Harold's Blog

Cary Bonds

[DISCLAIMER – the following are my thoughts and opinions on the bond and do not represent the council or the town. The town, by law, cannot advocate or use its resources for or against any bond.]

Cary has been viewed as one of the best communities in the nation for many years. Past decisions were made with a goal to be the best of the best which was a values choice and the choice to continue to be the best of the best (what we call “top of the arc”) is a Cary citizen values choice that will be decided by the bond vote in November.

The November bond is a $590 million bond with most of the cost attributed to new community/senior center projects. Using bond money for these centers makes financial sense, as large capital projects like these are best financed through bonds. That way future residents will also pay their fair share of the cost. Currently Cary has three community centers and one senior center. These centers are decades old, require a LOT of maintenance, and don’t come close to meeting citizens’ demands. And that demand is increasing with Cary being the oldest populated municipality out of the top fourteen populated municipalities in North Carolina.

What is a bond?

The bond on the November ballot is a General Obligation (GO) bond. Citizens vote on these types of bonds and if approved have the lowest interest rate. Because Cary has the highest rating from all major bond rating agencies, we will get the lowest interest rate on all bonds that will be used to fund these projects. GO bonds are a reliable, cost-effective, and fair way to finance important public projects, while ensuring that the costs are spread out, like a mortgage, and that citizens have a voice in the process.

Are bond votes a vote on projects?

Technically no. Bond votes are votes on project funding. However, if this bond fails then it is highly unlikely that many of these projects will be considered again for several years, and some may be scrapped forever.

What projects are in the bond and what are their costs?

• Sports and Recreation Community Center: $300 million
• Mills Park Community Center: $150 million
• Cary Tennis Park and Pickleball Expansion: $60 million
• Walnut Creek Greenway: $30 million
• Asia Garden Master Plan: $10 million
• Nature Park Master Plan: $10 million
• New Housing Projects and Programs: $30 million

The state requires us to use highly conservative estimates in my opinion. They make us post 5.34% interest for the park’s bonds and 5.59% interest for the affordable housing bond. I believe Cary will do much better than those interest rates given that our history has been that we have beaten those rates each time. If not, we can wait until the interest rates go down.

The timing of the proposed tax rate change is also pessimistic: 2026, 2028, and 2030. The timeline used in our bond materials is the earliest date that these bonds will be sold and would then, impact the tax rate. Keep in mind that Cary doesn’t have the manpower and resources to take on all these projects at one time. Delays are common when planning large projects, and I believe that accomplishing all these projects in the timeframe listed is a stretch.

Sports and Recreation Community Center ($300 million)

The Sports and Recreation Community Center will have three components: Community Center, Senior Center, and Competitive Space. The competitive portion of this project is estimated to generate an annual economic impact to our area of $37 million which will more than double the annual economic impact of all current Cary sports venues (WakeMed Soccer, USA Baseball, and the Cary Tennis Park). In addition, the county has committed $75 million to the cost of this project. If the competitive space were in existence today it is estimated that it would be booked out most of the year with other times used for transitioning between sports.

The community center and senior center will be large enough to accommodate people that live nearby as well as all Cary residents. The senior component will have areas dedicated for senior activities. This is desperately needed especially in this part of Cary.

The area outside the Community Center will be a park-like setting. People will be able to enjoy and experience the entire grounds without ever going inside the center. In addition, the proposed Walnut Creek greenway will connect from it to Fenton and Downtown, providing a way to get to this space without driving. In the future, the developers of South Hills vision is to connect to a redeveloped Crossroads via a pedestrian bridge.

Mills Park Community Center ($150 million)

The Mills Park Community Center will include community center and a senior center. Many of our Cary residents live in western Cary and are currently underserved by public spaces. This will allow programming to help meet the needs of an aging population and the rest of the citizenry. Is this the crown jewels of community centers? No. As plans were originally developed with citizen input, I saw a LOT of features that I would love to see in the center but are just cost prohibitive. Nevertheless, this will be one of the nicest in the region if not the state.

Cary Tennis Park and Pickleball Expansion ($60 million)

The Cary Tennis Park benefits our citizens by providing recreational opportunities, but it’s also a venue for top college and professional tournaments. As I write this there is a national tennis tournament with colleges from all over the country in our town. These tennis tournaments generate millions of dollars of economic impact each year. Expanding our facilities will meet requirements that will allow us to draw bigger tennis tournaments and have an even bigger economic impact.

In addition, the expansion will create 30 pickleball courts on land that Cary owns as part of the Tennis facility. This will not only allow for recreational play in a rapidly growing sport but also allow us to hold future pickleball tournaments.

The expansion will also allow Cary to be home to the North Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame.

Whether or not you play tennis or pickleball it makes good sense to support this expansion just for the economic benefits, which will help keep our taxes low.

Walnut Creek Greenway ($30 million)

The Walnut Creek Greenway project will allow citizens to go from downtown to Fenton, WakeMed Soccer Park (via Fenton) and eventually to the redeveloped South Hills on a greenway. Connecting destination centers makes sense especially given our citizens’ interest in our downtown area. Cary is known for having an excellent and well used greenway system of over 90 miles, and this investment will continue the connectivity and IMHO be our crown jewel.

Asia Garden Master Plan ($10 million)

The Asian Garden master plan is about adding a botanical garden and beautiful quiet space in Cary on land owned and shared with Wake County.   This project brings several valuable benefits of green space and beauty, where people can relax, walk and enjoy a calming environment while also celebrating our rich cultural diversity. The idea is to master plan the area and provide a space for a 1 to 2 acre set of gardens. There are few, if any, gardens like this in the Triangle area, and over time, it will provide educational opportunities and space for events to create a sense of community and likely become a destination that creates an economic impact.

Nature Park Master Plan ($10 million)

Cary purchased 200 acres to preserve its natural beauty for future generations. The current plan is to save historic structures on the site, create parking and restrooms, and create a path around the entire property. I think this nature preserve will be a fantastic amenity that keeps us the best of the best and a huge benefit to our community, families, grandkids and future generations.

New Housing Projects and Programs – Affordable Housing Bond ($30 million)

By law, Housing Bonds are separate questions on the ballot.  The Affordable Housing bond is a way to work to implement our already approved Cary Housing Plan. (https://housing.carync.gov/cary-housing-plan/)   If approved, the Housing bond will support housing initiatives in ALL four primary strategic areas contained in our plan, such as building housing and supporting residents with low and moderate incomes across Cary. Affordable Housing is a nationwide challenge, and Cary is not immune to this trend.  Our staff is the best of the best, and although we have made investments, our community has asked us to do more.  Our recently launched Stable Homes Cary Program in partnership with Dorcas Ministries- is working to support people staying in their homes and helping with relocation support when moving may be necessary. The funds provided in this bond would provide funds to create or preserve more affordable housing options, including purchasing property, providing housing development gap financing, homeownership programing and working to preserve affordable housing and helping residents age in place.   Our goal is to ensure that people of all income levels can live in our community, and I believe that this bond referendum is a critical investment in Cary’s futureand a significant part of our community’s efforts to address affordability and the growing need for affordable housing. 

Umstead #12 in South

Monday I was notified that the Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary is again being called one of the South’s top hotels. It is ranked number 12 on Condé Nast’s Readers’ Choice Awards for the top 25 in the South. 

Cary Awarded 6 National Championships by NCAA

Wednesday I was notified that Cary, and its host partners have been awarded six National Championships across three sports for the 2026-2028 seasons by the NCAA. The following press release was issued:

The Town of Cary and its host partners have been awarded six National Championships across three sports for the 2026-2028 seasons by the NCAA. Specifically, Cary will play host to four NCAA College Cups and two Division II Baseball World Series in those years.
As one of the NCAA’s most trusted partners over the past 20 years, Cary was selected from a pool of over 1,200 bids due to its rich history of hosting premiere college sporting events and its world-class facilities that have hosted competition at every level of play. “We appreciate the strong partnership we’ve built with the NCAA over all these years,” said John Collins, Director of Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources. “A lot of work gets put into these bids, and it is exciting to celebrate these rewards and show the world what Cary has to offer.”
WakeMed Soccer Park will play host to the Women’s and Men’s Division I Soccer College Cups as the championships return in 2026 and 2027, bringing the total number of NCAA soccer champions crowned in Cary to 23. The facility is currently the home to professional teams including the NC Courage and North Carolina FC, and also has shown its versatility as the host of local events, festivals, and international tournaments, including the world’s highest-stakes professional women’s soccer tournament, The Soccer Tournament (TST).
The USA Baseball National Training Complex will once again host the Division II Baseball World Series, which marks the 15^th and 16^th times the event will be held in Cary since 2009. Following a recent renovation, the $11 million facility is now the official home of USA Baseball’s executive office in a new 40,000 square-foot building that also houses a 22,000 square-foot indoor training center. Last September, SportsTravel magazine recognized the complex as one of the top “Best New or Renovated Venues” in the country in their annual awards.
Cary’s contribution to collegiate athletics continues to cement the area and state as a hub of premiere and collegiate sporting events in the country. “We are thrilled that Cary remains the home for the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Soccer College Cups and Division II Baseball World Series,” said Mayor Harold Weinbrecht. “Our phenomenal staff works hard to provide championship experiences to players of all skill levels and audiences of all ages across our world-class venues.”
Across its sports venues, Cary has hosted 106 College Championships, including 41 NCAA and 65 ACC, as well as dozens of high school and recreation league events. Through 2023, Cary’s total economic impact of sports tourism is nearly $300 million, attracting 10.5 million visitors from all over the United States and the world.

Hurricane Helene

My heart hurts from the losses because of Hurricane Helene. People have lost their homes, their sense of security, and, in many cases, their loved ones. For those affected by the disaster, know that my thoughts and prayers are with you.

Cary staff has been volunteering their time, sending much-needed donations, providing safety and shelter to displaced residents, and lifting each other up others with their thoughts and prayers. We have sent support to western NC as part of the response efforts and delivering critical supplies and equipment. And our staff remains ready and waiting to do more. God bless them! I recorded a message that was sent out to all staff expressing these thoughts. I would encourage others to do the same as our staff continues to go beyond the call of duty to help.

The residents of Cary have also been sending help to affected areas. Almost everyone I talk to wants to help and get involved in the recovery process. The biggest caution I have heard from the affected areas is to be coordinated. If not, they must stop what they are doing to receive. One effort I was made aware of was the NC Potbelly Sandwich Shop that has locations in Cary, Morrisville, and Durham. They will be distributing 25% of sales to the following organizations:

• JAARS
• UNCA Fund
• Hearts with Hands
• Manna Foodbank
• BeLoved Asheville
• Foothills Food Hub
• American Red Cross

It will be a long recovery in Western North Carolina and other areas. We will need to sustain help for months if not years. Those areas will never be the same but hopefully we can help them rebuild into a better version of what they were. My recommendation is to put a reminder on your calendar to check every few months to see what else you and I can do. And if you are religious, pray.

NC Metro Mayors

Friday I was in a virtual meeting with over 40 metro mayors including Mayor Manheimer from Asheville. Here are some of the takeaways from that meeting:

• Mayor Manheimer thanked all the municipalities who have sent help.
• Most people don’t have power they don’t even know the extent of the devastation.
• Massive debris piles everywhere. Troops here helping. Many municipalities have sent police to help prevent looting.
• Some people are still completely landlocked.
• Despite the false narrative being broadcast by some media outlets like Fox news, Manheimer says the federal and state government has been amazing and working with the governor is fantastic.
• As of October 4^th, there were still 54 people in Asheville missing.
• There is level one emergency in Asheville which means the federal government is coordinating.
• FEMA drilled a well for the hospital to produce 40,000 gallons a day which pressurized their system.
• In 2004 Asheville lost water due to the remnants from a hurricane. To make sure that didn’t happen again they buried the water lines 30 feet down and created a redundant line. All of it was washed away. The main line is not repairable in the foreseeable future, but the redundant line is being repaired. They are looking at 3 weeks.
• There is a new river as the result of the hurricane.
• They need NC police officers to make arrests since they are the only ones that have authority (Virginia police officers and national guard soldiers do not have authority in NC).
• Biggest need now is water, food, hygiene supplies.
• People taking showers at friend’s homes who have water. Others line up at the YMCA for showers.
• Donations are collected in a distribution center. Trucks with supplies are going to smaller communities every day.
• Mayors agreed that we need to have a coordinated effort through emergency operations.
• Asheville and surrounding areas hold briefings at 10 and 4 every day which are streamed.
• NPR in downtown Asheville never lost power. Reporters stayed there in sleeping bags and reported non-stop all the things going on. People with land lines were calling in for others who didn’t have the ability.
• Many mayors offered their own shelters for residents.

The information I heard was heartbreaking. I am so proud to be in a group of mayors who care and want to help. We have a LONG way to go.

Oktoberfest

Friday I joined council member Jack Smith at the Triangle Oktoberfest which was sponsored by several area Rotary Clubs including Cary and Apex. Mayor Gilbert of Apex was also in attendance. The festival opened with remarks by the Oktoberfest Rotary Foundation, the Miracle League of the Triangle which was the main beneficiary of the event, the Rotary District Governor, and me. Afterwards I tapped the ceremonial keg which marked the official beginning of the two-day event.

Town Manager’s Report

Sean’s Message

There is a clearinghouse for the endless amounts of requests that are being funneled through the state Emergency Operations Center (EOC), and that is how Cary is notified of needed support. I encourage you to read this information shared by Chief Mike Cooper – who leads our emergency management efforts – detailing our efforts to support those impacted by Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina.
I am grateful to Chief Cooper and the entire team for shifting priorities this week to help others in North Carolina. 
Take care, 
Sean

Mayor Weinbrecht’s Message to Staff

This week, Mayor Weinbrecht shared a message with Cary staff expressing his deep gratitude for their work supporting response efforts in western North Carolina. On behalf of his fellow councilmembers, he thanked staff for “reminding all of us of what it means to be part of something bigger than ourselves” and living Cary’s people-first values. 

