked by the firefighters, and giveaways. At last night’s Council meeting, Mayor Weinbrecht shared a brief history of the Fire Department and presented a proclamation recognizing the 100th anniversary of Cary’s Fire Department. Battalion Chief Tracy Williams and Fire Chief Mike Cooper accepted the proclamation on behalf of the Department.
A final commemorative event is scheduled for June 25 at Bond Park with apparatus displays, demonstrations, obstacle courses for kids and adults, a band, a DJ, food and beer trucks, and other activities.

First Meeting of the Human Relations, Inclusion, and Diversity Task Force

On Tuesday, members of the Human Relations, Inclusion, and Diversity Task Force gathered together for their first meeting as a Task Force. The group learned how and why the task force came to be, began getting to know each other, and discussed what they look forward to achieving as a Task Force.

Cary Launches EBike Pilot Program on Greenways

On June 1, Cary launched a pilot to allow electric assisted bicycles (EBikes) on Cary greenways. This pilot allows us to test, listen, and learn. We are specifically interested in hearing from greenway users and are encouraging them to submit feedback through a survey so staff can determine if changing local ordinances to allow the use of EBikes on our greenway system would benefit Cary posted on signs along greenways across Cary.

We simultaneously have increased our messaging regarding travelling at safe speeds along the greenways and observing the 15mph speed limit. Pavement stickers and signs are being added to the longer and higher volume greenways.

The pilot will continue through December 31. Survey results and additional research is expected to be compiled and presented to Council in late fall.

Composting Activities

The Carolina Composting Council invited Cary to speak at its annual meeting. Staff shared the success of the Food Waste Drop Off pilot program and how it fits into the existing framework of Cary’s composting culture that spans decades of education and outreach. Cary was joined by Toward Zero Waste Cary who shared about the value of community partnerships and their role in supporting Cary’s waste diversion efforts.
Also, staff toured New Hanover County’s compost facility to learn about the operations and its impact on waste diversion. The County uses an in-vessel composting system to turn municipal yard waste, commercial manure, and food waste from UNCW and a few commercial sites into compost that is available for free to residents. The tour was part of the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) Managing Composting Programs 3-day training. 

Tree Workshop

The first of two Urban Forestry Master Plan outreach efforts launched recently with a tree workshop for Cary staff, area municipal experts, academics, and citizen representatives. The consultant, Urban Canopy Works, shared some technical results of their tree and canopy evaluation to date, and facilitated small group discussions that elicited ideas that will help inform the master plan. On June 11, the second outreach effort, the Community Voice Tree Summit, invites citizens at large to provide their feedback, ideas, and questions that will help inform the vision of Cary’s tree canopy.

Cary PD Cadets Graduate From the Police Academy

On June 9, three Cary Police Department (PD) cadets graduated from the police academy. Our cadets successfully completed 787 hours of intensive law enforcement training which includes topics and instructional methods required by the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission. Please join us in congratulating Justin Kosobucki, Devon Perillo, and Taylor Shealy on their completion of Wake Technical Community College’s Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) Academy.

Crabtree Creek and Black Creek Sewer Rehab Update

The first phase of the Crabtree Creek & Black Creek Sewer Rehabilitation Project is approaching completion with additional lining work, manhole rehabilitation, and cleanup/restoration activities planned for the next few weeks before reopening the Crabtree Trail.
In the next phase, contractors will focus their efforts on rehabilitation of sewer lines along the Black Creek Greenway between West Dynasty Drive and North Cary Park, which will require a closure of this particular section. The remaining parts of Black Creek Greenway including those areas between North Cary Park and the Crabtree Creek Greenway will remain open during this next phase of the project.
Beginning June 16, signs notifying residents of the upcoming closure of the Black Creek Greenway between West Dynasty Drive and North Cary Park, as well as the corresponding greenway detour route, will be installed along the trail and at trailhead locations in the area.

Upcoming Meetings

Hybrid Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Advisory Board
Mon, June 13
5:15 p.m.

Hybrid Information Services Advisory Board Meeting
Mon, June 13
6:00 p.m.

Zoning Board of Adjustment
Mon, June 13
6:30 p.m.

Hybrid Environmental Advisory Board
Tues, June 14
6:00 p.m.

Hybrid Greenway Committee Meeting
Thurs, June 16
6:00 p.m.

Mayor’s Mailbox

• Questions and complaints about gun violence
• A complaint about EMS response times
• Thanks to the Cary staff
• A complaint about a deck project delay
• A complaint about the town not monitoring water leaks appropriately with AquaStar
• A complaint about a traffic signal at Courland View and Mills Park Drive

Next Week

Next week’s activities include staff meetings, a Cary Chamber golf event, a meeting of the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Executive Board, Green Hope High School graduation, a meeting of the North Carolina Metro Mayors, and a memorial service for Fellas Bond.

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

My Absence

Last week I was out of town on a family holiday with my entire family including my wife, both my daughters and my grandson. It was the first time we were all together for the family vacation in years. I apologize for missing the council meeting, but Mayor Pro-Tem Frantz did an excellent job.

Memorial Day

Memorial Day I joined the entire council, except council member Bush who was out of town on a family emergency, in remembering our veterans. The ceremony was emceed by council member Smith, the council’s only veteran. Mayor Pro-Tem Frantz read a proclamation. Gunnery Sergeant Jeff Sherman provided remarks. Master Gunnery Sergeant Russell Barber, a Silver Star recipient, was the main speaker. Quotes from his comments include:

“This isn’t simply a day off. This is a day to remember those others who paid for every breath you ever get to take.”

“Every hot dog, every burger, every spin around the lake, or drink with friends and family is a debit purchase by others. This is not about who served, that day comes in the fall. This one is in honor of those who paid in life and blood whose moms never saw them again, who’s dads wept in private, who’s wives raised kids alone, and who’s kids only remember them from pictures.”

It was truly an honor to be present among those who risked all for our freedom and those family members whose relatives gave their lives for us.

Town Manager One-On-One Meeting

Tuesday I met virtually with the town manager. Topics included the progress on finding a police chief, moving the retreat from August to accommodate new council members, our nondiscrimination ordinance, ideas on naming parks, the downtown parking study, future downtown parking decks, providing electricity to the Veterans Freedom Park, and the ITA Tennis Championships.

State Dinner

Wednesday I joined council member Robinson, council member Liu, Deputy Town Manager Overton, and Assistant Town Manager Curran in attending the 4^th Annual Town and State Dinner held by the North Carolina League of Municipalities. It was an opportunity to meet legislators, municipal leaders, and municipal managers. I had the opportunity to meet several mayors from around the state like Mayor McLeod from Clayton who has been mayor since 2003, and Mayor Perry from Pittsboro who is dealing with rapid growth issues. It is my hope that the connections made will benefit all of us.

Fenton Ribbon Cutting

Thursday I had the joy of participating in the ribbon cutting for the Fenton. The $850 million project is the largest development in Cary’s history and the first vertically integrated development. It will be a true live-work-play destination. The event was emceed by Paul Zarian from Hines and included speakers Jeff Hines from Hines and Abbitt Goodwin representing Columbia development. I was the last of three speakers. The following is an excerpt from my remarks:

“…This project has been 7 years in the making since we were first approached by Columbia development. In 2017 we traveled out of state with the developer to visit other mixed-use projects throughout the country and experience the vision they had for our town.

We witnessed firsthand the energy of this type of mixed-use center, the resulting impacts it had on the surrounding communities, and showed us what was possible for Cary. And to see this vision materialize in our own backyard after years is exciting and rewarding. And it would never have happened without the years of hard work on by the developers, their partners, and the Town.

In addition to being an incredible destination, the Fenton is now the first thing visitors see when they enter Cary in the Eastern Cary Gateway. And it will play a very important role in the overall impression Cary makes on its visitors as they approach our downtown.

The Fenton is already serving as a catalyst for new development and investment in our community.

It is my hope that it will not only be one of the premier mixed-use destinations in the region, but it will also help to recruit and retain major companies in Cary like Apple or Epic Games.

To say that I am excited to have the Fenton in Cary is an understatement. It is a dynamic, pedestrian-friendly, first-class destination for shopping, dining, working, and living; and cements Cary’s position as one of the greatest places to live, work, and play in America.

Thank you to Hines, Columbia Development, USAA and all stakeholders for sharing and implementing their vision and our vision. Thank you for choosing Cary and believing in Cary. Most of all, thank you for your partnership in creating the next great place for our community and beyond.”

After speaking I was asked to stay on stage and was surprised with a birthday cake (it was my 66^th birthday) and serenaded by hundreds of people. That was a first for me! This was followed by the ribbon cutting which included Jeff Hines, Abbitt Goodwin, Mark Lawson from the Cary Chamber, and me.

NC Metro Mayors

Friday I participated in a meeting of the North Carolina Metro Mayors. Here is a summary of that meeting from the Executive Director:

General Update 

State BUDGET:  The Senior Appropriations chairs in the House and Senate appear to have reached general agreements on the topline spending and potential tax cuts for citizens.  The area chairs will be taking up their parts of the budget in the coming weeks as the General Assembly remains on course for the 2022 session to end in late June. 

Expanding Access to Healthcare (H149) passed the NC Senate this week.  It would expand Medicaid eligibility in NC, it would provide for greater coverage for telemedicine, modify the Certificate-of-Need program and other various changes.  The next stop various House committees of jurisdiction IF the House Republican Caucus decides to advance the bill. 

Compassionate Care Act (S711) passed the Senate this week.  This legislation would set up a rigorous medical cannabis program for select patients in North Carolina.  The fate of the legislation, like Medicaid expansion, now rests in the NC House, where its fate is still unclear. 

