On October 23, a group of 11 employees concluded a three-month-long Adaptive Leadership Seminar led by the Town Manager’s Office and Human Resources. Each meeting focused on a different chapter of “Leadership on the Line: Staying Alive through the Dangers of Leading,” and unlike previous Adaptive Leadership classes, individuals took turns facilitating weekly sessions. Facilitators shared relevant video clips and articles, led mindfulness exercises, and assigned prompts for self-reflection while participants interpreted concepts and discussed how the book’s ideas play out in Cary. The group agreed this exploration of the adaptive leadership model was helpful in understanding organizational culture and promoting greater self-awareness.

For Cary to keep evolving, its employees must continue learning, growing, and progressing. Every year, OneCary Academy provides an opportunity for all employees to learn about Cary’s history, government, decision-making, culture, and the people and services citizens use every day. While the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated remote and distanced learning, personal development and growth remained a priority for investing in Cary’s employees while improving the organization. Cary adjusted its OneCary Academy, which is typically offered in person, to accommodate virtual classes. More than 30 employees from nine departments participated in at least one of the virtual OneCary Classes offered this fall. The classes helped employees explore the OneCary culture, learn more about other areas in Cary, and connect them with their colleagues. 

The acquisition, protection, and ecological restoration of flood-prone areas is an important component in implementing Council’s vision to proactively manage Cary’s natural resources and reduce flooding in the community. This quarter, Cary transitioned four previously acquired properties located on Jodhpur Lane, Madison Avenue, and Urban Drive to natural areas. All existing structures and impervious surfaces were removed from these lots to ensure environmental restoration of the areas. By removing development from these properties, Cary added functional corridors in flood-prone areas and created buffers that will provide water quality protection and flood mitigation. These sites will be used for tree planting workshops and will increase tree canopy in 2021. 

Recognition for Stormwater Sensors Project

The Town Manager’s Office and Information Technology’s work with SAS, Greenstream Technologies, and Microsoft to assist in early detection and warning systems for stormwater and flooding has received four awards, including three this quarter. In addition to being an IDC 2020 Smart Cities North America Awards Finalist (Smart Water Category) in March 2020, this collaborative project has been recognized as the: 

• 2020 Government Innovation Award Winner for leveraging transformative technology to support government functions;
• 2020 N.C. Technology Association’s Public Sector Project Award for innovative use of
  technology; and 
• 2020 RTCC Cleantech Innovation Award for driving cleantech innovation and deployment in the region.

This string of impressive awards underscores the bold, innovative, and successful work being done by Cary staff under Council leadership and in partnership with external entities.