Asia Fest Recap

On September 28, Asian Focus NC produced its 9th annual Asia Fest at Koka Booth Amphitheatre. Welcoming thousands of visitors, the festival featured a variety of pan-Asian foods, cultural performances, and a health fair. The main events were the dragon boat races on Symphony Lake with more than 30 teams competing. Mayor Weinbrecht gave welcoming remarks at the event and was joined in attendance by councilmembers Smith, Craig, Kohn-Johnson, and Bansal as well as several dignitaries including State Attorney General Josh Stein, Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, state house members, state senate members, and county officials.

Public Safety Honored by Heart of Cary Association

To commemorate upcoming First Responders Day, on October 28, the Heart of Cary Association honored first responders on Thursday at The Matthews House with a breakfast and generously donated tokens of appreciation. Councilmember Kohn-Johnson attended and read a proclamation issued by Mayor Harold Weinbrecht. Fire Chief Mike Cooper and Police Chief Terry Sult both spoke, emphasizing, in the wake of Hurricane Helene’s devastation in western North Carolina, the importance of disaster preparedness, among other topics.

District D HOA Meeting

On Tuesday evening, Councilmember Bansal hosted an HOA meeting for representatives in District D. Roughly 30 attendees were provided with an overview of the district, ongoing and recently completed projects, followed by an opportunity for open discussion.

Advisory Board Orientation

On Monday, twenty-five new members of Council-appointed advisory boards gathered for new member orientation where they heard from Assistant Town Manager Danna Widmar, Assistant Town Attorney Matt Pentz, and Deputy Town Clerk Julie Clifton on a variety of topics including OneCary Culture, Leadership on the Line, the Imagine Cary Community Plan, policies relating to board member work, public records, meeting information, and much more. 

State of Wake County

Assistant Town Manager Shelley Curran and Fire Chief Mike Cooper attended the Wake County State of the County address this week. The theme for the 2024 event was “Growing Together”. They hosted a “Touch-a-Truck” event with ambulances, fire trucks, and other public safety vehicles. Chair of the Board of Commissioners, Shinica Thomas, gave an informative address which included interesting statistical information. She then moderated a conversation with local leaders (pictured).

Public Safety Day

The Police Department (PD) hosted Public Safety Day on September 21, which looked a little different this year. The event was held on Town Hall campus and with some exciting new partnerships. Radio crew 96.1 BBB FM was in attendance and provided live music. If you listened to 96.1 in the weeks leading up to Public Safety Day, you probably heard their commercials for the event. We were joined by over 30 different public safety entities this year to include NC State PD and their horses, Garner PD with their Nintendo Switch in the back of the patrol car, and many more. Thank you all for your support in making this event such a huge success.

Repair for Reuse

A big thanks goes out to Repair Café NC and the 28 volunteer “Fix-it Coaches” who helped teach participants how to repair their items and keep working materials out of the landfill. Cary hosted the free fall event, welcoming 71 participants and 55 items for fixing, from teddy bears to grandfather clocks. This is the sixth Cary-hosted Repair Café since 2022, with the highest repair rate to date of 76%. Spring event dates will be posted in early 2025 to offer more opportunities for the community to share repair skills, encourage appreciation and value of materials, and support waste reduction efforts.

Triangle Bikeway Update

The design phase has begun for the Triangle Bikeway project, a regional bicycle and pedestrian facility that would parallel I-40 for 23 miles from Raleigh to Chapel Hill. A feasibility study  for the project was completed in 2022; it was adopted by both Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) and Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (DCHC MPO), and added to the Metropolitan Transportation Plan. Wake County and the Research Triangle Foundation have provided funding to initiate design and NEPA documentation for the Triangle Bikeway East which includes the 14 miles between RTP and Raleigh. This design work is being managed by CAMPO, and there is no current funding past this phase of the project. 

North Carolina CIO Leadership Dialogues

Earlier this week, Chief Information Officer (CIO) Nicole Coughlin participated in the Reynolds American NC CIO Leadership Dialogues.  The event brings together top technology leaders to discuss key topics like future technology trends, cybersecurity, and the impact of generative AI on business innovation and leadership lessons. Nicole shared her knowledge on information technology leadership techniques that may lead to being a successful CIO. The forum provided a valuable opportunity for North Carolina CIOs and senior IT leaders to network, share experiences, and learn from industry experts.

Association NC Stormwater Conference

At the APWA-NC (American Public Works Association) Stormwater Conference, Stormwater Field Services Administrator Charles Brown and Stormwater Program Analyst Emily Cochran presented on the evolution of Cary’s post-construction program, highlighting its growth since its inception in 2001. They showcased key milestones, emphasizing how the program has expanded to meet increasing regulatory demands and development. The presentation included several success stories, as well as valuable lessons learned, which other communities could apply to enhance their own post-construction efforts. Through this, they aimed to inspire continuous improvement and collaboration in stormwater management across the state.

Upcoming Meetings

Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources Advisory Board
Monday, October 7
5:15 p.m.

Information Services Advisory Board
Monday, October 7
6:00 p.m.

Zoning Board of Adjustment
Monday, October 7
6:30 p.m.

Environmental Advisory Board
Tuesday, October 8
6:00 p.m.

Senior Advisory Board
Wednesday, October 9
12:00 p.m.

Public Art Advisory Board
Wednesday
October 9, 6:15 p.m.

Virtual Neighborhood Rezoning Meeting
Wednesday, October 9
6:30 p.m.

Historic Preservation Commission
Wednesday, October 9
6:30 p.m.

Mayor’s Mailbox

• A request to have a building moratorium. (We do not have that authority).
• A concern that a proposed development in Waverly would create flooding. (Today’s standards help with flooding mitigation).
• Several requests for jobs and internships. (That is handled through HR and not me).
• Several requests to attend events.
• A concern about contractor damage on Manassas Gap Place and Linville Gorge Way.
• A request for sidewalks to the Windermere development.

Next Week

Next week’s activities include staff meetings, several Diwali dance practices, the Searstone Highview Opening ceremony, SAS Championship pro-am pairings event, SAS Championship pro-am Wednesday and Thursday, the SAS Championship Folds of Honor breakfast and event, Diwali opening in the morning with dance in the evening, the SAS Championship final round, and an HOA neighborhood event.

Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, October 13^th, 2024. 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@carync.gov and email personal comments to augustanat@mindspring.com.

Council Work Session, Council Meeting, and Asia Fest

Cary Bonds

[DISCLAIMER – the following are my thoughts and opinions on the bond and do not represent the council or the town. The town, by law, can not advocate or use its resources for or against any bond.]

Cary has been viewed as one of the best communities in the nation for many years. Past decisions were made with a goal to be the best of the best which was a values choice and the choice to continue to be the best of the best (what we call “top of the arc”) is a Cary citizen values choice that will be decided by the bond vote in November.

The November bond is a $590 million bond with most of the cost attributed to new community/senior center projects. Using bond money for these centers makes financial sense, as large capital projects like these are best financed through bonds. That way future residents will also pay their fair share of the cost. Currently Cary has three community centers and one senior center. These centers are decades old, require a LOT of maintenance, and don’t come close to meeting citizens’ demands. And that demand is increasing with Cary being the oldest populated municipality out of the top fourteen populated municipalities in North Carolina.

What is a bond?

The bond on the November ballot is a General Obligation (GO) bond. Citizens vote on these types of bonds and if approved have the lowest interest rate. Because Cary has the highest rating from all major bond rating agencies, we will get the lowest interest rate on all bonds that will be used to fund these projects. GO bonds are a reliable, cost-effective, and fair way to finance important public projects, while ensuring that the costs are spread out, similar to a mortgage, and that citizens have a voice in the process.

Are bond votes a vote on projects?

Technically no. Bond votes are votes on project funding. However, if this bond fails then it is highly unlikely that many of these projects will be considered again for several years, and some may be scrapped forever.

What projects are in the bond and what are their costs?

• Sports and Recreation Community Center: $300 million
• Mills Park Community Center: $150 million
• Cary Tennis Park and Pickleball Expansion: $60 million
• Walnut Creek Greenway: $30 million
• Asia Garden Master Plan: $10 million
• Nature Park Master Plan: $10 million
• New Housing Projects and Programs: $30 million

The state requires us to use highly conservative estimates in my opinion. They make us post 5.34% interest for the park’s bonds and 5.59% interest for the affordable housing bond. I believe Cary will do much better than those interest rates given that our history has been that we have beaten those rates each time. If not, we can wait until the interest rates go down.

The timing of the proposed tax rate change is also pessimistic: 2026, 2028, and 2030. The timeline used in our bond materials is the earliest date that these bonds will be sold and would then, impact the tax rate. Keep in mind that Cary doesn’t have the manpower and resources to take on all these projects at one time. Delays are common when planning large projects, and I believe that accomplishing all these projects in the timeframe listed is a stretch.

Sports and Recreation Community Center ($300 million)

The Sports and Recreation Community Center will have three components: Community Center, Senior Center, and Competitive Space. The competitive portion of this project is estimated to generate an annual economic impact to our area of $37 million which will more than double the annual economic impact of all current Cary sports venues (WakeMed Soccer, USA Baseball, and the Cary Tennis Park). In addition, the county has committed $75 million to the cost of this project. If the competitive space were in existence today it is estimated that it would be booked out most of the year with other times used for transitioning between sports.

The community center and senior center will be large enough to accommodate people that live nearby as well as all Cary residents. The senior component will have areas dedicated for senior activities. This is desperately needed especially in this part of Cary.

The area outside the Community Center will be a park-like setting. People will be able to enjoy and experience the entire grounds without ever going inside the center. In addition, the proposed Walnut Creek greenway will connect from it to Fenton and Downtown, providing a way to get to this space without driving. In the future, the developers of South Hills vision is to connect to a redeveloped Crossroads via a pedestrian bridge.

Mills Park Community Center ($150 million)

The Mills Park Community Center will include community center and a senior center. Many of our Cary residents live in western Cary and are currently underserved by public spaces. This will allow programming to help meet the needs of an aging population and the rest of the citizenry. Is this the crown jewels of community centers? No. As plans were originally developed with citizen input, I saw a LOT of features that I would love to see in the center but are just cost prohibitive. Nevertheless, this will be one of the nicest in the region if not the state.

Cary Tennis Park and Pickleball Expansion ($60 million)

The Cary Tennis Park benefits our citizens by providing recreational opportunities, but it’s also a venue for top college and professional tournaments. As I write this there is a national tennis tournament with colleges from all over the country in our town. These tennis tournaments generate millions of dollars of economic impact each year. Expanding our facilities will meet requirements that will allow us to draw bigger tennis tournaments and have an even bigger economic impact.

In addition, the expansion will create 30 pickleball courts on land that Cary owns as part of the Tennis facility. This will not only allow for recreational play in a rapidly growing sport but also allow us to hold future pickleball tournaments.

The expansion will also allow Cary to be home to the North Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame.

Whether or not you play tennis or pickleball it makes good sense to support this expansion just for the economic benefits, which will help keep our taxes low.

Walnut Creek Greenway ($30 million)

The Walnut Creek Greenway project will allow citizens to go from downtown to Fenton, WakeMed Soccer Park (via Fenton) and eventually to the redeveloped South Hills on a greenway. Connecting destination centers makes sense especially given our citizens’ interest in our downtown area. Cary is known for having an excellent and well used greenway system of over 90 miles, and this investment will continue the connectivity and IMHO be our crown jewel.

Asia Garden Master Plan ($10 million)

The Asian Garden master plan is about adding a botanical garden and beautiful quiet space in Cary on land owned and shared with Wake County.   This project brings several valuable benefits of green space and beauty, where people can relax, walk and enjoy a calming environment while also celebrating our rich cultural diversity. The idea is to master plan the area and provide a space for a 1 to 2 acre set of gardens. There are few, if any, gardens like this in the Triangle area, and over time, it will provide educational opportunities and space for events to create a sense of community and likely become a destination that creates an economic impact.

Nature Park Master Plan ($10 million)

Cary purchased 200 acres to preserve its natural beauty for future generations. The current plan is to save historic structures on the site, create parking and restrooms, and create a path around the entire property. I think this nature preserve will be a fantastic amenity that keeps us the best of the best and a huge benefit to our community, families, grandkids and future generations.

New Housing Projects and Programs – Affordable Housing Bond ($30 million)

By law, Housing Bonds are separate questions on the ballot.  The Affordable Housing bond is a way to work to implement our already approved Cary Housing Plan. (https://housing.carync.gov/cary-housing-plan/)   If approved, the Housing bond will support housing initiatives in ALL four primary strategic areas contained in our plan, such as building housing and supporting residents with low and moderate incomes across Cary. Affordable Housing is a nationwide challenge, and Cary is not immune to this trend.  Our staff is the best of the best, and although we have made investments, our community has asked us to do more.  Our recently launched Stable Homes Cary Program in partnership with Dorcas Ministries- is working to support people staying in their homes and helping with relocation support when moving may be necessary. The funds provided in this bond would provide funds to create or preserve more affordable housing options, including purchasing property, providing housing development gap financing, homeownership programing and working to preserve affordable housing and helping residents age in place.   Our goal is to ensure that people of all income levels can live in our community, and I believe that this bond referendum is a critical investment in Cary’s futureand a significant part of our community’s efforts to address affordability and the growing need for affordable housing. 

