Why Volunteer?

These boards are an incredibly valuable resource for the Town. And, as a council member, I have personally found great value in the recommendations provided by our citizen volunteers.  From feedback received from the Planning and Zoning Board, to the incredible report put out by the Environmental Advisory Board’s Shale Gas Task Force, and also input from folks on the Public Arts Board and Parks and Rec. They are all key to what makes Cary such a great place to live.

But, it’s not just about your feedback – it’s about getting involved and truly making a difference. If you have a passion around any of these areas, please apply. Not only will you get an opportunity to help the town by providing your insights and thoughts, but also you will meet like-minded folks, interested in these topics and maybe even have FUN!  

And, volunteering is good for you.  More and more research shows that volunteering improves your health, happiness and well-being among those folks who do it.

Details, I Need details

Each of the board and commissions are unique in size, meeting schedule, and their specific functions. Some of the boards also have subcommittees, such as the “Greenway Committee” as part of the Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Advisory Board, that you may also want to investigate.

• Environmental Advisory Board

• Information Services Advisory Board

• Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Advisory Board

• Public Art Advisory Board

• Planning and Zoning Board

• Zoning Board of Adjustment

• Economic Development Committee

Frequently Asked Questions

How much time does it take?
It depends on the board and commission. Some of them have monthly meetings of just an hour or two, with some pre-work required (reading or research), others can require more time and effort, perhaps a visit to a potential development location, etc.

Do I need any special skills?
Nope. What we need is your passion, experience, knowledge and love of Cary.

What opportunities are available for teens?
Ahhh, that’s a great question. We have an organization that is specifically geared for teens – the Cary Teen Council. It is a volunteer organization made up of teens from a variety of schools in Cary and surrounding areas! The mission of the Cary Teen Council is to empower teens with the core values of leadership, accountability, and a heart for service. They provide volunteer and leadership opportunities, establish high standards for behavior, and promote teens to effectively communicate while managing their time and volunteer profiles.  We even have some teens from the Teen Council serving on our regular boards and commissions!

Teens participating in this organization have the opportunity to get involved in programs and events that focus on social/recreational, community awareness/service, educational, leadership/teamwork and 
fundraising/recruitment.  This last year we had more than 730+ teens participating!

Teen Council Presidential Award Winners

Membership applications for rising 6th-11th graders are being accepted NOW through the end of June. For more information call Korey Sullivan at (919) 460-4965 or e-mail him at korey.sullivan@townofcary.org

How to Apply

Just go online and apply. Applications will be accepted through close of business on June 30, 2014. You can apply from your desktop/laptop or your Mobile device.

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

Their unique status

First off, the geese in our area are “Canada Geese.”  (Not “Canadian Geese” as we often hear.) Canada Geese are classified as migratory birds and are a protected species that are regulated through a complicated process involving the US Department of Agriculture, the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the North Carolina Wildlife Commission.

That is to say that Canada Geese are basically protected under the Federal Migratory Bird Act of 1918 . This Act makes it illegal to harm or injure a goose and damage or move its eggs and nest, without a Federal permit. Not complying with the Federal Act can result in fines ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 and this also applies to an untrained dog’s actions.

What can be done to address this problem?

The Town has been dealing with geese at the Koka Booth Amphitheater and the WakeMed Soccer Park with varying levels of success.  We actually have an agreement with the US Department of Agriculture to help manage our goose population at those facilities.

As explained to me by our town staff, that under these regulations, management of the geese population requires a “depredation permit” which means there must be property damage before such a permit can be issued.  

Another consideration the Town must take into account is the fact that Cary is designated a bird sanctuary in our own ordinances which provide protection for wild birds. This does not mean that we would not take measures, where appropriate, to address any damage created by such birds but only that we must carefully weigh the pros and cons of such issues.

Until the federal government takes action and removes the protections that are established for these birds, the Town (and private property owners) is very limited on what we can do.

What can you do?

Photo by MyStuart

Don’t feed the Geese.  Feeding the geese just makes them want to stay, and they tend to congregate when food is easy to find.

Stay away from the nests – Geese tenaciously defend their nests and goslings. Pay attention to where you are, and if you are close to a nest –  you don’t want to provoke a defensive response by the female or male.

Harassment – scaring the geese can be used effectively, but there are some programs in place to ensure you do it safely, and humanely. 

As always, thanks for listening and please feel free to contact me with any questions, comments or concerns.

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Featured photo by e_monk

Ok, I’m not gonna break into a the Spice Girls’ song (although I now have that song in my head.)  But, it is the theme of this post.

I’ve said it before. Democracy is not a spectator sport. In order for me, your At-Large representative, to know what you want, you have to tell me. And I’m not talking about winning the lottery – but rather what you want the Town of Cary to do.

Sure, we ask for you opninion all the time – using tools like our biannual Survey, Public Speaks Out options at our Town Council Meetings, individual meetings and of course, we certainly ask you during election time. But we also look for your feedback on our Town Twitter feeds, ask for it through CaryTV and the YouTube channel, BUD, Facebook pages, and in our email. But sometimes, we are looking for your direct feedback about a particular issue or strategic plan – and that’s true now.

