As always this was a very busy week. I spent a good amount of time answering email from citizens, visiting sites and reviewing reports in preparation for council's worksessions on Tuesday and Thursday night's council meeting.
My week started off by attending the Western Wake Republican Club’s monthly meeting at Bentley’s Restaurant at Crossroads. This month’s featured guest was Robert Hunter who is running for the North Carolina Court of Appeals.
Council held two worksessions on Tuesday evening to discuss the downtown Cary streetscape project and aquatics. The aquatics worksession was very positive. We received a presentation from Triangle Aquatics Center President Mike Curran on a proposal to partner with their existing facility to provide recreational and leisure aquatics for Cary citizens. Council directed staff to work with TAC to develop a proposal to bring back to council for decision. The streetscape worksession was for council to review the final plan, give direction on any changes we feel necessary, and vote on whether or not to accept the plan. I am pleased to report that council approved the streetscape plan by a vote of 6-1.
Wednesday was a really fun day. I attended the Cary Chamber of Commerce’s candidates forum at McGregor Downs Country Club. I really enjoy political events such as these – especially when it isn’t me in the hot seat! ;-) Afterwards Mayor Weinbrecht and I met at town hall to tape the October edition of the Cary Matters TV Show. It turned out pretty well….I think. ;-) Tune in to Cary Channel 11 to learn more about changes to our boards and commissions appointment process, guano, and trick or treating….seriously. You’re dying to watch now aren’t you??? ;-)
Thursday evening was our council meeting. Highlights include approving the comprehensive transportation plan, approving the transportation improvement waiver request at the Dry and Harrison Ave intersection (see previous post for more info on this), denying changes to the Walnut Street Corridor Transition Zoning District, and denying redistricting of council districts at this time.
I already spoke to the need to redistrict in an earlier post so I’ll spare you the details. We all showed up to the council meeting knowing the decision to redistrict now would fail by a vote of 4-3. No surprises there. What was surprising to me however was council didn’t vote to redistrict after the 2009 election either. The majority of council instead prefers to redistrict after the 2010 census - prior to the 2011 elections. Let me tell you why I think this to be a bad idea. Cary will not receive the results from the 2010 census until April/May of 2011. Council will then have to review the data, decide on new district boundaries, hold the required public hearings, and then notify the board of elections and our citizens of the changes….all before the election in October. To me, redistricting 2 years before the 2011 election makes much more sense than a few months before the election as it gives us a full two years to inform and educate our citizens of the change. Cary’s population data is just as accurate as that of the federal government (after the last census it was within 1%) - and considering how well our federal government is doing these days - I actually have more faith in our town government to get it right. ;-)
Another interesting thing that happened at our council meeting was I learned how stupid six of us are – I mean, Councilman Portman told us so, so therefore it must be true right? (Sarcasm off now) You see, everyone on council except Councilman Portman voted against the Walnut Street Corridor Transition Zoning District Amendments. Well, after he lost 6-1 he commenced to hopping on that soapbox of his (again) and berated council for not seeing things his way – that we “didn’t understand”. Now I respect the opinions of all my colleagues, and we have agreed to disagree on many occasions, but I won’t continue to bite my tongue during his rants much longer. It is long past time Councilman Portman realized there are seven members of council – not one.
On Friday Mayor Weinbrecht, Councilman Jack Smith and myself attended the Cary High School IMP Club Hall of Fame Banquet. This was very special for me as the Cary High School family is our extended family. My wife, and five of our children have attended Cary High School. We presented Proclamations honoring the inductees into the Cary High School IMP Club Hall of Fame.
Afterwards I attended a fundraiser for NC House Member and candidate Nelson Dollar at the Mathews House in Cary. This was a very fun event, and I was pleasantly surprised to learn that one of my friends is an incredible piano player!
That's about it for this week. As always, thanks for reading!
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Week in Review 9/14/08 - 9/20/08
Usually I don’t meet or participate in any functions on Sundays as I try to reserve this day for family, faith, and NASCAR races ;-) – but this past Sunday my wife and I were honored to attend BJ Lawson’s Freedom Rally at the VFW on Reedy Creek Road. BJ is a candidate for the US House of Representatives in the 4th Congressional District. BJ is running for Congress to advance a constitutional federal government that lives up to the ideals of our Declaration of Independence. A proud father of three, BJ strongly believes we must stop catering to corporate and special interests and instead focus on our nation’s constitutional responsibilities. If you live in the 4th district and are looking for a change in business as usual in Washington, give BJ Lawson a try – his opponent has been part of the problem in Washington for over 20 years.
My first meeting of the week was a follow up discussion with the downtown steering committee. We discussed what each of us took away from our downtown visits to Clayton, Smithfield, Salisbury, Raleigh and Greenville, what initiatives those municipalities have implemented that we believe might work well here in Cary, The different ways in which those municipalities structured their downtown economic development departments and partnerships with non-profit organizations, and how Cary should move forward from here. It was a very good discussion and I believe we are headed in the right direction. Staff will now be preparing a recommendation for council review and action in the near future.
Wednesday evening nearly the entire council attended the Cary Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Banquet. Three awards were presented that evening. Cindy Smith won the Ambassador of the Year Award, Crescent State Bank won The Business of the Year Award, and Michael Curran of Triangle Aquatics Center won the Citizen of the Year Award. Congratulations to everyone above for your commitment to making Cary a better place for all to live, work, and play! Town Manager Bill Coleman, who is retiring next month, was also recognized for the over 20 years of service he has given the Town of Cary. He will surely be missed.
Thursday was a double-header. Staff and I first met with a downtown resident regarding concerns she is experiencing in her neighborhood as a result of the increase in rental properties and the Cary Convenience Center (more commonly referred to as the “dump”). Many of the concerns we can address quickly – other issues will take time, and some Cary is, and has already been working on. It was a good meeting for both sides - we all left better informed.
Afterwards was our Planning and Development Committee meeting, and I must say I am really beginning to get irritated with the lack of respect and support for downtown from our committee chair. This time it was a roadway improvement waiver request from an applicant who owns a corner house at the Dry and Harrison Avenue intersection in downtown - the old Heater House to be exact. Simply put the homeowner wishes to convert the home to a small office use, and make thousands of dollars worth of improvements to the property in the process. This is EXACTLY the type of redevelopment/reinvestment we should be encouraging downtown. Along with the numerous code improvements being made, our ordinance requires the applicant also install a sidewalk - which they are, and install the required parking and landscaping - which they are. Our ordinance also requires the applicant make roadway improvements that include modifying the radius of the corner (reconstruct curb, gutter, and road to remove 90 degree angle), install a crosswalk and signal heads, and relocate traffic signal utilities/pole resulting in the removal of a very established tree. The applicant requested a waiver for the roadway improvements.
Four very nice historic homes share this intersection. Requiring the roadway improvements be constructed would simply ruin the character and charm of this historic community. It would also bring a road 10 feet closer to a historic home, create an intersection where 3 corners have 90 degree radius' and one does not (looks stupid), and cause such an economic burden on the applicant that it just might kill this project. Yet for some reason this is not going to council on consent. Our chair believes this request warrants the entire council weigh in. Funny - I wonder why we didn't feel this way regarding the other five roadway waiver requests P+D approved this year? Because they weren't downtown - that's why.
I ended my week with a meeting with with Michael Curran of Triangle Aquatics Center to discuss a potential partnership between Triangle Aquatics Center and the Town of Cary to provide recreational aquatics for Cary citizens. Yes it seems like this has been going on forever - but hopefully we can bring closure to the issue soon. Council has a worksession coming up on this topic next week.
I spent a good amount of time this week responding to emails from citizens in the west Cary area after a very misleading email was sent out by a member of the Davis and High House Organization regarding redistricting in which they accused the town of gerrymandering and deliberating in secrecy. Nothing could be farther from the truth and quite frankly I was offended by those accusations. Council will discuss the redistricting issue at Thursday's council meeting.
That's about it for now - as always thanks for reading!
My first meeting of the week was a follow up discussion with the downtown steering committee. We discussed what each of us took away from our downtown visits to Clayton, Smithfield, Salisbury, Raleigh and Greenville, what initiatives those municipalities have implemented that we believe might work well here in Cary, The different ways in which those municipalities structured their downtown economic development departments and partnerships with non-profit organizations, and how Cary should move forward from here. It was a very good discussion and I believe we are headed in the right direction. Staff will now be preparing a recommendation for council review and action in the near future.
Wednesday evening nearly the entire council attended the Cary Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Banquet. Three awards were presented that evening. Cindy Smith won the Ambassador of the Year Award, Crescent State Bank won The Business of the Year Award, and Michael Curran of Triangle Aquatics Center won the Citizen of the Year Award. Congratulations to everyone above for your commitment to making Cary a better place for all to live, work, and play! Town Manager Bill Coleman, who is retiring next month, was also recognized for the over 20 years of service he has given the Town of Cary. He will surely be missed.