ICMA Conference

Saturday through Tuesday I was in Pittsburgh for the ICMA (International City/County Management Association) conference which was not town related. I was able to be involved in town staff meetings during my absence.

Council Work Session

Thursday evening the council held the first of many prioritization work sessions. This work session was to review our municipal waste streams and discuss the organic collection feasibility study. There following are my notes:

• Cary contributes 7% of the waste going to the Wake County landfill.
• Cary’s recycling contamination rate is 12% which is below Raleigh and the state at 14% and the national rate of 17%.
• Cary is the only municipality in our area that collects yard waste weekly. The only other municipalities that collect yard waste are Raleigh, Durham, Holly Springs, and Apex.
• Cary has 70,000 tons of curbside collection annually. 38,000 is solid waste, 11,500 is recycling, 10,500 is yard waste, and 10,000 is leaf collection.
• Cary landfill diversion rate is 46%: 16% recycling, 15% yard waste, and 15% leaves.
• Our food waste pilot was very successful resulting in a new drop off at Mills Park. Currently 140 tons have been collected.
• Cary is considering adding food waste drop off locations near Jack Smith Park and near Middle Creek Park. That would put 99% of Cary residents within 10 minutes of a drop off site.
• Cary was one of 388 municipalities across the country that participated in an organics collection feasibility study.
• In the future Cary could have curbside food waste collection which would require an additional cart.
  • This would be a $2.5 million cost for carts and $6.5 million for trucks.
  • The operational cost would be an additional $2.9 million.
  • The solid waste fee would go from $23 a month to $28 a month.
• How to move forward with this initiative would be decided by prioritizing all current and future initiatives.

Council Meeting

The Cary Town Council met Thursday night for its last regularly scheduled meeting of September. The agenda had a presentation, two consent items, and two public hearings.

Doug McRainey, who recently retired as Cary’s Director of Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources was presented the Order of the Long Leaf Pine. Doug’s contributions during his tenure were many including getting Cary the Gold Meal Award meaning we had the #1 park system in the country.

The two consent items were approved unanimously. The first was to call for a public hearing for an annexation and the second was to modernize language in a policy statement.

The first public hearing was a rezoning proposal 23-REZ-03 Courtyards at White Oak. Comments in the hearing were focused on road access to the site during construction. This will go to the Planning and Zoning Board and council will vote on it in a few months.

The second public hearing was a rezoning proposal 24-REZ-05 Westley Manor. Several people spoke in favor of this rezoning. This will also go to the Planning and Zoning Board and return for a vote in a few months.

After a closed session the council adjourned. The meeting lasted about three hours.

Asia Fest

Saturday I joined council members Smith, Craig, Kohn-Johnson, and Bansal at Asia Fest held at Koka Booth Amphitheater. It was the 9^th annual event and was attended by several dignitaries including the State Attorney General Josh Stein, the Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, state house members, state senate members, Apex and Morrisville council members, and county officials.

I provided welcoming remarks and talked about our diverse community, how we embrace our differences, and how we are stronger for sharing our cultures with each other. Also speaking was the Cary Police Chief, NC Secretary of State, and NC Attorney General.

Town Manager’s Report

Danna’s Message

This morning I had the great honor to introduce the keynote speaker for the breakfast at the Women of Western Wake Forum. Susan Gisler of Bell Leadership Institute in Chapel Hill spoke about leading with intention and shifting from chaos to clarity in everyday life. The session was about putting yourself into the best state of flow to be able to successfully show up for yourself and others. I was able to share about Cary’s values of people first and anyone can lead. It was an inspiring talk by Susan and I’m grateful that Cary Magazine organizes such an incredible event each year. Prior to introducing Susan, I had the opportunity to share a little about Cary and chose to share a portion of the inspiring details and meaning of the star in our logo:
For thousands of years, stars have guided us in the dark. They are beacons of hope, wonder, and magic. A star symbolizes positivity and possibility inspiring us all to strive for a higher standard. Our star serves as a visual reminder for residents and businesses to dream of a better future for themselves and their communities.
It was great seeing everyone last night, thank you for making my experience serving in Sean’s place so special. Stay safe until Helene has passed.
Danna

Farm to Fork Dinner and Celebration

This week, Cary celebrated eight years of urban agriculture at Good Hope Farm with our annual dinner and celebration. Farm to Fork attracted 150 guests from across the Triangle, including Councilmember Michelle Craig. Attendees enjoyed a farm-fresh dinner, a guided farm tour, and an evening of dining and dancing under the stars. All proceeds supported Good Hope Farm’s mission to train new farmers and strengthen long-term food security in our region.

Deutsche Bank Marks 15 Years in Cary

Last week, Councilmember Michelle Craig, Cary Chamber President Mark Lawson, and staff member Bryan Hayes attended Deutsche Bank’s US Technology Center celebration, marking 15 years in Cary. During the event, they met with Deutsche Bank’s CEO Americas, Stefan Simon, to learn more about the Technology Center and its contributions to the financial industry. We look forward to many more years of them calling Cary home.

2024 Bonds Presentation at Chamber Eye Opener

On Wednesday, Town Manager Sean Stegall presented on the 2024 Cary Community Bond Referendum at the Cary Chamber Eye Opener Breakfast, offering community members a chance to ask questions.

This was the first of four public presentations on the bond referendum. The remaining sessions, scheduled for October, will give citizens the opportunity to engage directly with Town leadership, receive a detailed presentation, and participate in a Q&A session. Dates and locations are listed below, and registration is not required. Visit carybonds.org for details.

• Monday, October 14 at 6:30 p.m. at Cary Theater
• Tuesday, October 15 at 6:30 p.m. at Courtyard Raleigh Cary/Parkside Town Commons
• Monday, October 28 at 6:30 p.m. at Middle Creek Community Center

Fire Department Swift Water Rescue Team Deploys to Western North Carolina

The Fire Department’s Swiftwater Rescue Team was activated Wednesday evening and deployed to Lenoir, North Carolina, on Thursday morning ahead of Hurricane Helene. Eight highly skilled team members joined 19 other teams from across the state, prepared to assist the citizens of western North Carolina. The mountain region is forecasted to receive record rainfall, leading to dangerous flash floods, landslides, and river flooding. Our thoughts are with the team during their travels and operations as they personify Cary’s value to serve.

Cary Housing Microsite Chosen for Web Excellence Awards

Cary’s Housing & Community Partnerships microsite was recognized as a winner of the Web Excellence Awards. Over the past year, staff worked to create a modern, approachable, and easy-to-navigate website where citizens can learn about Cary housing programs and initiatives. This new site ensures citizens can connect with community partners, learn about new developments, and access housing resources. The microsite is in good company with national brands like Puma and Fidelity. See the  Web Excellence Awards for a complete list of winners, as well as Cary’s award page.

Street Improvements Update

Cary’s annual street resurfacing project is moving forward, with recent work completed on Two Creeks Road in the Briarcliff area. In the coming weeks, Kilmayne Drive (from Maynard Road to Kildaire Farm Road) and High Meadow Drive (from Kildaire Farm Road to Two Creeks Road) are scheduled for resurfacing, weather permitting. For more details, visit carync.gov/resurfacing.

2024 US Masters Disc Golf Championships

The 2024 US Masters Disc Golf Championship wrapped up on Sept. 22, at Cary’s Diavolo at New Hope Disc Golf Course. This 4-round tournament, one of seven annual PDGA (Professional Disc Golf Association) Majors, attracted over 500 professional and amateur athletes from 43 states and 5 countries. Video coverage and scores are available at U.S. Masters: National Championships | Town of Cary (carync.gov).

Upcoming Meetings

Human Relations, Inclusion, and Diversity Advisory Board
Tuesday, October 1
6:00 p.m.

Mayor’s Mailbox

• A concern about Cary vehicles using fossil fuels.
• A complaint about misinformation being spread about the bond by those who oppose it.
• A complaint that questions are not being answered about the bond.
• An offer for free meditation sessions.
• A request to fly American Flag banners.
• A complaint about the property tax comparing it to Governor Tryon “a savage” who “enriched his friends at the expense of colonists”.
• A complaint about native plants.
• Several emails about a HOA greenway squabble between neighbors.

Next Week

Next week’s activities include staff meetings, a Human Relations, Inclusion, and Diversity board meeting, a NC Metro Mayors meeting, and Oktoberfest.

Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, October 6^th, 2024. 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@carync.gov and email personal comments to augustanat@mindspring.com.

Town Manager One-On-One

Monday I met briefly with the town manager for our weekly one-on-one. Our topics of discussion included council actions, the upcoming bond, a dying tree that will need to be removed in the downtown park, and the Wake Stone Quarry upcoming actions.

Mayors Association

Monday night I attended a Mayors Association meeting in Fuquay-Varina. In attendance were mayors from Apex, Cary, Fuquay-Varina, Garner, Holly Springs, Knightdale, Morrisville, Rolesville, and Wake Forest. We talked about Mayors Association cash flow issues for our annual holiday dinner and then did a round table discussion. A big thank you to Fuquay-Varina Mayor Massengill for hosting the mayors.

CAMPO

Wednesday I attended a meeting of the CAMPO (Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization) Executive Board. The agenda included six consent items, two public hearings, and three discussion items. Items that resulted in votes included:

• The Human Services Transportation Plan was approved after a public hearing.
• Division needs updates for target modal mix in SPOT (Strategic Transportation Prioritization) was approved.
• And there was an approval to allow the Executive Director to sign an Updated US 1 Council of Planning Memorandum of Understanding on behalf of CAMPO.

All votes were unanimous.

Cary Chamber Annual Banquet

Wednesday night I attended the Cary Chamber’s Annual Banquet. I provided a few remarks on what the community has accomplished over the years through business community, the citizens, and the town partnerships. I was followed by the keynote speaker, NC State Chancellor Randy Woodson, who was an excellent speaker and very entertaining. Congratulations to Ralph Ashworth for receiving the Order of the Long Leaf Pine and to Liza Weidel who received the Citizen of the Year award.

Carolina Courage Potential Sale

Thursday I was notified that Former Milwaukee Bucks owner Marc Lasry may buy 60% of the North Carolina Courage from Steve Malik for about $108 million.

Volunteer Appreciation Event

Thursday night I joined 5 other council members in a volunteer appreciation event for our boards and commissions. We honored the outgoing board members for their years of service. We also celebrated and recognized the new HRID (Human Relations Inclusion Diversity) board. It was a great event and a time for council and staff to talk with the volunteers for these boards.

NC Metro Mayors

The NC Metro Mayors met Friday for a presentation and a legislative summary:

The Legislature met last week to pass a “mini-budget” H10, which also included a provision that requires NC Sheriffs to cooperate with federal ICE officials. We expect this bill to be vetoed by Governor Cooper later today. The “mini-budget” bill also includes:  

• An additional $215.5M for private school Opportunity Scholarships 
• An additional $377M to the Division of Health Benefits for the Medicaid
• Various other public schools, community college, and special needs program funding. 
• The “mini budget” did not include any funding for teacher raises, or for member earmarks.  

The Legislature overrode vetoes, including:

• House Bill 155 allows the DMV to authorize certain modified vehicles for 4-lane roads. 
• House Bill 556, prohibits counties and cities from adopting certain ordinances that would prohibit landlords from refusing to rent to tenants because the tenant uses federal aid for rent.  
• House Bill 690 prohibits any state agency from accepting a central bank digital currency. 
• Senate Bill 166  an “omnibus land use and building code “bill – became law 9/11/24.   
• Senate Bill 445 makes it illegal for a person to advertise property or rent property they have no authority to rent or sell (veto override still needs House action on S445).  

Cary #1 Best Place to Retire

Friday I was notified that Cary was the #1 place in the nation to retire using Dave Ramsey’s 8% withdrawal rate. Dave Ramsey is an American radio known for being a financial guru with a focus on helping people get out of debt. To find out more about this ranking go here.

ICMA Conference

Saturday I left for Pittsburgh to attend the ICMA (International City/County Management Association) conference which is not town related. However, I will be performing mayoral duties remotely through Tuesday.

Town Manager’s Report

Sean’s Message

“Volunteers don’t get paid, not because they’re worthless, but because they’re priceless.” -Sherry Anderson
Ms. Anderson’s statement certainly rings true in Cary.  It was nice seeing everyone last night during another busy week in Cary.  As I have said many times, the Cary Council and Staff appreciates its volunteers more than any other place I have ever worked.  We are so very grateful to them!

Enjoy reading this week’s Weekly Report and at a minimum please read the first story. Have a nice weekend. 
Sean

Willow Oak Removal in Downtown Park

Despite meticulous care and maintenance in recent years, the willow oak tree in the Downtown Cary Park’s North Botanical Garden has reached the end of its lifespan. In June 2024, Park staff noticed the browning of the leaves in the willow oak tree’s canopy. Immediate action was taken by staff to inspect the status of the tree. A tree care specialty group confirmed that the vascular flow of the tree had stopped, officially marking the end of its mature life stage. It is estimated to be 100 years old. The safety of park guests and staff is our top priority and for that reason the tree must be removed. The removal is scheduled for September 24 and 25, and will have minor impacts to pedestrian traffic in the area. After removal, new life will bloom in the north botanical garden as more trees and plants will be installed.

TCC Coffee and Chat

Councilmembers Bansal, Craig, Kohn-Johnson, Robinson, and Smith along with staff from a number of departments had a “coffee chat” with members of the development community on Thursday. The annual event which was organized by the Triangle Community Coalition allowed Council to share ideas with developers on ways to address housing in Cary. 

