On July 22ndCoworkingCafe ranked Cary #2 most affordable city in the nation for remote workers. Here is what they said about Cary:
“A significant 41% of Cary’s workforce is remote, which is the highest share among the cities analyzed. What’s more, this green, suburban-like North Carolina city boasted the second-lowest unemployment rate of only 1.6%. It’s also generally known for its affordable living, which is supported by the median yearly income in this area of almost $63,000.
Here, workers benefit from one of the best broadband coverages and can also easily travel in and out of the area due to the city’s proximity to two airports. As a result, this helps support an overall healthy work/life balance and accessibility for digital nomads and business travelers.”
Cary continues to be recognized nationally being business/worker friendly.
Council Meeting Prep
Monday I attempted to contact each council member to hear of any questions or concerns about the upcoming agenda. There was a question about the Hometown Spirit Award changes, a concern about the lack of affordable housing on rezonings proposals that were having a public hearing, and rules for ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units).
Later in the day I met with staff and went over the agenda and the questions by council members.
Manager One-On-One
Monday evening, I met with the town manager and Mayor Pro-Tem for my weekly one-on-one. Topics included historic preservation, controversial rezonings, and council members’ interactions with the public.
5 West Magazine Interview
Thursday morning I interviewed with a reporter for 5 West Magazine. The interview’s focus was Cary’s downtown. I talked about the last 20+ years in downtown planning and development, and what can be expected downtown in the coming years. Our interview was about 30 minutes.
Meeting National Spelling Bee Finalist
Thursday afternoon, I joined Council Member Bansal in meeting a National Spelling Bee Finalist. Ananya Prassanna, who attends Davis Drive Middle School, finished 3rd nationally. In talking with her and her parents we found that it took her hours per day and many years of training to be at the level she was on. She previously finished in the quarterfinals. Her daily training included her mother researching words during the day while she was at school. When I asked if she would try again, she was unsure. She expressed an interest in turning her focus towards the sciences. It was an honor to meet such a remarkable young lady.
Town Council Work Session
Thursday evening, the council held a work session on the Cary Community Plan 2024 update. The update was posted on the town’s website from January 23rd to March 31st and was viewed 1900 times. Of the 115 comments received there were requests to update demographics, housing affordability, environmental impacts related to population growth, policy on native species, and preserving existing habitats and urban forest.
Here are some of my takeaways from the presentation:
Cary will remain primarily suburban
New walkable mixed-use forms in strategic locations
Maintain attractive physical setting – natural and built environment
Influx subsidy period is ending (new growth won’t be subsidizing costs)
LIVE Chapter updates:
Continue to be a community of choice by ensuring high-quality and diverse new housing development
Ensure that Cary residents can enjoy the full benefit of Cary’s high quality of life
Pursue regional partnerships to meet housing needs.
ENRICH Chapter (new):
Include environment focus moved from the SERVE chapter
Include the Urban Forest Master Plan completed in May of 2024
Cary sustainability and climate action plan
Open space plan
Should be completed by winter 2025
ENRICH Chapter (new policies to go with 7 existing policies):
Involve the Community in Environmental Stewardship Strategies for a Sustainable Future
Implement and Promote Green Building Principles
Support Soil Regeneration, Use of Native Plants, and Increased Biodiversity for Pollinators and Wildlife
SERVE Chapter (new policy to go with 5 existing policies):
Provide Equitable, Inclusive, and High-Quality Services to Support Citizens and Development
Future plans and Updates:
PRCR Master Plan
Historic preservation Plan
Bike Plan
Stormwater Master Plan
The final draft of this update will be in August, and this will be followed by a public hearing this fall. It will also be reviewed by the Planning and Zoning Board with adoption sometime in the beginning of next year.
Town Council Meeting
The council held its last regularly scheduled meeting of July on Thursday night. The agenda included six consent items and six public hearings. There were no items under discussion.
Approved under consent without discussion were a new policy for the Hometown Spirit Award, Opioid Litigation Proposed Settlement with Kroger, a bid award for a sewer rehabilitation project, a call for a public hearing for the annexation at 4000 Green Level West Road, a bid award for Harrison Elevated Water Tank Coating Improvements, and a call for a public hearing for the Courtyards at White Oak.
The public hearing for the Holt rezoning in Regency 22-REZ-19, had several speakers and many in attendance. Speakers complained about the density and traffic mostly. Council members also complained about density and traffic as well as a lack of vision. Council members mentioned that it was an ideal parcel to create a mix of restaurants, retail, etc., that would complement the Koka Booth Amphitheater.
A public hearing for the proposed rezoning for the Alston Yards PDP 23-REZ-01, had mostly speakers in favor with one concerned about the lack of road updates which staff explained later are starting in 2025.
Two properties on Holly Springs Road that belong to the adjacent church had a public hearing 24-REZ-01, that would make one property an office building. There was concern expressed by the size of the office building (5000 square feet for medical). The council asked questions about connectivity to the road at the adjacent townhome subdivision.
The fourth public hearing was for ADUs, Accessory Dwelling Units, in ACT 32 of the Land Development Ordinance. Council members discussed and debated at length the height and size of ADUs that would be allowed. Many places in Cary are under HOAs which will not allow ADUs.
The fifth public hearing was a proposed change for Cary’s Method of Election. This would make Cary elections plurality which means that the most votes win regardless of whether they are more than 50%. That will make Cary like all other municipalities in Wake County and eliminate runoffs. In addition, it will save money. We spent an extra $690,711 in the last Cary municipal election and runoff. The council is expected to adopt the ordinance at the August 22nd meeting.
The last public hearing was the third step in holding a bond referendum. The council held a public hearing, adopted each of the two bond orders, and passed a resolution which establishes details of the referendum including the date of November 5, 2024. By new state law the bond will be listed on the ballot with details including interest rates. According to our estimates the interest rates listed about twice as high as the actual rates.
Town Manager’s Report
Sean’s Message
This week was busy, and I enjoyed spending time with you, Council, during our one-on-ones, the work session, and last night’s Council meeting. As always, I appreciate your leadership and hope you enjoy the latest updates from the week. Have a great weekend. Sean
Public Speaks Out – Petty Farm Road
The right-of-way referenced in last night’s Council meeting is regarding a former NCDOT road located outside of Cary’s corporate limits. Staff have been in contact with the citizen over multiple years, has directed the citizen to NCDOT for assistance, and believes the citizen and NCDOT has been in discussion regarding the right-of-way. Staff will explore the buffer issue, but all other issues are NCDOT related.
Cary Public Service Academy
Twenty-four high school students formed the inaugural cohort of the Cary Public Service Academy, a pilot program inspired by Cary 101. This week-long initiative provided a behind-the-scenes view of local government operations, including hands-on activities, facility tours, and volunteering with Dorcas Ministries. The program concluded with a panel discussion led by Cary employees, encouraging participants to consider the many diverse career paths in public service. Councilmembers Lori Bush, Sarika Bansal, and Michelle Craig joined in celebrating the program’s successful completion on Friday afternoon.
Green Level West Road Renaming Community Meeting
A community meeting will be held virtually on Tuesday, August 13 at 6:30 p.m. for the Green Level West Road Renaming Study.
The purpose of this meeting will be to share information and gather community feedback on the proposed renaming of a portion of Green Level West Road to High House Road, from NC 55 Hwy to Green Level Church Road. Following the community meeting, staff will present the findings at a future Town Council public hearing.
In our ongoing efforts to clearly define future road extensions and infrastructure connectivity, staff have upgraded 40 street stubs as future road extensions. There are now 116 out of 150 street stubs in Cary signed as future road extensions. We are now focusing on standardizing these existing signed future road extensions. The remaining street stub locations will be reviewed for community outreach, appropriate approaches, and signage needs. Any modifications and upgrades to our street stubs will be added to our Street Connectivity GIS Dashboard.
Howland Avenue Water Main Replacement Complete
With the resurfacing of Howland Avenue, the water main replacement project is now complete. This project, which replaced 3,000 feet of water main and renewed all water services, was expedited due to frequent breaks and was finished ahead of schedule and within budget. Utilities and Transportation staff coordinated the pavement restoration as part of both the Annual Water Main Replacement Project and the 2024 Street Improvements Project. Later this year, the Annual Water Main Replacement Project will return to the Oakwood Heights neighborhood to complete additional water main replacements.
Byrum Street Sidewalk Project
The new sidewalk along Byrum Street is nearly complete. This project fills in the gaps between private developments that are currently underway. Once all the projects are finished, there will be a continuous sidewalk running from Kildaire Farm Road to Walnut Street. This new sidewalk will offer a safe pedestrian path between two major downtown thoroughfares, complete with high-visibility crosswalks.
Christmas in July
New decorations are arriving in Cary for our 2024 downtown display. This week, we received three angels and a 10-foot-tall lighted ornament. We are also finalizing locations and timelines for the display. The holidays will be here before you know it!
Manchester City & Celtic FC Open Training
Cary welcomed two of the world’s best soccer teams to WakeMed Soccer Park on Tuesday for an exclusive open training session. Manchester City and Celtic FC gave fans a unique glimpse into the training routines of elite athletes. The event, featuring the reigning Premier League Champions (Man City) and Scottish League Champions (Celtic FC), drew over 5,000 attendees, providing a memorable experience for soccer enthusiasts in Cary.
Several complaints about the Regency rezoning 22-REZ-19.
A concern about a “big project” between the church and Park Street disrupting the Farmer’s Market. Council has yet to see this proposal.
Two complaints about the new tax rate. One said, “something needs to be done to end what I see as mismanagement of the Town’s finances.”
A request for help with charges for freight (this is a civil matter).
A request to do something for the needy.
Two requests to support changes for ADUs.
A safety concern of a contractor performing a water main replacement.
A request for GoCary to provide service to the West Regional Library.
Next Week
Next week’s activities include staff meetings, Diwali dance practice, an Economic Development Committee meeting, and a meeting of the North Carolina Metro Mayors.
Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, August 4th, 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.
Monday afternoon I met with the town manager for about half an hour. Our topics of conversation included the Cary Chamber Leadership Conference, historic preservation, data security, and security for political visitors.
Cary Chamber Leadership Conference
On Wednesday and Thursday, I joined council members Bansal and Smith at the Cary Chamber Leadership Conference in Wrightsville Beach. There were 130 attendees including staff members, business leaders, and community leaders. The agenda included several interesting speakers over a day and a half.
I was the first speaker on Wednesday and introduced Cary’s Legacy video. The video captures the legacy of opportunities and leadership that made Cary great. After the video I called on several attendees for their impression.
Chris Chung of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina spoke of the economic environment and what is impacting it. He mentioned that the next election will likely change the economy regardless of who is elected.
Michael Landguth, CEO of RDU International Airport, talked about the recovery of the airport since the pandemic and its growth. RDU continues to expand the number of direct flights. His presentation showed future changes to the airport’s parking structures and gates. He also talked about how the big runway will need to be redone, which is expensive and complex construction since it is concrete.
Nichole Coughlin, Chief Information Officer from Cary, updated the attendees on AI (Artificial Intelligence). Her presentation focused on navigating the hype, facing the reality of AI, and preparing for the future.
North Carolina Senator Gale Adcock gave a fascinating update of legislative actions from a perspective of being on the inside. We are blessed to have our former Cary Mayor Pro-Tem looking out for our interests at the state level.
Jeff Cox, President of the North Carolina Community College System, gave an educational workforce outlook for North Carolina and the country. He emphasized what many of us know, that workforce talent is not meeting the needs of many businesses. And that community colleges are helping train in specific trades at an affordable cost. The work-school internship programs are becoming very popular, and employers usually hire those interns. He lauded Wake Tech and all that it is doing in our area.
Russ Overton, Cary’s Deputy Town Manager, gave a presentation on the proposed bond for this fall. He explained the items on the bond and talked about the cost. New law requires the bond to be listed with costs and interest rates. Sadly, those listed rates will be more of worst-case scenario than reality. Those rates will be listed as over 5.5% when, in reality, it will be closer to 3%.
Ted Abernathy, the Managing Partner of Economic Leadership, gave an economic outlook for the U.S. and North Carolina. North Carolina, and especially the Raleigh metro area, is among the leaders in the nation in many categories and should continue that success.
Dr. Melissa Furman, a professor at Augusta State University, spoke about generational differences in the work environment and how to handle burnout. We have heard her speak on similar topics before and she is very informative and entertaining.
The conference was full of great information and discussion. Being able to connect with Cary’s leaders was also very beneficial. I just wished I had the time to enjoy the beach rather than just seeing it through a window.
Town Manager’s Report
Sean’s Message
This week’s annual Cary Chamber Leadership Conference not only showcased the Mayor and staff but also reinforced over and over again the strong, positive relationships the Town has with our business community and community leaders. I couldn’t be more proud.
For the first time, we showed publicly the “Legacy of Leadership” retreat video, which was a resounding success. The Mayor used it as a jumping off point to lead the 130 attendees in a discussion about the future based on Cary’s tradition of seeing – and seizing – opportunities, in whatever forms they come in.
Nicole Coughlin was a featured speaker on Artificial Intelligence. And Russ Overton, along with John Collins, Cassie Shumacher-Georgopoulos, and Heather Whelehan, reviewed the proposed 2024 Cary Community Bond Referendum.
The Chamber’s board voted unequivocally to support the bonds.
There were many new faces at this year’s meeting, and staff, Council, and I took full advantage of the networking opportunities to help establish effective relationships for the future.
I appreciate the ability to participate in these events and value the time with you, Council, as well as staff and our citizens.
On a personal note, our daughter turns 18 today – Happy Birthday, Emma!
Sean
Wake County Hospitality Alliance Visits Cary
The Wake County Hospitality Alliance (WCHA) invited representatives from the Town Manager’s Office and Police Department to speak Wednesday at The Mayton. Marketing and Creative Manager Kristy Buchanan explained Cary’s strategy to reach more audiences outside of North Carolina, while Captain Kat Christian and Lieutenant John Reeves answered questions and shared more about their community partnerships. The WCHA strives to improve our area’s quality of life by promoting and protecting travel and tourism at the local level.
The Franklin Mixed-Use Development Plans
Staff have begun an initial round of review for the proposed redevelopment of 214 S Walker Street. The project, named “The Franklin,” is a mixed-use proposal including 40 multi-family units, 2,380 square feet of non-residential, and structured parking on 0.37-acres. Based on current grade, the building would appear to be six stories tall from E. Park Street and seven stories from the north (looking south) on S Walker Street. The site is zoned Town Center – High Intensity Mixed Use District (TC-HMXD) which allows the proposed land uses. The proposed maximum building height would only be allowed if the Council approved a development agreement with the applicant. As this proposal is very early in the process, staff will continue to work with the developer on how to proceed. If you have any questions, please contact Scot Berry.
Ivey-Ellington Parking Lot Closure
Beginning next week, crews working on behalf of Cary will close the Old Library Parking Lot for asphalt resurfacing from July 22 to July 26. This work supports the Ivey-Ellington Rehabilitation Project, which has recently completed the installation of new ADA parking stalls and storm drain lines, which required sections of asphalt to be removed. Crews will now prepare these sections to receive new asphalt and will integrate the new ADA parking stalls with the rest of the parking lot.
Paramount Pump Station Update
The Paramount Pump Station, in service for over 25 years, is undergoing necessary improvements to support regional growth. Cary has contracted with J.F. Wilkerson Contracting Co. Inc. to build a new 1 MGD pump station, replacing the existing one. Construction began in early July with tree clearing and site grading, and the project is expected to be completed by the end of 2025. Notifications have been sent to nearby residents and business owners, with more information available on the Town of Cary and Morrisville websites. The construction will not affect the use of the nearby greenway or the operation of the existing pump station.
