Due to the holiday week this posting will be very short.
Wake County Mayors Association
Monday night I attended a meeting of the Wake County Mayors Association which was held at Rush Hour Karting in Morrisville. Attending were mayors from Apex, Cary, Fuquay Varina, Garner, Holly Springs, Knightdale, Morrisville, Rolesville, Wake Forest, and Zebulon. Also attending was Buddy Gupton who is Mayor-Elect in Garner. The mayors had a little fun and fellowship with a cart race before our meeting. My fastest time did not put me close to the top and I finished fifth. In our meeting we discussed our elections and the impacts on our boards. We also elected a new President, Glenn York of Zebulon. With the fun and fellowship included our meeting time was about three and a half hours.
Thanksgiving
I spent most of this week visiting one of my daughters as the entire family gathered for Thanksgiving. I am blessed in so many ways and am so thankful to be part of something that I think is extraordinary. I hope your Thanksgiving was also rewarding and restful. Next week I begin the mad rush for the next holiday break.
Mayor’s Mailbox
Several thank you messages about the opening of the downtown park.
A criticism of the proposed greenway extension linking Bond Park to High House.
A concern about the closing of a Thrift Store with the redevelopment of South Hills Mall.
A request for an internship with the council.
A request for information about the new council.
Next Week
Next week’s activities include staff meetings, staff annual reviews, a CAP (Citizens Assisting Police) Appreciation dinner, a CAMPO and DCHC MPO Regional Rail Subcommittee meeting, a OneWake meeting, a private party honoring a former council member, and the Cary Christmas Tree Lighting.
Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, December 3rd, 2023. Although I have Facebook and Twitter accounts those are not the best means of communication with me. Please send all Town of Cary questions or comments to Harold.Weinbrecht@townofcary.org and email personal comments to augustanat@mindspring.com.
Monday I contacted council members and the council member elect to hear of any questions or concerns related to the upcoming agenda. There was a clarification question about Jordan Hall, comments about the parking deck agreement with the Rogers development, a question about the street renaming public hearing, and a financing question about Higgins Greenway Phase III.
Later in the day I met with management and staff to go over the questions and the agenda. The meeting took about 20 minutes.
Town Manager One-On-One
My final meeting Monday was my weekly one-on-one with the town manager. We discussed the election, the runoff, and future council relationships. Other topics included the potential future bond and the potential town hall campus redevelopment.
Downtown Cary Park Documentary
Tuesday morning, I did an interview as part of a documentary on the creation of The Downtown Cary Park. We talked about initial ideas for the park from 20 years ago and the impact of the park. There were about a dozen questions and the taping lasted about twenty minutes.
Flying Biscuit Ribbon Cutting
Later Tuesday morning I was part of the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Flying Biscuit at Parkside Town Commons. Instead of a ribbon cutting they decided to have a photo op buttering the biscuits, which was a first for me. I wish them great success at this new location.
Chinese Lantern Festival Flip the Switch Event
Tuesday night I joined council members, county commissioners, representatives, advisory board members, staff, and others for the “flip the switch” event for the Chinese Lantern Festival at Booth Amphitheater.
I made a few remarks, and we did a count down before flipping the switch, and after a few seconds of delay, all the lighted fixtures were illuminated. It took 40 tractor-trailers to deliver the lanterns to Cary after they had arrived on cargo ships from China. Each lantern is created by hand on silk fabric stretched over steel frames and then lit with upwards of hundreds of LED.
Most lanterns were made in Zigong in the Sichuan Province of China which is the lantern capital of China. The spectacular Chinese Dragon floating on Symphony Lake is longer than three school buses at more than 200 feet. It stands 21 feet high and weighs 18,000 pounds. Its head was installed by crane with a 15-person crew!
It is a must see for everyone and is open until mid-January.
CAMPO
On Wednesday I attended a meeting of the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Executive Board. The agenda had four consent items and three discussion items. The consent included minutes, a Wake Transit Plan Update with a contract award, LAPP (Locally Administered Projects Program) additional funding, and Amendment 2 to the FY2024-2033 TIP (Transportation Improvement Program). Items on consent were approved unanimously.
The first discussion item was a FY2024 2nd quarter Wake Transit Work Plan amendment which was approved unanimously. The other two discussion items were informational and included Safety Performance Measure Targets for 2024 and a Draft 2055 MTP Goals, Objectives, and Performance Measures.
The next meeting of the CAMPO Executive Board will be in January.
Human Relations, Inclusion, & Diversity Task Force
Wednesday night I joined a meeting of the Human Relations, Inclusion, & Diversity Task Force. They discussed events for a task force booth, reviewed their 2024 meeting schedule, talked about their downtown park visit, and discussed a public awareness event for communications. Afterwards I provided an update on council and town activities. The meeting lasted about an hour and fifteen minutes.
Hometown Spirit Award Reception
Thursday afternoon a reception was held to introduce the three finalists for the Hometown Spirit Award. The three finalists were Kara Daniels Hand, Peggy Van Scoyoc, and Frank Yarborough. I was the emcee for the reception which was attended by council members Jack Smith, Ryan Eades, and Carissa Johnson. Here is what I said about each one of the finalists:
Kara Daniels Hand
Kara, your nominators shared that you are a lifelong Cary citizen and are dedicated to your community, promoting hospitality, and preserving traditions that inspire all who know you. Your nominators shared that you are an active member of the First United Methodist Church where you initiated a project in 2022 of selling ham biscuits to the community with the goal of raising money for the Food Bank and local food pantries while continuing the tradition of church members making food together. Kara’s community support, church involvement, and dedication to preserving its historical significance enrich downtown Cary culturally, ensuring traditions thrive and history remains integral.
Your nominators shared that you have had a decade-long commitment to Cary Elementary as the Teacher Appreciation Chair, where you have fostered connections in our community.
Kara’s nominators shared that you are a lifetime Girl Scout who earned the prestigious Gold Award in high school at Cary High School, and you have mentored future leaders through your troop leadership, emphasizing the importance of community service.
Kara’s commitment to service also extends to her work life. Kara is a small business owner with her law practice, which supports individuals and contributes to the community.
Peggy Van Scoyoc
Peggy, your nominators shared that you are a Cary treasure and that you are among Cary’s top historians, showing concern for preservation and working to preserve traditions in our community. For over two decades, Peggy has been compiling oral histories of prominent people in Cary’s history, recently completing her 100th oral history!
Your nominators shared that you demonstrate hospitality to new and established citizens of Cary. As a member of the Friends of the Page‐Walker’s Speakers Bureau, Peggy has spoken to women’s clubs, church groups, senior groups, newcomers’ groups and others about Cary’s history, helping everyone establish a sense of community.
Peggy, your nominators shared that you are a long‐time board member and multiple‐term past president of the Friends of the Page‐Walker and engage in many community outreach events to promote the sense of community. Peggy wrote a popular recurring column about Cary’s history for the Cary Citizen until 2022 when the publication ended its circulation, but she continues to share Cary’s rich history through blog posts, social media, and the Friends’ newsletter.
Frank Yarborough
Frank, your nominators shared that whenever a fellow Caryite is in need, you are always there to offer help or hospitality, saying that a person hardly has to mention a problem and you are already planning how you can help solve it. Your nominators said you are the ultimate host and have never met a stranger, welcoming people into your home and life with laughter and putting everyone at ease. Frank gives joyfully of his resources, time, and talents to his neighbors, friends, and church family without expecting anything other than knowing he made someone’s day better.
Your nominators shared that you coached your son’s special needs baseball team for the Miracle League of the Triangle, where you have been a volunteer for over 25 seasons. Frank is one of the few Hall of Fame coaches for the Miracle League of the Triangle.
Frank, your nominators shared you are proud of your Cary heritage and have worked hard to restore your grandfather’s historic house on South Academy Street. Frank loves connecting with people in Downtown and enjoys talking about his ancestors’ history in Cary.
Frank’s company, AVCON, has provided employment opportunities and exceptional services to companies within and beyond the Triangle area since 1997.
Council Meeting
Thursday night the council held its last regularly scheduled meeting of November. The meeting included the Hometown Spirit Award winner presentation, the manager’s update, speakers at Public Speaks Out, two public hearings, two discussion items, and a closed session.
In the recognition portion of the meeting, I called on 2022 Hometown Spirit Award winner Bob Moncsko, who opened the envelope and announced that Peggy Van Scoyoc was the Hometown Spirit Award winner for 2023. I presented her with a plaque, and she provided a few words of thanks. While we were very blessed to have three amazing nominees, I was excited for Peggy and her nominees.
The town manager’s report noted that the fences were coming down at the Downtown Cary Park as he spoke and that it would be open to the public starting Friday, November 17th. The ribbon cutting for the park was on the 19th.
During the Public Speaks Out portion of the meeting several residents spoke against a proposed rezoning for the Middleton Townhomes because of a required street cut through.
The consent agenda portion of the meeting unanimously approved several items without discussion which included the Viridis apartments at Green Level across from the proposed Duke Hospital, Jordan Hall renovations for the new fire administration building, and an agreement to build a parking deck next to the Rogers Development.
The first public hearing was for a proposed rezoning for Wheatsbury Drive to remove a fence that was part of a deed restriction when the properties were built. Residents in favor of the rezoning stated that they were fenced off from 40 feet of their property that they were required to pay taxes on. Residents against the proposal listed security concerns and protection of wildlife. A lawyer also spoke for the residents against the proposal. The proposal will go to the Planning and Zoning Board and come back to council for a vote in a few months.
The second public hearing was for a renaming of roads related to the realignment of a portion of Morrisville Carpenter Road. The motion passed unanimously. An additional motion from Ms. Robinson was made to have staff study renaming other streets in the area for naming consistency along each road.
The two discussion items, Higgins Greenway Phase III, and the Sidewalk Request Program for FY2024 were passed unanimously with little discussion.
The council meeting concluded after about two and a half hours.
Interview with Triangle Business Journal
Friday afternoon I was interviewed by TBJ (Triangle Business Journal) about George Jordan and Jordan Gussenhoven (his nephew) who have developed or are developing several projects in downtown Cary including Midtown Square, Chatham Square, Meridian, Williams House, and the Rogers. I told TBJ that George and Jordan took risks and invested in downtown Cary before others.
Sarika Bansal Declared Winner of District D Race
Friday the Wake County Board of Elections certified that Sarika Bansal was the winner of the District D runoff. She received 2760 votes while challenger Rachael Jordan received 2700 votes. Congratulations Sarika and welcome to the council family!
Waverly Place Tree Lighting
Friday night I had the honor of joining Santa and Mrs. Clause in lighting the Christmas tree at Waverly Place. Before and after the ceremony we were entertained by Craig Woodard and the Embers. The ceremony began with Christmas music from the Athens High School Marching Band. I provided a few remarks and introduced Santa and Mrs. Clause. He wished everyone a Merry Christmas, counted down from ten, and threw magic dust on the Christmas tree as it lit. It was a fun time and a great way to begin the holiday season.
Fenton Tree Lighting
Saturday night I was part of the 2nd annual Christmas Tree Lighting event at Fenton. The ceremony started with an Acapulco group of ladies from NC State singing carols. This was followed by 5 ladies from “Elevate” who did a Rockette style dancing to “All I Want for Christmas”. I made remarks along with Fenton Manager Rob Canepa. Then we introduced Santa Clause and Elizabeth Gardner from WRAL. We all did the countdown and lit the tree. There was a great crowd, and everyone seemed to be having a blast.
Downtown Cary Park Opening
The official opening of the Downtown Cary Park was Sunday, November 19th.
The park had events all day long, but my first event was a reception in the Academy Street Pavilion at 2 PM. This was attended by elected officials, former elected officials, and other VIPs.
We then proceeded to the stage of the great lawn for the ribbon cutting ceremony. Remarks were made by the town manager, and the special parks manager, who introduced the Cary Children’s choir for the national anthem. This was followed by a flyover from the Bandit Flight Team.
Afterwards there were remarks from the park manager, and a partner from OJB who designed the park.
I followed them with remarks and introduced our attending VIPs:
Former council member Ed Yerha, former Mayor Glen Lang, former council member Ken George, former council member John Duncan, former council member Marla Dorrel, Congresswoman Deborah Ross, NC Senator and former Mayor Pro-Tem Gale Adcock, NC Senator Jay Chaudhuri, NC Senator Sydney Batch, NC Representative Maria Cervania, NC Representative Allison Dahl, NC Representative Ya Liu, Wake County Commissioner and Vice-Chair Susan Evans, Wake County Commissioner Cheryl Stallings, Morrisville Mayor TJ Cawley, Apex Mayor Jacques Gilbert, former Wake County Commissioner Sig Hutchinson, and a delegation from our sister city in County Meath Ireland.
Next I introduced Mayor Pro-Tem Don Frantz who was the main speaker.
Following Don Frantz’s remarks, I gathered all on stage for the ribbon cutting with each of us using giant scissors.
A trumpet and tambourine then led us to the fountain and main square for the Frantz Square dedication.
I had the honor of making remarks dedicating the square. Then Don followed with a few remarks and did the countdown which fully activated the fountain for the first time in two years and eight months.
Words cannot express how happy I am that this park is open. Not only is it an iconic park but it will be a place for creating memories for generations to come. I hope you visit the park soon to make your memories.
Town Manager Update
Sean’s Message
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, and I’m planning to take next week off to spend time with my family. And as is our practice on holiday Fridays, there will be no weekly report. See you Sunday at the ribbon cutting. Sean
Council Meeting Follow-Up
Senior Program Guide: Exceeding the expectations of Cary seniors is incredibly important to us, particularly when it comes to participating in Cary’s parks programming. As such, we will reinstate the printed Senior Program Guide this winter in time for spring registration.
Police Incident: I’m incredibly grateful to Chief Sult and our Police Department for the work they did helping keep the community safe from the threatening active shooter situation a few weeks ago. Based on comments at last night’s meeting, we will continue our after-action analysis and explore how we can do even better in the future.
Middleton Rezoning: The earliest this case could come before Planning and Zoning would be January. Currently, the developer is examining project layout and feasibility, and I anticipate the earliest it will return to Council will be spring 2024.
Road Renaming: Staff will begin developing a framework for the study regarding road name changes along Morrisville Carpenter, Carpenter Fire Station and Good Hope Church. I will update you on the next steps once the framework for the study is developed.
Chinese Lantern Festival Preview
On Tuesday evening, at Koka Booth Amphitheatre, Mayor Weinbrecht and Councilmembers Robinson, Smith, Kohn-Johnson, and Eades ceremoniously “flipped the switch,” to kick off Cary’s 8th annual North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival. The festival opens to the public today, November 17, and runs nightly through January 14, which is a week longer than years past.
Waste To Wonder
This week, Councilmember Jennifer Robinson and staff attended the NC State Waste to Advanced Resources conference. Councilmember Robinson represented Cary and SAS on a panel discussing the possibilities of effective technologies to support waste characterizations, data, and government. Assistant Town Manager Danna Widmar provided welcoming remarks to the 200 stakeholders from government, industry, and academia, and Srijana Guilford, Waste Strategy and Community Impact Consultant, co-led a focus group regarding sourcing and handling materials to gather feedback for research projects.
Recognizing and Remembering Our Veterans
Last week, Cary citizens gathered at Veterans Freedom Park to observe Veterans Day and honor military veterans. Councilmember Carissa Kohn-Johnson read the Proclamation and remarks were given by Congresswoman Deborah Ross and Councilmember Jack Smith, who also emceed the event. Helen Nelson, State Commander for North Carolina Veterans of Foreign Wars, gave the primary address.
Then on Friday, November 3, Cary honored the brave men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces at its Annual Veterans Luncheon event. Over 300 veterans and their families were welcomed to Prestonwood Country Club and treated to a patriotic program and lunch, along with entertainment. Councilmember Jack Smith served as the Master of Ceremonies. Keynote Speaker George Wade Carmichael Jr. followed with a personal and emotional speech about his service. Special guests also included Councilmember Jennifer Robinson, Mayor Harold Weinbrecht, and Fallon Strickland, Outreach Coordinator for the Office of Wiley Nickel.
