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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda 04-26-22; 6-b - Proposal to Name a Conference Room at the Orange County Visitors Center as “The Lee Pavao Conference Room” 1 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: April 26, 2022 Action Agenda Item No. 6-b SUBJECT: Proposal to Name a Conference Room at the Orange County Visitors Center as "The Lee Pavao Conference Room" DEPARTMENT: County Manager ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: 1) Letter Requesting Consideration Bonnie Hammersley, 919-245-2306 2) Letters of Support 3) Orange County Naming Policy PURPOSE: To discuss naming a Conference Room in the Orange County Visitors Center to "The Lee Pavao Conference Room". BACKGROUND: A number of community leaders (letters attached) have requested that the Board of Orange County Commissioners consider naming a conference room in honor of the late Lee Pavao. Lee Pavao was a well-respected resident of the Orange County community for many years. Lee Pavao served for eight years as an elected official on the Chapel Hill Town Council, including two years as Mayor Pro-Tem. Lee Pavao worked closely with Orange County leaders, the Board of County Commissioners and Visitors Bureau, the Seymour Center, and many Orange County staff on community related projects. Lee Pavao was a champion of economic development and tourism, and worked closely with Orange County and Chapel Hill to establish a welcome center with associated programs. In 2012, Lee Pavao received a standing ovation when he became a recipient of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine award for his 30 years of volunteer service in Orange County. 2 Lee Pavao received many honors for his volunteer service including the Chapel Hill Historical Society's 2014 Town Treasure Award, the Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau's Tourism Leadership Award and dozens of additional accolades. In memoriam and appreciation of Lee Pavao, the proposal to name a conference room in the recently relocated Orange County Visitors Center as "The Lee Pavao Conference Room" is presented to the Board of Commissioners for consideration. FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no immediate financial impact related to this discussion. If approved, costs will include for a placard: "The Lee Pavao Conference Room"; a photo of Mr. Pavao in the conference room, and a brief biography next to his photo. SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: The following Orange County Socila Justice Goal is applicable to this item: • GOAL: ENABLE FULL CIVIC PARTICIPATION Ensure that Orange County residents are able to engage government through voting and volunteering by eliminating disparities in participation and barriers to participation. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: There is no Orange County Environmental Responsibility Goal impact related to this item. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board: 1) receive this information; 2) consider stating its intent to consider adopting a resolution at a future meeting naming a Conference Room at the Orange County Visitors Center as "The Lee Pavao Conference Room"; and 3) if the Board states that intent, direct staff to present a proposed resolution to the Board at a future meeting. 3 Attachment I April 4, 2022 To: Bonnie Hammersley, Orange County Manager Re: Naming the new Visitors Center Conference room, "The Lee Pavao Conference Room" Fr: Laurie Paolicelli,Director, Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau On behalf of the Visitors Bureau, I am writing to request that the Visitors Bureau be allowed to name the Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau Conference Room, The Lee Pavao Conference Room, in honor of the late Lee Pavao, a well-respected member of our Orange County community. The nod to his service would entail a placard: Lee Pavao Conference Room, a photo in the conference room and a brief bio next to his photo. There is no associated cost. Lee served for eight years as an elected official on the Chapel Hill Town Council, including two years as Mayor Pro-Tem. He worked closely with Orange County leaders,board of county commissioners and Visitors Bureau, Seymour Center, and many Oranges County staff. He was a champion of tourism and worked closely with Orange County and Chapel Hill to establish a welcome center and a program. In 2012, the Orange County community gave a standing ovation to Lee when he became a recipient of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine award for his 30-years of volunteer service in Orange County. Lee Pavao received many honors for his service to Chapel Hill. From the Long Leaf Pine Award to Chapel Hill Historical Society's 2014 Town Treasure Award to the Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau's Tourism Leadership Award, and dozens of additional accolades. Thank you for your consideration. Laurie Paolicelli Obituary reference: h!tps://chapelboro.com/news/obituaries/former-chapel-hill-town-council-member-lee- pavao-dies 4 Josh Gurlitz 208 Spring Lane Chapel Hill,NC 27514 January 6, 2022 Laurie Paolicelli Executive Director Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau 308 West Franklin Street Chapel Hill,North Carolina 27516 Re: New Visitors Center Dear Laurie: With great happiness we are now moving the Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau into new quarters at 308 West Franklin Street. I truly hope that this new facility will be all you expect it