The Chehalis City Council unanimously approved a recommendation on Monday night to rename the Chehalis Outdoor Pool the Gail and Carolyn Shaw Aquatic Center, in honor of two long-time community members and supporters of the pool.
The Chehalis Foundation, a partner with the city to renovate the pool, filled out the application to change the name, which is a technicality since the Foundation surprised the Shaws with the honor at a luncheon on July 12.
Orin Smith, a Chehalis native and retired Starbucks Coffee Company president and CEO, presented Gail with the distinction at a Chehalis Foundation luncheon. Smith, the largest contributor to the outdoor pool renovations, was tasked with naming the pool and chose the Shaws.
The City Council also approved future namings of designated parts of the aquatic center, such as slides and pool toys.
The pool still has 35 naming opportunities, from the pool deck to the public announcement system. The cost of naming an item ranges from $2,500 to $50,000.
The City Council agreed on one other formality Monday night, which was a new process for presenting a key to the city.
A written request now has to be submitted to the city recommending a person before the City Council approves presenting the key.
The new procedure stems from the city presenting Smith and his brother Kevin Smith a key to the city at the last Chehalis Community Renaissance Team meeting without consulting the City Council.