International Visitors Learn About Cary Sister Cities Program
On Monday, a delegation from Timor-Leste met at the Page-Walker Arts & History Center with Micheàl Lynch, Chair of Cary Sister Cities, and staff member Kris Carmichael to learn about Cary’s Sister City program. International Focus hosted the group of eight visitors as part of a three-week long International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) exchange – U.S. Foreign Policy in the Indo-Pacific – sponsored by the U.S. Department of State.
RecTrac PRCR Registration System Implemented
The first step of implementing Cary’s new parks registration system, the account creation communication plan, was presented to the Senior Advisory Board, Information Services Advisory Board and PRCR Advisory Board in early November. The presentations were well received, the members were pleased to hear about the registration system transition, and there was good interaction with the members of each board. Citizen account creation in the new system, RecTrac, is anticipated to begin in early December with more details being shared with citizens in the coming weeks.
2023 Holiday Decorations are Coming
As the brisk breeze ushers in the holiday season, it’s clear that Cary is preparing to adorn the town. The elves have commenced the transformation, and it will be concluded by November 30. We look forward to seeing you explore and relish the enchanting wonderland. Feel free to share your pictures on social media. An interactive map of the decorations can be found on the webpage Downtown Cary Decorations.
2023 ACC Soccer Championships
In the past two weeks, WakeMed Soccer Park hosted four soccer matches as part of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Men’s and Women’s Soccer Championships! Over 5,000 spectators traveled from all over the East Coast to experience Cary and one of the nation’s top soccer landmarks. Florida State (Women’s) and Clemson (Men’s) were crowned victorious.
Citizen’s Police Academy Graduation
On November 8, the Police Department graduated 14 students from its Citizens Police Academy (CPA). The CPA is a 10-week free program offered to Cary residents and affords attendees a close-up view of the Police Department. The course is a prerequisite for citizens interested in becoming members of the police department’s Citizens Assisting Police (CAP) team.
Sargent Travis Gresham Graduates from Southern Police Institute
On November 10th, Sergeant Travis Gresham graduated from the Southern Police Institute’s 150th Administrative Officers Course through the University of Louisville at Kentucky. During his cohort in Louisville, Travis had the distinction of holding the office of Class Vice President, an honor he was elected to hold by his classmates. Please join us as we extend hearty congratulations to Travis on achieving this milestone in his career.
National Pill Takeback Day
On Saturday, October 28, Cary Police hosted the bi-annual National Pill Takeback event at two locations: Town Hall campus in front of the PD and Wegmans on Davis Dr. A total of 120 lbs. of medication was collected and disposed of with the assistance of the State Bureau Investigations (SBI). A huge thank you to Officer Tim Vibert and Officer Ed Ross for their assistance with this program and also to Sergeant Matthew Pearson and Detective Rebecca Platz for their planning efforts and continued commitment to this program.
Weighing in on Compost Carts
Cary is one of the first municipalities in North Carolina to demo Compost Now’s prototype for an access-controlled drop-off receptacle and service app. Given the community’s growing interest in composting, Cary is proud to have been invited to provide insight on design and use, showcasing how this system can enhance municipal solid wastes services.
Apex Friendship Students Visit Western Wake Regional Water Reclamation Facility
Damon Forney, Western Wake Regional Water Reclamation Facility (WWRWRF) Manager, led science students during a recent site tour from Apex Friendship High School. Damon and the students had a great time discussing the WWRWRF’s role in serving the community while providing advanced wastewater treatment that supports our natural environment.
Cary Police Awarded Tenth CALEA Reaccreditation
Cary Police Department was awarded its tenth CALEA advanced law enforcement accreditation during the 2023 Fall CALEA Conference in Bellevue, Washington. Chief Terry Sult, Accreditation Manager Lieutenant Frank Schelah, and Deputy Chief Shawn Anderson represented the department for the Mid-Atlantic commission hearing and review.
NCDOT Meeting for Trinity Road Railroad Grade Separation Project on Monday, November 20
On Monday, NCDOT will conduct a public meeting at Herb Young Community Center to discuss the Trinity Road Railroad Grade Separation project. The project will close the at-grade (i.e. driving over the tracks) railroad crossing on Trinity Road and construct a vehicular bridge over the North Carolina Railroad. It is located at the intersection of Trinity Road and E. Chatham Street. NCDOT staff will be available to review the project and answer questions. Cary staff will also be in attendance. The Trinity Road Rail Improvement Project Page contains maps, plans, project contact information, and the option to leave comments if you cannot attend the in-person open house between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on Monday.
Draft Urban Forest Master Plan Open for Public Comment
Proactive in our commitment to trees, Cary has drafted long-term strategies to guide urban forest management and conservation efforts in the form of an Urban Forest Master Plan. Valuing citizen input, staff have invited the public to learn more about our community’s canopy and review the draft plan with the option to provide comments from November 6 until December 6.
Virtual Neighborhood Rezoning Meeting on December 6
A rezoning meeting for Sterling West subdivision will take place virtually on December 6 at 6:00 p.m.
Concerns about a rezoning proposal for Wheatsbury Drive
Invitations to several events
Complaints about a rezoning proposal for Middleton Avenue townhomes
Next Week
Next week’s activities include staff meetings, a meeting of the Wake County Mayors Association, and the Thanksgiving holiday. I have so many blessings and too many to thank in this post, but I do want to thank the great citizens of Cary who have helped shape this community to be one of the best in the nation. Thank you and have a wonderful holiday!
Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, November 26th, 2023. Although I have Facebook and Twitter accounts those are not the best means of communication with me. Please send all Town of Cary questions or comments to Harold.Weinbrecht@townofcary.org and email personal comments to augustanat@mindspring.com.
Monday I met with the town clerk to go over what information I will need from staff to write next year’s State of Cary address. I will probably start writing that address in late December.
Manager One-On-One
Later Monday I met with the town manager for our weekly one-on-one. We talked mostly about the upcoming work session and the potential bond items.
NC Senator Adcock Meeting
Tuesday evening, I met with NC Senator Adcock who was formerly Mayor Pro-Tem in Cary. We are good friends so most of the meeting was playing catch up. We also talked about upcoming challenges and Cary’s future.
Election Day Runoff for District D
Tuesday was the runoff for Cary Council District D. With 100% of the votes Sarika Bansal had a 67-vote lead over Rachael Jordan. There were 112 absentee ballots left to be counted which made the race too close to call. The Board of Elections is scheduled to count the remaining votes and declare a winner on November 17th.
Consultants Meeting
Wednesday night I met with a consultant who will be helping in the marketing of Cary. This is important as Cary continues to attract key businesses from all over the world.
Council Staff Quarterly Meeting
Thursday, I joined council members Frantz, Smith, Robinson, Eades, and Johnson along with about 30 members of staff for the Fiscal Year 2024 Quarter One meeting. The meeting lasted about four and a half hours. Here are a few of the takeaways presented by staff:
Financial Update and Inclusive Procurement
Cary is in excellent financial condition.
Cary has opportunities for growth and maturity in financial management.
Establishing an inclusive procurement process positively impacts Cary’s community and the economic growth of minority businesses.
Environment Update
Cary is well positioned from an environmental stance.
Cary is formulating a collective strategy.
Solar and vehicle electrification are high impact environmental strategies.
Cary created a loose-leaf collection boutique service that has been popular among citizens.
The more trees we plant the higher the leaf volume will be, and there were 20,000,000 pounds of leaves collected last year and turned into compost.
The Public Works operational approach allows for operational and environmental flexibility.
Capital and Community Projects
Staff provided an update on the 2019 Shaping Cary’s Tomorrow Bond Projects that were planned between 2020 to 2024. Annie Jones Courts Replacement, Dunham Park Tennis Courts Replacement, Open Space Land Acquisition, and Penny Road School Park Refurbishment are complete. In addition, Downtown Cary Park, and Neighborhood Parks at Carpenter Fire Station Road and McCrimmon Parkway are nearing completion.
Staff shared highlights from capital and community projects with progress during the last quarter.
Development patterns remain consistent with the Imagine Cary Community Plan.
Projects are clustered as primarily large developments or small developments.
Staff discussed plans for more parking in downtown Cary.
Here are some additional points I noted in presentations and discussions:
Development
Rezoning cases approved have been trending downward the last few years.
This quarter 21 rezoning requests were made to staff resulting in 3 submittals. That is consistent with the roughly 90% of requests never making it to the council.
Quarter one had 66 apartments/condos, 62 detached, and 4600 square feet of commercial approved.
The parking deck by the Rogers is moving forward.
The Massey project on Byrum has cleared ground for development.
The Meridian project on East Chatham has cleared ground for development.
The two breweries and a patio on West Chatham are open.
Capital and Community Projects
South Harrison Improvements and nearby roads are nearing completion.
USA Baseball Indoor training facility is over 90% complete.
Northwest Maynard Road Water Main and Sidewalk project from High House to Old Apex is underway. Service will not be disrupted.
Higgins greenway Phase III from existing end to Kildaire begins construction soon.
The Old Apex Road Water Line from Cary Parkway to Maynard will begin construction in summer of 2024. It will include 1000 feet of sidewalk.
The PRCR Master Plan and Open Space Plan will be our guide for open space, parks, greenways, and programs for the next 10 years.
An assessment of open space, programming, parks, assets, greenways, and trails will be part of master plans. It will include surveys, community events, and focus groups. Public input will begin in the spring.
The town only has three existing community centers: Bond Park, Herb Young, and Middle Creek. None constructed in twenty years.
The town has conceptualized two new centers: Mills Park and The Centre at South Hills. Thousands of people have participated in online surveys, workshops, or as part of a board or commission.
A proposed base program for community centers would include office-lobby-support space, senior center, fitness area, weight training and group exercise, flexible courts, locker rooms, multipurpose rooms, classrooms, catering/teaching kitchen, wellness bar, adventure walking track, child watch, indoor play areas, and outdoor amenities.
The Centre, which would be located on the South Hills mall site, would have a Community Center, Sports Center, and an Arena. Wake County has committed $75 million for this project. If approved by voters, it would be one of a kind. One of the nation’s top consultants said: “No other comparable facilities combine a sports center, community center, arena, and structured parking on multiple levels. What Cary is doing in INNOVATIVE and ICONIC.”
The council will have a work session on the Mills Park center and The Centre in the spring of 2024. A potential bond referendum would be in the fall of 2024 but has yet to be decided by the council.
The tennis center expansion would have 30 pickleball courts, a new clubhouse with the NC Tennis Hall of Fame, and facility improvements to allow high professional tournaments.
Environment Update
Our environmental initiatives come from consultants Kim Lungren and Associates, staff, advisory board members, and citizens.
The town hired a new Energy Manager, Sara Caliendo.
The Count Me In Cary program had 3 meetings with 50-75 stakeholder; a meeting with 6 climate ambassadors and a coordinator; 25 community events; 15 presentations; 2 focus groups for renters and seniors; 2 workshops with police, fire, and public works; and 3553 completed surveys.
67% of citizens would be willing to install solar but have barriers such as financing and vetted contractors.
64% of citizens would be willing to purchase or lease an electric vehicle but have cost barriers.
Cary’s energy programs today reduce energy and maximize efficiency in buildings community wide. Our goal is to require no new fossil fuel buildings and systems throughout Cary.
We are currently creating our climate action strategy. Our high impact strategies include solar energy, building efficiency, and vehicle electrification.
80 town buildings have been studied for solar and half are solar ready. We will begin a phased installation over the coming years.
The solar on USA baseball indoor facility will save enough power to provide electricity for up to 25 homes a year which is equivalent to 169 acres of forest.
Residential solar installations continue to increase.
Currently Cary has 7 electric police vehicles, 5 electric town vehicles, 1 electric cargo van, and 72 hybrid vehicles.
If Cary’s fleet were totally electric today, we wouldn’t be able to get enough electricity from Duke to charge the vehicles.
The town is retrofitting several vehicles with propane fuel tanks.
Cary will have the first electric recycling truck in the southeast. It will arrive in the spring of 2024.
Cary will have an electric fire truck in 2024/2025. Only four other communities in the US have electric fire trucks.
Loose Leaf Collection
A mature, healthy tree can have between 100,000 and 200,000 leaves.
One leaf weigh approximately .01 pounds. Last season Cary collected 20,000,000 pounds of leaves.
The amount of leaves Cary collected would have covered the Eifel Tower.
Cary is one of the few communities in the region that still collects leaves.
Collections in the last ten years have shown an increase of approximately 500,000 pounds of leaves per year.
Leaf trucks are also used for storm response such as snow. If it snows during leaf collection, then leaf collection will be suspended. Workers could also be pulled from leaf collection for other emergencies such as water main breaks.
Cary leaves are turned into compost.
Frantz Square
At the end of the quarterly I took a few moments to recognize outgoing council member Don Frantz who has served District B the last 16 years. In my comments I noted that he has had an incredible impact on downtown and was the biggest advocate for the downtown park. Who knows what downtown Cary would be like if he had not served on council. One thing for sure, it wouldn’t be nearly as good as it is today. Once I finished my comments, I made a motion to name the downtown square around the fountain Frantz Square. It was seconded by Council member Robinson and passed unanimously. I look forward to dedicating Frantz Square during the park opening on November 19th.
Council Member Elect Meeting
Friday afternoon I had the pleasure of talking with council member elect Michelle Craig. We spent an hour getting to know each other better. I found that she has a PhD in Chemistry and will soon be teaching full time in the Wake County School system. Her passions fit with top Cary priorities: affordable housing, energy sustainability, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Parkside Commons Christmas Tree Lighting Event
Saturday night I visited Parkside Commons in Cary for the annual tree lighting event which was from 4 – 7 pm. There were trolley rides, face painting, holiday vendors, Santa Clause, and more. It was a great time to kick off the holiday season. I talked and had pictures taken with several citizens while I was there including Dave Brudy the CEO of the group that owns Parkside Commons. At dusk I invited all the kids up to help me count down and flip the big switch to light the Christmas tree.
It was great fun and the first of four tree lightings I will do this year. I will also be doing Menorah lighting in December.
Concerns about the potential shooter that was arrested by the Cary police.
A complaint about downtown development removing older buildings and pushing out smaller businesses.
A thanks to one of the Detective Young in our police department.
A complaint about recycling bin location after pickup.
A request to meet with seniors at town hall one evening.
A request for help with a building permit.
A complaint about plans to remove the Park West movie theater (that is in Morrisville and not in Cary).
A request to send a document to Tim Sweeney of Epic Games.
A request to support a rezoning on Whatsbury Drive.
A thank you to officer Melissa May for going beyond the call of duty.
A request to protect our health and environment.
Next Week
Next week’s activities include staff meetings, a downtown park documentary taping, a ribbon cutting, the Chinese Lantern Festival Preview event, a CAMPO meeting, a Human Relations, Inclusion, & Diversity Task Force meeting, a meeting about affordable housing, a council meeting, the Waverly Christmas tree lighting event, and the Christmas tree lighting at Fenton, and the Downtown Cary Park Ribbon Cutting.
Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, November 19th, 2023. Although I have Facebook and Twitter accounts those are not the best means of communication with me. Please send all Town of Cary questions or comments to Harold.Weinbrecht@townofcary.org and email personal comments to augustanat@mindspring.com.
Monday afternoon I held my weekly meeting with the town manager. The topics of discussion included council, the runoff election, affordable housing, and upcoming work sessions.
Atlantic Tire Tennis Championships Board Meeting
Monday evening I attended a board meeting of the Atlantic Tire Tennis Championships. We discussed sponsors, future sponsors, and the vision for the tennis center and championships.
Meeting with Candidate
Tuesday I was asked to meet with a council candidate. In the meeting I heard of unfortunate things that were being done to the candidate and her supporters. The meeting only lasted about 15 minutes.