Turquoise Creek Drive Water Main Replacement Begins
Starting on Monday, July 22, an extensive utility replacement project will begin on Turquoise Creek Drive in Preston. This project, expedited due to the deteriorating condition of the water main, involves replacing 1,000 feet of gravity sewer and 2,500 feet of the old water main. Once the utility work is completed, the entire road will be repaved. The project is expected to take six months to complete.
Growing the Urban Forestry Program in Cary
Implementation of Cary’s newly adopted Urban Forest Master Plan is underway. Public Works recently hired Kelly Blair as the new Urban Forestry Expeditor. He will work closely with Urban Forester Leslie Moorman to operationalize the tree care program. Kelly, previously the Assistant City Arborist/Tree Crew Supervisor for Wilmington, brings extensive experience in tree care, landscape maintenance, and grounds management. He holds several certifications from the International Society of Arboriculture, including Tree Climber Specialist, Municipal Specialist, and Board-Certified Master Arborist, and is ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualified. Bringing Kelly on board is a significant step toward understanding and managing our urban canopy.
Community Beehive Project
Cary is participating in Garden Supply Company’s host-a-hive program and partnering with them on programming at the Downtown Cary Park. The beehives, which were decorated by our community during a June pollinator week event at the park, have been installed at Garden Supply Company on Old Apex Road. The beehives will soon be filled with a colony of bees, and later this year, Garden Supply will harvest the honey and provide it to Park staff for use in future programs.
Downtown Cary Park Jurassic Park Reel Success
Downtown Cary Park recently posted an Instagram Reel promoting their free Jurassic Park Movie Night on July 19. Some staff members recreated one of the most iconic scenes in cinema history, and followers took notice. The Reel has more than 61,000 plays, 2,500 likes, and nearly 2,000 shares. Comments on the post praise the “actors” for their performance and highlight how these events and programs bring our community together.
Despite crazy storms and hot temperatures, the Cary 12U Baseball and 14U Softball All-Star teams participated in the 2024 SWAC Tournament. Our 12U Baseball team had a strong tournament, while our 14U Softball team went undefeated through four rounds to take the title. Congratulations to both teams!
Virtual Neighborhood Rezoning Meeting – August 7
The following neighborhood meetings will be held virtually from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 7:
A complaint about a proposed development on Walker Street.
Three complaints about the Waverly Place rezoning proposal. Two thank you from the Lochmere Board correcting misinformation being spread.
A complaint that I am “ruining downtown”.
A complaint about access to tennis courts.
A complaint about development, lack of affordable housing, “people are more than their wages.”
A complaint about the property tax rate.
A request for a letter of support.
A request to build a permanent farmers market facility next to the Ivey-Ellington house.
A complaint about frequent power outages.
A complaint about Google pages for town council are out of date.
A complaint that not providing documents related to stormwater is causing “severe emotional distress”.
A complaint about mosquitoes being eliminated by pesticides.
Next Week
Next week’s activities include staff meetings, Diwali dance practice, a council work session, and a council meeting.
Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, July 28th, 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.
Monday I was notified that Cary was ranked as the best place to retire in North Carolina by Motley Fool. Here is what they said about Cary:
“Cary has more than 150,000 people and boasts a remarkably low crime rate. It’s located just 11 miles from the Research Triangle and includes 20 of the best hospitals in the state within 25 miles of its downtown. The only downside to Cary is that the median home sales price in October 2023 was $567,500, according to Redfin data. Still, if you’re relocating from an area with a higher cost of living to make the most of your retirement plans, choosing a smaller home in Cary may still keep you well within budget.”
Manager One-On-One
Monday afternoon I met with the town manager for about half an hour. Our topics of conversation included budgeted funds for historic preservation, the timeline of the multi-modal center, and the Waverly Place rezoning.
Cary Tennis Classic Board
Monday night I met with the Cary Tennis Classic Board. We talked mostly about activities that will be going on prior to the tournament and the week of the tournament. It will be Cary’s first professional tournament with both men’s and women’s events.
Diwali Dance Practice
Tuesday evening I joined council members and several staff members for the first practice of a Diwali dance that we will perform in October. We will be practicing weekly until that time. The Cary team will have at least 17 dancers this year.
Human Relations, Inclusion, & Diversity Task Force
Wednesday evening I participated in a meeting of the Human Relations, Inclusion, & Diversity Task Force.
The first topic was details about becoming a permanent board. The town clerk explained the process of becoming a permanent advisory board and how to apply for this board. She also explained the policies and procedures for a permanent board. An advisory board year runs from October to the following September.
The board next discussed demographics that should be included for town surveys, how it should be asked, how that information is used, and what is stored and why.
Next the board debriefed on Pride month. Overall, they thought it was a success and look forward to doing more next year.
Their final topic of discussion was a review of their priorities as a permanent advisory board.
NC Metro Mayors
Friday I attended a meeting of the North Carolina Metro Mayors. In this meeting we heard the wrap up of the NC General Assembly’s regular business for 2024. Here is the summary from the Executive Director:
One section of this bill allows cities to continue to score development projects for the provision of water and sewage but restricts the specific things that you can measure in the scoring (not allowing architecturally related measures for example).
Requires cities to compensate owners for the removal of onsite signage. Fairly limited impact.
SB 166 passed and was vetoed by Governor Cooper. His veto cited changes to building codes “limiting options for energy efficiency and electric vehicles” and the removal of “subject matter experts,” (including local government officials) from the building code council. A veto override appears likely, timing dependent on whether the majority is able to muster their members to planned sessions this summer and fall.
The backflow provision was negotiated and now includes our negotiated language changes and three provisions we are not 100% satisfied with.
One of these provisions restricts the ability to perform annual checks on residential irrigation systems that do not have fertilizer attached to them. The provision now requires these checks to occur once every three years.
Lengthy bill (70 pages) – Other provisions of interest to our cities (Derrick’s notes):
Section 1.1: Prohibits a local government from requiring an existing customer to install a backflow preventer unless a hazard determination is made by the utility or the state.
Section 1.4: Requires local governments to perform initial residential building plan review concurrently with other state, federal, and local development review processes. This section also imposes a refund for a portion of permit application fees for building permits not initially reviewed within 20 business days, a change from the bill’s original version which imposed the refunds after 15 days.
Section 1.5: Clarifies a local government may not withhold a building permit or certificate of occupancy for development improvements not yet completed, unless determined to be a public safety issue. The section also clarifies that public safety issues do not include landscaping or street lighting.
Section 1.8: Prohibits local governments from requiring curb and gutter design standards beyond those adopted by NC DOT for subdivision roads.
Section 1.9: Prohibits cities from requiring a developer to construct sidewalks for small residential subdivisions located in municipal ETJ, unless the city accepts long-term maintenance of the pedestrian facilities.
Section 1.12: Requires local governments to conduct an inspection of improvements subject to a performance guarantee within 30 days of a request. If the local government and developer disagree whether the improvements meet local specifications, a developer may obtain a certification under an engineer’s seal attesting the improvement meets the local specifications.
Section 2.1: Prohibits a local government from adopting local fire prevention code standards beyond those required by the Residential Code.
Section 3.4: Establishes the Building Code Permit Technician Certification program for local permit techs.
Section 3.6: Clarifies that local government officials shall not make administrative decisions on the scope of work covered by architect or engineer seals of design affixed to plans.
Section 4.48: Clarifies that, for the purposes of local stormwater programs, artificial turf is not considered a built-upon area.
Section 4.9: Prohibits public water and sewer systems from imposing unauthorized conditions for residential development. Those conditions, often negotiated during the conditional rezoning process, could not be imposed through utility development agreements. Another provision restricts local governments from using unauthorized conditions as metrics for a scoring or preference system to allocate water and sewer among residential development applicants.
The CPACE bill (commercial property assessed clean energy) we discussed earlier this session was signed into law. The portion Nelson was working on relates to the financing capacity for certain qualifying upgrades of commercial properties such as new windows, wiring, lighting, insulation, and solar for resiliency purposes. U.S. Dept of Energy info – energy.gov/financing-cpace
Once a toolkit is developed by the NC Department of Commerce, local municipalities will have the option to adopt regulations that permits CPACE-financed assessments to occur in their jurisdiction. A developer looking to redevelop using CPACE must submit to the local government and must be signed off by the county as well.
This program is expected to be implemented in 4-8 months.
There has been success with this, especially with hotels that need upgrades. This can positively impact travel and tourism.
Talk to your city’s sustainability directors about this program as a possible tool for upgraded energy efficiency programs.
This bill did not move beyond one committee hearing.
While the bill did not move beyond a committee hearing, it did represent a strong indication that legislators are now starting to understand the urgency and costs associated with removing PFAS from our municipal water systems and the environment.
Given new EPA requirements and the rising costs and concerns in our municipal water systems for PFAS, it is IMPORTANT to speak with Legislators about the cost burden placed on water system ratepayers to remove PFAS from water.
The NC Secretary of Environmental Quality remains very interested in taking tours of public works facilities to learn about the costs of removing PFAS from water systems. For cities and water authorities that are currently making – or contemplating – significant investments in managing PFAS in your water system, consider reaching out to NCDEQ so they can come and learn about your strategies.
The Environmental Management Commission proposed new rules around the regulation of PFAS-related materials to be considered at their September meeting.
Suggested article:
Members of the commission charged with adopting rules to protect the state’s air and water resources voted this week to pursue health-based standards for only three PFAS materials prevalent in North Carolina drinking water sources. The Environmental Management Commission’s groundwater and waste management committee Wednesday afternoon declined to recommend to the full commission all eight per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances included in proposed rules set forth by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, or DEQ. The commission’s water quality committee also voted Wednesday to defer a motion to send the surface water rule package on all eight PFAS to the commission for action in its full meeting on Thursday. Read more at Coastal Review, https://coastalreview.org/2024/07/commission-members-balk-on-5-proposed- pfas-standards/
This study bill did not advance, but the hearing in State Government Committee indicated growing frustration with the current tier designation system. Share this with your local economic developers and prepare to discuss your perspective with legislators in the future.
Local Revenues/Local Control
REMINDER: Local bills opposed to statewide legislation, are not subject to signature or veto by the Governor. It appears that controversial local bills are a growing trend, often addressing local government policies and issues. Further evidence that time spent sharing your work and goals with local and regional state legislators is increasingly important.
Various Local Provisions III H1064 (includes Forsyth partisan municipal elections)
Passed to make ALL municipal elections partisan in Forsyth County.
Various Local Provisions I H909 (Summerfield and Kings Mountain)
This bill de-annexed a large portion of land in the town of Summerfield in Guilford County to accommodate a large development that the town had rejected.
This bill also restricted City of Kings Mountain ETJ to only one mile.
This bill began as a state-wide election changes bill, but during the last week of session, they added a provision that would have impacted cities and how elections are handled.
This bill would have restricted local election changes until a new national census is conducted. The restrictions on local governments prevent councils from making changes on a variety of representation and election issues, including:
number of council members, mode of election, partisan nature and process for selection of mayors.
This bill passed the Senate on a partisan basis but did not get a hearing in the House. It could resurface again in the future.
Not many of the bills that were passed this session specifically impacted transportation.
A section of this H198 includes removing vegetation around billboards.
The Governor vetoed this bill because of the language about removing vegetation around billboards.
His veto was overridden by the legislature.
Public Safety
Various Criminal and Election Law Changes H237 – Mask bill
Partially motivated by mask wearing protestors on college campuses, this bill passed in the Senate returned to a pre-COVID ban on wearing masks in public. After a debate regarding public health concerns, a small group of Republican members in the House refused to support it. This led to amendments that allow for the wearing of medical grade masks in public.
The bill includes enhanced penalties for committing crimes while wearing a mask.
Includes an unrelated section on campaign finance.
Governor Cooper vetoed the bill, which was subsequently overridden by the Republican majority in both chambers.
This bill modified the legislation from 2021 state support for cancer insurance for firefighters. It DOES NOT CHANGE the support for firefighters – in fact makes this program PERMANENT and shifts it from a purchased private insurance to a state supported program with third-party administrators for state insurance (previously a state purchased private policy for impacted firefighters, now funded directly by the state).
This bill was designed to provide an additional framework to speed up removing squatters from private property. While this topic is more prevalent in larger cities in other states, several NC cities report a growing trend for squatting in their jurisdictions. We suggest reviewing this with your local law enforcement, because we expect this legislation to pop up again next year.
Town Manager’s Report
Sean’s Message
As shared in the June 28 Council Weekly Report, the tower crane for the new Cedar Street Parking Deck was erected on schedule this week. This 130-foot tall and 180-foot-long crane will be crucial for unloading and hoisting materials, assisting with concrete pours, and lifting steel and concrete panels. Due to the required location and size, the crane will occasionally span over surrounding areas, including E. Chatham Street and adjacent buildings. When not in use, the crane will act like a weathervane, slowly rotating to match the wind direction and minimize wind loads on the crane arm. Now that it is operational, the crane will receive deliveries from E. Chatham Street in the early morning for the next several months.
While this project continues to make progress here in Cary, I look forward to attending and seeing several of you at the Chamber’s Leadership Conference next week.
Have a great weekend.
Sean
Independence Day Celebrations
Koka Booth Amphitheatre once again served as the hub for Cary’s July 4th celebrations. Mayor Weinbrecht kicked off the festivities and the fireworks display. One of the day’s highlights was a US Veterans Corps rescue demonstration. This thrilling display captivated attendees as they watched demonstrators jump from a helicopter and parachute from a plane into Symphony Lake, followed by an impressive rescue operation using motorized rubber rafts. Additional celebrations for the holiday took place around Cary on the 3rd and 4th. The Cary Town Band’s performance at the Cary Arts Center delighted attendees with classic tunes. Meanwhile, across the street, Downtown Cary Park’s patriotic celebration featured a showing of National Treasure and a variety of other red, white, and blue activities. On the morning of the 4th, the fishing tournament at Bond Park once again drew many families in search of the smallest and largest catch of the day. Overall, Cary’s Independence Day events showcased the community’s unity, providing joy, excitement, and memorable experiences for all.
Walnut Street Road Diet Update
As part of our ongoing efforts to design and plan for the upcoming Walnut Street Road Diet project, surveys have identified some routine maintenance needed on underperforming sections of the sewer and stormwater systems. In preparation for the road diet restriping activities, Public Works crews will begin upgrading these sections starting next week. This work is expected to last 2-3 weeks. During this period, at least one travel lane will remain open in each direction. The road diet project is expected to begin construction later this summer. Additional information can be found on our project website.
Fitch Affirmed Cary’s “AAA” Rating, Stable Outlook
On July 1, Fitch affirmed Cary’s ‘AAA’ rating on Cary’s outstanding General Obligation bonds with a stable outlook. Fitch identified numerous credit strengths including Cary’s financial resilience with ‘high’ revenue and expenditure control resulting in ‘ample’ budgetary flexibility. Fitch also underscored Cary’s strong demographic characteristics highlighting the strength of Cary’s economic level indicators (unemployment rate, education attainment, median household income), strong local commercial and economic bases, as well as proximity to Research Triangle Park and local colleges and universities. Cary maintains ‘AAA’ ratings from all three leading rating agencies: the best possible rating for a local government.
FirstHealth Begins EMS Service in Cary Chatham County
Starting at noon on Monday, Chatham County began providing primary EMS coverage for the Cary area within Chatham. This service is provided by the county’s contracted agency, FirstHealth EMS. The ambulance, housed at Station 8, also referred to as Chatham EMS Station 6, is staffed by two-person medical crew 24 hours a day. So far, the call volume has been very low, with Cary 911 reporting no operational impacts.
