Harold's Blog

Most Educated

On Monday I received information that the Raleigh-Cary area was ranked as one of the “most educated” in the US by CNBC. The criteria included educational attainment and Quality of Education & Attainment Gap. In Cary 70% of adults have college degrees with 25% having advanced degrees.

Deputy Town Manager One-On-One

Monday evening I talked briefly with the Deputy Town Manager for my weekly one-on-one. Our topics included the downtown park and various small issues around town. The ribbon cutting for the downtown park is set for November 19^th. The fences may come down a few days before that.

Wake County Mayors Association

Monday night I attended the monthly meeting of the Wake County Mayors Association in Cary. In attendance were the mayors of Apex, Cary, Garner, Morrisville, Rolesville, Wake Forest, and Zebulon.

Cary Chamber Planning Conference

Wednesday I joined five of six council members and dozens of business leaders for the annual Cary Chamber Planning Conference. The program started with a panel discussion and remarks from Beaufort officials and the owner of the Beaufort Hotel. This was followed by remarks from the mayor of Beaufort. I was the next speaker and talked about what we can expect in the next few years. Then Dr. Ralls of Wake Tech spoke about how they are training the next generation to meet local work force demand. NC Senator Gale Adcock talked about legislative actions in this long session including several harmful bills that impact Cary. Suzie Bishop of the Center of Leadership Studies presented slides about effective leadership qualities. The last speaker of the day was Dr. Mellissa Furman of Career Potential. She was an amazing speaker that broke down the typical characteristics of each generation starting from pre baby boomers through the current generation of adults.

Thursday started with the annual economic trends from Ted Abernathy. From his presentation it appears Cary and North Carolina will continue to grow and prosper. However, it appears that North Carolina rural counties will continue to lose population and skilled labor. A trained workforce will continue to be a problem and get worse in the foreseeable future. Mr. Abernathy’s data is always fascinating and is a great preview of what we can expect in the next few years.

The conference was a great success and had amazing speakers that supplied invaluable information for all in attendance. Thanks to the Cary Chamber for putting on this conference.

RTA Transportation Breakfast

Friday morning I was part of a panel discussing the importance of BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) in Cary. The panel included mayors from Raleigh, Cary, and Wake Forest; council members and commissioners from Chatham County, Wake County, Orange County, Johnston County, and Chapel Hill; transportation leaders from Durham County, GoTriangle, and NCDOT Division 5; and business leaders from WakeMed, First Citizens Bank, RTA Foundation, UNC Chapel Hill, and the RDU Airport Authority. Even though the panel discussion was over two hours I was only able to answer one question. The following is an excerpt from my remarks:

“…We are excited about Bus Rapid Transit and the opportunities it will bring to Cary! 

We are joining the City of Raleigh later this summer to kick-off a Transit Oriented Development (TOD) study that will look at the areas around the Western BRT stations for any land use and zoning changes that may be necessary to support development that advances the goals outlined in the Cary Community Plan.

We are also planning for a new Multi-Modal Center that will provide improved mobility options to connect regionally within the Triangle, including access to the Western BRT and the future BRT extension to RTP. …”

Based on what I know, I believe we will see BRT operating within the next five years.

State of Cary Follow-up Questions

A couple of weeks ago I presented the State of Cary address to Carolina Preserve. Here are some of the answers to questions they asked:

What corporate headquarters are planning to move to this area in the near future?

Corporate headquarter relocations are complicated transactions, which require a lot of time and a number of public and private entities working together, often under the direction of non-disclosure agreements. In Cary, we typically have between 2-4 formal relocation inquiries in the pipeline at any given time. These are mostly portions of a company relocating a division, not the entire HQ. These formal inquiries are also looking in other states in addition to Cary. The Town of Cary partners with the Cary Chamber to formally manage and recruit companies to Cary through their Vice President of Economic Development.

What developments are happening in the area, particularly related to retail and Parkside Commons?

The Parkside Town Commons shopping center originally received development plan approval in 2008. This approval allowed construction to begin on the site. Now that the shopping center is built, the owner and management of the center are responsible for selecting and signing leases with individual retail tenants. Permitting for new retail tenants is required through the Town of Cary. Regarding new developments in the area, there is currently a rezoning application in process across from Parkside Town Commons at the corner of O’Kelly Chapel Road and NC 55 Hwy (case number 23-REZ-01). This request is to rezone 46.29 acres to the Mixed-Use District (MXD) zoning to allow a mixed-use development which will include office, commercial, multi-family, and hotel. More information can be found on Cary’s website: https://www.carync.gov/connect-engage/transparency/public-hearings/public-hearing-cases/rezoning-cases/2023-rezoning-cases.

Information about street lighting.

Streetlights can be added to any street and are routinely done so through a variety of methods. Typically, streetlights are added during the development process when a private development widens streets to meet our Cary Community Plan’s street widths requirements. Additionally, Cary has a street lighting program pertaining to the installation of streetlights along existing streets for the purposes of traffic safety.

Wherever streetlights are requested, Cary staff work with Duke Energy to develop a design plan and construction schedule for installation of the poles and lights. Duke Energy hires a private contractor to install the poles once all of the plans are completed.

To request installation of street lighting, you can email Kimberly Baker, Senior Right of Way Technician, or call (919) 481-5098.

Here is the website to view the streetlight program: https://www.carync.gov/projects-initiatives/project-updates/street-light-program.

What are the future plans for the extension of McCrimmon Parkway from Rt. 55 to McCrimmon Parkway in Morrisville? What is the timeline, and is it funded yet?

The extension of McCrimmon Pkwy is part of the Town’s long-range plan. Unfortunately, we do not have funds for design and construction at this time. McCrimmon Pkwy is a state road, I hope state funding will become available in the future to complete this gap in the road. We do request this street extension when NCDOT is evaluating future projects. This corridor will also require a bridge over the CSX railroad as CSX no longer allows new at-grade railroad crossings directly across their tracks, unless 2 to 3 existing at-grade crossings at different locations are closed. We hope to work with NCDOT to find funding for the road in the future. For more information about the feasibility study, click here: https://www.carync.gov/projects-initiatives/project-updates/street-projects/mccrimmon-parkway-extension-feasibility-study.   

Can we have information about street lighting on O’Kelly Chapel Road/55 and when it can be installed?

Street lighting is present along most of NC 55 and O’Kelly Chapel Road in the vicinity of this intersection. The western leg of O’Kelly Chapel Road is missing lighting along the Hawthorne development frontage as well as the undeveloped property north of the street. Many of the required improvements that Hawthorne would have provided along O’Kelly Chapel Road were relieved based on a single payment in lieu. With these funds already secured by Cary, the additional improvements along their frontage, which would include street lighting, would be provided once the remainder of O’Kelly Chapel Road is constructed through the development of adjacent parcels. Street lighting along the undeveloped property will be provided with their development plan. This parcel is currently in for review for development.  

How can one travel from Carolina Preserve to the Downtown area without driving?

GoCary, Cary’s Transit program, offers Door to Door service for any Cary resident aged 60 and older. GoCary Door to Door is a shared ride, reservation-based service. More information about how to ride is available on our website: https://gocary.org/about-gocary-door-door-service.

Can we obtain information about future growth in Cary and how the Town addresses infrastructure needs, especially streets?

In 2017, the Town Council and community members created the Cary Community Plan that sets the vision for our community’s future. Within this plan, Council and the community members addressed the growing population and how it will put pressure on transportation infrastructure. From the plan:

As development and redevelopment occur throughout Cary, it is important to continually reevaluate the transportation network and services to ensure the system functions and provides adequate access to the locations that people desire to go to.

New growth will have positive impacts on many aspects of the community but also places pressure on the transportation infrastructure to continue to function effectively and efficiently with the additional users.

Each development that is built in Cary, residential and commercial, has to go through a strenuous review by our planners and traffic engineers. These reviews include traffic flow, light schedule, and capacity of streets with projected growth. These reviews often result in improvements by developers. If there is a particular street you are concerned about, our staff is happy to talk with you about what developments may be happening or not happening in the area related to street improvements.

The MOVE Chapter within the Cary Community Plan replaced Cary’s previous Comprehensive Transportation Plan.

To view the full Cary Community Plan, visit: https://www.carync.gov/projects-initiatives/cary-community-plan.

Information about the BRT (Commuter Rail) in the area.

The Wake Bus Rapid Transit (BRT): Western Corridor is approximately 12 miles long, extending from downtown Raleigh to the future Multi-Modal Center in downtown Cary. The preliminary design phase (0 to 30 percent) for the Western Corridor is underway. The final location and number of BRT stations along the corridor, which will include both mixed traffic and dedicated transit lanes, will be determined during this preliminary design phase. As of Summer 2022, the Western Corridor project has reached the 10% design milestone.

To learn more about BRT in our area, visit: https://www.carync.gov/projects-initiatives/project-updates/facilities-projects/western-brt#:~:text=Project%20Overview,Modal%20Center%20in%20downtown%20Cary.

Information on how the Town manages the power grid and handles the area’s growth.

Duke Energy oversees the power grid in the Cary area, and they have a devoted website on this topic: https://www.duke-energy.com/our-company/future/strong-grid?jur=NC02. This website shares the ways that they are working to build a stronger and protected network. If you have any further questions that we can relay to our Duke Energy District Manager, please submit them to 311@carync.gov.

Information about the EPA study featured on WRAL regarding PFAS in drinking water.

Cary is committed to providing high-quality, safe drinking water and closely follows the scientific study of contaminants of emerging concern. Each year Cary tests your drinking water over 100,000 times for many substances, including the contaminants of emerging concern: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and 1,4-dioxane. Cary’s drinking water already meets the proposed Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) today because we operate an advanced water treatment facility with multiple-barrier processes, such as ozonation and powdered activated carbon (PAC) treatment.

To learn more about water treatment and emerging contaminants, visit: https://www.carync.gov/services-publications/water-sewer-stormwater/water/water-treatment/emerging-contaminants.

Written copy of the Mayor’s State of Cary

The Mayor’s State of Cary address, originally given in January 2023, is available here: https://www.carync.gov/mayor-council/town-council/state-of-cary.

Early Voting Questions

This week a candidate for Cary Council criticized the council for not having early voting at the Cary Community Center in Bond Park. This prompted questions from the council and answers:

Question – I know in the past that the Town of Cary has paid for early voting. I’m wondering how much we are paying for early voting for this upcoming election. Are we also paying Chatham County to have that location open as well? And do we pay anything to Wake County for the actual election day?

The cost for Wake County early elections at Herb Young is $359,299. The general election costs in Wake County will cost $578,752.23. If there is a runoff in November it will cost $114,772.15 for early voting and $277,963.81 for the general election. These costs cover precinct official wages for training and election day, seasonal temporary staff, polling place rental fees, telephone service charges, equipment delivery fees, polling place supplies, support staff mileage, absentee mailings and postage, ballots, poll books, authorization to vote forms, training manuals, miscellaneous polling place forms, and legal ads. The cost for Chatham County will be $44,093.29.

Question – Who decides where and how many early voting election sites we can have?

Here is the timeline of our interactions re. early voting site decisions with Wake County: 

• In November 2022, the Wake County Board of Election reached out to see if we would have an election, filing fees for offices, and if we would like to have early voting.  We responded to their request with the information and ‘yes’ to interest in early voting in our municipal elections.
• In January 2023, the Wake County Board of Election asked if we would want one or two early voting sites. We responded ‘one’ based on our practice of past municipal-only elections.
• In May 2023, the Wake County Board of Elections suggested Herb Young Community Center as our early voting location. At that time, we had no reason to contradict their suggestion.

As there may be questions regarding changing the location or adding a location, we had a conversation with the Board of Elections Director today. Their next meeting is Tuesday, July 25 and the Director would be willing to bring forward a change in location for the BOE board’s consideration. The BOE board would have to approve the change at this Tuesday’s meeting.

The last normally scheduled Cary election (non-partisan) was in 2019. At that time there were about 15,500 votes cast. Of those about 3,500 were not on election day. Even though there is a complaint about not enough early voting sites, some might complain about the cost of early voting which, based on previous results is over $135 per vote.

Cary Elections

The ballot for Cary’s October 10^th elections has been set. The following is a list of candidates in each race:

Mayor

Harold Weinbrecht (incumbent)

(No opponent)

At-Large

Lori Bush (incumbent)

Mary Insprucker

Matthew Gronke

District B

Don Frantz (incumbent)

Michelle Craig

District D

Ryan Eades (incumbent)

Sarika Bansal

Rachel Jordan

If a candidate does not get 50% of the vote plus one, then there will be a runoff in November.

It is my practice to endorse incumbents but help all candidates.

Town Manager’s Report

Russ’ Message

I really enjoyed spending time with you, Council, in Beaufort over the past couple of days at the Chamber Planning Conference. It was nice to have the opportunity to connect with so many of our community partners and hear informative presentations and updates from the speakers.
I am looking forward to having Sean back in the office on Monday; I’m sure you are too.
Have a great weekend.
Russ

Update on RFQ for Development of Town-Owned Land in Downtown Cary

We’re very pleased with having received 18 responses to our Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the potential redevelopment of Town-owned properties in Cary’s downtown.