to be and will serve you well for many years into the future. Under your leadership I know our visitor's bureau will project a vibrant image of our communities to visitors and all who use this building. Through the many years that Lee Pavao served our communities, both Orange County and Chapel Hill, he did so with perseverance,wit and great charm. He served on the board of the Visitors Bureau, on the Chapel Hill Town Council,the board of the Senior Center and many other endeavors. He was such a strong advocate for this county in so many ways. His work was frequently quiet, personal and extremely effective. Within this new facility, you have created a new conference room. One of Lee's greatest gifts was his ability to bring people together and convince them of their common cause. It would be most fitting to name this conference room after Lee; a room in which people will come together to accomplish many things important to our county. My very best regards 'Olt '' 5 April 4, 2022 Bonnie Hammersley Orange County Manager Hillsborough, NC Dear Manager Hammersley, I am delighted to join with others in support of the Visitors Bureau's request to name the new downtown Welcome Center's meeting room in honor of the late Lee Pavao. Lee was a well-respected member of the Orange County community and a longtime economic development and tourism champion. Lee's commitment to strengthening economic opportunities and tourism in our Community was second to none. Because he worked tirelessly to help promote the Visitors Bureau and many other Chapel Hill and Orange County organizations, it is fitting to honor his contributions by naming the new Visitors Center Conference room "The Lee Pavao Conference Room." I urge your approval of this request. With kindest regards and best wishes, I am Oioward spectfully, e 6 April 1, 2022 To: Bonnie Hammersley, Orange County Manager Re: Naming the new Visitors Center Conference room, "The Lee Pavao Conference Room' Fr: Ken Broun, former Mayor of Chapel Hill;UNC Law Professor, current Orange County resident I am writing to support the Visitors Bureau's request to name the new downtown Welcome Center's meeting room: The Lee Pavao Conference Room,in honor of the late Lee Pavao, a longtime champion of economic development,tourism and a well-respected member of our Orange County community. Laurie Paolicelli has fully set out Mr. Pavao's credentials and his remarkable service to our community. I had the honor of serving on the Chapel Hill Town Council with Mr.Pavao for four years. No one I worked with in Chapel Hill cared more about Chapel Hill and Orange County. He loved this community and was devoted to the promotion of it. He worked long and hard with the Visitors Bureau and many other Chapel Hill and Orange County organizations. Lee Pavao was a great citizen of this area. He was loved by all who knew him. His public service record places him among the most important figures in our community over the past 30 years. His name and that of the Visitors Center are virtually synonymous. It would be entirely fitting to have the meeting room at the new downtown Welcome Center named the Lee Pavao Conference room. Ken Broun 7 April 4, 2022 To: Bonnie Hammersley, Orange County Manager Re: Naming the new Visitors Center Conference room"The Lee Pavao Conference Room" From: Rosemary Waldorf Bonnie,thank you for dedicating resources to a beautiful new Welcome Center in the heart of downtown Chapel Hill. This will surely make a positive contribution to the hospitality industry that we love. I am writing to endorse the Visitors Center's request to name the new Welcome Center at 309 West Franklin Street in honor of the late Lee Pavao, a longtime champion of Orange County's beauty, ethos and hearty welcome to all guests. I served as Mayor of Chapel Hill from 1995-2001, and was on the Town Council prior to 1995. I served with Lee Pavao throughout my tenure, and he was a council member who advocated for economic development,tourism and senior services. Every year at budget time,he worked effectively both in council chambers and behind the scenes to secure adequate support for the Visitors Bureau. He was a marketing professional, and his expertise and his enthusiasm were very influential in making our tourism program what it is today. Lee first came to Chapel Hill in the early 1980s to deliver his son to the University of North Carolina as a Morehead Scholar. After multiple visits,he moved to Chapel Hill in 1986 and embraced the town as his community. He served on numerous nonprofit boards. Lee received many honors for his service to Chapel Hill, including The Order of the Long Leaf Pine ,the Chapel Hill Historical Society's 2014 Town Treasure Award, and the Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau's Tourism Leadership Award. Having Lee's smile grace this beautiful conference room would be so fitting. Thank you for your consideration. 8 POLICY FOR INSERTION INTO THE POLICY MANUAL MEETING DATE: February 21, 1989 NUMBER: A-0390 EFFECTIVE DATE: February 21, 1989 REVISIONS:November 9, 2005 March 3, 2009 November 17, 2015 December 13,2016 POLICY: Orange County Property Naming Policy Policy "Policy Statement" County owned buildings, facilities and land shall bear such names as the Orange County Board of Commissioners shall approve pursuant to this policy. This policy follows all applicable local, state and federal laws, rules and regulations. Purpose This policy is to establish the Board of County Commissioners as the responsible authority for naming of County buildings, facilities, and land. Guidelines 2.1. The naming of public buildings, facilities and land shall be done only by the Board of County Commissioners by resolution adopted by majority vote. 2.1.1. Property to be given names or titles shall be either owned by Orange County government or leased by Orange County government for its use. 2.1.2. Properties to be named or given a title include county-owned or leased buildings. 