Thursday was a double-header. Staff and I first met with a downtown resident regarding concerns she is experiencing in her neighborhood as a result of the increase in rental properties and the Cary Convenience Center (more commonly referred to as the “dump”). Many of the concerns we can address quickly – other issues will take time, and some Cary is, and has already been working on. It was a good meeting for both sides - we all left better informed.
Afterwards was our Planning and Development Committee meeting, and I must say I am really beginning to get irritated with the lack of respect and support for downtown from our committee chair. This time it was a roadway improvement waiver request from an applicant who owns a corner house at the Dry and Harrison Avenue intersection in downtown - the old Heater House to be exact. Simply put the homeowner wishes to convert the home to a small office use, and make thousands of dollars worth of improvements to the property in the process. This is EXACTLY the type of redevelopment/reinvestment we should be encouraging downtown. Along with the numerous code improvements being made, our ordinance requires the applicant also install a sidewalk - which they are, and install the required parking and landscaping - which they are. Our ordinance also requires the applicant make roadway improvements that include modifying the radius of the corner (reconstruct curb, gutter, and road to remove 90 degree angle), install a crosswalk and signal heads, and relocate traffic signal utilities/pole resulting in the removal of a very established tree. The applicant requested a waiver for the roadway improvements.
Four very nice historic homes share this intersection. Requiring the roadway improvements be constructed would simply ruin the character and charm of this historic community. It would also bring a road 10 feet closer to a historic home, create an intersection where 3 corners have 90 degree radius' and one does not (looks stupid), and cause such an economic burden on the applicant that it just might kill this project. Yet for some reason this is not going to council on consent. Our chair believes this request warrants the entire council weigh in. Funny - I wonder why we didn't feel this way regarding the other five roadway waiver requests P+D approved this year? Because they weren't downtown - that's why.
I ended my week with a meeting with with Michael Curran of Triangle Aquatics Center to discuss a potential partnership between Triangle Aquatics Center and the Town of Cary to provide recreational aquatics for Cary citizens. Yes it seems like this has been going on forever - but hopefully we can bring closure to the issue soon. Council has a worksession coming up on this topic next week.
I spent a good amount of time this week responding to emails from citizens in the west Cary area after a very misleading email was sent out by a member of the Davis and High House Organization regarding redistricting in which they accused the town of gerrymandering and deliberating in secrecy. Nothing could be farther from the truth and quite frankly I was offended by those accusations. Council will discuss the redistricting issue at Thursday's council meeting.
That's about it for now - as always thanks for reading!
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Week in Review 9/8/08 - 9/13/08
I gotta be honest – it’s taken me all week to get back to normal after the RNC in Minneapolis – St. Paul. I’m not as young as I used to be that’s for sure. ;-) While I had a great time in Minnesota, It sure is good to be back in Cary.
My first meeting back in the saddle was with town staff regarding a proposed site plan in the downtown Cary area. The applicant and I had a few concerns regarding required site modifications, and I needed more information before deciding how to further address the matter. We have to be sensitive regarding redevelopment in our downtown as not to create any unfair hardships on property owners who choose to invest in their property or business.
Tuesday evening council had a worksession regarding the boards and commission selection and application process. Our goal is to make the process more open and transparent while also ensuring that those who choose to apply to serve on one of our town boards are treated with the dignity and respect they so deserve. In the past council had sometimes debated candidates and their qualifications at the council meeting, which is televised. Council instead agreed to debate applicants and their qualifications at a worksession prior to the council meeting – which is open to the public – and then announce the newly selected board members at the council meeting.
Wednesday evening I attended the Town of Cary’s School of Government kick off ceremony with Mayor Weinbrecht and Councilman Jack Smith. It was a great to meet this year’s class and welcome them proper. I spoke briefly (as I always do) ;-) about how I became involved in our town’s government years ago, and encouraged everyone to apply for a town board or commission after they completed the class.
Thursday evening was our council meeting. Some of the highlights included a presentation from the Animal Issues Task Force by Chairman David Forvendel, council’s decision to conduct a national search for our new town manager, and council’s approval to direct town staff to create an amendment to our town’s land development ordinance that would prohibit front lawn vehicle parking, and then bring that back to council for public hearing and possible adoption.
I must say I was very impressed with the presentation from the animals issue task force. It was clear that they had spent a tremendous amount of time on their work, and came back with some great recommendations that Cary can implement to ultimately limit the amount of animals that are euthanized. This issue is best addressed on the front end. The more animals we can keep from ending up at the shelter in the first place, the less that will be killed.
Friday I visited the Sri Venkateswara Hindu Temple currently under construction off of Highway 54 in Cary. It was an honor to be invited and witness Vishwa Shanthi Yagam, a religious ceremony to foster peace, health, and prosperity in the community and throughout the world. I was also given a tour of the construction site. This will be a very beautiful facility once completed, and I look forward to coming back to celebrate their grand opening next year.
Saturday I worked on the script for next month’s Cary Matters TV show – Mayor Weinbrecht and I split up writing duties. I also spent much of the day answering email - council gets lots of email - and I work as hard as I can to answer every single one.
That's it for now - Thanks for reading!
My first meeting back in the saddle was with town staff regarding a proposed site plan in the downtown Cary area. The applicant and I had a few concerns regarding required site modifications, and I needed more information before deciding how to further address the matter. We have to be sensitive regarding redevelopment in our downtown as not to create any unfair hardships on property owners who choose to invest in their property or business.
Tuesday evening council had a worksession regarding the boards and commission selection and application process. Our goal is to make the process more open and transparent while also ensuring that those who choose to apply to serve on one of our town boards are treated with the dignity and respect they so deserve. In the past council had sometimes debated candidates and their qualifications at the council meeting, which is televised. Council instead agreed to debate applicants and their qualifications at a worksession prior to the council meeting – which is open to the public – and then announce the newly selected board members at the council meeting.
Wednesday evening I attended the Town of Cary’s School of Government kick off ceremony with Mayor Weinbrecht and Councilman Jack Smith. It was a great to meet this year’s class and welcome them proper. I spoke briefly (as I always do) ;-) about how I became involved in our town’s government years ago, and encouraged everyone to apply for a town board or commission after they completed the class.
Thursday evening was our council meeting. Some of the highlights included a presentation from the Animal Issues Task Force by Chairman David Forvendel, council’s decision to conduct a national search for our new town manager, and council’s approval to direct town staff to create an amendment to our town’s land development ordinance that would prohibit front lawn vehicle parking, and then bring that back to council for public hearing and possible adoption.
I must say I was very impressed with the presentation from the animals issue task force. It was clear that they had spent a tremendous amount of time on their work, and came back with some great recommendations that Cary can implement to ultimately limit the amount of animals that are euthanized. This issue is best addressed on the front end. The more animals we can keep from ending up at the shelter in the first place, the less that will be killed.
Friday I visited the Sri Venkateswara Hindu Temple currently under construction off of Highway 54 in Cary. It was an honor to be invited and witness Vishwa Shanthi Yagam, a religious ceremony to foster peace, health, and prosperity in the community and throughout the world. I was also given a tour of the construction site. This will be a very beautiful facility once completed, and I look forward to coming back to celebrate their grand opening next year.
Saturday I worked on the script for next month’s Cary Matters TV show – Mayor Weinbrecht and I split up writing duties. I also spent much of the day answering email - council gets lots of email - and I work as hard as I can to answer every single one.
That's it for now - Thanks for reading!
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Week in Review 8/24/08 - 8/30/08
It’s been a busy week – and It’s about to get a lot busier. I’m writing from about 35,000 feet in the sky on my way to the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis St. Paul. Hey, I think I can see my house from here! ;-)
I am really looking forward to seeing the twin cities. I have heard many wonderful things about Minnesota – even despite the fact it’s where MattD is from. (Hi Matt!) ;-)
Anyways, I plan (key word is “plan”) to give daily updates on the convention and associated events so please remember to check back often to see what’s new. Now on to the week in review!
This week consisted of a lot of correspondence between citizens and neighborhood groups, members of town staff, and council.
Monday evening I attended the Western Wake Republican Club’s monthly meeting at Bentley’s at Crossroads. NC State Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry was our guest speaker. She spoke about her duties as our states labor commissioner, changes she has made to the department since assuming the position, and her upcoming reelection campaign.
Tuesday evening council held a worksession to discuss potential council district redistricting. In a nutshell the districts are out of balance. For example: District A has over 47,000 people in it while District D has only 26,000 – it’s not fair for one representative to have nearly twice the population as another. Council reviewed numerous redistricting scenarios, and in my opinion developed a great proposal to move forward for public hearing and citizen input. One councilor however wanted more time to “gather more information” so we directed staff to find out the answers to a couple of questions and get back to us. Some on council have made it clear they are opposed to redistricting at this time – and that’s fine. But we need to decide on this sooner than later, next year’s elections will be here before you know it.