North Cary Water Reclamation Facility Marks 40 Years
On July 1, 1984, the North Cary Water Reclamation Facility (NCWRF) opened its doors, marking a significant milestone in Cary’s journey towards utility independence and environmental sustainability. Originally rated for 4 million gallons per day (MGD), the NCWRF quickly became essential to Cary’s future. The facility was upgraded to 10 MGD in 1995 and then to 12 MGD in 2005, ensuring we could support our growing population. One of the facility’s proudest achievements came in 2001 when we became North Carolina’s first permitted reclaimed water distribution system. This achievement was a testament to our commitment to environmental stewardship and innovative water management practices. As we celebrate 40 years of service, we reflect on the dedication and hard work that has made the NCWRF a model of excellence and a trusted steward of our community’s resources.
Howland Avenue Repaving
Next week, weather dependent, crews will repave Howland Avenue and Magnolia Drive. Work is expected to be complete by July 19. Crews will return to the area in the coming weeks following initial work to repave other streets in the same vicinity. This work is done as part of our larger Street Improvements Project. For more information, including all repaving locations, visit our website.
2024 Standard Specifications and Details Update
Cary’s Standard Specifications and Details Manual was amended on July 1, 2024. The Manual is a valuable resource throughout the organization and the development community. Developers, designers, contractors and vendors routinely depend on our specifications and details to plan and complete their work. The updates fall into three general categories: (1) administrative (renaming and renumbering details and specifications, clarifying requirements, etc.), (2) those required to remain consistent with an outside organization (a change in a law, provision or policy within Cary or from an outside agency), and (3) desired changes to keep Cary great (adding pedestrian crossing requirements, new signalized intersection requirements, soil cell specifications, etc.). The updates and changes will allow all parties to work together more effectively and achieve better results with future developments. The updated Manual is available for reference on Cary’s website at carync.gov/specs.
Wake County JIS Steering Committee Kicks Off in Cary
Communicating accurate and timely information to the public in an emergency is a staff priority. Earlier this year, Wake County Emergency Management approached agencies within the county about the concept of building a virtual Joint Information System (JIS). Garnering support from public safety leaders and city/town managers, Wake County has assembled a steering committee with communications staff from Apex, Cary, Holly Springs, Raleigh, Raleigh PD, Wake County, Wake County Sheriff’s Office, Wendell and Zebulon. The first meeting was held in June at Downtown Cary Park, where the group set goals for its planning and implementation. Several small group meetings are scheduled for the coming weeks and the larger group will reconvene later this summer. The first iteration of a virtual JIS is expected to pilot this fall in support of election season.
Maynard Tank Class of 2025
Having closed the books on another successful graduation season, the Maynard Road water storage tank now stands ready to welcome the senior class of 2025. On July 5, contractors climbed 138 feet to the catwalk and completed the 2025 update. Cary celebrates the hopes, dreams, and achievements of Cary’s high school seniors through this much-loved tradition.
A complaint about rezoning proposal 21-REZ-16 off Old Apex Road.
A complaint about rezoning proposal 24-REZ-06 in the Regency Park area.
A complaint about panhandling.
Praise for our animal control officers.
Next Week
Next week’s activities include staff meetings, an interview about Cary’s evolution, Diwali dance practice, the Cary Chamber Leadership Conference, and a meeting of the North Carolina Metro Mayors.
Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, July 21st, 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.
Thursday afternoon I attended the July 4th celebrations at Koka Booth Amphitheater along with several friends. The entire day was emceed and included games, including ice cream eating contests, parachuters into Symphony Lake, the amazing Cary Town Band.
After the Cary Town Band performance, representatives from Craft Public House presented a check for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.
Shortly after that I provided welcome remarks and was followed by the North Carolina Symphony.
The symphony was followed by 25 minutes of fireworks. Other than the heat (indices around 100), I think it was the best celebration we have had at Booth Amphitheater.
Olympic Swimmers Train in Cary
Friday evening, I joined several dozen people in a reception to watch Olympic swimmers practicing. After talking with several VIPs, I sat poolside and watched the amazing athletes. These are the best swimmers in the world and made the swim drills look almost effortless. They were joined by coaches and staff. From my understanding there are four coaches for every swim stroke, personal coaches, and trainers. I wish them the best.
Mayor’s Mailbox
A complaint about a Waverly Place rezoning proposal 23-REZ-12.
3 complaints about the budget that was approved on June 27th.
A complaint about the DMV office (a state-run agency not Cary).
A complaint about speed humps and roundabouts.
A complaint about 311.
Next Week
Next week’s activities include staff meetings, a Cary Tennis Classic Board meeting, Diwali Dance practice, and a HRID committee meeting.
Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, July 14th, 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.
Monday, I attempted to contact all council members to hear of any questions or concerns about the council meeting agenda. It appeared on Monday that the Carpenter Fire Station rezoning would be a split vote and the vote would be close based on feedback I received from council members.
Later in the day I met with staff and went over the agenda items. We expected speakers for the Carpenter Fire Station rezoning and for the Waverly Place rezoning public hearing. We anticipated it would be a long meeting.
Weekly Meeting with Staff
Usually, I meet weekly with the town Manager on Mondays. However, he was traveling so I met with the Chief Strategy Officer, the Town Attorney, and the Town Clerk. Our meeting lasted less than 30 minutes.
Council Work Session
The council held a work session to talk about the Centre at South Hills on Thursday evening. This is scheduled to be part of the bond referendum in the fall. Staff presented a set of concept drawings showing what the Centre could look like. If the bond is approved there will be a Master Plan followed by a Design Plan.
The Centre is planned to have a Community Center, a Senior Center, and competitive space. Wake County has committed $75 million for the competitive space. The competitive space was originally planned for 10 sports courts that could be for basketball, volleyball, pickleball, etc. The concept now has it scaled down to eight courts.
The location of the Centre will be at the corner of Buck Jones Road and the extension of Nottingham Drive on a little over six acres.
The size of the community center/senior center portion of the Centre is planned to be larger than any existing community center in Cary and at least double the size of Herb Young. The plan includes an active living lounge, a teaching/catering kitchen, multipurpose rooms, an exterior patio, classrooms, esports/tech suite, group exercise, indoor/outdoor fitness, a running track, child watch, locker rooms, and more. The community center’s track will be a quarter mile with four elevation changes.
The competitive space will have multi-use athletic courts, one of which will be a glass court with LED lighting. That will allow that court to quickly be configured into just about anything. The competitive space also includes a grandstand, outdoor fitness, concessions, ticketing office, merchandise store, tournament operations, and locker rooms. The competitive space can be converted from 8 basketball courts to 15 volleyball courts, 21 pickleball courts, and others including a mixture of each.
No additional work will be done on the Centre unless there is a positive vote on the bond. If the bond passes the Master Plan and additional steps will involve public input.
Council Meeting
The last regularly scheduled council meeting of the fiscal year was held Thursday night. There was a full auditorium with 2/3 of the audience in attendance for the Waverly Place rezoning public hearing, and the last 1/3 in attendance for the vote on the Carpenter Fire Station at Highcroft PDD rezoning proposal.
The agenda included 5 consent items, 1 public hearing, and 4 discussion items.
The consent agenda included the 23-REZ-06 Woodfield-Walnut Multifamily PDP. This was the second time this property was presented for redevelopment. The proposal from a few years ago was withdrawn since it received such negative feedback.
The only public hearing was on 23-REZ-12 Waverly Place Rezoning. Unfortunately, a lot of misinformation about the proposal, the process, the council, and the staff were spread to a large portion of Lochmere. Some speakers felt the need to character assassinate the council and staff with comments like “the developers have you in their back pockets”, “you are on the take”, “this is a done deal because you won’t listen to us”, and more. In addition, they repeatedly ignored requests to behave in a respectful manner during the hearing. Having been an elected official for over 20 years I can tell you that Cary has one of the best staff in the nation. In fact, they were voted #1 in the country last year. Council members are some of the best people I have met. All sacrifice time from their families because they simply want to help people. I am extremely disappointed in a few of the speakers. That is not a reflection of the Cary I know and love and certainly is not a representation of the many people I know in Lochmere who are informed, kind, and respectful. The Waverly Place rezoning will now go to the Planning and Zoning board for their review and recommendation on whether or not it fits the Cary Community Plan. It will return to the council in a few months (not next month as reported by a local TV station) for a vote.
The first discussion item was on the Carpenter Fire Station at Highcroft PDD rezoning proposal. This was a controversial item because it proposed townhomes and multi-family next to a single-family neighborhood. The Planning and Zoning board and staff both recommended approval because they believed it met the intention of the Cary Community Plan. The council voted 4-3 to approve. The minority vote believed there was not enough transition. While I would have preferred all townhomes adjacent to the single-family, I was OK with mostly townhomes and apartments with over 150-foot set back. I believe any future proposal would have been denser with no townhomes.
The second discussion item was to change how Cary elections are held. Cary has been holding October elections with runoffs in November. That is, if a race doesn’t get 50% plus one there will be a runoff. We are the only municipality in Wake County that does this. Not only is it confusing, but it also costs Cary about an extra $1 million to hold elections on our own. So, the council unanimously approved a resolution of intent to move our elections to plurality (the most votes win). The only problem with plurality is that you can have a winner that didn’t get 50% of the vote if there were multiple candidates.
Our third discussion item was another step in the process of having a bond on this November’s ballot. The council unanimously approved an “Introduction of Bond Orders” and called for a public hearing which will be held on July 25th.
Our last discussion item was to approve the Fiscal Year 2025 budget which takes effect on July 1st. In my 20+ years of being an elected official doing budgets, this was the toughest. The council and staff spent hours and hours going through details of the budget over the last couple of months. Staff have been working on the budget since last year and will start on the next one soon. A huge thank you to all those who worked so hard to create this budget. It will keep Cary on “top of the arc” and continues to allow us to have the lowest tax rate in Wake County. If you would like to see the details of the budget, please read my previous posts.
Our meeting concluded after four hours.
North Carolina Metro Mayors
I participated in a meeting of the NC Metro Mayors on Friday to hear a summary of legislative actions. Here is a summary provided by Checkmate Government Relations:
General Update
The General Assembly wrapped up their work for the 2024 Legislative Short Session this week. The House and Senate left town without a budget compromise but managed to pass two standalone bills that would provide $67.5M in funding for childcare facilities across the state and authorize the enacted teacher pay raises from last year’s budget. There is not expected to be a budget agreement this year.
The House and Senate both passed an adjournment resolution on Thursday. The resolution sets dates for both chambers to reconvene once a month until the end of the year. The majority of these sessions are expected to be skeletal. The adjournment resolution allows for the most legislative work when they reconvene on November 19. The legislature will stand adjourned sine die following the last scheduled meeting on Friday, December 13th.
Veto Overrides
The General Assembly overrode three vetoes from Governor Roy Cooper. The bills are detailed below:
H198, DOT Legislative Changes- This bill makes various changes to transportation laws as recommended by the North Carolina Department of Transportation. You can find Governor Cooper’s veto statement here. The House voted to override his veto on June 26th by a vote of 74-42. The Senate voted to override the veto on Thursday afternoon.
H834, Juvenile Justice Modifications- This bill modifies the definition in statute of “delinquent juvenile” and modifies the transfer process for juvenile cases from juvenile to superior court, among other changes. You can find Governor Cooper’s veto statement here. The House voted to override his veto on June 26th by a vote of 70-46. The Senate voted to override the veto on Thursday afternoon.
H237, Various Criminal and Election Law Changes- This bill enhances the criminal punishment if the defendant wears a mask to conceal their identity during the commission of another crime and modifies the health and safety exemption from certain laws prohibiting wearing face coverings in public. The bill also makes various election law changes. You can find Governor Cooper’s veto statement here. The House voted to override his veto on June 26th by a vote of 70-46. The Senate voted to override the veto on Thursday afternoon.
ABC Bill
On Wednesday, the House approved S527, ABC Omnibus 2023-24. This bill would make several changes to state ABC laws. The bill would allow to-go and delivery sales of mixed beverages and wine by the glass, which was temporarily permitted during the Coronavirus pandemic from December 2020 to June 2021. The bill would also give local ABC boards more flexibility to operate on holidays. The bill was approved by the House by a vote of 105-4 on Wednesday night. The Senate voted to concur with the House changes on Thursday afternoon. The bill will be sent to Governor Cooper for consideration.
Regulatory Reform Bill
S607, Regulatory Reform Act of 2024, the annual regulatory reform bill passed this week. The bill would amend state laws related to occupational licensing, rulemaking, state and local government, and other miscellaneous regulations. The bill contained an important workforce development piece for our heavy hauling truck companies in North Carolina. The bill would allow third parties to train and certify escort vehicle drivers. S607 would also increase the punishment for property crimes against critical infrastructure, including public water supplies and wastewater treatment facilities. The bill has been sent to the Governor for signature.
Summerfield Deannexation
The House voted to concur with the Senate changes to H909, Various Local Provisions I, on Thursday. This bill started as a simple local bill that would de-annex a parcel of land in Fuquay-Varina. The Senate made changes to the bill that would also de-annex 1,000 acres from the town of Summerfield in Guilford County. The bill drew a long debate on the House floor, but no amendments could be added because it was a conference report. The House approved the measure by a final concurrence vote of 72-39. The bill paves the way for a local developer to build a proposed mixed-use retail and housing development on the land. Local bills are not subject to signature by the Governor, and the bill will become law.
Doug McRainey Retires
Doug McRainey, PRCR Director for many years took a great department and made it one of the best in the nation (best in the nation in 2016). We have seen many amazing changes in the decades he has been in charge, with the last one being the Downtown Cary Park. I had the pleasure to get to know Doug on several trips including acceptance of the #1 tennis park in the nation in 2019. Not only was he a great leader but he is a great guy. Like many at town hall, Doug is our friend. We will miss having him around but look forward to seeing him in whatever he decides to do next. A huge thanks to Doug for all the years of service!
Town Manager’s Report
Sean’s Message
As Town Manager, I have the opportunity to work side by side with amazing colleagues. Because our culture encourages closeness, our relationships produce the highest “highs” and weather the lowest “lows.” One of the inevitable “lows” is when we have to say goodbye, like we’re doing today to Doug McRainey. Doug’s contributions to our organization, this community, and to me personally are uniquely Doug and far too numerous to list. His impact has been tremendous. His fingerprints are and will remain all over Cary and on so many of our hearts. We’re going to miss you, Dougie! From the Adaptive to the Technical, a reminder: there will be no Weekly Report next Friday because of July 4th, and I’m planning to spend the week at the beach for our annual family vacation. I hope you have a safe and enjoyable holiday. Sean
Follow-Up from the June 27th Work Session
This economic impact slide for the 8-court South Hills facility was presented to Town Council at the April 25 Work Session and discussed again at last night’s Work Session. Our consultant is currently updating the 10-court with arena economic impact report, to reflect our current 8-court concept plan and that report will be shared with Council once available.
Chatham EMS Community Meeting
Councilmembers Sarika Bansal and Lori Bush, along with staff from the Town Manager’s Office, Fire, and Police, joined about 80 citizens at Fire Station 8 on Wednesday. The meeting, organized by staff from Chatham County and FirstHealth Regional, was held to provide information on the upcoming EMS service change for citizens living in the Chatham County portion of Cary. Following a presentation, staff fielded questions from citizens and offered an up-close look at FirstHealth Regional’s ambulance, which will be stationed at Fire Station 8 around the clock. Chatham County staff are on schedule for the EMS service shift, expected to occur at noon on July 8. A list of frequently asked questions and a view of the service area can be found here.
Senior Center Accreditation Celebration
On Wednesday, Councilmember Carissa Kohn-Johnson, Program Manager for Seniors and Aging Michelle Barrett, members of the Senior Advisory Board, and older adults attended an event at the Cary Senior Center to celebrate its national accreditation from the National Council on Aging (NCOA). This accreditation, awarded this year, followed a thorough examination of the center’s operations, programming, and services. Senior Center Director Brett Moraes played a key role in achieving this designation by recruiting and engaging a Self-Assessment Committee. This committee, composed of participants, town staff, instructors, and other community partners, including members of the Senior Advisory Board, worked over a 1.5-year period to obtain this designation.