We didn’t know what to expect.
Submittals were comprised of teams that included companies from seven different states including North Carolina but also as far away as New Mexico, Texas, and Wisconsin.
Today’s Cary was built by planners, visionaries, and caring people who, at some point, all came from somewhere else to work together and with the people who came before them, to help make Cary the best community it could be, and we see that same spirit embodied in this effort.
While it’ll be some time before we’ve conducted a thorough review of the responses, at first glance we can say that we’re impressed with both the quantity and quality of the firms that are interested in partnering with our community to think about what the future of Town-owned property downtown could be.
We expect to take several months to fully digest the array of thoughts, skills, and abilities shown in these responses before charting next steps.
Issuing the RFQ was the first step in an as yet uncharted course to determine how and when Town properties might evolve as we continue to implement the Imagine Cary Community Plan – our citizens’ collective vision for Cary’s future.
As for next steps, timelines, and processes moving forward, we’ll be working on answers to those questions over the coming months. The first step is to fully review and digest what’s been submitted, and this is too important to rush. Any timetable we develop will be one that includes lots of citizen involvement and takes into account everything we’re already working on along with the unanticipated issues and opportunities that come our way. What we can say is that we appreciate all of the interest in Cary’s future, and we’ll be staying in touch.
We expect media coverage on this project milestone in the coming weeks.

Three Sold Out Nights with Billy Strings

Fan favorite Billy Strings returned to Cary’s Koka Booth Amphitheatre for three consecutive sold-out performances this past weekend. Over 20,000 fans enjoyed three completely different shows from the Grammy Award-winning artist who has built his reputation on delivering high-energy, dynamic live performances. For the second year in a row, Billy Strings has broken attendance records for Koka Booth Amphitheatre.

Chelsea FC and Wrexham Training at WakeMed Soccer Park

On Tuesday, WakeMed Soccer Park hosted Chelsea FC and Wrexham AFC for open training, giving fans a chance to get an up-close look at how they prepare for a match. Four thousand people had the unique opportunity to take pictures, get autographs, and share stories with some of the world’s best soccer players. Cary worked closely with the North Carolina Football Club to create a first-class experience for these world-renowned clubs.

Cary Participates in Watershed Protection with Triangle Land Conservancy

Cary’s Community Plan values protecting and preserving our natural resources. Watershed protection within the Jordan Lake watershed is one important way Cary contributes to this mission. In cooperation with Triangle Land Conservancy, Cary has committed to providing $250K toward purchasing 248 acres of property for watershed protection in Chatham County. Triangle Land Conservancy purchased the overall acquisition for $3.25M. Located close to Jordan Lake on the New Hope Arm of the lake, this property is upstream of Cary’s water intake facilities. We are very excited about this watershed protection opportunity to collaborate and support our partners with Triangle Land Conservancy to acquire this property for conservation and watershed protection.

We’re Registered! ®

Cary is now the proud holder of registered trademarks for the two versions of the new logo! These trademarks have been and will continue to serve as a symbol that identify Cary as the source of the services it provides.
Cary became the owner of these trademarks as soon as it started using them but having registered them with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), Cary’s trademarks now have additional legal protections and Cary has nationwide rights to them. Cary began the registration process when it filed its applications with the USPTO back in March of 2022. Those applications moved through the USPTO’s lengthy approval process before formally achieving registration on June 27, 2023. To help ensure consistent use of these trademarks, staff has created a branding microsite where Council, staff, and contractors can learn about the messaging behind the marks, when and how they should be used, and obtain high quality versions of the marks for use in the appropriate ways. Cary’s Marketing and Legal teams are available should Council or staff have questions related to their use.

Training Drone Pilots and Piloting a Training Program

Last week, FAA-licensed drone pilots and firefighters Jose Mendez, Matt Trapp, and Allen Monds led staff from the Police and Transportation Departments as well as fellow Cary firefighters in a three-day drone training session at Central Carolina Community College Emergency Services Training Center in Sanford. Using National Institute of Standards and Technology small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 2400 federal standards to guide a hands-on experience, the three instructors taught participants how to operate drones for scenario-based missions such as missing person searches, suspicious package monitoring, Haz-Mat Rail car identification, tower searches, and beyond-visual-line-of-sight trainings. This initiative is also being developed as a model program to enable Cary to train other agencies throughout the state to use drone technology.

Upcoming Meetings

Planning and Zoning Board
Monday, July 24
6:30 p.m.

Cultural Arts Committee
Wednesday, July 26
6:00 p.m.

Council Meeting
Thursday, July 27
6:30 p.m.

Mayor’s Mailbox

• A complaint about the grounds around the downtown post office.
• A request to meet with boy scouts.
• A request to meet with a college student for a paper.
• Invitations to several events.
• A complaint about early voting at Herb Young.
• A complaint about grease from a garbage truck on Old Apex Road.

Next Week

Next week’s activities include staff meetings, Diwali Dance practice, the last regularly scheduled council meeting of July, the opening of RDU Galleria, and the NC Metro Mayors.

Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, July 30^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.

This was another slow week as we continued the dog days of summer.

Deputy Town Manager One-On-One

Monday afternoon I met with the Deputy Town Manager for my weekly one-on-one. Topics we discussed included the downtown park, the town hall campus, the old mall site, the future multi-modal center, and the South Hills redevelopment.

Atlantic Tire Championships Board Meeting

Monday night I participated in a meeting of the Atlantic Tire Tennis Championships board. Topics included the August 6^th ATP tournament, the Atlantic Tire Tournament in September, and sponsors.

Human Relations, Inclusion, & Diversity Task Force

Tuesday night I attended the Human Relations, Inclusion, & Diversity Task Force meeting. The group expressed positive comments about PRIDE month and the Cary Celebrations. Most of the meeting was spent on selecting a priority to start a deep dive. Some of the thoughts were communications, accessibility at venues like Koka Booth Amphitheater for events, and additional DEI training for public engaging staff. The meeting concluded after about an hour and forty-five minutes.

Candidate for District Office

Thursday afternoon I met with a candidate for a district council seat. We talked mostly about affordable housing and school overcrowding. It is my practice to endorse incumbents and support all candidates.

NC Metro Mayors

The North Carolina Metro Mayors met Friday to hear a summary of legislative actions. Here is a summary from KTS Strategies:

Legislative Schedule

This week, the House returned to Raleigh for one voting session on Wednesday. The Senate did not take any floor votes or hold any committee meetings this week. Budget negotiations remain at an impasse as House and Senate leadership have not reached an agreement on a tax package and the spending of budget reserves. At this point, we may not see a final budget compromise until mid-August. Due to the budget gridlock and upcoming national legislative conferences, we anticipate the legislative workload will be light for the remainder of July.

House Session Highlights

On Wednesday, the House held a brief voting session. The House considered several local bills and held multiple concurrence votes. Most notably, the House voted not to concur with the 2023 Regulatory Reform Act (H600) and an omnibus health care bill (H125). These bills have been sent to the conference committee where a final compromise will be negotiated. The House voted to concur with legislation that would make changes to the state retirement system (H201), changes to the laws related to the expunction of criminal offenses as recommended by the Administrative Office of the Courts (H193), and an omnibus charter school bill (H219). Those bills have been sent to the Governor for consideration. The next voting session for the House will be held Wednesday, July 19^th.

Vetoed Bills

Last week, Governor Cooper vetoed the following five pieces of legislation.

• H618, Charter School Review Board- This bill would convert the Charter Schools Advisory Board into the Charter Schools Review Board and shift the authority to approve charters from the State Board of Education to the Review Board.
• H488, Code Council Reorganization and Various Code Amendments- This bill would reorganize the North Carolina Building Code Council to create a new Residential Code Council and would make various changes to the North Carolina State Building Code provisions, land development regulations, and General Contractor licensing laws.
• H808, Gender Transition/Minors- This bill would prohibit medical professionals from performing surgical gender transition procedures on minors and from prescribing, providing, or dispensing puberty-blocking drugs or cross-sex hormones to minors.
• H574, Fairness in Women’s Sports Act- This bill would prohibit biological males from competing on women’s sports teams.
• S49, Parents’ Bill of Rights- This bill would require public schools to provide parents with information regarding their student’s education, as well as provide them with notifications about the student’s physical and mental health. The bill would also require health care practitioners to obtain written consent from the parent of a minor child before providing treatment and would prohibit instruction on gender identity or sexuality in the curriculum of students from kindergarten to fourth grade.

Veto override votes for H618, H488, H808, and H574 have been calendared for next Wednesday’s House session.

Town Manager’s Report

Russ’ Message

It has been relatively quiet this week, so I have no substantive updates to share outside of the robust weekly updates provided below from staff. 
I look forward to attending and seeing several of you at the Chamber’s Annual Planning Conference next week. 
Take care, 
Russ

Trolleys Have Arrived

Visitors to our downtown will soon have a new way to get around! Two classic streetcar model trolleys arrived in Cary this week. You may see one of them out and about for a test drive on Monday as we work to finalize scheduling and other program details. The free downtown circulator service is planned to begin this fall. For more information please visit www.carync.gov/trolley.

Greenway Video Inspires Us!

Cary has a lot to celebrate during 2023, the Year of the Trail! We seek to inspire the community this year to get outside and enjoy Cary’s greenways. There are so many ways and reasons to use the greenways – and so many miles to explore!

This video will be shared on Cary TV and on screens at various venues across Cary. Stay tuned to future Year of the Trail celebrations by visiting carync.gov/greenways.

Cary Joins Threads, a New Social Media Platform

Threads, described by media outlets as “Meta’s answer to Twitter,” launched on July 5 and had accumulated over 70 million users within one day. Cary and several other local governments, including Wake County, Raleigh, and Wilmington, joined the Threads community late last week. You can follow our account at @caryncgov.

The Parking Deck on Cedar Street and Associated Retail

Development plans have been submitted for the second round of review for the Cedar Street Parking Deck and Retail project located at 139 East Chatham Street, between The Center Shopping Center and the Rogers Building. The plan proposes to include 295 parking spaces with 4,000 square feet of ground floor retail along Chatham Street. A staff report with additional information will come before you in the near future. 

Urban Design Studio and Planning Team Visits Hub RTP

A few members of both the urban design and planning teams visited Hub RTP to learn more about their successful activation of typical office park and future development phases currently underway. Hub RTP provides a downtown-like urban mixed-use center to the largest research park in the US. The team met with RFP’s planner Travis Crayton who explained the future ambitions of RTP, which includes re-urbanizing strategic areas of the park. The new phase of the Hub will include a new multimodal street network, a full-service hotel, offices over retail, and multifamily residential – almost all entirely using structured parking.

Cary West End Apartments

The first round of development plan review was completed for the Cary West End Apartments. Also known as rezoning case 22-REZ-05 Number Five, the project is located at 602 West Chatham Street and 523 Old Apex Road. The project will include 10,000 square feet of first floor retail, 184 apartments, and a parking deck with 330 spaces.

Spanish Speaking Firefighters Teach About Grilling Safety

Fire was invited to partner with Spanish-language TV network Univision in producing a grilling safety video that targets a Spanish-speaking audience. Four firefighters who are fluent in Spanish participated in the event Wednesday at Fire Station 9, which Univision also broadcast on Facebook Live. Fire is fortunate to have employees who are dedicated and passionate about reaching all our citizens with important safety messages.

Cary’s Independence Day Celebration

Cary welcomed more than 15,000 people to its Independence Day Celebration at Koka Booth Amphitheatre, which included performances by the Cary Town Band and North Carolina Symphony. Mayor Weinbrecht provided a warm welcome from the stage, joined by Congresswoman Deborah Ross. Councilmembers Jennifer Robinson, Jack Smith, Carissa Kohn-Johnson, and Ryan Eades also attended with family and friends.

USA Baseball Collegiate National Team Series

USA Baseball Collegiate National Team (CNT) played a series against both Chinese Taipei and Japan at the National Training Complex at Thomas Brooks Park between June 30 and July 9. On June 30, USA Baseball CNT began the 20th International Friendships Series with Chinese Taipei. USA winning the game 7-3. Then the 44th USA vs. Japan Collegiate All-Star Championship Series ran from July 7-9. USA won 2 out of 3 games in the series, and all the games attracted an international crowd.  

Maynard Tank Class of 2024

In preparation for the upcoming school year, on July 5, contractors climbed 138 feet to the catwalk to repaint the year for 2024, continuing a much-loved tradition of welcoming the new senior class. 

Upcoming Road Closure

Beginning Monday, July 17, the Annual Water Main Replacement project contractor, Carolina Civilworks, will place barricades on Dry Ave and South Harrison Ave to begin Phase 4 of construction. Faculty Ave will remain open. The contractor has committed to temporarily reopen South Harrison Ave through the Dry Ave intersection by the end of business August 25 in advance of Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival on August 26. Work is expected to continue on South Harrison Ave between W. Chatham St and Dry Ave on August 28, but the Dry Ave intersection is expected to remain open beginning August 25. Updates will continue to be provided as we move forward with additional phases of the planned water main replacement project.

Upcoming Meetings

Public Art Advisory Board
Wednesday, July 19
6:15 p.m.

Greenway Committee
Thursday, July 20
6:00 p.m.

Mayor’s Mailbox

• A complaint about not doing enough to help animals.
• A request to help with awareness of Ovarian Cancer Month.
• A request to appear in two short programs as George Washington.
• A notification that someone has a bumper sticker calling Cary a Sex Cult because of PRIDE month.
• A thanks for fixing/cleaning the fountain at Middle Creek.
• A complaint that Cary doesn’t do anything to protect trees (that is a misperception).
• A request to name Cary’s new downtown trolleys to “Cary’s Ferry” (Trolleys haven’t been named yet)

Next Week

Next week’s activities include staff meetings, an Atlantic Tire Championships Board meeting, a Human Relations, Inclusion & Diversity Task Force meeting, a Diwali dance practice, an RTA Transportation Breakfast Panel rehearsal, and a meeting with a council candidate.

Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, July 23^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.

This week was a holiday week with few meetings as we celebrated Independence Day so this will be a short post.