Wednesday I met with a newly formed downtown neighborhood group comprised of residents in the Waldo Road/Hunter and Clay Street area. About 20-25 downtown homeowners were in attendance, as were representatives of the Cary Police Department. The group has been formed to better address issues of neighborhood decay and crime, as well as to foster a positive working relationship with the town. I spent the majority of time at this meeting educating folks on our downtown plans, our citizen boards and commissions, local non profit groups, and town processes in general. I was very impressed with how motivated and committed these folks were, and I was especially pleased – all things considered – that they have very positive attitudes. That will go a long ways towards working for positive change in one’s community.
Thursday was our council meeting. There were a number of public hearings on the agenda. The one that received the most discussion however was a proposal to rezone property from low density residential to medium density near Cary Park. It will be interesting to see how this one moves through the process, and what changes are ultimately made to the project before it comes back to council for decision.
The most interesting topic of discussion however was the proposal to locate an “art tower” where the water tower currently sits across from Cary Elementary School. The water tower has been decommissioned and will be removed soon. The idea is to replace the water tower with public art.
Great idea - wrong art.
I appreciate the hard work of our public art advisory board, the artists, and our town staff on this project. I really do. I just did not approve of the proposed piece, and neither did most everyone else I spoke with about it – even the majority of online comments were negative. It is a 150 foot tall bronze/orange metal girder industrial looking thing shooting up high into the sky that would “tower” over the existing residential community; becoming a permanent back yard view for many. Art is one of those things that people like, or don’t like. But it shouldn’t be forced upon folks. It’s like that body world exhibit that came around a while back – gross! But hey, some people liked it, and those who didn't weren't forced to look at it so it’s all good. The majority of folks surrounding this piece didn’t like it, yet they would be forced to see it each and every day. It’s a150 feet tall – you couldn’t not look at it if you didn’t want to. I also have public safety concerns. This piece screams “climb me!” Sure you can put a fence around it, but unless the fence is 20 feet tall and covered with barbed wire you aren’t keeping determined 16 year old boys off of it I promise you.
I made the motion to not approve the art advisory board’s recommendation, and to instruct them to work on a design that was more in character with the surrounding community and utilized more traditional materials; think clock tower, bell tower, or even a carillon - something that would complement the old Cary Elementary building and our downtown’s historic district. Thankfully the motion passed 4-3.
Council also officially decided to “seek candidates” for the soon to be vacant town manager’s position. We also appointed Assistant Town Manager Ben Shivar as Interim Town Manager until our search is complete. I voted against the search as I do not believe it is worth the $30,000.00+ it will cost when I believe we already have the best candidate for the job right under our noses in Mr. Shivar. Council will decide what kind of search (national, statewide, hired firm, etc..) to do at our next meeting once we receive more information from human resources.
Friday was spent catching up on email and reports in preparation for being out of town for nearly a week, and Staurday (today) morning I was up at 5:45 am to get ready to catch my morning flight to Minneapolis St Paul. 5:45 on a Saturday morning is WAY too early for me let me tell you. ;-)
Chat with you more tonight hopefully – take care and as always, thanks for reading.
I am really looking forward to seeing the twin cities. I have heard many wonderful things about Minnesota – even despite the fact it’s where MattD is from. (Hi Matt!) ;-)
Anyways, I plan (key word is “plan”) to give daily updates on the convention and associated events so please remember to check back often to see what’s new. Now on to the week in review!
This week consisted of a lot of correspondence between citizens and neighborhood groups, members of town staff, and council.
Monday evening I attended the Western Wake Republican Club’s monthly meeting at Bentley’s at Crossroads. NC State Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry was our guest speaker. She spoke about her duties as our states labor commissioner, changes she has made to the department since assuming the position, and her upcoming reelection campaign.
Tuesday evening council held a worksession to discuss potential council district redistricting. In a nutshell the districts are out of balance. For example: District A has over 47,000 people in it while District D has only 26,000 – it’s not fair for one representative to have nearly twice the population as another. Council reviewed numerous redistricting scenarios, and in my opinion developed a great proposal to move forward for public hearing and citizen input. One councilor however wanted more time to “gather more information” so we directed staff to find out the answers to a couple of questions and get back to us. Some on council have made it clear they are opposed to redistricting at this time – and that’s fine. But we need to decide on this sooner than later, next year’s elections will be here before you know it.
Wednesday I met with a newly formed downtown neighborhood group comprised of residents in the Waldo Road/Hunter and Clay Street area. About 20-25 downtown homeowners were in attendance, as were representatives of the Cary Police Department. The group has been formed to better address issues of neighborhood decay and crime, as well as to foster a positive working relationship with the town. I spent the majority of time at this meeting educating folks on our downtown plans, our citizen boards and commissions, local non profit groups, and town processes in general. I was very impressed with how motivated and committed these folks were, and I was especially pleased – all things considered – that they have very positive attitudes. That will go a long ways towards working for positive change in one’s community.
Thursday was our council meeting. There were a number of public hearings on the agenda. The one that received the most discussion however was a proposal to rezone property from low density residential to medium density near Cary Park. It will be interesting to see how this one moves through the process, and what changes are ultimately made to the project before it comes back to council for decision.
The most interesting topic of discussion however was the proposal to locate an “art tower” where the water tower currently sits across from Cary Elementary School. The water tower has been decommissioned and will be removed soon. The idea is to replace the water tower with public art.
Great idea - wrong art.
I appreciate the hard work of our public art advisory board, the artists, and our town staff on this project. I really do. I just did not approve of the proposed piece, and neither did most everyone else I spoke with about it – even the majority of online comments were negative. It is a 150 foot tall bronze/orange metal girder industrial looking thing shooting up high into the sky that would “tower” over the existing residential community; becoming a permanent back yard view for many. Art is one of those things that people like, or don’t like. But it shouldn’t be forced upon folks. It’s like that body world exhibit that came around a while back – gross! But hey, some people liked it, and those who didn't weren't forced to look at it so it’s all good. The majority of folks surrounding this piece didn’t like it, yet they would be forced to see it each and every day. It’s a150 feet tall – you couldn’t not look at it if you didn’t want to. I also have public safety concerns. This piece screams “climb me!” Sure you can put a fence around it, but unless the fence is 20 feet tall and covered with barbed wire you aren’t keeping determined 16 year old boys off of it I promise you.
I made the motion to not approve the art advisory board’s recommendation, and to instruct them to work on a design that was more in character with the surrounding community and utilized more traditional materials; think clock tower, bell tower, or even a carillon - something that would complement the old Cary Elementary building and our downtown’s historic district. Thankfully the motion passed 4-3.
Council also officially decided to “seek candidates” for the soon to be vacant town manager’s position. We also appointed Assistant Town Manager Ben Shivar as Interim Town Manager until our search is complete. I voted against the search as I do not believe it is worth the $30,000.00+ it will cost when I believe we already have the best candidate for the job right under our noses in Mr. Shivar. Council will decide what kind of search (national, statewide, hired firm, etc..) to do at our next meeting once we receive more information from human resources.
Friday was spent catching up on email and reports in preparation for being out of town for nearly a week, and Staurday (today) morning I was up at 5:45 am to get ready to catch my morning flight to Minneapolis St Paul. 5:45 on a Saturday morning is WAY too early for me let me tell you. ;-)
Chat with you more tonight hopefully – take care and as always, thanks for reading.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Week in Review 8/18/08-8/23/08
Before I begin this week in review I want to take a minute to thank all of you who continue to visit my blog each week to learn more about what it is I actually do as a member of the Cary Town Council. It is very important to me that I communicate with you as much as I can. You deserve to know where I stand on the issues, what initiatives I am working on, and why I ultimately voted the way I did. Now I’m no wordsmith by any means – and writing this journal actually takes more time than you might imagine. But when I see visitor traffic steadily increase with each passing week, it lets me know you value communication as much as I do, and that my time on this journal is time well spent.
On Monday evening I met with residents in the Wicklow and Wrenn Drive neighborhoods regarding issues of crime, rental decay, and other nuisances in their community I spoke of in an earlier post. About 25 residents were in attendance as well as two of Cary’s finest to speak on behalf of the Cary Police Department. Clearly the majority of problems stem from a certain apartment complex or two, and existing housing that has, over the years become increasingly rental. I have had it with deadbeat landlords that care about nothing more than collecting their rent checks each month. It will take all stakeholders – including the apartment complex owners - working together to address these issues. As a member of the council, I am committed to doing my part to ensure the town does everything we possibly can to help.
While Cary PD is and has been doing a lot to address the resident’s concerns, I believe many of the issues can be corrected through zoning and code enforcement. It is long past time Cary gets tough on deadbeat landlords who have allowed their property to decay to the point where adjoining homeowners are seeing their property values decrease as a result of what’s next door. I have asked council to consider an ordinance that would prohibit residents from parking their vehicles in their yards for any length of time (washing the car is one thing – overnight parking is another). This ordinance, should it pass, will at least begin to address problems we are seeing at rental houses which appear to be used for nothing more than “human storage”, and whose tenants do not care about the health and quality of life in the community they live in. This will come before council at our September 11 meeting. It may not sound like much, but it’s a start.