Transportation 

S793– Study Econ. Dlvr. Fee/Xfer Rev for Transport – a bill introduced by senior Republican (Sawyer and McGinnis) and Democratic (Woodard) Senate Transportation leaders to transfer a phased-in percentage of the state general fund sales tax revenue (2% year one, 4% year two and then 6% annually thereafter) to the Highway Trust Fund.  The legislation would tap the state sales tax revenues (not local sales tax) to shore up the long-term finances needed to support the state transportation infrastructure.  The bipartisan bill would use a share of state sales tax revenues (6% is a percentage loosely based on the total sales taxes generated by transportation related sales and use tax collections, such as tires, car repairs, auto parts, etc.) to help modernize transportation finance.  Additional funding will help with project delays in the current State Transportation Improvement Plan and prepare for the expected decline in gas taxes due to growing use of electric vehicles in the coming years.  While the idea of using state transportation related sales and use taxes for m transportation infrastructure has broad support in the Senate, and to a lesser degree in the House, the path forward is unclear at this time and energetic advocacy is needed to help push the concept forward now before the short session and the budget revisions are completed over the next two weeks or so. 

The NC Metropolitan Mayors Coalition has been a long-standing advocate for additional transportation infrastructure investments – and next week we will circulate a “sign-on letter for mayors” to encourage this badly funding that supports our economy. 

Public Safety 

Discussion today on the MMC call included several various jurisdictions expressing interested in Civilian Traffic Enforcement.  A few jurisdictions have this authority now and others are working on local bills to seek that authority.  Further research and discussions are needed, and the Mayors Coalition will help facilitate collaboration and communications amongst interested members. 

Local Control/Local Revenues 

S372 – Electrical Contracting Licensure Mods. Here is the legislative analysis: https://dashboard.ncleg.gov/api/Services/BillSummary/2021/S372-SMBR-132(CSBR-29)-v-6. We are working alongside the NCLM and the NC Department of Insurance to identify concerns for House representatives. 

H1095 – PFAS Pollution and Polluter Liability.  John McDonald, NCLM Senior Govt. Affairs Assoc. provided an overview of the legislation (https://dashboard.ncleg.gov/api/Services/BillSummary/2021/H1095-SMRI-88(e1)-v-4) which prevents the various municipal and regional utility rate payers from being liable for the remediation of waterways that are contaminated with PFAS/PFOAs. 

The meeting concluded after about half an hour.

Podcast for Real Estate Investors

Friday I participated in a podcast for real estate investors. We talked for about an hour on things that happened last year, what will be happening this year, and my thoughts on what would happen in the future. It was a great talk and I hope the information was beneficial for those thinking about investing in real estate in Cary.

N&O Interview

Friday afternoon I was interviewed briefly by a reporter for the N&O. She wanted my thoughts on the opening of the Fenton. I talked about how this was a long process and some of the events and decisions that took place to get this project to come to fruition.

Boot Camp Fitness at the Fenton

Saturday morning I participated in a boot camp fitness class held at the Fenton sponsored by Athleta. The 45-minute class was a lot of fun and there were a couple of dozen in attendance.

National Trails Day

Later Saturday morning I joined a bike ride from Bond Park to Davis Drive Park and back as part of the National Trails Day. The group included Wake Commissioner Hutchinson, his wife, and others. I used one of the bike rentals at Bond Park for the ride. The rental bike had gears to make the ride easier, but I kept it in 1^st gear for the workout. While the ride was only 3 ½ miles, I am sure I burned a few calories since the bike was soooo heavy.

To continue celebrating National Trails Day, I followed the bike ride with a 7 1/2-mile run on the Speight Branch greenway. Its main feature is circling the Tryon Lake and is one of my favorite places to run.

Cary Fire Department 100^th Celebration Parade

Saturday afternoon I joined council members Smith, Robinson, and Yerha in the Cary Fire Department’s 100^th Anniversary Celebration Parade. We rode in a vintage 1953 firetruck. Council member Yerha sat in the front and sounded the siren with a foot pedal button while the rest of us sat on the bench seat on the second row. After the ride we watched the rest of the parade which included more than 50 fire trucks from various parts of North Carolina. Benson even provided a horse drawn fire apparatus. If you like fire trucks this was a dream parade. Thanks for all the municipalities for participating in our celebration parade.

Town Manager’s Report

The town manager’s report for this week included:

Sean’s Message

Many ribbon cutting events come and go from our memory bank and some last a lifetime. This project is a tangible accomplishment of our culture and was acknowledged yesterday in the grand opening remarks. After years of collaboration between Council, staff, and the Fenton team the ribbon was cut at a mixed-use development that will differentiate Cary for years to come because of the meaningful standards each of you assisted in bringing to life. At times the process was challenging but, in the end, it was rewarding to see all of the conversations, inspections, negotiations, etc. was worth the energy and time. I am so happy for everyone involved and enjoyed connecting with many of the key players present at the grand opening event. This was definitely a ribbon cutting for the memory bank. 
Enjoy your weekend.
Sean

Development Pulse Report

The May 2022 Development Pulse Report is now available. Highlights include:

• The Press, 2001 Evans Road: A building permit and a development plan have been submitted to demolish the interior of the former Oxford University Press Building and add parking to existing parking areas for a future warehouse and office use.
• Cary Towne Center Building Pad Demolition, 1105 Walnut Street: The development plan was approved to continue demolition of the former Cary Towne Center building to remove the building pad and establish an area of soil and erosion control.
• In May 2022, three rezoning cases were approved:
  • 21-REZ-21, Fenton Rezoning: The rezoning request clarifies additional flexibility for signage at the Fenton Development.
  • 21-REZ-15, 109 Appaloosa Trail Rezoning: The rezoning case establishes R40-CU zoning for the construction of one detached dwelling and connection to Cary’s water and sewer services.
  • 21-REZ-19, Estes Residential Rezoning: The case rezones six acres of property at 7824 Emery Gayle Lane from R40 to R12-CU to develop a maximum of 15 detached dwelling units.

Cary 101 Graduation

A group of 20 citizens graduated from Cary 101 after participating in a series of engaging presentations, activities, and facility tours over the last several weeks. Cary staff enjoyed sharing their work and passion with the group, and the students appreciated this opportunity to learn about Cary’s values, operations, and services. Mayor Pro Tem Don Frantz and Councilmember Jack Smith attended the graduation ceremony to thank these citizens for their interest in local government and to celebrate their accomplishment. The next Cary 101 program will be planned for Spring 2023.

Relaunching Neighborhood Improvement Program

Cary’s Neighborhood Improvement Grant Program awards up to $5,000 to neighborhood groups aiming to strengthen their community through beautification projects or other physical improvements. Throughout the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the program was paused for the safety of staff and residents. Staff used this time to evaluate and update the program guidelines, application, and agreement. After piloting two projects with these new program materials, staff are ready to begin accepting new applications. Interested neighborhoods may learn more about eligible projects and submit an application online.

Memorial Day

On Monday, May 30 over 600 Cary citizens gathered at Veterans Freedom Park to honor those that have fallen while defending our country. Council Member Jack Smith emceed the event and was joined by Mayor Harold Weinbrecht and Council Members Ed Yerha, Ya Liu, Jennifer Robinson, and Don Frantz. The program started off with patriotic music from The Cary Town Band and remarks from Jack Smith. Gunnery Sergeant Jeff Sherman and Master Gunnery Sergeant Russel Barber spoke on what Memorial Day means to them after a moment of silence was held for the fallen. The program concluded with a little more music and citizens reflecting inside the monument. It was one of the largest crowds we have had for our Memorial Day program.

Summer Garden Programs Are Growing

Cary’s summer garden education programs are growing strong with family-friendly open house events all summer long. Ongoing free education events are being hosted at Good Hope Farm, Carpenter Park Community Garden, and the Compost Education Center to help connect our community to local food. Participants can sample garden-fresh veggies and learn tips and tricks for growing a garden at home all while touring our beautiful urban agriculture facilities.

Solar Facility Acquisition

Cary is one step closer to owning the 1.8-MW solar facility at South Cary Water Reclamation Facility. Following Council’s review of the acquisition at the quarterly meeting on May 12, both parties including Cary and Cypress Creek Renewables signed an asset purchase agreement. The next step is completing all the business transactions required for closing, which is expected to be completed by fall 2022. Following the closing, Cary will be the new proud owners of the facility, which upholds our commitment to advancing renewable energy and reducing carbon emissions.  

National Tennis Month

In partnership with Western Wake Tennis Association, Cary hosted 10 community events during National Tennis Month in May. National Tennis Month is a designated time to drive awareness and bring new players into local tennis programs. In celebration, Cary hosted many events including the largest USTA adult spring league, abilities tennis clinics, wheelchair tennis clinics, youth tennis tournament, senior appreciation day, an open house for Dunham tennis courts, and began USTA adult summer leagues.

Runoff Elections

At their May 27 meeting, the Wake County Board of Elections approved Herb Young Community Center as an early voting location for the second primary and Cary municipal runoff election. Early voting will begin on July 7 and end on July 23, with the second primary and Cary municipal runoff election occurring on July 26. The three races to be determined are:

• Town of Cary Town Council At-Large
• Town of Cary Town Council District C
• Democratic Party Sheriff’s Race

Full dates and times for early voting can be found here.

For questions about any aspect of the voting process, please contact the State Board of Elections.

Wake County Board of Elections
Phone number: (919) 856-6240
Chatham County Board of Elections
Phone number: (919) 545-8500
Durham County Board of Elections
Phone number: (919) 560-0700

Upcoming Meetings

Historic Preservation Commission

Wednesday, June 8
6:30 p.m.

Human Relations, Inclusion, & Diversity Task Force

Tuesday, June 7
6:00 p.m.

Economic Development Committee

Wednesday, June 8
5:15 p.m.

Council Meeting

Thursday, June 8
6:30 p.m.

Mayor’s Mailbox

Emails from citizens this week included:

• Comments about affordable housing in the budget
• A complaint about vaccinations required by the EPACT company used by the Parks Department
• A complaint about EMS response times

Next Week

Next week’s activities include staff meetings, an Economic Development Committee meeting, a council budget work session, a council meeting, a meeting of the NC Metro Mayors, a graduation address for 5^th graders at Weatherstone Elementary, and remarks at the Urban Forest Master Plan Workshop.

Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, June 12^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.

OneWake

Monday afternoon I met virtually with members of OneWake who advocate for affordable housing. Most of the members on this call were clergy leading congregations in Cary. They talked about the needs and the desperate situations of many individuals. I, along with housing staff members, talked about the Cary Housing Plan and funding for that plan. We all agreed that communication was key and to continue to work together to come up with solutions.