District D Homeowners Association

The District D Homeowners Association meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 1 at 5:00 p.m. at the Courtyard by Marriott in Parkside Town Commons, Cary. It’s a great opportunity to connect with other HOA members and get updates on district developments. Staff will also be present to share insights and answer any questions after a brief presentation on Town projects and initiatives. If you are interested in attending, please let Ginny know. 

The Cary Podcast on the 2024 Cary Community Bond Referendum

This week, John Collins, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Director, was interviewed about the 2024 Cary Community Bond Referendum for The Cary Podcast, in an opportunity that came through an interaction with a Cary citizen at the Lazy Daze bonds booth. Listen to the podcast here ! In addition, Cary staff has been busy engaging with citizens to provide information on the bonds, attending events such as the Farmer’s Market and Carolina Circus, plus several public meetings. After this weekend, where we’ll be attending a booth at Public Safety Day, staff will have invested almost 100 hours of time educating citizens on the bonds at 32 events and meetings. 

Cary Hosts Service Tours

Colleagues from Holly Springs and Morrisville were interested in learning more about how programs like Cary’s community gardens and food waste drop-off sites are designated and operated. To model these municipal services, staff proudly conducted a series of tours that also showcased Cary’s leadership in sustainable practices and partnerships and our citizens’ efforts to reduce waste, compost, and grow locally. 

NC State University Project

Professor Lokendra Pal at NC State University is leading research that could ultimately convert portions of solid waste into sustainable biofuel. This research, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, utilizes advanced AI imaging technology to analyze Cary’s waste stream. Currently in the stakeholder engagement phase, this AI imaging project is designed to improve the sorting and processing of waste materials through extensive imaging analysis.

The study provides us with excellent insights. Because Cary citizens do a great job of recycling and due to the low presence of metals in Cary’s solid waste, further improvements in the imaging may involve utilizing Cary’s recycled materials. With over 1.7 million images collected and a 90% accuracy rate in analyzing the waste composition, the project is well on its way to effectively accomplishing the objectives of the study. Professor Pal is continuing the stakeholder engagement phase over the next several months.

Urban Forestry: Clearing the Way

Staff from Public Works’ facilities, operations, and urban forestry groups continued their combined effort to make Cary’s public rights-of-way safer for pedestrians and vehicular traffic by addressing tree/infrastructure obstructions around town. You may have noticed improved sight lines at some intersections throughout town. Some of their work included:

• traffic signal clearance on Walnut Street at Cary High School.
• traffic signal clearance on SW Cary Parkway at West Chatham Street.
• street clearance on Old Apex Road at Brentwood Drive.
• street clearance on Beechtree Drive at Beech Forest Court.
• sidewalk clearance on Green Level Church Road at Hortons Creek Road; and
• clearance of numerous regulatory signs obstructed by low-hanging tree limbs.

This effort is a step towards expanding our tree maintenance efforts and it allows us to provide new ways to train staff with hands-on learning as part of our Urban Forestry Program initiatives.

2024 Veterans Benefit Live

The Herbert C. Young Community Center hosted the Veterans Benefits Live Event—VA in My Town Cary NC, September 12-14. A special thanks goes to all the organizations that came together to assist veterans in accessing the benefits they have earned. The dedication and hard work of Cary staff, the American Legion Post 67, VA Administrators, Veteran Service Officers and all the volunteers who put in long hours and were ready to help wherever needed, contributed to the success of this event. Over the three days, the event served 1,180 veterans, an increase from 1,006 in 2023. 

Marketing Team Relocation

Cary’s Marketing team has moved! Today, the team hosted a “housewarming” breakfast at the old reception desk on the first floor of the Town Hall. This move signifies an important milestone in the team’s evolution, and the group looks forward to new opportunities to collaborate and connect with those in Town Hall and beyond in the future. 

Caustic Tank Project Complete

Construction is complete for the caustic tank replacement project at the Cary-Apex Water Treatment Facility. Caustic, also known as sodium hydroxide, is a chemical used for pH adjustment and is an important part of the water treatment process. The project involved the replacement of 4 fiberglass tanks that were at the end of their service life. The new tanks are carbon steel and are expected to last for at least 20 years. Another important part of the project was rerouting of chemical piping and electrical conduit. This important work will ensure that the facility can safely and effectively add caustic during water treatment, as part of our process to provide high quality drinking water to our citizens.

Virtual Neighborhood Rezoning Meeting – October 9^th

The following Neighborhood Meeting will be held virtually on Zoom on Wednesday, October 9 at 6:30 PM.: 24-REZ-12 402 Charles Ct.

Upcoming Meetings

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

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

Town Council Meeting (Work Session)
Thursday, September 26
4:45 p.m.

Town Council Meeting (Regular)
Thursday, September 26
6:30 p.m.

Mayor’s Mailbox

• A complaint about a neighbor’s shipping container.
• A request to connect Carpenter Village to Cary’s greenways.
• Several requests to support the rezoning proposal in the Wellington Park neighborhood.
• A complaint about contamination in water (investigation showed that Cary water was fine and the contamination was airborne within the residence).
• Several requests to attend several events.

Next Week

Next week’s activities include staff meetings, the ICMA conference, a council work session, a council meeting, and Asia Fest.

Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, September 29^th, 2024. 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@carync.gov and email personal comments to augustanat@mindspring.com.

Council Meeting Prep

Monday, I attempted to contact all council members about concerns or questions they may have had with the regular meeting agenda for Thursday. There were no questions. Later in the day I met with staff to go over the agenda. Our meeting was brief.

Speaking at National Conference

Tuesday morning, I joined past national president of the American Public Works Association in Atlanta for a presentation on elected official’s behaviors and strategies to get critical information to them in a timely manner. Our talk was well attended with 169 people in a room that held 150. This was the fifth time I have given this talk since May.

Turner Creek Elementary

Thursday afternoon, I had the pleasure of talking virtually to three of Turner Creek Elementary’s third grade classes. They have been learning about state and local governments, responsibilities of government leaders, and how government helps solve community problems.

I talked about the council, the town, and my duties as mayor. We followed this with about ten minutes of questions. I hope I am invited to speak with more students learning about government in the future.

Council and Wake County Work Session

Thursday evening the council joined Wake County commissioners along with our staff to discuss the affordable housing crisis as part of their “listening tour”. The Cary staff presented data that emphasized the crisis not only in our area but across the country. They also talked about all the Cary initiatives. I hope to share that data next week when I get a copy of the slides. After the presentation we discussed ways to move forward. One thing we all agreed on was that partnerships create a better outcome.

Council Meeting

The council met for its first meeting of September on Thursday. The agenda included two consent items and three public hearings.

In the Public Speaks Out portion of the meeting we heard a complaint about a road in west Cary (that was a NCDOT maintained road) and another complaint that we didn’t have public meetings about the budget (we had several meetings totaling hours of discussion).

The first two public hearings were the annexation and rezoning of a property at 4000 Green Level West Road which is east of White Oak Church Road and west of Autumn Shade Drive. The applicant is proposing detached dwellings. Some speakers complained of potential construction traffic and the builder who built their neighborhood. Others liked the proposal because it would allow the paving of a gravel road. It will now go to the Planning and Zoning board for their review.
The last public hearing was a rezoning proposal in the Wellington neighborhood near Tryon Road and Cary Parkway. The applicant is proposing up to seven townhomes on a one-acre lot. This lot is across from the Wellington shopping center. Most of the comments were in favor of the proposal. It will also go to the Planning and Zoning board for their review.

NC General Assembly Update

Here is a summary of this week’s legislative activities from Checkmate:

Mini-Budget Passed 

This week, the North Carolina General Assembly passed House Bill 10, Require ICE Cooperation & Budget Adjustments. In July, the House and Senate adjourned without a compromise on a spending plan for the State’s revenue surplus. This month, the leadership announced that an agreement was reached for priority items. The mini budget includes:

• Language that requires sheriffs to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement of the United States Department of Homeland Security. 
• An additional $215.5M for Opportunity Scholarships
• An additional $377M to the Division of Health Benefits for the Medicaid rebase to account for certain changes in Medicaid program costs. 
• Various other public schools, community colleges, and special needs program funding. 

The bill passed in the Senate and the House with party line votes. Governor Cooper is expected to veto the mini budget. The General Assembly maintains a Super majority and will override the expected veto. 

RFK Name Removal 

The North Carolina Supreme Court ruled in a 4-3 decision to reprint the ballots in order to remove Robert F. Kennedy’s name from the ballot per his request. Absentee ballot distribution has been put on hold to allow for these changes. It is expected in the next few weeks the new ballots will be ready to be sent off. 

Veto Overrides

On Monday, the North Carolina Senate voted to override 5 bills previously vetoed by Governor Cooper. 

House Bill 155 allows the DMV to authorize certain modified vehicles for 4-lane roads.

House Bill 556 would prohibit counties and cities from adopting certain ordinances or resolutions that would prohibit landlords from refusing to rent to tenants because the tenant uses federal aid for rent. 

House Bill 690 prohibits any state agency from accepting a central bank digital currency.

Senate Bill 166 would amend various development regulations, various North Carolina State Building Codes, various construction contractors and design professionals’ regulations, and various environment and environmental health regulations. The bill would also reorganize the Building Code Council and restrict a municipalities’ ability to retroactively require backflow preventers. 

Senate Bill 445 makes it illegal for a person to advertise property or rent property they have no authority to rent or sell.

The House bills will become law following the override vote. The Senate bills will have to be overridden in the House as well. 

Charlie Henderson’s Memorial

Sunday I attended the memorial service for Charlie Henderson, Cary’s first full time attorney. I had the pleasure of working with Charlie when I was on council from 1999 to 2003. There was a capacity crowd at the service, and most were at the reception held at the Page-Walker. We are grateful for the 28 years of service Charlie gave the town but more importantly are blessed to have known him.

Senior Recourse Expo at HSNC

Next Sunday, September 22^nd there will be Senior Resource Expo held at HSNC (Hindu Society of NC) in Morrisville. Some of the providers represented include:

• Home Care Givers
• Independent and Assisted Living
• Personal care: Nutrition, PT, OT, and Massage
• Medicare
• Financial Planning
• End of life planning
• Home Improvement
• Senior centers
• Town facilities
• And others

The event is open to the public.

Town Manager’s Report

Sean’s Message

I’ve enjoyed just how especially engaged, Council, each of you has been over the past several weeks. Whether the topic is bonds, planning items, or fostering stronger Council relationships, you continue to grow together in your effectiveness and service.
I never want to take for granted just how much Ginny Johnson and her team – including the tech group – do with logistics to help sessions like last night’s work session seem effortless and work smoothly so that all of us can focus on the topics at hand. Thank you, Ginny!
Last but not least, a big thank you to Russ for covering the Council meeting for me at the last minute. I am so fortunate to have such capable colleagues.
Have a great weekend.
Sean

Staff Presents at PWX Conference

This week, Mayor Weinbrecht presented at the 2024 Public Works Expo in Atlanta, Georgia, focusing on effective communication with elected officials and strategies for success.

Public Works Director Matt Flynn and Energy Manager Sara Caliendo also spoke at the conference. They teamed up with Kim Lundgren from Kim Lundgren Associates to present “Innovating Climate-Ready Communities.” Their presentation showcased Cary’s forward-thinking initiatives, including alternative fuel fleet vehicles, green stormwater infrastructure with flood sensors, strategies from the Urban Forest Master Plan, and smart solar project selections for municipal facilities.

White Oak Foundation Resource Center

On Wednesday, Councilmember Michelle Craig joined Housing staff at the White Oak Foundation Resource Center in western Cary. Pastor Charles Tyner and White Oak staff member Yvonne Harrison shared a tour of the White Oak campus, including the Resource Center, church, and new public daycare facility. The White Oak Foundation provides crisis assistance, homeownership assistance, services to seniors, and food security programming to residents of Cary. The foundation is also working towards constructing 30 affordable townhouses and 60 affordable senior multi-family units. Cary has partnered with White Oak by providing technical assistance, financial support for development, and community programming.

Nicole Coughlin Honored with ORBIE award

Chief Information Officer Nicole Coughlin was honored with the prestigious 2024 Carolina ORBIE Award for Nonprofit/Public Sector CIO of the Year. This esteemed award celebrates Chief Information Officers who exemplify excellence in technology leadership, innovation, and driving significant impact within their organizations. Nicole’s recognition places her among an elite group of global technology leaders who have earned this honor over the past 25 years. Please join me in congratulating Nicole on this incredible achievement.

2024 Organics Collection Feasibility Study

Building on the success of Cary’s food waste drop-off sites and compost education efforts, the 2024 Organics Collection Feasibility Study (Volume 1 and Volume 2 ) offers valuable insights into strategies for diverting household food scraps from Cary’s waste stream and managing organic waste through composting instead of sending it to the landfill. The study will help guide potential opportunities for further waste reduction in Cary. We look forward to future discussions about its findings.

Sidewalk to West End Breweries Installed

This week, contractors installed sidewalk connections between the W. Chatham Street roundabout and the property housing Vicious Fishes and South Line breweries. Since their opening in Fall 2023, both breweries have attracted patrons from across the Triangle, raising concerns about parking and pedestrian connectivity for both visitors and business owners.
Over the summer, refreshed pavement markings and Zicla bumpers were added to the roundabout to slow traffic and improve pedestrian visibility. The new sidewalk connection encourages pedestrians to use the crosswalks at the roundabout, providing a safer option than crossing mid-block along Old Apex Road. Cary also has an Old Apex Road sidewalk project planned for construction in 2025.