On Tuesday and Wednesday Council member Jennifer Robinson, members of our town staff, the Heart of Cary Association, Cary Chamber and myself traveled to Salisbury NC and Greenville SC to visit with and learn from members of their respective town’s Economic Development Departments, Downtown Development Associations, and elected officials regarding their efforts to spur economic activity and reinvestment in their downtowns. Now I have taken a lot of visits to numerous downtowns over the years, but I have to say this was hands down the most educationally valuable downtown trip I have ever been on. We spent a significant amount of time speaking to folks who have spent years working to revitalize their downtowns, and we brought back a host of ideas that may work for us here in Cary.
On Thursday I met with the representative of the proposed Walnut Place development so that I may better understand the project before it comes to council. The property is currently zoned high density residential and they are proposing a retail/office development so there are a few issues we need to work through.
Thursday evening was our planning and development committee meeting and there were two topics of discussion. One pertained to issues the Russell Hills neighborhood is experiencing regarding the subdivision and redevelopment of residential lots, and the other was the proposed artwork which would replace the old water tower near Cary Elementary which will be decommissioned soon. I was very pleased with the outcome of the meeting. P+D directed staff to immediately pursue amending the current TCAP-LDR zoning designation in the Russell Hills subdivision to help better protect the character and charm of the neighborhood. We also sent the proposed art tower to council for discussion with a recommendation to deny. The majority of the P+D committee believed the art tower to be out of character with the downtown community.
Friday council had a breakfast meeting to discuss the qualifications and qualities we want in our next town manager. This was a productive meeting and I believe we created a good framework from which to select Cary’s next chief executive. Council will discuss how to proceed from here this coming Thursday.
Friday evening I met with citizens regarding their concerns over a proposed water supply line that – if approved as-is - will be placed on their property. I will meet with town staff next week to discuss further.
Saturday was Cary’s 32nd annual Lazy Daze festival in downtown. This was a lot of fun, and I think that for the first time in the event’s history the temperature was less than 95 degrees! The town’s festival committee members and cultural arts department did an incredible job coordinating and planning the event. It’s no wonder Lazy Daze is one of the premier arts and crafts festival in the nation.
Well that’s about it for this week. Next week’s schedule is already packed and on Saturday I leave for the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis – St. Paul. It is my hope to give daily blog updates from the convention. We’ll see how it goes. ;-)
On Monday evening I met with residents in the Wicklow and Wrenn Drive neighborhoods regarding issues of crime, rental decay, and other nuisances in their community I spoke of in an earlier post. About 25 residents were in attendance as well as two of Cary’s finest to speak on behalf of the Cary Police Department. Clearly the majority of problems stem from a certain apartment complex or two, and existing housing that has, over the years become increasingly rental. I have had it with deadbeat landlords that care about nothing more than collecting their rent checks each month. It will take all stakeholders – including the apartment complex owners - working together to address these issues. As a member of the council, I am committed to doing my part to ensure the town does everything we possibly can to help.
While Cary PD is and has been doing a lot to address the resident’s concerns, I believe many of the issues can be corrected through zoning and code enforcement. It is long past time Cary gets tough on deadbeat landlords who have allowed their property to decay to the point where adjoining homeowners are seeing their property values decrease as a result of what’s next door. I have asked council to consider an ordinance that would prohibit residents from parking their vehicles in their yards for any length of time (washing the car is one thing – overnight parking is another). This ordinance, should it pass, will at least begin to address problems we are seeing at rental houses which appear to be used for nothing more than “human storage”, and whose tenants do not care about the health and quality of life in the community they live in. This will come before council at our September 11 meeting. It may not sound like much, but it’s a start.
On Tuesday and Wednesday Council member Jennifer Robinson, members of our town staff, the Heart of Cary Association, Cary Chamber and myself traveled to Salisbury NC and Greenville SC to visit with and learn from members of their respective town’s Economic Development Departments, Downtown Development Associations, and elected officials regarding their efforts to spur economic activity and reinvestment in their downtowns. Now I have taken a lot of visits to numerous downtowns over the years, but I have to say this was hands down the most educationally valuable downtown trip I have ever been on. We spent a significant amount of time speaking to folks who have spent years working to revitalize their downtowns, and we brought back a host of ideas that may work for us here in Cary.
On Thursday I met with the representative of the proposed Walnut Place development so that I may better understand the project before it comes to council. The property is currently zoned high density residential and they are proposing a retail/office development so there are a few issues we need to work through.
Thursday evening was our planning and development committee meeting and there were two topics of discussion. One pertained to issues the Russell Hills neighborhood is experiencing regarding the subdivision and redevelopment of residential lots, and the other was the proposed artwork which would replace the old water tower near Cary Elementary which will be decommissioned soon. I was very pleased with the outcome of the meeting. P+D directed staff to immediately pursue amending the current TCAP-LDR zoning designation in the Russell Hills subdivision to help better protect the character and charm of the neighborhood. We also sent the proposed art tower to council for discussion with a recommendation to deny. The majority of the P+D committee believed the art tower to be out of character with the downtown community.
Friday council had a breakfast meeting to discuss the qualifications and qualities we want in our next town manager. This was a productive meeting and I believe we created a good framework from which to select Cary’s next chief executive. Council will discuss how to proceed from here this coming Thursday.
Friday evening I met with citizens regarding their concerns over a proposed water supply line that – if approved as-is - will be placed on their property. I will meet with town staff next week to discuss further.
Saturday was Cary’s 32nd annual Lazy Daze festival in downtown. This was a lot of fun, and I think that for the first time in the event’s history the temperature was less than 95 degrees! The town’s festival committee members and cultural arts department did an incredible job coordinating and planning the event. It’s no wonder Lazy Daze is one of the premier arts and crafts festival in the nation.
Well that’s about it for this week. Next week’s schedule is already packed and on Saturday I leave for the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis – St. Paul. It is my hope to give daily blog updates from the convention. We’ll see how it goes. ;-)
Friday, August 22, 2008
No Class
Many of you may have seen the WRAL news story regarding the capacity crisis at Panther Creek High School. This Monday, Panther Creek High School in Cary will start the school year with an additional 500 students over last year, and no classroom space to put them in. The mobile units needed to house these students are not yet even on site. Why??? Well that depends on who you ask. Ask WCPSS and they will tell you it is Cary’s fault – that we cannot approve the required permits for the 22 additional classroom units fast enough. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
Here are the facts:
WCPSS knew about the need for these mobile units in 2007.
WCPSS filled out the application for permits on April 23, 2008 (that's when it was dated). However, Cary did not receive this application until May 16. It took WCPSS nearly a month to get Cary their application.
The application however was incomplete. It left out required information such as the number of units/site plan detail/etc...
After reviewing the application, Cary responded on June 9 that we needed more information, and also informed WCPSS ahead of time that a traffic study would be required if the additional units generated over 50 vehicle trips.
After WCPSS finally responded with the required information, Cary informed WCPSS on July 15 that a traffic study would most definitely be required.
WCPSS completed the required application for a traffic study, and on July 30 Cary contacted our traffic consultant for a price quote.
On Aug 1 that quote was sent to WCPSS.
On Aug 13 (2 weeks later) WCPSS finally paid for the traffic study and the consultant was instructed to proceed.
The traffic impact analysis, which is required by law, will be completed no later than Sept 10.
As you can clearly see, this is not Cary’s fault in any way shape or form – but that of WCPSS’s inability to plan accordingly. Cary has ordinances that we must follow, and WCPSS knows this. This is by no means the first time WCPSS has applied for permits, and this is by no means the first time trailers weren’t ready to go the first day of school due to PPPP.
It’s disappointing when folks can’t own up to their mistakes or take responsibility for their actions…or lack there of. Nobody wins in this situation; certainly not the children at Panther Creek High School.
Note: Cary High School, where many of the students now attending Panther Creek were reassigned from is 300+ students UNDER capacity.
Here are the facts:
WCPSS knew about the need for these mobile units in 2007.
WCPSS filled out the application for permits on April 23, 2008 (that's when it was dated). However, Cary did not receive this application until May 16. It took WCPSS nearly a month to get Cary their application.
The application however was incomplete. It left out required information such as the number of units/site plan detail/etc...
After reviewing the application, Cary responded on June 9 that we needed more information, and also informed WCPSS ahead of time that a traffic study would be required if the additional units generated over 50 vehicle trips.
After WCPSS finally responded with the required information, Cary informed WCPSS on July 15 that a traffic study would most definitely be required.
WCPSS completed the required application for a traffic study, and on July 30 Cary contacted our traffic consultant for a price quote.