Town Manager One-On-One

Later Monday I met virtually with the town manager for our weekly meeting. Some of the topics we talked about included the budget and the Cary Tennis Park.

Wake County Mayors Association

Monday evening I participated in a meeting of the Wake County Mayors at the Duke Energy Customer Service Center on Rush Street in Raleigh. We visited the control room where outages are handled for all Duke Energy customers in North and South Carolina. We learned about the “self-healing” technology that automatically detects power outages and quickly reroute power to restore service faster or avoid the outage altogether. So if you have ever experienced a five to ten second outage, that was the self-healing technology rerouting around a problem to restore power to you. We also heard from several executives about their new commitment to reduce carbon emissions by 70% by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Cary Elections

For the first time Cary Elections were held during a partisan primary. The top vote getter in each of the three races was a party endorsed candidate. Here are the results:

District A:

• Jennifer Robinson (I): 75.61% (endorsed by the Republican Party)
• Chase McGrath: 24.02%

Jennifer Robinson wins

District C:

• Renee Miller: 28.54% (endorsed by the Republican Party)
• Jack Smith(I): 28.04%
• Amanda Murphy: 23.41% (endorsed by the Democratic Party)
• Mary Insprucker: 12.49%
• George McDowell: 7.39%

Runoff between Renee Miller and Jack Smith

At-Large:

• Carissa Johnson: 39.88% (endorsed by the Democratic Party)
• Ken George: 38.77% (endorsed by the Republican Party)
• Ed Yerha(I): 21.02%

Runoff between Carissa Johnson and Ken George

Runoff elections will be held on July 26^th.

CAMPO

Wednesday I participated in a meeting of the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Executive Board. The committee unanimously approved an update for the CAMPO Strategic Plan for 2022. A public hearing was held for the Wake Transit Fiscal Year 2023 work plan. Information was provided about the Triangle Regional Travel Survey and the Electric Vehicles and Infrastructure Update.

Bust Installation of Jerry Miller

Thursday I joined Mayor Pro-Tem Frantz, and council members Robinson, Smith, Yerha, Liu, and Bush in a ceremony to install a bust for long time Cary artist Jerry Miller. Speakers for the event included long time friend Anthony Blackman, NC Representative Gale Adcock, Sanford Mayor Chet Mann (Jerry’s great nephew), and I. In my remarks I talked from remarks that I had written down earlier in the day:

“Although Jerry was born in Sanford, he has spent much of his life in Cary. And he loves Cary. He is one of those that we describe as “bleeds green”. In my conversations with Jerry, we have a great time talking about things in Cary’s past and in Cary’s future.

He is an award-winning artist. And if there is an iconic structure in Cary, Jerry has drawn it. In fact, Jerry Miller art is considered a valued treasure and is often given as gifts. I am willing to bet that most people here this afternoon have Jerry’s art in their houses. I know I do.

Jerry shared his passion for art in 1977 by creating the first Lazy Daze Arts and Crafts Festival in downtown. That festival which started with 100 artists is now one of the largest in the southeast and has grown to a 2-day festival that brings over 300 of the highest quality artists from across the nation. It is amazing to think that this festival started with one person’s passion. And that passion put Cary on the map for art. So, in my mind that makes Jerry the godfather of Cary art.

With all that Jerry has accomplished, he is still known by many of us as one of the friendliest faces in Cary. And today we are honored that we will capture that smiling face in perpetuity.  …”

Jerry Miller followed our remarks with his own mostly thanking all in attendance. It was a fantastic event, and his bust is now on display in front of the Cary Arts Center.

North Carolina Metro Mayors

Friday morning I participated in a meeting of the North Carolina Metro Mayors. Here is a summary of that meeting from the Executive Director:

General Update

• The Legislature is officially in session as of Wednesday, May 18^th. No votes or committee meetings of significance this week.
• They will return next week for committee meetings and some private caucus discussions.
• Short session may actually be completed by July 1^st, with the chance they could return in the Fall for a special session to take up “unfinished business.”
• The budget this year will likely be in the form of a conference report that cannot be amended – an up or down vote, no changes allowed.  Based on the perception that the biennial budget that passed last year had plenty of spending and tax cuts – there is the possibility that the General Assembly and Governor Cooper would NOT reach an agreement on a budget and the second-year short session adjustments to the budget may not be enacted this year.
• While we have not seen any specific budget language at this point (it is still being developed behind closed doors), the majority leaders have publicly suggested they want another round of tax cuts or a rebate and to raise teacher/state employee pay.
• In somewhat of a role reversal, the Senate appears ready to consider expanding Medicaid coverage, while the House, which earlier seemed poised to take up expansion, now seems less interested. It has been suggested the House may be hesitant to take the issue until after the elections, pointing to a possible special session after the November elections.

Transportation

• We anticipate legislation/budget item that would add funding to transportation projects by directing state transportation related sales and taxes collected by the state to NCDOT rather that the General Fund.  This could mean $500m/year increase to transportation, perhaps to the Highway Trust Fund which would help alleviate the backlog of projects in the state’s STIP (attached handout from NC Chamber of Commerce).  Metro Mayors are active partners in efforts to improve funding for transportation.
• It is important to note that this extends the “user-pay approach” (transportation related taxes spent on transportation) and does not require any new or additional taxes. It is generally recognized the the long-term financing of transportation is going to be challenged as electric vehicles become more prevalent and the gas tax revenue that goes to transportation declines. This proposal would provide badly needed funding for delayed transportation projects and serve as a bridge for financing transportation when gas taxes begin to decline.
• Senator Vickie Sawyer and Senator Tom McInnis have been very supportive of this initiative, providing leadership from the Senate Transportation Committee.
• Please review the attached documents and consider talking to your local Chamber of Commerce. This effort is going to take municipal leaders working in collaboration with the business community if we are going to be able to provide this BADLY NEEDED FUNDING to our state’s transportation program. Reach out to your local chamber and consider a joint appeal to your local delegation to support this legislation. This would be a very positive way to leverage both the support from municipalities and the business community.

Public Safety – Marijuana legislation

• Senator Rabon is planning on moving his Medical Marijuana legislation in the Senate. Because of time constraints in this short session, our lobbying team believes it is highly unlikely it will pass in the House. We are anticipating the legislation will be taken up again in the next General Assembly, in 2023.
• There have been conversations about allowing a local government county level opt-out of such a program. Early indications suggest this would likely be a 30–60-day period after the legislation is passed where a local government could choose to opt-out.
• The current version of the bill only allows 80 dispensaries across the State of North Carolina.

Economic Development – no significant legislative activity

Local Control/Local Revenues

Possible AirBnB/STR legislation –

• While we have not seen any proposals yet, we will remain vigilant on any efforts to restrict local government authority.

Commercial Prop. Plan Review (H291) –

• This bill is a building and multi-family permit acceleration bill. Local governments will have 21 days to complete the plan submission/plan approval process.
• H291 also requires that 2% of local fees paid must be paid to the state for the Department of Insurance, to help cover the costs at the state level.
• Bill was re-referred to committee in March, but the question remains if the legislature is interested in the current format of the bill.
• It will be important for us as a group to remain engaged with your local delegation and help educate legislators regarding this issue.

The meeting concluded after about thirty minutes.

Proposed Budget Details

This week staff provided slides presented at last week’s quarterly meeting which included detail about the proposed budget:

• Milestones:
  • A budget public hearing during Council’s next regular meeting on May 26
  • A second budget public hearing during Council’s regular meeting on June 9
  • Budget adoption during Council’s regular meeting on June 23.
• The recommended budget assumes that the tax rate will remain unchanged at 34.5 cents per every $100 of assessed value. One penny on the tax rate generates $3.4M
• The solid waste fee is recommended to increase $1.50 to $22 per month:
  • Increasing the fee by $1.50 generates approximately $944,000 annually
  • Our current rate of $20.50 / month recovers just under 90% of the program’s cost.
  • The $1.50 increase will bring cost recovery to 94%
  • Cary’s solid waste fee has historically recovered roughly 85% to 95% of the program’s cost. Staff does not recall reaching 100% cost recovery.
• Utility Rates are recommended to increase 3%:
  • This roughly translates to a $2.30 / month increase for the average family of 4.
  • Rates were increased in our current fiscal year (FY 2022) by approximately 2.5%. And they were decreased by 4% the prior year.
  • Even with increases in FYs 2022 and 2023, Cary’s rates remain below what was projected prior to the FY 2021 decrease.
• Property tax revenue continues to perform well:
  • As of Q3, we collected $114.3M, or 98% of our $116.2M property tax budget for FY 2022.
  • FY 2023 property tax revenue is budgeted at 2% growth in conjunction with tax base growth.
• Sales Tax Revenue:
  • FY 2022 sales tax revenue is estimated at $50.M which is 15% more than budget.
  • The FY 2023 budget recommendation of $53M assumes 5% growth over FY 2022 estimated numbers.
• Total Budget:
  • The total budget, operating and capital combined, is $443.6 million. That figure is up 10.9% from the current year’s budget.
  • $324.0 million of the total budget supports the operating budget which is up 12.1% from the current year’s budget.
  • The remaining $119.6 million supports capital improvements projects identified for the year. This is a 7.7% increase from the current year.
  • The primary drivers behind this year’s operating budget increases are inflation, supply chain, employee compensation and the Downtown Park.
  • On the capital side, rising inflation and supply chain costs are significant contributors. The capital budget also reflects an intentional increase in housing funding, as well.
• What the Budget Does:
  • Maintains Services and Infrastructure
  • Moves Forward with Priority Areas Like Stormwater, Housing, and the Environment
  • Brings the Downtown Park On-line
  • Supports Police Department Staffing and Vehicle Needs
  • Continuous Commitment to Employees
• Core Services:
  • $7.3 million is directed to the street improvements project
  • $8.75 million is included for sidewalk improvements:

• $7M of this funding is supported by American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars with the remaining $1.75M funded with Town cash.
• Council directed $5 million of ARPA funding to sidewalks in our current fiscal year (2022), so adding this $7M in FY 2023 brings total ARPA supported sidewalks to $12M.
• $13.5 million supports water and sewer line maintenance and repair.
• $2.4 million is included for maintaining existing fire stations. Station 4 is the focus for FY 2023 rehabilitation funding.
• Facility maintenance examples range from:
  • Park and playground renovations to
  • HVAC and roof repair and replacements, Town Hall renovations, and more at various facilities.
  • Major maintenance and repair at Cary’s three sports special venues – Cary Tennis Park, WakeMed Soccer Park and the USA Baseball National Training Facility are also included.
  • The Town receives $3M per year in Hospitality Tax funds from Wake County to offset a portion of these special venue maintenance needs.
• The FY 2023 recommended budget continues to carry out the projects approved by voters in the Shaping Cary’s Tomorrow Bond referendum with $24.5 million in projects:
  • $19.1 million Transportation
  • $ 5.4 million Parks
• Stormwater:
  • In addition to regular operating expenses, $3.3 million is directed toward stormwater initiatives between the operating and capital budgets.
  • $2.3 million of this amount supports our routine stormwater infrastructure, condition assessment projects and continuation of our Swift Creek Model, while an additional $1 million included in the operating budget supports study and related work that the team will move forward with in FY 2023.
• Housing:
  • A total of $9M supports implementation of Cary’s recently adopted Housing Plan.
  • $5M of this total is supported with American Rescue Plan Act funds that Council approved for use in January 2022 ($1M to flow through the FY 2023 Community Development Block Grant program and $4M to be used for a land purchase or other similar use when identified.)
  • The remaining $4M appropriated through the FY 2023 budget is funded with $650,000 in federal CDBG funds and Town of Cary dollars.
  • For context – Cary’s $4M in housing funding is equal to a bit over one penny, while the $9M total equates to a little less than 3 pennies on the tax rate.
• New Environmental Initiatives:
  • Environmental Action Plan
  • Pollinator Gardens design and installation
  • Solarized campaign – Solarized campaigns help homes and businesses in the same area go solar together through local organized community outreach. This campaign is being led by TJCOG, and Cary is participating as a partner.
  • Tree care
  • Tree plantings
  • Nursery to grow and deliver specific trees for Cary’s “My Tree Our Tree” program
  • An electric vehicle study
  • Continued consideration and purchase of electric vehicles when appropriate
• GoCary:
  • The FY 2023 recommended budget also includes $18.4M for construction of the GoCary Bus Operations and Maintenance Facility.
  • Total project cost is estimated at $39.2 million. $20.8 million has been appropriated to date. The FY 2023 funding provides remaining funds needed for construction.
  • This project is 100% funded with Wake County Transit Plan funds.
• Downtown Park:
  • The FY 2023 recommended budget provides funding so that we are ready when the park is ready.
  • $2.5 million is included for programming, programming related supplies and equipment and 9 positions to serve the park.
  • The facility’s remaining position needs in both PRCR and Public Works will be a part of FY 2024 budget development.
• Police Staffing and Vehicles:
  • 6 new police officer positions are included in the FY 2023 recommended budget. These positions will be downtown-focused working to build relationships with citizens, businesses and downtown patrons while continuing to keep our community safe. Total cost for these positions including salaries, benefits, equipment and vehicles is estimated at $1M.
  • An additional $2.6M is included in the budget to complete the transition of the Police Department’s vehicle assignment model from shared vehicle to 1:1. Purchasing 36 more police vehicles will allow the department to assign one officer to one vehicle and eliminate the need for vehicle sharing.
• Employee Commitment:
  • Our employees are another important focus of the FY 2023 budget recommendation. Continuing to employ the best is key to keeping Cary Cary.
  • To that end, the recommended budget establishes a new employee compensation program which Chief Human Resource Officer Renee Poole will share more about.
  • The budget also funds Cary’s Pay-for-Performance program at an average 5% merit award.

Town Manager’s Report

The Town Manager’s Report for this week includes the following:

Sean’s Message

At the time of this writing, I’m preparing to join today’s celebration of our employees at ”Appreciate the Best,” which we’re holding at USA Baseball National Training Complex. Our staff organizing team has planned a ballpark lunch as well as several contests and opportunities to enjoy one another’s company. As you have said, Council, Cary has the best staff in the nation, and we want to continue expressing our gratitude for their hard work and excellence.
Also, with regard to our staff, you will find an invitation in your calendars to meet our four Police Chief finalists early next week. I look forward to joining you in those conversations.
Lastly, next Thursday is our only regular council meeting in May.
Have a great weekend.
Sean

Virtual Information Session

A virtual information session will be held on May 25 at 6:30 p.m. for the upcoming infrastructure improvement project along NW Maynard Road. The project includes closing a 1,700-ft gap in the sidewalk system along the east side of NW Maynard Road between High House Road and Old Apex Road. Additionally, 3,300-ft of new 24-inch water main will also be installed along the same segment to increase capacity in the water system. The meeting will be used to share plans, traffic impacts, and receive feedback. Please register in advance for this meeting.

Road Detour Update

In mid-April, traffic on Walnut Street was reduced to one-way between Kildaire Farm Road and Walker Street and detoured to Byrum Street. The detour was necessary to allow for installation of storm drainage and water and sewer connections associated with the Lee & Associates building that is currently under construction at the intersection of Walnut Street and Kildaire Farm Road. As of yesterday, the detours have been removed, and a new traffic pattern has been put into place.
Also, S. Academy Street from Chatham Street to Dry Avenue will be closed tomorrow from 5:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. for the 9th Annual Wheels on Academy. Dry Avenue and Chatham Street will remain open during the event.

ESG Panel Discussion

Assistant Town Manager Danna Widmar participated in a panel discussion regarding ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) work with the NAIOP, Commercial Real Estate Development Association. The panel discussion was an introduction to the topic and Q&A, with representation from Cary for the municipal perspective and from Fujifilm for the perspective from a publicly traded company. Sarah Gaskill is Head of Sustainability and ESG at Fujifilm and joined Danna on the panel discussion. There were excellent questions from the group about environmental work, diversity and inclusion, as well as the approach to governance in general.

Fest in the West

Cary was host to the 6th Fest in the West at Thomas Brooks Park on May 7. The event was relocated to the softball complex this year due to construction at the National Training Complex. This free community festival drew great crowds despite the weather that creeped in toward the end of the afternoon. With two stages, each with a full line-up, food trucks, beer garden, entertainment, kids activities, and crafts for sale, there was a little something for everyone.

Calling the Monarchs

Monarch butterflies like nectar from many native plants, but they love milkweeds. Milkweed leaves are the only food monarch caterpillars eat, so the butterflies are on the lookout for milkweed patches to lay their eggs. Once the eggs hatch, the larvae caterpillars can start nibbling right away. Having planted 400 milkweed plugs at Jack Smith Park, Cary looks forward to being a host site for this beautiful butterfly. In addition to milkweed, more than 100 sunflower plugs were also planted to adorn the area under the whirligigs.

Compost Conversations

Cary regularly connects with regional municipal neighbors to explore and share solid waste operations and waste management initiatives. Recently, staff spoke about the pilot food waste drop-off with members of the TJCOG Regional Solid Waste Consortium and later toured the City of Durham’s yard waste site and their compost facility to learn how they run these operations through contracted services with Atlas Organics. Interestingly, Durham adds a few hundred pounds of food scraps to their weekly mix to make compost. Food scraps are collected from less than 100 volunteer households participating in their pilot curbside program.

Annual Compost Bin and Rain Barrel Sale

In support of Cary’s commitment to stormwater mitigation and waste diversion, we hosted our 10th annual Compost Bin and Rain Barrel Sale. Community members purchased a collective 311 rain barrels and 233 compost bins in order to grow greener lawns and gardens. Distribution events are taking place throughout the month of May at the historic Good Hope Farm where participants are also receiving education regarding backyard composting and rainwater harvesting.

West Point Leadership Graduation Program

On May 10, Corporals Jann Leach, Tim Hageter, Armando Bake, and Matt Cavalear graduated from the West Point Leadership Program (WPLP). Developed by Methodist University’s Center for Excellence in Justice Administration, the West Point Leadership Program is a challenging 16-week leadership course designed to inspire leaders to develop an informed, systematic, and dynamic approach to leading in police organizations. WPLP is an adaptation of the third-year Military Leadership course completed by all West Point cadets.

First Cary PD Motorcycle Instructor

This month, Motor Officer Dustin Preston became the first Cary Police Officer to earn the Police Motorcycle Instructor Certification through the Institute of Police Technology and Management (IPTM) in Daytona Beach, Florida. The extensive two-week course curriculum included advanced riding skill building, creating and improving department training programs, and presenting a block of instruction. His training and expertise will enable Cary to host its own police motorcycle training courses, enhance current internal motor officer training programs, and assist other agencies with their motorcycle training courses.

NCWRF Aeration Improvements Update

Construction is complete on the North Cary Water Reclamation Facility Aeration Improvements Project. Facility staff and the contractor, Crowder Construction, worked together to maintain daily operations and deliver this project on time and under budget. Capital upgrades installed over the past two years modernized the aeration systems, replaced obsolete equipment, and will supply future energy savings while supporting advanced treatment. This capital investment into Cary’s oldest water reclamation facility will allow treatment to remain at the highest standards for years to come. 

Virtual Neighborhood Rezoning Meeting

A neighborhood meeting will be held virtually on WebEx from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. on June 1. The following case will be discussed:

• 22-REZ-10 Cary Plastic Surgery

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

Upcoming Meetings

Planning and Zoning Board
Monday, May 23
6:30 p.m.

Cultural Arts Committee
Wednesday, May 25
6:00 p.m.

Council Meeting
Thursday, May 26
6:30 p.m.

Mayor’s Mailbox

Emails from citizens this week included:

• A proclamation request which was evaluated against our guidelines.
• A request to use town media (the use of our media is limited by state and federal laws)
• A complaint about paving roadways along Ridgecrest and Willow.
• A complaint about replacing landscaping on Ridgecrest.
• A complaint about bicyclists impacting traffic.