The Cary Senior Center was also recognized at the NCOA Age+Action Conference in Arlington, VA, in May.
Lane Closures for Cedar Street Parking Deck Project
Starting on July 11, contractors working on the Cedar Street Parking Deck will be erecting a tower crane required for construction. This work will require the closure of the westbound lane of E. Chatham Street for approximately two days. Flaggers will be on-site to maintain two-way traffic. During the 12-month construction process, material deliveries to the site may occasionally require lane closures on E. Chatham Street. These deliveries will be limited to morning hours before peak traffic time and will use flaggers to ensure two-way traffic is maintained.
Propane Introduced into Cary’s Fleet
This week, contractors from Precise Alternative Fuel Solutions completed the installation of propane fuel kits on 20 police vehicles. These bi-fuel kits allow for seamless switching between gasoline and renewable propane during daily operations. Propane is a safe and reliable alternative fuel that helps reduce our carbon footprint while enhancing operational flexibility.
Stormwater and Watershed Protection Master Plan RFQ
In early July, a request for qualification will be issued for the Stormwater and Watershed Protection Master Plan project. Cary is seeking qualified firms to contract with for development of a plan that reaffirms our vision for the future of stormwater. The master plan will be the foundation for a subsequent study to potentially develop and implement a stormwater utility. This solicitation will be advertised on the North Carolina Electronic Vendor Portal, accessible through Cary’s website.
Community Engagement for Optimist Farm Greenway
Approximately 100 people from the West Lake area of Cary attended a drop-in event at the Middle Creek Community Center to learn about the design and construction of Optimist Farm Greenway. Neighbors provided input on the design concepts, which are about 30% complete. Staff plans to reengage with citizens and affected landowners as the design is finalized. Additional information can be found here.
Quinard Drive Extension
Starting July 1, construction of Phase 2 Quinard Drive will begin between SE Maynard Road and Ridgeview Walk Drive as part of the Fenton Mixed-Use Development. On July 8, the existing portion of Quinard Drive, including the driveway to Maynard Summit Way, will close to traffic and remain closed until fall 2025 for construction. The project will involve lane closures on SE Maynard Road from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. The outside lanes of SE Maynard Road will be restored each evening.
This project will connect SE Maynard Road and Trinity Road, improving east-west access and circulation for both Fenton and the greater Eastern Cary Gateway Special Planning Area. The new street will include two travel lanes, a landscaped median, bike lanes, and sidewalks on each side.
US Archery Outdoor States at Mills Park
This past weekend, Cary Archery hosted the USA Archery North Carolina Outdoor State Championship at Mills Park. The event drew 138 participants from across the state, ranging in age from 8 to 75, and welcomed 9 out-of-state guests. Cary Archery had 19 athletes compete, winning 15 medals and 10 state championships! The event also raised money for Gx4 Adaptive Archery, a local charity run by Paralympian, reigning Pan American champion, and current world record holder Wendy Gardner. This organization provides custom-built equipment and training for adaptive athletes in and around North Carolina.
Upcoming Meetings
No Meetings Scheduled
Mayor’s Mailbox
Four complaints about a Waverly Place rezoning proposal 23-REZ-12.
One comment in favor of the Waverly Place rezoning proposal 23-REZ-12.
A complaint about the Old Apex rezoning proposal 21-REZ-16.
A complaint about the Carpenter Fire Station rezoning proposal 22-REZ-14.
A complaint about the Walnut Street rezoning proposal 23-REZ-06.
A complaint about the lack of cul-de-sac resurfacing.
A complaint about lack of streetlights in Willow Oak.
A complaint about the FirstHealth EMS change by the county.
Two complaints about the property tax rate.
Several broadcast emails to tell state lawmakers NO on Senate Bill 630.
A complaint that tall buildings may impact helipads at Wake Med Cary Hospital.
A complaint about a water leak.
Next Week
Next week’s activities include staff meetings, the Forth of July celebration, and a visit from the 2024 Olympic Swim Team.
Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, July 7th, 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.
Monday afternoon the council held its last work session for the FY2025 budget. After a brief recap of the previous two work sessions the town manager and staff went over the 44 questions asked by the council. I highlighted a few of those questions and answers.
June 17th Work Session
Median home prices in the comparison of localities outside of North Carolina. (Included in Work Session PP)
Locality
Rate*
Median Home Price
Median Household Income
Cary, North Carolina
0.325
$647,748
$125,000
Franklin, Tennessee
0.326
$574,000
$106,592
McKinney, Texas
0.428
$400,400
$113,286
Naperville, Illinois
0.665
$482,600
$143,754
Scottsdale, Arizona
0.515
$651,800
$104,197
*All rates are per $100 of assed value Source: United States Census Bureau
Renters’ contribution (e.g. property tax vs. sales tax):
Residential tenants do not directly pay property taxes; however, the landlords pay taxes and likely pass this cost on to the tenant.
For commercial property, research shows “rents rise after tax changes sufficiently to fully absorb 80-90% of the change in landlord tax payments” (MIT Center for Real Estate). Article available here.
Nancy Jones historic preservation funds carryover and FY25 specifics:
The FY 2024 budget included funding of $2.4 million for historic preservation efforts. At that time, staff believed this funding, and existing funding, would be sufficient to work on Nancy Jones and Ivey Ellington. After the move of Ivey Ellington in early 2023, and the subsequent decision to use the structure for Downtown Park staff, the Ivey Ellington construction efforts were prioritized to occur first. The final cost to update Ivey Ellington was significantly more than originally anticipated and required the full amount of available funding. The staff report detailing the rehabilitation efforts and funding for Ivey-Ellington House is available here. As a result, funding of $2.5 million in recommended bond funding was included in the FY 2025 budget to begin the process of restoring Nancy Jones.
At least two council members expressed interest in selling some of the historic structures in Cary. Most of the council believes this is something worth investigating but there should be a strategic plan for all the structures. All historic structures are protected.
Sidewalk and street info for FY 2024 and proposed FY 2025:
Benefit (customer savings) analysis of Aquastar:
Although the direct savings for customers are immeasurable, the benefit of AquaStar has been realized through the features it offers, particularly in terms of improved customer service and operational efficiency. AquaStar enhances customer service through features such as an online customer portal, monitoring, high usage calls, minimizing water loss, and providing real-time data. This results in increased response times and improves water consumption rates. Monitoring per capita water use with AquaStar allows the town to monitor trends in water usage in real-time and improve customer awareness of their consumption. Cary has seen a decrease in per capita water consumption since the implementation of Aquastar. AquaStar has resulted in a reduction in staffing requirements by 14 members with an estimated annual cost of $1.3 million for the Town.
AquaStar also contributes to environmental stewardship and sustainability by eliminating trips for meter readings and reducing the frequency of maintenance trips, thereby minimizing greenhouse gas emissions. This commitment aligns with our goals outlined in the current SERVE chapter (and future ENRICH chapter) of the Imagine Cary Community Plan.
Furthermore, AquaStar’s capacity to provide water consumption data and conduct audits facilitates improved planning and resource allocation. By identifying areas of water loss and optimizing systems through
Is the West Chatham Sidewalk addition included in another budget item somewhere?
The two sidewalk projects near the West Chatham Street roundabout are already funded and under process. The project is currently in the planning stage, 75% of which was complete as of April 2024.
How are the Downtown Park Operations impacted by the loss of revenue from the Gathering Place (House)?
Downtown Park operations are not materially impacted.
A full year of Gathering House revenue would equal $30,000.
What is the impact of postponing the purchase of the Armored Response Vehicle by one year? Can we leverage Wake County’s services? What are we doing now?
Currently, we rely on the Wake County’s Mobile Command Center, which is operationally unreliable and often unavailable due to deployment elsewhere. Similarly, we have to borrow an armored rescue vehicle from the county or the FBI, but its availability is not guaranteed, and our officers cannot use either vehicle for training purposes. The response time when requesting these vehicles is another significant issue. In high-stakes situations, any delay can be detrimental. The recent CMPD shooting incident underscores the urgent need for this equipment to ensure the safety of both citizens and officers in hot zones. An ARV would greatly enhance our rescue capabilities and overall response effectiveness in critical situations. Waiting an additional year to purchase this vital piece of equipment compromises our ability to respond effectively to emergencies.
Once the vehicle is ordered, it will take 12-14 months for delivery with payment due upon delivery. Thus, even though we would be making the purchase in FY 25, we will not receive nor pay for the ARV until the following fiscal year. This timeline makes it even more imperative to begin the acquisition process as soon as possible to avoid further delays in enhancing our emergency response capabilities.
How do other municipalities fund their chamber of commerce?
Most comparable municipalities do not have listed funding for their respective chamber of commerce but do acknowledge strategic partnerships with these organizations.
One council member suggested reducing what we pay the Chamber as a form of “belt tightening”. Another council member stated that this would send the wrong signal to our business community and the impact could be far greater than the amount of the reduction.
Emergency Communication AI? What is the cost? Does this duplicate the services we currently have, such as Public Input, Zencity, and others being used for surveys?
The AI redaction solution utilizes Artificial Intelligence to assist in the redaction of specific words, addresses, and details in a 911 call. By using AI, we can significantly reduce the time it would typically take for our staff to manually perform this task. This solution has not yet been reviewed by individuals involved in an AI policy for the town.
Regarding the Citizen Input solution, it will allow us to randomly send surveys to citizens who have contacted our 911 center. These surveys will enable us to gather valuable feedback on our services, ensuring that we continuously improve our responsiveness and care for our citizens. The data collected through this system will be utilized to make any necessary adjustments to our processes, ultimately leading to more efficient and exemplary service. Additionally, this system seamlessly integrates with our Computer Aided Dispatch Software, enabling us to send automated text messages to callers, providing timely updates on their incidents.
The AI Redaction will cost about $5,000. The Power Engage will cost $9,000. We have researched internally to see if the town had anything that would perform this action for us and specifically spoke to Zencity. Nothing was able to connect to our CAD system to allow the automated messages to be sent to citizens.
What is being done to track and eliminate duplicative IT software?
Staff continue to review software renewals and licensing to save money on duplicative or unnecessary services without impacting service levels. Estimated savings of $500,000 from that ongoing review are included in the IT budget for Fiscal Year 2025.
Why do the revenues for benefits almost double in next year’s budget?
Additional details are needed to fully respond to this question. The Health and Dental Insurance Fund Summary on page 144 indicates FY 2025 revenue and expenditure levels in line with or less than FY 2024 numbers.
Can Cary participate in the Wake County Tax Deferment program?
The Wake County Tax Deferment program is an existing state program that Wake County is advertising. Any applications for deferment of Wake County taxes will also apply to municipal taxes. This program is available annually beginning on January 1 with an application deadline of June 1. You can find more information on the program here.
To implement this program for our residents, staff will publish information about the deferment program in the taxes and assessments section of the town website.
Is the $4.5m for affordable housing projects in the capital budget in addition to the $5.15m?
The $4.5M for housing projects in the capital budget is included in the $5.15M
Is the $3.3m for GoCary Transit Projects in the capital budget (page xiv) in addition to the $2.6m transferred from the General Fund to the Transit Fund?
The $3.3M in capital funding is in addition to the $2.6M transferred from the General Fund to the Transit Fund for operations. $3 million of the $3.3 million in GoCary Transit capital projects is funded through the Wake County Transit Tax.
If the Estimated Sales Tax in 2024 is $57.9m, what is the basis for the estimation of $59.6m for 2025 Sales Tax?
The estimated FY2024 sales tax of $57.9m is a 1.5% increase above actual sales tax collections in FY2023. FY2025 estimates of $59.6m are a 3% increase above FY2024. Historic sales tax returns make it likely that the anemic sales tax growth of the current year was an anomaly and growth with return to the 3-4% level. Staff estimates sales tax revenue based on expert information from the NC League of Municipalities, larger economic expectations, and trend analysis.
Why is the 2024 Estimated Health and Dental Fund Transfer $5m when our Adopted 2024 budget was -$1m and is proposed to be -$1m again in 2025? Was this a surprise and are we vulnerable to another similar surprise in 2025?
These reviews often result in staff’s recommendation to close capital projects or make other adjustments allowing unused or available dollars to return to the General Fund, or other funds, where they become available for future use. This is typically done at our quarterly meetings and at year-end as we approach next year’s budget development.
As of June 30, 2023, the fund balance in Cary’s Health and Dental Insurance Fund totals approximately $18.9 million. A portion of this total was intentionally established with General Fund transfers. While there is not a specific benchmark for savings in this fund, staff believe that returning $6 million to the General Fund is a prudent adjustment that will not impact our ability to adequately support our health insurance needs.
Why is Clerks Operations and Maintenance in the 2024 Estimated budget $1.06m (or 781%) over the Adopted 2024 Operations and Maintenance budget?
The Board of Elections for Wake, Chatham, and Durham provided Cary with the estimated amounts to budget for the municipal election in 2023 which resulted in a budget over $1 million. For the 2023 election, Cary reimbursed the Wake, Chatham, and Durham boards of elections a total of $824,507 for the October election date and November Runoff election date.
Facilities, Construction, and Field Services have a relatively (and surprisingly) small budget. However, it is increasing about 190% over 2024 Adopted. Can you explain the change and what we can expect in future years?
Facilities, Construction, and Field Services was a new department that was created late in the budget process in FY2024. The FY2024 budget represents estimates of what the department would cost with the understanding that much of their budget remained in PIDS. The FY2025 budget is the first year that Facilities, Construction, and Field Services will have a budget that went through the full review process. We can expect slow growth to this budget in future years.
In the Environment, is Urban Forestry and Solar Energy responsible for increasing the Environment budget by 312%? Will you break this out for us? Do we anticipate that this 2025 Environment budget is a one-year increase, or will it continue to stay at or above $2m?
The growth in Environment is largely due to two studies. The Climate Action Plan ($625,000) and The Urban Forestry Tree Survey ($770,000). Base Environment spending is anticipated to remain around $1 million, but additional projects may bring spending higher in individual years.
Why was the Police 2024 Estimated budget $6.64m (or 21%) over the Adopted 2024 budget? What will be different this year if we are budgeting $5m less than the 2024 Estimated budget?
Supply chain issues meant that police vehicles Cary ordered over several years were not delivered until FY2024 at a cost of over $6 million. Cary does not pay for most vehicles until we receive them.
The solid waste fee is increasing to $23/mo which will cover 92% of the operating costs. So, 8% is covered by the general fund? If so, what is the advantage of not having the fee set to an amount that covers 100% of the operating cost? [page x]
Solid Waste and Recycling expenses are included in the general fund so any expenses that are not covered by fees are covered by other general fund revenues. The advantage of a solid waste fee that does not fully cover costs is a lower fee for customers and a buffer to make sure that solid waste fees do not end up subsidizing the general fund.
Why is the Recycling operations anticipated to decrease by 68% after being in the 1.2m to 2.2m range since 2021?
The FY2025 budget moved waste disposal and contracted services fees from the Recycling and Yard Waste divisions to the solid waste division to increase efficiency.
Why are the Yard Waste operations expected to decrease by 79% after being in the $750k to 1m range since 2021?
The FY2025 budget moved waste disposal and contracted services fees from the Recycling and Yard Waste divisions to the solid waste division to increase efficiency.
Is it possible to give citizens access to information on how their tax bill and assessed value has changed over the past twenty years?
Yes, we built a tool that will allow property owners to see this information. Staff published the dashboard on the website, which can be found under the taxes and assessments page which is accessible through the main budget page. You can use the QR code below to access the dashboard directly.
What are Nuisance Animals in the Police Department fees?
