From the blog of Lori Bush, At-Large member of Cary Town Council.

Cary, NC – Have you ever sat there and said,

• Why don’t they put a park by my house?
• Wonder what they’re building over there…
• I wish we would have bigger recycling bins…
• I want a walkable Town…
• Why don’t we have a YouTube channel?
• I wish Cary would….

If so, then your town needs YOU!

It’s that time of year, when we at the Town of Cary ask citizens to step up and help continue to make Cary the best Town in North Carolina.  Or, what we call, applying for a Town of Cary board or commission.

Board? Commission?

The Town of Cary boards and commissions are just one way that the Town Council and staff get direct citizen input and guidance on issues and opportunities facing the Town.  Our volunteers (across the Town) are advocates for this great community, and their participation makes Cary a better place to live. By volunteering your precious time to participate in one of our boards and commissions, you give us the information that we need to make decisions.

We have seven boards and commissions right now at the Town and each of them provides a vital and important role to staff and Town Council.  By participating on one of the boards, you are giving us your “citizen recommendations” for all types of activities, events, and policies throughout the town, on issues that impact our entire community.  Whether you provide input relying on a unique skill or set of experiences, or based on your personal interests – your active involvement makes Cary a better community.

What will you do if appointed?

Each of the boards and commissions has a set of guidelines and focus areas.  Although some of the boards are looking for specific skills for some roles, the basic requirement is your active participation.

• Each board has a set meeting schedule and you are asked to attend these meetings in person.
• Different boards/commissions have various work plans, time committments  and schedules.
• Some “homework” may be involved.
• Your input and feedback is key to continuing our great quality of life.  You’ll develop new relationships, share your concerns, opinions, and help us solve problems,  and you might even have fun!

Apply

The following boards and commissions will have openings this year:

1. Environmental Advisory Board – 3 positions
2. Information Services Advisory Board  - 2 positions
3. Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Advisory Board – 3 positions
4. Public Art Advisory Board – 3 positions
5. Planning and Zoning Board - 3 positions
6. Town Center Review Commission – 1 position  (This board is being sun-setted)
7. Zoning Board of Adjustment – No positions open for 2012

Please review the Board and Commissions guidelines before applying, to ensure you don’t have any conflicts of interests associated with the board for which you would apply.

Applications must be received by June 30, 2012.

Play a part

Pick a board or commission that has a mission that is near and dear to your heart or perhaps one of your passions.  From the Environmental Advisory Board, to the the Information Service Advisory Board, to Parks and Recreation – there are many to choose from. YOU are what’s best about this town that we live in, and we need your help.

I look forward to seeing your application, and thanks for helping to keep Cary great!

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Featured picture by DonkeyHotey.

Cary, NC – It was another busy week in the office of the Mayor.

Red Light Camera Errors

Monday started with several inquiries from the media about Cary’s red light camera system. Cary’s system is under review by staff since 31 errors were discovered because of incorrect citations on flashing yellow left turns. The following is the information to date on the system:

• Cary has 17 cameras total at 15 different intersections (some intersections have more than one)
• Cary has turned off eight cameras with left turns because of the latest malfunction
• The issue with the 31 incorrect citations has been resolved. 12 never received the tickets and 19 were dismissed or refunded.
• After the investigation has been completed this summer, council will have the option to: 1) leave the system as is, 2) change the system, or 3) eliminate the system

I prefer to make my decisions and give my opinions once all information has been provided. However, it will be a challenge to keep running the red light program the way it is currently running.

Honor a Teacher

Later Monday, I attended the Cary Chamber’s Honor a Teacher Program that recognizes teachers that go above and beyond the call of duty. There were over 130 teachers nominated for 27 awards. Council member Smith and I presented two awards.

The first Civic Education award went to Carolyn Dalecki of Cedar Fork Elementary. The second Civic Education award went to Joe Nixon of Mills Park Elementary. God Bless all the teachers and nominees for answering the call to educate our kids and shape our future.

2013 Cary Budget

Tuesday was a long day for me. Our first work session on the 2013 fiscal year budget started in the afternoon and went well into the night. The proposed budget has no tax increase and no new debt. Council will hold another work session on the budget after public hearings on May 24th and June 14th. Highlights I noted from the budget included:

• A total budget of $232 million with no tax increase
• One penny on our tax rate is equivalent to $2.1 million
• An operating budget of $118 million which is a 2.7% increase
• A capital budget increase of 4.9%. Note: staff recommended delaying many vehicle replacements.
• General fund revenues increased 2.6%
• Debt service is down $725,000 which leaves us with a capacity of $150 million using our 15% cap. A referendum this fall will ask for $80 million.
• The town’s health costs were $14 million. The town covers over 80% of employee health costs.
• Seven new employees are proposed this year which would give the town 1167 employees or 8.2 employees per thousand residents. This is one of the lowest in the state.
• One detective will be hired this year with drug forfeiture money. The town is expected to have $700,000 in total forfeiture money this year.
• There will be a 6% increase in utility rates. Most of that increase is to pay for construction of the Western Wake Wastewater facility.

The council also discussed several issues including grant matching for Black Creek Greenway, a study for a safety town in downtown, and whether or not to keep $25,000 in the budget for community gardens. It was decided that these issues will be addressed after public hearings. After the public hearings we will have all requests for modifications to the budget and will make a decision then. The council did make some key decisions at the work session that included:

• Approval of a new sewer impact fee schedule that will be based on actual use rather than tables in the N.C. Administrative Code. This will result in much lower fees and an estimated loss in revenue of around $500,000.
• Approval to continue with studying “unique” road improvement alternatives for Cary Parkway and High House. The town has received a $700,000 grant to study initiatives such as the jug handle intersection that was vehemently opposed by residents about a year ago. But continuing a study would keep the grant funding until the council makes a decision about what to do with future road improvements at that intersection.
• Likewise the council approved two roundabouts in downtown on Chatham Street because of a $700,000 grant. The total cost of both of those roundabouts will be around $2 million. Construction will begin in October.

After going over the budget the council went into closed session to discuss the performance of our direct reports: the town manager, town attorney, and town clerk. We reviewed and summarized their performance and made decisions on merit pay. This will be part of the budget and will be made public then. The council also makes decisions on its own pay. We will not have a pay increase or an expense increase.

CAMPO

On Wednesday I attended a meeting of the Capital Metropolitan Planning Organization Transportation Advisory Committee which is referred to as CAMPO. Actions taken that are of the most interest to Cary include:

• Moving ahead with a study of the NC54 corridor. Mayor Holcombe wanted presented information on the web. I offered Cary’s web site as a host.
• The Wake Transit Financial Plan has been completed. They are now receiving feedback from staff of the municipalities making up CAMPO.
• CAMPO staff presented information which would expand the organization north and south including Clayton.
• A resolution giving “unwavering support” for the construction of the Wake Outer Loop was passed. This is in a response to a March letter from the federal government threatening to pull future funding of I540 if study requirements were not met. The study of future routes virtually stopped when the legislature supported Garner in removal of the “red” route. Now new routes are being considered.