West Cornwall Pedestrian Safety

This week, contractors working for Cary installed new pavement markings along West Cornwall Road. The design aims to enhance pedestrian safety by narrowing the travel lanes to slow traffic and prevent parking too close to the raised crosswalk. This technique, known as crosswalk “daylighting,” improves pedestrian visibility for drivers.
In addition to the new markings, pedestrian warning flags were installed at the raised crosswalk to give walkers an extra tool for increased visibility. Staff from various departments met with Glenaire representatives to discuss and demonstrate the use of the flags. Staff will continue to work with Glenaire to gather community input on the flags’ effectiveness.

New Stop Signs at South Dixon and Dry Avenue

Recent traffic control changes were made at two downtown intersections. New stop signs were installed, converting both S. Dixon Ave at Willow St. and Dry Ave at S. West St. to all-way stop configurations. This decision followed a staff review, which concluded that the all-way stops and new pavement markings would improve safety due to the unique alignment of these intersections.
The new stop signs feature LED lights that blink continuously to alert drivers to the updated traffic pattern. These LED-enhanced signs will remain in place for a few months before being replaced with standard stop signs. The LED signs will then be repurposed at other intersections planned for similar upgrades.

Complete 540 Phase 1 Opening September 25

On September 25 at 6 a.m., the NC Turnpike Authority will open Complete 540 Phase 1, a 17-mile stretch from the NC 55 Bypass in Apex to the I-40/US 70 interchange in Garner. This section features six travel lanes, a 70-foot-wide median, and a 70-mph speed limit. When the highway opens this month, expect final construction activities and tolling consistent with other NC 540 sections.

Two interchanges will face delays: the Bells Lake Road interchange (exit 47) and the exit ramp from NC 540 to Old Stage Road (exit 43) will both remain closed until November 2024 for construction and the removal of a temporary asphalt plant. Staff has worked with NCDOT to include future pedestrian and bike facilities at these interchanges.
Phase 2 of Complete 540, extending the highway 10 miles from I-40 in Garner to Knightdale, is under construction and will complete the 540 loop by late 2028. Fore more details and an interactive construction map, visit ncdot.gov/complete540.

Compliance Update on EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule Revision

Next week, Cary will complete two major requirements of the EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule Revision (LCRR). First, Cary will publish its water service line inventory online and then submit the results to the NC Department of Environmental Quality. These actions are being undertaken by water systems throughout the country and must be completed by Oct.16.

Early next week, Cary will publish its service line inventory as a searchable map available on Cary’s service line inventory webpage. Citizens will be able to search their address, view the service line material category, and identify the method by which their category was determined.
More information on the EPA’s lead and copper rule revision can be found on our website or by contacting 311.

NC State Students Explore Cary’s Transportation System

NC State Engineering students visited Cary’s Operations Center this week for hands-on experience with our transportation system. While their coursework provides a strong foundation, they sought practical insights into engineering and traffic management. Cary staff demonstrated fiber optic cable splicing, offered a look into the Traffic Management Center, and explained how the town manages its transportation corridors. The students asked insightful questions and expressed interest in potentially working for Cary in the future.

The Cary Film Festival 2024

Last week, The Cary Theater hosted the 7th annual BEYOND: The Cary Film Festival, attracting over 1,000 attendees. This year’s festival featured 25 short films and five feature films from six countries, with 20 films directed or co-directed by women.

In 2024, BEYOND expanded its festival landscape to include the Academy Pavilion at Downtown Cary Park, where several filmmaker workshops were held, and the Mayton, which hosted the Awards Brunch.

Five awards were presented to filmmakers from North Carolina, Georgia, and Norway. The Grand Jury award for Best Screenplay went to North Carolina native Lauryn Massenburg for her screenplay, Puddin’.

We are grateful to once again host this event with local partners including The RBF Champagne Bar, Chatham Street Wine Market, Brew Coffee Bar, the New Carolinas Film Collective, and Geluna Gelato.

Upcoming Meetings

Public Art Advisory Board
Wednesday, September 18
6:15 p.m.

Greenway Committee
Thursday, September 19
6:00 p.m.

Mayor’s Mailbox

• Several concerns about a Wake County project to drain Bond Lake for maintenance.
• A thank you for participating in the Environmental Symposium.
• A request to meet about private school education.
• A complaint about the Lochmere HOA and their “negotiations” with a proposed developer’s redevelopment of Waverly.

Next Week

Next week’s activities include staff meetings, a meeting with Amtrak, a Wake County Mayors Association meeting, CAMPO, the Cary Chamber Annual Banquet, a volunteer appreciation event, and a meeting of the NC Metro Mayors.

Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, September 22^nd, 2024. 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@carync.gov and email personal comments to augustanat@mindspring.com.

This was a slow week due to the Labor Day Holiday.

Cary #3 Safest City in USA that Promise a Peaceful Vacation

Tuesday I was notified that Travel Diary ranked Cary #3 in the nation for Safest City that promises a peaceful vacation. Here is what they said:

“Cary, a Raleigh neighborhood, has been recognized for its high standards of living and safety. This is one of the safest cities in the United States and provides a tranquil environment with attractive neighborhoods and plenty of green space. The city is a great place to visit for both solo and family travelers because it offers a wide range of cultural and recreational activities. Visit the lovely Bond Park to spend some moments in peace. You can also explore some of the independent stores and eateries in Cary’s downtown.”

Sadly, they think we are a Raleigh neighborhood which hasn’t been true for more than 25 years. We continue with our branding efforts to be recognized as the mid-sized municipality that we are.

Cary Tennis Classic Board Meeting

I attended a meeting of the Cary Tennis Classic Board on Tuesday night. This was our first meeting since the tournament in August. This was the tenth year we have held the Cary Tennis Classic (formerly the Atlantic Tire Championships) and our first tournament with both men and women.

Almost all the players in the tournament went on to New York for the US Open. The lowest ranked men’s player was #142 compared with #392 last year. The lowest ranked women’s player was #147.

Ticket sales increased 57% and we had our largest single day attendance. We had a 38% increase in volunteers and a 64% increase in ball people.

Based on information and feedback received this was our best tournament and the Cary Tennis Classic is recognized as one of the best challenger tournaments. We look forward to hosting this tournament again next year.

Environmental Symposium

Wednesday evening I provided opening remarks at the Environmental Symposium held at the Cary Arts Center. This was the first of several weekly talks to be held through October 9^th. The following are my remarks:

“As the Mayor of Cary, I am proud to be a part of a community that prioritizes sustainability and is an environmental steward.

Cary has long been a leader in preserving and protecting our finite natural resources. We are committed to ensuring that our land, water, and air are responsibly managed, and we strive to serve as a model for other cities in North Carolina and throughout the United States.

Our mission is to implement long-term sustainable practices that minimize negative impacts on our environment while protecting the quality of life for future generations.

Development has an impact on our environment and our development is guided by the Cary Community Plan. Currently we are updating this plan. The 2040 Community Plan includes a critical addition, the Enrich Chapter, which reaffirms our commitment to environmental sustainability.

As I mentioned, one of our key values is respecting nature and the environment by preserving and protecting our vital natural resources. This includes conserving water through smart metering and alternate day watering, protecting our watersheds and water supply by having the largest stream buffers allowed by the state,  protecting our natural land assets by purchasing and permanently preserving 200 acres, protecting our trees by hiring and urban forester to grow our canopy, and reducing emissions to improve air quality by increasing our electric fleet including one of the first electric fire trucks and garbage trucks in the nation.

Cary is a community that leads by example. We have done an inventory of town facilities and will be adding solar to all facilities that will support it.

In closing, we are committed to using sustainable and environmentally approaches to ensure that Cary continues to be a leader in sustainability, working toward a greener, more resilient future for all. Thank you for being here and most importantly your commitment to our environment. Enjoy the program!”

The featured speak was Larry Zoller who taught science and environmental education for 40 years in the Maryland public school system. He is the past President of Wake Audubon and is the current Wake Audubon Educational Outreach Chairperson. His focus was on why birds are disappearing. It was a great talk, and he provided information about things we can do to help the bird population. To find out more about future symposiums go here.

Turner Creek Elementary

Friday I had the pleasure of talking to two of Turner Creek Elementary’s third grade classes virtually. The classes have been learning about state and local governments, responsibilities of government leaders, and how government helps solve community problems.

I talked about the council, the town, and my duties as mayor. We followed this with about ten minutes of questions. I look forward to talking with more Turner Creek students next week.

Town Manager’s Report

Danna’s Message

Education on the 2024 Cary Community Bond Referendum is in full swing as citizens prepare to vote this November. At these events, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed engaging with citizens and discussing Cary’s future. It’s inspiring to listen to the thoughts, ideas, and considerations informing their decision-making process. Cary citizens are truly the best and I’m honored to serve in our community! Bond education efforts will continue through September and October, leading up to the General Election on November 5th. Next week includes discussions at several advisory board and commission meetings as part of this initiative.
Wishing you all a wonderful weekend and great weather!
Danna

Cedar Street Parking Deck Construction Update

Starting Wednesday, Sept. 11, contractors for the Cedar Street Parking Deck Development will close and fence off the sidewalk in front of the development site. Additionally, they will install scaffolding on the north side of E. Chatham Street at Rogers Alley to create a pedestrian detour (see map). These measures are necessary to ensure pedestrian safety during the continued construction of the parking deck and streetscape improvements. The sidewalk, along with the new streetscape, is expected to be completed by spring 2025.

Wake County and USDA Seek Public Input for Bond Lake Dam

Wake County and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service are seeking public input  on rehabilitation needs of Bond Lake Dam, part of the Crabtree Creek watershed. Bond Lake Dam is one of nine sites in Wake County identified as needing alterations to meet current federal classification standards. Options shared could involve raising of the structure six inches, adjustments to the intake pipe, and topographical alterations to the spillway field. Final plans are proposed to be complete in 2025, with no funding or construction timeline at this time. A public meeting was held in August at the Cary Senior Center on proposed plans for Bond Lake Dam and public comment closes September 13. Stormwater and PRCR are monitoring this potential project.

Cary Night with the North Carolina Courage

This past Sunday, Cary, in collaboration with the Cary Chamber and NC Courage, hosted the second annual Cary Night at WakeMed Soccer Park. The event was a fantastic opportunity for Cary employees and their families to unwind and experience top-tier soccer. Cary attendees were treated to complimentary tickets to the match, t-shirts, food and drink vouchers, and exclusive Cary swag. It was a memorable evening filled with fun and Cary spirit!

USABMX Regional National Event 2024

The energy was high last Saturday as Cary Action Sports hosted the third stop of the USABMX Regional National Series. Athletes from across the East Coast competed in Cary for points toward a national title and bragging rights. Eight talented local athletes competed for Cary Action Sports, with six earning podium finishes in their divisions. Olympic coach Ryan Nyquist and action sports film star Dan Foley kept the excitement going as MC and head judge. Cary Action Sports also received an award for supporting the USABMX Amateur Series in 2024.

Upcoming Meetings

Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources Advisory Board
Monday, September 9
 5:15 p.m.

Information Services Advisory Board
Monday, September 9
6:00 p.m.

Zoning Board of Adjustment
Monday, September 9
6:30 p.m.

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

Human Relations, Inclusion, and Diversity Task Force
Tuesday, September 10
 6:00 p.m.

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

Town Council Meeting (Work Session)
Thursday, September 12
4:45 p.m.

Town Council Meeting (Regular)
Thursday, September 12
6:30 p.m.

Mayor’s Mailbox

• A request to try hot sauce for wings.
• A complaint about 22-REZ-19 rezoning proposal at Regency.
• A complaint about 22-REZ-25 rezoning proposal near Crossroads.
• A request for information about Cary Bonds.
• A complaint that we are misleading the public about Cary Bonds.
• A complaint about the future Optimist Farm Greenway.
• A question about future development near Chatham County.
• A complaint about a dangerous crosswalk at Davis Drive Elementary.
• Two complaints about a plan for future maintenance of Bond Lake.
• Support for a future Walker Street rezoning.

Next Week

Next week’s activities include staff meetings, speaking at a conference, talking with 3^rd graders at Turner Creek Elementary, a council work session with Wake County Commissioners, a regularly scheduled council meeting, and welcoming remarks at a sister city event.

Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, September 15^th, 2024. 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@carync.gov and email personal comments to augustanat@mindspring.com.

This was a slow week as the town prepared for Labor Day observance.

HRID Interviews

Tuesday and Wednesday I joined council member Bush, the HRID (Human Relations, Inclusion, and Diversity) chair, and the HRID staff liaison in interviewing three candidates for the open spot on the newly created board. We had three incredible candidates which made choosing extremely difficult.

NC Courage Taping

Thursday I taped a message for the post game ceremony celebrating the Olympians on the NC Courage. We are so proud of our players as they represented several countries. I hope we will have further opportunities to recognize them.

Town Manager’s Report

Sean’s Message

As highlighted in the report below, this was another productive week filled with meaningful accomplishments in Cary. As we – most of us – prepare for the Labor Day holiday, I’m reflecting on its origins and how underappreciated workers in the 1800s must’ve felt prior to President Cleveland signing Labor Day into law. And while challenges remain in many places today, I am proud that here in Cary, we have co-created a culture that puts people first.
For us, it’s not just about dignity and respect in the workplace – it’s about showing gratitude and appreciation for the collaboration and individual expertise that each employee brings to the workplace, a workplace where you are encouraged to bring your whole self to work.
This culture, Council, would not be possible without your thoughtful leadership and unwavering support. 
To those who will be working this weekend and, on the holiday, as always, I remain grateful to you for doing your job in the very best way, which helps ensure Cary remains Cary.
Sean

Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon on Walnut Street at Cary High School Installed

The Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon (PHB) installation in front of Cary High School was completed earlier this week and became operational on Tuesday, the first day of school. Staff was on-site to ensure the device operated smoothly, assist the school with its use, and answer any questions. Staff has been monitoring the PHB’s performance and coordinating with the school’s principal to make any necessary adjustments to the beacon’s timing.