Next Week

Next I will be on a family vacation out of town. Any mayoral duties will be handled by Mayor Pro-Tem Frantz.

Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, June 5^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.

Town Manager One-On-One

Monday I met virtually with the town manager for our weekly meeting. We talked about the upcoming quarterly meeting and topics that would be covered which included the budget, The Fenton, a development update, an Environmental update, and the Electric Bike Pilot.

Tennis Exhibition

Wednesday I participated in the Western Wake Tennis Association Senior Appreciation Day exhibition. I joined Cary’s Tennis Services Coordinator, Sean Ferreira, in an exhibition with two seniors in attendance. Before the exhibition I thanked those in attendance for supporting the Cary Tennis Park and growing the game of tennis. The exhibition consisted of four games of six points. I was a great time and I loved being at the Cary Tennis Park.

Council-Staff Quarterly Meeting

Thursday the council and staff held their first quarterly meeting of the year. Motions approved at the quarterly meeting included:

• A motion to use $475,000 from the Utility Fund to purchase the 1.8-megawatt South Cary Solar field: Passed Unanimously
• A motion to use $154,019 of DERA grant funds and $189,446 general funds to purchase an electric sanitation truck: Passed 6 – 1
• A resolution allowing a pilot program for E-Bikes on greenways: Passed 7 – 0
• A motion to approve the Fenton’s request to change Pod 2A to have a smaller grocery store, extend main street, have flexible signage, and make revisions to the PDP: Passed 5 – 2
• A motion to allow the Fenton a waiver to come back with a proposal to add a green roof and more height to Pod 2A: Passed 7 – 0

The following are notes related to the motions and to other discussion topics:

• Energy:
  • Cary received SolSmart gold this year.
  • Cary catalogs of datasets with energy information are available through the open data portal.
  • The South Cary Solar Farm will offset 20% of the facility’s energy needs
  • Purchasing the South Cary Solar Farm has a 5-to-10-year Return on Investment.
  • Emission Reductions from the South Cary Solar Farm is equivalent to 184 homes or 1870 acres of forest.
• Transportation and the Environment:
  • We began a pilot program to evaluate electric lawn mowers. The one we purchased is twice the price of a typical mower.
  • With the approved motion (mentioned above) the town will purchase an electric garbage truck from Mack. This pilot truck is three times the cost of a typical truck. Garbage trucks are one of the biggest carbon producers in the town’s fleet. We will have the only electric garbage truck in the state and maybe the only one on the east coast. The truck will have a five-year bumper to bumper warranty and a ten-year batter warranty.
• Tree Canopy:
  •  Trees planted at Middle Creek Park as part of the My Tree Our Tree program.
  • My Tree Our Tree program gave away 600 trees this spring and will give away 600 in the fall as it did last year.
  • The Williams property of ten acres, located about ¼ mile from the American Tobacco Trail, was purchased since it was 60% in the floodplain. It will remain protected from development.
  • The Rain It In program now has nine videos in its series. The purpose is to provide techniques to slow, capture, or absorb rainfall.
• 8000 dry tons of biosolids were produced from the Western Wake Regional Water Reclamation Facility and sold in 2021.
• New food waste programs are successful. 13,397 pounds were collected in one week.
• Environmental education and advocacy programs:
  • Solar workshops
  • Compost workshops
  • For the Birds Campaign
  • Hives
  • Earth Day, Arbor Day, and Herb Fest
• Capital Projects:
  • Carpenter Fire Station Road Bridge is complete
  • Construction costs for town have seen 18% increase and longer times to get materials
  • There are 500 active projects of about $1 billion which require 70 project managers and involve 10 departments
  • Future tennis park upgrades will include solar which will offset energy costs by 50%
  • Downtown Park is expected to open late summer of next year
  • Black Creek Greenway project is divided into ten increments to allow for sewer rehabilitation.
  • Crabtree Creek Greenway opens this summer.
  • The Black Creek Greenway bridge is under design.
  • The High House and Old Apex water line and sidewalk project will take about a year.
  • The Kildaire Farm water line project will include street enhancements and corridor improvements.
• Cary has hired an urban designer who will help with illustrative support and problem solving.
• USA Baseball expansion and two new neighborhood parks have broken ground.
• Council approved a resolution allowing E-Bikes on greenways as a pilot. This pilot will be from June 1^st until the end of the year. The police department will use two E-Bikes. Currently, motorized vehicles of any kind are prohibited from greenways. Speed limit signs of 15 mph will be posted on greenways.
• The proposed budget:
  • Tax rate of $.345 which is unchanged (one penny on the tax rate equals about $3.4 million)
  • Solid waste fee to increase $1.50 (this will bring operating cost recovery of wastewater to 94%)
  • Utility rate will increase 3% to cover inflation of materials
  • For FY2022 (ending June 30^th) we have collected 98% of property tax
  • Overall FY 2023 proposed budget is $443.6 million which is a 10.9% increase ($324 million for operations and $119 million for capital projects)
  • Inflation, supply chain issues, employee compensation, and the downtown park have a significant impact on this year’s budget
  • $7.3 million included for street improvements
  • $8.75 million for sidewalks ($7.5 million from ARPA funds)
  • $13.5 million for water and sewer line rehabilitation
  • $2.4 million for the rehabilitation of fire station #4
  • $19.1 million for transportation projects and $5.4 million for parks projects as park of 2019 bond referendum
  • $9 million for housing ($5 million from ARPA and $4 million from town)
  • $18.4 for bus maintenance facility (total cost is $39.2 funded by Wake Transit Tax)
  • There will be costs brining the downtown park online
  • Adding 6 new police officers for downtown and 6 new police vehicles for $2.4 million
  • Council approved giving employees an average merit increase of 5%
  • Council approved giving employees a one-time payment of $3,000 to $5,000 for inflation
  • Council approved enhancements to current benefits at a cost of $4 million for a leave package and to enhance current benefits
  • The mayor will be sending a letter to employees on behalf of the council
  • The budget can be found online at Cary’s FY 2023 Recommended Budget
• The motion to the Fenton rezoning change was approved after brief discussion
• Development:
  • 2 rezoning cases this quarter
  • Of 37 requests for rezonings only 8 submitted which is a 13% conversion rate
  • 30 development plans were approved last year
  • 202 residential plans were approved which was close to the five-year average of 226

The quarterly meeting ended after four hours. All topics but Accessory Dwelling Units were covered. That will be covered at our next quarterly meeting.

Campaign Video

Friday morning I did a very short video at Booth amphitheater encouraging people to vote and endorsing Council member Yerha. You can see it at https://www.edyerha.com/endorsements.

Triangle Math and Science Academy Visit

Later Friday morning I visited the Triangle Math and Science Academy off Gregson Drive in Cary. The school, which has Kindergarten through High School, is ranked as one of the top ten Charter Schools in the state. Led by student ambassadors and administrators, I toured the school for about an hour. Along the way I spoke to first graders, visited a biology class, and visited a pre-calculus class. I also spent time talking to the administrators about their future expansion plans. At the end of my visit, I was presented a beautiful crystal globe by the superintendent. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit. The teachers, students, faculty, and administration were all so very kind. To read a summary of my visit see https://www.tmsapcs.org/news/cary_mayor_visits_t_m_s_a.

Cary Fire Department 100-year celebration breakfast

Saturday morning I joined council members Smith and Robinson in a ceremonial breakfast marking the 100 year anniversary of the Cary Fire Department. The event, held at Fire Station 9 on Walnut Street, had about 100 attendees mostly made up of retired firefighters. The event kicked off with a traditional push of a 1940s fire truck out of the fire bay by retirees. It was the 75^th year of that tradition commemorating when horses were used for fire apparatus. Chief Cooper, council member Smith, and I provided remarks. Then a group photo was taken in front of the fire station. Other events celebrating the 100^th anniversary include Movie on the Lawn on June 3^rd at the old library site, the Fire Truck parade on June 4^th in downtown followed by a street dance on Academy, the official anniversary on June 6^th with an open house at all fire stations, and the 100th Anniversary Showcase on June 25^th at Bond Park. We are truly blessed to have the best fire department in the state if not the southeast. As an indication of the interest to belong to such a great family of firefighters, there are currently 500 applications for 16 positions.

Mayor’s Mailbox

Emails from citizens this week included:

• A complaint about traffic at Old Apex and Laura Duncan related to an Apex apartment development
• A high school student complaining about the lack of transit options
• A complaint about dirty tennis balls around Preston at Lakeridge

Next Week

Next week’s activities include staff meetings, a meeting with NC Tennis Association representatives, a meeting with OneWake members, a meeting of the Wake County Mayors Association, a meeting of the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Executive Board, a bust installation of an amazing Cary citizen, and a meeting of the North Carolina Metro Mayors.

Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Friday, May 20^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.

State of Cary to FFF

Monday morning I presented the State of Cary address to a few dozen members of the FFF of Cary Presbyterian. Since they had no time limits, I spoke for about 45 minutes going into detail on several areas including affordable housing and development projects. I was there about two hours.

Meeting with Town Manager

Monday afternoon I met for my weekly one-on-one with the town manager. Topics included the upcoming quarterly meeting, the Fenton, the Epic Games redevelopment of the mall site, and the redevelopment of the South Hills mall site. Our conversation lasted about fifteen minutes.

Honor a Teacher

Tuesday I joined council members Smith and Yerha in the Cary Chamber of Commerce’s annual Honor a Teacher event. 34 teachers from schools within Cary were honored with a plaque and $1000 for their excellence in teaching. Thanks to all the sponsors who supported this event and realize that our teachers are so vital to our community. In addition to briefly welcoming the guests, I had the honor of presenting two awards sponsored by the Town of Cary.

Jack Smith Campaign Event

Wednesday I attended a campaign event for Jack Smith. I, along with Scott Lassiter who is the Wake County Soil and Conservation District Supervisor, spoke and encouraged attendees to support Jack. Jack, who has been serving since 1989, is the longest serving council member in Cary’s history.

I usually don’t endorse any candidates for office except sitting council members. The only other endorsement I have given is to Gale Adcock for North Carolina Senate. Gale and I have been friends for years.