White House Invitation

Monday I received an invitation to attend an event at the White House on lowering health care costs. While this was a once in a lifetime invitation, I just could not make the logistics work to be able to attend. Who knows, maybe I will get lucky and get invited again.

Council Member Meeting

Monday evening I met with council member Bush for a one-on-one meeting. We talked for a couple of hours on a variety of things including the upcoming election.

It is my practice to talk with and support any candidate for office. However, I will only endorse incumbents.

Independence Day Celebration

Tuesday several friends, my wife, and I attended the Independence celebration at Koka Booth Amphitheater. I had the honor of welcoming the attendees and introducing Congresswoman Ross who was in attendance.

Afterwards, I talked with several people in the crowd and took pictures.

The fireworks display started around 9:20 and lasted about 20 minutes. It was an incredible display. If you missed this year’s celebration, make sure to attend next year’s celebration, which is sure to be just as spectacular.

State of Cary at Carolina Preserve

Thursday evening, I gave an updated version of the State of Cary address to a capacity crowd at Carolina Preserve. Since there was no time limit, I talked at length on many topics which made the presentation last about an hour. Afterwards I answered about a dozen questions from the crowd. There were a lot of questions about future infrastructure that will be provided by the town and the state. We took notes to make sure we could get answers to questions I was not able to answer in detail.

I want to thank Carolina Preserve for inviting me and for making sure we get answers back to the appropriate people.

I also want to thank council members Ryan Eades and Lori Bush for attending.

Filing for Re-election

Friday afternoon I filed for re-election as Mayor of Cary. If elected, it will be my fifth four-year term as mayor and my sixth term on council. If you would like to find out more about my campaign, go to http://haroldweinbrechtformayor.com. I would appreciate your support.

Incumbents Don Frantz and Ryan Eades were also present filing for re-election. I was honored to have my picture made with them.

Mayor’s Mailbox

• A complaint about allowing fireworks in Cary (only non-aerial fireworks such as sparklers are allowed)
• A complaint about a contractor’s work in the paving of Barnes Spring Court in Wellsley.
• A complaint about the lack of response from the town on a fountain at Middle Creek.
• A complaint about me??? “I can see you are an idol. I will leave God’s message with the Idol and the other Idol technology.”
• A complaint that Cary doesn’t prohibit the use of e-cigarettes in all buildings. (Our authority comes from the legislature, and they haven’t given us that authority)
• A complaint about a comment made at the July 4^th celebrations that was racist to the Asian community. (Staff is looking into this)
• A thank you for my State of Cary presentation at Carolina Preserve.

Next Week

Next week’s activities include staff meetings, an Atlantic Tire Championships Board meeting, a Human Relations, Inclusion & Diversity Task Force meeting, a Diwali dance practice, an RTA Transportation Breakfast Panel rehearsal, and a meeting with a council candidate.

Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, July 16^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.

This was one of the slowest weeks I have had as mayor, which is typical for this time of year.

Diwali Dance Practice

I attended the first Diwali dance practice on Wednesday. There will be a total of four dances using staff members from Apex, Cary, and Morrisville. All three mayors will be participating in a dance near the grand finale.

NC Legislative Summary

The NC Metro Mayors did not meet Friday due to the upcoming holiday. Here is a summary of legislative action from KTS Strategies:

Budget Update

State budget negotiations continued behind closed doors this week at the General Assembly. The top sticking points between the two chambers remain a tax package and how reserves will be spent on economic development and capital projects. The goal was to have a budget in place before the start of the new fiscal year on July 1, but it will likely be mid to late July before the legislature takes a vote. The House and Senate are taking a legislative break next week and will return to Raleigh the week of July 10^th.

Veto Override Votes

On Tuesday, the House voted to override six of Governor Cooper’s vetoes. That is the most override votes ever held in a single day. The six pieces of legislation are as follows:

• S299, Reimburse Late Audit Costs with Sales Tax Revenue – This bill would authorize the Local Government Commission to withhold a county or municipality’s sales tax distribution if the county or municipality fails to submit an annual audit report.
• S329, Retail Installment Sales Act Amendments – This bill would modify the maximum finance charge rates that may be applied to consumer credit installment sale contracts. It would also increase the default charge for past due installment payments from $15 to $18.
• S331, Consumer Finance Act Amendments – This bill makes various changes to the statutes in the Consumer Finance Act.
• S364, Nondiscrimination & Dignity in State Work – This bill would prohibit discrimination against job applicants based on personal beliefs or political affiliations. The bill would also prohibit concepts related to race or sex from being promoted in the workplace of state employees.
• S582, The North Carolina Farm Act of 2023 – This is the legislature’s annual bill that would make various changes to laws pertaining to agriculture, forestry, and the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
• H750, Address ESG Factors -This bill would prohibit state agencies and state pension plan fiduciaries from discriminating in employment decisions based on environmental, social, and governance criteria.

The Senate voted to override S299, S329, S331, and S364 last week. They also voted to override S582 and H750 this week meaning all six bills are now Session Law.

Parents Bill of Rights

This week, the House passed S49, Parents Bill of Rights with a vote of 66-47. One Republican voted in opposition. This bill would require public schools to provide parents with information regarding their student’s education, as well as provide them with notifications about the student’s physical and mental health. The bill would also require health care practitioners to obtain written consent from the parent of a minor child before providing treatment and would prohibit instruction on gender identity or sexuality in the curriculum of students from kindergarten to fourth grade.  The Senate voted to concur with the House changes with a party line vote of 26-13. The bill will now be sent to Governor Cooper for consideration. We anticipate he will veto the legislation.

George Washington Reading

Saturday morning, I participated in a small performance at the Page-Walker gardens put on by Katherine Loflin of the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution). She spent time talking about the area, now known as Cary, during the time of the American Revolution.

I was dressed as George Washington and read excerpts of the Declaration of Independence. It was well attended, including several children.

Town Manager’s Report

Sean’s Message

On the last day of the fiscal year, let me say how proud I am of the great things we were able to accomplish together. In our effort to keep Cary at the Top of the Arc, we know our work will never be done, and that’s a good thing because every day brings something new to look forward to.
With so many people planning to take advantage of the holiday next week and spend time with their family, including me, we will not be doing a Council Weekly Report next Friday.
Enjoy your weekend.
Sean

Council District Demographic Data

Please find linked district demographic information prepared by our Planning Department.

Nancy Jones House Becomes Cary’s Newest Landmark

Last week, Council unanimously adopted an ordinance designating the Nancy Jones House as a Cary historic landmark. Built in 1803 and Cary’s oldest known residential structure, the Nancy Jones house is historically significant for its Federal-style architecture. In addition, numerous NC governors and even President James K. Polk have visited the house over the years. Further supporting the Council’s initial action to preserve this piece of Cary history, rehabilitation of the house’s interior and exterior is planned to begin later this year.

Green Hope High School Field Trip

On Tuesday, students from Green Hope High School’s Summer Career Accelerator Program visited Town Hall to learn about the Council-Manager form of government. Additionally, they heard about information technology in the public sector and paid visits to the Traffic Management Center and the Emergency Communications Center to learn more about the operations within those areas.

Taking Pride in Training Cary Staff

In alignment with Pride Month, the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion offered training opportunities in June to equip staff with awareness and skills to be more informed allies to LGBTQ+ citizens and community members. LGBTQ+ Allyship 101 was an introduction that covered the needs and benefits of allyship in action, while LGBTQ+ Allyship 102 featured a deeper exploration of allyship as a journey along a continuum. These well-attended sessions enhanced empathy and understanding among staff of the needs and potential barriers within the LGBTQ+ community.

Middle Creek Disk Golf Course Update

Cary’s Middle Creek Disc Golf course recently completed some much-needed upgrades to bring the course more in line with Cary’s top-rated course, Diavolo, at New Hope. The upgrades included updating tee pads, adjusting hole layouts, adding practice baskets, and improving walking trails with stairs and retaining walls. These improvements, in addition to updates to course signage, are being made in preparation for Cary hosting the 2024 Masters Disc Golf Championship.

Upcoming Meetings

No meetings

Mayor’s Mailbox

• A thank you: “Thank you so much for your great leadership, and the love you have for Cary and its citizens!”. (I very much appreciate the compliment)
• A complaint about an issue on Petty Farm Road.
• A request to meet with a boy scout. (Always glad to do this)
• A complaint about pipes and drains in Carolina Preserve.
• A concern about safety in Renaissance at Regency.
• A candidate’s request to meet. (Always glad to meet with candidates)
• A complaint about our decision on the Kanoy property.
• A complaint about the fountain at middle creek.
• A complaint about not being selected as a vendor for Lazy Daze.

Next Week

Next week’s activities include staff meetings, a meeting with a council member, Fourth of July ceremonies, a State of Cary address at Carolina Preserve, and a meeting of the North Carolina Metro Mayors.

Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, July 9^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.

Wake County Mayors Association

Monday night I joined the mayors of Apex, Garner, Holly Springs, Knightdale, Rolesville, Wake Forest, and Zebulon for a tour of the Fujifilm’s Diosynth Biotechnologies facility under construction in Holly Springs. Once completed it will be the largest end-to-end cell culture CDMO biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility in North America. It is a $2 billion dollar project and will be the largest life sciences investment ever in the state of North Carolina. This massive facility will employ up to 3000 people during construction and is expected to open in 2025.

Council Meeting Prep

Tuesday, to prepare for the week’s council meeting, I attempted to contact colleagues to hear of any questions or concerns about the agenda. There were none. Later in the day I joined Mayor Pro-Tem Frantz and staff to go over the agenda.

Town Manager One-On-One

Tuesday evening I met with the town manager for my weekly one-on-one. We talked about the downtown park opening which is scheduled for November 19^th. Other topics included an issue with a resident in MacGregor who is complaining about flooding from a house being developed next door.

Cary One of the Best Places to Live

I was notified Tuesday that Cary was ranked as 6^th best place to live in the country by Livability. Their qualifications include communities between 75,000 and 500,000 and median home values of less than $500,000. They based their decision on economy, housing, cost of living, amenities, transportation, environment, safety, education, and health. Cary ranked #1 for transportation, economy, and health.

Cary High School Imps Ranked #1 Mascot in US

Wednesday I was notified that Cary High School’s Imp mascot, a small green devil, was ranked the #1 mascot in the county. Congratulations Cary High School! To find out more read the N&O article.

CAMPO

Wednesday I attended a meeting of the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Executive Board. The agenda included four consent items, four public hearings, and seven discussion items.

Under public hearings the board unanimously approved Amendment #12 to FY2020-2029 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) which will determine what roads, bridges, etc., projects will get funded and built in the next ten years. The board also unanimously approved Wake Transit FY 24 Recommended Work Plan and Project Agreements even after protest from Wake County Manager David Ellis about losing over $4.5 million in vehicle tax revenue. The board agreed to renegotiate that for the next fiscal year. The 2023 (Section 5310) Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with

Disabilities Program Project Selection was also approved by the board.

Under discussion items the board endorsed the Mobility Management Program Implementation Study and received information on several items including construction plans for the beltline and other roads in the area. To see presentation slides and the entire agenda go here.

Wall of Honor

Thursday afternoon we recognized four new honorees for Cary’s Wall of Honor. This program was created by me and the town manager in 2019. It is the highest level of recognition from Cary government to staff and citizens whose transcendent contributions have shaped our community and are woven into the fabric of Cary forever.

Our four honorees for this year were Karen Mills, Debra Grannan, Howard Manning, and Howard Johnson. Here are the remarks I spoke from at the ceremony:

“… Our first recipient, Karen Mills, joined the Town of Cary as Director of Finance in May 1991, marking the beginning of a transformative era. Throughout her remarkable three-decade career, Karen established an unrivaled tradition of excellence that extended far beyond her immediate sphere of influence. Her visionary leadership not only propelled the finance department to new heights but also played a pivotal role in shaping Cary’s identity as a world-class utility service provider.

Under her guidance, Cary earned the coveted AAA bond rating, a testament to her unwavering commitment to fiscal responsibility and strategic financial management. Karen’s expertise in navigating complex budget cycles and her instrumental role in transitioning to a rolling budget process have had a lasting impact on Cary’s financial stability and long-term planning.  Let us extend our heartfelt appreciation and resounding applause to Karen Mills for her outstanding contributions, which have shaped Cary into the vibrant and prosperous community we know today.

Next, we have Debra Grannan, whose journey with the Town of Cary began as an inspection scheduler and soared to incredible heights during her 30-year tenure, retiring as Associate Director of Planning in 2022. Debra’s notable achievements include orchestrating major rezoning cases and development projects that have significantly shaped Cary’s physical and architectural landscape in recent years. With strategic vision and meticulous attention to detail, Debra ensured these endeavors seamlessly aligned with the town’s goals and aspirations.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Debra’s theater background and involvement with the Cary Players added a unique dimension to her role. Her commanding presence at Town Council meetings served as an inspiring example for all Cary staff. Let us express our sincere gratitude and resounding applause to Debra Grannan for her exceptional contributions that have played a pivotal role in shaping Cary into the vibrant and prosperous community it has become today.

Our third recipient, Howard Manning, epitomized unwavering commitment to the Cary community during his dedicated tenure as Executive Director of Dorcas Ministries from 2005 until his passing in 2022. Howard’s tireless efforts extended beyond Dorcas, as he actively served on multiple boards, including the Cary Chamber of Commerce, Cary Rotary Club, Western Regional Advocacy Committee, Centre for Homeownership and Economic Development, and the Capital Area Workforce Development Board.

