Harold's Blog

TST Coming Back to Cary

Monday it was announced that TST (The Soccer Tournament) was not only coming back to Cary but was expanding. Here is the press release:

Boston, Mass. (December 4, 2023) – The Soccer Tournament (TST), the 7v7 event with a $1 million winner-take-all prize, today announced its plans for an expanded 2024 event, featuring the addition of an eight-team women’s tournament for a separate $1 million prize. With the launch of the women’s tournament and an equal seven-figure prize, TST immediately becomes the highest stakes women’s professional soccer event in the world.

The expansion adds to TST’s momentum coming off of a sold-out inaugural event, where more than 35,000 fans attended the 32-team tournament in June. The women’s tournament will run concurrently to TST’s expanded 48-team event at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina from June 5-10. TST 2024 will culminate in a championship game doubleheader on June 10, where a total of $2 million in prize money will be awarded.

“We are thrilled to add a third event to our portfolio and to have it be our highest stakes competition ever,” said Jon Mugar, founder and CEO of The Tournament. “This instantly becomes one of the highest stakes events in all of women’s sports, with the only thing standing between teams and one million dollars being four exceptional hours of soccer. This will attract some of the most talented players and clubs from around the world.”

US Women, a team organized by former U.S. Women’s National Team star Heather O’Reilly, will headline TST’s eight-team field. The women’s event, which kicks off June 7, will feature two groups with four teams in each. Two teams from each group will emerge to compete in the semifinals on June 9. TST will crown its first ever $1 million women’s champion on June 10.

“I’m incredibly excited to be a part of TST’s inaugural women’s tournament,” said former U.S. Women’s National Team star Heather O’Reilly “Their commitment to a $1 million prize for both men’s and women’s players is incredibly important in our ongoing fight for equal pay. This event will be a great addition to the women’s sports landscape, and I can’t wait to take part in it with some of my former national team teammates.”

TST’s original event will see an increase from 32 to 48 teams this summer, with teams competing in 12 groups of four June 5-6. Thirty-two teams will emerge from the group stage games to the knockout rounds on June 7. TST’s round of 16 and quarterfinals will take place on June 8, and the two semifinal matches will be played June 9. TST’s winner-take-all championship game will follow the conclusion of the women’s championship on June 10.

The inaugural TST included globally renowned clubs such as Wrexham AFC, Borussia Dortmund, West Ham, Wolverhampton, and sports stars like Clint Dempsey, Steve Nash, Cesc Fabregas, and Chad Johnson, among others. More than 25 players with U.S. National Team experience and a combined 1,444 caps on both the men’s and women’s side competed in the event, including Heather O’Reilly, Kirstine Lilly, Jermaine Jones, Eddie Johnson, Geoff Cameron, Jimmy Conrad, Chris Wondolowski, Brek Shea, and more.

TST, which is an open-entry event, received nearly 400 applicants for its 2023 tournament. Spots are still open for both 2024 events, and interested teams can apply by emailing TST@thetournament.com.

Fans can now purchase all-sessions passes for TST 2024, or sign up for the single-session waitlist at https://thetournament.com/tst/tickets.

I am looking forward to the TST next year. If you missed it last year it is a must see for 2024.

Town Manager One-On-One

Monday I met with the town manager and town clerk for my weekly one-on-one. We talked about the organizational meeting and the upcoming work session on policies and procedures.

Council Organizational meeting

Thursday the council said so long to two council members, swore in two new council members, and swore in a returning at-large council member and me.

In the afternoon those being sworn in did walk through and signed documents with those in the ceremony. I was joined by NC Senator Gale Adcock, my wife Belinda, my daughter Cara, my son-in-law Brandon, and my almost two-year-old grandson Brady. Afterwards I had pictures taken of my grandson in the mayor’s chair with my gavel. That is a picture I will never forget!

Following a reception for all in the town hall lobby, everyone gathered in the council chambers for the organizational meeting. The meeting began with comments from long time council member Don Frantz followed by comments from council member Ryan Eades who was appointed in January. Then council members provided their praise before a short recess.

The meeting resumed with NC Senator Gale Adcock swearing me in as mayor and Lori Bush as a council member, NC Representative Maria Cervania swearing Michelle Craig as a council member, and me swearing in Sarika Bansal as a council member.