Final CASSI Report
Tuesday I was notified of the final report for Connected Autonomous Shuttle Supporting Innovation (CASSI) pilot in bond park. Here is an excerpt from the press release:
“Cary, NC – The final report, datasets, and a curated data story with findings from the CASSI’s 13-week pilot period is now available and accessible through Cary’s Open Data Portal and on the NCDOT website. The all-electric, wheelchair-accessible, low-speed automated shuttle navigated a four-stop route within Bond Park, operating on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. between March 6 and June 2. The data provided in Cary’s Open Data Portal were captured by the shuttle’s attendant and computer system and shared by Beep, Inc. (Beep) in weekly reports. To supplement this data, NCDOT created and administered an online rider survey that was accessible through URL and QR codes at the shuttle stops and inside the shuttle during the pilot period. NCDOT, Cary, and Beep also held an in-person engagement event at Bond Park, inviting community members with disabilities and their caregivers to share their feedback about the accessibility of the shuttle and service. These data paint a picture of how automated vehicle technologies might reshape the future of mobility in public spaces and exemplify interagency collaboration and transparency around emerging technologies. Transparency was a top priority for Cary, NCDOT, and Beep throughout the pilot, not only to support data sharing, but also to incorporate the community into the process and decision making. “CASSI’s success demonstrates Cary’s commitment to inspiring innovation and fostering new ideas for solving challenges for the changing needs of our community,” said Cary’s Chief Innovation Officer Nicole Coughlin. “That means not only collecting data to gather insights but doing it in a way that is transparent and lets our community know the what, why and how we’re doing it, keeping them in mind every step of the way.” In addition to the number of riders, trips, and other operations data provided by Beep, Cary and NCDOT collected metrics on travel patterns, rider experience, perception of safety, trip purpose, and demographics, all factors to consider when evaluating the emerging technology as a public transportation option. On days when the shuttle was in operation, CASSI carried an average of 3.5 passengers per trip, totaling 1,718 passengers throughout the pilot period. The highest ridership occurred during the week coinciding with Wake County Public Schools’ spring break period, notably on Friday, March 31, when 80 passengers were served – the most on any given day. Findings from the rider survey reflected the community’s strong interest in autonomous transportation and satisfaction with the pilot. 78% of respondents visited Bond Park to ride the shuttle, 92% reported a positive experience with the shuttle, and 97% expressed satisfaction with the shuttle’s attendant. Respondents’ acceptance of driverless vehicles was seen in their willingness to ride the shuttle again (81%) and to see autonomous shuttles in other places in the community (88%). Through their collaborative efforts on the pilot, Cary and NCDOT showcased the strength of their interagency partnership and advanced their understanding of how autonomous vehicles can be used for public transportation. “The outcomes from this pilot highlight the value of teamwork and data to evaluate how well automated vehicle technology is performing now as transit and inform recommendations on how the technology could be improved to best serve the public,” said NCDOT’s Senior Advisor for Innovation Sarah Searcy. The insights from the final report, datasets, and data story will inform NCDOT and Cary’s future pilots and projects. The findings also provide a snapshot to the public of the current challenges and successes of automated vehicle technology and where it may advance in the future. To read the report and learn more about the project’s findings, visit Cary’s Open Data Portal. NCDOT’s CASSI project details and history can be found on their CASSI webpage.”
I believe autonomous vehicles will be commonplace within the next couple of decades if not sooner.
Ted Abernathy Presentation on the Economy
Wednesday morning, I joined several hundred people in attending an economic summary presented by Ted Abernathy. Out of all the amazing facts here are some that I noted:
The nation is currently renormalizing.
Over 22 million jobs have been recovered since the beginning of the pandemic until now.
The Feds have raised the fund rate 16 times in the past 16 months.
North Carolina has seen a 7% increase in jobs since the beginning of the pandemic. North Carolina was 6th in growth.
North Carolina has seen significant job gains in tech, finance, education, and health. We have seen job losses in manufacturing.
The Raleigh metro area has also seen significant job gains in construction and manufacturing.
The Raleigh metro area percentage of job gain since the beginning of the pandemic is 11.4%.
North Carolina metro areas have seen a job gain of over 34%.
Cary employment continues to be on a steady increase during the last 10 years.
The unemployment rate in Cary is at 2.9%, which is the lowest in the area.
In the last three years NC per capita income has increased 17.8%.
NC is 5th in the nation for per capita GDP and income growth.
The savings created during the pandemic have almost all been spent.
US household debt has decreased from over 100% of GDP to 76.1%.
The personal savings rate is now at 3.9%.
US household net work increase from $141,100 in 2022 to $193,000.
Internet sales are now 15-20% of all retail.
US food services and bars have almost returned to pre-pandemic levels.
Manufacturing has seen a significant increase in output resulting in fewer workers.
US business investment in factories has doubled in the last couple of years.
Manufacturing job announcements have risen from 100,487 in 2019 to 364,904 in 2022.
NC has seen a 9.2% increase in manufacturing jobs in the last 10 years.
NC is #1 for business climate.
Inflation has decreased to 3.7%.
Price increases remain high for motor vehicle insurance at 18.9%.
The availability of skilled labor is still the number one issue.
The US labor force continues to grow and is at 165,311,000.
The employment participation rate for 25–54-year-olds is 83.5%, 16–24-year-olds is 56.1%, and over 55 years old is 38.8%.
More women in the workforce than any time in history at 57.2%.
The US population growth rate has declined from 3.7 children per family in 1960 to 1.6 children by 2020.
Birthrate per 1000 is 11.1 in US and 11.4 in NC.
NC continues to be in the top third of states gaining population.
NC is predicted to grow population by less than 5% in the next ten years.
In NC metro areas are growing by over10% while rural areas are losing population.
The Raleigh-Cary area is projected to grow by 18.3% in the next ten years.
Cost of living, housing availability, and housing costs are the biggest reasons for relocation.
People are moving away from urban cores to emerging suburbs and exurbs.
Single family permits in the Raleigh metro area are declining while apartments in the highest in the state.
NC ranked #9 for Business Tax Climate.
The average home price in Raleigh metro area was $298,181 in 2020 and is $435,447 now.
The annual income needed to afford a median priced house in the US is $115,000.
Cary permit value has decreased from at high of $409 million in 2016 to $290 million.
Cary residential permit value is at its lowest point in 10 years at $92 million.
Cary residential permits in 2023 through July are 163 as compared to Raleigh at 1114. This is the lowest in the last 15 years.
Cary, through July, has the second lowest rate of new permits of all municipalities in Wake County.
Properties sold in Cary average $620,252 compared to $392,541 in 2019.
Cary has the highest single family residential value in the county at $414,899.
US office vacancy rate is now over 18%.
The 30-year mortgage rate is now 7.9%.
The percentage of men with college degrees in the 25 to 29 age group is 33% while women are 43%.
Life expectancy with a bachelor’s degree is 83.3 years as opposed to 74.8 years without a bachelor’s degree.
Predicted for 2024: end of excess savings, higher interest rates for home building, OPEC – rising energy costs, and tightening of bank lending.
State of County Message Taping
Thursday afternoon I taped a message as part of Wake County’s State of the County address. The taping took about five minutes. One message was me saying: “We are better together”. The other message was introducing myself and inviting everyone to the opening of the downtown park.
Veterans Luncheon
Friday I attended the Veterans Luncheon with council members Jack Smith and Jennifer Robinson. The speaker, Wade Carmichael told an incredible story about PTSD. Here are the remarks he spoke from:
““Why Am I Here?’
These were the first words spoken by my father after sitting in his darkened office, crying for hours.
My mother called me, not knowing what to do. I came as soon as I could. He was still sobbing in the dark.
I entered the room and sat on the floor next to him, waiting for him to speak in his time. It is a hard thing to witness a parent crying, and harder still to sit feeling helpless by their side.
When tears and sobs slowed to silence, my father finally spoke. “Why am I here? So many men, greater than me, died. But I’m still here. Why?
“Dad,” I said, “how old were these men, greater than you? How old were you?”
“I don’t know,” he sniffed, “22 maybe 23.”
“And you,” I asked.
“19, 20, why?” he replied.
“Dad, you were all boys still,” I turned to face him in the dim light, “none of you had lived long enough to be great men.”
It was the 50th anniversary of VJ Day, and that PTSD that he had begrudged my generation of whining about, because his generation never did that. “We just sucked it up and kept going.” His crisis struck on that day, 50 years after his war.
“But they…” my father then revealed the dark stories of his service as a Marine in the South Pacific. Tales of being one of three in a company able to walk out of a battle. And I, in that exchange opened some of my dark memories of Vietnam. He had counseled me to test out for a non-combat specialty when my turn came. I did and became a Personnel Accounting Specialist. But we are speaking about the military, and when the feces hit the atmospheric oscillator, I found myself deep in that war.
As we shared, our relationship changed from father and son to one of Brothers-at-Arms. We talked until the words ran out with our energy.
After a long pause my father said, “So, what am I supposed to do? I’m still here and they are all gone. Why?”
It was my turn to think about that question. Why was I still here? In the quiet of that small dark room, an answer came. “Dad, I think, no I believe, our duty, our obligation, is to live the life for which they gave theirs. To live a life worthy of their sacrifice.”
My message here today, for all of us, is to look forward and to live our lives, enjoy our freedoms, in a manner that makes their sacrifice worth the weight of their blood.
Thank you.”
What a very powerful and inspiring message. He is right! Our challenge IS to live our lives in a manner that makes their sacrifices worth the weight of their blood!
Town Manager’s Report
Sean’s Message
Earlier today I had the privilege – and pleasure – of discussing Cary with High Point University President Dr. Nido Qubein for his show, “Side by Side”, that airs statewide on PBSNC. Dr. Qubein is quite a fan of Cary, and we spent our time together exploring some of the elements that have made Cary so successful over the decades. I’m so proud to be Cary’s Manager and appreciate the opportunity to help change the face of and feelings about local governments by sharing Cary’s story with a wide audience. I will pass along the air date once it’s set.
I look forward to seeing you all next Thursday at the Quarterly Meeting. There will not be a Council Weekly Report next Friday because you will be updated on anything timely at the meeting. Enjoy your weekend. Sean
Cary Supports Key Non-Profit Partners
This week, staff joined Councilmembers at events to support two key non-profit organizations doing critical work in Cary. On Saturday, Councilmember Lori Bush, Councilmember Carissa Kohn-Johnson, and Councilmember-Elect Michelle Craig supported The Carying Place at the 30th Anniversary Masquerade Ball. The Carying Place is Cary’s partner in providing housing and supportive services for working families experiencing housing instability.
On Thursday, Councilmember Jennifer Robinson, Councilmember Carissa Kohn-Johnson, and Councilmember Ryan Eades attended the Dorcas Ministries Day of Thanksgiving Breakfast to celebrate the organization’s impact on Cary and our region. The event honored the legacy of the late Howard Manning, Dorcas founder, and raised funds to grow their capacity to service residents.
North Walker Street Update
Contractors will be repaving and repairing North Walker Street from Cedar Street to East Chatham Street. North Walker Street will be closed starting Wednesday, November 8, at 9:00 p.m. and reopened on Friday, November 10, at 5:00 p.m. Drivers are encouraged to use South Academy Street to bypass the work area. Businesses will remain open and can be accessed by driveways on Cedar Street and East Chatham Street.
Preparing the Downtown Park
This week, the Downtown Cary Park hosted four, 2-hour sessions where around 70 Cary employees and neighbors of all ages were invited to test out the Park and provide feedback on their individual experience. The testers were given a checklist of specific items they had to complete while onsite to ensure the park is ready to receive visitors later this month. Testers provided an evaluation at the end of their session, and staff will assess and use this feedback to further ready the Park for opening.
Spooky Events
Last Wednesday, Mummies and sons wore their best Halloween costumes and participated in the Mummy & Son Ball. Over 100 ghosts, goblins, LEGO characters, and every spooky character in between enjoyed a night of Halloween fun! This spooktacular night included Halloween games, a costume contest, the Monster Mash Dance, and ended with roasting a yummy marshmallow ghost treat! Then, on Friday and Saturday, Cary Teen Council and the Outdoor Recreation led a pop-up haunted forest event which served as a community service project and fundraiser for Cary Teen Council. The forest featured 10 interactive spooky scenes spread through the teambuilding course. Over the two nights, several hundred people participated and raised over $2,500 for Cary Teen Council. The teens also hit their food donation goal by filling a wooden coffin with donations for Dorcas.
Also, on Friday, the unique Pumpkin Flotilla returned to Bond Lake! Citizens bring their carved pumpkins to the Boathouse, where they are attached to platforms to float on the lake. Once dusk hits the pumpkins are illuminated and paddled around the lake shore for spectators to see. Around 2,000 people attended the event.
2023 NC One Water Awards
Cary received a number of accolades this week at the 2023 NC One Water Conference. Cary was recognized as Water Distribution System of the Year for the sixth consecutive year, and as Wastewater Collection System of the Year for the fifth consecutive year. Other awards included 2nd place in the Best Tasting Water Contest and the South Cary Water Reclamation Facility’s recognition for Wastewater Treatment Plant Operations and Maintenance Excellence Award. Individual recognitions were made to Betsy Drake for the Water Environment Federation’s (WEF) Arthur Sidney Bedell Award for extraordinary personal service to NC One Water, and to Jason Parker for the Water Environment Federation’s (WEF), Laboratory Analyst Excellence Award.
Making Energy Work Conference
Energy Manager, Sara Caliendo, represented Cary at the NC Sustainable Energy Association’s Making Energy Work conference this week. Stakeholders from across the country engaged in thought-provoking discussions on state and federal policies and regulatory updates to outline potential carbon reduction pathways for electricity, transportation, and building sectors. Most notably, Governor Roy Cooper’s keynote speech gave an inspiring call to action for North Carolina’s clean energy economy and industry, including mentioning new green companies coming to the region.
Maintenance Work Continues at the Downtown Library Parking Deck
As part of the continuing maintenance work at the library parking deck, crews will be working in and around the deck daily beginning on Monday. Crews will continue to refurbish parking levels throughout with additional caulk, epoxy, and seal joints. Appropriate signage will be placed around the deck to let visitors know of closure patterns, and staff has and will continue to meet with surrounding tenants/users as maintenance continues on this and other levels in advance of the Downtown Cary Park opening. And on Monday, contractors will begin the first phase of access gate installation for the Library Parking Deck. This phase is only for the installation of the gate infrastructure, which includes concrete medians, detection loops, and conduit. This work will require intermittent closure of each access but at least one entrance will remain open at all times. Dedicated traffic control staff will be at each entrance and signs will be in place to assist motorists with wayfinding during closures. Notifications have been distributed to the tenants of One Walker and the library. Work will take place each day from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. For more information about this work including when gates may be activated please visit our website.
Fire Prevention Month Events
Fire wrapped up Fire Prevention Month with a smoke alarm drive Saturday in selected neighborhoods in Fire Station 9’s district. Fire crews and Cary CERT volunteers visited 453 homes and installed 192 smoke alarms. Combination smoke/carbon monoxide alarms were provided for this event through a federal grant. On Sunday, all nine fire stations opened their doors for open houses to let the public meet the firefighters, see the stations where they live and work for 24 hours at a time, and check out the top-notch equipment used to keep Cary safe.
October was Cyber Security Awareness Month
October has been a month of heightened cybersecurity awareness as Cary recognized Cyber Security Awareness Month with a comprehensive campaign aimed at educating and equipping town staff against various digital threats. Throughout the month, employees were treated to a series of informative emails and short videos, delving into four critical cybersecurity topics of data protection, ransomware, social media and AI, and phishing. In addition two webinars were held. Topics for the webinars included insights into cyberattacks and vulnerabilities, and responsible AI and security.
Keeping Our Colleagues and Community Safe and Informed
Cary continues to promote a safe and healthy community by hosting flu shot clinics at multiple Cary locations with our partners at WakeMed. More than 207 employees received this annual vaccination through the clinic. Earlier in October, HR conducted fit testing and training for 81 Public Safety and Utilities employees under our Respiratory Protection program and audiograms for 240 Public Works Department employees enrolled in Cary’s Hearing Conversation program. These safety initiatives help ensure protection for employees that encounter airborne contaminants or noise exposure in their jobs. Lastly, HR also hosted a multitude of virtual financial wellness seminars throughout September, attended by 125 employees who gained new insights and practical tips on a variety of essential fiscal topics including Social Security 101 with the SSA; Retirement Planning with VOYA and Pre-Retirement Planning with LGERS; Navigating Medicare with HUB; and Financial Wellness 101 Training Series with Civic Federal Credit Union.
