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requesting party shall select another person from the County's list of Mediators. If <br />the party requesting mediation does not select and designate a mediator within 21 <br />days of the request for mediation, the County shall have the right in its absolute' <br />discretion to appoint a mediator from its list of Mediators. <br />C. Disqualification of Mediator. Any party may request replacement of the <br />Mediator for good cause. Nothing in this provision shall preclude Mediators from <br />disqualifying themselves. <br />RULE 3. THE MEDIATED SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE <br />A. Where Conference is to be Held. Unless all parties and the Mediator otherwise <br />agree, the mediated settlement conference shall be held in Orange County. The <br />Mediator shall be responsible for reserving a place, making arrangements for the <br />conference, and giving timely notice of the time and location of the conference to <br />all attorneys, unrepresented parties and other persons or entities required to attend. <br />B. When Conference is to be Held. The mediation'shall be completed within 90 <br />days after selection of the Mediator. <br />C. Request to Accelerate or Extend Deadline for Completion. Any party or the <br />Mediator may request the County to accelerate or extend the deadline for <br />completion of the conference. Such request shall state the reasons the extension is <br />sought and shall be served by the moving party -upon the other parties and the <br />Mediator. Objections. to the request must be promptly communicated to the <br />County and to the Mediator. <br />The County, with the concurrence of the designated Mediator, may grant the <br />request by adjusting the time for completion of the conference. <br />D. Recesses. The Mediator may recess the mediation conference at any time and <br />may set times for reconvening. If the Mediator determines the time and place <br />where the conference is to reconvene before the conference is recessed, no further <br />notice,is required to persons present at the conference. <br />E. Project Delay. The mediated settlement conference that results from a <br />construction contract dispute shall not be cause for the delay of the construction <br />-project. <br />RULE 4. DUTIES OF PARTIES AND OTHER PARTICIPANTS IN FORMAL <br />DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROCESS <br />A. Attendance. <br />1. All parties to the dispute must designate an official representative to attend the <br />mediation. <br />2. "Attendance" means physical attendance, not by telephone or other electronic <br />Page 3 of 6 <br />