Additionally, Cary’s consultant has finished the initial engagement with students to gather ideas for the median landscape design and other features. This collaborative effort is progressing toward preliminary designs and concepts.

Historic Preservation Commission Meeting – September 11

The Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) will hold a quasi-judicial hearing in Town Hall at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 11 to review a certificate of appropriateness (COA) application submitted by the new owners of the Guess-White-Ogle House, a local historic landmark property, to install an uncovered deck and vertical lift to the rear of the house.

The HPC agenda with the COA staff report and supporting documents will be available by close of business on Thursday, Sept. 5. Information on Cary’s twelve local historic landmarks may be viewed on the interactive map.

48^th Lazy Daze Arts and Crafts Festival

Lazy Daze 2024 was an outstanding success! With perfect weather in the 80s, we welcomed an estimated 50,000 attendees, making it one of our best festivals yet. Our green initiatives were particularly impressive: we introduced compost bins at all 60 waste and recycling stations, collecting over 4,000 pounds of compostable material and 1,400 pounds of recyclables. This effort diverted more than half of the festival’s waste from landfills, exceeding expectations and reinforcing our commitment to sustainability.

Our family-friendly activities were also a hit, featuring live music, interactive art, and the new Kid Collectors Market, where children ages 6-12 could buy their first piece of art for just $5. Logistically, our partnerships with Cary PD, emergency services, and Public Works ensured smooth operations, with flawless traffic management and public safety plans contributing to a positive experience for all.

Senior Center Hosts Coffee, Cops and Conversation

The Cary Senior Center recently hosted a successful Coffee with Cops event, bringing together senior residents and members of the Cary Police Department for a morning of conversation and connection. The seniors enjoyed discussing safety and community concerns with the officers, further strengthening the positive partnership between the Cary Police Department and our community.

Ridgecrest Road LED-Enhanced Crosswalk

New pedestrian safety enhancements have been added downtown, including push-button-activated, LED-enhanced warning signs. As part of a traffic calming project focused on intersections in the western part of downtown, high-visibility crosswalks were installed this week. Additionally, two pairs of LED-enhanced signs were placed at uncontrolled crosswalks on Ridgecrest Road at Knight Avenue and S. Dixon. These devices, which are just the first of many planned around Cary, are paired with Audible Information Devices (AID) to improve accessibility for the visually impaired.

Installation of EV Charging Pedestals

Two new electric vehicle (EV) charging pedestals were recently installed at the Cary/Apex Water Treatment Facility (CAWTF). With this addition, all of Cary’s water and wastewater treatment facilities now have EV charging stations, expanding the town’s fleet charging infrastructure. Each of the new pedestals features two Level 2 charging ports, allowing up to four vehicles to charge simultaneously.

Cary’s Annual Wastewater System Performance Review 2024

Cary has released its annual wastewater report, highlighting the exceptional performance of its collection and treatment system, which serves Cary, Morrisville, Wake RTP, and RDU Airport. The report includes quick facts, details about our treatment facilities, system metrics, and tips for preventing sewer spills to protect the environment. Additionally, citizens can learn about Cary’s newest pump station, Winding Pine.

Ongoing Community Outreach Part of the Greenway Safety Campaign

Community engagement continued into late summer with two pop-up events along greenways in August as well as an engagement with a youth cycling group in western Cary. Sharing key greenway rules and safety messages directly with the community fosters greater awareness and a safer experience for everyone on Cary greenways!

Wake County Clash Football Kickoff

This past weekend, Cary and the Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) teamed up to host the highly anticipated second annual WCPSS Football Kickoff at WakeMed Soccer Park. The event featured teams from four local high schools—Garner Magnet, Holly Springs, Broughton, and Cary High Schools—providing these young athletes with the exceptional experience of playing in a premier stadium. The evening featured two high-energy games and drew enthusiastic crowds, celebrating local talent and strengthening community ties.

Upcoming Meetings

Senior Advisory Board
Wednesday, September 4
12:00 p.m.

Mayor’s Mailbox

• Three complaints about the tax rate.  
• A request to volunteer in the town.
• A complaint about my comments that apartments in Cary don’t have more crime than single family.
• A question about address having a different city (a postal address and city is determined by the post office that is responsible for delivering your mail. The municipality of where you live can be found in your tax records on the Wake County Web site).
• A question about construction of affordable housing on SE Maynard.

Next Week

Next week’s activities include staff meetings, the Labor Day holiday, a Cary Tennis Classic Advisory Board meeting, and an Environmental Symposium.

Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, September 8^th, 2024. 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@carync.gov and email personal comments to augustanat@mindspring.com.

Auditor Interview

Monday afternoon I was interviewed by a representative of auditor Cherry Bekaert as part of our annual auditing process. The interview was mostly questions about any possible wrongdoing with finances which of course there are none. The interview was very brief.

EDC Applications

Later Monday I met with Jack Smith and staff to discuss Economic Development Committee Applications to decide on who to interview. Council member Smith will be doing the interviews. Out of the dozens of applicants we will be able to only choose two.

Agenda Prep

Monday I asked council members if they had questions or concerns about the upcoming council meeting agenda. Questions were mostly on the Green Level rezoning proposal that was on the agenda for discussion. Comments included the lack of bike/ped, compliance with the Special Planning Area, and transition to neighboring homes.

Town Manager One-On-One

Monday I met with the town manager for our weekly one-on-one. Our conversation included council actions, financing capital projects, PFAS, and the Downtown Cary Park.

Cary #2 for Best Places to Live

Tuesday I was notified that Cary was ranked #2 best place to live in the nation by Livability. The ranking was done earlier in the year. Some of the compliments include:

“Cary is a growing town that is attracting residents with its central location, good schools and flourishing research and technology sector. The League of American Bicyclists recognizes Cary as a bicycle-friendly community, and residents have access to multiple parks and walking trails. More than two-thirds of adults have a college degree, and the town is less than 15 minutes from major universities like Duke, North Carolina State and the University of North Carolina. …

it’s one of the best places to live in the U.S. due to its central location and its reputation for quality public schools, safe streets, a lively arts scene, dynamic restaurants (more than 200 and growing!) and a robust job market. …

Cary is affordable, boasting the amenities of a much larger city but with a lower price tag. The charming neighborhoods are certainly a draw, as are the greenways and parks, arts venues, breweries, and exciting sporting events. Baseball fans love to watch teams at the USA Baseball National Training Complex, and professional soccer fans delight to see the North Carolina Football Club and the North Carolina Courage soccer players take the field. And speaking of visual treats, shows and festivals at the Koka Booth Amphitheater, next to Symphony Lake, are a must-do on the weekends.”

They scored Cary’s quality of life as 874 out of 1000 possible points and said Cary ranked highest for health, education and economy. You can read the entire story here.

Cary Matters Taping

Tuesday I taped an episode of Cary Matters with council member Bush. In this episode we talked about updates to the Cary Community Plan. The initial draft was posted for public review from January 23^rd to March 31^st. The final draft will be available for public review this fall in advance of the formal public hearing process.

CAMPO

Wednesday afternoon I attended a meeting of the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Executive Board. In the meeting we approved the fiscal year 2026 program and agreed to pause any changes to the program for a year.

In a separate item it was announced that federal and state funds were shifted. This allowed an additional Cary project, the intersection at I40 and Cary Town Boulevard to be funded. The meeting lasted about an hour and a half.

Cary #3 Best Real Estate Market in US

Wednesday WalletHub named Cary as the #3 best real estate market in the nation. You can read the details here. They noted that Cary was #5 best in affordability and economic environment.

Dorcas Interview

Thursday I did an interview about Dorcas and a possible merger that would expand their services. Of course, I had nothing but positive things to say about Dorcas. We are blessed to have them in our community working to support those in need. Cary continues to partner with Dorcas in several ways including funding programs to help with utility bills and housing.

Council Work Session

Thursday evening the council held a work session on future capital projects.

Cary is moving into a more conservative mode for capital projects due to the uncertainty of inflation. Here are some of the take aways from this work session:

• What are capital projects? Facilities, Vehicles, Street, Waterlines/Sewer lines, IT. Our smallest project is a restroom maintenance project. Our largest project is Water Plant Expansion. (Ready for closeout.) Our oldest project is for Sanitation Truck Replacement. Our newest project is the Walnut Street Road Diet. (Initial Phase complete.)
• Projects included in the Capital Budget are typically assets a value of more than $25,000 and a useful life of over three years.
• Capital projects will be put in one of five categories: research, planning, design, implementation, and completion.
• In the coming months council will decide what capital projects to put on hold. Those will likely be in the research and planning phases.
• There are 581 active capital projects.
• There is $1.264 billion budgeted (over years) for capital projects. Actual expenditure to date is $707 million.
• Construction costs have skyrocketed. For example:
  • Rebar: $52 per 100 pounds in 2019, $119.76 in 2024.
  • Ductile Iron Pipe: $32.36/foot in 2019, $36.00/foot in 2024.
  • Asphalt: $428.05 in 2019, $550 in 2024.
  • Concrete 5000 psi: $150.45 in 2019, $215.00 in 2024.
• Formal bid awards for capital projects last year: 50% over projected bid estimates, 6 projects required re-bid.
• Street resurfacing with milling: $12.25/sq yd in 2019, $16.85/sq yd in 2024.
• Sidewalk construction: $20/linear foot in 2019, $60/linear foot in 2024.
• 8-inch water line pipe: $85.50/foot in 2019, $189.50/foot in 2024
• 8-inch sewer line pipe: $175.00/foot in 2019, $310.00/foot in 2024
• Sanitation truck with side arm: $299,317 in 2019 $416,496 in 2024
• Projects in planning that may be held:
  • Pedestrian bridge over NC Hwy 55
  • Pedestrian tunnel under O’Kelly Chapel
  • Tunnel/bridge at Maynard to Godbold Park

We will begin capital project evaluation and prioritization at our next quarterly meeting on November 7^th.

Council Meeting

Thursday night the Cary Council held their last regularly scheduled meeting of the month. The agenda included a special welcome, five consent items, one public hearing, and one discussion item. The rezoning proposal for 22-REZ-06 Green Level at Mills Farm Road was pulled from the agenda by the applicant.

The meeting opened with a welcome from John Webster, our official town crier, from Markham, Canada. Mr. Webster was dressed in attire from the 1800s and announced Lazy Daze after a loud bell ringing. This was his 20^th year announcing Lazy Daze. He also presented gifts from Markham mayor Frank Scarpitti.

Public Speaks Out was dominated by speakers asking the town to take over funding for  maintenance and improvements of a private street that would cost $1.2 million.

The public hearing was a rezoning proposal on Piney Plains at Stephens Road with a preliminary development plan (PDP) that proposed a maximum of 370 multi-family dwellings and 16 townhouses with a maximum building height of 75 feet. There were dozens of speakers with neighboring property owners adamantly against the proposal and several Habitat supporters in favor of the proposal. Council members expressed several concerns including transition and building height. This will come back to council in a few months for a vote.

The discussion item that passed an ordinance allowing plurality elections in Cary was passed unanimously. This will change Cary elections to be held in November without a runoff and the top vote getter being declared the winner instead of having to have 50% + 1 of the vote. This change was done to reduce confusion (since all other municipalities have November elections), and cost (it cost Cary approximately $1 million for our runoffs).

The council meeting lasted about two hours and forty-five minutes.

Lazy Daze

Saturday morning, I kicked off the 48^th Lazy Daze with council member Michelle Craig.

After opening remarks, I awarded Jerry Miller the Mayor’s Star Medallion. He is the first person to receive this award which is Cary’s highest honor. The award was created in 2023 to recognize individuals who embody inspiration, beauty, perseverance, innovation, and courage through their contributions or achievements in Cary. Jerry Miller is an ideal recipient of the Cary Mayor’s Star Medallion due to his profound impact on the community through art and culture. As the founder of the Lazy Daze Arts and Crafts Festival, he has fostered a strong sense of community in Cary, drawing thousands to the town each year. His dedication to capturing and celebrating North Carolina’s landmarks through his artwork has not only put Cary on the map but also enriched the town’s cultural heritage. His lifelong commitment to Cary’s growth and his artistic contributions exemplify the values of inspiration, beauty, perseverance, and innovation that the Mayor’s Star Medallion honors.

Before the Cary Town Crier, John Webster from Markham, Canada officially opened Lazy Daze with a proclamation and bell ringing I recognized him with a special engraved bell commemorating his 20^th year. Over the years he has truly enriched our community, bringing history and tradition to life at countless events. His presence, along with his wife Mary, has made our festivals and ceremonies more vibrant and memorable. We are deeply grateful for the strong connections he has help build between Cary and Markham, and we thank him for his outstanding service and commitment.

Lazy Daze had over 60,000 visitors on Saturday and Sunday and is our biggest event of the year. Thanks to all staff and volunteers who made it possible.