On Aug 1 that quote was sent to WCPSS.
On Aug 13 (2 weeks later) WCPSS finally paid for the traffic study and the consultant was instructed to proceed.
The traffic impact analysis, which is required by law, will be completed no later than Sept 10.
As you can clearly see, this is not Cary’s fault in any way shape or form – but that of WCPSS’s inability to plan accordingly. Cary has ordinances that we must follow, and WCPSS knows this. This is by no means the first time WCPSS has applied for permits, and this is by no means the first time trailers weren’t ready to go the first day of school due to PPPP.
It’s disappointing when folks can’t own up to their mistakes or take responsibility for their actions…or lack there of. Nobody wins in this situation; certainly not the children at Panther Creek High School.
Note: Cary High School, where many of the students now attending Panther Creek were reassigned from is 300+ students UNDER capacity.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Week in Review 8/11/08-8/17/08
This was a very busy week for me. It was also a very emotional week as we learned that our town manager Bill Coleman will be retiring come October. I am very sad to see Bill leave as his leadership, vision, and work ethic are largely responsible for Cary becoming the premier town to live and do business in that it is.
One of the marks of a great leader is their ability to assemble a great team – to put the right people in the right positions. Sure, that sounds easy enough – but as someone who has spent years doing the same thing in my business, without the assistance of a recruiting agency I might add, I can assure you it isn’t. Team members must not only possess the skills needed to do the job correctly, but must also have the right attitude, work ethic and willingness to learn. The incredible team we have at town hall is a direct result of Bill’s leadership and vision. Bill has also been a great ambassador for the town; earning the respect and trust of citizens, business leaders, elected officials, and civic groups across our region and state. Another thing that has always impressed me with Bill is that he has never sought the spotlight. He always gave credit to someone else – even when we knew it was he who deserved it.
Please take the time to call or send Bill an email and say “thanks” for everything he has done to make Cary the great place to live that it is. His email address is bill.coleman@townofcary.org
While Bill will be sorely missed, I am very thankful for the professional, responsive, and dedicated town staff he has assembled over the years that will keep things moving right along while Council works diligently to hire a new town manager – and I must confess that I am not looking forward to this process. Why? Let’s just say that I believe some will try and make this process way more complicated than it really needs to be.
On Monday I met with town manager Bill Coleman to discuss neighborhood concerns of crime, property decay, and other nuisance issues in the Wrenn Drive and Wicklow Drive area. Cary PD and our zoning enforcement department will first be creating a detailed report that outlines these issues so we may better craft a comprehensive plan to combat them. Increased police presence alone will not completely solve the problem. I think it is clear however that the majority of concerns are originating from a particular apartment complex. Unless there is willingness from the property owner to cooperate and assist us in addressing these issues, we may be forced to pursue drastic measures.
On Tuesday council toured a couple of affordable housing developments prior to our affordable housing worksession that evening. Staff felt it important that council see first hand a couple of successful projects before we discussed the matter in detail, so that we may have a better understanding of what a current affordable housing project “looks” like. I wish we had also toured a couple of not-so-successful projects in town so council could have also seen what a bad affordable housing project “looks” like…but I wasn’t driving the bus. In our worksession I requested that our next tour include this. I am however glad to see the quality of product being delivered as affordable housing these days – a huge improvement over just a few years ago.
Wednesday evening was the Cary Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Dinner with numerous elected officials from across our region and representatives from the Chamber. The entire Cary Council was in attendance, as were members of the County Commissioners, NC House and Senate, US Congress (it’s an election year), and WCPSS Board of Education. This was a fun evening, and a great opportunity to speak with other elected officials regarding regional issues. It did however get kind of warm in there due to all the hot air…thank goodness for air conditioning! ;-)
Thursday evening was our council meeting. Council agreed to have town staff review our current ordinances regarding home day cares in residential neighborhoods as a result of concerns expressed by citizens. Council also agreed to hold the public hearing open until the next council meeting regarding the Alston Ave. comprehensive plan amendments to give stakeholders in the area the opportunity to meet with staff and better understand the proposed changes. Nothing else terribly exciting unless you consider map error corrections an item of debate….which some did. It’s amazing what folks choose to grandstand over. We also had a closed session after the council meeting.
Friday morning was the NFIB’s press conference announcing their support of Pat McCrory for Governor – see posts below. And on Saturday evening we went to the Collective Soul / Blues Traveler / Live concert at Koka Booth Amphitheater. I swear there isn’t a better facility to see a show at than Koka Booth Amphitheater. If you haven’t been you need to go! I am spending much of today catching up on email. Council receives lots of email.
Well that’s it for now, and as always thanks for reading!
One of the marks of a great leader is their ability to assemble a great team – to put the right people in the right positions. Sure, that sounds easy enough – but as someone who has spent years doing the same thing in my business, without the assistance of a recruiting agency I might add, I can assure you it isn’t. Team members must not only possess the skills needed to do the job correctly, but must also have the right attitude, work ethic and willingness to learn. The incredible team we have at town hall is a direct result of Bill’s leadership and vision. Bill has also been a great ambassador for the town; earning the respect and trust of citizens, business leaders, elected officials, and civic groups across our region and state. Another thing that has always impressed me with Bill is that he has never sought the spotlight. He always gave credit to someone else – even when we knew it was he who deserved it.
Please take the time to call or send Bill an email and say “thanks” for everything he has done to make Cary the great place to live that it is. His email address is bill.coleman@townofcary.org
While Bill will be sorely missed, I am very thankful for the professional, responsive, and dedicated town staff he has assembled over the years that will keep things moving right along while Council works diligently to hire a new town manager – and I must confess that I am not looking forward to this process. Why? Let’s just say that I believe some will try and make this process way more complicated than it really needs to be.
On Monday I met with town manager Bill Coleman to discuss neighborhood concerns of crime, property decay, and other nuisance issues in the Wrenn Drive and Wicklow Drive area. Cary PD and our zoning enforcement department will first be creating a detailed report that outlines these issues so we may better craft a comprehensive plan to combat them. Increased police presence alone will not completely solve the problem. I think it is clear however that the majority of concerns are originating from a particular apartment complex. Unless there is willingness from the property owner to cooperate and assist us in addressing these issues, we may be forced to pursue drastic measures.
On Tuesday council toured a couple of affordable housing developments prior to our affordable housing worksession that evening. Staff felt it important that council see first hand a couple of successful projects before we discussed the matter in detail, so that we may have a better understanding of what a current affordable housing project “looks” like. I wish we had also toured a couple of not-so-successful projects in town so council could have also seen what a bad affordable housing project “looks” like…but I wasn’t driving the bus. In our worksession I requested that our next tour include this. I am however glad to see the quality of product being delivered as affordable housing these days – a huge improvement over just a few years ago.
Wednesday evening was the Cary Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Dinner with numerous elected officials from across our region and representatives from the Chamber. The entire Cary Council was in attendance, as were members of the County Commissioners, NC House and Senate, US Congress (it’s an election year), and WCPSS Board of Education. This was a fun evening, and a great opportunity to speak with other elected officials regarding regional issues. It did however get kind of warm in there due to all the hot air…thank goodness for air conditioning! ;-)
Thursday evening was our council meeting. Council agreed to have town staff review our current ordinances regarding home day cares in residential neighborhoods as a result of concerns expressed by citizens. Council also agreed to hold the public hearing open until the next council meeting regarding the Alston Ave. comprehensive plan amendments to give stakeholders in the area the opportunity to meet with staff and better understand the proposed changes. Nothing else terribly exciting unless you consider map error corrections an item of debate….which some did. It’s amazing what folks choose to grandstand over. We also had a closed session after the council meeting.
Friday morning was the NFIB’s press conference announcing their support of Pat McCrory for Governor – see posts below. And on Saturday evening we went to the Collective Soul / Blues Traveler / Live concert at Koka Booth Amphitheater. I swear there isn’t a better facility to see a show at than Koka Booth Amphitheater. If you haven’t been you need to go! I am spending much of today catching up on email. Council receives lots of email.
Well that’s it for now, and as always thanks for reading!
Monday, August 11, 2008
Week in Review 8/4/08-8/10/08
I’d like to start off this week’s blog entry by thanking the dozens of folks who have contacted me over the last couple of weeks to offer their support and appreciation regarding my opposition to allowing folks to keep chickens in Cary. Numerous citizens have called, spoke to me at work or out in the community, and have even stopped me in the store to say “thanks” for voting against the initiative. I really appreciate that. I realize not all are happy with my position, but I believe the majority of Cary is.
On Tuesday morning we received a very exciting phone call at work. The National Federation of Independent Business owners (NFIB) - the voice of small business - have selected our business to host a very special event regarding a particular race in this fall’s elections. While I can’t let the cat out of the bag, what I can say is NFIB will officially endorse a candidate at my business this Friday at 8:45 am. What’s that? You want to know who??? Well come by Friday morning and see for yourself. The candidate, representatives from NFIB, and other honored guests will be in attendance.