In the NCDOT report it was stated that there is no intent for the state to pass roads on to the county as part of legislation. That is good news!

A poll was done by Fallon Research about the half cent transit referendum. Here are some of the results:

• 76% do not use public transportation
• 50.2% favor a way to pay for expanded transportation, 43% oppose, and 6.8% are unsure. In 2011 it was 51%, 45.1%, and 3.9%. In 2010 it was 55%, 41%, and 4%.
• 55% would not vote for a sales tax increase for transit even if gas was $5 per gallon.

The CAMPO meeting lasted approximately 1 ½ hours.

Career Champions

Due to a cancellation, I only had one meeting on Thursday. I met with the President of Career Champions to talk about their services which include career transition, professional development, and employee engagement. We met for about an hour and had a great conversation.

White Plains Children Center

Saturday started by attending the 30th Celebration of the White Plains Children Center. This is a non-profit development day, childcare, and preschool. The school serves children with and without disabilities, and is the only school of inclusion in western Wake County.

Cary is fortunate to have had this invaluable resource for so many years. Parents of children with disabilities come from all over Wake County. I had the honor of giving greetings from the town. The ceremony lasted for about two hours and included several tearful testimonials.

God Bless the White Plains Children Center and the work they do.

Cary Swim Club 50th Anniversary

Next I headed over to the Cary Swim Club for their 50th Anniversary celebration. This club is not only the first swimming pool in Cary but the first competitive swim team in Cary. It was actually the first swimming pool I ever swam in. In the early years people of Cary gathered at the club for July 4th celebrations with fireworks after watching little league baseball games and participating in other games like the “greased pole” challenge.

It was a fun event and the ceremony lasted a little over an hour.

Ritmo Latino Festival

My final event of the day was the Ritmo Latino festival in downtown Cary. This was the 8th Ritmo Latino festival in Cary and another great celebration of Cary’s diversity.

In my comments to the crowd I mentioned, as I have before, that it is through events like this that we get to know the values, experiences, and talents that each of us have to offer. And it is only through understanding and mutual respect that we can reach the full potential of our community.

This event went on for several hours but I was only able to stay about an hour.

National Tennis Championship

Sunday I gave welcoming comments to the NCAA Division III National Tennis Championship participants. There will be a team competition Monday through Wednesday and then individual competition the rest of the week. It is important to understand that Division III athletes are not scholarship players.

This championship had eight women’s and men’s teams. For the women those included Amherst College, Bowdoin College, Carnegie Mellon University, Claremont Mudd Scripps, University of Chicago, Emory University, John Hopkins University, and Williams College. For the men it included Amherst College, Bowdoin College, Claremont Mudd Scripps, Emory University, John Hopkins University, Kenyon College, Washington University in St. Louis, and Williams College.

In my remarks I talked about our excellent facilities and staff and being one of the NCAA Championship cities.

Town Council/Chatham County Commissioners Meeting

In news this week, the joint subcommittee made up of members of the Cary Town Council and the Chatham County Commissioners met this week. Some of the highlights from that meeting include:

• Committee members unanimously endorsed the Joint Land Use plan for adoption by the governing boards. The committee discussed a framework for an Interlocal Agreement to be adopted by the Cary Town Council and Chatham County Commissioners
• A framework for Interlocal agreement documents was presented at the meeting. After minor changes it will go through departments, legal and boards/councils.
• The committee stated a goal of approving the Joint Land Use Plan by respective boards/council before June 28th.

In other news there will be a Citizens Informational Workshop for the Proposed Improvements to Morrisville Carpenter Road from West of Davis Drive to East of Old Savannah Drive in Morrisville held on Monday, May 21st from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at Morrisville Town Hall.

Health Fair at Hindu Society of North Carolina Temple

The Triangle area Hindu temples and Triangle Area Indian Physicians are conducting their annual Health fair at Hindu Society of North Carolina Temple at 309 Aviation Parkway Morrisville, on June 23rd. This health fair is free and open to the public. This is a great service provided to citizens in the area.

Emails

Emails this week included complaints about the Cary Christian School proposed ball field lights from the adjoining neighbors, a complaint about our bio solids proposal for the new waste water plant, a complaint about red light cameras, several complaints about a crime in Amberwood Apartments, complaints about the proposed ninth grade center for Panther Creek, and requests for chickens in Cary.

Well that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, May 27th. Please feel free to email me with a comment. Email all Town of Cary questions or comments to Harold.Weinbrecht@townofcary.org. Email personal comments to augustanat@mindspring.com.

From the blog of Don Frantz, District B Representative on Cary Town Council. Photo by Hal Goodtree.

Cary, NC – I need your input. It’s about schools, and development.

“Temporary” 9th Grade Center Proposed

WCPSS has asked the Town of Cary for approval to construct a “temporary” modular school site as a 9th grade center to alleviate overcrowding at Panther Creek High School.

The proposed site is a 45 acre parcel south of the Alston Ridge Elementary School which will house the future M16 middle school campus.

The 9th grade center campus would include 7 modular buildings and one steel building.

From the blog of Cary Mayor Harold Weinbrecht.

Cary, NC – It was a typical week for me this week with a council meeting, events, and meetings.

Confirmand Mentor

Monday night was personal as I attended my Confirmand’s Statement of Faith.

In my religion and denomination each youth (Confirmand) goes through a year of classes before asking the elders to become a member of the church. They are mentored by “role models” from the church throughout the year. I was fortunate enough to be selected for one of these youths. My Confirmand will go before the entire church at the end of May.

Local Ninth Grader Wins C-SPAN Award

On Tuesday morning I participated in a ceremony to recognize Carl Colglazier, an ninth grade student, as the grand prize winner of C-SPAN’s National 2012 Student Cam video documentary competition.

Student Cam is an annual national video competition where middle and high school students produce a short video on a specific topic related to the competition theme about issues affecting our nation.

After the ceremony we all headed out to tour the C-SPAN bus.The Bus is equipped with computer kiosks that access C-SPAN’s many websites, including the Video Library, C-SPAN Classroom, Congressional Chronicle, and Book TV. Visitors can also test their knowledge of public affairs with quizzes, learn about Student Cam and follow the Road to the White House.

I-540

Tuesday was a busy day for me. I started by calling council members to see if they had questions or concerns on the agenda for the upcoming council meeting on Thursday. I was only able to get in touch with council member Frantz. However, council members Bush and Adcock had told me previously they had no questions. Later that afternoon I met with management, administration, directors, and other staff to go over the agenda. Based on our review the upcoming meeting seemed like it would be a quick one even with a closed session. My guess was that the meeting would last about an hour.

After the agenda meeting I met with the town manager briefly and discussed the future route of I-540. The next phase of I-540 is now being studied. A few months ago a route, called the red route, was removed by the Legislature at the request of Garner. Currently there are not enough route options to meet federal guidelines for a study. There is a chance that the federal government will remove funding for this project if the study does not continue.