In 2017, Howard’s exceptional contributions were recognized when he was named Citizen of the Year by the Cary Chamber of Commerce. Fueled by his deep-rooted Christian faith, his passion for improving lives served as a guiding force in his endeavors. Tonight, we express our heartfelt gratitude to Howard’s beloved wife, family, and friends for joining us to honor his memory. Let us cherish his legacy, which will continue to inspire and uplift generations to come.

Lastly, we must acknowledge the profound impact of Howard Johnson, whose transformative leadership as Cary Chamber of Commerce President spanned over three decades. Under Howard’s visionary guidance, the Chamber and the local business community experienced unparalleled growth and prosperity. Membership surged from a modest 300 to an impressive 1,200, making it the sixth largest in our state.

One of Howard’s greatest contributions was the establishment of the Chamber’s enduring pillars: Economic Development, Member Business Services, Education, and Governmental Affairs. These pillars have become the bedrock for fostering a thriving business environment in Cary. Howard’s unwavering dedication and expertise played a pivotal role in positioning Cary as an enticing global business destination, attracting entrepreneurs and investors from around the world. Let us express our heartfelt appreciation and resounding applause to Howard, whose influential presence, tireless efforts, and exceptional contributions have been instrumental in creating the dynamic and prosperous Cary business community we celebrate today. …”

We are so blessed to have had these people in our community. They have made a significant contribution to what Cary is today.

Council Meeting

Thursday night the council held its last regularly scheduled meeting of June. The agenda included nine consent items, one public hearing, and three discussion items.

Public Speaks Out had several speakers speaking against a single-family proposal called the Kanoy property. There was also a speaker who spoke against Cary requiring trees that blocked his solar panels, and a speaker that said we should be ashamed for promoting sin by having PRIDE month.

The public hearing was to designate the Nancy Jones House, the oldest residence in Cary, as an historic landmark. That vote was unanimous. This building is now funded in the FY2024 budget to be restored.

The first two discussion items were the annexation and rezoning of the Kanoy Property. This is a one-hundred-acre tract that was proposing up to 1.4 single-family units an acre. After hearing information and recommendations for approval from the Planning and Zoning Board and the staff, the council approved the proposal with a 5 to 1 vote (Jack Smith was the dissenting vote. Lori Bush was attending remotely and wasn’t allowed to vote.).

The last discussion item was the FY2024 budget. Most of the work on this budget has been done in the past several months. So this was a time of staff praise and approval. The budget passed unanimously. The approved budget totals $523.8 million, which is a 17.1% increase from the prior year. This expenditure increase is largely offset by additional sales tax revenue and one-time capital revenue. This budget keeps Cary’s property tax rate unchanged at $0.345 per every $100 of assessed valuation, which is the lowest in Wake County. A 3% utility rate increase was approved to pay for inflationary costs associated with chemicals and maintenance.

The council meeting adjourned after a little over two hours.

North Carolina Metro Mayors

Friday I participated in a meeting of the North Carolina Metro Mayors to hear a legislative summary. The following is a legislative summary from KTS Strategies:

Veto Override Votes

This week, the Senate voted to override Governor Cooper’s veto of the following four pieces of legislation:

• SB 364, Nondiscrimination & Dignity in State Work – This bill would prohibit discrimination against job applicants based on personal beliefs or political affiliations. The bill would also prohibit concepts related to race or sex from being promoted in the workplace of state employees.
• SB 299, Reimburse Late Audit Costs with Sales Tax Revenue – This bill would authorize the Local Government Commission to withhold a county or municipality’s sales tax distribution if the county or municipality fails to submit an annual audit report.
• SB 329, Retail Installment Sales Act Amendments – This bill would modify the maximum finance charge rates that may be applied to consumer credit installment sale contracts. It would also increase the default charge for past due installment payments from $15 to $18.
• SB 331, Consumer Finance Act Amendments – This bill makes various changes to statutes in the Consumer Finance Act.

The Senate has successfully voted to override six vetoes from Governor Cooper this session. These bills have been placed in the House calendar for consideration next week.

Elections Bills

On Wednesday, the Senate voted to approve two bills that would make various changes to the elections process in North Carolina. S747, Elections Law Changes, would require absentee ballots to be received by 7:30 PM on Election Day, require same day registration voters to vote via a provisional ballot if the address on the voter’s photo ID does not match the address on a HAVA document provided by the voter, and prohibit private money from elections administration. It would also require County Boards to utilize signature verification software for absentee ballots.

• S749, No Partisan Advantage in Elections, would increase the number of members on the State Board of Elections from five to eight. Members would be appointed by the General Assembly instead of the Governor.  The Senate President Pro Tempore, Speaker of the House, and both the House and Senate minority leaders would each have two appointments. The bill would also change the composition of County Boards from five members to four members. Both bills passed along party lines (28-19) and have been sent to the House for consideration.

Fairness in Women’s Sports Act

• HB 574, Fairness in Women’s Sports Act, received its final stamp of approval from the General Assembly this week. The House voted to concur with the Senate changes by a vote of 62-43, with one Democrat voting in favor. The bill would prohibit biological males from competing on women’s sports teams. The bill will now be sent to Governor Cooper for consideration. We anticipate he will veto the legislation, but the legislature has the votes for an override.

Cary Night at NC Courage

Saturday night I joined council member Ryan Eades for Cary night at the NC Courage Game. Council member Eades carried out the ceremonial ball and I performed the coin toss. After the coin toss, we posed for pictures with the referees and players. It was a good time and a great match with NC Courage prevailing 1-0.

Town Manager’s Report

Dan’s Message

It was a privilege to join you, Council, at the Wall of Honor celebration last night to recognize Karen Mills, Debra Grannan, Howard Manning, and Howard Johnson as the newest additions to Cary’s Wall of Honor. These individuals’ transcendent contributions have shaped our community and will forever be remembered. To learn more about each honoree, click here.
Another highlight from the night was the adoption of the FY 2024 budget at last night’s Council meeting. The adoption of the budget is a signature milestone in our rolling budget process, made possible by the leadership of you, the Council, working with Town Manager Sean Stegall. Throughout the year, I am impressed by the hard work and dedication from the Finance and Budget team, as well as the stewardship of each department. The successful adoption of the budget is made possible by the trust in the process and these strong relationships.
Happy Friday and have a wonderful weekend!
Dan

Juneteenth: Celebrate Freedom 2023

Juneteenth: Celebrate Freedom was held at Sertoma Amphitheatre at Bond Park on Saturday, June 17. It was a day marked with celebrations and reflections, commemorating African American freedom, and emphasizing education and achievement. Councilmembers Ryan Eades and Carissa Kohn-Johnson read the Proclamation and welcomed attendees. The celebration included African dance, music, poetry, and powerful historical discussions about Juneteenth and freedom – past, present, and future. Juneteenth: Celebrate Freedom was curated by local cultural historian Darrell Stover.

Cary Night

Staff worked with the Cary Chamber of Commerce and NC Courage to create a Cary-focused night at the NC Courage game tomorrow evening at WakeMed Soccer Park. Cary and Chamber of Commerce employees, along with their families, have been invited to the soccer game. Currently, about 400 attendees have reserved tickets and will be representing Cary. Discounted tickets for Cary residents and Chamber members have been advertised on social media and can be found here.
There will be games and activities, food and drinks, special t-shirts, and a Cary Town Council Coin Toss. The game starts at 7 p.m. and can also be viewed on Paramount+ for those who can’t attend.

Waverly Place Rezoning Application

This week, a rezoning application was filed for Waverly Place. The rezoning request seeks new zoning to redevelop the eastern portion of the Waverly Place shopping center. The proposed rezoning would allow up to 700 multi-family units and 30,000 square feet of commercial use, with building heights between 4-7 floors. Staff is reviewing the application for completeness, and final acceptance is anticipated within the coming weeks. A neighborhood meeting could be scheduled for late summer or early fall.

Downtown Parking Deck Traffic Shift

Beginning this Monday at 7 a.m., we’ll be temporarily shifting traffic patterns within the downtown parking deck to allow contractors working on behalf of the Town easy access to various parts of the structure. Our plan is to return to the normal traffic pattern on Thursday, June 28.

2022 Water Resources Year In Review

The 2022 Water Resources Year In Review report is now available and provides meaningful snapshots and historical trends about Cary’s excellent utility service. This year’s report includes a check on Cary’s per capita usage as well as the water demand of the overall service area of the Cary/Apex Water Treatment Facility.

Virtual Neighborhood Rezoning Meeting on July 12

The Neighborhood Meeting will be held virtually on WebEx from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on July 12. The following cases will be discussed:

• 23-REZ-04 Wheatsbury Dr Rezoning
• 23-REZ-06 Woodfield Walnut PDP

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

Upcoming Meetings

Cultural Arts Committee
Wednesday
June 28 6:00 p.m.

Mayor’s Mailbox

• A complaint that our 4^th of July celebration makes us “agents of destruction for the planet. … People will forget you; the planet will not forgive you.”
• A complaint about storm runoff from a house being built in MacGregor calling me arrogant and condescending.
• A question about the future downtown trolleys.
• A complaint about temporary signs and litter.
• A compliment on how Cary has managed growth.

Next Week

Next week’s activities include staff meetings and a meeting of the North Carolina Metro Mayors.

Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, July 2^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.

Cary Chamber Member Guest

Monday I participated in the Cary Chamber Member Guest golf outing. Before play began I made a few remarks to the attendees stating that we are in the beginning stages of positive transformation which should provide them with opportunities.

Atlantic Tire Tennis Championships Board Meeting

Monday night I met with the board of the Atlantic Tire Tennis Championships. We talked about the ATP tournament starting on August 6^th and the ATP tournament starting on September 10^th. Most of the conversation was on sponsorship.

Cary High School Graduation

Thursday I joined Mayor Pro-Tem Frantz and Council member Johnson for the Cary High School graduation in downtown Raleigh. This graduation class was smaller than those I have witnessed before with only 417 but the ceremony was very well done. I appreciate them giving each graduate the time to walk across the stage rather than having multiple graduates walking at the same time. Congratulations to the Imps class of 2023!

Green Level High School Graduation

Thursday afternoon I joined council member Ryan Eades at the Green Level High School graduation in downtown Raleigh. The graduation class had 480 and was the first class that spent all four years at Green Level. One unique aspect of the ceremony was that the names were not in alphabetical order. Instead, they were read by the homeroom teacher who had been with the students all four years.

After the ceremony all the elected officials including council members from other municipalities, school board members, and county commissioners posed for a picture.

Council member Eades and I posed for a picture with outgoing School Board Superintendent Cathy Moore. It was a great celebration and ceremony for the seniors at Green Level. Congratulations Gators’ class of 2023!

NC Metro Mayors

Friday the North Carolina Metro Mayors met for the weekly summary of legislative actions. Here is a summary of that meeting from the Executive Director:

General Update

• BUDGET – Budget negotiations are still ongoing.  Members have not shared details of the sticking points between the two chambers. With super-majorities in both chambers, the negotiations are focused on the extent of tax cuts and spending as the two chambers seek common ground.  The expected budget timeline has now been pushed back.  The earliest we expect to see a final compromise is the last week in June.  However, it could be mid-July before the legislature takes a vote.  Some of the sticking points include NC Innovation funding, proposed tax cuts and the long-term financial sustainability with reduced tax rates, and lastly, how to spend some of the billions in reserves.

Public Safety

Civilian Traffic Investigators H140

• This week the House concurred with the Senate changes returning this to a statewide bill. It was presented to the Governor today.
• Governor Cooper has 10 days to sign, veto, or allow the bill to become law. 
• Once law, the NC Justice Academy will develop a uniform statewide training program.
• THANK YOUfor all of the phone calls and hard work on helping get this across the finish line. It truly was a partnershipofcity leadersand our friends at theNC Association of Chiefs of Police that brought this across the finish line.

Transportation

S-Line Budget Provision Update – Raleigh to Richmond Rail Line

• The Metro Mayors Coalition are strong supporters of inter-city passenger rail in our state.  A cornerstone of efforts to expand rail service are planned connections to high-speed rail in Washington DC and the Northeast.  The S-Line, a planned future high-speed connection from Sanford though Raleigh, Wake Forest and then to Richmond, is a linchpin of the broader program for state passenger rail.
• A budget provision for state matching funds for a federal grant for the S-Line was included in the House version but not the Senate. 
• Based on the input from other partners, we may consider sending a letter on behalf of Metro Mayors to the legislative leadership indicating our support for the S-line funding.

Local Revenues/Local Control

Land Use Clarification and Changes S675  a.k.a. ETJ Bill

• This bill is currently sitting in the House Rules Committee after passing through the Senate.
• The current version of the bill was much less of an attack on the concept of ETJ as it limits the end of ETJ authority to municipalities in counties with a population of < 25,0000 in 2024 and < 50,0000 in 2025, which means Metro Mayors Coalition cities are excluded from the ETJ section of the bill.
• Section 4 of the bill dealing with minimum lot size zoning, requiring no less than 5 units per acre for new construction, was also removed.

Backflow Preventers/Local Auth. S166

• This bill would prohibit a public water system owned or operated by a local government unit from requiring installation of backflow preventers not otherwise required by State or federal law, except where a customer’s connection presents a severe hazard, defined as an actual or potential threat of contamination that presents an imminent danger to the public health with consequence of serious illness or death.
• The bill passed the Senate in May.  Thanks to ongoing conversations with House members, we have been able to successfully suspend movement on this bill for the remainder of the session. 
• We will continue to keep you updated on conversations surrounding this issue during the interim.

Wastewater Regulatory Relief Act S673

• This Senate bill focuses on water treatment systems for new developments and inter-basin transfers.  Most significantly, it establishes a 75 gallon per bedroom for wastewater flow rate for system capacity and needs determinations – a calculation closer to modern water use that may avoid expensive capacity expansion and delays for development. 
• The bill passed the House this week and is awaiting action from Governor Cooper.