Tuesday evening was National Night Out and I had the privilege visiting the Silverton and Weston Pointe neighborhoods with numerous Cary police officers. I must say a caravan of police cars with the lights and sirens going is a hoot! – Especially when they aren't coming after you ;-)
I had a great time speaking with the residents of both neighborhoods and the officers really seemed to enjoy themselves as well. No one had as much fun as the kids however. Seeing the looks on their faces as they climbed in to a patrol car and played with the lights and radios was priceless. Everyone really appreciated the opportunity to speak with officers regarding issues and crime trends in their neighborhoods.
Thursday was a very busy day. In the morning I attended the Heart of Cary Association’s (HOCA) monthly meeting at the Cary Chamber of Commerce building. For those of you that may be unfamiliar with the HOCA, they are a group of downtown business owners, property owners, and residents whose mission is to preserve, protect, and enhance the character and charm of downtown while ensuring it remains a vibrant, prospering community of businesses and residents. I had the honor of serving as the association’s president in 2006-2007 prior to joining the council. I am still a proud member. The meeting mainly focused on the upcoming Lazy Daze festival.
Thursday afternoon I met with the developer of a project in west Cary. While I cannot comment on the specifics yet, if all works out as I hope, this will by far be my proudest moment since joining the council. The suspense is killing ya isn’t it? ;-)
Thursday evening I attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Walnut Street Park at the corner of Walnut and Lawrence. This will be Cary’s 22nd park – and it was my first groundbreaking ceremony ever. Community turnout was incredible and thankfully the weather held off until we were finished. What is so great about this park is that it is an infill park being built in an older, established neighborhood of town. The surrounding community spent years working with our parks and rec department designing this park, and in about 9 more months their vision and efforts will become reality.
Sunday I had the honor of attending an Eagle Scout ceremony for James Phillips. The Phillips have been friends of our family for years so this was a real treat. Congratulations James – we are all so proud of you.
Well that’s it for this week – Thanks for reading!
On Tuesday morning we received a very exciting phone call at work. The National Federation of Independent Business owners (NFIB) - the voice of small business - have selected our business to host a very special event regarding a particular race in this fall’s elections. While I can’t let the cat out of the bag, what I can say is NFIB will officially endorse a candidate at my business this Friday at 8:45 am. What’s that? You want to know who??? Well come by Friday morning and see for yourself. The candidate, representatives from NFIB, and other honored guests will be in attendance.
Tuesday evening was National Night Out and I had the privilege visiting the Silverton and Weston Pointe neighborhoods with numerous Cary police officers. I must say a caravan of police cars with the lights and sirens going is a hoot! – Especially when they aren't coming after you ;-)
I had a great time speaking with the residents of both neighborhoods and the officers really seemed to enjoy themselves as well. No one had as much fun as the kids however. Seeing the looks on their faces as they climbed in to a patrol car and played with the lights and radios was priceless. Everyone really appreciated the opportunity to speak with officers regarding issues and crime trends in their neighborhoods.
Thursday was a very busy day. In the morning I attended the Heart of Cary Association’s (HOCA) monthly meeting at the Cary Chamber of Commerce building. For those of you that may be unfamiliar with the HOCA, they are a group of downtown business owners, property owners, and residents whose mission is to preserve, protect, and enhance the character and charm of downtown while ensuring it remains a vibrant, prospering community of businesses and residents. I had the honor of serving as the association’s president in 2006-2007 prior to joining the council. I am still a proud member. The meeting mainly focused on the upcoming Lazy Daze festival.
Thursday afternoon I met with the developer of a project in west Cary. While I cannot comment on the specifics yet, if all works out as I hope, this will by far be my proudest moment since joining the council. The suspense is killing ya isn’t it? ;-)
Thursday evening I attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Walnut Street Park at the corner of Walnut and Lawrence. This will be Cary’s 22nd park – and it was my first groundbreaking ceremony ever. Community turnout was incredible and thankfully the weather held off until we were finished. What is so great about this park is that it is an infill park being built in an older, established neighborhood of town. The surrounding community spent years working with our parks and rec department designing this park, and in about 9 more months their vision and efforts will become reality.
Sunday I had the honor of attending an Eagle Scout ceremony for James Phillips. The Phillips have been friends of our family for years so this was a real treat. Congratulations James – we are all so proud of you.
Well that’s it for this week – Thanks for reading!
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Week in Review 7/27/08 - 8/03/08
This week was a pretty light week in regards to council responsibilities. This allowed me to get caught up on quite a bit at work that, until now I just didn’t have time to get to. Serving on council takes a lot of time away from one’s family and work responsibilities and I do my best to balance the three. My family always comes first, but council always seems to place a close second. ;-)
On Monday evening I attended the Western Wake Republican Club’s monthly meeting at Bentley’s Grill at Crossroads. Our featured guest was Wake County Commissioner Kenn Gardner. He spoke to the group about his work this past year as a county commissioner, his upcoming reelection campaign, and the very successful Wake Investment Scholarship for Education (WISE) foster care initiative he started. The program has been such a success Commissioner Gardner was selected to receive the National Association of Counties Courthouse Award because of his passion for helping foster care children attend college, along with his longstanding dedication to environmental stewardship. Gardner created the WISE initiative in 2004, and since that time, more than $100,000 has been raised for foster care, enabling 30 percent of Wake County foster care graduates to attend college. Sometimes one person can make a difference.
On Thursday I attended the Triangle Sports Commission’s Bound for Beijing Banquet with the United States and Canadian Olympic Baseball Teams at the Embassy Suites in Cary. I was honored to deliver the welcome speech on behalf of the Town of Cary. As someone who has been a baseball fan all my life this was a real treat for me. Not only did I get to meet the amazing athletes who will represent our nation on the baseball diamond in Beijing, but also their coaching staff – and in particular manager Davey Johnson. Growing up in Southern California I have been a Dodgers and Angels fan as long as I can remember. Players like Steve Sax, Bob Boone, Rod Carew, and Steve Garvey were my childhood heroes; so much so that my mother had to pay extra to have #52 put on my little league jersey. Jerseys always came in numbers 1-24. If you wanted a different number, you had to pay for it. Steve Sax played second base – I played second base. Steve Sax was #52 (later in his career he changed to #3) so therefore I was #52. Davey Johnson managed my Dodgers in 1999-2000.
I’ve got a lot of faith in Davey Johnson’s ability to lead Team USA to Olympic gold. Davey Johnson also managed the Cincinnati Reds for Marge Schott for three years and won the NL Central in 1995 - the year she fired him believe it or not. Taking on the world must seem like a walk in the park compared to working for Marge. ;-)
On Sunday (today) I met with a newly formed schools advocacy group to review and listen to their powerpoint presentation regarding WCPSS’ reassignment policies. I was asked to attend to offer constructive criticism and any advice before they took their show on the road. They plan to speak with and educate area civic groups and business networks about WCPSS reassignment/diversity policies and results. I was very impressed with their presentation, and only recommended a few “tweaks” here and there.
Well that’s about it for this week. Thanks for reading!
On Monday evening I attended the Western Wake Republican Club’s monthly meeting at Bentley’s Grill at Crossroads. Our featured guest was Wake County Commissioner Kenn Gardner. He spoke to the group about his work this past year as a county commissioner, his upcoming reelection campaign, and the very successful Wake Investment Scholarship for Education (WISE) foster care initiative he started. The program has been such a success Commissioner Gardner was selected to receive the National Association of Counties Courthouse Award because of his passion for helping foster care children attend college, along with his longstanding dedication to environmental stewardship. Gardner created the WISE initiative in 2004, and since that time, more than $100,000 has been raised for foster care, enabling 30 percent of Wake County foster care graduates to attend college. Sometimes one person can make a difference.
On Thursday I attended the Triangle Sports Commission’s Bound for Beijing Banquet with the United States and Canadian Olympic Baseball Teams at the Embassy Suites in Cary. I was honored to deliver the welcome speech on behalf of the Town of Cary. As someone who has been a baseball fan all my life this was a real treat for me. Not only did I get to meet the amazing athletes who will represent our nation on the baseball diamond in Beijing, but also their coaching staff – and in particular manager Davey Johnson. Growing up in Southern California I have been a Dodgers and Angels fan as long as I can remember. Players like Steve Sax, Bob Boone, Rod Carew, and Steve Garvey were my childhood heroes; so much so that my mother had to pay extra to have #52 put on my little league jersey. Jerseys always came in numbers 1-24. If you wanted a different number, you had to pay for it. Steve Sax played second base – I played second base. Steve Sax was #52 (later in his career he changed to #3) so therefore I was #52. Davey Johnson managed my Dodgers in 1999-2000.