Hometown Spirit Award

Cary is seeking nominations for the Town’s Hometown Spirit Award. Given annually since 2009, the award recognizes a citizen who enhances the quality of life in Cary by preserving, promoting, and carrying out positive and quantifiable small-town community values and traits. 
“I have been fortunate enough to have met and worked with Cary citizens from many races, religions, political affiliations, and beliefs as I have interviewed them to document Cary’s history,” shared Peggy Van Scoyoc, 2023 Hometown Spirit Award winner. “All of our narrators have told us their stories and memories about how Cary became Cary from the very beginning. Sharing their memories, and those of their ancestors, friends and neighbors, they have contributed to preserving our past and emerging history. Then, through the explosive growth of Cary over the past five decades, with all the newcomers from around the country and the world, has come the opportunity to evolve an inclusive culture to what it is today, making Cary a unique and very special place to live.” 
Cary citizens can submit nominations August 23-September 20, 2024, using an official nomination form available online. Questions regarding nominations can be directed to 311.
Cary citizens ages 21 and older are eligible for the award. Nominees should demonstrate leadership and integrity and be respected by their peers. In addition, nominees should exhibit some of the following traits: helps out neighbors and fellow Cary citizens; demonstrates hospitality; promotes and preserves traditional American pastimes; shows a concern for preservation and works to preserve traditions and the small-town atmosphere in the community; promotes a sense of community in their neighborhood and all of Cary; demonstrates patriotism through promotion and preservation of the country’s symbols and dedication to the U.S. military, past and present; and serves the community through business.  
On November 18, 2024, the three finalists will be recognized at a reception in their honor where the 2024 award recipient will be announced by Mayor Weinbrecht.

Town Manager’s Report

Sean’s Message

I hope you enjoy this week’s report and the first Lazy Daze weekend without extreme heat in quite some time.
Sean

Council Celebrates Housing Developers and Nonprofits

On Wednesday, Councilmember Lori Bush delivered remarks and joined Councilmembers Carissa Kohn-Johnson, Michelle Craig, and Sarika Bansal, along with staff, for breakfast at Cary Founded. The event celebrated partner nonprofits and developers working in the housing sector. Earlier this year, Cary Town Council approved housing awards totaling over $7.2 million for these organizations. These funds will support the construction of 226 new affordable housing units and the preservation of 29 existing affordable homes. Additionally, the funds will help maintain housing stability and build organizational capacity within Cary nonprofits focused on housing and community development. For a full list of awards, recipients, and projects, visit housing.carync.gov. Rooted in Partnerships and a People First approach, this investment will further the goals of the Cary Housing Plan and the Imagine Cary Community Plan, ensuring all Cary citizens can enjoy the high quality of life Cary has to offer.

2024 GRCVB Annual Meeting

On Aug. 22, Councilmember Jack Smith and Cary staff attended the 2024 Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau (GRCVB) Annual Meeting in Downtown Raleigh. We learned that Wake County set a record last year with 18.5 million total visitors, making it a standout destination. Notably, WakeMed Soccer Park ranked as the 4th most popular spot. Several Cary events were also highlighted during the ceremony, including the NCAA men’s and women’s College Cups in December and The Soccer Tournament next summer. We’re grateful for the inspiring work the GRCVB does to promote our area to visitors.

2024 Duke School of Public Policy – International Visit

On Aug. 13, ten international officials visited Town Hall to learn about Cary’s public outreach, transparency, and financial management. Their visit was part of the Duke School of Public Policy’s program on Fiscal Decentralization and Local Government Financial Management. High-ranking officials from Africa and Asia are attending Duke’s three-week summer program, which focuses on transferring control from central governments to local officials. This marks the 20th year that Dr. Roy Kelly has brought his students to Cary.
During the visit, the officials toured the Council Chambers, heard from Allison Hutchins about Cary’s government and culture, and engaged in discussions with finance leaders Kimberly Branch, Liam Brailey, intern Neal Duncan, and retired CFO Karen Mills.

Road Closures for Meridian East Chatham Construction

Starting August 26, contractors working on the Meridian East Chatham Development will begin the next phase of construction for water and sewer lines on Hunter Street, in partnership with Cary to enhance the surrounding infrastructure. This phase will include a full closure of Hunter Street between Waldo Street and East Chatham Street, as well as a daytime closure of the Hunter Street and Waldo Street intersection.

Hunter Street will be closed to traffic from August 26 to November 8. The intersection of Hunter and Waldo Streets will be closed on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., from August 26 to September 6. Detours will be in place. This construction will be coordinated with the ongoing waterline installation on East Chatham Street.

Kit Creek Watermain Connection Project Begins

Construction has begun on the Kit Creek Water Main Connection Project. Sanford Contractors, Inc. is installing 4,000 feet of 12-inch water main, including a crossing of NC 885. Located in northwest Cary, this project will enhance the water system by providing a back feed to both Biogen and nearly 800 homes in the Kitts Creek subdivision. The project aims to improve resiliency and increase capacity in the area. Construction is expected to be completed by next summer.

Celebrating 10 Years

Join us in celebrating 10 years of excellence at the Western Wake Regional Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) as we mark this significant milestone. Since its start-up on August 11, 2014, the facility has been dedicated to innovative wastewater treatment and biosolids management, supporting environmental sustainability and public health in our region. Its achievements in advanced technologies and effective nutrient removal set a high standard in the industry. The Western Wake Regional WRF also highlights a successful partnership with the Town of Apex, demonstrating the strength of our community and stakeholder relationships. Here’s to many more years of success!

Upcoming Meetings

Planning and Zoning Board
Monday, August 26
6:30 p.m.

Cultural Arts Committee
Wednesday, August 28
6:00 p.m.

Mayor’s Mailbox

• A cut-and-paste email urging me to condemn violent against Bangladeshi Hindus (It has been my practice to not get involved in issues outside our core services. Making a statement on one of these international, national, state, etc. issues will open the door to getting involved in all kinds of issues that we have no authority over. In addition, it usually accomplishes very little, makes someone feel good, and makes others feel bad. The result is usually divisive. That is not the purpose of this council. So, I will not be making a statement.).
• Dozens of complaints about rezoning case 19-REZ-25 at Piney Plains and Stephens Road.
• A complaint about the Carpenter Village Greenway connector.
• A complaint about the property tax rate.
• A complaint about enforcement of Cary’s stormwater ordinance.
• A thank you for the Cary Tennis Classic.

Next Week

Next week’s activities include staff meetings, HRID interviews, and the beginning of the Labor Day holiday.

Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, September 1^st, 2024. 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@carync.gov 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. Our conversation included several things but we talked mostly about historic preservation and the Nancy Jones house.

Cary Tennis Classic

The Cary Tennis Classic, formerly known as the Atlantic Tire Championship, was held this week at the Cary Tennis Park and was live streamed around the world. It was the 10^th year we have hosted this professional tournament but the first time we hosted a women’s event in addition to the men’s event. Most of the players this year were international, giving Cary Classic patrons a chance to see the best in the world. The tournament started on Sunday and completed on Saturday so that the players could get to the US Open in time for qualifying and the main draw.

I had the pleasure of presenting the championship trophies to the winners of the ITF-WTT women’s doubles,

the ATP men’s singles, and the ITF-WTT women’s singles. All the finals’ matches went into a deciding tiebreaker which resulted in three long matches with the last trophy being handed out around midnight.

We were very fortunate to have this tournament in Cary. It not only provided entertaining tennis from the best in the world but gave us international exposure and created economic benefit. We look forward to hosting it again next year.

Cary #12 Least Stressed-Out City in Nation

Thursday I was notified that Cary was the 12^th least stressed-out city in the nation according to LawnStarter. This is the methodology they used:

“First, we determined the factors (metrics) that are most relevant to rank the Most Relaxed Cities. We then assigned a weight to each factor based on its importance and grouped those factors into 8 categories: Mental Well-Being, Mental Health Boosters, Physical Well-Being, Financial Well-Being, Work Stressors, Environmental Stressors, Social Stressors, and Recreation Options. …

For each of the 500 biggest U.S. cities, we then gathered data on each factor from the sources listed below the table. 

Finally, we calculated scores (out of 100 points) for each city to determine its rank in each factor, each category, and overall. A city’s Overall Score is the average of its scores across all factors and categories. The highest Overall Score ranked “Most Relaxed” (No. 1) and the lowest “Least Relaxed” (No. 500).”

While I am pleased to be recognized as one of the least stressed, I am shocked that they ranked us 406 out of 500 for recreational options. You can judge for yourself and read detailed information here.

Business After Hours at Cary Tennis Park

Thursday evening I attended the Cary Chamber of Commerce’s Business After Hours held at the Cary Tennis Park during the Cary Tennis Classic. There were about 150 in attendance. I provided a few remarks before we heard from the guest speaker Andy Andrews. Andrews played at NC State and was a top tennis professional in the world during the 1980s. He currently is a developer in the Raleigh area. I loved hearing his tennis stories including legends like John McEnroe.

Anthony Blackman Court Dedication

Thursday evening between tennis matches I joined Jack Smith and others in naming the Cary Tennis Park’s stadium court after Anthony Blackman who passed away last year. Anthony contributed and supported Cary in many ways through many charitable events. One of his passions was supporting the Cary Tennis Classic as the title sponsor. While he is recognized for doing so much for so many, his biggest achievement was being a friend to everyone he met.

Part of the presentation included an announcement of the Anthony Blackman Endowment Fund to help the underprivileged and offering scholarships to Wake County area youth. If you would like to find out more about this fund and contribute go here and select “Apply My Donation” to “Anthony Blackman Scholars Endowment.”

Communications with Elected Officials

Friday I traveled to Beaufort, North Carolina to give a talk on communicating with elected officials. The audience was mostly public works and public utility professionals. The goal of my talk was for them to be able to recognize certain behaviors of elected officials and to employ strategies to get crucial information to them.

India Independence Day Celebration

Saturday I joined several dignitaries at the India Independence Day celebration at HSNC temple in Morrisville. Also in attendance were NC Secretary of State Marshall, NC Senators Adcock and Chaudhuri, NC House members, the Wake County Sheriff, Apex mayor, Fuquay-Varina mayor, Morrisville mayor, and others. There were several hundred people in attendance. After a short parade we unveiled flags of NC, the US, and India. This was followed by other events and food in the temple fellowship hall.

Town Manager’s Report

Russ’ Message

Last night, Mayor Weinbrecht and Councilmember Jack Smith joined staff and community members for the Chamber’s Business After Hours at the Cary Tennis Classic. A special highlight of the evening was the dedication of the stadium court in honor of Anthony Blackman, who, as you know, Council, made a lasting impact on the Cary community.
Continuing with the theme of events, I’m excited to attend the Gin Blossoms and Toad the Wet Sprocket concert at Koka Booth Amphitheatre tonight. And on Saturday, I’ll be heading to Cary Tennis Park with friends for the final day of the Cary Tennis Classic.
Another significant event this weekend is college move-in! Sean, many other colleagues, and I are busy moving our kids into college, some even across the country. I hope everyone experiences a safe and smooth move-in day and transition back at home.
Speaking of move-ins, beginning next week, vendors, volunteers, and staff will be setting up for our 48th annual Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival. Just a reminder, as in previous years, Town Hall campus will close at noon on Friday, August 23, to finalize preparations for the two-day festival.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend.
Russ

NCDOT Projects in Cary

Three major NCDOT projects are currently under construction in Cary:

Complete 540 (Phase 1)

Construction is nearing completion. Phase 1 extends N.C. 540 from its current endpoint at the N.C. 55 Bypass in Apex to the I-40/U.S. 70 interchange. The effects of Hurricane Debby have delayed the opening. More information on a ribbon cutting ceremony will be released as the date approaches. Phase 2 will continue this extension to the I-540/I-87/U.S. 64/U.S. 264 interchange and effectively complete the N.C 540/I-540 loop. Phase 2 is currently under construction, with the project expected to be completed in 2028. 

I-40/Airport Boulevard Interchange 

This project is building a diverging diamond interchange to accommodate the heavy left-turn traffic at the interchange ramps and improve safety. The project is expected to be completed in late 2024 or early 2025. 

I-440 Improvements between Walnut Street and Wade Avenue. 

NCDOT is widening the current 4-lane bottleneck to match the 6 lanes currently at both ends of the segment. Construction is expected to conclude in 2025. 

Additional NCDOT projects

These are in design around Cary, including the Crossroads Junction Interchange, Aviation Parkway Road Widening and Maynard Road Grade Separation, and Trinity Road Grade Separation. For more information on these upcoming projects and their schedules, please visit carync.gov/NCDOT.

New Sidewalk Connections

Sidewalk construction will begin next week, August 22, along NW Cary Parkway near the Prestonwood Tennis Courts. This new segment will connect Cary’s sidewalk system to Morrisville’s, providing pedestrians with a continuous path to neighborhoods, recreation areas, and businesses. Temporary lane closures will be in place to create a safe buffer for the contractor’s work.
Once the NW Cary Parkway sidewalk is complete, the contractor will move to Summerwinds Drive during the week of September 9 to install a sidewalk from Tryon Road to the existing sidewalk near Summerview Lane. This project will incorporate crosswalk improvements at Tryon Road with a pedestrian refuge median and enhanced pavement markings.

Pedestrian Improvements

Pedestrian improvements are nearly finished on West Lake Road, Middle Creek Park Avenue, and Arthur Pierce Road. These enhancements include new sidewalks, ADA-compliant curb ramps, high-visibility crosswalks, and updated signage. This fall, we will install enhanced LED signs and complete landscaping once the signs are available and the weather is optimal for planting.

Best of North Carolina Technology Award

On Thursday, staff from Cary’s Information Technology Department received the Best of North Carolina Technology Award for Outstanding Leadership and Innovation. The award was presented by James Weaver, Secretary and Chief Information Officer of the North Carolina Department of Information Technology, at the NC Digital Government Summit 2024, held at the Raleigh Convention Center. This award recognizes the team’s groundbreaking work in deploying IoT sensors using Cary’s own LoRaWAN network at the new Downtown Cary Park.