A concern about the safety at synagogues, mosques, and houses of worship because of the war in Israel.
A complaint about a rezoning request at O’Kelly Chapel Road and Highway 55.
Thank you for doing a good job. (You’re welcome!)
Several complaints about the potential shooter near a daycare.
A complaint about safety with Cary Elementary crosswalks.
Next Week
Next week’s activities include staff meetings, a meeting with a NC Senator, a meeting with a marketing consultant, and the council’s last quarterly meeting of the year.
Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, November 12th, 2023. Although I have Facebook and Twitter accounts those are not the best means of communication with me. Please send all Town of Cary questions or comments to Harold.Weinbrecht@townofcary.org and email personal comments to augustanat@mindspring.com.
Monday I attempted to contact each council member and the council member elect about Thursday’s regular meeting agenda. There was a question about the Gas Utility Franchise agreement on the Consent Agenda. In addition, two council members expressed a concern about a proposed joint use agreement with Wake County Public Schools on a ballfield for the future Morrisville High School.
Town Manager One-On-One
Monday evening I met with the town manager for our weekly one-on-one. We talked about the outcome of Cary’s election, the runoff in District D, and what that might mean. We also discussed how our roles will change with the loss of experience on council.
Work Session
Tuesday the council held a work session on council priorities, future council meetings, and the downtown park. Here are some takeaways from the work session:
The council will hold a work session on December 14. The purpose would be to present a brief orientation of council policies and procedures and to decide if there should be changes. The work session will not replace individual meetings with new council members to discuss legal implications and awareness of being a council member.
Downtown Cary Park manager presented slides on how we transition from construction to operations.
Concerns include learning parking habits after the park opens. We will probably bring back Walker Consultants to update the parking plan.
There will be a smart gate pilot at the library parking deck. Construction of this will begin on November 6th. Other parking decks that will have smart parking include the Harrison/Chatham deck and the Cedar Street deck.
We will be managing event parking differently using Car Park.
There will be new public parking signage.
Some of the issues that may occur with the new park will include complaints about traffic, noise, homelessness, special events, and the social district.
Downtown trolleys were sent back because they did not meet ADA standards.
There will be cameras in the park. The police department does not permanently install cameras but works with others who have cameras installed. Data from cameras can be used to solve crimes.
The calendar for the remainder of the year includes a quarterly meeting on November 9th, an Organizational meeting (swearing in of elected officials) on December 5th, a work session on legal matters on December 14th, and a council meeting also on December 14th.
We expect big crowds at the park for a few months. We will consistently monitor and address unexpected issues as they arise. Having said all that, I am excited about the opening of the Downtown Cary Park!
Mayor-Manager Workshop
Wednesday I joined the town manager in a workshop held by a local engineering firm. They were interested in learning how to relate to management, staff, and elected officials. After the workshop and lunch we had a quick tour of the downtown park.
Council Meeting
The last regularly scheduled council meeting of October had two presentations, five consent items, one public hearing, and three discussion items.
The first presentation was a proclamation honoring Koka Booth who passed in early October. Several members of his family were in attendance and his son Scott spoke. Cary had flags staff for twelve days to honor each of the years he served.
Our second presentation was for Cary Band Day. This was the 64th Cary Band Day and this year marks the 102nd year of the Cary Band.
The consent agenda included:
A bid award for the Howland Avenue Water Main Replacement project
The FY 2023 Annual Utility Reimbursements
An appointment of an Information Services Advisory Board member
The adoption of an Ordinance granting the Gas Utility Franchise
The consent agenda was approved unanimously with discussion.
Public Speaks Out had several speakers representing the Pickleball Community. They criticized Cary and our park system and said they wanted courts now. There was also a lady and her son who criticized the town for not having enough affordable housing.
The only Public Hearing was for SV Temple on Chapel Hill Road to allow for more parking. There were no speakers, and this will go to the Planning and Zoning Board for their review.
The first discussion item was to accept a federal grant of $1 million for the “My Tree, Our Tree” program. With this grant award, staff estimates that Cary will provide 10,000 more trees in the next five years, or approximately 2,000 per year, for planting. Needless to say, it was unanimously approved.
Our second discussion item was to partner with Wake County Public Schools and receive $1.25 million for conversion of Baseball field #3 at the USA Baseball National Training Complex to artificial turf. This passed 5-2 with Bush and Robinson dissenting.
Our last item for discussion was the project construction bid award converting USA Baseball National Training Complex’s Fields #3 and #4 to artificial turf. This passed unanimously.
NC Metro Mayors
While the NC Metro Mayors didn’t meet on Friday there was a summary of legislative actions sent by KTS Strategies. This included the adjournment of session:
Redistricting Maps Approved
This week, the General Assembly voted to approve the new North Carolina House, Senate, and U.S. Congressional maps for the 2024 elections. These maps became Session Law after votes on Wednesday. Redistricting bills are not subject to signature or veto by the Governor. North Carolina’s current 14-seat U.S. House delegation consists of an even 7-7 split between Republicans and Democrats. Based on data from previous election cycles, the new congressional map is predicted to create 10 likely Republican districts, 3 likely Democrat districts, and 1 competitive swing district. The House and Senate maps are also predicted to result in Republican majorities.
Speakers Race
Top Republican leaders in the North Carolina House have consolidated their support around Representative Destin Hall (R-Caldwell) to succeed current House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Cleveland) once his term is complete. There have been many discussions this year about who would become the next speaker, as Moore has said this two-year term leading the chamber would be his last. Moore has held the position for a record five two-year terms. Hall, the current House Rules Committee chair, and Majority Leader John Bell (R-Wayne) have been the leading candidates to replace Moore. On Wednesday, the two men along with other House GOP leaders told a Republican caucus meeting that they supported a plan for Hall to become the caucus nominee for the next speaker. If ultimately backed by the caucus and elected by a majority in the 120-seat chamber, Hall said he would select Bell as House Rules Chairman.
Session Adjourned
On October 25th, the House and Senate passed Senate Joint Resolution 760 to officially adjourn the 2023 Regular Session of the North Carolina General Assembly. Lawmakers will reconvene once a month, starting on November 29th, to consider a limited number of items. Oversight and Interim Committee hearings will take place over the next few weeks. House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Cleveland) said on Wednesday that these would likely be non-voting sessions, and he anticipates that next votes will take place when short session begins on April 24th, 2024.
Cancer Event
Saturday morning I read a proclamation at the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event held at Fenton:
“DECLARING OCTOBER BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH IN CARY
WHEREAS, far too many Americans face the overwhelming shock of a breast cancer diagnosis each year. They are flooded with new information, worried about loved ones, and at times unable to afford treatment—all the while staring down some of life’s toughest questions. Unfortunately, many of us know someone or have family members who have or have had cancer. One in eight women will be diagnosed in their lifetime, including an expected 297,790 just this year, and one in 833 men will be diagnosed in their lifetime, including an expected 2,800 new cases this year; and
WHEREAS, The American Cancer Society started Making Strides Against Breast Cancer to unite communities, companies, and individuals with a collective goal to end breast cancer as we know it. The American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer is a celebration of courage and hope, a movement uniting communities to end breast cancer for everyone; and
WHEREAS, affordable access to screenings and early detection for all women are essential components in fighting breast cancer. ACS has enhanced digital offerings available to anyone across the nation, including one-on-one breast cancer patient support services and the use of video chat to safely connect patients, caregivers, and family members with valuable services and resources through the ACS website, in addition to a 24/7 helpline. Because of increased breast cancer screenings, earlier detection, and better treatments, mortality rates for breast cancer have decreased, life expectancy has increased, late-stage cancer diagnoses decreased, and five-year survival rates have increased; and
WHEREAS, Making Strides is the nation’s largest and most impactful breast cancer movement – providing a supportive community for courageous breast cancer survivors and metastatic breast cancer thrivers, caregivers, and families alike.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Harold Weinbrecht, Jr., Mayor of Cary, North Carolina, on behalf of the Cary Council, do hereby proclaim October 2023 as Breast Cancer Awareness Month in Cary. I urge everyone to support ACS and Making Strides of the Triangle in the fight against Breast Cancer.
PROCLAIMED this 28th day of October, 2023.”
After reading the proclamation I joined the thousands in a 5K walk around Fenton. What a great crowd and great event.
District D Runoff Misinformation
I don’t like to get into negative politics because it is not something I believe in and does not serve the citizens of Cary. However in the best interest of the citizens, I feel obligated to let people know of a post where misinformation is being spread to alarm and confuse citizens. A citizen sent this post to me:
To clarify, the current council has 2 Democrats, 1 Republican, and 4 Independents. Two of the Independents were Republicans several years ago but changed because they realized partisanship was divisive and one of those lost their bid for re-election. For the record, I am a left-of-center Independent. I have been described as socially liberal and fiscally conservative. This council has worked very well together because we kept partisan politics out of local government. Partisanship has been proven to be divisive and destructive which is evident in many municipalities, state, and national governments. This council leads without misinformation and has been open and honest with its citizens. The Cary Council represents everyone regardless of their political leanings. It doesn’t take a Democrat or a Republican to put out fires, keep us safe, provide clean drinking water, or pick up garbage. It’s unfortunate that some want our council to head in a partisan direction to the detriment of the majority of the citizens. We are better than this!
Factually, you should know that we are addressing all the items mentioned in the post. We are moving faster than most municipalities in the state, region, and nation.
Town Manager’s Report
Sean’s Message
With Halloween falling on a weekday this year, I want to remind everyone that the Town doesn’t regulate when, or whether, kids trick-or-treat. In my experience, most Cary neighborhoods do host trick-or-treating on October 31st.
As for special, family-oriented Halloween events, the Town’s activities will be held this weekend.
Tonight at Bond Park, the Cary Teen Council will host its first-ever “Haunted Walk” along park trails, while the annual Pumpkin Flotilla will take place at Bond Lake.
On Saturday, The Cary Players will be telling ghost stories at the Page-Walker. And at the old library site, you can stop by the pumpkin patch to pick out the perfect pumpkin and carve it at one of our stations. That’s followed by an outdoor showing of “It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.”
For indoor movies, The Cary Theater will be showing the Halloween classics “Ghostbusters,” “Carrie,” and “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.”
Switching gears and as part of national fire prevention month, we’re hosting open houses at our nine fire stations this Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. Council, staff, and our citizens are invited to come tour the stations, meet our firefighters, and see all the different types of vehicles and equipment we use to help keep Cary safe.
There’s always something happening in Cary, and I know Council joins me in appreciation of the Town staff who work every day to make it such an enjoyable place to live.
Sean
Davis Drive Elementary School Visits Town Hall
This week, first graders from Davis Drive Elementary School visited Town Hall to learn from their District A Representative, Councilmember Jennifer Bryson-Robinson, about Cary’s government and how it affects their lives. While on Town Hall Campus, they also visited the Police Department and the 911 Communications Center.
NCLM and SOG Film Mock Council Meeting
This morning, North Carolina League of Municipalities (NCLM) and UNC’s School of Government (SOG) filmed a mock council meeting in chambers as part of UNC’s Essentials of Municipal Government course. The classes are designed to prepare those new to elected office for a successful transition to government. We were happy to host the group and provide space for a critical component of this course, which was an important part of the journey for many Cary councilmembers.
Final Climate Advisory Stakeholder Meeting
Cary’s Sustainability & Climate Action Strategy reached a major milestone this week when the Climate Action Advisory Stakeholder Group completed its final review. Nearly 50 staff and community members gathered for tactical discussions about implementation steps for priority actions. Realistic strategies for staff and community champions are now identified regarding Energy, Water Infrastructure, Transportation & Mobility, Solid Waste, Community, and Natural Resources.
Celebrating Cary’s Commitment to Trees Internationally
Cary’s Urban Forest program reached international heights this week. At Bond Park, staff coordinated a unique tree planting event in collaboration with international guest, Katiravan Subarayan. This tree planting pioneer has pledged to “nurture nature” by planting a tree in every country in the world. Through his efforts, Cary gained two new native trees and will be a featured example of climate action through our innovative natural resource initiatives. In addition, Leslie Moorman, our new Urban Forester joined over 1,000 professionals from across the globe in Washington D.C. for the World Forum on Urban Forests.
Commemorating the Harvest with Community and Education
Cary’s urban agriculture programs were highlighted this week with festivities and service learning. At the Senior Center Community Garden, 21 volunteers gathered for fall maintenance and native plant education. Thanks to our volunteers and Cary-sourced leaf mulch, this community gathering space in the heart of Bond Park is now ready for winter weather with amended soils and healthy pollinator plantings. Across town in Carpenter’s historic district, Good Hope Farm celebrated Cary’s agricultural legacy at the October Harvest Fest. Agritourism activities, environmental education, farm tours, and family-friendly fun attracted over 1,000 guests to experience regenerative farming in Cary.
Denise Dickens Receives NCAEA Award
On Sunday, the North Carolina Art Education Association (NCAEA) recognized Cary’s Denise Dickens with the distinguished “Friends of the Arts Award.” Presented at the association’s annual conference, attended by hundreds of art educators from across the state, this award recognizes an individual outside of the education field “who has made significant contributions to the visual arts in North Carolina.” Denise was nominated by Trish Klenow, an art teacher at Green Level High School. Denise and Trish have collaborated to provide art students at Green Level opportunities to assist with the creation and ongoing maintenance of Patrick Dougherty’s larger than life willow sculpture at Cary’s Carpenter Park.
Zombiepalooza 2023
The 8th annual Zombiepalooza festival brought another sold out crowd to The Cary last Friday. North Carolina filmmakers and residents were encouraged to submit a 5-minute or less family-friendly zombie short film to the competition. Fans cheered and laughed at this year’s zombie short films and enthusiastically voted for their favorite! We awarded prizes for the Best Zombie Short (Dead Delivery directed by Jordan Pollard) and People’s Choice (The Cupcake Killer directed by Kyle Jones).
White Oak Church Road Water Main Construction Update
Construction of the White Oak Church Road Water Main project has completed the installation of 3,200-feet of 16-inch water main from White Oak Elementary to Vandiver Way, just south of Morrisville Parkway. The water main is now active and closes a gap in the water system which will improve operations, water quality, and fire protection for the surrounding area. The construction involves an overnight crossing of the American Tobacco Trail (ATT) back in July. In coordination with Wake County, the project also provides a drinking fountain at the ATT White Oak Church Road trailhead access point.
Urban Land Institute’s Urban Plan for Public Officials Workshop
The Triangle Community Coalition (TCC) and the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Triangle hosted an Urban Planning Workshop for staff and elected officials from Cary, Apex, Fuquay-Varina, Holly Springs, and Wake Forest on Friday. Cary staff were represented by Assistant Development Services Director Rob Wilson and Development Review Manager Lora Greco. The intensive day-long workshop was a competition between development teams to prepare the most attractive response to a Request for Development Proposals for a fictitious 6-block redevelopment scenario. Teams explored various buildouts that incorporated a limited 3-year timeframe for development, a detailed pro forma, and multiple concerns from neighbors and community organizations. The Cary-Wake Forest team proposal was selected by the City Council!
Sears Farm Road Spot Traffic Safety Improvements
New pavement markings were installed along Sears Farm Road to complete the pedestrian mobility and traffic calming improvements along that corridor. The combination of new buffered bicycle lane markings, speed humps, and pedestrian crosswalks was conceived and funded through the Spot Traffic Safety Program in response to citizen concerns about traffic safety. Staff collaborated to use resources from the annual Streets Maintenance Program to complete the work economically and with a reduced impact to the community. Other traffic safety improvements in the area continue to be implemented, including rectangular rapid flashing beacons for the new greenway crossing of Green Hope School Road, which will be installed this Fall.
Higgins Greenway – Phase IV Public Meeting
A public meeting for Higgins Greenway – Phase IV is planned for November 29th between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Cary Arts Center. This project will extend Higgins Greenway Phase III, scheduled to begin construction next spring, into downtown Cary. Project highlights include utility upgrades, aesthetic enhancements, and increased safety for cyclists and pedestrians.