I’ve got a lot of faith in Davey Johnson’s ability to lead Team USA to Olympic gold. Davey Johnson also managed the Cincinnati Reds for Marge Schott for three years and won the NL Central in 1995 - the year she fired him believe it or not. Taking on the world must seem like a walk in the park compared to working for Marge. ;-)
On Sunday (today) I met with a newly formed schools advocacy group to review and listen to their powerpoint presentation regarding WCPSS’ reassignment policies. I was asked to attend to offer constructive criticism and any advice before they took their show on the road. They plan to speak with and educate area civic groups and business networks about WCPSS reassignment/diversity policies and results. I was very impressed with their presentation, and only recommended a few “tweaks” here and there.
Well that’s about it for this week. Thanks for reading!
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Week in Review 7/20/08 - 7/26/08
Doesn’t it seem like summer just began? - yet here we are just a few days away from August. Time does fly when you’re having fun! ;-)
Monday I met with town manager Bill Coleman and key members of town staff to follow up on a citizen’s concerns I had spoke about in an earlier post regarding issues they are now experiencing as a result of the Maynard Road widening project. I am pleased to report that it appears that the majority of their concerns will soon be addressed. I swear our town staff continues to impress me more and more each day. They are an incredibly professional and dedicated group of individuals – it is really an honor to work with them.
Tuesday evening council had a worksession to discuss the land development ordinance (LDO) amendments proposed by our town staff. The bulk of these amendments dealt with proposed changes to the southwest area plan (SWAP). Council also discussed our long term vision for the area. Other amendments we discussed were building height restrictions in the cottage business district of the downtown area, and a few modifications to our town’s sign ordinance.
On Wednesday key members of town staff, the Heart of Cary Association, and council members Jennifer Robinson and I traveled to Clayton and Smithfield to visit with members of their downtown development associations and elected officials. The goal of this trip was two-fold; to learn more about how their downtown development associations and downtown merchants work together with their respective town’s government towards improving their downtown areas, and more specifically, how each town decided to structure that relationship. Clayton, for example hired a full time employee to serve as their downtown development director. Smithfield on the other hand preferred to fund a position within the downtown’s non-profit association – much like Cary does with our Economic Development Director and the Chamber of Commerce. Both scenarios have their advantages and disadvantages. Considering Cary may be looking to create a similar partnership with the Heart of Cary Association in the future, this was a very valuable trip.
Thursday evening….and Friday morning ;-) was our council meeting. It lasted until 12:50 am. That’s what happens when you don’t have a council meeting for a month. There were eight public hearings on our agenda alone. The main issues of discussion pertained to a proposed office development at Crossroads, a comprehensive plan amendment, a railroad crossing closure, and a proposed storage facility on Highway 55. Other issues of note were the consideration of a proposed mixed use sketch plan submitted by SAS, and a proposal to consider allowing Cary citizens to keep chickens in town limits.
Care to take a guess which topic generated the most media attention, phone calls and emails prior to our meeting? You guessed it – chickens. While I consider every issue that comes before council important, one of the biggest surprises to me since I have been on the council has been what topics motivate folks to contact us. $300 million budget? 5 emails, no phone calls. Chickens? 10-15 emails, 20 phone calls, customers asking about it at work and so on. Heck, I even received a message on my Facebook page about it.
Feedback was mixed - about 50/50 honestly. While I voted against the proposal for a number of reasons such as smells, noise, and the potential for disease and predators, my biggest concern was how would the town police this program? While the majority of Cary citizens would surely follow whatever guidelines the town set up, there would be those who abuse it. Would the town have to hire more zoning enforcement officers to enforce regulations? Would folks have to agree to have their property searched if someone complained? Years ago the town imposed a limit on the amount of dogs and cats folks could keep. We couldn’t enforce that ordinance so we scrapped it. While most folks just wanted chickens for the eggs, what about those who want chicken for dinner? Would they be slaughtered in the backyard?
I honestly see no cost savings to a citizen by allowing them to keep chickens either (fresher eggs yes). By the time you pay for materials and build a chicken coup, buy chicken feed, and pay any administrative costs/permits/fees to the town, how long would it take to recoup that money saving a buck or so on a dozen eggs? I don’t buy the gas savings/environmental argument either - I know of no one that goes to the grocery store solely for a dozen eggs. For those who want farm fresh eggs I would recommend the Cary Farmer’s Market in the train depot parking lot in downtown.
Friday I met with Morrisville Town Council member Tom Murray (it was his turn to buy lunch, and I have never been known to turn down a free burger.) ;-) Tom and I try to get together every couple of months or so to discuss the issues we are facing in our respective towns, and what each of us working on to address them.
Many of the problems facing our towns are a regional problem – rapid growth, water, schools, and traffic to name a few. These problems are in no way unique to Cary or Morrisville. Regional cooperation and fostering relationships with leaders in our neighboring municipalities is critical to better addressing these issues - and sometimes there is just no better way to do that than over a burger and fries. ;-)
Well, that’s about it for this week. Tonight my wife Lisa and I are headed out to celebrate her 29th birthday….again ;-) ;-) and hopefully tomorrow I’ll get to watch some of the Brickyard 400. Thanks for reading!
Monday I met with town manager Bill Coleman and key members of town staff to follow up on a citizen’s concerns I had spoke about in an earlier post regarding issues they are now experiencing as a result of the Maynard Road widening project. I am pleased to report that it appears that the majority of their concerns will soon be addressed. I swear our town staff continues to impress me more and more each day. They are an incredibly professional and dedicated group of individuals – it is really an honor to work with them.
Tuesday evening council had a worksession to discuss the land development ordinance (LDO) amendments proposed by our town staff. The bulk of these amendments dealt with proposed changes to the southwest area plan (SWAP). Council also discussed our long term vision for the area. Other amendments we discussed were building height restrictions in the cottage business district of the downtown area, and a few modifications to our town’s sign ordinance.
On Wednesday key members of town staff, the Heart of Cary Association, and council members Jennifer Robinson and I traveled to Clayton and Smithfield to visit with members of their downtown development associations and elected officials. The goal of this trip was two-fold; to learn more about how their downtown development associations and downtown merchants work together with their respective town’s government towards improving their downtown areas, and more specifically, how each town decided to structure that relationship. Clayton, for example hired a full time employee to serve as their downtown development director. Smithfield on the other hand preferred to fund a position within the downtown’s non-profit association – much like Cary does with our Economic Development Director and the Chamber of Commerce. Both scenarios have their advantages and disadvantages. Considering Cary may be looking to create a similar partnership with the Heart of Cary Association in the future, this was a very valuable trip.
Thursday evening….and Friday morning ;-) was our council meeting. It lasted until 12:50 am. That’s what happens when you don’t have a council meeting for a month. There were eight public hearings on our agenda alone. The main issues of discussion pertained to a proposed office development at Crossroads, a comprehensive plan amendment, a railroad crossing closure, and a proposed storage facility on Highway 55. Other issues of note were the consideration of a proposed mixed use sketch plan submitted by SAS, and a proposal to consider allowing Cary citizens to keep chickens in town limits.
Care to take a guess which topic generated the most media attention, phone calls and emails prior to our meeting? You guessed it – chickens. While I consider every issue that comes before council important, one of the biggest surprises to me since I have been on the council has been what topics motivate folks to contact us. $300 million budget? 5 emails, no phone calls. Chickens? 10-15 emails, 20 phone calls, customers asking about it at work and so on. Heck, I even received a message on my Facebook page about it.
Feedback was mixed - about 50/50 honestly. While I voted against the proposal for a number of reasons such as smells, noise, and the potential for disease and predators, my biggest concern was how would the town police this program? While the majority of Cary citizens would surely follow whatever guidelines the town set up, there would be those who abuse it. Would the town have to hire more zoning enforcement officers to enforce regulations? Would folks have to agree to have their property searched if someone complained? Years ago the town imposed a limit on the amount of dogs and cats folks could keep. We couldn’t enforce that ordinance so we scrapped it. While most folks just wanted chickens for the eggs, what about those who want chicken for dinner? Would they be slaughtered in the backyard?
I honestly see no cost savings to a citizen by allowing them to keep chickens either (fresher eggs yes). By the time you pay for materials and build a chicken coup, buy chicken feed, and pay any administrative costs/permits/fees to the town, how long would it take to recoup that money saving a buck or so on a dozen eggs? I don’t buy the gas savings/environmental argument either - I know of no one that goes to the grocery store solely for a dozen eggs. For those who want farm fresh eggs I would recommend the Cary Farmer’s Market in the train depot parking lot in downtown.
Friday I met with Morrisville Town Council member Tom Murray (it was his turn to buy lunch, and I have never been known to turn down a free burger.) ;-) Tom and I try to get together every couple of months or so to discuss the issues we are facing in our respective towns, and what each of us working on to address them.