Next the council unanimously elected Jennifer Bryson-Robinson as Mayor Pro-Tem. We then adopted the 2024 meeting schedule. The final action was me reading my appointments:

Town of Cary – Special Committees

• Economic Development Committee: Weinbrecht, Smith, and Robinson
• Cary/Apex Water Treatment Facility Advisory Committee: Weinbrecht
• Cary/Chatham County Joint Issues Committee: Robinson and Bush
• Cary/Morrisville Joint Issues Committee: Weinbrecht, Robinson, Bush
• Western Wake Partners Policy Advisory Committee: Weinbrecht
• Human Relations, Inclusion, and Diversity Task Force: Weinbrecht

Town of Cary – Boards/Commissions

• Environmental Advisory Board: Smith
• Historic Preservation Commission: Craig
• Information Services Advisory Board: Bush
• Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Advisory Board: Bansal
• Planning and Zoning Board: Robinson
• Public Art Advisory Board: Kohn-Johnson
• Senior Advisory Board: Kohn-Johnson
• Zoning Board of Adjustment: Bansal

The organization meeting concluded after about two hours.

First Responders Breakfast

Wednesday morning I joined Mayor Pro-Tem Bryson-Robinson, and Council members Kohn-Johnson, Bush, Craig, and Bansal at the Cary Chamber’s First Responders breakfast to honor the Cary Police Department, Cary Fire Department, Wake County EMS, Wake County Sheriff’s Office, Cary American Legion Post 67, Duke Raleigh Hospital, UNC Health, and WakeMed Cary Hospital. The key speaker was Scott “Intake” Kartvedt who is a Blue Angels pilot. He was a phenomenal speaker with a motivational message for all. His non-profit, The Blue Angels Foundation, is “Committed to supporting critical services for our nation’s wounded warriors and their families
including transitional housing assistance and post-traumatic stress treatment.” Cary businesses raised over $24,000 for this event and presented the check to him.

After the event I had the privilege to have my picture taken with all the first responder heroes. We are so blessed to have all of them.

Economic Development Committee

Wednesday evening I joined Mayor Pro-Tem Robinson, council member Smith, and several leaders from our business community in a meeting of the Economic Development Committee.

A Summary of Economic Development Activity was presented to the committee by Ms. Roth, head of the Cary Chamber’s Economic Development. Some of the things I noted from the report:

• Kellogg is expanding.
• Suburban office parks are no longer as popular. Several significant leases are expiring which could result in the loss of some companies due to “flight of equality”. Those companies desire office environments in mixed use like Fenton and Downtown Cary.
• LaunchCary is being launched by the Cary Chamber in January.
• Coworking space is available in the new Rogers building.
• Momentum is increasing for downtown businesses.

In Town Manager Stegall’s report, he noted the new council and potential new shifts in direction. He also talked about the strength of our intergovernmental relationships. One of the most eye-opening parts of his presentation was about the lack of available electricity from Duke to provide for future expansion of towns in the region. New transmission lines will be needed, especially in Morrisville.

Ted Boyd, Cary’s Economic Development Director, said that the South Hills rezoning should start next year. He also talked about the RFQ for town hall campus and the Kildaire Farm Road visioning project. He handed out draft documents to committee members for their feedback on the visioning. The committee will meet at a workshop in January to provide their feedback.

The meeting concluded after a couple of hours.

Cary Matters Taping

Thursday evening I had the pleasure of taping two Cary Matters episodes. One with new council member Sarika Bansal, and one with new council member Michelle Craig. I asked the following of each:

• Tell us about yourself.
• What most excites you about being a council member?
• What do you look forward to in the new year?

Rapid Fire Questions:

• Go-To Food/Meal?
• Favorite Park in Cary and Why?
• What was the last show you binged and loved?
• Tell us about a concert you’ll never forget.
• One word that describes your personality.

Make sure to watch Cary Matters to see their answers.

Sister Cities Holiday Event

Thursday night I attended an event sponsored by the Cary Sister Cities. Joining me were council members Kohn-Johnson, Craig, and Smith. After saying a few words, I introduced NC Secretary of State Elaine Marshall who provided comments.

Cary Christmas Parade

Saturday the Cary Jaycees held its annual Christmas parade. While I was unable to attend this year due to a brief illness, I was able to watch the parade via WRAL streaming video.