Delegation from China – Sister City in Cary?

My last meeting on Tuesday was with a delegation from China. One of the key members of this delegation owns over a hundred companies and is looking to invest in Cary. He said he has already made a decision to do so. He also stated that he is very interested in establishing a sister city relationship with Cary. I hope all of this comes to fruition.

Mental Health

Wednesday I met with two representatives from St. Paul’s Center for Hope and Healing. They are doing a great deal for our community especially in the area of mental health. One of their prime objectives is to meet the needs of those that don’t have insurance. They hold classes in Marriage and family issues, Grief, Mental health concerns, Life skills training, Support groups, and Wellness training. In my conversation with them I discussed other ways to get involved in the community and people to contact for grants and support. God bless them!

Western Wake Wastewater facility

Wednesday evening I chaired a meeting of the Western Wake Partners Policy Advisory Committee which is made up of town managers and mayors from Cary, Apex, and Morrisville. I was the only mayor in attendance but we had enough managers for a quorum. We approved three contracts for construction of the Western Wake Wastewater facility and minutes from previous meetings. The meeting took less than half an hour.

Cary’s Lean Budget and Telecommunications Towers

My only event Thursday was the council meeting. The open session of the council meeting lasted just under an hour and the closed session portion just over an hour. In the open session the two biggest items were the manager’s budget proposal and the Land Development Ordinance (LDO) Amendment on Telecommunication towers.

The manager’s budget pointed out that Cary remains very lean with 8.2 staff members per 1000 residents. In addition, while Cary has added 10,000 residents over the last four years the staff level has remained about the same. The manager also pointed out that this fall’s bond referendum is critical. He said “The bond referendum that’s going before voters this fall for transportation, parks and fire projects will be a key factor in how our future capital plans evolve since without approval of the bonds and the associated tax increase, many projects will not be able to move ahead in the near term, in the next three to five years.”   The manager also recommended $48 million capital plan that includes $1 million for Downtown improvements, $2 million for street resurfacing, $1.1 million for the New Hope Church Trailhead Park, and $3.7 million for developing the Crabtree Creek Greenway. Of the 49 general capital projects totaling $21.8 million, 24 are repair, renovate or replacement-related; over half of them are funded fully or partially by Federal grants or State collected local revenues. The manager is recommending no new debt be incurred for general capital projects like parks and road. To read the entire manager’s budget message visit http://budget.townofcary.org/budget/fy2013/010-messageoperatingbudget.pdf.

The only decision point with discussion for council was the LDO amendment for telecommunication towers. A few months ago the council asked staff to craft an ordinance amendment that streamlined the process for stealth telecommunication towers as an incentive. In the streamlined process the council would not be part of the decision on the stealth towers resulting in a much shorter and cheaper process. It was the hope that this new incentive for telecommunication towers would encourage development with stealth rather than the ugly lattice and monopole towers. The discussion at the council meeting was whether or not to allow a balloon test and public input as part of the stealth process. The majority of the council felt that the cost of the balloon test for stealth towers would add an unnecessary additional cost and since the proposed stealth process was administratively approved a public input session might mislead residents to think that council was making a decision. It needs to be noted that residents will be informed and can always provide input even without a public input session.

Cary Chamber Golden Anniversary

Friday I did a short video for the Cary Chamber of Commerce’s fifty year celebration. To see what that is about you will have to attend on Tuesday night.

Eagle Scout, B52s, Help Stop Burglaries

Saturday I was honored to attend the Eagle Scout ceremony for Jonny Harding. I congratulated him on his accomplishment and told him that I looked forward to his continued contribution to our community.

Saturday night I attended the Urban Ministries concert at Booth Amphitheater starring the B52s. It was a full house and the B52s did not disappoint the crowd playing all their hits.

In news this week, a burglary hit my neighborhood. Apparently someone went to bed with their garage door unlocked and their house unlocked. Items were taken from the house, garage, and car. Please help keep Cary the safest municipality in the southeast by not creating opportunities for thieves. Always, lock doors, keep garage doors closed, and never keep valuables in plain sight. If you don’t have a neighborhood watch program then start one. The GeoPolicing captain for your district will help you.

Get the Real Facts

In other news, the local paper did another story on the Bowden House this week. While it was an improvement over the past stories it still lacked in completeness. In this story they left out two key points. The buyer of the house found out that the gutters were clogged and that the sump pump was not working. The local paper just said “he solved drainage issues Bowden blamed on the town”. To read the local newspaper story go to http://www.carynews.com/2012/05/08/56926/cary-house-is-screwed-no-more.html. To read a version of the story that included these two important facts visit Cary Citizen and read http://carycitizen.com/2012/05/01/house-of-the-week-david-bowdens/. In my opinion these facts support what the town has been saying all along. That is, the drainage problems were pre-existing and not a result of the construction. One has to wonder why these facts were left out of the local newspaper story.

Latest Plans

This week staff sent out the latest list of plans under review as of the end of April. They can be reviewed at http://www.townofcary.org/Assets/Planning+Department/Planning+Department+PDFs/planreview/Active+Projects+in+the+Review+Process+(sorted+by+date).pdf. Items on the list include a 222,000 square foot office building at SAS, a gym at St. Michaels, the downtown theater, a preschool, and dependent care units.

Staff also released information that the replacement of the bridge over Green Level Church Road Bridge at White Oak Creek has been contracted out by the Department of Transportation. The bridge, which is 60 years old, is considered structurally deficient and functionally obsolete. It is still safe, but has been requiring maintenance and repair and needed to be replaced. It was also built to lane and shoulder width standards that don’t meet current standards. The new bridge will be able to better accommodate the increased traffic brought on by growth in the area. The project means drivers who have been using the current bridge use will have to use a detour of just over four miles. Detour signs will direct them onto Green Level West, Wimberly and Jenks roads to get around the construction zone. Work on the project can start between August 1st and March 1st, 2013, with the new bridge in place within 240 days of the start date.

Emails

Emails this week included a complaint about red light cameras, a complaint about alternate day watering, a complaint about the Higgins Greenway project, a complaint about schools, a complaint about bio-solids at the Western Wake Wastewater facility under construction, several complaints about the Cary Christian campus expansion, and a request for a nature preserve.

Next Week

Next week I will participate in a teacher recognition ceremony, the 50th anniversary of the Cary Chamber of Commerce ceremony, the 50th anniversary of the Cary Swim Club ceremony, the White Plains Children Center Ceremony, and the Ritmo Latino festival. I will also attend the first budget work session for fiscal year 2013, a meeting of the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Transportation Advisory Committee, and additional meetings.

Well that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, May 20th. Please feel free to email me with a comment. Email all Town of Cary questions or comments to Harold.Weinbrecht@townofcary.org. Email personal comments to augustanat@mindspring.com.

From the blog of Lori Bush, At-Large member of Cary Town Council.