Economic Development – nothing new to report

Town Manager’s Report

Sean’s Message

With renovations kicking off this week, those of us in the Town Manager’s Office suite have temporarily relocated to the other side of the building. I for one enjoy holding meetings in random rooms and spaces that I haven’t spent much time in lately. I’m seeing and learning a lot. It reminds me of the exercise we did several years ago at a Council-Staff retreat where we each mapped our routes to work every day. We discovered both the strengths and weaknesses of our routine, and we saw opportunities in changing it up. I’m present with that again.
As you enjoy your weekend routines, keep in mind all of the special activities we have planned for Juneteenth and that Town Hall will be closed on Monday.
Sean

Mayor’s Star Medallion

Last Saturday, Mayor Weinbrecht awarded the first Mayor’s Star Medallion to CORRAL Riding Academy’s horse, River, in recognition of her exceptional qualities of inspiration, perseverance, and courage. The CORRAL Riding Academy is a nonprofit organization that empowers adolescent girls in high-risk situations through a holistic equine therapy and education program, where River plays a vital role as a therapy horse. River, a former racehorse, was honored as “Thoroughbred of the Year” by the Jockey Club, a title given to an outstanding horse that has excelled in a non-competitive career in 2022. The Mayor’s Star Medallion recognizes individuals who embody inspiration, beauty, perseverance, innovation, and courage, celebrating their contributions and achievements in Cary. For more information, visit https://www.carync.gov/mayor-council/mayor-s-star-medallion.

Cary Celebrates the Year of the Trail at the ATT Great Trail Day

Cary joined Durham and Wake County in hosting the American Tobacco Trail Great Trail Day Saturday. This event celebrated National Trails Day and the North Carolina Year of the Trail. Information and entertainment took place at trailheads up and down the 26-mile American Tobacco Trail (ATT). Cary shared information about greenways, parks, and biking and invited several community partners, including Wake Audubon, Triangle Rails to Trails, and others, to engage with the community at the New Hope Church Road Trailhead on the ATT. 

All Aboard! Our New Trolleys are Almost Complete

Paul Webster, Jenny Pilewski, and Jorge Salazar are in Wisconsin personally inspecting and test riding the new downtown trolleys.  Paul reports that the ride is smooth and quiet. Delivery of the trolleys is anticipated this summer. 

NCAA Division II National Baseball Championship

Over the weekend Cary, University of Mount Olive, and Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance hosted the NCAA Division II Baseball National Championship (World Series) for the 13th time. In front of a crowd of around 2000 fans, the 3rd seed Angelo State beat Rollins College 6-5 to win their first National Championship. The weather was beautiful, the fields were perfect, and the crowds were tremendous. About 40 PRCR and PW staff devoted hundreds of hours, making this one of the great feathers in Cary’s cap.

Pimento Cheese Festival

On Saturday thousands of cheese lovers filled Downtown for the Annual Pimento Cheese Festival. Over 25 food trucks served their regular menu and included at least two items featuring pimento cheese. Ten local restaurants joined the fun in our Pimento Cheese Marketplace, where they gave away free samples, and sold tubs of pimento cheese to excited citizens. Once In A Blue Moon Bakery was crowned the winner of best pimento cheese for the second year in a row. In addition to all of the food, the festival also featured the return of Sarah Kaurfmann, who turned a 40-pound block of cheese into a work of art. 

Black Creek Greenway Reopened

The Crabtree Creek and Black Creek Sewer Rehabilitation Project is coming to completion. Rehabilitation of sewer lines and manholes along the Black Creek Greenway between North Cary Park and the trailhead at Old Reedy Creek Road is complete. Over the summer, contractors will complete the remaining work, including cleanup and restoration at the Lake Crabtree Dam and adjacent sewer easement and removing the temporary bypass pipe. The good news is this will not require the closure of the greenway, and the trail is now open to the Public.

Upcoming Meetings

Council Meeting
Thursday 
June 22 at 6:30 p.m.

Mayor’s Mailbox

• A complaint about cable contractors leaving a mess.
• A complaint about youth baseball coach.
• A concern that our “smart cities” will spy on citizens and invade privacy.
• A request to do more affordable housing like Chapel Hill and Orange County.
• A complaint about problems caused by Google Fiber contractors.

Next Week

Next week’s activities include staff meetings, a Wake County Mayor’s Association meeting, a meeting with Senator Budd’s regional director, a meeting with a student about mayor’s “overarching agenda and platform”, a meeting of the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Executive Board, a Wall of Honor reception, the last regularly scheduled council meeting of the month, a meeting of the North Carolina Metro Mayors, and a North Carolina Courage game.

Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, June 25^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 contacted council members to hear of any questions or concerns about the upcoming agenda. There were no questions about the items on the agenda.

Later in the day I met with staff members to review the items on the agenda. The meeting was brief.

Town Manager One-On-One

Monday evening I met with the town manager, town attorney, chief strategy officer, and Mayor Pro-Tem for my weekly one-on-one. We spent time talking about a presentation at the council meeting.

Human Relations, Inclusion, and Diversity Task Force

Tuesday I attended a meeting of the Human Relations, Inclusion, and Diversity Task Force. A report on PRIDE events was provided by the DEI manager. The group then revised and finalized their work plan which they would like to present to the council. They also decided to discuss their prioritization chart at the next meeting. As the council liaison, I provided an update on town activities. Our meeting lasted about two hours.

Economic Development Committee

Wednesday I chaired a meeting of the Economic Development Committee. The meeting started with comments from the Chief Development Officer about ongoing actions to update the Imagine Cary Community Plan. This was followed by the quarterly report from the Cary Chamber President. Here are a few points from that report:

• There are 7 active recruitment projects with a potential for 1139 jobs and $310 million in Capital Investment
• Greenberg Gibbons is now the owner of Park Overlook, which is a 15 acre track off Hwy 55 and Green Level Church Road. They now have a combined 48 acres under their control, with the larger parcel going through their site plan and the rezoning process.
• RDU Business Park by Merritt Properties is the other large tract in northwest Cary near the airport. This tract is 142 acres and is planned to have just over 700,000 square feet of flex/industrial space. This project is estimated to have their site plan approved by the Town in the late summer of 2023.
• Spectrum Properties is working on the rezoning process with Cary for upgrading their current footprint, along with the redevelopment / repurposing of some existing buildings into more modern office opportunities, along with converting some office space into lab space. They are also working on ideas and some concepts for a potential spec building in the back area of the park, which is about 33 acres.
• The Cary Economic Development website and the Small Business Guide are now revised and completed.
• We are in the process of updating our Digital Marketing brochure and should have it completed By July 10th.
• We will increase our usage of our social media and Linked-In sites to promote our Monthly Economic Development programs, product updates, and company announcements.

The Economic Development Director provided development updates. An interesting part of his presentation was the future visioning process of the Kildaire Farm Road corridor and the Weston Business Park.

The next scheduled meeting of the Economic Development Committee is currently set for September 6^th. However, in the group’s half-day meeting a couple of months ago we decided to increase our involvement and have more frequent meetings. So the next meeting might be changed to occur before September 6^th.

Council Work Session

Thursday evening the council held a work session on the budget. Presentations were made by staff on recent development, transit, and housing. Council decided to double the funding for the Neighborhood Improvement Grant Program from $250,000 to $500,000. The idea being that we can help seniors age in place with improvements. This would also be a strategic step in affordable housing.

Council Meeting

Thursday night the council held its first regular meeting of the month. The agenda included two proclamations, two consent items, three public hearings, and one discussion item.

I read a proclamation for PRIDE month and council member Smith read a proclamation for Women’s Veterans Day.

In the Public Speaks Out portion of the meeting two speakers wanted more funding for Cary Skate Park and one speaker thanked us for PRIDE activities.

There were no speakers for the budget public hearing, the utility system development fee public hearing, and the Carpenter Pointe Phase 3 annexation.

The discussion item was to add Town Code of Ordinances that we, IMHO, should have already had. For example, banning public urination. The rest are available here.

North Carolina Metro Mayors

The North Carolina Metro Mayors met on Friday for a legislative summary. Here is a summary of legislative actions from KTS Strategies:

Sports Betting Bill Sent to Governor

This week, the House voted to concur with the Senate changes to H347, Sports Wagering/Horse Racing Wagering, giving the final legislative approval. The bill received bipartisan support and passed with a vote of 69-44 on Wednesday. This bill would authorize and regulate betting on horse racing and professional, college, and amateur sports in North Carolina. H347 has been sent to the Governor for consideration, and we anticipate he will sign the bill into law.

Budget Update

Legislators are continuing negotiations behind closed doors to reconcile their differences on a final version of the budget. Subcommittee chairs presented their area-specific budget items (Education, Health and Human Services, etc.) to the full appropriations chairs this week. Legislators are expected to continue meeting through the weekend. Some of the major items in disagreement include teacher and state employee salaries and tax cuts. Their goal is to have a budget completed before the end of the fiscal year on June 30.

NC Farm Act

On Wednesday, the House passed S582, North Carolina Farm Act of 2023 with a vote of 77-38. The Senate voted to concur with the House changes on Thursday. This is the legislature’s annual bill that makes various changes to laws pertaining to agriculture, forestry, and the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. This year’s bill includes provisions that would allow income from the sale of honey to be considered gross income, create a Class 3 misdemeanor for leaving the scene of an animal waste spill, prohibit the use of an unmanned aircraft near a forest fire, and clarify the definition of wetlands. S582 will be sent to the Governor for consideration. Governor Cooper has 10 days to either sign or veto the bill before it becomes law.

Political Event

Friday night I attended a kickoff event for a Cary Council candidate. I encouraged the crowd to get involved and vote, and thanked and encouraged the candidate.

It has been my practice only to endorse incumbents, but I will help and encourage other candidates.

Corral Event

Saturday I had the honor and privilege to grant the first Mayor Star Medallion. This medallion is a symbol of inspiration, beauty, perseverance, innovation, and courage, designed to recognize and celebrate the profound contributions in our community.

The inaugural recipient of this award was River, a thoroughbred racehorse, who after her career ended moved around from farm to farm until she ended up at CORRAL in Cary. CORRAL matches up at risk girls with horses. This results in both the girls and the horses being helped. I witnessed firsthand the love and affection of the girl, DJ, and her horse River. It was a very special thing to see. I presented the medallion to the owner of CORRAL, a ribbon to River, and a $2500 grant to CORRAL and River.

The following was the press release of the award:

At the CORRAL Riding Academy’s Year End Program, River, a horse honored as the “Thoroughbred of the Year” by the Jockey Club, received the first Mayor’s Star Medallion at a special presentation from Cary Mayor Harold Weinbrecht. River, alongside at-risk girls and other horses is part of the nonprofit CORRAL Riding Academy, which empowers adolescent girls in high-risk situations through a comprehensive program of equine therapy and education. The Mayor’s Star Medallion recognizes those who embody inspiration, beauty, perseverance, innovation, and courage, celebrating their contributions and achievements in Cary.
River, an exceptional 21-year-old mare, holds a vital role as a therapy horse within CORRAL. Through a profound bond between participants and horses, River plays a pivotal part in teaching young women the essential lessons of trust and emotional regulation. Prior to joining CORRAL’s herd, River demonstrated her athletic prowess in seven thrilling races, securing two well-deserved victories, as well as an impressive second and third-place finish. Similar to many participants, River overcame challenges, moving between foster farms until finding her permanent home in the welcoming community of Cary. The awe-inspiring qualities of inspiration, perseverance, and courage radiate not only from River but also from her fellow herd mates and the courageous girls actively engaged in the transformative program. These qualities exemplify the deserving individuals recognized through the presentation of the esteemed medallion.
“Cary is fortunate to have exceptional nonprofits, with CORRAL Riding Academy shining brightly among them. River’s story, intertwined with the academy’s mission, captivates and inspires both the girls and the CORRAL community. The academy’s leaders and volunteers have diligently fostered an inclusive and nurturing environment, while the unwavering determination of the participants exemplifies their commitment to a brighter future,” said Cary Mayor Harold Weinbrecht.
Since its establishment in 2008, CORRAL has made a profound impact on the lives of over 400 girls. Through their comprehensive program of equine therapy and education, CORRAL equips each girl and her community with essential skills, resources, and opportunities, paving the way for a promising future. As a nonprofit organization, CORRAL relies entirely on the dedication of volunteers, grants, and generous contributions from individuals, companies, government partners, and charitable foundations. For more information about CORRAL and their transformative work, please visit their website

This event was one of the most rewarding since I became mayor.

Green Hope High School Graduation

Saturday afternoon I joined council member Ryan Eades for the Green Hope High School graduation in Raleigh. Nearly 500 graduates received their diplomas in just under an hour. Congratulations!

Town Manager’s Report

Sean’s Message

We broadcast this quarter’s All Hands Meeting live from the Urban Design Studio. Brittany Edwards hosted for the first time, and she was incredible! In our time together, we focused on one of our cultural values, Evolution, and we talked with John Collins about his first six months on the job. 
I enjoy rotating our All-Hands locations between the Council Chambers – where we can include several hundred staff in person – and other locations – where we can give staff watching online a better sense of the space and the important work that’s happening there. So, so much effort goes into our All Hands, and I remain grateful to Allison Hutchins for leading it as part of our Organizational Development program.
Enjoy your weekend!
Sean

Mayton Inn

The $105,000 contained in the FY 2024 proposed budget is the next installment to repay a 2016 $1.4M loan from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development to help build The Mayton Inn – a key economic development project, along with the Downtown Cary Park, for kickstarting downtown’s revitalization. The final payment is to be made in 2036.