2.1.3. Official names or titles for property belonging to the County shall only be changed by the Board of County Commissioners as it deems appropriate after a public participation process. 2.1.4. Current names for property belonging to the County shall remain the same unless changed by the Board of County Commissioners upon relocation or change in function of the property. 2.1.5. Property belonging to Orange County may be named for living persons with the following qualifications. a. Any areas or rooms in buildings, other physical facilities,collections of books, records or other printed or audio-visual materials, land or water areas b. Living persons who secure funding and/or make a significant contribution to the life and well-being to Orange County. c. Leased property that has been conferred a name by the lessor that is a person's name need not be renamed if it has locational or other value 9 2.1.6 Official names or titles for property belonging to or leased by the Count- shall be based upon geographical, historical, ecological, functional, or other such factors as the Board of County Commissioners deems appropriate. If a geographical reference of locational value is derived from the name of a person, such as a street name, it may be used in naming County property. a. A public building/facility u n d e r construction/renovation or land purchased for park development or conservation/preservation will be given a "working title" which will only become the official title of the property when formally approved as such by the BOCC b. Memorial naming of a public building, facility or land is in addition to the official title of the building/facility/land and is bestowed in accordance with Section 2.2 of this policy c. Leased property naming will respect historical names that may already be attached to the facility or as may be negotiated with the owner of the building. 2.1.7 Exceptions to this policy of naming property belonging to the County may be made by the Board of County Commissioners as it deems appropriate. 2.1.8 This policy does not apply to the naming of public streets, roads, alleys and other similar thoroughfares. 2.1.9 this policy shall not be construed as the mechanism for selling the permanent naming rights to County structures, buildings, facilities or land. 2.2. Memorial Naming (in honor of a deceased individual) of Public Buildings, Facilities, or Land: In the event Orange County wishes to honor a deceased individual by naming a public Building, facility or land after such an individual, the following shall apply: 2.2.1. The person who is being honored by such a memorial shall have made a significant contribution to the well-being and betterment of Orange County. 2.2.2. The party requesting a memorial shall submit a brief biography of the person to Orange County government for recording purposes. 2.2.3. The memorial naming of a public building, facility or land will be in addition to the official name as defined in Section 2.1.6 of this policy. 2.2.4. Renaming a public building, facility or land which has previously been named in honor of or in memorial to an individual shall only is done in extraordinary circumstances as determined by the Board. Procedures 2.3. A public building/facility under construction/renovation or land purchased for park development or conservation/preservation shall be given a "working title" by staff for easy identification of the property. 10 2.4. The proposed naming of a public building, facility or land may be generated in the following manner. a. Staff shall recommend to the BOCC an official title of the public building, facility or land in accordance with Section 2.1.6 of this policy. Such recommended by staff will be made prior to the completion of any project to construct, renovate or develop the property. b. Any person, firm or association may propose a name for a County owned building, facility or land by submitting the proposal in writing to the County Manager or Clerk to the Board. c. Under certain circumstances the BOCC may wish to set in place a public process for soliciting input in the official naming of a public building, facility or land. 2.5. The County Manager shall prepare a report with recommendations for the proposed naming of the public building, facility or land and present it to the BOCC for consideration at a regularly scheduled public meeting. 2.6. Upon receipt of the report and the recommendations of the manager the BOCC will state its intent to consider the adoption of a resolution for the naming or renaming of the public building, facility or land at the next or some subsequent meeting as determined by the BOCC. 2.7. The Board may determine the public building, facility or land is of significant public interest and direct a notice be published informing the public of the Board's intent to consider the naming or renaming of the public building, facility or land and fix a time and place for a public hearing on the question. 2.8. Upon approval of the resolution by the BOCC, the public building, facility or land shall bear the name assigned to it from and after the date of Board action or such subsequent date as the BOCC may prescribe.