Unfortunately, this year’s parade was controversial because of a float from Cary Pride.

(see the float and participants at time stamp 1:24:50 of WRAL’s stream at https://www.wral.com/story/cary-christmas-parade-delivers-holiday-cheer/21188256/ ).

I received hundreds of emails criticizing me (to put it very politely) for something where I, the council, and the management staff were not part of the decision-making process.

Most of the emails objected to the mocking of priests and nuns. Another significant portion of the emails objected to having drag queens on floats. And others objected to the gay community being allowed to have a float in the parade. Here is the statement I issued in response:

Let me begin by thanking you for contacting me.  I am deeply saddened that the annual Jaycees Christmas parade has become controversial as Christmas is a time for unity. Unfortunately, the Town of Cary was not in a decision-making position regarding the parade.

The Jaycees Christmas Parade is an annual event put on by the Cary Jaycees not the Town of Cary. The Jaycee’s board decides who can be in the parade not the mayor, council, or management staff. According to the town manager and town attorney: “we do not and cannot ask them to remove the float – absent a clear and direct threat to public safety – as this matter is protected free speech.” In other words, there was no authority to allow the mayor, council, or staff to prevent this from being in the parade.

The ones that made this decision are Jaycee board members who are reachable at board@caryjaycees.org and parade@caryjacees.org .

Thank you again for contacting me.  Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

The Jaycees issued a statement as follows:

The Cary Jaycees is aware of some concerns regarding participants in this year’s Cary Christmas Parade. As you may know, The Cary Jaycees, a subsidiary of JCI USA, is a non-profit organization that has no political or religious affiliation, therefore the events we host, and plan also run along those guidelines. Because the parade is a community event, we invite all those who would like to participate the opportunity to do so. We do not endorse or condone any political candidates who may be participating in our parade. Anyone who purchased a spot in the parade are all required to adhere to the rules and regulations of being streamed on the internet, and the laws that govern public decency and lewdness. Furthermore, the town of Cary Police Department will be on hand to ensure that the parade is safe for everyone including our diverse community members and any little one’s present. We hope you have a wonderful time at the parade and enjoy a showcase of the diverse community of Cary.

Since I have no authority to decide who or what is in the parade, I would ASK that all future participants be respectful and kind. Being controversial or extreme doesn’t help anyone’s cause. A Christmas parade is a time when the community should join as one. I hope our future parades will be a time of joy rather than a time of controversy.

Palestinian Protest

Saturday night there was a small protest in downtown Cary supporting Palestinians in the Israel-Hamas war. The protestors did a walk through the park and there were no incidents.

Town Manager’s Report

Sean’s Message

It was great seeing each of you on Tuesday, and I look forward to our meetings together on Thursday.
Have a great weekend.
Sean

Tree Lighting Video Available

Cary’s Annual Tree Lighting took place at its new location at Downtown Cary Park on Sunday, December 3. The event was live-streamed for the first time and will re-air on Cary TV through Christmas. You can also watch the full video online.

Chamber Hosts Annual First Responders Appreciation Breakfast

On Wednesday, the Cary Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual First Responders Breakfast at Prestonwood Country Club. Keynote speaker Scott Kartvedt, a former Blue Angels pilot who served 20 years in the Navy and was featured in the movie “Top Gun: Maverick,” shared inspirational stories about his personal journey with the audience, which included members of the Cary Police and Fire Departments, Wake County EMS, the Wake County Sheriff’s Department, and the military, as well as Mayor Harold Weinbrecht and Councilmembers Lori Bush, Carissa Kohn-Johnson, Jennifer Robinson, Michelle Craig, and Sarika Bansal.

Victorian Christmas at the Page Walker

On Saturday, more than 400 guests enjoyed an old-fashioned Christmas atmosphere at the Page-Walker. There were cookies with cider, Victorian carolers, a cute craft for kids, holiday stories, and a special guest from the North Pole. Councilmember Michelle Craig took part in the festivities. 