Cary Action Sports

The 2019 “Shaping Cary’s Tomorrow Bonds” includes $2 million for continued investment in the facility – upgrades to lighting and ramps as well as constructing a cover to increase seasonal use. One of 14 parks projects receiving 2019 bond funding, this project is programmed for our 2025-2029 work period; therefore, there is no funding included in the proposed FY 2024 budget.

The Soccer Tournament

This past weekend, Cary hosted The Soccer Tournament (TST). The 7 on 7 format was unique to this event and generated energy around Cary facilities and soccer. Approximately 35,000 tickets were sold for the seven sessions and brought people to Cary from all over the world. The event was broadcast across Peacock, YouTube, and CNBC live, and will be rebroadcast on NBC this weekend. The CVB estimates a $1.7 Million economic impact for Cary and Wake County.

Walnut Street Closure

With the Kildaire Farm Road Improvements Project nearly 65% complete, Monday the contractor plans to close Walnut Street between Kildaire Farm Road and Walker Street. This closure is planned to begin after the morning rush hour and last approximately three weeks. The closure will allow the contractor to widen Kildaire Farm Road through the Walnut Street intersection, including installation of additional concrete street pavers, new curb ramps, and pedestrian push-button signals. Traffic detours will route traffic to Maynard Road and Kildaire Farm Road.

Citizen Facing External Branding Storefronts

The Cary Branding Team has launched two citizen-facing external branding storefronts. The first is located within Herb Young Community Center, and the second is Cary Arts Center. As a result, citizens can now purchase newly branded merchandise.

NACWA Platinum Peak Performance Award

The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) has awarded Cary’s three wastewater treatment facilities with their Platinum Peak Performance Award recognition for exceptional performance, achieving over 5 consecutive years of 100% National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit compliance. The North and South Cary Water Reclamation Facilities are celebrating their 10th year at the Platinum Peak Performance level with the Western Wake Water Reclamation Facility receiving their 8th. In addition to excellence in permit compliance, Cary’s Water Reclamation Facilities have been recognized for exceptional performance by providing clean and safe water back to our natural environment.

Dismissal Time for Bioretention Cell

Today, children from Cary Elementary School will stream out of the building for summer vacation, leaving the area available for Cary to begin rehabilitating the stormwater control measure located on Faculty Drive. Roots from bald cypress that have grown in the bioretention cell have damaged the underdrain and clogged the filter media, inhibiting stormwater from effectively infiltrating the ground. The existing vegetation and soil filter media will be removed, and the underdrain system will be eliminated and replaced with a new system and filter media. In addition, the improved device will have an increased capacity to retain stormwater from larger storms and release it slowly, reducing the potential for flooding downstream. It will be planted with native shrubs, forbs, and grasses, including several pollinator species, to help it remove pollutants that enter it from water flowing over the school and arts center parking lots. The project will take six to eight weeks to complete. 

Composting Conversations

Cary’s food waste drop-off continues to pique interest as a municipal service model. Waste Strategy and Community Impact Consultant Srijana Guilford presented at Raleigh’s Sustainability, Wildlife and Urban Trees Committee meeting to share about the development and success of Cary’s drop-off service and partnership with local non-profit Toward Zero Waste. Sharing Cary’s experience with food waste collection is helping to inform and support local ideas and initiatives that may grow more opportunities to compost in our region. 

Upcoming Meetings

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

Historic Preservation Commission
Wednesday 
June 14 at 
6:30 p.m.

Greenway Committee
Thursday 
June 15 at
6:00 p.m.

Mayor’s Mailbox

• A complaint about the 401-bypass decision to be made by CAMPO.
• A request to make a PRIDE month proclamation.
• A complaint about falling on a sidewalk.
  
  

Next Week

Next week’s activities include staff meetings, an Atlantic Tire Championship Board meeting, Cary High School graduation, Green Level High School graduation, and a meeting of the North Carolina Metro Mayors.

Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, June 18^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.

Memorial Day Events

Monday morning I joined Mayor Pro-Tem Frantz in the Memorial Day ceremony held at Hillcrest Cemetery hosted by Post 67. We heard from legislators, Congressman Wiley Nickel, and their featured speaker who was a decorated veteran. Afterwards I spent time thanking veterans for their service and a gold star family for their sacrifice.

Monday afternoon I joined Mayor Pro-Tem Frantz in the Memorial Day ceremony held at Cary’s Veterans Freedom Park. In addition to hearing from congressional leaders Deborah Ross and Wiley Nickel, Mayor Pro-Tem Frantz made remarks and I read a proclamation. The Cary Town Band was present and entertained the crowd with several patriotic songs and a medley of armed forces anthems. The featured speaker was the VFW Vice Commander. Afterwards, the Cary Garden Club dedicated a Blue Star Memorial marker which is now on display at the Veterans Park. I hope to have a Gold Star Memorial marker dedicated at the park during the next year.

State of Cary at Cary Rotary

Tuesday midday I gave an updated version of the State of Cary address to the Cary Rotary at MacGregor. There were a few dozen people in attendance. I had a limited amount of time, so I had to cut about 10 minutes off the presentation. After my presentation I received questions on environmental issues and traffic.

Town Manager One-On-One

Tuesday afternoon I talked with the town manager for our weekly one-on-one meeting. Topics included the RFQ for town hall campus, the Cary-Apex joint meeting, and advisory boards.

Interview about Soccer with ABC11

Tuesday afternoon I was interviewed via zoom by ABC11 on the impacts of the TST tournament in Cary. This $1 million winner-take-all event is estimated to have created a $2 million boost to our market and region. In addition, there will be some incredible branding exposure for Cary and highlight one of our state-of-the-art sports venues.

Cary Matters with NC Senator Gale Adcock

Wednesday evening I had the pleasure of taping an episode of Cary Matters with long time friend, former Cary Mayor Pro-Tem, and member of the NC Senate, Gale Adcock. We talked about the $29.8 million house budget passed on May 18^th and what can be expected. Some of the items expected to be in the budget include funding for the Year of the Trail program, funding for the NC Symphony, funding for floodplain protections, and funding for land acquisition projects, a major investment in parks, trails, and open space. We did one take of the entire episode and did a few more takes of the opening and closing. We were done in about 30 minutes.

News Story About Break-ins

Wednesday WRAL ran a news story about car break-ins in Cary. Here is a response from our police chief:

“… This is a problem being worked at local, state and national levels.  We have apprehended a number of suspects, most being juveniles.  

We are taking this problem very seriously for obvious reasons by enhancing current efforts and putting in place strategies that are focused upon prevention, enforcement, technology, education, and through partnerships.  …”

It is important to remember that crime prevention is a partnership. Don’t be a victim of opportunity by leaving things unlocked and make sure to say something if you see something.

Cary Apex Joint Meeting

Thursday evening the Cary council and staff joined the Apex council and staff for a joint meeting. We talked about top priorities for each of our communities which was followed up with various questions. Apex is one of twelve amazing communities in Wake County with great people on their council and staff. In my individual conversations with their council members and staff I found that they are concerned about communicating with the public on development and environmental issues, future transit options, their residential and non-residential mix, and large greenfield development projects. Our meeting concluded after a couple of hours with a photo op.

Meeting TST Tournament Organizers

Friday morning I met with the two organizers of the TST (The Soccer Tournament) which was a huge success at the Wake Med Soccer park. The 7 versus 7 format combined with various rule changes made matches exciting and action packed. In my conversation with the organizers, they were very pleased with the tournament and looked forward to doing this in Cary next year. They mentioned that they might be creating a TTT (The Tennis Tournament) for Cary, which I would love. We’ll see.

NC Metro Mayors

The North Carolina Metro Mayors met Friday morning for the weekly legislative summary. Here is a report from KTS Strategies:

Sports Betting Bill Passes Senate

This week, the Senate passed legislation that would authorize and regulate betting on horse racing and professional, college, and amateur sports in North Carolina. H347, Sports Wagering/Horse Racing Wagering, was approved by the Senate Finance and Rules Committees before being sent to the floor for a two-day vote on Wednesday and Thursday. The bill received bipartisan support and passed third reading with a vote of 37-11 on Thursday. The bill will be sent back to the House for a concurrence vote before heading to the Governor for consideration. Governor Cooper has publicly expressed his support for sports wagering, and we anticipate he will sign the bill into law.

Medical Marijuana Hearing

S3, NC Compassionate Care Act, was heard in the House Health Committee on Tuesday. This bill would legalize medical marijuana for qualified patients with a debilitating medical condition. The bill establishes a Medical Cannabis Production Commission that has the authority to grant 10 licenses to medical cannabis suppliers in the state. To increase access in rural areas, the bill specifies that each supplier must operate at least one medical cannabis center in a Tier 1 county. S3 does not legalize cannabis for recreational use. The bill was for discussion only and did not receive a vote from the committee.

Boards and Commissions Appointments

S512, Greater Accountability for Boards/Commissions, passed the House by a party-line vote of 72-46 this week. This bill 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 members of the General Assembly. S512 will be returned to the Senate for a concurrence vote before it heads to the Governor’s desk.

TST Semifinals

Saturday night my wife and I attended the semi-final matches of the TST which were won by Newtown Pride and SLCFC. These were great matches and the stands around each pitch were packed. Council members Robinson and Eades were also there viewing the action.

Gale Adcock NC Senate Reception

Sunday afternoon I will attended a reception for NC Senator and former Cary Mayor Pro-Tem Gale Adcock. She has served Cary citizens as a council member, NC representative, and a NC Senator for decades. I am honored to call her a friend and feel blessed that she represents Cary.

Town Manager’s Report

Sean’s Message

I’ve heard from several of you about how well last night’s dinner with Apex’s council went; I agree. The setting along with the informal agenda and set-up combined to create a positive and relaxed event good for fellowship and relationship building and nurturing. I’m told that Assistant Town Clerk Sarah Schubert handled the logistics, including with The Mayton, and she certainly did a great job – thanks, Sarah!
Finally – and most importantly – Happy Birthday, Mayor!
Sean

Memorial Day Remembrance 2023

Despite a misty rain, over 400 people gathered at Veterans Freedom Park for Cary’s Memorial Day Remembrance. Congresswoman Deborah Ross and Congressman Wiley Nickel spoke briefly followed by a powerful message from the new Vice Commander of the States VFW Helen Nelson. Mayor Harold Weinbrecht and Mayor Pro-Tem Don Frantz provided remarks on behalf of Cary and read the proclamation. The Cary Garden Club also dedicated the new Blue Star Memorial out at Veterans Freedom Park with the unveiling of the marker and laying of a wreath. It was a wonderful way to honor those that have fallen fighting for our country.

Bike Plan Focus Group

Cary’s Bike Plan Focus Group, with Councilmember Lori Bush in attendance, held its second meeting on Tuesday. The citizen-based group discussed an overview of our plan engagement efforts during April and Bike Month in May, the analysis underway of the existing plans and policies, what Level of Traffic Stress for bicyclists means within Cary, the varying widths of bike facilities and how they impact comfort, safety and use, and bike facility selection process and design guidance.

As we move into June, we invite the public to provide input on the bike plan through our online survey and mapping tool, open until the end of the month. The community’s input is valuable, so please take a few minutes to share your thoughts and ideas.

Cary Academy Students Work Experience Program

Two Cary Academy students, Mason Herr and Roderick McKenzie, chose Cary for their two-week Work Experience Program. While with the staff the rising seniors spent time with a variety of departments learning the ins and outs of local government management. During their time with Cary, they visited the Traffic Center, attended lots of meetings, experienced a walking tour of development in Downtown, and played the BudgetCary Game.

Celebrate Diversity Day

In recognition of Celebrate Diversity Month, Cary’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) hosted a program on Tuesday that created opportunities for staff to explore and celebrate our diversity as an organization through creating deeper understandings of others. Dozens of participants enjoyed sampling foods from various cultures and/or ethnicities, playing diversity bingo and winning prizes, exploring a wealth information and resources from the DEI staff, and sharing poetry readings penned by staff. The two-hour drop-in gathering allowed colleagues to engage and learn by flexing Cary’s collective DEI muscle in fun ways while exploring commonalities, interests, and lived experiences. 

NCAA Division I Women’s Lacrosse National Championship

This past weekend, Cary hosted the NCAA Division I Women’s Lacrosse National Championship at WakeMed Soccer Park. Teams traveled from Northwestern University, University of Denver, Syracuse University, and Boston College to participate in the tournament. The teams, their fans, and a local crowd packed the stadium to 7,709 for Friday night semifinals and 6,705 on Sunday for the finals.  Northwestern raised the trophy for the 8th time as champions (but the 1st time in Cary).

Upcoming Meetings

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

Information Services Advisory Board
Monday
June 5
6:00 p.m.

Zoning Board of Adjustment
Monday
June 5
6:30 p.m.

Human Relations, Inclusion, & Diversity Task Force
Tuesday
June 6
6:00 p.m.

Senior Advisory Board
Wednesday
June 7
2:00 p.m.

Economic Development Committee
Wednesday
June 7
5:15 p.m.

Council Meeting (Work Session)
Thursday
June 8
5:00 p.m.

Council Meeting
Thursday
June 8
6:30 p.m.

Mayor’s Mailbox

• A concern that recent dog park renovations prevent use by handicapped individuals.
• A safety concern about runners on Green Hope Road.
• A thank you for what the town is doing for the LGBTQ+ community.
• A complaint about people parking in the parking garage next to the library that were not going to the library.
• A list of ideas about homelessness.
• A thank you to the town’s 311 staff.
• A proclamation request for National Gun Awareness.
• A complaint about lack of public transit to the TST.
• A complaint about a physical barrier on Petty Farm Road.
  