Having said that, I am always open to meeting and talking with any candidate. I will gladly share any knowledge I have to help them prepare for serving.

Staff Interview on Branding

Thursday afternoon I was interviewed by a staff member about our branding process. She was capturing the interview for a case study. We talked about the process and how I thought could be improved. In addition, we talked about what was expected before the process began and how I felt about the results now the process was over.

Wake Med Cary Tour

Friday morning I toured Wake Med Cary with Senior Vice President, Tom Hughes, and Chief Medical Officer, Doug Trocinski. We toured the new fifth floor and the unfinished fourth floor. In addition, we visited partners in an adjacent building that were doing State of the Art scanning. I asked dozens and dozens of questions. We are very fortunate to have this state-of-the-art facility in Cary. It serves not only Cary but the region and specializes in several areas. It should be pointed out that Wake Med Cary partners with Duke and Rex on various patient needs.

Town Manager’s Report

The town manager’s report for this week included:

Sean’s Message

I look forward to seeing each of you next Thursday at the Quarterly Meeting when we plan to discuss the Fenton Mixed-Use Development, an e-bike pilot, the FY 2023 recommended budget, and various other council priority items.
There will not be a Council Weekly Report next week following the Quarterly Meeting. My next message will be on Friday, May 20.
Have a nice weekend.
Sean

Development Pulse Report

The April 2022 Development Pulse Report is now available.

Highlights:

• Fenton had the following four building permits approved in April:
  • Building 12 Courtyard Fire Pit
  • Greenway Boardwalk
  • Free People
  • Truist Bank
• Apple, 301 MetLife Way: Building permits were approved for the interior renovations to the 1st and 7th floor of the existing MetLife 3 Building.

May ZBOA Meeting

On Monday, the Byrum Street Flats Sketch Plan was presented to the Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBOA). This project is located on the properties of the former Heartwood Montessori School at the southeast corner of Kildaire Farm Road and Byrum Street. The project requested a development plan modification to reduce the residential streetscape to ten feet wide and planted with a Type C buffer. The Board unanimously approved the case based on the amount of community gathering area and open space being provided, as well as the development project advancing the goals of the Land Development Ordinance (LDO) and the Imagine Cary Community Plan. The Board also approved the resolution for a variance to the platted setback for a residential property at 210 Meadow Drive.

Pride Month Activities

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Pride Month commemorates the events of June 1969 in New York, known as the Stonewall Uprising, that sparked a liberation movement in the United States. The purpose of the commemorative month is to recognize the impact that LGBTQ individuals have had on history locally, nationally, and internationally. A cross-departmental team with representatives from the Town Manager’s Office, PRCR, DEI, and Transportation have collaborated to develop activities to commemorate Pride Month, including lighting the façade of the Cary Arts Center, films and discussions at The Cary Theater, a temporary public art display, a family-oriented bicycle Pride Ride along Cary’s greenways, and a launch of an initiative to gather and document LGBTQ history within Cary. Staff will proceed with this outline of proposed activities in June unless we hear otherwise from you by Wednesday, May 11.

Ridgecrest Road and Willow Street Paving Update

The 2021 Water Main Replacement project has reached substantial completion with the onset of restoration activities. This week paving crews began work to resurface the roadways along Ridgecrest Road and Willow Street. The entire width of the roadways is being resurfaced, which will leave the infrastructure in these areas renewed both underground and above ground for many years to come. The remaining paving activities in the neighborhood will be completed early next week.

Cary’s Mention in ABC11 report about the effects of Session Law 2021-138

As you may have seen in a recent Daily Briefing, Cary received a brief mention in an ABC 11 report about Durham’s current inability to criminally enforce its noise ordinance due to a recent state law that went into effect this past December. Cary’s noise ordinance was not impacted by this legislation due to it already containing specific language authorizing criminal enforcement. Staff is inventorying the Code of Ordinances for any impacts from the new law and plan to bring any ordinances that need clarification or updates before Council later this year. It’s important to note that Cary can civilly enforce all of its ordinances at this time (with fines, permit revocations, and other actions). The Town Attorney’s office is available to answer any questions you may have.  

HRID Task Force Orientation

Members of the Human Resources, Inclusion, & Diversity (HRID) Task Force gathered virtually with staff for their new member orientation on May 5. Members heard from Deputy Town Manager and Chief Operating Officer Russ Overton, Assistant Town Attorney Matt Pentz, and Deputy Clerk Julie Clifton as they shared about Cary’s culture, public records, transparency, and what to expect at HRID meetings.

National Prescription Drug Takeback Event

On April 30, in partnership with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Cary Police Department took part in the National Prescription Drug Take Back Event. This biannual event took place at Town Hall Campus and Wegmans located on Davis Drive. A combined total of 355 pounds of unused prescription drugs were collected. 

Herbfest

On May 1, the Page-Walker Arts & History Center welcomed approximately 500 visitors to Cary’s annual Herbfest. Vendors offered a variety of herbs, native plants, garden ornaments, home care products, edible treats, and plant-themed gifts. Attendees enjoyed touring the Anne B. Kratzer Educational Garden and learning about gardening, beekeeping, composting, zero-waste, and other environmental topics. As always, the butterfly release was a highlight and spectacle to behold.

Opioid Settlement Agreement Update

Last year Cary joined onto a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the State of North Carolina and local governments on proceeds relating to the settlement of opioid litigation with all 100 counties and 17 cities above 75,000 population. This is an 18-year agreement/payout in which Cary stands to receive around $928,000. If we’ve learned anything over the last several years of the pandemic it has been the importance of working with our regional partners in Wake and Chatham counties in managing the public health emergency.
Per the agreement, the settlement funds will have to be spent in specific ways and in many programs that Cary does not traditionally run. Given the unique role of counties in providing public health services, including those related to fighting drug addiction, we have determined that Cary’s share of annual distributions under the MOA should be directed to the counties in which Cary is located. Wake and Chatham counties have already joined in the MOA and we look forward to once again partnering with the counties to utilize these settlement funds and have asked that they put these funds to use in combatting opioid problems with the other programs and/or new ones as part of ongoing health and human services programs.

The Community Voice Tree Summit is Coming

Registration for the June 11 Community Voice Tree Summit is now open. As part of the creation of the Urban Forest Master Plan, summit participants can share their feedback on a variety of tree topics to help shape the vision of Cary’s tree canopy for the next 10 years. To encourage citizens to participate, the Cary Teen Council members are providing childcare. For more information visit www.townofcary.org/trees.

AARP Tax Aide Service End of Season Update

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide provides in-person and virtual tax assistance to anyone, free of charge, with a focus on taxpayers who are over 50 and have low to moderate income. In Cary, we partner with AARP to provide this service to our community. This year, 814 returns were processed at the Herb Young Community Center February through mid-April. 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. 

Panama vs. El Salvador Soccer

On May 1, Cary hosted an international friendly between two national teams: Panama and El Salvador at WakeMed Soccer Park. An excited crowd of almost 6,000, mostly El Salvadorian, came to cheer on their country. Weather interrupted the match and the game ended with a score final of 3-2 El Salvador.

Upcoming Meetings

Hybrid Environmental Advisory Board
Tuesday, May 10
6:00 p.m.

Historic Preservation Commission
Wednesday, May 11
6:30 p.m.

Council Meeting (Quarterly)
Thursday, May 12
1:00 p.m.

Mayor’s Mailbox

Emails from citizens this week included:

• A complaint about AT&T box creating a hazard on High House
• A complaint about a proposed rezoning on Optimist Farm Road
• A complaint about erosion at the Park Village Pond
• A request to pick up trash that an elderly woman couldn’t get out in time (staff took care of this quickly… as they always do)

Next Week

Next week’s activities include staff meetings, a Western Wake Tennis Association Senior Appreciation Day event, a council-staff quarterly meeting, a NC Metro Mayors meeting, and a 100^th Anniversary Celebration breakfast for the Cary Fire Department.

Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, May 15^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.

This week was slower since I was on vacation celebrating my 35th wedding anniversary.

Park Groundbreaking

Sunday I joined Mayor Pro-Tem Frantz, council member Yerha, council member Bush, council member Robinson, council member Smith, and Wake County Commissioner Chair Sig Hutchinson for the groundbreaking of two parks: Carpenter Fire Station Park and McCrimmon Park. There were lots of activities and treats for the couple of hundred in attendance. I look forward to the ribbon cuttings next year.

Media Misrepresentation

This is election season and during this time many things are said are simply not true. But some are outrageous and now some media outlets are making false claims. The Independent Weekly said that they were “excited about two candidates who would bring fresh ideas to a council that has been traditionally dominated by wealthy conservatives.” I was floored when I read that. First of all, no one on the council that I am aware of is wealthy unless they are hiding that wealth. Three of us are retired, one owns an automotive shop, two work for IT businesses, and one teaches law. Secondly, we are well balanced politically. The council is made up of four independents, two democrats, and two republicans. Of the four independents, two lean left and two lean right. It is extremely disappointing that a local publication would state something so blatantly untrue.

Monarch Mayor Pledge

A citizen asked if we would take the Monarch Mayor Pledge. The Mayor and Council approved our involvement in the pledge in 2019. Our pledge participation automatically renews each year when staff turns in their annual report to National Wildlife Federation. The link to Cary’s Mayor Monarch Portal that reflects our submitted 2022 update is located at https://www.nwf.org/mayorsmonarchportal/Community?communityId=494&programYearId=3

Town Manager’s Report

The town manager’s report for this week included:

Danna’s Message

I look forward to joining you all on Sunday to break ground and celebrate the two neighborhood parks on Carpenter Fire Station Road and McCrimmon Parkway! Also, citizens are encouraged to stop by Fred G. Bond Metro Park tomorrow for the Spring Daze Arts and Crafts Festival. While at Spring Daze, visit Earth Day Lane for a compost bin and rain barrel giveaway, recycling tips, garden ideas, greenway maps, an electric vehicle demo and much more at the booths staffed by environmental staff.
While at Bond Park, citizens can take advantage of early voting and pop into the Cary Senior Center to cast their votes! Early voting will continue through May 14 and is available at the Cary Senior Center and Herb Young Community Center. Voters can find more details on early voting, including dates and times, by following the link for their County of residence below:

• Wake County
• Chatham County
• Durham County

Enjoy your weekend!
Danna

Secretary Biser Visits Cary

Children’s Day Festival

Cary welcomed Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Secretary Biser and her staff from the Division of Environmental Assistance and Customer Support for a tour of the Pilot Food Waste Recycling Drop-off. Staff was thrilled to share the successful development of the pilot that was partially funded by DEQ’s Community Waste Reduction and Recycling grant. Secretary Biser recognized the service as a model for other communities and is excited to learn how Cary may build upon this initiative.
Secretary Biser also attended last night’s Council meeting and was presented the Earth Day Proclamation by Council Member Jack Smith. Ms. Biser thanked Cary for being a leader in food waste reduction and talked about the importance of celebrating Earth Day.