Heart of the Holidays Competition Underway

Two cherished Heart of the Holidays competitions kicked off last Saturday. Cary’s 12th Annual Gifting Tree Project has transformed South Academy Street and the Downtown Cary Park into a dazzling display of 120 Christmas trees. Local schools, organizations, and families have decorated their trees for a chance to win a donation to the nonprofit group of their choice. Voting will remain open through December 17. Additionally, community members can cast their votes in Cary’s 13th Annual Gingerbread House Competition, hosted by 15 businesses throughout downtown. On display are 24 houses built by gingerbread pros, hobbyists, families, and kids. Apart from winners chosen by judges in adult and kids categories, one People’s Choice winner will be decided by community vote. Voting for this competition will be open through December 9.

Police & Fire Hosts Heroes & Helpers Event

On Saturday, Cary Police and Fire Departments hosted their annual holiday event, Heroes & Helpers! This event is more commonly known as Shop With A Cop, but Heroes & Helpers stands out by also featuring our firefighters. This is just another example of the strong departmental collaborations and partnerships we have here in Cary. Special thanks to the Target Walnut Street location for being the host retailer this year.

Environmental Education for Climate Action

In support of climate action, Cary hosted two free engagement opportunities this week, connecting citizens to sustainable solutions for their homes. A tree health class with our Urban Forester Leslie Moorman showcased steps for proper pruning techniques while over 30 citizens learned the essentials of residential solar with our Energy Manager Sara Caliendo.

Collaborating on Cary’s Tree Canopy

Growing a resilient urban forest requires the collaboration of both experts and dedicated community members, as demonstrated during the public comment period for the draft Urban Forest Master Plan. Between November 6 and December 6, over 9,000 citizens were introduced to Cary’s long-range vision for enhancing and maintaining our community trees. Given that 83% of Cary’s tree canopy exists on privately owned land, this public comment period presented an opportunity for citizens to contribute their voices to the protection and conservation of this important natural resource. The next steps involve summarizing the gathered input and collaborating with stakeholders to finalize the future strategy for trees in Cary.

Staff Visits CASSI in Charlotte

As a follow up to Cary’s CASSI pilot, Cary staff made a trip to the UNC Charlotte campus to visit the final pilot for the autonomous shuttle. Representatives from the University, as well as NCDOT, shared their experiences during this phase of testing with particular focus on how the lessons learned during the Cary pilot led to improvements in their program. Of note, UNC Charlotte researchers will be working with Cary data scientists to integrate data and share delivery methods for the benefit of the NCDOT researchers and CASSI users.

The trip was capped off with a ride on CASSI along its new route on the UNC Charlotte campus. The new route was noted as more complex due to the increased presence of pedestrians in a college campus environment, four connected traffic signals, and multiple left-turn movements that required decision making from the shuttle. This final pilot for the CASSI program will end on December 22.

Sergeant Alexander Awarded Public Information Officer Designation

Sergeant Kenric Alexander has been awarded the Public Information Officer (PIO) designation by the Commission on Professional Credentialing through the Center for Public Safety Excellence. This designation recognizes the critical role public information officers play in both emergency and daily operations by effectively communicating valuable information to the public. To achieve this credentialing, Sergeant Alexander demonstrated the equivalency of five years of continuous education, training, and experience as a Public Information Officer, including his recent achievement of being awarded Master PIO by the FBI’s Law Enforcement Executive Development Association. Sergeant Alexander is one of only 34 Public Information Officers internationally to receive professional credentialing from the Center for Public Safety Excellence.

2023 NCAA Women’s College Cup

This past week, Cary, in partnership with the University of North Carolina, Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance, and NCFC Youth, hosted the 2023 NCAA Women’s College Cup at WakeMed Soccer Park. Staff across multiple departments worked together for several months to prepare for this championship. A total of 14,907 fans from all over the country visited Cary to watch as the Florida State Seminoles defended their spotless record and claimed their fourth national championship. 

Upcoming Meetings

Human Relations, Inclusion, and Diversity Task Force
Monday, December 11
6:00 p.m.

Environmental Advisory Board
Tuesday, December 12

6:00 p.m.

Historic Preservation Commission
Wednesday, December 13
6:30 p.m.

Council Work Session
Thursday, December 14
4:30 p.m.

Council Meeting
Thursday, December 14
6:30 p.m.

