Minutes 05-05-2015 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Commissioner Price asked if the approval process can be done in conjunction with the Town of Chapel Hill. Commissioner Jacobs recognized Mr. York who had helped bring this Memorial to fruition. He said a design was created by David Swanson, in conjunction with the group working on a Chapel Hill Cemetery version of the Veterans' Memorial. He said this design may well still work for the Southern Human Services Center site. He said students from Stanford Middle School presented five different proposed Memorial designs to the Veterans Memorial Committee. He said these designs were not incompatible with the design of David Swanson. He said he hoped their presentations could be incorporated with that original design. He said it was wonderful to see the students so engaged in honoring Veterans. Commissioner Jacobs said both he and Commissioner Price were honored to work with such a group as this. He said he hopes the proposed site will be more visible, more flexible, larger, and able to accommodate more visitors. Commissioner Jacobs said in reference to the Southern Human Services Center site, the road will go right by this Memorial as people visit the Southern Human Services Center. He said this is a great opportunity to embrace the honoring of local Veterans in a way that is integral to the daily business of Orange County Government. Commissioner Rich said she was on the Chapel Hill Town Council when Mr. Merritt first brought this proposal forward. She said she was concerned about the placement of the site in reference to the future road, but Commissioner Jacobs assured her of the design. Commissioner Rich asked if there is a timeframe for this project. Jeff Thompson said there is at least a two to three year timeframe for raising funds. Commissioner Price said as soon as the BOCC endorses this project, the process to raise funds can begin. Commissioner Price said the design will be flexible and would be able to go almost anywhere. Commissioner Rich said this is a great addition to the Southern Human Services Center site, as the re-development process of this site moves forward. A motion was made by Commissioner Rich, seconded by Commissioner Jacobs for the Board to: 1) Approve in principle the siting of a future Veterans Memorial upon the Southern Campus in accordance with the recently approved Campus Master Plan, with development contingent upon the approval of the Memorial according to the design guidelines and other requirements stipulated within the approved Special Use Permit issued by the Town of Chapel Hill; 2) Authorize the Manager and staff to participate in the ongoing project planning process; and 3) Reserve the right of final construction approval contingent upon Board approval of: 1) ownership, 2) design; 3) budget and certification of adequate development and construction funds raised; and 4) approve of an ongoing operations and maintenance agreement for the Memorial. Bruce Runberg, Co—Chair of the Veterans Memorial Committee, thanked Commissioner Price and Commissioner Jacobs for their involvement. He said the Committee is very pleased with the proposed site. He said in regards to the raising of funds, if this proposal is endorsed tonight, the campaign will begin tomorrow. Commissioner Jacobs acknowledged the County Manager as being the person who originally suggested the Southern Human Services Center as the potential site for this memorial.