In 2018, Cary implemented an adaptive stormwater management process to monitor and mitigate stormwater and flood impacts in the Walnut Creek basin. This approach relies on citizen engagement and sensor and modeling data to help prioritize capital projects and target infrastructure maintenance needs. It is now being implemented in the Swift Creek basin, where it has facilitated partnerships with developers to mitigate existing issues downstream. 

Cary brought forth the basin modeling data and reimbursed the engineer and the developer for the additional design fees and construction costs in the Northwoods Jordan mixed-use and First Baptist Church parking lot projects. Using the partnership strategy, the time and cost for Cary to complete an eventual project was significantly reduced, and structural flooding issues downstream will be resolved simultaneously with the redevelopment project. 

In addition, staff launched the maintenance program in the Swift Creek basin, starting in the downtown area. Maintenance work includes inspecting the storm drainpipes in the right-of-way and, where necessary, cleaning the lines. Data derived from the work further enhances Cary’s ability to plan future improvements and maintenance. 

Many people may be unfamiliar with General Magic, but some of the first smartphones, social media, e-commerce, eBay, and emojis were all ideas born at the 1989 Silicon Valley start-up. At General Magic, employees dared to dream big and push the envelope, but at the time, the rest of the world wasn’t ready for the innovation.

In August, the General Magic story came to Cary in the form of a documentary screening and virtual panel. Assistant Town Manager/Chief Innovation Officer Dan Ault hosted the panel with the filmmakers and people who lived the General Magic story. Cary staff had the opportunity to learn from the story of innovative experimentation, success, failure, and reinvention.