Mayor’s Mailbox

• A gazillion complaints (actually over two hundred) about float 83 in the Christmas parade.
• A thank you for getting a plaque on a bench at Booth Amphitheater.
• A question about presenting at a council meeting.
• A complaint about comments made at the Downtown Park Ribbon cutting.
• Comments on the Draft Urban Forest Master Plan.
• A complaint about a missed recycling pickup (it was picked up shortly after the email).
• A complaint that money was wasted in the Cary runoff and that we should have weighted voting.
  
  

Next Week

Next week’s activities include staff meetings, a Human Relations, Inclusion, and Diversity Task Force meeting, a meeting with NC Senator Gale Adcock, a Menorah Lighting, a council work session, the last regularly scheduled council meeting of the year, and a Wreaths Across America event.

Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, December 17^th, 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.

Manager One-On-One

Monday afternoon I sat down with the town manager for our weekly one-on-one meeting. We talked about the park opening, a potential upcoming bond, and the new council. Our conversation lasted about half an hour.

Special Meeting for Staff Reviews

Monday night the council met in closed session to review the performance of our three employees: Town Manager, Town Attorney, and Town Clerk. We heard from each of them as well as reviewed their information presented to us at an earlier date. I believe we have three of the best in their fields. Cary is very blessed that they give their time and talents for the benefit of our citizens.

CAP Appreciation Dinner

Wednesday night Council member Jack Smith and I attended an appreciation dinner for the CAP (Citizens Assisting Police) held by the Cary Police Department. Comments were made by Sgt. Dustin Wright, Chief Terry Sult, and me. In my remarks I recognized the contributions of Al Slonim with a Proclamation noting his years of service to the CAP team and being a leader of the Cary Police Department’s Winter Wonderland.

CAMPO and DCHC MPO Regional Rail Subcommittee Meeting

A subcommittee for the Metropolitan Planning Organizations of the Capital Region and the Durham, Chapel Hill, Carrboro Region met to discuss the future of regional rail. Most of the discussion focused on which entities would do visioning, planning, and implementation of regional rail. Getting funding for regional rail in our area is still a major hurdle. The subcommittee made no decisions and agreed to meet again early next year.

Cary Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony

Cary had its first annual tree lighting at Downtown Cary Park on Saturday night. The entire town council along with NC Representative Dahle were in attendance. Since the weather was rainy with storms predicted most events of the day were cancelled and the tree lighting ceremony occurred indoors in the Academy Street Pavilion. However, at the time of the event the weather was just a little drizzle which allowed a large crowd to gather outside around the tree. Speakers were placed outside so that everyone could hear.

The ceremony was hosted by longtime WRAL anchor and Cary High School alumni Debra Morgan. I was blessed to be given the honor of lighting the first Downtown Cary Park tree. It was even more special to me because I was joined by my 23-month-old grandson. What a special treat!

Cary’s downtown is alive with decorations and lights with over 250 lighted displays. I encourage everyone to visit.

Cary #8 for Work Life Balance

A study for work life balance looked at the top 170 largest cities in America, drawing data points from the US Census Bureau, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2023’s County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, and the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. The study, conducted by HowToStartAnLLC.org, examined three broad categories that serve as indicators of positive work culture: work intensity, health and wellness, and income and economic stability. According to a new analysis, Cary ranks 8^th in the nation for work life balance. You can find the full data here.

Cary #9 Best College Town

According to WalletHub Cary ranked as the 9^th best college town in the nation for mid-sized cities which is a surprise. Wake Technical Community College’s Western Wake Campus on Kildaire Farm Road gave Cary enough criteria to be considered in the report.

Town Manager’s Report

Sean’s Message

With a significant rain being forecast and after hearing concerns from several vendors, we have decided to scale back plans for tomorrow’s tree lighting.
Council, you are invited to meet in Academy Street Pavilion at 5:30 p.m. to participate in a modified lighting ceremony, and citizens will be welcomed into the space to join you. For those who understandably may not want to come out in the rain, the tree lighting will be available via live stream at 6 p.m. on Cary’s Facebook Page. 
I appreciate all the work that’s been done to keep our tree-lighting tradition alive in its new location at the downtown park and will let you know if anything changes.
We do believe that many of the activities planned for Saturday will be able to be rescheduled to future dates, and we will promote them as information becomes available.
Sean

Council Meeting Follow-Up

Energy Efficiency at North Cary Water Reclamation Facility: In 2022, Cary Utilities conducted an energy audit and emissions study for water facilities, focusing on creating inventories and a web tool for annual updates. Notable improvements came from the 2022 North Cary Water Reclamation Facility Aeration project, yielding a 5% energy efficiency boost and saving around $25,000 annually. The web tool will be updated annually, with 2023 data added in early 2024 for informed decision-making.