Cary, NC – This last week I spent 3 days traveling with 4 other Cary Town Councilmembers, our Town manager, Town of Cary staff, folks from the Cary Chamber of Commerce and local business leaders to Austin, TX. This Intercity visit was a first for me, and an opportunity to learn, connect and spend some time getting to know other folks who are passionate about our great town.

Why travel to another city?

Although I took vacation from my “day job” to attend this Intercity trip, it was definitely a “work trip.” Every minute was filled with meeting our host city representatives and learning about their environment.  Many of these municipalities are dealing with the same challenges and opportunities that we face in Cary. Whether it was issues surrounding growth, planning, transit, or sports or public art – we got a chance to hear about their solutions. Our trip to the “Texas Hill Country” included time in Austin, Round Rock and a lesson on transit challenges from the folks in Leander.

Our goal and objective was to gather ideas, hear from our various speakers about their lessons learned and to hopefully come back with a slate of actionable items and thoughts to move forward and to continue to create and support the best place to live, work, do business, and raise a family.

Trip Report

DOWNTOWN AUSTIN:  We started in Austin, meeting the Honorable Mayor Lee Leffingwell and Representative Mark Strama; both are extremely passionate about their city.  Our lunch was on the Mayor’s Balcony – I have the distinct feeling that Mayor Weinbrecht would love one of those. 

Austin has a population of more than 750,000 people and is the 4th largest city in Texas.  They are home to the University of Texas in Austin, the music and film festival - South by Southwest (SXSW), and known for their slogan, “Keeping Austin Weird.” We were treated to a historical overview of Austin’s past, the public private partnerships that have shaped Austin, along with a wonderful walking tour of downtown.  Their downtown has undergone a revitalization – and they are continuing to make progress.

SPORTS: We were lucky to get a tour of the University of Texas at Austin – Texas Memorial Stadium. Standing on the field was amazing – it’s a state of the art facility from the field turf to player workout area, they were gracious hosts to our large group.

We also got a chance to visit Dell Diamand, the home of the Round Rock Express, a triple A minor league baseball team affiliated with the Texas Rangers, and baseball hall of famer Nolan Ryan.  The City of Round Rock owns the Dell Diamond, and they were wonderful hosts to us at the field (or as they like to call it, their convention center.)

Round Rock: This is a city very similar to Cary in many respects – with close to 100,000 people (Cary has 140,000+), with a 63.4% population increase in the last 10 years.  (Cary had a 43% increase from 2000-2010.) Our tour consisted of their downtown area, several communities and a drive through areas where new hospitals and community colleges were locating.

Mueller – Greenfield Development: One of the most interesting tours was of a new mixed use area near Austin, built on the site of the old Robert Mueller Municipal airport. The 700 acre site became available when the airport relocated in 1999, and it will eventually be home to almost 10,000 people.  Built with a master plan, significant innovative investment methodologies, it’s a unique design, home to families, businesses, a town center, senior community, school, parks and greenways.

ImagineAustin: An overview of the process and comprehensive plan that Austin put together in their efforts to move forward.  Creating ImagineAustin was truly an effort that included citizens from all over Austin. The city put together a well thought out plan for citizen engagement to create the vision for their future.  From their “meeting in a box”, to Town Halls and reaching out to church groups and through online methods, the staff used any and all mechanism to connect. The Comprehensive Plan took 2 years, and is just going to CIty Council now.

Lessons Learned

A walkable downtown really brings folks out and about. The Austin streetscape project is comfortable, at a human scale, and I can absolutely see something like that in Downtown Cary. Their street trees were planted in a way that protects the trees, and offers a lovely canopy while protecting the root systems.

1. Revitalization can be done in a sustainable way – their City Hall used native plantings that are watered from runoff from the air-conditioning units.
2. Public Art is important to Austin – seen in their bridges, within City Hall, it’s part of who they are, and what defines them.
3. They embrace what’s unique about them.  Whether it’s their “Bat Bridge,” their motto of being the “Live Music Capital of the World” – they highlight and market the heck out of it.  We should do the same for our Amateur Sports leadership.
4. Surprises were everywhere! From the swings that were located throughout the city, to a sculpture of bottle caps in City Hall.
5. Quote that I loved – “Done beats perfect every time!”
6. Round Rock has some great marketing for their youth sports called “Game On” – with a marketing, branding and media campaign that has caught the attention of teams across the country.
7. Technology is in use all over Austin – from QR codes on coasters, to streaming a city meeting, twitter feeds and blogs. It was great to see technology all over the place.
8. ImagineAustin is a great model for what will will need to do for our new Comprehensive Planning process.  Maybe we can call it “CreateCary!”  
9. Public private partnerships can really accelerate all types of activities – whether transit, development or sustainability.

Mayor Pro Tem Adcock found a swing

 Glad to be Home

It’s always nice to travel to see new places.  But, as Dorothy said in the Wizard of Oz - there’s no place like home.

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–Featured picture by Knowsphotos. All other photos by Lori Bush.

Story by Harold Weinbrecht. Photos by Lori Bush.

Cary, NC – This was a busy week dominated by the Cary Chamber intercity visit to Austin, Texas.

Cary’s Legislative Agenda

Monday I went to Raleigh and presented the Cary Council legislative agenda to the Wake County delegation. This was a very similar presentation that I made to legislators when we had for dinner a couple of weeks ago. Here are some of the points I made:

• Changing rules state-wide could have serious, negative impacts on Cary where issues are different.
• We support tweaks to modernize the tax system but ask that legislators consider the effects on local government.
• On transportation issues Cary asks that projects be prioritized where the need is the greatest.
• As the shale gas exploration topic moves forward Cary asks that legislators preserve a reasonable role for local governments.
• We oppose Senate Bill 731 which limits our authority to put development controls in place that are appropriate for our community.
• We ask legislators to protect the personal identifying information of our children. This is already done in parks and recreation programs but needs to be expanded into other areas.

Other mayors presenting were Mayor Weatherly of Apex, Mayor Holcombe of Morrisville, Mayor Williams of Garner, and Mayor Matheny of Zebulon. Mayor McFarlane was in attendance but had the city attorney present Raleigh’s agenda. About two thirds of the Wake County delegation was in attendance.

Smart Phones, RTP and Water

Monday night, I had a private meeting with individuals interested in getting the town more involved in smart phone technology. Staff is already working on some ideas but hopefully we will be able to do more soon.

Tuesday I met with the town manager and the CEO of Research Triangle Park. We talked for about 30 minutes about the future plans of RTP. If plans move forward the park will not only be a world renowned science park but a state of the art place to live, work and play.

Later Tuesday, I met with the town manager and staff to discuss fees associated with water and sewer. We are revisiting the way the cost of these fees is calculated. Currently the fees are set based on a cost table provided by the state.

Austin

Wednesday morning I joined 41 others from Cary as we boarded a 6 AM flight with a final destination of Austin, Texas. Going along on the flight were five council members, several staff members, and members of the business community. After collecting our luggage, we caught a bus for downtown Austin and headed to city hall.