Sec. 6-71 of the Town Ordinance addresses nuisance animals. Annoying sounds are the most frequent complaint. Failure or refusal to abate the annoying sounds could incur a civil citation for the violation in the amount of two hundred dollars ($200.00). Chapter 6 of the Town Ordinance can be found here.
Why was the IT 2024 Estimated budget $5.83m (or 30%) over the Adopted 2024 budget?
Software and licensing renewal budgets for the entire organization were consolidated within the IT department’s budget resulting in an uptick in IT’s FY24 actuals. As new technology platforms are added, they are also included in this account. The FY 2025 budget has been increased to appropriately address this consolidation.
Groundbreaking at Park Overlook
Tuesday morning I joined council members Bush, Craig, and Bansal at the groundbreaking of the Park Overlook project. This project will have over 162,000 square feet of flexible space with Class A office entrance facades. The interior will have large bay sizes, high ceilings, loading dock doors on an interior truck court, and Class A office entrance facades. In addition to three other speakers, I provided remarks on the town’s behalf. Afterwards, the council and other dignitaries posed for groundbreaking pictures with hard hats and shovels.
Installment Document Signing Session
Tuesday afternoon I participated in Installment document signing. I signed several documents along with the town attorney, town manager, town clerk, and others. These documents are required by financial institutions for debt.
Diwali Dance Meeting
Tuesday evening, I joined several council members and Cary staff that will make up the Cary dance team at Diwali. So far, we have 13 from Cary with hopes to eventually have 17. Practice will start the second week of July and the performance will be in October.
Cary is #2 Safest Most Affordable
GoBankingRates named Cary is the #2 safest most affordable community in the nation. They state that choosing a family-friendly place to live is a significant decision that involves a balancing act between safety and affordability in any big city. Several cities in America stand out for offering a combination of low crime rates and reasonable living costs, even when compared to small towns. Whether you’re a young professional, a growing family or a retiree, finding real estate where you feel comfortable — both physically and financially — is crucial for a high quality of life.
Cary Zip Code 27158 is One of the Most Wealthiest in the Nation
The Triangle Business Journal reported that Cary had one of the most wealthiest zip codes in the nation:
“Three Triangle ZIP codes rank among the nation’s 1,000 wealthiest places, and Raleigh leads the way.
That’s according to The Business Journals Wealthy 1000, a new ranking of the nation’s wealthiest ZIP codes based on a weighted formula that looks at a number of wealth metrics.
Raleigh, Cary and Chapel Hill each had one ZIP code that ranked among the Wealthy 1000. 27608 in Raleigh (Hayes Barton, Five Points, Forest Acres) is the wealthiest Triangle ZIP code at No. 370, while 27518 in south Cary (Lochmere area) ranks No. 608 and 27517 covering east and south Chapel Hill (including Carolina Meadows and the Governors Club) is No. 902.”
North Carolina Metro Mayors
The North Carolina Metro Mayors met Friday to hear a weekly summary of legislative actions:
Budget Negotiations
This week, the House and Senate released two different versions of the budget. H263, 2024 Appropriations Act, is the House version that was made public on Monday, June 17th. The plan includes raises for state employees, increased funding for childcare, and an increase in the Opportunity Scholarship program. The bill passed (68-36) on the floor on Thursday. However, the Senate does not seem interested in taking up the House’s version of the budget as negotiations remain at an impasse between the two chambers.
The Senate released its version of the budget on Wednesday, June 19th. A proposed committee substitute for H317, Adjustments to the 2023 Appropriations Act, received a favorable report from the Senate Appropriations/Base Budget Committee on Thursday morning. The Senate spending plan would provide an additional $136.5 million in one-time childcare funding to address the loss of federal COVID-19 pandemic relief aid at the end of June and would provide additional funding for the Opportunity Scholarship program but would not include further raises for teachers and state employees.
Hemp Bill
A proposed committee substitute for H563, Hemp-Derived Consumables/Con Sub Changes, passed its second reading in the Senate by a vote of 33-9 on Thursday afternoon. The bill in its current form would make several changes regulating the sale and distribution of hemp-derived products and would ban hemp-derived consumable products from school grounds. This bill would also amend the North Carolina Controlled Substances Act to add tianeptine as a Schedule II controlled substance, xylazine as a Schedule III controlled substance, and kratom as a Schedule VI controlled substance. The Senate also added language that would enact the North Carolina Compassionate Care Act to legalize and provide for the sale of cannabis and cannabis-infused products to qualified patients with debilitating medical conditions.
This summary was created by Checkmate Government Relations.
Town Manager’s Report
Sean’s Message
Council, I just wanted to thank you again for devoting extra time on Monday to the Budget Work Session. The process this year has allowed for higher levels of learning as compared to previous years. As we navigate a likely challenging year those questions will remain vital to our success. So please keep asking! As a reminder, I’m traveling through Monday, but I’ll be available to you by phone. Have a great weekend. Sean
Downtown Cary Park Hosts Annual Juneteenth Celebration
On Saturday, June 15, Mayor Harold Weinbrecht read a proclamation at Downtown Cary Park’s annual Juneteenth Celebration, joined by Councilmembers Sarika Bansal and Carissa Kohn-Johnson. Attendees braved the heat and enjoyed a vendor market and food trucks along with a full roster of live entertainment including traditional dances, djembe (drum) performances, educational talks, moving vocal performances, and a full live band to cap off the event.
The History of PFLAG in Cary; Sally Zumbach Story
On June 18, at the Page-Walker Arts & History Center a special Pride Month program celebrated and honored the legacy of Sally Zumbach who was instrumental in forming the Cary chapter of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) in the 1980s. Councilmember Michelle Craig joined Councilmember Lori Bush, with Bush presenting a bronze commemorative plaque to the Zumbach family in recognition of Sally’s service to the community. The program was a joint effort of the Historic Preservation Commission, Friends of Page-Walker, and the Human Relations, Inclusion, and Diversity Advisory Board.
RTA QuickTour in Richmond, Virginia
Russ Overton, Ryan Eades, and Rob Wilson attended the Regional Transportation Alliance’s (RTA) “QuickTour” in Richmond, Virginia on Tuesday. The tour provided the opportunity to visit a nearby peer city to learn more about a freeway cap, bus rapid transit (BRT), and other multimodal infrastructure. In the morning, they learned about the recently renovated Kanawa Plaza and adjacent parking deck that are built over top of the downtown expressway, as well as plans to build a new freeway cap over I-95 to reconnect the Jackson Ward neighborhood. In the afternoon, they learned about Richmond’s experiences with bus-rapid transit (BRT), a zero-fare transit policy, transit-oriented development, and plans for an intercity passenger rail. As part of the tour, they also rode the Pulse BRT and observed red (dedicated) BRT lanes, as well as both curbside and median pick-up/drop-off stations.
Interactive Dashboard: Property Tax Bill Estimates
The proposed FY 2025 budget recommends a new tax rateof $0.325, which will help fund projects, programs, and services for the coming year. In an effort to help citizens see how property revaluations have impacted the value of their homes and Cary property tax bills, the Financial Strategy staff developed an interactive dashboard . On the dashboard, you can search by any Cary residential property in Wake County using an address or the name of the property owner to see how proposed changes to the Cary property tax rate could change your bill in the upcoming year, as well as a history of revaluations dating back to 2001.
Construction Update – Walnut Street at Cary High School PHB
Construction of the Walnut Street PHB (Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon) in front of Cary High School is expected to begin next week. The Traffic Control Plan during construction includes closure of the inside lanes on both eastbound and westbound Walnut Street for approximately one to two weeks to accommodate the median and PHB work. The existing pedestrian crossing is expected to be closed and pedestrian detours will be provided utilizing the existing signalized pedestrian crossing at the intersection of Walnut Street and SE Maynard Road. This project will replace the concrete median on either side of the crosswalk with a slightly longer landscaped median, which will include features based on a collaborative exercise with Cary High School students. The metal pole for the PHB will be installed in the landscaped median with dual mast-arms, each providing traffic control for the eastbound and westbound traffic on Walnut Street.
Utility Relocation Update
Duke Energy has completed their relocation of overhead facilities between Cameron Pond Drive and Howard Road. Crews are still installing underground infrastructure between Howard Road and NC-55 before facilities are relocated underground. Spectrum has also started their relocation efforts between Cameron Pond Drive and Howard Road, which is expected to take roughly three months.
West Park Street Infrastructure Renewal
W. Park Street from Harrison Avenue to Academy Street has undergone a transformation over the last several months. Cary invested in new buried infrastructure including a new water main, upgrades to the sanitary sewer, and the replacement of damaged stormwater piping. A new stormwater catch basin was also installed and all of the curbs and sidewalks have been replaced to prevent ponding. Finally, the roadway was resurfaced, and W. Park Street was reopened last Friday, a week ahead of schedule.
Pavement Marking Condition Survey
Next week, weather depending, consultants working for Cary will begin measuring the reflectivity of pavement markings on some of the major streets maintained by Cary. This assessment is the first step in developing a maintenance program to ensure pavement markings can be sufficiently seen in low light conditions. Streets that will be measured include; Waldo Rood Blvd, Buck Jones Rd, West Chatham St, North Harrison Ave, East Chatham St, Kildaire Farm Road, Lake Pine Dr, Walnut St, McCrimmon Parkway, Old Apex Rd, and Weston Parkway. Lane closures and some night work may be needed to safely complete this work.
Cary Works to Advance the Tree Care Industry in NC
The NC Urban Forest Council hosted an arborist prep course in Greenville this past week. Leslie Moorman, Cary’s Urban Forester, instructed a portion of the course, preparing the next generation of tree care professionals. Cary continues to prioritize the advancement of the tree care workforce to ensure our trees are receiving the best care and maintenance from qualified experts.
Two complaints about a Waverly Place rezoning proposal (It has not been scheduled for a public hearing and council has not seen a staff report).
A complaint about being towed at the Camden Townhomes in Cary Park.
A request for a new American flag at Booth Amphitheater.
A complaint about a 18 wheeler parking on the Cary Morrisville border.
Next Week
Next week’s activities include staff meetings, a council work session, and the last regularly scheduled council meeting of the fiscal year.
Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, June 30th, 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.
Monday afternoon the council held a work session on bond ratings and the budget.
In the staff presentation on bond ratings they pointed out that Cary has the highest bond rating from all three major rating agencies: S&P Global, Moody’s, and Fitch. Cary is one of the few communities in the country that has the highest ratings from all three bond rating agencies which allows us to get the lowest interest rate possible when financing capital projects. The ratings are determined by financial performance and flexibility, debt factors, economic base, managerial factors (staff and council).
After the bond ratings presentation the council held their second work session on the budget. Here are some notes, takeaways, and thoughts from the latest work session:
June 10th work session:
The main takeaways from this year’s budget:
Market conditions are resulting in increased costs for core services, as well as reduced revenue growth.
Recent planned utilization of general fund balance, combined with unprecedented sales tax revenue, allowed Cary to defer tax increases until now.
The FY 2025 Recommended Budget ensures Cary remains well positioned for the future, including investment in priority areas without further expansion, while maintaining services and infrastructure.
The three main factors impacting the budget are a flat sales tax, a period of inflation, and an expansion in programs.
The breakdown of the 8 cents above revenue neutral can be summarized as three cents due to inflation, two cents due to program expansion (parks and the environment), two cents due to debt service, and one cent due to General Fund Reserve replenishment.
The town will provide an online tool with a slider on the tax rate to help figure out exactly how much a property owner’s tax will be.
Chris Nida from the NC League of Municipalities said, “The current sales tax environment seems to bear much more resemblance to the years prior to the pandemic than it does to recent years.”
Sales tax revenue for this fiscal year is about $4 million under budget. This fiscal year we are budgeting 3% sales tax revenue growth which is lower than pre-pandemic growth.
The Cary Community Plan predicted the slowing in the town’s growth, “The high quality of life enjoyed in Cary has propelled its growth up until now. However, national, regional, and local trends suggest a changing context for the town…”
Since 1998 we have added:
26 new parks
85 miles of greenway
1790 acres of park land
4 new fire stations and 1 relocated fire station
208 miles of streets
35,153 utility customers
What this budget does for General Government:
Supports 5% personnel increase for merit
Sustained investment in employee training and investment
What this budget does for Public Works:
Supports new work order and asset management platform
Makes significant investments in facility planning and maintenance
Continues to invest in equipment replacement
What this budget does for Public Safety:
Sustains investment in Public Safety personnel
Reinvents and reimagines public safety training
Enhances preparedness for critical and unusual events through investments in new technology platforms
What this budget does for Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources:
Funds the first year of operations for the Downtown Cary Park
Invests in critical capital maintenance
What this budget does for development and infrastructure:
Invests in the implementation of the Urban Forest Master Plan
Expands our investment in historic preservation
Fulfills development and parking obligations
May 23rd work session:
The biggest factors impacting this year’s budget are a flat sales tax, inflation, and program expansion. Having said that, another big factor is that we are a maturing community. That is, the subsidizing of taxes with growth is basically over.
While almost everyone will agree that police and fire are essential to our community, other service areas have become a high priority for citizens as well. For example, our urban forestry program, our recycling program (even though we pay to recycle), parks programming, environmental initiatives, affordable housing initiatives, and more.
Foundational values for the budget include hiring and retaining the best of class of employees, achieving, and maintaining the highest levels of service, and accommodating a growing community.
Key takeaways from this budget include:
Market conditions are resulting in increased costs for core services, as well as reduced revenue growth.
Recent planned utilization of general fund balance, combined with unprecedented sales tax revenue, allowed Cary to defer tax increases until now.
The FY 2025 Recommended Budget ensures Cary remains well positioned for the future, including investment in priority areas without further expansion, while maintaining services and infrastructure.
A chief economist from our area says “The latest inflation data surprised the financial markets, revealing that the higher-than-expected inflation reported earlier this year persisted into March. The sharp moderation in the CPI since mid-2022 appears to have pivoted to a slower trajectory.”
Sales tax revenue has flattened. It was $43.5 million in FY2021, $52.3 million in FY2022, $57.1 million in FY2023, and a projected $58.3 million in FY2024 ($4 million under budget). The proposed budget is estimated to be $59.6 million for this upcoming fiscal year.
The Cary Community Plan expected the town’s growth to slow: “The high quality of life enjoyed in Cary has propelled its growth up until now. However, national, regional, and local trends suggest a changing context for the town…”
The influx of population (growth) has subsidized the tax rate for years. That has now ended. Residential permits in FY2023 are the lowest in decades.
A comparison of Cary from 1998 and today showed a big increase in size, amenities, and wealth. This in turn has significantly increased our maintenance and operating costs.
Parks expanded from 13 to 39.
Greenways expanded from 10 miles to 95 miles.
Park land expanded from 900 acres to 2690 acres.
Fire Stations expanded from 5 to 9.
Town owned streets expanded from 302.22 miles to 510 miles.
Utility customers expanded from 29,583 to 64,736.
Incorporated miles increased from 40.43 to 61.05.
The population increased from 85,000 to 187,000.
The median household income increased from $54,700 ($104,023 in today’s dollars) to $125,317.
The median single-family home assessed value increased from $108,800 ($206,906 in today’s dollars) to $647,748.
Property Tax went from $.054 to the proposed $0.325. The property tax was $587.52 ($1117.29 in today’s dollars) to $2,105.18.
Cary’s change in property values in this revaluation shows an average increase of 56% for residential and 39% for commercial. Wake County averaged 53% and 45%.
Cary’s tax base is 72% residential and 28% non-residential.
Cary’s total assessed value was $34.8 billion in 2023 and is 51.8 billion now which is a $17.0 billion increase (48.9%) in one year.
The proposed tax rate will increase property taxes an average of $649 per year.