This year’s Children’s Day Festival welcomed nearly 5,000 guests for a day of music, dance, crafts, games, and food. The annual event celebrates the importance of children, sharing with them the cultures and traditions of their neighbors. Council Member Jack Smith read the proclamation that proclaimed the children of Cary “emerge[d] like colorful butterflies from a cocoon” from the years of pandemic. Children’s Day Festival is led by the American-Turkish Association of North Carolina and sponsored by Sister Cities of Cary.

Advisory Boards Annual Spring Mingle

On Thursday, Advisory Board volunteers had their Annual Spring Mingle and invited Cary101 students to join them in learning about the work of each of Cary’s Advisory Boards and Commissions.

Any Cary citizens interested in serving on a Council-appointed Advisory Board are encouraged to apply now. The active recruitment period begins on May 1 and will run through June 30. All applications received by 11:59 p.m. on June 30 will be considered for appointment in September for terms beginning October 1. For more information and to apply, please visit bit.ly/caryboards.

Bond Park – Suspected Algae Bloom

As has happened in the past, Bond Lake has experienced a suspected algae bloom, along with excessive duckweed growth. The high heat and low rain fall produced high algae growth turning the lake green. The suspected bloom has been reported to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality who will be on-site to conduct further investigation as to the type of algae. Precautionary signs have been posted in the park in the rare case the investigation shows the algae to be toxic to animals. The results of the investigation are due early next week.

Parks Update

Major milestones were reached this week on the court renovation project which is partially funded by the 2019 Shaping Cary’s Tomorrow Bond. Dunham Park reopened to the public with six new lighted tennis courts, parking lot renovation, and a new greenway connection.
At Annie Jones Park the post-tension concrete tennis courts were poured, and final cleanup of the site is underway with plans to reopen by early summer. The Walnut Street Park additions of a lighted basketball court and two pickleball courts are in progress, and prep work is occurring for installation of the pavement with a planned opening this summer.

Bike Month and National Trails Day

May is National Bike Month and June 4 is National Trails Day; a great opportunity to celebrate Cary’s commitment to cycling. As a nationally recognized Bicycle-Friendly Community since 2003, Cary strives to encourage riding as a healthy mode of transportation, educate the community on how to safely ride, promote cycling as a healthy form of exercise and recreation, and bring awareness of the over 200 miles of on-road and greenway facilities in Cary. So, grab your bike, get outside, enjoy the spring weather, and see Cary on two wheels!

On our Bike Month and National Trails Day webpage you’ll find information on all of the ways to get involved and moving all month long. 

Volunteers Plant Veggies for Cary’s First Responders

More than 60 volunteers gathered at fire stations across town to plant gardens in support of Cary’s first responders. For over eight years the community has rallied together to install and maintain both food crops and native pollinator plants at these sites. Fire station garden projects connect citizens with our first responders, create opportunities for environmental service learning, and help provide freshly grown produce to station meals.

Good Hope Farm is a Stop on the Piedmont Farm Tour

The Good Hope Farm was one of 20 regional farms selected by the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association’s 25th Piedmont Farm Tour. As guests toured historic buildings and purchased produce and plants from local farmers, they experienced how Cary is committed to celebrating its agricultural past and making regenerative agriculture a vital part of its sustainable future. 

Exchange Clubs of Wake County Law Enforcement Recognition Banquet

On Monday, the Exchange Clubs of Wake County hosted their annual Law Enforcement Recognition Banquet at Cary Presbyterian Church. Cary’s own Officer David Langdon was one of those honored for outstanding service and performance in law enforcement. David works tirelessly to promote traffic safety throughout our community. He is a leader in driving while impaired (DWI) arrests and is a dedicated Standardized Field Sobriety Testing and DWI Detection Instructor as well as a Drug Recognition Expert. He has assisted many officers in DWI investigations where controlled substances were the apparent cause of impairment. Congratulations to David on this well-deserved recognition.

Exceptional Wastewater Treatment Performance

Cary’s Water Reclamation Facilities processed more than 7.1 billion gallons of wastewater in 2021 and removed 3.2 million pounds of nitrogen. Our facilities continue to perform exceptionally well with greater than 96 percent removal rates, keeping nutrients out of our local streams and rivers. The reclamation process creates a dried Class A Exceptional Quality biosolids called Enviro-Gems by recycling the nutrients from the wastewater for beneficial reuse as a natural fertilizer and soil amendment.

Upcoming Meetings

Hybrid Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Advisory Board
Monday, May 2
5:15 p.m.

Hybrid Information Services Advisory Board
Monday, May 2
6:00 p.m.

Zoning Board of Adjustment
Monday, May 2
6:30 p.m.

Hybrid Senior Advisory Board
Wednesday, May 4
2:00 p.m.

Mayor’s Mailbox

Emails from citizens this week included:

• A request to be notified when the mayor’s blog is posted
• A request to have curbside food waste pickup
• A complaint about a rezoning proposal at Old Apex and Chatham
• Invitations to several events

Next Week

Next week’s activities include staff meetings, a presentation to the FFF of Cary Presbyterian’s Fellowship Ministry, a tour of the 200 acres that will be a future park, the Honor a Teacher Event, an event for Council Member Jack Smith, a tour of Wake Med Cary, and an interview with the Real Estate Podcast.

Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, May 8th. 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.

This was a slower week than is typical this time of year.

Wake County Mayors Association

Monday I met with the Wake County Mayors at our monthly meeting. In attendance were mayors from Cary, Fuquay Varina, Garner, Holly Springs, Knightdale, Morrisville, Rolesville, Wake Forest, and Zebulon. Topics included ARPA funding and upcoming budgets. From the conversations it appears Cary will continue to have the lowest tax rate in Wake County.

Cary Council Candidates Forum

Tuesday morning I attended a Cary Council Candidates forum held by the Cary Chamber. There are 10 candidates running for three seats and they were all in attendance. Due to the number of candidates and the limited time, the candidates only gave an opening statement, a closing statement, and answered two questions. I would recommend visiting their websites for additional information. Here is a list of candidates with the websites I could find:

• District A: Jennifer Robinson (incumbent), Chase McGrath
• District C: Jack Smith (incumbent), Mary Insprucker, George McDowell, Renee Miller, Amanda Murphy
• At Large: Ed Yerha (incumbent), Ken George, Carissa Johnson

Election day is May 17^th and the runoff election day is July 26^th.

Wynston Ridge HOA Meeting

Tuesday night I provided a town update to homeowners of Wynston Ridge in a virtual meeting. I also answered about half a dozen questions.

Federal Grants Presented by Congresswoman Ross

Wednesday I joined most of the Cary Council, some Wake County Commissioners, and a couple of NC legislators for a presentation of $1.9 million in federal grants from Congresswoman Deborah Ross. The first grant of $900,000 is for the Swift Creek Stormwater Management and Modeling program. The second grant of $1,000,000 is for the future Cary Regional Bus Operations and Maintenance Facility.

We are so grateful for Congresswoman Ross for her hard working in obtaining funding for these essential projects.

CAMPO

The Executive Board of the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization met Wednesday afternoon and approved two items: The final report for the Triangle Bike Way Study, an amendment to the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), and the removal of selected Bonus Allocation projects from the Intersection Improvements list. To find out detailed information about these items go here.

Elected Officials Appreciation Reception

Wednesday evening the Cary Chamber held a reception to thank elected officials for all the work they do to help Cary. In attendance was Congresswoman Ross, NC Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, several legislators, Wake County Commissioners, Wake County School Board members, and the entire Cary town council. I joined three other speakers in providing remarks thanking the officials. I also posed for several pictures including one with my good friend NC Representative Gale Adcock.

Reception for Mark Lawson the new President of Cary Chamber

Thursday I joined dozens of people in a reception to congratulate the new President of the Cary Chamber, Mark Lawson. I along with others provided remarks. In my remarks I stated that the previous President, Howard Johnson, spent decades creating a strong relationship with the elected officials, town staff, and businesses. And that relationship was a key component of why Cary is so successful today. I also stated that I believe Cary’s best days are ahead of us and that Mark Lawson’s skills and talents are perfect for what lies ahead. He is the right person at the right time. I look forward to the new and exciting things he will do for Cary.

Information Requested by Candidates

Cary Council candidates have requested information to help with their campaigns. Here is some of that information:

• Budgeted for Road resurfacing last five years: $41.2 million
• Budgeted for all Street Related Projects last five years: $125.8 million
• Miles added last five years: 32.77 miles
• Miles resurfaced last five years: 126.50 miles
• Pavement Condition rating average the last five years: Average = Good, 81.5 to date
• Cary maintains an award-winning water and wastewater utility that is well leveraged with capacity to support future growth and economic development
• The Cary/Apex Water Treatment Facility has utilized advanced treatment technologies such as ozone to provide high quality water treatment for 10 years.
• Cary’s wastewater collection and treatment systems protect the environment by providing advanced biological nutrient removal systems that remove and recycle nutrients and return clean water to our local creeks and streams.
• The North Cary Water Reclamation Facility (NCWRF) completed a major renovation of its aeration process. The new aeration system improves efficiency, enhances nutrient removal, and supports future capacity expansion of the facility.
• Recruit for experienced and non-experienced (or non-certified) public safety positions to widen applicant pool for further inclusivity of women and historically underrepresented communities.