A request to attend the opening of the Flying Biscuit Café.
A request for Chapel Hill Road Mobility Study data.
A complaint about the Dillard Drive and Meeting Street intersection.
A complaint about too many apartments in Cary.
Thank you for the tribute for Koka Booth.
A complaint that we don’t have enough pickleball courts.
Next Week
Next week’s activities staff meetings, a meeting of the Atlantic Tire Board Championships, the Rise and Shine with Ted Abernathy presentation, and a Veterans Luncheon.
Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, November 5th, 2023. Although I have Facebook and Twitter accounts those are not the best means of communication with me. Please send all Town of Cary questions or comments to Harold.Weinbrecht@townofcary.org and email personal comments to augustanat@mindspring.com.
Monday I met with one of the candidates for the District D runoff.
Over the weekend I met with both candidates and had my picture taken with each. While I only endorse incumbents, I very much appreciate and support people participating in the democratic process and running for local office.
As Mayor my goal has always been and will continue to be, to work for the best for ALL citizens of Cary, regardless of their party affiliation. For me, the nightmare scenario would be for Cary to be in divisive gridlock like the state and national governments.
In this election cycle I have submitted supportive statements to candidates upon request that are true. As District D faces a run-off, I have made this final statement which reflects what I believe is in the best interest of Cary and true about Ms. Bansal:
“District D is the fastest growing district in Cary, and it is important to have a representative that understands people’s needs come before any political party’s agenda. Sarika Bansal understands that growing responsibly, being safe, protecting the environment, and planning for our future should always be our path forward. As an Indian American woman, she knows that our community’s strength is anchored by embracing our diversity and that partisan politics would only divide and weaken our community. With Sarika on council Cary will continue to be one of the strongest communities in the nation.”
Due to continued personal, and sometimes rude criticism of my attempt to help all candidates, I will no longer submit statements to candidates in this runoff. All of this has been hurtful to me and my family. Enough already!
Town Manager One-On-One
Monday afternoon I met with the town manager for our weekly one-on-one. We talked about the recent elections, how to communicate with my existing and future colleagues, and the upcoming quarterly meeting.
Mayors Association Meeting
Monday night I participated in a meeting of the Wake County Mayors. Mayors present were from Cary, Fuquay Varina, Garner, Holly Springs, Knightdale, Morrisville, Wake Forest, and Zebulon. Most of our discussion was about upcoming elections and future municipal bonds. Our meeting lasted about two hours.
CAMPO
Wednesday the CAMPO (Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization) Executive Board met virtually. This board’s purpose is to coordinate transportation planning in Wake County and portions of Franklin, Granville, Johnston, and Harnett counties. This agenda included three consent items, two public hearings, and three discussion items.
The board unanimously approved Amendment #1 to FY2024-2033 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) which determines the priority of projects in our region. This continues to be adjusted since the state’s funding is inadequate.
The Prioritization 7.0 Modal Candidate Project Lists were also unanimously approved allowing staff to maximize coordination with Division Engineers. This action could result in alternate projects being submitted with Chair approval.
A Wake Transit Baseline Revenue Assessment Funding Agreement with GoTriangle was approved. As a result, CAMPO, as one of the Lead Agencies for the Wake Transit Program, will use a consultant from the OnCall consultant list for Wake Transit to conduct a Baseline Revenue Assessment, which will result in the development of a Wake Transit Baseline Policy to serve as a guide for Wake Transit decision-making. GoTriangle has agreed to participate in the funding of this project through the Funding Agreement, with CAMPO and GoTriangle each committing $30,000 towards the $60,000 project cost.
NC Metro Mayors
Friday the North Carolina Metro Mayors met to hear a legislative summary. The following is a summary from KTS Strategies:
Redistricting
The General Assembly released their proposed maps of the new state House, Senate, and U.S. Congressional districts on Wednesday. The General Assembly is required to draw new legislative and congressional maps every 10 years in North Carolina based on new data from the U.S. Census. The Senate released two different versions of the congressional map that will determine the makeup of North Carolina’s 14-seat delegation in the U.S. House of Representatives. The House and Senate Redistricting Committees held public discussion-only meetings Thursday to review the maps and announced they will take final votes on them next week. If approved by the legislature, the redistricting legislation would not be subject to signature or veto by the Governor. The official maps will be used for the 2024 election cycle.
Governor Cooper Lawsuits
Governor Roy Cooper has filed two lawsuits against North Carolina Republican legislative leaders in response to recent legislation passed by the General Assembly that shifts power away from the executive branch.
On October 10th, Governor Cooper filed a lawsuit in Wake County Superior Court to challenge provisions set forth in S512, now Session Law 2023-136. This legislation would change the composition and appointments structure of several state governing boards and commissions, resulting in less positions that will be appointed by the Governor. The lawsuit also challenges a provision in H488, now Session Law 2023-108, that reorganizes the North Carolina Building Code Council to create a Residential Code Council. You can view the Governor’s statement here.
On October 17th, Governor Cooper filed another suit in Wake County Superior Court to challenge provisions in S749, now Session Law 2023-139. This legislation would increase the number of members on the State Board of Elections from five to eight and decrease the number of members on each of the 100 county boards of elections from five to four. There would be an even partisan split on each of the boards, and all appointments would be made by the General Assembly instead of the Governor. View the Governor’s statement here.
The session laws referenced above were all vetoed by Governor Cooper, but each of these vetoes were overridden by the General Assembly this year. Governor Cooper claims the basis for the lawsuits are that these provisions violate the separation of powers established in the North Carolina Constitution.
Town Manager’s Report
Sean’s Message
This quarter’s All Hands meeting held on Wednesday was devoted to helping our colleagues understand the significance of the Downtown Cary Park. We are now less than 30 days from the ribbon-cutting. We talked about how this park “came to be” and its larger purpose of actualizing Imagine Cary and spurring economic development. We talked about the amount of preparation that’s occurred as well as the changes and challenges it will bring to downtown – known and unknown. Finally, I shared my belief that patience, learning, and thinking before acting would be critical to our success. I look forward to bringing you into this discussion, Council, at our work session on Tuesday. Sean
Hum Sub Diwali 2023
Close to 10,000 people attended Hum Sub Diwali at Koka Booth Amphitheatre on October 14. The event featured local cultural groups performing dances, a drum flash mob, performance by Canadian artist Abby V, handicrafts booths, Indian food, an exhibition on weddings from around India, and fireworks. Mayor Harold Weinbrecht, Councilmembers Ryan Eades, Carissa Kohn-Johnson, and Lori Bush along with Cary staff Shivani Tripathi, Matt Pentz, Luana Deans, Sarah Braman, Cassie Schumacher-Georgopoulos, and Chelsea Stern, participated in the Celebrity Dance.
2023 SAS Championships Highlights
Last week, many of us enjoyed activities surrounding the SAS Championship and we have Ted Boyd, Director of Economic Development, to thank for it. Each year the economic event attracts people to Cary to enjoy Women’s Day, Food Truck Friday, a 5K through Prestonwood Country Club, a HBCU Invitational and of course the 3-day golf championship. Rashonda Harris, Cary’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Manager, presented the opening “THINK” session during Women’s Day. She delivered a power talk on embracing individuality and being your authentic self. Thank you to all the staff and community volunteers that came together to contribute to a successful SAS Championship week.
South Walker Street Repaving
Starting October 23, contractors will begin the repaving of South Walker Street from Fairview Road to Waldo Street. East Park Street from S Walker to Mayton View Lane will also be repaved as part of this work. Work hours are planned for 8 am to 5 pm and it is expected to take 2-3 weeks. Construction will be completed with a single lane closure and flagging operation and is being coordinated with the window replacement at One Walker-One Walnut. As part of this project, the all way stop at South Walker and East Park Streets will be installed permanently. Repaving of South Walker Street and East Park Street will provide new pavement, pavement markings, and safety improvements in advance of the Downtown Cary Park opening.
Continued Maintenance at the Downtown Library Parking Deck
As we continue maintenance on the library parking deck next week, be aware that the week of October 22 – 25 the parking deck will be closed nightly from 7 pm to 7 am. The overnight closures are necessary to allow contractors to refurbish level P2 with additional caulk, epoxy and seal joints. Know that the parking deck will be accessible form 7 am to 7 pm. Appropriate signage will be placed around the deck to let visitors know of closure patterns, and staff has and will continue to meet with surrounding tenants/users as maintenance continues on this and other levels in advance of the Downtown Cary Park opening.
Commit to Climate Actions
Continuing the momentum of the Count Me in Cary campaign, the Environmental Advisory Board’s annual work plan meeting was dedicated to co-creating stewardship strategies for a sustainable future. New and returning board members explored the impacts of climate change, identified challenges and opportunities, and suggested solutions to tackle in the upcoming year. Opening statements from Town Manager Sean R. Stegall, Councilmember and Board Liaison Jack Smith, and newly re-elected Councilmember Lori Bush, highlighted the value of innovative planning and community collaboration so that together we can build a more resilient Cary.
2023 Imagine a Day Without Water Campaign
On Thursday Cary joined water utilities, communities, and organizations across the country in the ninth annual Imagine a Day Without Water #ValueWater campaign. Staff participated in the on-line event by following social media and forums focused on education of the value of water, and advocacy for investment in our nation’s water systems. Public health, manufacturing, power production, and economic vitality are just a few of the areas water impacts our daily lives. Cary’s consistent community engagement, strategic planning, and financial performance demonstrate our commitment to ensuring a sustainable water future.
4 Way Stop Plan Implemented
Following months of collaboration with NCDOT and the neighborhood of Upchurch Farms, a project to install an all-way stop, featuring enhanced pedestrian crossings, flashing LED stop signs, and new lane configurations is complete. Staff will continue to monitor safety and operations to determine the effectiveness of this treatment for consideration at similar intersections.
Asphalt Rejuvenation
Starting October 23 contractors will begin asphalt rejuvenation on various Cary streets. Asphalt rejuvenation is one of our pavement preservation tools that is applied to newly paved streets. Like adding lotion to your skin, rejuvenation adds oils and other materials back to asphalt that is lost during initial installation and weathering, extending the life of the pavement. Door hangers will be placed at residences directly adjacent to treatment areas and also communicated via Nextdoor. Work is expected to take 2 weeks to complete. For more information contact 311 or visit the project webpage.
Transportation Working Group Walking Tour
The Transportation Working Group (TWG) was led by staff on a walking tour of Academy Street. TWG members were guided along Academy Street and asked to identify opportunities to improve mobility. Stopping at several key locations to discuss their observations and ask questions of staff, the group walked from Town Hall down to Dry Avenue and noted items that either create barriers to mobility or could be improved to increase mobility.
2023 IACP Conference
This week, a cross-departmental delegation of diverse thinkers and subject matter experts traveled to San Diego for the 2023 International Association of Chiefs of Police Conference. Lead by Chief Sult, the group of sworn and civilian staff from the Police Department, Fire Department, and Information Technology joined more than 16,000 public safety professionals from across the globe to learn about new techniques and emerging technologies.
Police Department Hosts NOBLE Chapter Meeting
On Wednesday, the Cary Police Department hosted the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), Eastern North Carolina Chapter, Region 3 quarterly meeting. During their meeting, the group discussed volunteer opportunities, individual agency priorities and trainings, and enjoyed fellowship with one another over lunch. Cary’s NOBLE members include Kat Christian, Rob Carey, Michael Wood, Ed Ross, Jessica Rowsey, Lekisha Branch, and Travis Gresham. A special thank you to Kat Christian, who serves as the Chapter’s Interim Secretary, for facilitating Cary’s serving as host.
Competitions Galore
Three major sports competitions were held in Cary over the last two weeks. This past weekend Cary hosted the 2023 NC State Senior Games Pickleball Tournament, the Great American Cross Country Festival, and Women’s All American Tennis Championship. The Senior Games, held at Cary Tennis Park, saw an impressive turnout of 776 senior athletes from across North Carolina, spanning ages from 50 to 89. The Cary Tennis Park was also host to the Women’s All-American Championship that featured the top NCAA Women’s Division 1 Collegiate tennis players. Mary Stonia from Texas A & M took home the women’s singles trophy. The Great American Cross Country Festival held at WakeMed attracted over 8,000 athletes from 20 states with HBCUs, high schoolers, and middles schools running the course.
Growing Cary’s Urban Forest
Cary’s urban canopy grew by 1,000 new native trees thanks to the 2023 Fall My Tree, Our Tree giveaway campaign. From towering oaks to shrubs for songbirds, community members came to collect free trees from Town Hall campus last Saturday. These healthy and happy trees will be planted on private properties across the community through this innovative environmental initiative. Additional tree education classes and events are scheduled throughout the winter and spring of 2024 to help homeowners assess tree health, select tree types, and stay connected to Cary’s Urban Forestry programs.
Cary’s 14th Annual Fall Liter Sweep
On Saturday, 120 Spruce volunteers collected 1,905 pounds of litter at our 2023 fall cleanup. In support of our community’s environmental health and our region’s waterways, a collective 240 hours were spent canvassing Cary for litter. Volunteers were encouraged to continue their efforts by checking out a Spruce Litter Sweep Supply Kit to perform an independent project in their neighborhood or signing up for our Adopt a Spot program to care-take a trail or greenway that they frequent.
Nick Yates Selected to Board of Directors for NCSPSA
Nick Yates, Deputy Town Attorney, was selected to the Board of Directors for the North Carolina Association of Police and Sheriffs’ Attorneys (NCAPSA). NCAPSA assists and supports attorneys representing law enforcement agencies in North Carolina with a mission of Administration of Justice, Professionalism, Legal Education, Law Enforcement Training, Community Engagement, and Advocacy.
A complaint about the intersection at Highway 55 and Morrisville Parkway.
A request to speak at a retirement community.
Complaints about crosswalks at Cary Elementary.
Sustainable proposals from Eight Graders.
Requests for additional security at an Indian-American community event due to heightened threats internationally.
A request for proclamation for Cary Band Day.
Several congratulations for being re-elected.
A request for traffic signal installation on McCrimmon Parkway (NCDOT approves traffic signals but Cary helps collect data).
A complaint about missing trees in a buffer.
Next Week
Next week’s activities staff meetings, a council work session, a manager-mayor workshop, the last regularly scheduled council meeting of October, and a Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk.
Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, October 29th, 2023. Although I have Facebook and Twitter accounts those are not the best means of communication with me. Please send all Town of Cary questions or comments to Harold.Weinbrecht@townofcary.org and email personal comments to augustanat@mindspring.com.
Tuesday I was notified that former Mayor Koka Booth passed on Monday, October 14th. Mayor Booth served on the town council for 9 years before being elected mayor in 1987 where he served an additional 12 years. He was born in West Virginia and moved to Cary with his job at Aeroglide Corporation in 1971. During the 1990s Cary became one of the fastest growing municipalities in the country. Mayor Booth was known for many things including his vision of making Cary a more attractive place to live. In the words of North Carolina magazine, he took Cary from the “Bedroom to the Boardroom”. He worked diligently alongside his council colleagues to prioritize various initiatives, such as expanding our park system and the restoration and activation of the Page-Walker Arts and History Center. The following is the press release of my statement:
“As Mayor of Cary, N.C., it is with a heavy yet grateful heart that I acknowledge the death of our 34th mayor – Mayor Koka Booth, who passed away last night. On behalf of the entire Cary Town Council and staff along with the 184,000 citizens who call Cary home, I extend our heartfelt condolences to Mayor Booth’s family and thank them for sharing so much of him with us. We all benefited from his enthusiastic efforts to help make Cary the wonderful place it is today. In honor of Mayor Booth’s service from 1987-1999 and beginning with the day of his funeral, we will lower Cary flags for 12 days – one day for each of his years as Mayor – and proclaim that day to be a day of remembrance in Cary.”
Tuesday, I did interviews with WRAL and WPTF on the life and legacy of Koka Booth. He was our great beloved mayor for 12 years. We will miss him! RIP Koka!
Election Day
Election Day in Cary resulted in two district incumbent council members being defeated and two at-large candidates, including myself, getting re-elected by wide margins.