Cary has the lowest proposed tax rate at 32.5 cents followed by Apex at 34 cents, Holly Springs at 34.35 cents, Morrisville at 35 cents, Raleigh at 35.5 cents, Fuquay-Varina at 36.8 cents, Wake Forest at 42 cents, Wendell at 42 cents, Knightdale at 45 cents, Garner at 52 cents, and Zebulon at 54 cents. Wake County will be at 51 cents.
Cary tax rate compares well nationwide to communities like ours: Franklin, Tennessee at 32.6 cents, McKinney, Texas at 42.8 cents, Naperville, Illinois at 66.5 cents, and Scottsdale, Arizona at 51.5 cents.
A penny on the tax rate was $3.5 million in 2023 and is now $5.1 million.
This year’s budget is $503.5 million which is a 3.9% decrease. Operating costs are $384.3 million, an 8.9% increase, and capital expenditures are $1129.2 million, a 29.9% decrease.
The budget includes 27% public safety, 16% public works, and 11% Parks. The budget by type is 57% personnel, 27% operations, 10% debt, and 6% other.
The budget includes a $1 increase for solid waste and recycling which only covers 92% of the cost. It also includes a utility rate increase of 3%.
The downtown park will have its first year of operations and is budgeted at $6.8 million.
Other Important priorities reflected in the budget include parking decks, action sports improvements, park facility maintenance, greenways, historic preservation, open space, solar initiatives, urban forestry, environmental initiatives, transit projects, firetruck replacement, water meter replacements, water line maintenance and upgrades, sewer line repair and replacements, sidewalks, street improvements, and an adaptive stormwater approach strategy. Two of the biggest increases include $5.8 million for housing and $2.6 for environmental initiatives.
The June 17th budget work session will focus on the council’s follow-up questions. Some of the ideas council members have floated were to sell historic structures if they are not part of a plan (they are still protected because they are on the national historic registry). Other topics included sidewalk budgets, police mobile command center, funding of the Chamber of Commerce, duplicate IT software, increase in employee benefit costs, vehicle installment purchases, paying for elections, the environment budget, the police budget, solid waste and recycling costs, etc.
Council Meeting
The council held its first regularly scheduled meeting of June on Monday. The agenda included six consent items, three public hearings, and one discussion item. Council member Bush pulled the Bel Canto item from consent to be added to discussion. The rest of the consent was passed unanimously.
The first public hearing was the second public hearing for the FY2025 budget. There were a few written comments and a couple of speakers who were not in favor of the budget because of the proposed tax rate. The council will vote on the budget and the tax rate at the June 27th meeting.
The next two public hearings were for annexation requests. One to connect to utilities and one related to a previously approved rezoning. These hearings had no speakers, and the annexations were approved unanimously.
The first discussion item was for a 2024 Bond Referendum. During the May 2, 2024, Quarterly Meeting, Council directed staff to begin taking the required steps tohold a bond referendum for Parks and Recreation and Housing projects on November 5, 2024. The legal process associated with holding a referendum requires separate Council actions over several months, the first of which is to adopt a Preliminary Findings Resolution, which documents Council’s conclusions about using debt and authorizes staff to seek approval of the proposed referendum from the N.C. Local Government Commission. After a few comments from council this was approved unanimously. You can find out more about the bond here.
The last discussion item was the Bel Canto rezoning which was pulled from the consent agenda by council member Bush. There was an extensive discussion by council with council member Bush arguing for conditions that required affordable housing and council member Craig pointing out that there were too many unknowns. The rest of the council was in favor of the project mainly because even without conditions over 50% of the project would be studio and one-bedroom apartments which technically are affordable. While I agreed with Ms. Bush’s comments about the need for conditions, what swayed me was the requirement of structured parking spaces at per bedroom at $35,000 per space. This, for the most part, guarantees one bedroom and studios.
The council meeting concluded after about two hours.
Cary Tennis Classic Board
The board for the Cary Tennis Classic met Monday night. The Cary Tennis Classic, formerly the Atlantic Tire Championships, will have both a women’s and men’s professional tournament this year. In our board meeting topics included Anthony Blackman scholars, electronics and streaming during the tournament, ticket pricing, community events, promotion and the media, and other tournament specifics. Our next meeting will be on July 8th.
CAMPO
Wednesday afternoon I participated in a meeting of the Executive Board for CAMPO (Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization). The agenda included three consent items, one public hearing, and seven discussion items.
The board was presented information on Complete 540, the North Harnett County Transit Study, the Wake Transit Plan, FY2024 Coordinated Public Transit, FY2026 Locally Administered Projects Program, and Amendment #5 to the 2024-2033 Transportation Improvement Program.
The board unanimously approved SPOT 7 (Statewide Programming & Target Modal Mixes, and FY2025 Wake Transit Work Plan and Project Groupings and Deliverables.
Business NC Interview
Thursday I was interviewed by Business North Carolina magazine. The reporter was interested in soccer especially since we had just finished a very successful TST tournament. We talked about the Wake Med facility, soccer events held there, and the potential future of the park and surrounding area. Our conversation was about ten minutes.
Juneteenth Celebration
Saturday afternoon I joined council members Kohn-Johnson and Bansal at the Juneteenth Celebration at the Downtown Cary Park. I provided a brief welcome and read a proclamation:
DESIGNATING JUNE 19, 2024,
AS CARY’S JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION
WHEREAS, June 19, 1865 was the date when Union soldiers landed in Galveston, Texas with the news that the Civil War was over and thus represented the last notification of the end of slavery; and
WHEREAS, that date became known as Juneteenth and has grown to become a national event celebrating this significant day in our history, with special meaning for our African American community; and
WHEREAS, Juneteenth celebrates African American freedom and achievement and is a day of liberation, resilience and fortitude; and
WHEREAS, Cary citizens came together to host the inaugural Juneteenth Celebration in 2019 as a way to joyously embrace freedom; and
WHEREAS, The Town of Cary observed Juneteenth as an official Town Holiday for the first time on Friday, June 18, 2021.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Harold Weinbrecht, Jr., Mayor of the Town of Cary, North Carolina, on behalf of the Cary Town Council, do hereby proclaim June 19, 2024, as Cary’s Juneteenth Celebration 2024 and call upon all citizens to join in the celebration.
PROCLAIMED this 19th day of June, 2024.
This was our fifth year of celebrating Juneteenth.
Town Manager’s Report
Sean’s Message
I want to wish all of the dad’s out there a happy Father’s Day this weekend. Growing up, my dad, Ted, was such a positive, constant presence for me. Dad’s recently moved to Colorado to start a new and exciting chapter in his life, and I couldn’t be happier for him. As Emma’s dad, I’m starting a new chapter, too, as Michele and I proudly watched her graduate from high school last weekend, and we all prepare for what our lives will be like as Emma goes off to college. As dad’s go, I’ve been pretty lucky, both in having a great dad and in having the greatest daughter to be “Daddy” to. Enjoy your weekend. Sean
Sister Cities Proclamation
Councilmember Jack Smith met with County Meath officials in Ireland, including Councilors Brian Fitzgerald, Chief Executive Kieran Kehoe, and Director of Services Des Foley. To celebrate the over 20-year Sister Cities relationship between Cary and County Meath, Smith presented a proclamation on behalf of the Mayor and Councilmembers.
All Hands – Opportunities Can Take Many Forms
This week, we held the quarterly All Hands meeting where the theme was “opportunities can take many forms.” Hundreds of staff who attended in person and virtually were treated to the Legacy of Leadership retreat video, followed by in-depth discussions of the budget and several staffing changes. Brittany Edwards hosted, and Town Manager Sean Stegall was joined by Deputy Town Manager Russ Overton and Assistant Town Manager Danna Widmar for the conversations.
Municipal Managers Meet in Cary
On Wednesday, Cary hosted the bimonthly Wake Municipal Managers meeting. We were proud to have the opportunity to welcome managers and assistant managers to the Mayton and Downtown Cary Park. The agenda was comprised of school system developments, bus fares, and new OSHA regulations affecting fire departments.
The Soccer Tournament (TST)
The six-day TST extravaganza was a triumph, thanks to the seamless coordination of multiple departments. Each day brought new challenges, but the team’s expertise and collaboration allowed for quick adjustments.
The event buzzed with excitement as 42,436 soccer fans from around the world enjoyed activities, including team activation areas and player interactions. Behind the scenes, the sports turf team ensured first-class playing surfaces, smoothly handled setup and teardown, and quickly transitioned to replacing the stadium field turf before this Saturday’s Courage match.
Ivey-Ellington Temporary Parking Lot Closure
The Old Library parking lot will be closed from June 17 to 19 for the installation of new stormwater lines in preparation for the upcoming rain garden at the Ivey-Ellington House. Barricades will block vehicles from entering Charlie Gaddy Lane while crews remove asphalt for the work. Once the project is complete, the parking lot will be temporarily restored with gravel until it is resurfaced with new asphalt later this summer.
Cary Towne Boulevard Sewer Repairs
On June 20, contractors will begin replacing approximately 30 feet of a 12-inch sewer line along the south side of Cary Towne Boulevard, adjacent to the former Cary Towne Center property. The excavation, pipe replacement, and pavement repairs are expected to take about three days. The outside eastbound travel lane will be closed daily from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. during the work. The adjacent turn lane will remain closed until repairs are completed.
Additionally, another repair is needed on the same sewer main closer to the SE Maynard Road intersection. This work will be performed mostly from within the pipe, causing minimal ground-level disturbance. The repair will occur at night during periods of low sewer flow and will be completed within the same timeframe.
Complete 540 Phase 1 Update
NCDOT is over 90% complete with the Complete 540 Phase 1 project, which extends from the NC 55 bypass in Apex to the I-40/US 70 interchange. The highway is set to open this summer, with tolling consistent with other tolled sections of NC 540. Residents should note that the Bells Lake Road interchange ramps will open later in the year. Near that interchange, NCDOT operates a temporary asphalt plant to support the project. On June 22, NCDOT will host a 5k run on the soon-to-open turnpike.
2024 NCAA Division II Baseball National Championship
The eight-day NCAA Division II Baseball National Championship (World Series) was hosted by Cary, the University of Mount Olive, USA Baseball, and the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance for the 14th time in the past 16 years.
On Saturday, in front of a crows of around 1,500 fans, Tampa University won the National Championship over defending champion Angelo State.
Five complaints about the proposed budget from the town manager.
A complaint from a former employee about hearing loss from heavy machinery.
Concerns about the loss of EMS for Chatham County residents of Cary.
A request to extend bus route #5.
A complaint about the town celebrating Pride: “…we are forced (through our tax dollars) to contribute to something that directly conflicts with our faith.”
Next Week
Next week’s activities include staff meetings, a council budget work session, a groundbreaking at Park Overlook, signing installment documents, and a Diwali Dance team meeting.
Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, June 23rd, 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.
Monday I participated in a Memorial Day Observance at the Veterans Freedom Park. Council member Smith, our only veteran, was the emcee. I was also joined by council members Kohn-Johnson and Craig. I read a proclamation recognizing the importance of this day:
DESIGNATING MAY 27, 2024 AS THE
OBSERVANCE OF MEMORIAL DAY IN CARY
WHEREAS, Memorial Day has been set aside as a national holiday for all Americans to remember the sacrifices made by those who have given their lives in service to the United States through their military service; and
WHEREAS, we come here today to undertake the solemn duty of remembering those brave Americans; and
WHEREAS, we honor those we have lost throughout our country’s history; the proud men and women who served in the Air Force, the Army, the Coast Guard, the Marines and the Navy that have fought in wars so that future generations would have freedom; and
WHEREAS, in Cary we are fortunate to have a place dedicated for us to gather to honor these men and women and to pay tribute to them and their families; and
WHEREAS, the National Moment of Remembrance is a voluntary observance for each of us in our own way to take a moment of remembrance and respect to honor and give thanks to all of those who have risked their lives so that we may enjoy our freedom,
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Harold Weinbrecht Jr., Mayor of Cary, North Carolina, on behalf of the Cary Council, do hereby designate May 27, 2024, as “An observance of Memorial Day in Cary,” and I urge all citizens to participate in honoring our country’s service men and women.
PROCLAIMEDthis 27th day of May 2024.
Needless to say, I was honored to be in the presence of so many heroes who served our country.
Also, part of the ceremony was hearing from mothers of two Gold Star families.
Friday morning, I was interviewed by Spectrum News about next week’s TST soccer tournament. I shared that we expected 70,000 attendees, which is double last year’s attendance. This event will be on the world stage and is expected to have a $15 million direct impact. It is a great opportunity to see some of the best players, men and women, in the world. The men and women’s teams will each be vying for $1 million prize.
Cary #8 City on the Rise
The News and Observer reported that Southern Living ranked Cary is the #8 city on the rise:
“The Research Triangle’s innovative energy has rubbed off on this once-small suburb. A thriving arts and culture scene, excellent restaurants and ever-growing downtown make Cary a worthy standalone destination,” the report says. “The long-awaited and recently opened 7-acre Downtown Cary Park now provides a centralized gathering space, further adding to the reasons the city landed on Livability’s 2023 Best Places to Live list.”
NC Metro Mayors
Friday I joined a meeting of the NC Metro Mayors to get a legislative summary. Here is information provided by the Executive Director:
It was a very quiet week at the General Assembly. Speaker Tim Moore’s father passed away on Monday and the House canceled all committees and votes so members could attend the funeral. The Senate did not hold votes but did have a few committee meetings.
The Appropriations chairs are making progress on the budget. The Transportation area chairs have made the most progress so far and they were some of the only members in town this week. Activity at NCGA will pick up again next week, with committee work to be done on Tuesday-Thursday and floor votes expected later in the week.
The mayors also heard from the Secretary of the NC Department of Environmental Quality about PFAS. This is not an issue for Cary which removed PFAS years ago.
Town Manager’s Report
Sean’s Message
Council, as you will see, this Weekly Report is full of a number of very important project updates – projects that will have direct impacts on our citizens in the next several days. For this reason, I recommend you read what follows at your earliest convenience so you will be better prepared to answer any questions you may receive as these projects unfold. Thank you to our staff, as well as our contractors and consultants, for all of your hard work which keeps Cary at the Top of the Arc. I hope you all enjoy your weekend. Sean
2024 Memorial Day Remembrance
On Monday, hundreds of Cary citizens gathered at Veterans Freedom Park to remember and honor the U.S. military personnel who have served or are still serving in the line of duty. Mayor Harold Weinbrecht read the proclamation, joined by Councilmembers Michelle Craig and Carissa Kohn-Johnson. Councilmember Jack Smith emceed the event, and Congressman Wiley Nickel delivered his remarks. The event included a formal dedication of a Gold Star Memorial at the park, coordinated by the Cary Garden Club, with powerful tributes by Gold Star mothers.
Mayor Interviews with Spectrum News About TST
This morning, Mayor Weinbrecht was interviewed by Spectrum News to discuss the upcoming Soccer Tournament and its impacts on Cary and the greater Triangle region. The segment will air throughout the morning of June 5 on Spectrum News 1. The Soccer Tournament takes place June 5 to June 10 at WakeMed Soccer Park.
S&P Affirmed Cary’s ‘AAA’ Rating
On Wednesday, Standard and Poor’s (S&P) affirmed Cary’s ‘AAA’ bond rating with a stable outlook. According to S&P, Cary’s credit strengths include a “strong and growing local economy” and “strong financial policies and practices.” Cary has now received affirmations of its ‘AAA’ rating from all three rating agencies. Fitch Ratings affirmed their ‘AAA’ rating last summer, on July 25, 2023, and Moody’s affirmed their ‘AAA’ rating earlier this year on February 14, 2024. The ‘AAA’ rating is the best possible rating for a local government.
Walnut Street Pedestrian Warning Lights Complete
Contractors working for Cary recently completed a second installation of in-road pedestrian warning lights on Walnut Street near R.S. Dunham Park. Similar to the first installation on Harrison Avenue, this system includes LED-enhanced warning signs, decorative poles, and audible pedestrian push buttons. Completion of this work marks another step forward for the Walnut Street Road Diet project and furthers Cary’s commitment to pedestrian safety.