• Post vacancy advertisements across multiple diverse sources in addition to Cary’s recruitment page
• Job boards including but not limited to: Pinkjobs, EmployDiversity, National Minority Update, American Association for Access, Equity & Diversity
• Four-year colleges and universities; including Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs); Two-Year Community & Technical Colleges
• Professional associations targeted to industry professionals within specific demographic & historically underrepresented communities (e.g., Society of Women Engineers, Association of Latino Professionals for America, National Association of Black Accountants).
• Variety of social media platforms: LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter
• Cary Fact Sheet: Diversity in Recruitment

• Cary’s Human Resources Department Talent & Culture Consultants use vacancy postings to highlight OneCary culture and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) values. Additionally, brochures and department specific recruitment pages often include images that represent diversity across the organization.
• Human Resources in collaboration with the hiring department and hiring manager(s) continually review vacancy postings for the elimination of biased language, ensure accuracy in minimum and preferred requirements and transparency through inclusion of the salary range.
• Cary’s Human Resources Department Talent & Culture Consultants use a standard application, with job specific supplemental questions, that is screened for consideration of all applicants’ minimum and preferred qualifications for a vacancy. Applicants have the option to submit additional documents with the standard application, however, the application is the primary source of evaluation for referral of candidates to departments for further consideration.
• An Applicant provides voluntary information on race/ethnicity and gender identifiers. The hiring department is not provided nor has access to this voluntary information to eliminate biases.
• Cary’s Human Resources Department Talent & Culture Consultants educate hiring managers on awareness and acknowledgment of biases when screening referred applications.
• Cary’s Human Resources Department Talent & Culture Consultants ensure a standardized interview process and apply it equitably across the organization; Use a combination of behavioral or adaptive based and skills-based interview questions to ascertain competency of technical skills along with organizational cultural and DEI values; Work with hiring departments and hiring manager to gather and include a diverse, cross-organizational panel of interviewers with different backgrounds, lived experiences, perspectives, and technical skills

Town Manager’s Report

The town manager’s report for this week included:

Russ’s Message

I have heard of Chamber of Commerce Day before, usually in October, but this week felt like an entire week of Chamber fun. I enjoyed seeing you all at the many events the Chamber held this week, and congratulations to Mark Lawson on officially becoming the President of the Cary Chamber. 
There is nice weather forecasted this weekend, so I hope you take time to celebrate Earth Day by supporting a local farmer, taking a hike at Hemlock Bluffs, or simply learning more about how to contribute to our sustainable community. 
Take care, 
Russ

Federal Grants Awarded to Cary

On Wednesday, Congresswoman Deborah Ross presented two federal grant awards to Cary: the first totals $900,000 for the Swift Creek Stormwater Management and Modeling Program, and a second grant of $1,000,000 is designated for the future Cary Regional Bus Operations and Maintenance Facility. These dollars are a part of the Community Project Funding requests, which are included in the joint federal omnibus package. Special thanks to Congresswoman Ross and Price for their continued support of Cary’s community!

Ivey-Ellington Relocation

In early 2023, the Ivey-Ellington House will be relocated from its current location on Chatham Street, consistent with the Council approved resolution on December 12, 2019. Given several factors, including the desired setting, historic context, and existing infrastructure, the southern portion of the former library site on Academy Street has been identified as the new location. The relocation will not interfere with existing infrastructure, including Charlie Gaddy Lane, parking, and utilities. Consistent with the adjacent structure, the Ivey-Ellington will be set back from the street and existing mature trees will remain. The remainder of the former library site will continue to be programmed with art and other activities until the Downtown Park is completed.
Although Cary will forego individual National Register designation, the new site is located in the Downtown National Register District. Public investment will continue to preserve and rehabilitate the house using the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards. The Ivey-Ellington House is a valuable part of Cary’s history and can be further honored through designation as a Local Historic Landmark.

Gold Community SolSmart Design

Just in time for Earth Day, Cary is proud to announce that we have earned a Gold Level Community Designation from the U.S. Department of Energy’s SolSmart program. After having earned our Silver Level Designation in 2021, we have continued to create systematic improvements to make it more efficient for residents to go solar. Along with improved processes, staff hosted an online class to connect our community to “Cary specific” information to learn if residential solar is right for them. In the past five years, Cary has issued over 800 permits for residential solar energy systems. Cary continues to see growth in the number of residential solar permits issued each year with over 300 permits issued in 2021. Through deepening our commitment to renewable energy, paired with innovation and collaboration, Cary’s participation in the SolSmart program affirms a more resilient tomorrow. 

2022 Cary 101 Program Begins

The spring 2022 Cary 101 cohort kicked off its first session Wednesday evening. This week, the class learned about Cary’s culture, the origins of Cary, municipal government structures, and finance/budget. Next week they will attend Thursday’s Council meeting to witness government in action, and remaining sessions will showcase how different departments work to coordinate Cary’s projects, programs, and services. Twenty citizens are enrolled in the program which runs through June 1.

F.O.G. to Fuel – Fats, Oils, and Grease Recycling Program

Since 2009 Cary has offered to citizens a sustainable disposal option for used cooking oil. The free and convenient curbside collection helps citizens be part of a community effort to both prevent pipe blockages and overflows and convert used cooking oil into environmentally friendly biofuel. Citizens should only collect cooled FOG in a plastic screw-top container and call 311  to schedule a curbside pick-up. Cary works with Key Energies who recycles the oil into bio-fuel.  Most of Cary’s diesel fuel service vehicles operate on a biofuel/diesel blend that helps complete the circle. Through this program citizens scheduled more than 900 curbside pick-ups in 2021 that resulted in recycling 1,500 gallons of cooking oil, keeping it out of our sewer lines and landfill.

Weatherstone Elementary Community Helper Day

On Thursday, staff had the opportunity to participate in Community Helper Day activities at Weatherstone Elementary School.  Staff engaged with faculty and students on what Cary offers including solid waste collection, general operations, police, emergency medical services, and animal control.

Earth Day Presentations

Earth Day generates heightened interest in all things environmental and requests for personalized presentations. The NC Composting Council invited Cary to speak about the new food waste drop-off site and ongoing composting initiatives at its monthly Sustainable Spirits gathering held at Crosstown Pub. The evening event was also its Second Annual Spring Plant Swap that brought out local gardeners. Another staff presentation was coordinated with Carolina Preserve to hold a focused recycling and compost program for over 50 residents. Together, the group focused on actions and opportunities to reduce waste, learn more about the variety of services available to them, and ways to get involved in green efforts across the town.

Fire Receives ESO Power of Data Award

Fire received the Power of Data award at this week’s ESO Wave conference in Austin, TX. Fire transitioned to ESO record management system in February 2021 and immediately became instrumental in assisting the company with troubleshooting and other departments in implementation. Wake County medical director and current chief EMS officer for ESO Brent Myers presented the award, describing Cary Fire, one of more than 16,000 ESO customers, as one of the “crown jewels” of Wake County.

Multi-Agency Drone Workshop

On Wednesday, members of a Cary staff Drone Committee and NCDOT held a multi-agency drone workshop at Wake Med Soccer Park with onsite demonstrations. Charlotte Fire Department Battalion Chief Shawn Royal presented on how the City of Charlotte integrated drones into their workflows, initial struggles with internal buy in, and how their Police and Fire Departments utilize a shared approach. A representative from AirVision UAV, presented on the FAA Part 107 license requirements and the importance of the regulatory framework for agencies to be compliant with NC State and Federal drone regulations. NCDOT presented on what they are doing at the State level with medical package delivery, food delivery, and how they use drones to support internal operations. One of the shared themes between all presenters was the importance of following State and Federal regulations, and how a drone incident can have ripple effect in the industry. The highlight of the day was the Cary Fire Department drone team made up of, Jose Mendez, Brian Smyrski, and Captain Allen Monds demonstrating their drone, a DJI Matrice 300 platform and video streaming capabilities utilizing Dronesense. They were quickly able to share the live video feed from the drone using a QR code that could be shared to anyone with an internet connected device.

2022 Project PHOENIX Managers Workshop

On April 20, Project PHOENIX hosted a semi-annual Property Managers Workshop at the Cary Police Department. Sixteen Property Managers/Assistants joined us for five hours of education, training, and networking. Staff received a lot of positive feedback from the workshop participants. 

IBT Annual Report Submitted to State

The 2021 Interbasin Transfer (IBT) Annual Report was submitted to the North Carolina Division of Environmental Quality (DEQ). The report demonstrates Cary’s compliance with all the requirements of our certificate. The annual report is required to be submitted to DEQ before May 1 each year, with quarterly updates posted to Cary’s IBT page. Additional history on our IBT certificate can be found on DEQ’s IBT page.

Early Voting

Early voting in Cary will begin April 28 and continue through May 14, with Election Day following days later on May 17. Two locations in Cary were selected by the Wake County Board of Elections to serve as Early Voting sites — Cary Senior Center and Herb Young Community Center. As a reminder Wake County residents are eligible to vote at any Wake County location during the early voting period only.

Voters can find more details on early voting, including dates and times, by following the link for their County of residence: Wake County, Chatham County, and Durham County

Upcoming Meetings

Hybrid Athletic Committee

Monday, Apr. 25
6:00 p.m.

Planning and Zoning Board

Monday, Apr. 25
6:30 p.m.

Cultural Arts Committee

Wednesday, Apr. 27
6:00 p.m.

Council Meeting

Thursday, Apr. 28
6:30 p.m.

Mayor’s Mailbox

Emails from citizens this week included:

• A request to do more to get commuter rail
• A complaint about a utility bill
• A complaint to have more bike lanes on roads for their 8-year-old to ride on
• A request for a proclamation recognizing World Falun Dafa Day
• A complaint about allowed permitted blasting near Providence at Yates Pond
• A complaint that our 90 miles of greenways and hundreds of miles of sidewalks are not enough
• A complaint that e-pedal assisted bikes are not included in Bikeshare pilot

Next Week

Next week I will be on vacation. My only event is the groundbreaking of neighborhood parks on May 1^st after I return.

Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, May 1^st. 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.