This was a tough election for me since I view my colleagues and staff as family. So, I am sad that I am not going to be able to serve with Don Frantz and Ryan Eades after December. Don had a HUGE impact on Cary while he was on council. I will miss his expertise, determination, and his passion for Cary. Hopefully, we can stay in touch on a regular basis. Ryan did exactly what we hoped he would do and more when we appointed him in January. He used his experience and knowledge and represented the citizens of Cary well. I got to know him as well and will miss working with him. I hope he will continue to be involved in the town and that we will see more of him in the future.
I look forward to welcoming my new colleagues to the Cary family and working with them on critical issues. I will do all I can to help them in their roles.
For the district D race there is a runoff between two newcomers. I will support each one of them but will not endorse either of them. I have already talked with both and either of them would be a good addition to the council.
SAS Pro-Am
Wednesday and Thursday I participated in the SAS Championship Pro-Am with council member Jack Smith, town manager Sean Stegall, and past chamber president Howard Johnson. They have been part of my foursome for years. This year we had professionals Jason Bohn as our pro on Wednesday and Steve Flesch on Thursday. While we weren’t at the top of the leaderboard, we had a great time. Since my group is made up of great town leaders, spending extended amounts of time with them allows for me to have some good conversations about the town and its future.
Golf Channel Taping
After the Pro-Am on Thursday, I taped a welcome on the Golf Channel. I have done these the past 15 years, so I almost know the welcome by heart. I was able to do the tape in two takes.
NC Metro Mayors
Vetoes Overridden
On Tuesday, the General Assembly voted to override five more of Governor Roy Cooper’s vetoes. Cooper has vetoed 19 bills in total this session, and they have all been overridden by the legislature to become Session Law. The vetoed bills are below.
H600, Regulatory Reform Act of 2023, would amend various laws related to state and local government, agriculture, energy, environment, natural resources, and other regulations. This is an annual omnibus bill from the legislature that aims to modify business regulations in the state to encourage economic growth and development.
S512, Greater Accountability for Boards and Commissions, would change the composition and appointments structure of several state governing boards and commissions, resulting in less positions that will be appointed by the Governor. The bill would transfer some of the Governor’s appointments to elected state officials such as the Agriculture Commissioner, while others would be made by the General Assembly.
S678, Clean Energy/Other Changes, would change the definition of “renewable energy” in state law to “clean energy,” making nuclear energy eligible for that categorization and allowing utilities to count it towards their carbon-free energy goals.
S747, Elections Law Changes, would require absentee ballots to be received by 7:30 PM on Election Day, prohibit private money from elections administration, and give more freedom to poll observers for watching the voting process.
S749, No Partisan Advantage in Elections, would make changes to the structure of both state and county boards of elections. It would increase the number of members on the State Board of Elections from five to eight and decrease the number of members on each of the 100 county boards of elections from five to four. There would be an even partisan split on each of the boards, and all appointments would be made by the General Assembly instead of the Governor.
Diwali Dance Practice
The celebrity dance at Diwali this year included Mayor Cawley of Morrisville and I as well as several staff members from each municipality. The group had practiced every week since May. Due to travel, eye surgeries, and several other reasons I was not able to do most of the practices. However, I was able to do the “Mayors” dance and appear in two other dances.
Diwali Lamp Lighting Ceremony
Saturday started off as a rainy day, but Diwali began as usual. I joined NC State Senator Chaudhuri, Morrisville Mayor Cawley, and Morrisville council member Rao for the ceremonial lighting of the lamp. Afterwards I provided remarks including a brief tribute to former mayor Koka Booth. I encouraged attendees to reflect on his legacy as they saw his bust on the way out. I noticed several sets of flowers at his bust as I was leaving. Following my remarks, I read a proclamation designating October 14, 2023, as the 23rd Annual Diwali Celebration in Cary.
Diwali
Saturday afternoon the rains stopped, and the crowds gathered at Booth Amphitheater for the celebration of Diwali. While the crowds this year weren’t as big as some in the past, due to the weather, it was still a full house.
Before the evening performances I made remarks along with Congressman Nickel and several others from Hum Sub. Sponsors and board members were recognized followed by scholarship presentations for several students. The audience included Mayor Gilbert from Apex and council members from Apex and Morrisville.
The evening portion of the celebration started with a dance performance by a senior group. Then I joined the group from Apex, Morrisville, and Cary which included Morrisville Mayor Cawley for the celebrity dance. The group had been practicing since May and put on a spectacular performance. I was proud to be a part of them even though I only participated in three of the dances.
SAS Championships
The SAS Championship started on Friday with beautiful weather. This was followed by a rainy day on Saturday which caused a suspension of play. Play resumed Sunday for the end of round two and the final round. Congratulations to Rod Pampling of Australia who was this year’s winner.
We are proud to host the SAS Championship in Cary. It helps expose Cary to the nation and the world. Thanks to SAS for being the title host for all these years.
Town Manager’s Report
Sean’s Message
Reflections on Gratitude and Service Just like you, I often get asked, “What makes Cary so special?” And my initial answer, like others, is to quickly respond, “The People.” While accurate, that statement alone may not help much in understanding, so let me explain. Cary’s public servants, elected and appointed, connect with something much bigger than themselves – a common thread that binds us together and helps us form lasting bonds with each other and with our citizens. The common thread: gratitude. As Dr. James Aten notes, gratitude is both a feeling and a personality trait. In both cases, gratitude involves a process of recognizing, first, that one has obtained a positive outcome and, second, that there is an external source for that good outcome. When considering the widely held definition of gratitude, we often see the practice expressed in the affirmation of good things we’ve received and/or through acknowledging the role other people play in providing our lives with goodness. In Cary, that gratitude is acknowledged thru service to others. Cary’s public servants are grateful for what Cary has given to them and to their loved ones. They demonstrate that gratitude through their service to help keep Cary great for the benefit of others who also deserve to be changed for the better by Cary. Koka Booth. Don Frantz. David Ranes. Danielle Mahoney. Ryan Eades: five different people. Five different stories connected by one core value. All of them have given much more than received, and we are all better for that. As we move forward together in keeping Cary great and at the top of the arc, let us never forget that the “who” is just as important as the “what.” In appreciation, Sean
A complaint about the shooting at Amberwood Apartments.
A request to speak at a council meeting about pickleball (anyone can speak at any meeting on any topic).
Several complaints about crosswalks across from Cary Elementary.
A complaint about Cary’s E-Bike program.
A request to stop development to preserve tree canopy (we do not have authority to stop any development – our decisions are on the type of use and that use has to match the Cary Community Plan which was created by Cary citizens.)
A complaint about missing trees in the buffer at Commons Ford Place.
A complaint about lowering flags to half-mast for Koka Booth.
Next Week
Next week’s activities staff meetings, a meeting with council members, a meeting with a council candidate, a Wake County Mayors Association meeting, and a meeting of the CAMPO (Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization) Executive Board.
Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, October 22nd, 2023. Although I have Facebook and Twitter accounts those are not the best means of communication with me. Please send all Town of Cary questions or comments to Harold.Weinbrecht@townofcary.org and email personal comments to augustanat@mindspring.com.
As I mentioned in last week’s post, I ran a cross country 5K for Charity. I received results this week and found that I finished 4th in my age group which was surprising to me since I run about once a month. (I used to run a lot more, but aging knees prevent me from frequent runs.) I was glad to participate in that event with my daughter and my son-in-law who still serves in the reserves. Thanks to him and all those who serve our country.
Week in Austin
This week was mostly spent in Austin, Texas at the ICMA (International City/Council Management Association) conference as part of my consulting job. My job was to talk with management from all over the country (and world) about managing resources such as water, wastewater, sidewalks, pavement, facilities, etc. I had a great time seeing representatives from Cary at the event. It was a great week of learning about the latest technologies, software, and strategies.
NC Metro Mayors
The North Carolina Metro Mayors met Friday to get a summary of legislative actions. Here is a report from KTS Strategies on those actions:
N.C. Congressman Patrick McHenry Becomes Interim Speaker of U.S. House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives voted to oust Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-California) by a vote of 216-210 on Tuesday evening. All House Democrats and eight Republicans voted to approve the measure. This marks the first time in our nation’s history that the House has voted to remove its speaker. When taking office, every speaker creates a list of successions that is shared with the Clerk of the House in the event they vacate the position. Representative Patrick McHenry (R-North Carolina) was at the top of McCarthy’s list and became speaker pro tempore, or interim speaker, immediately following the vote Tuesday. McHenry is serving his tenth term as representative for North Carolina’s 10th Congressional District, a position he has held since 2004. He has not announced if he will join the race for the next speaker. The election to replace McCarthy has been scheduled for Wednesday, October 11th.
Budget Becomes Law
On Tuesday, the state budget officially became law without Governor Roy Cooper’s signature. H259, now Session Law 2023-134, is a $30 billion spending plan that includes 7% teacher pay raises, income tax rate reduction to 3.99% by 2025, $2 billion investment in water and sewer infrastructure, major expansion of private school vouchers, and enactment of Medicaid Expansion. This budget will cover the 2023-2025 fiscal biennium. Now that the budget has become law, the Office of State Budget and Management (OSBM) will certify each agency’s budget in accordance with the appropriations act. State agencies will then begin operating under the new spending plan.
Vetoed Bills
This week, Governor Roy Cooper vetoed the following two pieces of legislation.
H600, Regulatory Reform Act of 2023- This bill would amend various laws related to state and local government, agriculture, energy, environment, natural resources, and other regulations. H600 has been added to the House calendar for a veto override vote next Tuesday, October 10th.
S678, Clean Energy/Other Changes- This bill would change references among state statutes from “renewable energy” to “clean energy.” It would also change the definition of “renewable energy resource” to include nuclear resources and fusion energy, among other changes.
Governor Cooper has vetoed 19 bills in total this session. To date, the General Assembly has voted to override 14 of those vetoes.
Oktoberfest
Friday evening I joined Mayor Gilbert of Apex to kick off Oktoberfest. This event was put on by Cary MacGregor and Apex Sunshine Rotaries. Mayor Gilbert and I joined others in making remarks before I tapped the first keg of beer which signaled the start. This event not only celebrated the German culture but raised money for a good cause. The Rotaries designated the Meg’s Smile Foundation as their main beneficiary and charity partner. Their mission is to bring smiles to the faces of children affected by serious illness and their families while they are going through what can be a very long and emotional journey. To find out more visit www.megsmile.org.
Town Manager’s Report
Sean’s Message
It’s great to be back in Cary! The mayor, staff, and I had an amazing time at the 2023 ICMA Annual Conference in Austin, Texas. We connected with fellow city/county government representatives from all over the country and even ran into some familiar faces from our own region. As you’ll see in the updates below, it was a busy week in Cary. I hope you enjoy your weekend. Sean
Farm to Fork Celebration
The annual Farm to Fork Dinner and Celebration was a sold-out event that attracted 150 guests to Good Hope Farm including Councilmembers Lori Bush and Carissa Kohn-Johnson. Honoring the project’s seventh year of agricultural operations and farmer education, the green gala included farm tours, live music, and a delicious meal harvested fresh from the farm. This unique event celebrates Cary’s agricultural heritage while inspiring guests to join us in building a sustainable future through local food and regenerative agriculture.
Cary Citizenship Scouting Event
Last week, 50 local scouts and a dozen adult leaders attended the Cary Citizenship in the Community Merit Badge Event – an event designed to help scouts complete requirements to earn the Citizenship in the Community merit badge, which is a requirement for scouts interested in earning the Eagle Scout rank. Activities focused on what it means to be a good citizen, the rights and duties that come with citizenship, thinking about services funded by our taxes, and understanding the organization of Cary’s local government. Scouts enjoyed a pizza dinner including a visit and message from Councilmember Jennifer Robinson. Special thanks to staff from various departments who volunteered their time to make this two-day event a success for the scouts.
2023 Municipal Election
As of Thursday, October 5, over 4,000 Cary voters have shown up to vote early in Cary’s 2023 Municipal Election for the Mayor, District B, District D, and an At-Large seat. Following Early Voting, Election Day is on Tuesday, October 10. To look up your Election Day polling place, go to https://vt.ncsbe.gov/reglkup/. For detailed information about the photo ID requirement, go to ncsbe.gov/voter-ID.
Public Safety Honored by Heart of Cary Association
To commemorate First Responders Day, which is October 28, the Heart of Cary Association honored first responders Thursday at The Matthews House with breakfast and generously donated thank you notes and assorted other tokens of appreciation. Fire Chief Mike Cooper and Police Chief Terry Sult both spoke, giving an update on Downtown Cary and answering questions on such topics as safety and parking downtown. State Representative Maria Cervania and Councilmembers Lori Bush, Carissa Kohn-Johnson, and Ryan Eades were in attendance, with Councilmembers Bush and Kohn-Johnson issuing a proclamation.
Parking Summit
Well planned parking management is an essential component of downtown living, working, playing and visiting in Cary. Whether parking is looked at from a business owner, resident, visitor, or municipal employee perspective, proper parking management is crucial to ensure smooth traffic flows, safety, capacity, and accessibility. In March 2022, Walker Consultants created a Downtown Strategic Parking and Mobility Plan for Cary that identified next steps and timing for implementation of various policy, planning, management, and organizational changes necessary to ensure that Cary’s public parking system contributes to the current and future successful growth of downtown Cary. On Thursday staff and parking partners engaged in a Parking Summit to reflect on the history of parking in Cary, recommendations from the plan and engage in a prioritization exercise on the recommendations. This was an excellent kick-off to lots of parking centric work for years to come.
Matt Pentz Recognized as Local Government Fellow
Last week at the annual conference of the International Municipal Lawyers Association, Matt Pentz was recognized as a “Local Government Fellow.” The Fellows program was established in 1999 to recognize attorneys as legal specialists in the field of local government law and to encourage attorney proficiency and competency in the local government law field. Applicants for this recognition must have at least five years of experience in local government law, submit letters of recommendation; and pass a two-part written exam. Matt and Lisa Glover are two of only seven attorneys in North Carolina who have attained this designation.
2023 USTA NC Award Winners
Cary Parks, Recreation, & Cultural Resources Department has been chosen as the winner of the United States Tennis Association (USTA) North Carolina 2023 Outstanding Parks & Recreation Department. The Western Wake Tennis Association (WWTA) has been chosen as the winner of the USTA North Carolina 2023 Adaptive Tennis Award. It is an honor to recognize both the Cary Tennis Park and WWTA for the valuable contributions they are making to tennis in North Carolina.
Friends of the Page-Walker Presents Service Award
The Friends of the Page-Walker, on behalf of AmeriCorps and Points of Light, presented the President’s Volunteer Service Award to Green Level High School Junior Kriti Peechu at their board meeting on October 4. This award honors individuals whose service positively impacts communities. Kriti received a Gold Award for her volunteer service to the Friends of Page-Walker, the Cary Teen Council, the Red Cross Club, and many other services around Cary. The Friends of the Page-Walker are extremely thankful for her commitment and were honored to present her with a certificate, a letter from President Biden, a pin, and a medallion in recognition of her achievement.
West Cary Pedestrian Safety Updates
In response to citizen requests, staff signed task orders with two consultants this week in support of a continuing effort to improve pedestrian safety in Cary. Kimley-Horn and Associates has been retained to develop a scoping-level design and detailed project estimate for traffic signal and pedestrian mobility improvements along McCrimmon Parkway, associated with Panther Creek High School. Parents and students from Panther Creek High School have reached out to staff and organized a petition with over 80 signatures in support of pedestrian improvements. Staff have collaborated with NCDOT to identify solutions that will have a notable impact on pedestrian safety and vehicle circulation and are now utilizing the Spot Traffic Safety Program resources to further refine options.
In parallel with this effort, staff are working with consultant VHB to assess the impact of pedestrian safety improvements associated with the Nancy Branch Greenway crossing of Green Level Church Road. Another location that has drawn the interest of citizens in the area, this crosswalk has been identified for additional signage and markings in an effort to increase yield compliance by drivers on Green Level Church. VHB has been contracted to collect data before and after installation of these improvements so staff can assess their impact on the tendency for drivers to yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk. This study will be used to help evolve Cary’s approach to crosswalk safety town wide.