  

Next Week

Next week’s activities include staff meetings, an affordable housing potential partnership meeting, a Human Relations Inclusion and Diversity Task Force meeting, an Economic Development meeting, a council work session, the first regularly scheduled meeting of June, a Cary Council candidate event, a special award presentation, and Green Hope High School’s Graduation.

Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, June 11^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- Cary Central Rotary

Monday morning I presented an abbreviated version of the State of Cary address to the Cary Central Rotary. I didn’t have enough time for questions from the entire group but based on feedback afterwards it was well received.

Candidate Meeting

After giving my address I met with a candidate for office. My practice continues to be that I endorse incumbents and help all candidates.

Council Meeting Prep

Monday during the day I attempted to contact council members to hear of any concerns or questions about the upcoming agenda. There were questions about the Duke Health proposal from one council member. Other than that, there were no questions.

Later in the day I met with staff to go over the agenda items. The meeting was brief.

Town Manager One-On-One

Monday I briefly met with the town manager for our weekly one-on-one. Some of the topics of discussion included the town’s RFQ for the town hall campus, advisory boards, proclamations, and Cary Council candidates.

Wake Mayors Association Meeting

Monday night I traveled to Knightdale for the Wake County Mayors Association meeting. Mayors in attendance were from the towns of Cary, Fuquay Varina, Garner, Holly Springs, Knightdale, Morrisville, Rolesville, Wake Forest, and Zebulon. Our topics of discussion included the Centennial Authority and budgets. Our meeting lasted about two and a half hours.

Year of the Trail Ride

Tuesday afternoon I joined council member Bush and about a dozen citizens in a bike ride from Bond Park to the Davis Drive Park as part of the “Year of the Trail” celebration. It was great to participate in the ride and see all the people on the greenway. Cary has about 85 miles of greenways. And if you include trails, we have over 100 miles.

CAMPO

Wednesday afternoon I participated in a meeting of the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Executive Board. There were four consent items and six discussion items. We heard reports on the Triangle Regional Model, Triangle Transportation Choices/Transportation Demand Management (TDM), FY2024 Community Funding Area Program Update, 2023 (Section 5310) Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Program Project Selection, Wake Transit FY24 Recommended Work Plan, and Amendment #12 to FY2020-2029 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). You can review the entire agenda and staff reports here.

Meeting with Bel Canto Representative

Thursday before the council meeting, I met with a representative from the Bel Canto Asset Growth Fund. I usually don’t meet with developers or their represeentatives, but I thought it was important for me to hear her out and for me to express what the council expects in projects. In my conversation I emphasized the importance of affordable housing, green infrastructure, and mobility. Our meeting lasted about half an hour.

Council Meeting

Thursday night the council held their last regularly scheduled meeting of the month. The agenda had four consent items, two public hearings, and three discussion items.

The first public hearing was for the FY 2024 budget and had no speakers. There will be an additional public hearing on June 8^th before the vote on June 22^nd.

The second public hearing on the Duke Health rezoning proposal which had a lot of discussion between council, staff, and the applicant about interior roads, stormwater mitigation, kiosk usage, affordable housing, and more.

Under discussion the council unanimously approved all items including the FY 2023 – 2024 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Annual Action Plan and funding recommendation. Council also approved Walnut Street and Davis Drive changes. Walnut Street will have a slower speed limit at 35 mph instead of 45 mph and Davis Drive will have a large school speed zone. And the Cary Water Treatment Plant will get upgrades which is part of the infrastructure lifecycle management.

State of Cary Searstone

Friday morning, I presented an updated version of the State of Cary address to about 50 residents and future residents of Searstone. My presentation took about 45 minutes and there were about 10 minutes of questions. I enjoyed my visit and hope I am invited back in the future.

North Carolina Metro Mayors

Friday the North Carolina Metro Mayors held their weekly meeting to hear a summary of legislative actions. Here are the week’s activities summarized by KTS strategies:

Senate Passes Budget

This week, the Senate released their budget proposal. The proposal received approval from the Senate Appropriations/Base Budget, Finance and Pensions Committees before heading to the full Senate. After consideration of 30 amendments, it passed 36-13. Seven Democrats voted in favor. Some highlights of the $29.8 billion spending plan include the following:

1. Cuts taxes by $1.2 billion for all North Carolina families and businesses over the next two years; 
2. Spends over $17.2 billion on education in fiscal year 2023–24 and over $17.6 billion in fiscal year 2024–25; 
3. Boosts funding for the General Maintenance Reserve, used to help with upkeep of roads, by over $311 million; 
4. Raises pay for State employees by 5% over the biennium;
5. Raises pay for teachers by 4.5% over the biennium;
6. Enacts Medicaid expansion.

The House and Senate will now meet in a Conference Committee in the upcoming weeks to negotiate the final budget. Their goal is to have a budget in place before the end of the fiscal year on June 30.

Veto Override Vote on Abortion Bill

Last Saturday, Governor Roy Cooper vetoed S20, Care for Women, Children and Families Act. This bill prohibits elective abortions after 12 weeks in North Carolina. Exceptions apply for rape, incest, fetal life-limiting anomalies, and risk of life to the mother. It also includes $160 million for maternal health services, adoption care, contraceptive services, and paid leave for teachers and state employees after the birth of a child.

On Tuesday, the General Assembly held votes to override Governor Cooper’s veto. A three-fifths majority vote of all members present is necessary for a successful override. Both chambers successfully voted to override the veto along party lines. The final vote was 30-20 in the Senate and 72-48 in the House. This marks the second time this session that the General Assembly has overridden a veto from the governor.

School Choice Bill 

After a long floor debate and several failed amendment attempts, the House passed H823, Choose Your School, Choose Your Future Act on Wednesday. This legislation expands access to the Opportunity Scholarship Program to all North Carolina families and grant amounts would be based on household income. This bill is co-sponsored by all House Republicans. The bill passed with a final vote of 65-45, with only one Democrat voting in favor.  

TST (The Soccer Tournament) Taping

Friday afternoon I did a welcome taping for TST (The Soccer Tournament) which will have 32 teams from all over the world playing for a grand prize of $1 million. Matches start on Thursday, June 1^st and the Championship match is on Sunday, June 4^th. See you on the pitch!

Town Manager’s Report

Sean’s Message

This was a very busy week for our dedicated planning staff. Following the Duke Health rezoning case last night, staff are now focused on the upcoming South Hills Development rezoning case. Letters for the neighborhood meeting, scheduled for June 7, will go out to inform property owners on Wednesday. For the latest information on the case visit the rezoning webpage, here. 
Have a good weekend.
Sean

Celebrating Bike Month and Volunteer Appreciation

On Tuesday members of the Transportation Working Group, Greenways Committee, and Bike Plan Focus Group came together at the Bond Park Boathouse to celebrate Bike Month, the Year of the Trail, and our volunteers. After a proclamation delivered by At-Large Councilmember Lori Bush, the group, which included Mayor Harold Weinbrecht, enjoyed a bike ride along the scenic Black Creek and White Oak Greenways, heading to Davis Drive Park and back.

WWTA Senior Appreciation Day

On Wednesday Western Wake Tennis Association (WWTA) held their spring Senior Appreciation Day at the Cary Tennis Park. This event is held twice a year to celebrate the senior citizens who support the game of tennis in Cary. The event, which had 56 participants, featured a morning of organized round robin tennis as well as lunch and tennis clinics led by Cary Tennis Park pros. The highlight of the event was the exhibition match in which Mayor Harold Weinbrecht played against Tennis Services Coordinator Sean Ferreira during which they were partnered up with two senior volunteers to play in a doubles match. Mayor Weinbrecht also read a proclamation recognizing May as National Tennis Month. 

White Oak Conservation Management Plan Public Meeting

Last week Councilmembers Ryan Eades and Lori Bush and residents from Cary and Apex enjoyed an evening of engagement at the White Oak Creek Conservation Management Plan Public Meeting. The management plan is a grant-funded collaborative project including Cary, Apex, the Triangle Land Conservancy, and industry experts. Participants learned about the ecology and hydrology of the conservation area, why Cary is protecting it with a conservation management plan and gave feedback on possible future public uses/considerations of the space. 

Early Voting Site in Chatham County

At their meeting on May 16, the Chatham County Board of Elections voted to approve an early voting site for Cary’s 2023 municipal election. This will be the first time Cary has had a designated early voting site in Chatham County. We thank the Chatham County Board of Elections for approving this as Cary’s Chatham County population continues to grow. For more information, visit carync.gov/elections.

Cary Senior Housing Symposium

Last week Cary held its first Senior Housing Symposium at the Herb Young Community Center. A partnership between the Senior Advisory Board and the Cary housing staff, this convening brought together regional experts on senior housing affordability to explore current needs, opportunities, and resources to support diverse senior housing options. The agenda included senior demographic data, best practices for constructing and operating affordable senior housing, and models to support aging in place in Cary. Mayor Harold Weinbrecht, Councilmembers Lori Bush and Carissa Kohn-Johnson, and Assistant Town Manager Danna Widmar joined the discussion along with presentations from regional leaders on this topic which includes AARP, Wake County’s Housing Division, Wake County Dept. of Human Services, DHIC, Brick Capital, Rebuilding Together of the Triangle, and Dorcas Ministries.

Councilmember Carissa Kohn-Johnson Presents Creative Placemaking Award

On Tuesday the Cary Chamber of Commerce held the Small Business Excellence Awards Luncheon. Councilmembers Jack Smith and Carissa Kohn-Johnson shared remarks. Councilmember Kohn-Johnson presented the Creative Placemaking Award to Singh Development for commissioning artist Thomas Sayre to create a unique “earth casting” sculpture for their project at Griffin Weston. The Creative Placemaking Award was created to increase public awareness of outstanding public art and to recognize and encourage design excellence in the private development sector.

Upcoming Closure of South Harrison Avenue

Beginning on Monday, the Annual Water Main Replacement project contractor, Carolina Civilworks, will place barricades on S. Harrison Ave between Chatham St. and Dry Ave. to begin construction of a new water main. This project invests in the future of downtown infrastructure by providing additional water supply capacity for our existing community, supporting the development of new projects, and enhancing existing infrastructure within the project area. A larger water main proposed for South Harrison will enhance fire flow protection within the downtown area. Detour routes will be available while S. Harrison Ave is closed to through traffic. During construction, on-street parking will not be available in the work zone. 

Transportation Working Group Visits CASSI

The Transportation Working Group utilized its May meeting to learn more about Cary’s experiences with the CASSI autonomous shuttle at Bond Park. Topics of discussion ranged from battery life and laser detection equipment to the vehicle’s video game-like operational system. The meeting concluded with a round trip ride from the Boathouse to the Cary Senior Center.

Dillard Drive Magnet Middle School Career Fair

Coray Davis, Chris Little, and Ernest Ray from the Transportation Department shared insight into their career paths and use of technology and teamwork to design, manage, and provide practical solutions to challenging engineering projects within Cary at the Dillard Drive Middle School Career Day. More than 1,000 students participated in the event, with a select group of eighth graders provided on-site mock interviews.

BRT Western Corridor Station Area Planning Scoping

Cary and Raleigh are actively preparing for a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor connecting the two downtown areas. The Federal Transit Administration awarded a grant to support Transit Oriented Development planning work in the station areas along this corridor. Project scoping is currently underway. This week Cary staff hosted Skidmore Owings and Merrill, the consultant selected for this work, on a site drive of the future BRT route. If you have any questions, direct them to Transit Director Kelly Blazey. 

Cary Orientation

On Tuesday, 18 new Cary firefighters who were hired May 7 as part of Cary’s 27^th fire academy joined 20 of their colleagues from many other departments at orientation, a special day structured by Human Resources to welcome Cary’s newest staff members. This week’s roster was one of the biggest ever, and together participants gained insights into Cary’s story, culture, and current events in sessions presented by our organization’s leaders. This unique day-long experience distinguishes Cary’s commitment to People First by dedicating a welcoming day.

Meet-the-Fleet

Last week Public Works and Fire hosted a homeschool group for a Meet-the-Fleet field trip. There was plenty of sunshine and lots of smiles from the 40 children and 30 adults that attended while they learned about the different equipment, we use to serve the community.

Special Events Around Cary

Cary took the main stage last weekend as we hosted the 19th annual Ritmo Latino Festival and two sold out nights with Grammy Award-winning musician Pitbull. Cary partnered with Diamante Arts and Cultural Center to present the 19th annual Ritmo Latino Festival to celebrate Latino/Hispanic culture through music, dancing, and food.  Across town Pitbull had the audience on their feet dancing for the entire show. 

Fest in the West

Fest in the West was held on May 6, and the event drew approximately 3,000 people. There was a main stage that showcased a variety of musical acts, pie eating contest, petting zoo, and aerialist. There were local artisans selling their wares to the attendees who enjoyed the good weather and a fun community festival.

Solarize the Triangle a Local Success

Solarize the Triangle 2022 set a national record as the largest Solarize program in the country to date with 1,500 people signing up for free evaluations in a single campaign. As a result, 173 Triangle homeowners executed contracts to purchase new solar energy systems. Of these, Cary had 109 free evaluation sign ups and 12 completed contracts. Based upon 2022 success, a second Solarize the Triangle program kicked off on May 15. Enrollment for a free evaluation of homes, nonprofits, and small businesses ends September 30, and enrollees have until December 31, to decide whether to sign a contract. 