After being served lunch on the Mayor’s Balcony, we headed to the council chambers to hear from Austin Mayor Leffingwell and Texas State Representative Strama. These were progressive leaders and I enjoyed talking to them and listening to their ideas.

In their presentation to the group they talked about the successes Austin has had especially during the recession. Austin’s strength is having a highly educated population and a city filled with technical businesses. Austin is also known for its entertainment, tourism, and natural beauty. Austin’s weakness is traffic. And they have it most of the day and night. They have an interesting slogan which is “Keep Austin Weird” (More about that later).

After a short break we heard from staff about Austin’s history and their plans for the future. One interesting note was that Austin was originally named Waterloo. As for their plans, they are about to approve a comprehensive plan that has been years in the making. Included in that plan are streetscapes such as their 2nd street. After the presentations the Cary group then did a walking tour of 2nd street. It is tree lined with large sidewalks, cafes and other retail on the first floor and residential on upper floors. This is similar to what Cary is planning for downtown.

Next we boarded the bus and headed for the hotel at the Domain in Austin which is a huge mixed use development that some call the second downtown. After checking in we all attended a Welcome Reception and Dinner with several Austin staff and guests.

Thursday started at 7:30 with a talk about transit in Austin. Several officials in transit, planning, transit-oriented development, and economic development presented information. Their rail is a diesel-electric train that runs 32 miles. Its frequency is 20 to 30 minutes depending on the time of the day. It uses existing freight rail for most of the route which terminates in downtown Austin. Our Cary group boarded the train about mid-way in the route, headed downtown and then to a transit-oriented development. We toured the transit-oriented development and then boarded a bus to the University of Texas football stadium.

The University of Texas stadium seats over 100,000 people and we were fortunate to tour the facilities and walk around on the field. We had lunch in the University of Texas Club and heard information from Austin staff on Comprehensive planning, sustainability, and economic growth and redevelopment. This session was very informative especially several great techniques for gathering public input. There was also a few interesting quotes related to planning and implementation such as “Done beats perfect every time” and “Always be prepared to turn”.

Next we boarded a bus for a redevelopment project at an old airport site. Austin moved the airport several years ago and has begun the redevelopment of the old airport site. This site was a community in itself and had just about everything including several types of housing. The fact that the City of Austin owned the airport property made redevelopment much easier. They are about half way done with the redevelopment.

Keep It Weird

We then boarded the bus for the hotel. We took an hour to freshen up and headed to downtown Austin for a Texas barbeque dinner. After dinner a few of us headed to the Congressional bridge over the downtown lake to watch the infamous bats. About 1.5 million bats come out at dusk in a cloud. Unfortunately, they don’t come out in a cloud if it is windy because the mosquitoes are not out and the mosquitoes were not out. After the bats we headed over to 6th street which is known for live entertainment and great musicians. It was interesting that the city closed the street starting at 10:30 PM on a Thursday night. And I got to see firsthand what “keeping it weird” meant.

Friday morning we did a review of the trip during breakfast before heading over to the city of Roundrock which is very similar to Cary. It is interesting that one of their sayings is “keep weird in Austin”. I talked with the mayor and then he and a few staff members presented information about their town. Then we did a quick tour before heading to the airport for our trip home. Our trip was delayed a couple of hours and we eventually arrived around 10 PM.

Weekend

Saturday morning started around 7:30 for me. I gave a few comments at the first annual Purple Cloth 5K which was raising money for the Dorcas ministry.

Saturday night I went to the Booth amphitheater to the Baisakhi festival which is an Indian celebration of the arrival of spring. Unfortunately thunderstorms postponed the entertainment and I wasn’t able to give my remarks. Hopefully, the weather will be better for next year’s celebration.

Championship City

Information from staff this week included an announcement that Cary will host the 2013 NCAA Division I women’s soccer championship called the College Cup. This event combined with other soccer events at the same time generates millions of dollars of economic benefit for the region. We look forward to hosting the College Cup again.

Staff announced that the NCAA Division II Baseball Championships is returning to Cary for the fourth consecutive year as the country’s Top 8 Division II baseball teams go head to head. Games are set for May 26-June 2 at the USA Baseball National Training Complex.

Fire Department Saves Lives

Staff also sent out notification that the Cary Fire Department recorded ten cardiac arrest saves resuscitations County-wide. This means that 10 individuals in the community suffered a cardiac arrest event and subsequently left the hospital neurologically intact because of the Cary Fire Department’s efforts. Thank God we have one of the best fire departments in the state.

Quarterly Report

The first quarterly report was sent out this week. Some of the information included:

- The automated water meter system, Aquastar is almost completely installed with 97% of the meters currently being read.
- The Cary, the theater being renovated downtown, should be completed by summer of next year.
- C-Tran ridership has increased by over 40% from the same quarter last year.
- Two of the eight construction contracts for the water reclamation facility and the two influent pump stations are underway, and the others have either already been advertised or will be by the end of April 2012.
- The Town has its first public electric vehicle charging station at the Garmon Operations Center on James Jackson Avenue. More public electric vehicle charging stations are coming to the Cary Arts Center and, through another grant, at the Herb Young Community Center Parking Deck.
- During the 1st quarter 2012, 227 new single-family dwelling (SFD) permits were issued, up 13.5 percent from the previous quarter.
- Total building permits issued during the 1st quarter 2012 (1,700) were down 3.4 percent
- Total building permits issued during the 1st quarter 2012 (1,700) were down 3.4 percent from the previous period and down 5.5 percent from the same period last year.
- Installations of four new traffic signals are nearing completion:

• Kildaire Farm Rd and Loch Highlands Drive
• Chatham St and Dixon Avenue
• Penny Rd and Ederlee Drive
• Regency Pkwy and Regency Forest Drive

- The Town has completed the Swift Creek Pedestrian Bridge and the extension of the greenway trail to the Regency Parkway and Ederlee Drive intersection.
- Water demand for the quarter averaged approximately 14.3 million gallons per day, which was 0.3 million gallons per day higher than the same time period in 2011 when demand averaged 14 million gallons per day.
- Cary utility customers have made great strides in improving water use efficiency representing over 20% improvement in per capita water utilization over 15 years.
- The North Cary Water Reclamation facility reduced nitrogen by 95% and total phosphorus by approximately 92%.
- Our AAA bond ratings for both general obligation bonds and revenue bonds have been reconfirmed with a stable outlook by Fitch in a routine monitoring review. The rating reports stated that “financial management is very strong” and “financial modeling efforts are robust and used to evaluate various rate and growth scenarios on an ongoing basis.”
- 33 apartment communities are actively participating in Project PHOENIX.
- Overall, reported offenses show an 18% increase through March 2012 over the same time period in 2011. The increase can also be attributed to a rise in reported drug violations (increase from 45 to 102) and aggravated assaults (50%).
- The Wake Med Soccer Park expansion project is 53% complete and on schedule for completion at the end of September. The north grandstand erection is 88% complete. Remaining items are concrete ramps and railings to the bleachers, landscaping, and the façade that covers the back of the grandstands. Estimated completion of the north grandstands is the end of May

Emails

Emails from citizens included a nasty one which said: “…You have a God Complex Syndrome. You think you are God. … Have a crappy day…” .  Thankfully these are rare. Unfortunately elected officials have to learn to deal with these. While it is hurtful it is part of the job and something you learn to deal with.