A Sweet Treat in the Name of Community Collaboration

Last Friday, Fire Station 2 was invited to Howdy Homemade Ice Cream in downtown Cary to taste-test and name the shop’s newest flavor, a sweet but spicy ice cream available in both nut and nut-free varieties. After several spoonfuls and laughs, the Howdy staff and firefighters named the new flavor “Heat Wave.” Howdy Homemade Ice Cream, a nonprofit franchise, employs individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, with a mission to make a difference in the lives of people of all abilities in the community. Although “Heat Wave” is a seasonal flavor, the Fire Department appreciates the opportunity to collaborate with Howdy any time of year.

Downtown Cary Park Screens Jurassic Park for more than 800 Visitors

Inclement weather caused Downtown Cary Park’s screening of Jurassic Park to be rescheduled from July 19 to August 2. This gave the Park staff another chance to recreate a scene from the movie in a Reel, reminding everyone of the new date. The Reel garnered over 37,000 plays, 765 likes, and 560 shares.

The anticipation for the film was high, with the Park bustling during pre-screening activities, including photos with an authentic Jurassic Park replica Jeep, an amber-making craft, and a dino-themed scavenger hunt. More than 800 visitors enjoyed the activities and the film. Although this movie debuted over 20 years ago, one thing remains true – everyone loves dinosaurs.

Upcoming Meetings

Athletic Committee
Monday, August 19
6:00 p.m.

Public Art Advisory Board
Wednesday, August 21
6:15 p.m.

Town Council Meeting (Work Session)
Thursday, August 22
4:45 p.m.

Town Council Meeting (Regular)
Thursday, August 22
6:30 p.m.

Mayor’s Mailbox

• Dozens of cut-and-paste emails urging me to condemn violent against Bangladeshi Hindus (It has been my practice to not get involved in issues outside our core services. Making a statement on one of these international, national, state, etc. issues will open the door to getting involved in all kinds of issues that we have no authority over. In addition, it usually accomplishes very little, makes someone feel good, and makes others feel bad. The result is usually divisive. That is not the purpose of this council. So, I will not be making a statement.).
• A request to have a Christmas Market at Downtown Cary Park.
• A complaint about the “overselling” of the John Legend concert.
• Three complaints about the property tax.
• A complaint about not funding the restoration of Nancy Jones House.
• Three complaints about the Holt rezoning proposal, 22-REZ-19, at Regency.
• A request for the town to buy Chatham Estates.
• A complaint about stormwater pipe work at Carolina Preserve.
• A request to reconfigure our dog parks with more amenities.

Next Week

Next week’s activities include staff meetings, an auditor meeting, interviews for advisory boards, a Cary Matters taping, a Cary Housing All Grantee meeting, a CAMPO meeting, a council work session, and council meeting, and Lazy Daze.

Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, August 25^th, 2024. 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. Our conversation included storm preparation and recent council actions.

HRID Meeting

Tuesday I joined a meeting of the Human Relations, Inclusion, and Diversity committee. The committee discussed demographics for surveys and the prioritization chart of accomplishments. Afterwards there was a presentation on 311. My remarks included the Walnut Street Road Diet project, the Cary Tennis Classic, the Cary bonds new web page at https://carybonds.org, and actions taken because of tropical storm Debby.

Cary Chamber Leadership Dinner

Wednesday night I joined council members Smith, Robinson, Kohn-Johnson, and Craig and the Cary Chamber Leadership Dinner. Elected officials from all levels of government were in attendance including Congresswoman Ross, and NC Secretary of State Marshall. Remarks were provided by the Chamber President, the presenting sponsor, and me. In my remarks I thanked elected leaders, business leaders, and citizens for helping make Cary the best of the best or “top of the arc”. I encouraged all to support the bond referendum this fall which would keep Cary at the top of the arc for years to come.

Tropical Storm Debby (Quarterly Cancelled)

Due to Tropical Storm Debby the staff and council decided to cancel their quarterly meeting. That allowed key staff members to focus on preparing and responding to the storm. Cary was very lucky in this storm. Here is a summary of impacts from the fire chief:

The brunt of the storm hit Cary before noon Thursday, with peak water flow and calls for service happening Thursday morning. Crews responded to 22 downed trees, a handful of high water/flooding calls, three signal outages, and closed three street segments due to standing water, downed trees, and power lines, or both. Several greenway segments are under shallow waters, as to be expected with this much rainfall in such a short period of time. GoCary operated as expected, and all inspections scheduled for Thursday were completed. Call volume in 911 and cases into 311 have returned to at or below-typical levels for a Thursday, and one street that was initially closed has since reopened (Bowden Street).

Thanks to all our emergency personnel who kept us safe in this storm.

Mayor’s Mailbox

• Three complaints about the tax rate.
• A complaint about panhandlers (This is allowed on private property unless the property owner complains. On public land there are court cases where it is protected as a first amendment right).
• Two emails from people struggling with mental illness.
• A compliment on Downtown Cary Park from someone visiting from Maryland.
• A complaint about traffic line-of-sight on Joshua Tree Court.
• A complaint about GoCary door to door.
• Dozens of cut-and-paste emails urging me to condemn violent against Bangladeshi Hindus (It has been my practice to not get involved in issues outside our core services. Making a statement on one of these international, national, state, etc. issues will open the door to getting involved in all kinds of issues that we have no authority over. That is not the purpose of this council. So, I will not be making a statement.).
• A request to build housing for homeless veterans.
• A complaint about 311 not helping with Cary Parks.
• Two complaints from Friends of the Pager Walker and an additional complaint about the budget related to the Nancy Jones House.

Next Week

Next week’s activities include staff meetings, activities related to the Cary Tennis Classic, and an India Independence Day celebration.

Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, August 18^th, 2024. 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. Our conversation included ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units), the HRID (Human Relations, Inclusion, and Diversity) committee, council decisions on development, the upcoming quarterly, and historic preservation.

Cary Matters

Wednesday I joined council member Craig in a taping of Cary Matters. This episode is about the 48^th Cary Lazy Daze festival which is coming up in a few weeks. The taping was in two takes and took about fifteen to twenty minutes.

Economic Development Committee Meeting Cancelled

Wednesday evening the Economic Development Committee meeting was cancelled due to a lack of a quorum. Here is a summary of business opportunities in the pipeline:

• Active Pipeline: 46 projects | 9094 jobs | $4.4B potential investment
• Site Visit from Project Boston (The Press) – med device company with Novo contract
• Activity remains steady despite the cost of capital
• Industry sectors: Advanced Manufacturing, Life Science/med device, IT, Corporate HQ

North Carolina Metro Mayors

Friday I joined a meeting of the North Carolina Metro Mayors. Here is a legislative summary from consultants Checkmate Government Relations:

Veto Overrides

On Wednesday, July 31st, the House convened for the reconsideration of vetoed bills. The house overrode three of Governor Roy Cooper’s vetoes. 

House Bill 155, Titles for Off-Road Vehicles/Low Speed Vehicle Inspection, was overridden with a 73 to 41 vote. H155 expands the types of vehicles allowed on roads with speed limits of 55 MPH or less. Governor Cooper remains concerned with these vehicles’ safety measures. 

House Bill 556, Tenancy In Common/E-Notary/Small Claims Changes, was overridden with a 74 to 40 vote. Governor Cooper vetoed this because he disapproves of giving landlords the right to deny people housing whose main form of rent comes from federal housing assistance funds. 

House Bill 690, No Central Bank Digital Currency Payments To State, was overridden with a 73 to 41 vote. H690 would prohibit a state agency or the General Court of Justice from accepting a payment using central bank digital currency, or from participating in any test of central bank digital currency by any Federal Reserve branch. These bills will await a final override vote in the Senate. 

Governor Cooper Withdrawal

Governor Roy Cooper removed himself from presidential candidate Kamala Harris’s shortlist for Vice President. Though the Governor has removed himself from the shortlist, he continues to support the Harris campaign. A Harris-Cooper ticket could have had down ballot implications in North Carolina. Vice President Kamala Harris is set to announce her running mate in the next week. 

Upcoming Schedule

According to the Adjournment Resolution passed in July, the next date that the House and Senate can return would be Monday, September 9th. However, it is likely this will be a skeletal session that will not require members to be in town. It is likely that the next substantive session will be held in November after the election. 

Town Manager’s Report

Russ’ Message

This week, the staff has been busy with meetings leading up to next week’s Quarterly Meeting. The team is excited to update you on several important topics next Thursday. There will not be a Council Weekly Report next Friday since any timely updates will be shared at the meeting.

I hope you enjoy your weekend!
Russ

Walnut Street Roadwork Beginning

Beginning August 5, construction will begin on Phase 1 of the Walnut Street Road Diet Project. Preliminary utility repairs are complete, and staff worked this week to notify citizens, including hanging door-to-door notices along the project extents and posting dynamic message boards on Walnut Street and Cary Towne Boulevard. Phase 1 work combines restriping, additional signage, and signal modifications to allow for a single vehicle lane in each direction, a center turning lane, and buffered bike lanes in each direction. During construction, drivers and other road users should expect continuous work zone traffic control (orange cones) with intermittent lane closures and diversions. Upon completion, staff will continue to study the corridor to determine future phases of work. In parallel with the Phase 1 work, progress continues on the pedestrian hybrid beacon on Walnut Street, adjacent to Cary High School. Trenching and boring work along the shoulders of Walnut Street continues, with lane closures planned in August for installation of the mast arm pole in the median. All work is on schedule to finish before the start of the traditional calendar school year.

Cary Introduces Utilization Study with Surveys to Business

Cary is partnering with Keen Independent Research LLC, a national economic consulting firm, to assess its procurement from small and diverse businesses. Business owners may receive a call this summer asking about company structure, the type of work performed, and interest in partnering with Cary. Business groups and trade associations may also receive communication requesting in-depth interviews to gain insight into current market conditions. Participation is encouraged to help Cary enhance its outreach to firms.

Fenton Development Updates

Fenton is evolving into a high-density Destination Center, fostering business development through high-quality design and a connected mix of uses, with a proposed hotel as the latest addition. Mainsail Hotels has submitted a development plan for a proposed seven-story, 225-room hotel in Fenton. Active construction is underway on a new five-level, 772-space parking deck at the existing surface lot northeast of Fenton Gateway Drive and Ridgeview Walk Drive, as well as on phase two of Quinard Drive, extending from the existing roundabout in Fenton to SE Maynard Road. Both projects are expected to be completed in 2025.

Cary’s Greenway Safety Campaign

As Cary’s Greenway Safety Campaign continues, key rules and etiquette are being shared with the community in various ways. Webpage banners, trail-side signs, greenway pavement stickers, and pop-up engagement events along the greenways are spreading the word. These messages have also been converted to video and are being shared on Cary’s social media posts, paid social media, and with WRAL webpage viewers. Check out upcoming pop-up engagement dates and take the Greenways survey at www.carync.gov/greenways.

Reedy Creek Road Project Nominated for a Mobi Award

Cary’s Reedy Creek Road Complete Street Project has been nominated for the NCDOT Mobi (Mobility) Award! This project, which involved creating bicycle lanes, roundabouts, and landscaping, started in 2011 and was completed in 2023. Designed to enhance the safety and well-being of both motorists and pedestrians while protecting the environment and promoting quality of life, it has now been nominated for the 2024 NCDOT Mobi Award. Cast your vote today!

Platinum Honors for Cary’s Wastewater Facilities

The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) has honored each of Cary’s three wastewater treatment facilities with the Platinum Peak Performance Award. This prestigious recognition is given for over five years of 100% compliance and outstanding wastewater treatment performance.

• North Cary Water Reclamation Facility – Platinum 11 Years
• South Cary Water Reclamation Facility – Platinum 11 Years
• Western Wake Regional WRF – Platinum 9 Years

Art House Theater Day at The Cary

On July 25, The Cary joined over 95 theaters nationwide to celebrate the vital role of art house theaters and independent films in our cultural landscape. Art House Theater Day honors the ambitious and innovative art that provokes, challenges, entertains, and inspires. To mark the occasion, The Cary hosted a free screening of the 4K restored version of James Cameron’s classic film The Terminator, celebrating its 40th anniversary. The enthusiastic audience enjoyed both the film and the newly installed seats. As a proud member of Art House Convergence, The Cary supported the fifth annual Art House Theater Day, which began in 2016 and now involves more than 150 cinemas across the country.

USA Baseball Complex Performance Center

USA Baseball has had a busy summer with events and national teams of various age groups playing at the complex and utilizing the new Performance Training Center. Staff has scheduled local to international play around USA Baseball’s activities. In July, the Canadian National Baseball team held several productive training sessions. Following this, local kids used the facility for team placements when weather closed the grass fields. The Performance Training Center is becoming an increasingly valuable asset for Cary.

Upcoming Meetings

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

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

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

Virtual Neighborhood Rezoning Meeting
Wednesday, August 7
6:30 p.m.

Town Council Meeting (Quarterly)
Thursday, August 8
1:00 p.m.

Mayor’s Mailbox

• A complaint about the Waverly Place rezoning proposal 23-REZ-12
• Two complaints about the Regency Holt rezoning proposal 22-REZ-19
• A complaint about the Piney Plains rezoning proposal 19-REZ-25
• A complaint about the Imagine Cary 2.0 process
• Five complaints about Cary’s budget and tax rate
• A complaint about a proposed rezoning on Walker Street (Council does not have a staff report on this yet)
• A complaint that we were in the top 10 for worst places to retire (Not true, we are in the top 10 for best places to retire)
• A complaint about beggers

Next Week

Next week’s activities include staff meetings, Human Relations Inclusion and Diversity meeting, Cary Chamber Leadership dinner, Council-Staff quarterly meeting, and activities related to the Cary Tennis Classic.

Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, August 11^th, 2024. 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.