Spring Garden Season in Full Bloom

Garden season is in full bloom! Cary continues to grow its pollinator, edible, and native habitats. Recently, staff and seniors renovated two communal garden areas at the Senior Center Community Garden by removing non-native and invasive plants and installing over 32 species of native grasses, shrubs, and flowers. Garden guests of all ages enjoyed the first open house event of the season at the newly renovated Carpenter Park Community Garden. In addition, through our annual sale at Good Hope Farm 385 people purchased a compost bin or rain barrel. 

White Oak Church Road Water Main Construction Begins

Part of providing exceptional utility service includes constructing new water mains to support our community’s growing needs. The White Oak Church Rd Water Main Project closes a gap in the water system which will improve operations, water quality, and fire protection for the surrounding area. Cary has contracted with Sanford Contractor Inc. to install about 3200-feet of 16-inch water main along White Oak Church Road, from the White Oak Elementary to Vandiver Way. Construction work started on Monday with mobilization and tree clearing. 

2024 Council-Staff Retreat Dates

The annual Council-Staff Retreat weekend is the perfect time to be on the balcony for strategic planning and blue-sky thinking, and on the dance floor team building. Town Clerk Virginia Johnson added a block to your calendars for March 1-2, in Wilmington. We look forward to spending time with each of you there for a second year.

Virtual Neighborhood Rezoning Meeting on June 7^th

The Neighborhood Meeting will be held virtually on WebEx from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The following cases will be discussed on June 7:

• 23-REZ-05 South Hills PDP
• 23-REZ-03 The Courtyards at White Oak

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

Upcoming Meetings

Planning and Zoning Board
Monday, May 22
6:30 p.m.

Cultural Arts Committee
Wednesday, May 24
6:00 p.m.

Mayor’s Mailbox

• Complaints to CAMPO about the future path to US 401 Bypass in Fuquay Varina (scheduled for 2050).
• A complaint about the Kanoy rezoning proposal 22-REZ-13.
• Complaints about the redevelopment of town hall campus.
• A request to approve the budget as proposed.
  
  

Next Week

Next I will be on a family vacation.  

Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, June 4^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 I met with the town manager for our weekly one-on-one. Topics included the upcoming quarter meeting, the budget, sports venues, and the DEI task force.

Atlantic Tire Tennis Championships Board Meeting

Monday night I met with the board for the Atlantic Tire Tennis Championships. We mostly talked about this year’s tournament and sponsors. We also found out that we will be holding an additional ATP 75 tournament this year starting the week of August 7^th. As Cary continues to improve the Cary Tennis Park, we will get more and more opportunities to hold events. Even if you don’t like tennis, the economic benefits help all of us.

Cary Senior Housing Symposium

Tuesday I gave welcoming remarks at the Cary Senior Housing Symposium. Here is an excerpt from remarks that I spoke from:

“…I am honored to be here with all of you today as we discuss such an important topic – providing affordable and accessible housing for our seniors. Also joining us from the Cary Council is Lori Bush.

Our latest census data shows that Cary’s senior population is growing. In fact, out of the top 14 municipalities we are the oldest. It is essential that we find and provide the support that our seniors need, including a diverse range of housing options, to ensure those who love Cary can stay in Cary, in a safe and comfortable place.

I’m glad that this is the topic for today’s event and that you all are here to listen, give input, and share what you learn with others while we tackle this issue as partners. …

Events like today would not be possible without our community partners. Ensuring the aging population is cared for and can thrive in Cary cannot be achieved by only one organization. I encourage you to meet others today, learn about their expertise areas, and look for ways to collaborate on strategies. …”

It will take all of us working together to make a difference in the affordable housing crisis.

Candidate Meeting

Tuesday afternoon I met with a potential candidate for Cary Town Council. My practice is that I endorse incumbents but will talk with and help everyone that is interested.

Honor a Teacher

Tuesday night I joined Mayor Pro-Tem Frantz and council member Eades at Prestonwood for the Cary Chamber Honor a Teacher Program. This program originated in 1991 with the Discovery Award by the Ashworth Family and shortly followed with the Clara Knoll Excellence in Teaching Award by Barry & DJ Mitsch. This program has since grown to awarding over 30 teachers representing Cary Area Schools. The teachers are nominated by parents, colleagues, administration, and the business community leading to five final nominees per school. After the nominations are complete, the representing sponsor has the option to participate in the selection process and/or present the award directly to the teacher at the ceremony on May 9th. I, along with my colleagues from council, awarded a Civic Education Award to a Green Hope Elementary teacher and an Excellence in Teaching Award to a Wake STEM Early College High School teacher. Congratulations to our winners and all the teachers for their dedication and commitment to changing lives and building the future generation.

Senior Appreciation Day at Cary Tennis Park

Wednesday I participated in a Senior Appreciation Day event at Cary Tennis Park. I provided remarks, read a proclamation, and played an exhibition with Sean Ferreira (the Director of Tennis) along with two players chosen from the attendees. It is important to know that the latest research by the Physical Activity Council shows that more than 23.6 million Americans played tennis in 2022. This is a 33% increase in participation from 2019 and is the highest number of players since the study began. I have played tennis for almost 50 years and credit it for my physical and mental health. I would encourage all citizens to take up this lifetime sport.

MPO Executive Board Commuter Rail Subcommittee Meeting

Thursday morning I attended a meeting of combined MPOs (Metropolitan Planning Organizations) from Durham, Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and the Capital Area as part of a subcommittee on Commuter Rail. A loan consultant presented funding options to do phase 1 of commuter rail without federal funding since no federal funding was available. According to research, it would cost $1.6 billion to go from Garner to a little past RTP. The consultants recommended RRIF (Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing). The group instead decided to focus on BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) since federal funding was available for that option. In addition, while BRT is being established, infrastructure on rail lines, such as grade separated crossings, could occur. These infrastructure projects could also receive federal funding. This was a big pivot from what the committee was established for but is probably the best use of resources and funding and will accomplish a goal of providing transit options.

Council Quarterly Meeting

Thursday the council met half a day for its first quarterly meeting of 2023. Topics included Capital and Community Projects, a Development Update, an Environmental Update, a Financial Update with the Proposed FY24 Budget, and Potential Ordinances for Public Safety and Quality of Life. The following are some of my notes.

Capital and Community Projects

Higgins Greenway

Meridian

Multi-Generational Community Centers

Cary Tennis Park Clubhouse Expansion

USA Baseball Indoor Training

• Higgins Greenway Phase 3 is close to bid. Construction will begin in the fall and will take approximately 12 months.
• Higgins Greenway Phase 4 will pick up where phase 3 ends and take it to the downtown park. This will be a 12-foot path that includes a bike path that is separated from the road and pedestrians.
• There will be a new crossing at Kay Struffolino Park.
• Several downtown roads will have a significant water main, sewer, sidewalk, pavement replacement over the next few years to prevent potential breaks. Projects include Harrison from Chatham to Heater, Byrum, Park, Page, and S. West.
• Meridian on Chatham will have road extended to Cedar and major sewer line replacement. The project includes retail, parking, and residential.
• PRCR master plan is being updated and will include a public survey, existing system analysis, needs assessment, and community workshops.
• The town is planning two multi-generational community centers at Mills Park and South Hills. Next steps include completing base programs for the centers, floor plans, and finalizing budget costs.
• Walnut Creek Greenway will be from the downtown park to Fenton and then to South Hills which is about 3 miles. Cary already owns 2 of those 3 miles.
• Cary Tennis Park will see expansion of clubhouse and courts to meet community need and to position for higher ranked professional tournaments. Pickleball will be part of the expansion to include 20 to 32 courts. There is also a parking deck proposed.
• Connectivity Improvements are being made with the Crabtree Creek Greenway, Black Creek Greenway, and the Pedestrian Bridge for Black Creek Greenway.
• USA Baseball expansion will have a 22,000 square foot indoor facility. It is about 75% done and will be completed this year.

Development Update

• Only 1 out of 29 rezoning proposals were approved last quarter.
• 39 site plans were approved.
• There are 56 permits for active development this quarter.
• Future projects include Duke Health hospital with 500 beds, office, and multi-family.
• A GoCary Bus Maintenance facility will be built for $37.7 million funded by Wake grants.
• South Hills will have plans submitted soon.
• The Crossroads Area is showing interest in redevelopment.
• Weston Parkway owners are interested in redevelopment.
• Town Hall campus will likely have redevelopment. The process will include developer interviews, select a developer, negotiate a development agreement, and begin the rezoning process. RFQ is to get information from developers. It is not a plan.

Environmental Update

• 51% of Cary is covered by tree canopy and the canopy is growing. We are focusing on quality as well as quantity.
• Downtown Park will have over 600 new trees.
• 80% of Cary’s tree canopy is on private property and will require help from citizens.
• Staff is currently working on an Urban Forestry Master Plan.
• We are planting more trees on town owned property.
• The Count Me In Cary initiative is underway. It is about stewardship strategies for a sustainable future. Areas include energy, transportation & mobility, natural resources, solid waste, water infrastructure, and community.

FY23 Update

• Property Tax Collections are up 3%.
• Sales Tax Collections are strong.
• Expenditures are up 26% due to inflation, personnel, and new employees.

Proposed FY24 Budget

• If a recession were to occur, Cary would likely be insulated from the impacts.
• A Smart Asset report that found Cary to be the #1 most resilient economy in the nation.
• Cary’s median household income (stated in 2021 dollars) of $113,782 reflects its highly educated citizenry of which 69.5% have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
• As of February 2023, projections place Cary’s unemployment rate at 2.7%.
• Cary is transitioning from a growing community to a maturing community.
• The FY 2024 Town of Cary budget totals $523.8 million supporting both operating and capital spending. Operating expenditures of $354.0 million increased 8.1% when compared to the prior year, while capital expenditures of $169.7 million are up 41.9%. It is not uncommon to see significant shifts in capital funding need as different projects are at different stages of progress from year to year.
• Property tax collections remained high at 99.8% last year, sales tax collections continued to experience record growth averaging 14.5 percent.
• The FY 2024 budget assumes that Cary’s property tax rate remains unchanged at $0.345 per $100 of assessed valuation and that 99.8% of that revenue will be collected.
• Each penny of Cary’s property tax rate generates approximately $3.4 million.
• The General Fund is at $239.9 million which is a 3.7% increase.
• Debt Service is at 9.8% of the operating budget, which is well below maximum goals.
• The solid waste fee will remain at $22.00 per month and will allow Cary to recover approximately 96% of operating costs.
• The FY 2024 budget recommends a 3% rate increase in Water, sewer, and irrigation ratesto support operational costs, capital infrastructure and debt repayment. The average family of four would experience an estimated $2.57 per month increase in their total monthly utility bill.

Potential Ordinances and Changes

• There are five changes that are no brainers. Add ordinances to prevent interference with property, public urination, public lewdness, and vehicle trespassing. There will be ordinance recommendations for parking decks as well as unattended property.
• There will be ordinances that will be difficult decisions that include charitable solicitation, commercial sales, sidewalk sales, and street performers.

Legislative Summary

The following is a summary of legislative actions for the week by KTS Strategies:

Legislative Activity

It was a very quiet week at the NC General Assembly. Most House members worked in District as there were no committee meetings or floor votes scheduled. The Senate conducted only one committee meeting to handle some local elections bills. No Senate floor votes were held. Senate leadership continued to finalize their budget details behind closed doors which could be released soon. We anticipate legislative activity to pick back up again next week.

Abortion Bill

Last week, the legislature passed S20, Care for Women, Children and Families Act. The bill would prohibit elective abortions after 12 weeks. Certain exceptions apply for rape, incest, fetal life-limiting anomalies, and risk of life to the mother. It also includes $160 million for maternal health services, adoption care, contraceptive services and paid leave for teachers and state employees after the birth of a child. Governor Cooper has announced he will veto the legislation on Saturday. The Senate could consider an override vote as early as next Tuesday.

2024 Elections

This week, Representative Jeffrey Elmore (R-Wilkes) announced his run for Lieutenant Governor in the 2024 election. Elmore adds his name to a growing list of candidates for the position since current Lt. Governor Mark Robinson announced his run for Governor last month. Other Republican candidates include Hal Weatherman and Peter Boykin.  Democratic candidates include State Senator Rachel Hunt of Charlotte and former Spring Lake Mayor Chris Rey. There are several others that have announced their run for statewide offices in 2024.

For the Governor’s race, current State Treasurer Dale Folwell will challenge Mark Robinson in the Republican primary. Former North Carolina Congressman Mark Walker is also expected to announce his run in the coming weeks. On the Democratic ticket is current Attorney General Josh Stein. Announced candidates for the North Carolina Labor Commissioner race are Republican State Representatives Jon Hardister, Ben Moss, and Democratic Charlotte Mayor Pro Tem Braxton Winston. For the State Treasurer race, State Representative Wesley Harris (D-Mecklenburg) announced his run in March. Another Mecklenburg County Representative, Republican Rep. John Bradford, has mentioned he is considering a run for Treasurer, but has yet to officially enter the race. The candidate filing period for the statewide 2024 elections begins at noon on Monday, December 4 and ends at noon on Friday, December 15, 2023. Primaries will be held on March 5, 2024.

Mayor’s Mailbox

• A request to pass an Inclusion and Equality ordinance (Cary did this last summer)
• A complaint about the Kanoy Property 22-REZ-13 proposal
• A thanks to an officer who helped a lost traveler
• Two complaints about town growth (Cary has grown at 2 to 2 1/2 % for the last 15 years)
• A complaint about a senior housing development on Lilly Atkins
  
  

Next Week

Next week’s activities include staff meetings, two State of Cary addresses, a Wake County Mayors Association meeting, a Transportation Working Group Bike Ride, a Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Executive Board meeting, a regularly scheduled council meeting, and a meeting of the North Carolina Metro Mayors.

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