Other emails included a request for help to get a school in Chatham County, a few requests to meet, and several invitations to events.

Next week will be a busy one with a council meeting, several events, and several other meetings.

Well that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, May 13th. Please feel free to email me with a comment. Email all Town of Cary questions or comments to Harold.Weinbrecht@townofcary.org. Email personal comments to augustanat@mindspring.com.

Publisher’s Note: We received this Letter to the Editor from Representative Paul Stam in response to an opinion piece by Lori Bush.  Rep. Stam serves the 37th legislative district in Wake County and is majority leader of the N.C. House of Representatives.

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Cary, NC – On May 8^th the voters will decide whether this provision should be added to the Constitution:

“Marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this State.  This Section does not prohibit a private party from entering into contracts with another private party; nor does this section prohibit courts from adjudicating the rights of private parties pursuant to such contracts.”

Let’s look at what the Amendment does and does not do. It would recognize only domestic legal unions between one man and one woman. The second sentence of the Amendment makes clear that it would not prohibit private companies from entering into private contracts based on relationships chosen by the company. Private employers, for example, could continue to offer domestic partnership or civil union benefits to an employee’s same sex or opposite sex partner. But the Amendment would prohibit the government from forcing a company to provide such benefits. The Amendment would prohibit the government from creating “same sex marriage” by calling it something else, such as a civil union.

The meaning of “legal union” is concrete and clear in the context of family relationships.  In federal law, “‘marriage’ means only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife…” 1 U.S.C. §7 (1996). This definition is consistent with the long-standing definition: marriage is the “[l]egal union of one man and one woman as husband and wife.”  BLACK’S LAW DICTIONARY 876 (5^th ed. 1979). The word “domestic” clarifies that other arrangements, such as business partnerships, would not be affected by this amendment.

Any benefits extended by government to a person based on a domestic legal union other than marriage would be prohibited. State Government has never offered benefits to the unmarried. Nine of the 625 local governments have. These cities and counties could still extend employment benefits that benefit non-married domestic households. The extension of such benefits, however, could not be based only upon the status of a domestic relationship other than marriage. For example, a statute could allow a city employee to pick one other person of his or her choice to be the beneficiary for health insurance. Or a county ordinance could allow an employee to pick a beneficiary based on whether they live in the same household.

I have been amazed at other absurd claims made by opponents. Several continue to be repeated in ads and orchestrated letter writing campaigns by opponents. Let’s set the record straight:

1.  The Marriage Amendment will not adversely affect North Carolina’s economy.  A 2011 report by the American Legislative Exchange Council ranked states by economic performance between 1999 and 2009 and by economic outlook. 8 of the top 10 economically performing states have marriage amendments. None have legalized same sex marriage, civil unions or domestic partnerships. 9 of the 10 states with the poorest economic growth have legalized same sex marriages or civil unions.

2.  The Marriage Amendment Will Not Affect The Enforcement Of Domestic Violence Laws.  Opponents would have you think the Amendment obliterates our domestic violence law. The cases they use as authority are Ohio cases later overturned by the Ohio Supreme Court. The Marriage Amendment will have no effect on the enforcement of our domestic violence statutes. 30 other states have marriage amendments with domestic violence laws enforced. North Carolina does not even require that there be a romantic or intimate relationship for the statute to apply. N.C.G.S. §50B-1(b)(5) covers “current or former household members.”

3. The Marriage Amendment Will Not Determine the Custody and Visitation Rights of Unmarried Parents Unless Their Behavior Affects the Child.  Custody orders are based on the “parent”/child relationship. Courts base custody and visitation on the “best interest of the child.” N.C.G.S. §50-13.2(2007) The sexual behavior of the parent is not determinative except as it affects the child.

There is a real threat to the institution of marriage.  In several states same sex marriage has been imposed upon the people by courts that have engaged in tortured judicial reasoning –Massachusetts and Iowa, for example. These courts have used state constitutional provisions like ours to reverse the pro marriage policies that were in effect when the state constitution was adopted.

Now it’s happening in North Carolina. Same sex couples in Asheville went to the Courthouse for two weeks last fall seeking to obtain marriage licenses. A lawsuit was filed by the Register of Deeds of Guilford County in December challenging our state’s marriage laws and asking the Court to declare them unconstitutional because they don’t allow same-sex partners to “marry”.  That case is on appeal.

The Marriage Amendment will ensure that marriage between one man and one woman will be determined by the voters and not by a handful of judges. I am voting for it.

Representative Paul Stam
House Majority Leader

From the blog of Lori Bush, At-Large member of Cary Town Council.

Cary, NC – As an elected official, it probably makes sense that I am passionate about democracy and public service.  (Otherwise, I probably wouldn’t have run for office, right?)

Perhaps my early engagement learning about our government at Girl’s State is what sparked my pubic service interest.  But it’s watching the process of  government and seeing how few people vote, that fuels me today.  As folks who know me well can tell you, I been an “active” participant in the electoral process –  reminding my family, neighbors, friends and constituents about the importance of voting.

Voting Trends

There is phenomena in this country where folks just don’t seem to vote.  In the 2008 Presidential election about 63% of eligible voters cast their ballots – but in local elections, that number is closer to 15%.  Yes, 15%.

This has always surprised me.  Why would you NOT vote?

I’ve heard lots of reasons for not voting from folks. “I’m too busy or, I work and can’t get there, I don’t know who’s running, My vote won’t matter…   But none of these really ring true to me.

It’s Your Duty

Voting in this country is a right, privilege and responsibility.

Throughout history, so many of our servicemen and women have given their all to protect our nation, or as Abraham Lincoln said, “their last full measure of devotion.” Voting is a right that people across the world continue to fight for and that many have not yet achieved.

Voting is also a responsibility – and an opportunity. It’s your chance to choose who represents you in making the decisions that guide our society.  Many elections also have social consequences, as well.  Without your vote, your voice is not heard.

Why Vote?

By now you maybe thinking “C’mon, does my vote really count?”  I’m here to tell you, it does.  We’ve seen elections recently that were decided by just a few votes.  That alone should tell you that each and every vote matters.

But, your vote does more than elect candidates.  It holds us, your local and national leaders responsible and accountable for the decisions we make. Your vote also sends a message about the issues that you believe are important, and have you weigh in on the topics of the day, personally providing your say about your community.

Voting Confusion

So, you’ve seen the signs all around town by now.  With the primary election on May 8th, the candidates are doing what they need to do to get your attention. For some folks that aren’t from North Carolina, there are some new definitions that have to be learned about voting here.