GoCary Downtown Loop Begins June 1
Beginning June 1, Cary will enjoy greater access to downtown attractions with the launch of the new GoCary Downtown Loop (DL) . The Downtown Loop will provide service between destinations like Cary Town Hall, Downtown Cary Park, and other downtown attractions along Chatham Street. Parking is available at the Town Hall parking deck, with a DL bus stop conveniently located on Wilkinson Avenue. The Downtown Loop will operate every 25 minutes, Thursday through Sunday. For DL hours of operation or to track your bus in real-time, download the new GoCary App today. For inquiries or further assistance, please email BetterTransit@GoCary.org.
New Sidewalk Along Byrum Street
Next week, contractors working for Cary will begin constructing a new sidewalk along Byrum Street. This project is being coordinated with additional sidewalk improvements by private developments in the area. Upon completion, there will be a fully connected pedestrian route between Kildaire Farm Road and Walnut Street. Lane closures will be necessary to ensure the work is completed safely. Construction of Cary’s portion of the sidewalk is expected to take approximately two months.
Morrisville Carpenter Road Median Planting
As part of the recently completed Carpenter Fire Station Road Bridge and Intersection Improvements project, staff worked with the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and NCDOT to create a median landscape plan that complements the Carpenter Historic District. The plants selected for this median are native species that thrive in hot and dry conditions. Contractors working on behalf of Cary will begin installing the Morrisville Carpenter Road median landscaping on June 3. Work will take place between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. and is expected to be completed by the end of June. Temporary lane closures will be in place during working hours, but impacts on traffic are expected to be minor.
Ivey-Ellington Tree Removal
The rehabilitation of the historic Ivey-Ellington House continues. Recent work includes preparing the exterior for new paint, restoring the home’s historic windows to working condition, and starting the reroofing process. Next week, following a recommendation by a third-party arborist and confirmation by Cary’s urban forester, contractors will remove two hazardous trees on the site. The tree removal work will take place on Monday, June 3. While the work will take place within the construction fence surrounding the home, crews will have staff and barriers in place to direct pedestrian traffic away from the immediate work area. This fall, landscape work will continue on-site, incorporating native plants and trees.
Dog Park Membership System Transition
Starting in June, we will begin a two-month process to upgrade the technology associated with Cary’s dog parks. The new software for selling and renewing passes will be RecTrac, the same system used by PRCR and Downtown Cary Park for class registration, POS, rentals, and more. Integrating our dog park pass sales into RecTrac will streamline operations and improve the customer experience when purchasing or renewing a pass. We will update the hardware at each dog park to integrate with RecTrac, beginning with the Downtown Cary Park’s Barkyard. Dog Park members will have uninterrupted access to facilities as we transition and will start receiving communications about this transition next week. For updates starting in June, visit www.carync.gov/dogparks.
2023 Asset Management Report
The 2023 Annual Asset Management Report was recently completed and provides a dashboard view of the current state of Cary’s linear, utility assets. The report tracks infrastructure added through capital and development initiatives and helps verify that key performance targets are being achieved. Over the past year, the focus has remained on improving GIS data, maintaining buried linear infrastructure, and continuing work on risk-based capital planning. One of the highlights of the report is the creation of GIS route optimization maps that have benefitted leaf collection, water meter maintenance, and sewer main leak testing.
Sharing Greenway Etiquette with the Community
As part of its ongoing greenway safety campaign, Cary is connecting with local businesses to share greenway rules and etiquette that foster a safe and enjoyable experience for all greenway users. Look for the greenway’s informational banners at bike shops and other local businesses as engagement continues throughout the year.
2024 NCAA Division I Women’s Lacrosse Championship
This past weekend, Cary hosted its 37th NCAA National Championship. WakeMed Soccer Park, in partnership with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance, hosted the 2024 NCAA Division I Women’s Lacrosse Championship in front of 9,192 fans. Immediately after Boston College was crowned the 2024 National Champion, the sports turf group began preparations for The Soccer Tournament (TST).
One agreement with the proposed budget from the town manager.
Three disagreements with the proposed budget from the town manager.
A thank you for “fantastic service” from our fire department. (That is why they are the best of the best).
A complaint about rezoning proposals in Regency. (They have yet to have public hearings, so any vote is months away.)
A concern and questions about an easement on someone’s property.
Next Week
Next week I will be on a family vacation. It will be one of the few times in the year where my wife and I can visit with both daughters, my son-in-law and of course my grandson. I will also spend time resting as I continue to recover from shoulder surgery.
Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, June 16th, 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.
Monday afternoon I presented a proclamation recognizing May as National Tennis Month in Cary. Nearly 24 million people play tennis in the United States which is a 34% increase since 2019. Tennis is a lifetime sport that has many wellness and health benefits. I encourage all citizens to give tennis a try.
Council Meeting Prep
Monday morning I contacted each council member to see if they had questions or concerns about the upcoming agenda.
Later in the day I met with staff to go over the agenda items. The agenda appeared to be straight forward without any controversial items.
Manager One-On-One
Later Monday I met with the town manager for our weekly one-on-one. We mostly talked about the budget and a little about the South Hills redevelopment proposal.
Wake County Mayors Association
Monday night I met with the mayors of Wake County. All were in attendance except for the mayors of Wendell and Raleigh.
The meeting started with a presentation from a representative of the Turnpike Authority. He gave us updates on the phases with expected completion times.
We also had a presentation from a representative of NCDOT from District 5 (Wake County and other areas). He updated us on many projects including I440 along with the completion dates.
The ten mayors then went around the room and talked about budgets, proposed tax rates, and oddly enough fireworks and Christmas parades. Our meeting concluded after about two and a half hours.
Cary #15 Friendliest City in South
On Wednesday I was notified that Cary was ranked #15 friendliest city in the south by Southern Living. Here is what they said about Cary:
“The three cities that make up North Carolina’s Research Triangle (Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill) have earned their keep as favorite Southern destinations, but a new kid on the block nearby has stolen the show as one of the South’s friendliest cities. Cary, once a minor suburb, has exploded into a major cultural hub while retaining its small-town character. Readers love the hospitality they receive at the big-city accommodations like the Umstead Hotel and Spa, but also called out devoted longtime residents like Ralph and Daphne Ashworth, who owned Ashworth Drugs in downtown Cary form 1957 through early 2024, for outstanding service.”
Council Work Session
The council and staff held the first budget work session on Thursday evening. This budget will be one of the toughest we have had in my 20+ years as an elected official. Here are some notes, takeaways, and thoughts from the work session:
The biggest factors impacting this year’s budget are a flat sales tax, inflation, and program expansion. Having said that, another big factor is that we are a maturing community. That is, the subsidizing of taxes with growth is basically over.
While almost everyone will agree that police and fire are essential to our community, other service areas have become a high priority for citizens as well. For example, our urban forestry program, our recycling program (even though we pay to recycle), parks programming, environmental initiatives, affordable housing initiatives, and more.
Foundational values for the budget include hiring and retaining the best of class of employees, achieving, and maintaining the highest levels of service, and accommodating a growing community.
Key takeaways from this budget include:
Market conditions are resulting in increased costs for core services, as well as reduced revenue growth.
Recent planned utilization of general fund balance, combined with unprecedented sales tax revenue, allowed Cary to defer tax increases until now.
The FY 2025 Recommended Budget ensures Cary remains well positioned for the future, including investment in priority areas without further expansion, while maintaining services and infrastructure.
A chief economist from our area says “The latest inflation data surprised the financial markets, revealing that the higher-than-expected inflation reported earlier this year persisted into March. The sharp moderation in the CPI since mid-2022 appears to have pivoted to a slower trajectory.”
Sales tax revenue has flattened. It was $43.5 million in FY2021, $52.3 million in FY2022, $57.1 million in FY2023, and a projected $58.3 million in FY2024 ($4 million under budget). The proposed budget is estimated to be $59.6 million for this upcoming fiscal year.
The Cary Community Plan expected the town’s growth to slow: “The high quality of life enjoyed in Cary has propelled its growth up until now. However, national, regional, and local trends suggest a changing context for the town…”
The influx of population (growth) has subsidized the tax rate for years. That has now ended. Residential permits in FY2023 are the lowest in decades.
A comparison of Cary from 1998 and today showed a big increase in size, amenities, and wealth. This in turn has significantly increased our maintenance and operating costs.
Parks expanded from 13 to 39.
Greenways expanded from 10 miles to 95 miles.
Park land expanded from 900 acres to 2690 acres.
Fire Stations expanded from 5 to 9.
Town owned streets expanded from 302.22 miles to 510 miles.
Utility customers expanded from 29,583 to 64,736.
Incorporated miles increased from 40.43 to 61.05.
The population increased from 85,000 to 187,000.
The median household income increased from $54,700 ($104,023 in today’s dollars) to $125,317.
The median single-family home assessed value increased from $108,800 ($206,906 in today’s dollars) to $647,748.
Property Tax went from $.054 to the proposed $0.325. The property tax was $587.52 ($1117.29 in today’s dollars) to $2,105.18.
Cary’s change in property values in this revaluation shows an average increase of 56% for residential and 39% for commercial. Wake County averaged 53% and 45%.
Cary’s tax base is 72% residential and 28% non-residential.
Cary’s total assessed value was $34.8 billion in 2023 and is 51.8 billion now which is a $17.0 billion increase (48.9%) in one year.
The proposed tax rate will increase property taxes an average of $649 per year.
Cary has the lowest proposed tax rate at 32.5 cents followed by Apex at 34 cents, Holly Springs at 34.35 cents, Morrisville at 35 cents, Raleigh at 35.5 cents, Fuquay-Varina at 36.8 cents, Wake Forest at 42 cents, Wendell at 42 cents, Knightdale at 45 cents, Garner at 52 cents, and Zebulon at 54 cents. Wake County will be at 51 cents.
Cary tax rate compares well nationwide to communities like ours: Franklin, Tennessee at 32.6 cents, McKinney, Texas at 42.8 cents, Naperville, Illinois at 66.5 cents, and Scottsdale, Arizona at 51.5 cents.
A penny on the tax rate was $3.5 million in 2023 and is now $5.1 million.
This year’s budget is $503.5 million which is a 3.9% decrease. Operating costs are $384.3 million, an 8.9% increase, and capital expenditures are $1129.2 million, a 29.9% decrease.
The budget includes 27% public safety, 16% public works, and 11% Parks. The budget by type is 57% personnel, 27% operations, 10% debt, and 6% other.
The budget includes a $1 increase for solid waste and recycling which only covers 92% of the cost. It also includes a utility rate increase of 3%.
The downtown park will have its first year of operations and is budgeted at $6.8 million.
Other Important priorities reflected in the budget include parking decks, action sports improvements, park facility maintenance, greenways, historic preservation, open space, solar initiatives, urban forestry, environmental initiatives, transit projects, firetruck replacement, water meter replacements, water line maintenance and upgrades, sewer line repair and replacements, sidewalks, street improvements, and an adaptive stormwater approach strategy. Two of the biggest increases include $5.8 million for housing and $2.6 for environmental initiatives.
The next budget work session and public hearing will be on June 10th.
Council Meeting
Thursday night the council held their last regularly scheduled meeting of May. The agenda included four consent items, two public hearings, and one discussion item.
The first public hearing was for the annexation of Trinity townhomes. The rezoning was approved a few months ago so this was essentially a formality. There were no speakers.
The second public hearing was the first public hearing on the FY2025 budget. One speaker challenged statements from our finance department and said the tax rate could be lower. The second speaker spoke in favor of the budget because of affordable housing funding. There were several in attendance that showed signs in support of affordable housing and the budget.
The discussion item was the presentation of the Urban Forest Master Plan. The summary of the plan states:
“Working in concert with the Environmental Advisory Board and building on Cary’s newly established Urban Forestry Program, staff has been working to develop a 10-year strategy to guide urban forest management, programming, and policy. The Urban Forest Master Plan goes beyond a simple focus on preservation, aspiring to grow the quality and quantity of the urban forest for the future through leadership, stewardship, sustainability, and resilience. The plan establishes three primary goals, 10 strategies, and numerous action items to develop a data-driven, proactive urban tree management program. Cary’s Environmental Advisory Board participated in the preparation and review of the plan and recommends Council adoption.”
After a comprehensive presentation and review of the plan, the council praised it and unanimously approved it.
The council meeting concluded in a little over an hour.
NC Metro Mayors and Legislative Summary
Friday I participated in a meeting of the NC Metro Mayors to get a legislative summary. Here is a summary of that meeting from the Executive Director:
The mask bill dominated the discussions at the General Assembly this week.
On Wednesday, the Appropriations chairs only met for a short amount of time behind closed doors. Not much substantive progress was made on budget negotiations. This week, Senator Berger spoke to reporters about the differences in the House and Senate’s ideas on spending this year and confirmed that not much progress had been made. Senator Berger was quoted this week from an article in the NC Insider, “The good news is we have a budget. We adopted a two-year budget last year, and we have a budget. The real sticking point at this point is that, notwithstanding the fact that we have seen revenue projections that are about a billion dollars more than what we anticipated, spending those billion dollars is not enough for the House.”
NCGA does not have to “pass a budget” this year, since the state actually makes an adjustment in the short session to the second year of an enacted two-year budget. The previously enacted biennial budget for this year has pay raises for teachers and employees (although there is an expectation that further increases would be included if they pass this year’s budget adjustment).
The meeting concluded in less than half an hour.
Town Manager’s Report
Sean’s Message
To reiterate some of the points I made at last night’s meeting; for those who will be staying in or coming to Cary for the Memorial Day weekend, we’ll be hosting a wide array of special activities and events. Our annual Summerfest concert series with the North Carolina Symphony kicks off tonight at Koka Booth Amphitheatre. On Friday and Sunday, the Division 1 NCAA Women’s Lacrosse National Championship will be at WakeMed Soccer Park. Finally, on Monday, there will be the American Legion Post 67 event at Hillcrest Cemetery in the morning, followed by our Memorial Day Remembrance Ceremony at Veteran’s Freedom Park. As we discussed at last night’s meeting, most Town facilities will be closed Monday for the national holiday. Council and I want to once again thank all the staff who will be working over the weekend and on Monday to make these events happen. As a reminder, solid waste collection will be delayed by one day this week, with no collections on Monday. Have a great weekend. Sean
Mayor Presents Tennis Month Proclamation
Mayor Weinbrecht presented the proclamation recognizing May as Tennis Month. The United States Tennis Association (USTA) designated this month to promote local programs and activities, showcase the sport, and help communities find courts and playing opportunities. Cary is proud to support tennis activities for all ages at the Cary Tennis Park.
Proclamation Recognizing EDS
Councilmember Lori Bush presented the proclamation recognizing Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) to a group of advocates. EDS encompasses a group of 13 heritable connective tissue disorders caused by genetic mutations affecting connective tissue. Each type of EDS has its own distinct features and diagnostic criteria. Common characteristics shared across all types of EDS include joint hypermobility, skin hyperextensibility, and tissue fragility.
Chamber Business Excellence Awards
Councilmember Sarika Bansal delivered the opening remarks at the Cary Chamber Business Excellence Awards on Thursday. This annual event honors small businesses in Cary that make a significant positive impact on our community. Congratulations to the 2024 winners!
Cary Leadership Program Graduation
This week, Captain Rob Carey, Lieutenant Chris Redig, and Assistant Finance Director Denisha Harris completed the Leadership Cary Program. Leadership Cary is a unique, seven-month program that exposes participants to multiple facets of the community including local non-profits, health & medical services, economic development, local government, entrepreneurship and innovation, and law enforcement. Throughout the program, participants learn from and build relationships with industry leaders.