Many of the problems facing our towns are a regional problem – rapid growth, water, schools, and traffic to name a few. These problems are in no way unique to Cary or Morrisville. Regional cooperation and fostering relationships with leaders in our neighboring municipalities is critical to better addressing these issues - and sometimes there is just no better way to do that than over a burger and fries. ;-)
Well, that’s about it for this week. Tonight my wife Lisa and I are headed out to celebrate her 29th birthday….again ;-) ;-) and hopefully tomorrow I’ll get to watch some of the Brickyard 400. Thanks for reading!
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Week in Review 7/14/08 - 7/19/08
On Monday council member Jennifer Robinson and I met with Mayor Weinbrecht to discuss our differences regarding the possible redrawing of council districts this year. Council had directed town staff to look into redistricting back in February, and late last week staff notified council that they had completed their preliminary analysis, and were requesting further direction on how to proceed. Council agreed to hold a worksession on this topic in August to discuss further.
Why redistrict? Well in a nutshell, growth in Cary – especially that in the western portion of town – has created a significant imbalance in the populations of council districts. How much an imbalance you ask? District B and D for example have roughly 26,000 people in each one. District A has over 44,000 people and counting. District A now stretches from Academy Street in downtown all the way into Chatham County…seriously. I believe it is simply not fair for one district representative to have nearly twice the citizens - and twice the responsibility - as other district representatives.
There will be those who claim redistricting to be politically motivated. Some already have. And there will be those who claim not redistricting to be politically motivated. Some already have. I just believe it is the right thing to do - and quite frankly it should have been done years ago before things got so out of whack.
Tuesday evening was our Planning and Development Committee meeting. Nothing terribly exciting to report there except that we did agree to move the next round of Land Development Ordinance Amendments to council for further discussion and possible adoption – after our worksession of course.
Wednesday I met with the developer of two projects in Cary - the first is a proposed office development at Piney Planes and the second dealt with proposed changes at Weldon Ridge, a residential development at New Hope Church Road in west Cary. Originally, part of the property in question at Weldon Ridge was to have a Catholic School sited there. Unfortunately that project has fallen through. The developer has since met with the Wake County Public School System to see if they were interested in the site. They weren’t. I advised they speak with the folks from Thales Academy to see if they might be interested in that location, and it has since been confirmed to me that a meeting between Thales and the developer has been set for next week.
Thursday evening I attended the Wake County Growth Issues Task Force meeting in downtown Raleigh. The topic of the evening was schools – specifically, how do we turn WCPSS into a “world class school system”? Our guest speaker was Ann Denlinger from the Wake Education Partnership. She was a good speaker, and I really enjoyed her presentation… up until she said, “We expect everyone that comes to America to learn our language, but we don’t expect our kids to learn theirs – that’s very arrogant”. Let’s just say I disagreed with that assessment. ;-) For the record, I do believe children should study a foreign language in school – but NOT because we expect immigrants who come to America to learn English. If I moved to Germany, I would be expected to learn German. I wouldn’t expect Germany to learn English to accommodate me.
After Mrs. Denlinger’s presentation we broke up into small groups where we participated in a brainstorming exercise. Each group was tasked with coming up with two recommendations that we believed could better help WCPSS become that world class school system. Our group, which consisted of Councilors Tom Murray and Liz Johnson from Morrisville, Tim Sack from Holly Springs, Dale Beck from Zebulon, and yours truly ended up recommending that municipalities work with our local Chambers of Commerce and business community to create and support more vocational education programs, and encourage increased involvement from the private sector regarding mentoring and internship programs. All in all it was a productive meeting.
Friday I met with town staff and consultants regarding affordable housing in Cary. My concerns focused on the need to better disperse affordable housing/low income projects throughout town instead of always locating them inside the Maynard Loop – and what types of incentives the town could be looking at to encourage developers to site some percentage of affordable housing within new development. I also believe the town’s housing rehabilitation program should be more of a priority. I think we can all agree that a diverse housing stock in Cary is desirable, and we should do all we can to ensure there is quality affordable housing available for folks such as service employees, teachers, police officers, and town employees. It is my belief that Cary will be better served by having affordable housing projects dispersed throughout town instead of concentrated in one geographic area.
Well that’s about it for this week in review. As always, thanks for reading!
Why redistrict? Well in a nutshell, growth in Cary – especially that in the western portion of town – has created a significant imbalance in the populations of council districts. How much an imbalance you ask? District B and D for example have roughly 26,000 people in each one. District A has over 44,000 people and counting. District A now stretches from Academy Street in downtown all the way into Chatham County…seriously. I believe it is simply not fair for one district representative to have nearly twice the citizens - and twice the responsibility - as other district representatives.
There will be those who claim redistricting to be politically motivated. Some already have. And there will be those who claim not redistricting to be politically motivated. Some already have. I just believe it is the right thing to do - and quite frankly it should have been done years ago before things got so out of whack.
Tuesday evening was our Planning and Development Committee meeting. Nothing terribly exciting to report there except that we did agree to move the next round of Land Development Ordinance Amendments to council for further discussion and possible adoption – after our worksession of course.
Wednesday I met with the developer of two projects in Cary - the first is a proposed office development at Piney Planes and the second dealt with proposed changes at Weldon Ridge, a residential development at New Hope Church Road in west Cary. Originally, part of the property in question at Weldon Ridge was to have a Catholic School sited there. Unfortunately that project has fallen through. The developer has since met with the Wake County Public School System to see if they were interested in the site. They weren’t. I advised they speak with the folks from Thales Academy to see if they might be interested in that location, and it has since been confirmed to me that a meeting between Thales and the developer has been set for next week.
Thursday evening I attended the Wake County Growth Issues Task Force meeting in downtown Raleigh. The topic of the evening was schools – specifically, how do we turn WCPSS into a “world class school system”? Our guest speaker was Ann Denlinger from the Wake Education Partnership. She was a good speaker, and I really enjoyed her presentation… up until she said, “We expect everyone that comes to America to learn our language, but we don’t expect our kids to learn theirs – that’s very arrogant”. Let’s just say I disagreed with that assessment. ;-) For the record, I do believe children should study a foreign language in school – but NOT because we expect immigrants who come to America to learn English. If I moved to Germany, I would be expected to learn German. I wouldn’t expect Germany to learn English to accommodate me.
After Mrs. Denlinger’s presentation we broke up into small groups where we participated in a brainstorming exercise. Each group was tasked with coming up with two recommendations that we believed could better help WCPSS become that world class school system. Our group, which consisted of Councilors Tom Murray and Liz Johnson from Morrisville, Tim Sack from Holly Springs, Dale Beck from Zebulon, and yours truly ended up recommending that municipalities work with our local Chambers of Commerce and business community to create and support more vocational education programs, and encourage increased involvement from the private sector regarding mentoring and internship programs. All in all it was a productive meeting.
Friday I met with town staff and consultants regarding affordable housing in Cary. My concerns focused on the need to better disperse affordable housing/low income projects throughout town instead of always locating them inside the Maynard Loop – and what types of incentives the town could be looking at to encourage developers to site some percentage of affordable housing within new development. I also believe the town’s housing rehabilitation program should be more of a priority. I think we can all agree that a diverse housing stock in Cary is desirable, and we should do all we can to ensure there is quality affordable housing available for folks such as service employees, teachers, police officers, and town employees. It is my belief that Cary will be better served by having affordable housing projects dispersed throughout town instead of concentrated in one geographic area.
Well that’s about it for this week in review. As always, thanks for reading!
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Say What?
Well, if I was in Congress I actually couldn’t say it. But since I’m not, here ya go.
Congress, in their infinite wisdom, is apparently trying to stifle its members from communicating with their constituents through blogs, social websites such as Facebook or Twitter, and other forms of electronic communication. Seriously. See related news story here.
Congressional leaders claim it’s about fairness and taxpayer protection. In reality it’s about control.
What happened to freedom of speech? What happened to openness in government?
Note to Congress: If you don’t agree with something one of your members posted online, start your own blog and rebut. Better yet - considering many of you have been there since the Stone Age, and probably aren’t that familiar with the internet yet - get one of your computer savvy assistants to set up a blog for you. Heck, if I can do it - so can you. It costs you nothing but your time.
We need greater transparency in government, not less. No wonder Congress’ approval rating is at 18%.
Congress, in their infinite wisdom, is apparently trying to stifle its members from communicating with their constituents through blogs, social websites such as Facebook or Twitter, and other forms of electronic communication. Seriously. See related news story here.
Congressional leaders claim it’s about fairness and taxpayer protection. In reality it’s about control.
What happened to freedom of speech? What happened to openness in government?
Note to Congress: If you don’t agree with something one of your members posted online, start your own blog and rebut. Better yet - considering many of you have been there since the Stone Age, and probably aren’t that familiar with the internet yet - get one of your computer savvy assistants to set up a blog for you. Heck, if I can do it - so can you. It costs you nothing but your time.
We need greater transparency in government, not less. No wonder Congress’ approval rating is at 18%.
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