1. Unaffiliated *does NOT equal* independent.  Unaffiliated in North Carolina just means that you choose NOT to be associated with a particular Political Party.  But, it DOES mean that you can vote in a primary. (Unlike in some other states.)
2. If you ARE registered as an “unaffiliated voter” you are in good company with more than 30% of voters in Cary registered as “unaffiliated.”) In Wake or Chatham County you CHOOSE your ballot, either Democratic, Libertarian, Republican or Unaffiliated. That does not lock you into that party for the general election, or moving forward.
3. Choosing a political party ballot will allow you to vote for those party candidates on the ballot, the races that are non-partisan, and the referendum of the Amendment to the NC State Constitution.
4. If you are registered with a political party, you must use *that* ballot.
5. Be prepared before you go, and check out your “sample ballot” online.

Vote Now

One of the great advances in the voting process has been no-excuse absentee, also called “early voting”. Early voting is the ability to allow a qualified voter to cast his or her ballot prior to the official election day.  No excuse or justification is required.  You just show up!

In Wake County early voting is in full swing, and you can vote this week at a location near you from 11am – 7pm, Monday thru Friday.  In Cary, you can vote at the Herb Young Community Center, or check out the Wake County Early Voting page for more information. If you live in Chatham County, check out the Chatham County  Election page for more information.

Let’s face it, with early voting and their extended hours, there is really no excuse NOT to vote.

My View

This wouldn’t be a blog without my editorial perfunctory comments.  So here goes.

I will be voting AGAINST AMENDMENT ONE.

Plain and simple: it’s bad public policy, it harms North Carolinian families and children, and it writes discrimination into our State Constitution.  Furthermore, it reduces our state’s ability to successfully compete for jobs in these tough economic times while harming our business climate and having the potential to have far-reaching unintended consequences for so many.

But for me, it’s more personal. As the grandchild of a Holocaust Survivor, I know too well the impact of discrimination.  What Amendment One aims to do is to make some of our friends, family members and co-workers feel “less than” the rest of the population.  To limit their ability to care for their loved ones and to deny them or their children health insurance, whether in a gay or straight domestic partnerships, is ludicrous.

This is discrimination, plain and simple; and our state, our people, and our constitution deserves better than this.

Final Words 

Abraham Lincoln called democracy a “government of the people, by the people and for the people.”This means that we are not here to serve our government, but that our government is here to serve us. You have the responsibility to vote – and have your say.  Please make time to do so.

Thanks for listening.

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Amendment One photo by kittenry.

From the blog of Cary Mayor Harold Weinbrecht, covering the week through April 29, 2012. Photo by Sarah Ackerman.

Cary, NC – This week was a vacation week for me so there is not a lot to report.

Silver Anniversary in Jamaica

On Sunday morning my wife and I took a flight to Jamaica to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. It was a fantastic vacation with beautiful weather, beautiful surroundings, and a resort with great service.

My impression of Jamaica is that it is a beautiful country with loving people, most of whom are extremely poor. There appears to be no middle class at all. You either live in a mansion or in a tiny shack. My understanding is that the country experienced significant deforesting and over fishing over the years. And now the people rely mostly on tourism.

We are all extremely blessed not to have to face the daily survival issues that the Jamaican people have to face.

Chickens in Cary

Since I have returned, I have been playing catch up on messages and emails.

Staff sent an email related to the chicken ordinance that needs to be emphasized. It states:

“This Ordinance is not intended to revoke or repeal any easement, covenant, or other private agreement. However, where the regulations of this Ordinance are more restrictive or impose higher standards or requirements than such easement, covenant, or other private agreement, then the requirements of this Ordinance shall govern. Nothing in this Ordinance shall modify or repeal any private covenant or deed restriction, but such covenant or restriction shall not excuse any failure to comply with this Ordinance. In no case shall the Town be obligated to enforce the provisions of any easements, covenants, or agreements between private parties.”

In layman’s terms, if you live in a subdivision that doesn’t allow livestock in your Homeowner Association covenants (that all residents of the homeowner association agree to), then you will not be allowed to have chickens. I suspect this will be a point of confusion and create future issues.

Also related to chickens, I received an invitation to go on to the WRAL morning show with Bill and Lynda to talk about chickens. Apparently Lynda likes and wants chickens. We’ll see if this invitation works out.

Emails this week included complaints about the Cary/Chatham joint land use plan, a complaint about a needed guardrail, complaints about development in the downtown site known as the “opportunity site”, complaints about chickens, and complaints about rezonings.

Next Week Traveling Again

Next week will be another travel week for me. Early in the week I will meet with the Wake County Legislative delegation. Then on Wednesday I, along with four council members and a host of people from Cary will travel to Austin, Texas for an intercity visit. We will return on Friday night.

Well that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, April 29th. Please feel free to email me with a comment. Email all Town of Cary questions or comments to Harold.Weinbrecht@townofcary.org. Email personal comments to augustanat@mindspring.com.

From the blog of Cary Mayor Harold Weinbrecht, covering the week through April 22, 2012. Photo by Hal Goodtree.

Cary, NC – This week was another busy week as is typical with a council meeting week.

Monday

Monday I called all council members to see if they had any concerns, issues, or questions staff should be aware of for the Thursday meeting. I was able to contact all council members by phone except one. The issues that generated the most questions were the St. Michael’s gymnasium traffic waiver request and the proposed chicken ordinance.

Later on Monday I joined Mayor Pro-Tem Adcock and met with managers, directors, and administrators to go over the agenda. The purpose of this meeting is to review the entire agenda to ensure we have all information needed to be prepared for the meeting. This includes who does what in the recognitions and presentations portion of the meeting. Most of our agenda discussion was on the St. Michael’s issue and the Chicken issue. In addition, the attorney said there would be a closed session to discuss a few items. Based on the long agenda, the discussion items, and the closed session, my guess for meeting adjournment was 11 PM.

Mayors Association

Monday night I attended the Mayors Association meeting held in Cary. All mayors were present except the Mayor of Apex.

The meeting opened with a presentation by President Dr. Townsley of the newly branded William Peace University. She explained several issues including several changes to the curriculum and the change from a women only institution to coed. One interesting note from her presentation was that 98% of women will not consider an all-girls school.

After the presentation the mayors went into their regular agenda which included several items for discussion. It is important to understand that the Mayors Association does not take action as a group unless there is unanimous agreement. As a result of our discussion we decided that it is best that municipalities request a transit bond referendum rather than the Mayors Association.

The mayors also gave their opinion on whether or not their municipality was considering a bond referendum in the fall and whether or not a tax increase was possible in this coming fiscal year. A significant number of the municipalities are considering a bond referendums but only a couple of municipalities were considering a tax increase.

Our meeting ended shortly before 9 PM.

Busy Tuesday: Art, Downtown and Choosing a Town Council Member

Tuesday was a long busy day for me. After a long day at work with intense meetings I headed over to town hall to meet with the town manager. We talked about an upcoming economic development opportunity in downtown that would include HUD money. We also talked about technology and the future of technology in the town.