Wheels On Academy
On Saturday, Cary hosted the 11th Annual Wheels on Academy Car Show at its new location on North Academy Street. Despite the dreary weather forecast, over 50 vehicles participated, with models ranging from 1931 to 2024, and around 2,500 spectators came out to enjoy the event. A new addition this year was the Explore-an-EV area, where staff invited the community to learn about electric vehicles. Spectators explored eight electric vehicles from Cary’s award-winning green fleet and discovered the environmental benefits of EVs.
Chatham Street Pedestrian Crossing Improvements
To enhance pedestrian safety, contractors working for Cary have upgraded crosswalks to high-visibility standards. This work spanned from the Old Apex roundabout to the Durham Road roundabout, including Academy Street from Cedar Street to Wilkinson Avenue. In total, 33 pedestrian crossings were improved with high-visibility markings. The project also included upgrading pedestrian signs at midblock crossings to double-faced signage. Additionally, improvements within each roundabout were made, featuring new pavement markings and channeling devices.
High House Road Repaving
This week, NCDOT began the repaving of High House Road from NC 55 to Davis Drive. Lane closures will be necessary to safely complete construction. Work will primarily be completed overnight when traffic volumes are the lowest. Repaving is expected to take 4-6 weeks to complete. Concrete repairs will also be made over the next couple of months.
North and South Cary WRFs Nitrogen Report
The results are in for the 2023 Neuse River Nitrogen Monitoring Report and we are excited to announce another year of exceptional performance for Cary’s water reclamation facilities. Through the implementation of advanced biological treatment methods and the dedication of our staff, both the North and South Cary Water Reclamation Facilities achieved some of the lowest nitrogen levels in the Neuse River basin, demonstrating our commitment to environmental sustainability.
Bike Month Rides
Last Friday, staff celebrated Bike to Work Day with a group ride to the ‘Appreciate the Best’ event at the Cary Tennis Park. Cary’s greenways, street-side trails, and neighborhood bikeways provided a safe and comfortable route for the group, offering a fun and healthy way to travel to the event. On Wednesday, Cary’s Bike Plan Focus Group replaced their monthly meeting with a group ride around downtown. This citizen-based group is providing valuable input for the update of Cary’s Bike Plan and is championing community engagement and advocacy efforts. The ride allowed the group to experience various road designs throughout Cary and observe how the design of streets and intersections impacts bicycling comfort and safety.
Backyard Bins and Barrels
Cary community members are growing greener lawns and gardens through composting and rainwater harvesting thanks to our annual sale! Participants purchased a grand total of 220 rain barrels and 135 backyard compost bins and will receive resource guides when picking up their units at Good Hope Farm this month.
Upcoming Meetings
None Scheduled
Mayor’s Mailbox
Three complaints about the proposed budget.
Support for affordable housing in the budget.
A concern about Parks and Recreation policy changes.
Next Week
Next week’s activities include staff meetings, the Memorial Day Service at Veterans Freedom Park, and a NC Metro Mayors meeting.
Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Friday, May 31st, 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.
Cary was named the 5th best city to move to in North Carolina according to The USA Today. Here is some of what they said about Cary:
“… It’s conveniently close to top employers in the Research Triangle Park and medical facilities such as Rex UNC Hospital. Cary attracts residents thanks to top-ranking schools, which scored an 8 out of 10 on NeighborhoodScout. Cary has a relatively low crime rate of fewer than 12 crimes committed per 1,000 residents, according to NeighborhoodScout.
Cary’s typical rent is $1,776 per month, higher than many other parts of North Carolina. However, Cary’s high median income of $125,317 means Cary still has a favorable rent-to-income ratio, and the area has the lowest percentage of rent-burdened residents on our list.”
Unfortunately, they think of Cary as a suburb. Those days were gone 15 years ago. More people come to Cary to work than leave for work.
Cary #1 For Renters in US
According to the 2024 USA Today survey Cary is the best place for renters in the country. The reasons they cited included financial accessibility, low crime, good schools, and access to recreation.
PPA Tournament Generated $2.6 million in Economic Impact
The estimated direct economic impact of the PPA Tour (The Pro Tour of Pickleball) held in Cary during the first week of April, was $2,637,818. The direct local tax revenue from visitor spending was $119,851. An estimated 4,907 attendees visited from outside of Wake County. We look forward to hosting more professional pickleball in the future.
Weekly One-On-One with the Town Manager
Monday I met briefly with the town manager. Some of the topics of conversation included the upcoming proposed budget, the potential bond, an upcoming work session, and the council.
Cary Tennis Classic Board
I participated in a meeting of the Cary Tennis Classic Board Monday evening. Topics included the sponsors, the Anthony Blackmon Scholars, tournament electronics and streaming, media, promotions, and new sponsor levels. The board will be announcing exciting news soon.
CAMPO Executive Board
The CAMPO Executive Board met Wednesday and approved Amendment #4 to the FY2024-2033 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). The board also received information on Triangle Regional Transit Survey 2023, Morrisville Pkwy Access Management Study Recommendations, Recommended FY 2025 Wake Transit Work Plan, and the NC540 Bonus Allocation Programming.
NC Metro Mayors
Friday I participated in a meeting of the North Carolina Metro Mayors for a legislative summary. Here is a summary of this week’s actions from Checkmate Government Relations:
Budget Surplus Adjustment
The North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management (OSBM) released a revised General Fund revenue forecast for the 2023-2025 biennium. The revenue forecast provides policymakers at the General Assembly with updated information on revenue collections to inform them before budget adjustments are made in the short session. The Consensus Forecasting Group, comprised of economists at the OSBM and the Fiscal Research Division at the General Assembly, made a downward revision to the General Fund Forecast of $225 million in the current fiscal year, and $205 million in the next fiscal year. The adjustment resulted from personal income tax collections in April falling short of the April consensus forecast. Despite the revenue adjustments, the budget surplus for this fiscal year will be $188 million and is expected to be $799 million next year.
Second Primary Election Results
The polls closed for North Carolina’s second primary runoff election at 7:30 pm on Tuesday. The results were reported by the North Carolina State Board of Elections and are available on their website. Hal Weatherman was selected as the Republican nominee for the Lieutenant Governor race. Weatherman will face Democratic candidate Rachel Hunt and Libertarian Shannon Bray in the general election this November. Dave Boliek defeated Jack Clark in the Republican primary runoff for state auditor. Boliek will face Democratic candidate Jessica Holmes and Libertarian Bob Drach in November. Brad Knott defeated Kelly Daughtry in the race for North Carolina’s 13th Congressional district. He will face Democratic candidate Frank Pierce in the general election.
Juvenile Justice Bill
This week, the Senate approved HB834, Juvenile Justice Modifications by a vote of 41-4. The bill received favorable reports from the Senate Judiciary and Rules committees before moving to the floor for a vote on Wednesday. This bill would update the definition of “delinquent juvenile” to exclude certain, more major offenses. The bill would also help clarify the transfer process between Juvenile and Superior courts. Senator Danny Britt (R-Robeson) presented the bill to the Senate Judiciary Committee and spoke to the intent the bill has to clear the backlog of cases waiting to be heard in Juvenile courts. The bill has been sent back to the House for a concurrence vote.
Town Manager’s Report
Sean’s Message
Today you will be receiving your FY 2025 Proposed Budget. As you review the document, please keep in mind that the document itself is not intended to serve as a replacement for the staff presentations you will be receiving during the upcoming budget work sessions. Similar to staff reports, the presentations will assist you in the overall comprehension of the Town’s Budget. Since it is a proposed document, the final adopted version will include any changes that are made during the process, as well as provide additional clarification or line-item detail that you may find helpful. In the past, councilmembers have asked for more detail than what was stated in the proposed version, and we can and will make those adjustments as we move forward. As always, if you have any questions, please let me know. Finally, we close out our day together at Appreciate the Best to honor our colleagues and our joint contributions to keeping Cary at the Top of the Arc. I’m personally grateful to those who could not attend today’s event because they were “keeping the machine” going – thank you! And thank you to Human Resources, Public Works, the Cary Tennis Park, and all of this year’s partners for organizing an amazing event. Have a great weekend. Sean
2024 Cary 101 Graduates
This year’s Cary 101 participants celebrated their completion of the program on Wednesday after spending the last several weeks learning about Cary’s operations, programs, and services. Councilmembers Lori Bush and Michelle Craig thanked the citizens for their interest in Cary, and firefighters at Station 9 cooked a delicious dinner to honor this year’s graduates! The next Cary 101 program will be planned for Spring 2025.
Impressions of Taiwan
On Wednesday, Councilmember Carissa Kohn-Johnson provided welcoming remarks for the Ten Drum Art Percussion Group, performing “Impressions of Taiwan,” at the Cary Arts Center. She was joined by Councilmember Sarika Bansal at this event which was presented by Cary Sister Cities, NC Taiwanese Cultural Arts, and the Town of Cary, celebrating Taiwan Heritage Week and our relationship with our sister city, Hsinchu, Taiwan. The performers shared the culture and history of Taiwan through music and movement.
Walk, Roll, and Bike to School Day
This month, we celebrate National Bike Month with various bike-focused events and activities. On May 8, Councilmember Michelle Craig participated in Briarcliff Elementary’s Walk, Roll, and Bike to School Day. This event encourages students and families to walk or bike to school, promoting physical activity, environmental awareness, and safer routes. During the event, Councilmember Craig addressed the students, parents, and staff, emphasizing her and Cary’s commitment to making the town more walkable and bikeable by adding bike lanes and sidewalks. Additionally, we are excited to announce the launch of two bike corrals downtown, located on Academy Street near Park Street and on Chatham Street near Crosstown Pub. For more information on upcoming events, visit our Bike Cary page. As part of our commitment to enhancing bike mobility, we are also updating Cary’s Bike Plan. The draft network map and online survey is now open for input.
Homeschool KIDS Visit Town Hall
On May 14, the Homeschool KIDS Group visited Town Hall to learn more about their government. They visited Information Technology, the Traffic Management Center, the Police K9 Unit, the Page-Walker Arts & History Center, and Councilmember Lori Bush.
Cary Honors Our Teachers
On Wednesday, Mayor Pro Tem Jennifer Bryson Robinson and Councilmember Michelle Craig participated in the Cary Chamber of Commerce Honor A Teacher Program, an initiative that recognizes and celebrates outstanding teachers for their dedication and contributions to education in the community. As a councilmember and teacher, Councilmember Craig provided a heartfelt welcome on behalf of the Mayor and Councilmembers, emphasizing the important role of teachers in our community. Congratulations to all the award winners who were announced at the event.
Celebrating International Compost Awareness Week
During International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW) from May 5 – 11, Cary encouraged the community to participate in various composting activities. Staff promoted the benefits and opportunities to compost through a week-long social media campaign, reaching 14,266 people. The latest Cary Matters segment featured Mayor Harold Weinbrecht and Councilmember Jack Smith, who highlighted the expanded food waste recycling drop-off service. Citizens finalized compost bin purchases as the annual sale concluded with 135 units sold, and Sarah Justice, Environmental Outreach Program Coordinator, hosted compost Q&A sessions at the Carpenter Garden. Supporting statewide ICAW events, Srijana Guilford, Waste Strategy and Impact Consultant, presented on the NC Composting Council’s “Community Composting and Drop Spots” webinar, sharing Cary’s experience in developing food waste drop-off sites and the community’s success in diverting waste from landfills. Cary was one of five North Carolina municipalities highlighted to encourage best practices in collection services.
Walnut Street In-Road Warning Light System
Installation for the addition of in-road warning lights to the existing crosswalk on Walnut Street at R.S. Dunham Park is scheduled for the week of May 20. This work is anticipated to be completed within one week. Throughout this period, at least one travel lane will remain open in each direction. The system being installed mirrors the one recently completed on Harrison Avenue near the Cary Depot, and it will be integrated into the Walnut Street Road Diet as that project progresses. Further details are available on the project website, and staff will also inform the public about the planned construction through social media.
Street Repairs in Oakwood Heights
Next week, crews will begin concrete repairs in the Oakwood Heights neighborhood as part of our annual Street Improvements Project. These repairs, which are done in advance of repaving, are essential for improving streets. They involve fixing damaged curbs and gutters and upgrading curb ramps to meet the latest standards.
“Live Inspired” Tagline Receives Official Trademark Designation
We are thrilled to announce that Cary’s “Live Inspired” tagline has officially received trademark certification from the United States Patent and Trademark Office! This milestone is a significant achievement for Cary and a testament to the ongoing success of our branding initiatives. With this approval, “Live Inspired” joins our existing registrations: “Cary,” “Cary Live Inspired,” and “Cary North Carolina.” Along with these, Cary has an extensive list of materials that have obtained copyrights such as the OneCary Toolkit. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be updating the logos and branding materials where applicable to align with this standard.
Ritmo Latino Festival
Last weekend, the 21st annual Ritmo Latino Festival brought Latin beats and delicious eats to Downtown Cary, as over 5,000 attendees enjoyed the beautiful weather and vibrant festival atmosphere. Presented by Diamante Arts and Cultural Center in partnership with the Town of Cary, the Ritmo Latino Festival is a celebration of Latino/Hispanic cultures, offering music, dancing, food, and experiences to share these cultures with the Cary community.
Touring the Kellanova Plant in Cary
On Thursday, Deputy Town Manager Russ Overton and Chief Development Officer Scot Berry toured the Kellanova plant with representatives from the Cary Chamber of Commerce. Kellanova, a global snacking company, is considering expansion and growth in Cary.
Planning and Zoning Board Training at UNC
On Wednesday, members of Cary’s Planning and Zoning Board attended a training session on legislative zoning decisions at the UNC School of Government in Chapel Hill. This half-day workshop focused on procedures and considerations for legislative land use decisions, including rezonings, conditional zonings, and text amendments. The workshop also included members of boards, commissions, and staff from the greater Triangle Region.
Stratified Police Training
This past week, the Police Department welcomed Doctors Roberto and Rachel Santos, the architects of Stratified Policing, to Cary to train our staff on their problem-oriented policing model. Stratified Policing is an evidence-based organizational problem-solving, analysis, and accountability model that seeks to facilitate crime reduction. It provides a framework that clearly identifies the roles and responsibilities for all personnel in crime prevention and problem-oriented policing.
International Coaching Week
This week, in recognition of International Coaching Week, 60 employees attended workshops led by Executive Leadership Coach Mark Robertson. In recent years, Mark has helped us learn and embrace leadership fundamentals and behaviors that support our organization’s culture and values. The workshops were extremely beneficial for staff at all levels to have open and vulnerable dialogues about trust, emotional intelligence, and how to have conversations and relationships that lead to greater impact and clarity.
Playing Through Cary
This week, professional golfers Scott McCarron, Robert Karlsson, and Rod Pampling, 2023 SAS Championship winner, “played through” Cary for a commercial shoot, featuring various iconic Cary locations, which will air during the upcoming 2024 tournament. The players and crew had a great time exploring the area, and we’re excited to welcome them back this October for the SAS Championship!
Virtual Neighborhood Rezoning Meeting
The following neighborhood meeting will be held virtually from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 5:
Several complaints about proposed rezonings in Regency (Council has little information at this point since there hasn’t been a public hearing)
Concern about the budget and tax rate
Complaint about the “total destruction of a great little town”
A request for Cary to give away cash to homeless people like Raleigh
Several requests for ALS Awareness month (We do this every year)
Request to recognize a citizen turning 100 (Absolutely!)
Requests to do more about climate change
A complaint about the safety of Cary Elementary crosswalks
A noise complaint of La Buena Vida
Next Week
Next week’s activities include staff meetings, a Wake County Mayors Association meeting, a council work session on the budget, and the last regularly scheduled meet of May.
Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, May 19th, 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.
Harold's Blog 