Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
DocuSign Envelope ID:54EAOF14-1593-4CDB-B6D6-05BA2AB8F6C5 <br /> perception does persist but he works with the Orange County Health Department to ensure their <br /> events are safe according to their guidelines and feedback. <br /> Anthony asked if the Rizzo Hotel is booking university meetings? Mark responded "Not necessarily. <br /> Because they have executive development that deals with Fortune 500 companies,they have <br /> continued having some smaller government groups such as Army, Navy, etc. No large-scale events <br /> because they don't do social events so much slower for them than before the pandemic. <br /> • Mayor Pam Hemminger—Town of Chapel Hill <br /> - The Town of Chapel Hill is also in budget season. Other than sales tax revenues being a little <br /> higher than anticipated and property tax revenue holding at a decent level, everything else in <br /> the enterprise funds and occupancy tax revenue accounts are way down. We've instituted <br /> some cost cutting measures—hiring freeze, no travel,etc. <br /> - Both the Town of Chapel Hill's debt fund balance and fund balance are very healthy so doing <br /> construction and things during this downtown we hope to be ready for when the economy <br /> bounces back. <br /> - Development in Chapel Hill is on the rise and we are seeing more development proposals than <br /> we've ever seen before. Many of these proposals are commercial which speaks to a desire for <br /> being in this area. <br /> - The region, including Chapel Hill and parts of Orange County, are included in the top 10 places <br /> to bounce back the fastest from COVID-19. <br /> - Buildings 136 and 137 downtown are getting a lot of traction and will be opening up in summer <br /> and fall. <br /> - Wegmans is opening next week on February 24`" <br /> - We are working with Katie Murray and with the Downtown Partnership on arts projects to get <br /> people to see us as an art community and get people back downtown. <br /> - The Town of Chapel Hill is repaving the West End. This should allow outdoor dining and grab <br /> and go areas to continue. <br /> - The Town of Chapel Hill has a Revive Committee and they have made some great <br /> recommendations that we will be implementing in the next six months or so to help get our <br /> economy back. <br /> - Today we are celebrating 1,000,000 meals served to our students over this year with a drive- <br /> thru celebration. These are meals provided to students who aren't in school and would <br /> normally receive free and reduced lunch. <br /> • Tanya Moore— Associate Vice Chancellor, UNC-Chapel Hill <br /> - UNC surveyed our 2021 class and they overwhelmingly said they wanted an in-person event for <br /> commencement. We are now developing that, with safety in mind, and are in discussions with <br /> the County Health Department. Will probably take the form of multiple ceremonies in Kenan <br /> Stadium over the May 15tn-16tn weekend with virtual speakers and the same speech at each <br /> event. Graduates will be allowed two guests. Expect an announcement in the next couple of <br /> weeks. <br /> - The Class of 2020 has indictated it doesn't feel relevant to them to have an actual <br /> commencement ceremony but they still want to come back and see their friends and have a <br /> reunion of sorts. We are keeping that on the table but after the pandemic restrictions are lifted. <br /> - UNC's testing program is working as designed. UNC is testing 13,000—15,000 tests a week and <br /> our positivity rate is 0.06,which we feel very good about. <br /> - UNC Visitors Center Zoom tour has been well received and averages about 20 people per day. <br /> 5 Page CHOCVB BOD Meeting February 17 , 2021 <br />