It’s budget season

From Town of Cary

Unlike the Federal Government – our Town budget MUST be balanced. This is a lengthy process – and generally starts many many months before it’s actually accepted by Council.

Our 2014 (yes, 2014) budget year identifies services and infrastructure projects to be undertaken by the Town from July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014. And we are currently at the end of the MONTH LONG comment period, which ends on February 28th.

It’s important we hear from you

This is absolutely the time for you to make yourself heard.  

• You want more Parks and Greenways? Or want a SPECIFIC park moved up in priority? Tell us.

• Wish we had more plantings in specific medians? Share that.

• Want more Senior programs? Or programs for Disabled and developmentally challenged individuals? We want to know.

• How about speeding up the Downtown development? More parking? More events? All input is valuable.

• Wish you had an App that allowed you to more easily see where the greenway maps are… or the status of Bond Park Fields (open or close?), or a way to more easily report potholes? Let us know. (Ok, that’s my little plug.)

• Want to see what other people are saying? Check out the online listing.

It’s your turn

Just like you do at home, our budget guides our plans for the next year. So please let us know what you want in next year’s budget priorities.

There are lots of ways for you to connect and voice your opinion. But do it QUICKLY!

• Via email: budgetinput@townofcary.org

• Voicemail: (919) 469-4307

• Public comment at special budget public hearings (Last chance on Wednesday, February 27)

• Facebook: www.facebook.com/TownofCaryNC

• Twitter: www.twitter.com/townofcary (#TOCbudget)

This is your town, your government, and your turn to let us know.

Don’t let this opportunity pass you by.

(As always, thanks for listening.)

Featured picture by 401(K)2013

Why the bond?

My job on the Town Council is to serve you, our citizens.  This is a task of which I am immensely honored and privileged.  And part of that task is to ensure that you have the services you need to work, live, play, learn and grow in the community that you call home.

During the economic downturn, the Town’s general fund revenues declined, and in 2008, Town Council made some tough decisions to do what we all did at home; re-prioritize our capital projects, canceling $24 million in projects, reallocating resources, and delaying many other projects.

We are now at a point that some of those projects need to be reconsidered if we are to continue to support the high quality of life that Cary citizens have come to expect.  And, sometimes, just like in our own lives, we need additional capital to enhance our community.  Whether it’s maintenance or new coat of paint on the house, updating a room, or improving our backyard, these projects cost money.  The same thing is true in our town.

1. We have a need to update Fire Station #2, it’s overcrowded, outdated, and has significant structural repair needs, and is serving a large area.
2. Maintenance on our roads has been pushed out during the economic slowdown, many streets need resurfacing and improvements. Other projects such as the Walnut Street projects and the Downtown streetscape will enhance the community, while other improvements for intersections in West Cary (Carpenter Firestation and Morrisville Carpenter, as well as Green Level West) will help those areas.
3. Parks and Recreation have become a big part of Cary’s identity.  A Downtown Park, Carpenter Park, updates to Mills Park and Bartley Park (Penney Road Park) will provide additional amenities across the town.

Just the Facts, Ma’am

In order to pay for these initiatives, we need to come to you, Cary Citizens, to ask you for your approval. There are 3 ballot questions put before you – totally $80 million. If all 3 are approved, our tax rate will increase from the lowest in Wake County (at $0.33) to $.0.37 (with 2 cents in 2013 and 2 cents in 2015.)

If approved, Cary would still have the lowest property tax rate of any municipality in Wake County.

As part of the initiative to educate our citizens about the Bond, the Town of Cary has created several tools to provide you the information you need to make a decision.

A Cary Bonds Website: with the list and details about the projects included in the Bond referendum, the financial impact, and information on what is on your ballot.

A Video: An overview of the bonds with with information about the bond and the Town’s current status. (Click HERE to see the video.)

FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions – found on the Cary Bonds Website, with more financial information for your use.

How Much?

That’s really the question we all want to know.  If I vote for it, how much is it gonna cost me?

If all 3 bonds are approved, the property tax rate will increase 2 cents in 2013, and 2 cents again, in 2015.

That means that if you have a home that is worth $250,000, your property tax bill will increase $50/year for the increase in July 2013, and $50/year for the increase in 2015.

Just so you know, Cary has not raised property tax rates since 1989.

If I vote against it, what will happen?

The Town does not currently have the funds for these proposed projects.  So, if you decide to vote against it, it is highly unlikely that any of these projects will move forward in the next 3 to 5 years.

This is a vote on whether the Town can use a general obligation bond for financing these projects, it’s not a vote on the property tax rate, although it impacts that rate.

Why the Blog Post?

I’ve received a number of emails and FaceBook posts regarding this issue, so I wanted to address some of the comments publicly.  Please feel free to contact me with any comments, questions or concerns.  This is YOUR decision.  Be informed and tell us what you want.  You choose.

Featured photo from CaryBond.org website