Morrisville Carpenter Road Traffic Shift
Morrisville Carpenter Road traffic west of Louis Stephens Drive will be reconfigured into a new traffic pattern to support the completion of the Carpenter Fire Station Road Bridge and Intersection Improvements Project. The reconfiguration work is scheduled to start October 11, with a new traffic pattern starting October 14. Traffic will temporarily be routed to NC 55 using a section of the new roadway and Saunders Grove Lane with an all-way stop condition at the intersection of Saunders Grove Lane and Good Hope Church Road. The new traffic pattern is necessary to complete the roadway work along the former alignment of Morrisville Carpenter Road. To learn more, view detour maps, and stay up-to-date on improvements, visit carync.gov/CFSBridge.
North Cary WRF Welcomes Clayton’s Utility Team
The North Cary Water Reclamation Facility (NCWRF) hosted a tour for project managers with the Town of Clayton on September 27. The NCWRF shared valuable insight to assist Clayton with the planning and development of their new Sam’s Branch Water Reclamation Facility. The tour included a walkthrough of our State certified laboratory and operations control center.
A thanks to the Parks Staff that run the tennis center.
Invitations to several events.
A complaint about a gentleman’s club being built next to Pleasant Grove Elementary (The only place we allow a new use of this type is near the airport).
A complaint that the downtown park is being built so that it can be named after me (Not true. The downtown park is named the downtown park.)
A complaint that I am allowing growth (Any property owner has the right to develop their property and we do not have authority to prevent growth).
A complaint that the downtown park is an “overkill”.
A complaint that we destroyed a perfectly good library downtown. (It was a county library, and they made the decision for a new library – which was a good one. We kept the old library site as an open space).
A complaint that we are not prioritizing Chapel Hill Road for improvements (This is a state road not a Cary road. They will need to fund improvements).
Next Week
Next week’s activities staff meetings, SAS Pro-Am pairing party, SAS Pro-Am, SAS Championship TV taping, Diwali dance practices, Diwali lamp lighting, Diwali dance performance, and SAS Championship final round.
Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, October 15th, 2023. Although I have Facebook and Twitter accounts those are not the best means of communication with me. Please send all Town of Cary questions or comments to Harold.Weinbrecht@townofcary.org and email personal comments to augustanat@mindspring.com.
Monday I attempted to contact council members to hear of any questions or concerns they may have had about the upcoming agenda. Concerns were expressed about the proposed Wake County shared cost on ballfields.
Manager One-On-One
Monday evening, I met with the town manager for our weekly one-on-one. Our topics included council member relationships and the Anthony Blackman memorial.
Atlantic Tire Tennis Championships Board Meeting
Monday night I met with members of the Atlantic Tire Tennis Championships board. We reviewed data from the September tournament and talked about future sponsors. Here is some of the information from that debrief:
With two rainy days, ticket sales were 67% of 2022. However, we had the largest single ticket sale in ATC history on the semi-final Saturday.
There were 171 volunteers and 108 ball people.
We had no line judges and was the first challenger tournament, maybe in the world, to have electronic line calls.
Next year we want to make sure ability tennis night and the Chamber of Commerce night don’t clash.
Our meeting concluded after about three hours.
Cary #5 Safest in the Nation for Treat-or-Treating
Tuesday morning I was notified that Cary is the 5th safest city in the nation for trick-or-treaters ChamberofCommerce.org.
Cary ranked within the top 5 safest cities due to the city’s low crime rate, high number of law enforcement employees and safe streets for pedestrians.
Overall, the study analyzed key safety metrics across 300 cities, including: pedestrian fatalities, violent crime, property crime, number of registered sex offenders, and number of law enforcement employees.
Here are the highlights for Cary:
Number of registered sex offenders: 2.1 per 10,000
Violent crime incidents: 6.7 per 10,000
Property crime incidents: 97.4 per 10,000
Average annual pedestrian fatalities: 1.33 (or 0.07 per 10,000)
Law enforcement employees: 13.2 per 10,000
The top 4 safest cities for trick-or-treating: Naperville, Illinois (No. 1); Gilbert, Arizona (No. 2); Frisco, Texas (No. 3); Sugar Land, and Texas (N).4). The article and full list of municipalities can be found here.
Don Frantz Reception
Tuesday night I attended a reception for the re-election of Don Frantz to the Cary Town Council. Don has served for 16 years and is one of the driving forces for the revitalization of downtown. I believe his greatest attributes are the ability to address tough issues/questions and being brutally honest. He is a key member of the council, and we need him for the next four years which will be transformative.
Cary Chamber Annual Banquet
Thursday night I attended the annual Cary Chamber Banquet held at Prestonwood. The featured speaker was Paula Henderson who is the Executive Vice President and Chief Sales officer for SAS. Awards for business of the year went to Esteemed Coffee, citizen of the year went to Sheila Ogle, and ambassador of the year went to Laura Eischen. In a special presentation, past Cary Chamber President Howard Johnson was presented the Order of the Long Leaf Pine which is the highest honor from the Governor.
Council Meeting
The council held its last meeting of September on Thursday night. The agenda included a special recognition, four consent items, two public hearings, and two discussion items.
During Public Speaks Out about half a dozen people spoke against a proposed development on Middleton Avenue that would require a road connection. One spoke in favor.
A public hearing to annex 1.5 acres and allow a single-family unit to connect to Cary utilities was passed unanimously. A public hearing for Act 31 of the Land Development Ordinance was forwarded to the planning and zoning board for their review and recommendation.
The discussion items which would receive county money to convert a USA baseball field to turf for use by the future Morrisville High School was tabled until the next meeting.
The council meeting concluded in less than an hour.
NC Metro Mayors
The NC Metro Mayors did not meet this week. However, we did receive a summary of legislative actions from KTS Strategies:
Redistricting
On Wednesday, The House and Senate Redistricting and Elections Committees held a joint meeting to hear from the public about the redistricting process, in which new political maps will be drawn for the 2024 elections. The General Assembly is required to draw new legislative and congressional maps every 10 years in North Carolina based on new data from the U.S. Census. The last maps were drawn for the 2022 election cycle by a bipartisan group of experts after a gerrymandering trial, where the state Supreme Court found the maps from 2021 to be unconstitutional. Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger was quoted last week saying he hopes to hold votes on redistricting the week of October 9th.
Elections Bill Vetoed
This week, Governor Roy Cooper vetoed S749, No Partisan Advantage in Elections. This bill would make changes to the structure of both state and county boards of elections. The bill would increase the number of members on the State Board of Elections from five to eight. The Senate President Pro Tempore, Speaker of the House, and both the House and Senate minority leaders would each have two appointments. It would also decrease the number of members on each of the 100 county boards of elections from five to four. All appointments would be made by the General Assembly instead of the Governor. To date, Governor Cooper has vetoed 17 bills this session.
Charity 5K
Saturday I joined my family (daughter, son-in-law, grandson, and wife) at the 9/11 Heroes Run in Holly Springs. This race unites communities internationally with the goal to never forget the sacrifices of all our nation’s heroes, from the first responders who came to the aid of thousands of Americans in New York City, Washington DC, and Pennsylvania, to the service members who have served with pride since. Travis Manion Foundation helps organize 9/11 Heroes Run events all over the world. It was a privilege to run in this race with my family.
Candidate Spreads Misinformation
In a mailer sent out to voters this week a candidate for the Cary Council District D stated the following:
“… When a resident prompt 9-1-1 during a medical emergency, help doesn’t get to them in timely manner. In some cases, patients have to travel in their own car in middle of this medical emergency to be able to get to the hospital. Also, I have emails from western Cary residents sharing their concerns, one of them mentioned above. I am committed to working hard to ensure that western Cary residents in Chatham County have the support that they need for better quality of life. Public safety is paramount and if I am elected, the residents in West Cary will see an immediate impact when it comes to ambulance and EMS services in this district. There are solutions and I will work with our town manager, Chatham County EMS and with Cary Fire to find immediate solutions to address these concerns. That’s the type of leadership I will provide in West Cary. …”
I think it is important to understand that EMS service is run by Chatham and Wake Counties and not Cary. According to the Fire Chief there have not been any complaints about EMS responses in over a year. It should be pointed out that ALL firefighters are trained as EMS first responders. Fire stations have been positioned in Cary to have a response time of five minutes. We also share our space, so EMS teams are co-located in all nearby fire stations including Morrisville.
Unfortunately, this candidate is using a problem that originated in a 911 call center from years past and is presenting it as an existing problem giving the perception that Cary has an emergency response issue today. That is not true.
It is extremely important for any candidate to understand that they can do nothing on their own. So, when you see or hear a candidate telling you they will fix this or change that, then they mislead you. Everything is a partnership. Additionally, giving misleading information about current emergency staff and how they perform does not help build trust. Trust is needed in everything we do if we want to continue to be one of the greatest communities in the nation.
Early Voting
Early Voting for Cary Town Council has begun. Here is the remaining scheduled for early voting:
Date
Day
Start Time
End Time
October 1, 2023
Sunday
1:00 p.m.
6:00 p.m.
October 2, 2023
Monday
11:00 a.m.
6:00 p.m.
October 3, 2023
Tuesday
11:00 a.m.
6:00 p.m.
October 4, 2023
Wednesday
11:00 a.m.
6:00 p.m.
October 5, 2023
Thursday
11:00 a.m.
6:00 p.m.
October 6, 2023
Friday
11:00 a.m.
6:00 p.m.
October 7, 2023
Saturday
8:00 a.m.
3:00 p.m.
Cary Town Council makes decisions that impact on you directly. They are the closest form of government to the citizens. It is extremely important that you are informed and vote so that elected officials can help Cary remain as one of the best communities in the nation.
My Cary Municipal Election Endorsements
During this election cycle I have offered help to all candidates and have stated that I will endorse only incumbents. Unfortunately, some have used my help to mislead the public that I am endorsing them. Just to be clear the following are my endorsements and quotes about them:
Mayor
Harold Weinbrecht (me) – I am fortunate to be unopposed during this cycle and would appreciate your ongoing support and your vote.
At-Large
Lori Bush – “I have known my good friend Lori Bush for decades. She is a caring, compassionate, and committed person and has been invaluable on council. From her tireless work on Affordable Housing, to the greening of our Town, to improving our technological capabilities, she has proven time and time again that she is committed, dedicated, and compassionate in making Cary the best it can be. She has my endorsement and unwavering support for her re-election to the Cary Town Council.”
District B
Don Frantz – “Big ideas often require bold leadership to make the idea a reality and our downtown park is no exception. Don Frantz has been first among equals as the park’s supercharged advocate. Don’s courage, conviction and optimism have been remarkable and his clear focus on the goal has been unwavering.”
District D
Ryan Eades – “Ryan has the knowledge, experience, and leadership we desperately need from our District D representative especially during this critical time in Cary. I’ve witnessed firsthand his ability to bring people together to get things done and his passion for making our community better. I wholeheartedly endorse him and encourage others to elect to keep Ryan on the Cary Council.”
Please vote! Cary’s future depends on it.
Town Manager’s Report
Sean’s Message
I enjoyed seeing several of you on Wednesday at the Chamber Annual Banquet – one of my favorite events! Something else I’m really looking forward to is attending the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Conference being held this year in Austin, Texas. It’s been several years since I have been able to go. As is our practice, we will be taking seasoned as well as up-and-coming talented staff to learn and enjoy this very special experience. We met on Thursday in our new conference room to talk about what each person was hoping to get out of the conference. We leave tomorrow and return on October 4. Please contact Deputy Town Manager Russ Overton if you need anything. Sean
One Day Wonder
Mayor Harold Weinbrecht and Councilmembers Lori Bush and Ryan Eades, along with 200 members of the public, visited the One Day Wonder display at the Page-Walker on September 22. The event, held in honor of Constitution Week, featured the original North Carolina State Constitution of 1766 and the 1868 Bill of Rights, along with other supporting documents. Members of the DAR and Sons of the American Revolution were there as guides, dressed in Colonial-style costumes. The event was sponsored by the Samuel Johnston and Asbury Station chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution, with documents shared by the North Carolina Archives.
2023 Elected Women of Excellence Award Winner
Congratulations to our very own Councilmember Lori Bush for being recognized by the National Foundation for Women Legislators (NFWL) as an Elected Woman of Excellence Award Winner for 2023! We see firsthand the tireless passion she puts into everything she works on. Click here for more information about this prestigious honor.
Certified Master Public Information Officer
Cary’s Assistant 311 Director Carolyn Roman has become one of only 157 FEMA certified Master Public Information Officers in the United States! Please join us in congratulating Carolyn in achieving this amazing designation! Click here to learn more about the program.
Ederlee Drive at Penny Road Safety Improvements
In response to concerns routed to staff via 311 regarding pedestrian safety at the intersection of Ederlee Drive and Penny Road, staff initiated a redesign of the traffic signal. Pedestrians and drivers now have better visibility due to safety improvements.
BEYOND: The Cary Film Festival 2023
BEYOND: The Cary Film Festival returned Sept. 21-24, 2023, for its sixth year celebrating short films from independent filmmakers from around the world. This year, we welcomed 1200+ attendees to The Cary Theater over the 4-day event. This year’s competition lineup featured 22 short films from the U.S., France, and Israel. BEYOND 2023 also included three screenwriting workshops, three free industry talks featuring panelists film studios, and a special live performance paying tribute to jazz legend, Carol Sloane. The 4-day festival culminated in an awards brunch at The Mayton followed by a rescreening of this year’s award-winning films.
Take Action to Make an Inclusive Impact
In recognition of Inclusion Week, Human Resource’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion partnered with the Total Employee Health team to coordinate activities each day this week that helped staff raise awareness, share best practices, and build community around the topic of inclusion. Grounded in Cary’s organizational values, the week was intentionally developed for low impact to schedules, but high impact for the organization, and many departments took time to support inclusion through participating (Anyone Can Lead). The weeklong celebration offered an assortment of options (Working Smart ) – from a community building ‘Inclusion Ice Cream Social’ hosted at Public Works to targeted learning through SafeZone training – alongside more individually focused reflection including an on-site meditation class and a sensory friendly day for reflection on neurodiversity. Each day, staff were empowered with quick and easy to implement resources that can help all of us take action and make and impact, which was the week’s national theme.
Women’s All-American Championships
The Cary Tennis Park is hosting the Women’s All-American Championship for the second year in a row. This event features the best Women’s Division 1 Collegiate tennis players in the country. Play will start this Saturday, September 30, with the finals next Sunday, October 8. Admission is free throughout the event.
Complaints about a missing tree buffer at Fairview Park.
A request to help the Salvation Army with a permitting matter.
A request for a facility to have an indoor running track.
Complaints about a proposed rezoning on Middleton Avenue.
A request to approve the proposed rezoning on Middleton Avenue.
Next Week
Next week’s activities include a trip to Austin, Texas as part of my consulting job. When I return I will have staff meetings, attend the ITA Women’s All-American Tennis Championships, and participate in Oktoberfest ceremonies.
Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, October 8th, 2023. Although I have Facebook and Twitter accounts those are not the best means of communication with me. Please send all Town of Cary questions or comments to Harold.Weinbrecht@townofcary.org and email personal comments to augustanat@mindspring.com.
SmartAdvisor Match ranked Cary #3 in the nation for Job Market and housing affordability. Here is an excerpt from their article:
“… Cary was most affordable studywide, when comparing the median income to median housing costs (15.2% of a $123,857 income). Unemployment here was a bit on the higher side at 5.3%, which tends to be the trend for cities with higher median incomes. More than 41% of the workforce here was remote, and 86% of the workforce had private health insurance. Over two years, income grew by roughly 16.5%. …”
Cary #10 for Cleanest Tap Water
The Travel ranked Cary as the tenth best tap water in the nation. Here is an excerpt from their article:
“… Located near North Carolina’s famed Research Triangle, this Raleigh suburb consistently ranks among the top cities for best-tasting tap water in the US. Cary gets its water from nearby Jordan Lake, minimizing the need for harsh chemical treatment. The town’s water is naturally soft with the perfect balance of minerals for a crisp, clean flavor. …”
Unfortunately, this article views Cary as a Raleigh suburb. That is a couple of decades behind. But at least they are current on the water.
