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Advisory Board Meeting

Town of Cary · Human Relations, Inclusion, & Diversity Advisory Board
Monday, April 13, 2026 at 6:00 pm · Virtual / Conference Room 11130, Call-in information will be available on agenda, For in person attendance: 316 N. Academy Street, Cary, NC 27513

Advisory board meeting Budget and appropriationsCivil rights and nondiscriminationFaith and cultural communitiesLGBTQ+ policy

Agenda document Full packet Minutes Meeting page Watch Meeting recap

What's on this agenda

Cary's human relations, inclusion and diversity advisory board previews 2026 Pride Month plans from William Lewis. Chief Human Resource Officer Renee Poole gives a budget presentation. Under old business, Chair Jess MacDonald asks members to come prepared to formalize partnerships and plans for the board's community conversation series.

Summarized from the published agenda. Read the agenda itself before acting on it.

Meeting recap

What happened, drawn from the records published after the meeting. Minutes

Lewis told the board Pride programming in Cary began in 2020. This year's plans include expanded Pride lighting at the Fountain Skywalk and Cedar Street Parking Deck, an art workshop at the Cary Arts Center, a mural on the BREW building, and "Pride in the Park" on June 13 at Downtown Cary Park. The "Picnic in the Park" event will not return this year after feedback about high past temperatures. NC Courage will hold a Pride Night in August. Board members asked about a possible Disability Pride event in July and recommended more programming and visibility for the transgender community.

Poole led a discussion on the FY2027 budget, covering budget influences, preliminary requests and priorities. Board members discussed how stable housing values affect assessed property values, compared home values with other towns, and asked whether the Cary Police Department is hiring social workers. Poole asked members to send more feedback on budget definitions after the meeting. Under old business, MacDonald asked members to review homework items and suggest ways to organize the community conversation event. Staff Liaison Rashonda Harris said the next meeting is set for May 5, 2026. The board adjourned at 8:23 p.m.

Speaking at this meeting

Sign up for Public Speaks Out by calling the town before noon on the day of the meeting; each speaker gets three minutes. Comments that arrive after noon are passed to the council as correspondence instead.

Town of Cary's own rules for public comment — check them before you rely on anything here.

Agenda items (3)

Discussion item · 2Presentation · 1
  1. 1. 2026 Pride Month Planning Overview
    Discussion item Civil rights and nondiscriminationFaith and cultural communitiesLGBTQ+ policy
    Speaker: William Lewis No advanced preparation is required.
  2. 2. Budget Presentation
    Presentation Budget and appropriations
    Speaker: Renee Poole No advanced preparation is required.
  3. 1. Community Conversation Partnerships/Event Planning
    Discussion item
    Speaker: Jess MacDonald Members should come prepared to discuss and formalize plans for community conversation partnerships.

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