Accessory Dwelling Units Community Meeting – January 17^th

Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) are small secondary dwellings accessory to a main house and can come in many forms, including detached cottages, spaces over garages, and separate space attached to the main dwelling. Cary is proposing a Town ordinance amendment to broaden the locations where ADUs can be constructed. To engage the community, staff will host a virtual meeting on January 17 for residents to provide input. This initiative aligns with the 2021 Cary Housing Plan, aiming to enhance housing options and meet diverse resident needs. To participate in the virtual meeting and gather more information, citizens can sign up at  carync.gov/adu.

Citizens Assisting Police Appreciation Reception

On Wednesday, Cary Police hosted the annual Citizens Assisting Police (CAP) Team Appreciation Reception at the Carolina Preserve Clubhouse. This event provided an opportunity for the Police and staff to express gratitude for the invaluable contributions made by these volunteers throughout the year. CAP team board members also had the opportunity to highlight their volunteer work and recognize their “Volunteer of the Year”. Mayor Harold Weinbrecht, Councilmember Jack Smith, Deputy Town Manager Russ Overton, and Assistant Town Manager Danna Widmar were in attendance. Chief Terry Sult and his command staff served the food and drinks during the event. Thank you to the CAP Team for your passion, dedication, and service to the Town of Cary!

Higgins Greenway – Phase IV Public Meeting

On Wednesday, Cary hosted a public meeting at the Cary Arts Center to unveil plans for extending Higgins Greenway into downtown. The meeting was well attended with more than 50 citizens in attendance, including Councilmember-elect Michelle Craig. The project generated considerable enthusiasm, as the majority of comments received were overwhelmingly positive. Staff and consultants are reviewing comments and updating design plans. Right-of-way acquisition is planned to begin in Winter 2024, with construction scheduled to begin in 2025.

Visit to Dorcas Ministries

Deputy Town Manager Russ Overton and Director of Housing and Community Partnerships Heather Whelehan visited Dorcas Ministries to meet with the Executive Director, Andre Anthony. Andre shared a tour of the facility, including the store, food bank, and community flex space, where they provide services to over 2,000 families a year. Cary partners with Dorcas to provide counseling and emergency assistance to residents experiencing housing instability or facing displacement.

Recreation Made Easy

Cary’s new recreation registration system, RecTrac, is now live! This user-friendly system enables citizens and visitors to easily sign up for classes and programs. To participate, Cary residents and visitors need to create an account. Based on valuable insights from the past two years, we’ve enhanced the citizen experience, ensuring a higher level of service. Program registrations begin on January 10, with classes starting on January 22. Prepare for registration day by creating your RecTrac account now. Explore programs in late December, register on January 10, and join classes starting January 22.

2023 Downtown Urban Open Tournament

Town Hall campus was transformed over Thanksgiving weekend into the 2023 Downtown Urban Open (DUO) disc golf tournament. The tournament, hosted in partnership with the Capital Area Disc League (CADL), had great weather and was well attended by spectators and players, both local and from around the state. The DUO is a charity tournament that benefits the Cary’s Play it Forward Scholarship Fund. This year, the tournament and CADL will be donating over $5,500 to the fund, which has raised over $33,000 since the tournament inception.

La Farm Sidewalk Update

In October, a traffic accident occurred that damaged the awning in front of 220 West Chatham Street, where La Farm bakery is located. The damage has impacted the sidewalk in front of the store. Typically, this would be something Cary could quickly address; however, this particular sidewalk is located on private property owned by La Farm and not the Town of Cary. Staff have been working closely with the La Farm property owners to ensure a detour was posted, and we have learned this week that they have selected a contractor to do the repair. We will work with them to expedite any permits that are needed to complete this work.

Upcoming Meetings

Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources Advisory Board
Monday, December 4
4:30 p.m.

Information Services Advisory Board
Monday, December 4
6:00 p.m.

Zoning Board of Adjustment
Monday, December 4
6:30 p.m.