Chatham Estates
On Monday I was contacted by WRAL who was doing a story on the sale of Chatham Estates which is a 37-acre shopping center and trailer park. WRAL wanted to know what the town would be doing for affordable housing. Here is a summary we provided to WRAL:
As owner of the property, Curtis Westbrook recently began marketing the sale of 37.8 acres located at the intersection of E. Chatham Street and SE Maynard Road. Lee & Associates listed it for approximately $50 million, and according to the owner, it is one of the last remaining large assemblages in the downtown Cary area and is 100% occupied.
The property currently has a mobile home park, Chatham Estates, and is directly adjacent to, but does not include, Cary’s other mobile home community, Mobile Estates. The site also includes retail space, Chatham Square Shopping Center, and Maynard Plaza.
We have a keen eye on the sale of Chatham Square and welcome the opportunity to work with any potential new owners to communicate Cary’s vision and needs as we do with all property in Cary.
This property includes a mobile home park and Cary staff have been in contact with local groups interested in working with those residents. This includes Dorcas Ministries, Taylor Family YMCA, Northwest Cary YMCA, The Carying Place, OneWake, and the Western Regional Housing Action Group.
Since the Council’s approval of the Cary Housing Plan in November 2021, the Town has created several grants and programs to support affordable housing in Cary. This fiscal year, Cary has proposed a budget of approximately $5M to support affordable housing efforts. In addition to this, Cary has set aside $5M of our American Rescue Plan Act dollars to support affordable housing and supportive services, including direct financial support to non-profits working with residents, a non-profit capacity building program to scale up these programs, and emergency utility assistance.
Cary has also utilized Town-owned property to develop affordable housing, notably the 921 SE Maynard site, which is anticipated to be completed by early 2025 and will include 126 units of mixed-income housing, which is physically in the geographic vicinity.
It was my hope WRAL would provide complete and factual information in their story. Unfortunately, they provided very little of the information I sent them in the story.
Hometown Spirit Award Nominations
Cary is currently accepting nominations for the Hometown Spirit Award. If you know someone in the community that you would like to nominate you can do so here. To find out more about the Hometown Spirit Award go here.
Town Manager One-On-One
Monday I talked with the town manager for our weekly one-on-one. Topics included the tennis center expansion and the professional tennis tournament that just finished, a future mayor-manager workshop, and activities of candidates running for council.
Wake County Mayors Association Meeting
Monday night I attended a meeting of the Wake County Mayors Association in Fuquay Varina. We were treated to a private tour of their arts center and a catered meal. Attended were mayors from Cary, Fuquay Varina, Garner, Holly Springs, Knightdale, and Morrisville. Our roundtable discussion included our thoughts on municipal races in our communities. The meeting concluded after about two and a half hours.
CAMPO
Wednesday I attended a meeting of the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organizations Executive Board. The agenda included 3 consent items, 4 public hearings, and 2 discussion items.
The consent agenda included minutes from past meetings, a resolution on transit asset performance measures, and the FY2024 work plan. These items were approved unanimously without discussion.
The board also held and unanimously approved all 4 public hearing items which included amendment #13 to FY2020-2029 Transportation Improvement Program, prioritization 7.0 of the Modal Candidate Project Lists, a new MPO boundary that now includes Coats and Lillington, and an update to the Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Program Management Plan.
Under discussion, the executive board was provided information on amendment #1 to FY2024-2033 Transportation Improvement Program, and the regional rail subcommittee.
The meeting concluded after about an hour and a half.
Anthony Blackman Memorial
This was a tough week for me and many in our community as we said goodbye to Anthony Blackman who was not only an incredible philanthropist for Cary but a friend to everyone he met. At his memorial service on Thursday, I was honored with the privilege of providing remarks. I spent a few days working on the remarks with dozens of revisions. In the end I felt nothing I said to capture all that Anthony had done for our community. The following are the remarks I spoke from:
“Our community lost one of its most beloved citizens a few days ago. Anthony Blackman was a selfless man with a giving heart, served others with love and humility, and spread his kindness to everyone he met. I will miss him. We will miss him.
I have been involved in local government for over 25 years, 20 years as an elected official, and the last 16 as mayor. During that time, I have met LOTS and LOTS of people. Some wanted to meet me, some wanted to take a picture with me, some wanted to be at events, some wanted to be seen at events, and some even wanted to help Cary if it was convenient for them. But every once in a while, I would run across someone that I call the REAL DEAL. Someone that’s ALL IN and will do whatever it takes to help. Someone that would give you the shirt off their back. And THAT’S who Anthony Blackman was. His unwavering support of our community is one of the reasons Cary is as great as it is today. Anthony supported countless nonprofits, the chamber, business organizations, and was recognized for his leadership many times including Cary’s Hometown Spirit Award in 2019.
There are so many examples of Anthony’s giving. One in particular sticks in my mind, the Atlantic Tire Tennis Championships, which Anthony has sponsored since it started. During the pandemic there were very few tournaments throughout the world. And the tournaments that were played were held without spectators. So, if they were not televised there would be little benefit for a sponsor. Anthony sponsored the tournament anyway. This allowed players to play for points that they desperately needed to get into other tournaments, to make more money, to continue their careers. I believe some of their careers might have ended without opportunities provided such as the ATC. So, in that one act of kindness, he changed lives. And there are many more examples of this. Anthony always gave from his heart.
The reason I used this example was to emphasize the ripple effect of Anthony’s kindness and giving. Yes, he touched lives in our community but probably made a difference in other lives of people in the nation or around the world. There is really no way of knowing the impact of his kindness and generosity.
The way Anthony lived his life reminds me of a saying from St. Francis of Assisi said: “Preach the gospel each and every day and use words if necessary.” To me that means LIVE your faith. Know that your faithful actions are more powerful than sermons. And if we live our lives like Anthony with integrity, humility, and loving others, people will notice, and they will want to be more like you. And as a result, you done God’s will.
Ladies and Gentlemen Anthony Blackman WAS the real deal. He blessed so many lives in so many ways.
A wise man once said, “The things you do for yourself are gone when you are gone, but the things you do for others remain as your legacy.” Anthony’s love for others IS his legacy. His life was well lived, and we were so very blessed that he shared his love with us. Though our hearts ache today, there is good news, heaven has a new angel, Anthony Blackman. Rest in Peace Anthony!”
Anthony loved Cary and I believe his wish would be that others in Cary would model his example and step up to do more for the town they love.
Advisory Board Volunteer Appreciation
Thursday night I attended a town volunteer appreciation event for our boards and commissions. In my remarks I recognized some of the outgoing and incoming members. Afterwards I took time to talk with and take pictures with several people including Ryan Eades from the council. Also attending from the council were Jack Smith, Jennifer Robinson, and Lori Bush. I was a great way to give thanks for their service and welcome the new people.
NC Metro Mayors
The North Carolina Metro Mayors met on Friday to hear and discuss legislative actions. Here is a summary of legislative actions from KTS Strategies:
Budget Passed
This week, the General Assembly passed the compromise version of the state budget in a series of votes on Thursday and Friday. Highlights of the $30 billion spending plan include 7% teacher pay raises, income tax rate reduction to 3.99% by 2025, $2 billion investment in water and sewer infrastructure, major expansion of private school vouchers, and enactment of Medicaid Expansion. The budget did not include the proposal to authorize more casinos or legalize video lottery terminals (VLTs) in North Carolina. Governor Roy Cooper announced in a statement that he would let the budget become law without his signature, and he directed the state Department of Health and Human Services to begin the process of expanding Medicaid today.
NC Constitution at Page-Walker
Friday evening I attended an Constitutional event at the Page-Walker. At this event were the NC Constitution of 1776 and 1868, and related original documents (including a letter from John Adams of the NC’s 13th Amendment which ended slavery. These were on loan from the State Archives for just one day. In attendance where several folks from the Daughters and Sons of the American Revolution dressed in period costumes. I had a great looking at the historic items, talking with attendees, and taking a few pictures.
Early Voting
Early Voting for Cary Town Council has begun. Here is the remaining scheduled for early voting:
Date
Day
Start Time
End Time
September 25, 2023
Monday
11:00 a.m.
6:00 p.m.
September 26, 2023
Tuesday
11:00 a.m.
6:00 p.m.
September 27, 2023
Wednesday
11:00 a.m.
6:00 p.m.
September 28, 2023
Thursday
11:00 a.m.
6:00 p.m.
September 29, 2023
Friday
11:00 a.m.
6:00 p.m.
September 30, 2023
Saturday
8:00 a.m.
3:00 p.m.
October 1, 2023
Sunday
1:00 p.m.
6:00 p.m.
October 2, 2023
Monday
11:00 a.m.
6:00 p.m.
October 3, 2023
Tuesday
11:00 a.m.
6:00 p.m.
October 4, 2023
Wednesday
11:00 a.m.
6:00 p.m.
October 5, 2023
Thursday
11:00 a.m.
6:00 p.m.
October 6, 2023
Friday
11:00 a.m.
6:00 p.m.
October 7, 2023
Saturday
8:00 a.m.
3:00 p.m.
Cary Town Council makes decisions that impact on you directly. They are the closest form of government to the citizens. It is extremely important that you are informed and vote so that elected officials can help Cary remain as one of the best communities in the nation.
My Cary Municipal Election Endorsements
During this election cycle I have offered help to all candidates and have stated that I will endorse only incumbents. Unfortunately, some have used my help to mislead the public that I am endorsing them. Just to be clear the following are my endorsements and quotes about them:
Mayor
Harold Weinbrecht (me) – I am fortunate to be unopposed during this cycle and would appreciate your ongoing support and your vote.
At-Large
Lori Bush – “I have known my good friend Lori Bush for decades. She is a caring, compassionate, and committed person and has been invaluable on council. From her tireless work on Affordable Housing, to the greening of our Town, to improving our technological capabilities, she has proven time and time again that she is committed, dedicated, and compassionate in making Cary the best it can be. She has my endorsement and unwavering support for her re-election to the Cary Town Council.”
District B
Don Frantz – “Big ideas often require bold leadership to make the idea a reality and our downtown park is no exception. Don Frantz has been first among equals as the park’s supercharged advocate. Don’s courage, conviction and optimism have been remarkable and his clear focus on the goal has been unwavering.”
District D
Ryan Eades – “Ryan has the knowledge, experience, and leadership we desperately need from our District D representative especially during this critical time in Cary. I’ve witnessed firsthand his ability to bring people together to get things done and his passion for making our community better. I wholeheartedly endorse him and encourage others to elect to keep Ryan on the Cary Council.”
Please vote! Cary’s future depends on it.
Town Manager’s Report
Sean’s Message
Staff is monitoring this weekend’s predicted severe weather. Programming changes for outdoor events will be made as needed to help ensure our citizens’ safe enjoyment. In particular, Saturday’s Farmer’s Market Fall Festival will not be held, and the park tour for boards and commissions is being moved to September 30. Be safe, Sean
2023 Volunteer Appreciation Event
On Thursday, Council, staff, and advisory board members gathered at Colletta in Fenton for a night of appreciation for Cary’s Council-appointed advisory board volunteers. During the event, Mayor Weinbrecht shared remarks welcoming new members and recognizing the 20 outgoing members who have terms ending on advisory boards.
Cary Hosts the 8th Annual Asia Fest with Dragon Boat Races
On Saturday, the Cary-based non-profit Asia Focus Inc. produced its 8th annual Asia Fest at Koka Booth Amphitheatre. Organizers estimate approximately 10,000 visitors. The festival featured a variety of pan-Asian foods, arts and crafts, cultural performances, and a health fair. The main events, however, were the Dragon Boat Races on Symphony Lake. Cary’s Fire Department members fielded a race team this year with Mayors Harold Weinbrecht and TJ Cawley (Morrisville). They were within hundredths of a second from matching times posted for the top three winners overall!
NY Maynard Road Construction
In October, contractors will begin installing .66 mile of water main and 1,700 feet of sidewalk, and ADA updates between High House Road and Old Apex Road. The 24-inch water main will parallel the existing 12-inch main and reinforce water transmission capacity to the central pressure zone. The project is anticipated to take about 12 months to complete.
Construction will primarily occur in the northbound lanes; however, traffic delays and shifts are expected in both directions. Drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians can stay updated with traffic delays by downloading the Glance TravelSafely App.
September Atlantic Tire Tennis Championships
Last week, the Cary Tennis Park hosted the second Atlantic Tire Championship Tournament. American Zachary Svajda defeated Australian Rinky Hijikata, who finished in the round of 16 in the US Open earlier in the month. The Men’s Challenger 75, which features $80,000 in prize money, brought in great crowds and some awesome tennis.
Loch Highlands Drive Offset Speed Humps
A new-to-Cary traffic calming device, the offset speed hump, was constructed earlier this year as a pilot along Loch Highlands Drive. Since their installation, staff engaged with community members to better understand how these devices perform. Based on community feedback and input from Cary Police and Fire, staff recommended supplementing the offset speed humps with Zicla lane separators (pictured above). These devices help remind drivers to maintain the proper lane position when approaching the offset humps. Thanks to the staff in Public Works for completing this installation. Transportation staff will continue to engage with residents by collecting feedback on the project webpage to understand how this addition to the project is received.
Year of the Trail – Carpenter Area Greenway Walk
2023 has been designated North Carolina’s Year of the Trail, and Cary has joined in to celebrate our vast network of greenways and showcase our diverse landscapes and healthy urban forests through a series of events. The recent Carpenter Area Trail Walk was held with Good Hope Farm’s Harvest Fest to highlight the outstanding work along a three-mile section of greenway. From the Greenways Booth at the festival, Trail Walk participants started their journey at the farm with a brief presentation about Carpenter Village’s history and agriculture’s role in our community. The trailblazers continued to Carpenter Park to learn about native tree plantings and wildlife restoration work, followed by a presentation on birding. Future greenway plans and neighborhood access points were highlighted and discussed as the walkers walked along the trail.
September’s Harvest Fest attracted hundreds of guests for agritourism, history, and environmental education. This diverse celebration brought together twelve farmers, nine nonprofits, six sustainable businesses, and four of Cary’s environmental initiative areas to facilitate an afternoon of family-friendly fun on the farm. Guests enjoyed purchasing fresh produce and green-themed crafts while they chatted with experts about native plants, solar energy, composting, wetland restorations, and more. Harvest Fests will continue throughout the fall season with additional opportunities for the community to visit, tour, and explore the Good Hope Farm.
Cary’s Composting Efforts Expanding
Construction is underway at Mills Park to host Cary’s second food waste recycling drop-off. Since 2022, Cary residents have dropped off nearly 133,000 pounds of food waste at the first site located at the Citizen’s Convenience Center. The future Mills Park drop-off provides additional opportunities for citizens to have their food waste diverted from the landfill, converted into compost, and used to support soil health in our region. The new facility is expected to open in 2024 and will accept cooked and raw meat, bones, eggs, breads, and more. Staff is working to ensure that future operations, design, and education campaigns will be ready to launch for the continued success of this award-winning service.
Questions about blasting at Providence at Yates Pond.
Questions about student reassignments.
A question about restriping the parking deck next to the library.
A concern about the town’s tree canopy.
Questions about communication between a neighborhood and the police department.
A thank you for helping with obtaining trolleys for a historic tour.
A thank you for the advisory boards and commissions appreciation event.
A complaint about last week’s journal entry.
A congratulation to the Cary firefighters and police officers for winning the bronze metal in the dragon boat races.
A complaint about the timing of a traffic signal at Green Level West and Green Level Church Roads.
Next Week
Next week’s activities include staff meetings, an Atlantic Tire Championships Board meeting, a reception for Don Frantz, the Cary Chamber’s Annual Banquet, the last regularly scheduled meeting of September, a NC Metro Mayors meeting, a pre-interview for a mayor-manager workshop, and a charity road race.
Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Saturday, September 30th, 2023. Although I have Facebook and Twitter accounts those are not the best means of communication with me. Please send all Town of Cary questions or comments to Harold.Weinbrecht@townofcary.org and email personal comments to augustanat@mindspring.com.
Harold's Blog 