Later Tuesday the council and I participated in four work sessions. The first work session was to get an update from staff and consultants on the Public Art Master Plan. At the conclusion of this work session the council gave the following direction:

• Look for Public Art Opportunities
• Make diversity of Public Art a priority
• Modify the makeup of the Public Art Advisory Board
• Start community outreach including an enhanced web presence
• Make Public Art part of Land Use Policy
• Consider incentives for private funding of Public Art
• Create guidelines for art to be included in public buildings with funding to be determined later
• This work session lasted about an hour and twenty minutes.

The second work session was a downtown update. There was a lot of good information presented at this work session. Here are some items of interest:

• There is a RFP out for the refurbishing of the Jones House and a potential tenant.
• The theater remodeling is progressing with 100% of the drawings done. Construction will begin in the fall and it should open in the summer of 2013.
• Roundabouts on Chatham Street are scheduled to begin construction soon and be completed by the end of next year. However, council may review this again.
• Wayfinding signs will start being placed in June.
• There are several projects being negotiated by the town including three on Chatham Street.

The council set goals for downtown development which include:

• Create a unique experience that attracts people to the downtown
• Create a holistic approach that complements the Cary Arts Center and Academy Street and supports the downtown.
• Create a park space that creates activity and is an anchor for downtown revitalization.
• Create private development opportunities that will complement the park space, Academy Street, and Chatham Street.

The downtown manager and council then discussed the operating assumptions. Basically, the town will create pods that the town controls and owns. The town will then invite development with very strict guidelines.

The third work session was on a Business Improvement District in downtown. The district is shown as item 6 in the document at http://www.townofcary.org/Assets/Staff+Reports/AD12-016+Downtown+BID+Draft+Report.pdf. The goal of this district is to incentivize development activity in the core of downtown to happen quickly through the payment of impact fees by the Town. These fees will be paid by the town from July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2015. Funding for these fee payments is estimated to be roughly $300,000 and come from the General Fund balance. Council agreed to move forward with this idea. A call for a public hearing will be held on May 10th and the public hearing will be on June 14th. Council could vote on this at its last meeting in June.

Our last work session of the evening was to establish the vacancy process for Ms. Robison’s pending resignation. Applicants will be required to submit a Statement of Interest and Qualifications that include:

• Describe why you want to serve as a Cary Town Council member
• Describe your perspective on Cary’s growth management and what you would do, if anything, to change that
• Describe your perspective on financial management and what you would do, if anything, to change that.

It should also be noted that there are disqualifying factors that include sex offenses, all felonies, and several misdemeanors. Applications will be accepted starting at noon on June 1st and go through noon of June 29th. Council will hold a work session on July 3rd to decide what applicants to interview. Then council members will interview until the 23rd of July. The council will then hold another work session on July 31st to discuss the applicants.

Transportation Improvements, School of Government Grads

Wednesday afternoon I attended the monthly meeting of the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO). This includes elected representatives from Franklin, Granville, Harnett, Johnston and Wake Counties with a purpose of planning transportation improvements in the region. On this particular agenda there were no critical items that impacted Cary. The meeting consisted mostly of a presentation by CAMPO staff on the Long Range Transportation Plan. As you might expect, they predict funding to be an issue.

The group had a discussion on the transit plan that was previously presented to Cary and other municipalities. It is important to know that a plan approval will require approval of the Triangle Transit Board, CAMPO, and the Wake County commissioners. The discussion included whether or not to put a referendum on this November’s ballot. If it is not on this November’s ballot it will have to wait until the next general election which is the municipal elections next fall. The county commissioners have stated, and Commissioner Bryan confirmed that they want an Interlocal Agreement (ILA) from each municipality. My guess is that the majority of the commissioners do not want the people to vote on transit this fall. I hope that is not the case since Presidential Elections draw the most voters.

Later Wednesday I had the honor of attending the graduation of the latest School of Government class. I was joined by council members Bush and Smith. The class met for eight sessions that included visits to the firing range and a sewer plant. I had the pleasure of handing the graduates their certificates and shaking their hands. I also had pictures made with a few. All seemed to thoroughly enjoy being in the class and a few promised to be more engaged in the town.

Chickens, Traffic Light at Bond Park/St. Mike’s

Thursday’s council meeting lasted until after 10 PM. The discussion on chickens took most of the discussion time. I voted not to move forward with an ordinance and have been asked why several times. Here is the response I have been giving:

“While I applaud those that want to create a healthier lifestyle for themselves I do not believe an urban/suburban area, especially one that is known for its beautiful neighborhoods like Cary, is the place for chickens.”

My main concern is that someone, who spent their life savings on a house, a dream, and a lifestyle, will now have no voice in what their neighbor does that dramatically impacts their lifestyle. That is, someone may be forced to live next to livestock in Cary. That is why the current law only allows chickens on one acre lots.

I fear that homes with chicken coups will devalue adjacent properties.

I also fear that the town will now be spending extra money to enforce an ordinance that, I honestly believe, is not what the majority of Cary citizens want.

It is my hope that all my fears and concerns are an overreaction on my part and that everyone DOES want chickens in and around their homes. I know I am NOT one of those people.

The only other contentious topic that created discussion was the traffic waiver requested by St. Michael’s church. The council unanimously agreed to approve this waiver even though there was much concern about the need for a traffic light at the entrance of Bond Park.

Friday

Friday I had dinner with friends and instructors from a school in Le Touquet, France that are here with culinary students as part of an exchange program with Wake Tech. We have known each other for about ten years since we hosted one of the exchange students in 2002. It was a great time and I feel blessed to have such good friends.

Emails

Emails this week included a special one from the White House cordially inviting me to be a VIP guest at President Obama’s speech at UNC Chapel Hill on Tuesday, April 24th. Unfortunately, I will be out of the country and so I had to decline. They offered to invite me to future events.

Emails from staff included one about the Western Wake Farmer’s Market requesting help to publicize their farmer’s market like we’re doing for the downtown farmer’s market. Council was reminded that Town resources are limited to other governments and outside organizations that have a direct, official relationship with the Town. The downtown farmer’s market has had an official relationship that goes back many, many years.  And with the Town’s focus on downtown revitalization, that relationship is even stronger today, involving multiple departments and services.

Emails this week consisted mostly of the chicken special interest group. I also received several emails asking that Cary to put the transit plan to a vote this fall. Of course that is a county decision and not a Cary decision. I personally support the draft of the transit plan. I also received several other emails that included speeding in a cul-de-sac and a complaint about a dog bite.

Silver Anniversary

Next week my wife and I will travel out of the country to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. (Note to thieves: someone is house sitting) So my mayoral calendar is clear.

Well that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, April 29th. Please feel free to email me with a comment. Email all Town of Cary questions or comments to Harold.Weinbrecht@townofcary.org. Email personal comments to augustanat@mindspring.com.