Council Meeting (Organizational Meeting)
Tuesday, December 5
6:30 p.m.

Senior Advisory Board
Wednesday, December 6
2:00 p.m.

Economic Development Committee
Wednesday, December 6
5:15 p.m.

Virtual Neighborhood Rezoning
Wednesday, December 6
6:30 p.m.

Mayor’s Mailbox

• A complaint about the relocation of a skateboard ramp.
• Complaints about the Bond Park to High House Greenway extension.
• A complaint about graffiti on the Bond Park Greenway (it has been removed).
• A complaint about safety at the intersection of Mahal Drive and Petty Farm Road.
• A complaint about a developer.
• A concern about informing daycares about potential shooters.
• A complaint about a park bench not being memorialized.
• A complaint about a staff referencing a religion at the Downtown Cary Park ribbon cutting.
• A request for evaluation of buffers on Fairview Park and Commons Ford.
  
  

Next Week

Next week’s activities include staff meetings, the organizational council meeting, the Cary Chamber’s First Responders Breakfast, an Economic Development meeting, a Sister Cities event, and the Jaycees Christmas parade.

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

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 3^rd, 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.

Council Meeting Prep

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 2^nd 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 17^th. The ribbon cutting for the park was on the 19^th.

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 2^nd 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 19^th.

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.

Upcoming Meetings

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

Cultural Arts Committee
Wednesday, November, 29
6:00 p.m. 

Mayor’s Mailbox

• 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 26^th, 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.

State of Cary Prep

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 17^th.

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.

Loose Leaf Collection

• 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 Update

• 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 19^th.

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.

Upcoming Meetings

Human Relations, Inclusion, & Diversity Task Force

Wednesday, November 15, 6 p.m.

Council Meeting

Thursday, November 16, 6:30 p.m.

Mayor’s Mailbox

• 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 19^th, 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.

Town Manager One-On-One

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 6^th 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 5^th 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 50^th 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 30^th 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.

Upcoming Meetings

Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources Advisory Board
Monday, November 6 5:15 p.m.

Information Services Advisory Board
Monday, November 6 6:00 p.m.

Historic Preservation Commission
Wednesday, November 8 6:30 p.m.

Quarterly Council Meeting
Thursday, November 9 1:00 p.m.

Greenway Committee
Thursday, November 9 6:00 p.m.

Mayor’s Mailbox

• 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 12^th, 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.

Council Meeting Prep

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 6^th. 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 9^th, an Organizational meeting (swearing in of elected officials) on December 5^th, a work session on legal matters on December 14^th, and a council meeting also on December 14^th.

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 64^th Cary Band Day and this year marks the 102^nd 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 29^th, 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.

Upcoming Meetings

Senior Advisory Board
Wednesday, November 1
2:00 p.m.

Virtual Neighborhood Rezoning Meeting
Wednesday, November 1
6:30 p.m.

Mayor’s Mailbox

• A request to help with an Eagle Scout project.
• 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 5^th, 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.

District D Runoff

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 14^th 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.

Virtual Neighborhood Rezoning Meeting

The Neighborhood Meeting will be held virtually on WebEx from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM. The following case will be discussed on November 1, 2023:

23-REZ-16 South Hills Apartments @ Weston

Upcoming Meetings

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

Council Meeting (work session)
Tuesday, October 24
5:15 p.m.

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

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

Mayor’s Mailbox

• A question about the District D runoff.
• 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 29^th, 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.

Koka Booth Passes

Tuesday I was notified that former Mayor Koka Booth passed on Monday, October 14^th. 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 23^rd 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

Upcoming Meetings

Athletic Committee
Monday, October 16
6:00 p.m.

Environmental Advisory Board

Tuesday, October 17

6:00 p.m.

Public Art Advisory Board

Wednesday, October 18

6:15 p.m.

Greenway Committee

Thursday, October 19

6:00 p.m.

Mayor’s Mailbox

• A question about why mayors are not full-time.
• Several congratulations on being re-elected.
• Requests to “stand with Israel”.
• A complaint about parking at the Walker.
• 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 22^nd, 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.

Last Week’s Charity Run

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 4^th 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 11^th.

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 10^th.
• 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.

Upcoming Meetings

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

Mayor’s Mailbox

• 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 15^th, 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.