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e. Organization Assessment -Proposed Phase 1 Work by Institute of Government <br />The Board considered approving a proposal for consulting services from the Institute of <br />Government to complete initial work on a planned organizational assessment, including an <br />organizational study and communications review. <br />Jahn Link said that at the April 16t" work session, the Board considered a plan and <br />approach to address assessing various areas within our organization that could possibly benefit from <br />either change or a closer working relationship with other organizations or parts of County government. <br />The areas that were discussed include: Public Information, Communications and e-Government; <br />Parks, Open Space, and Conservation; Solid Waste, Services to the elderly, and Transportation. <br />There is a proposal from the Institute of Government that addresses the first phase. <br />Personnel Director Elaine Holmes said that the proposal was to contract with the Institute <br />of Government to begin the initial work on the organization assessment. There are two steps of the <br />work -the survey of other organizations to get input from their study outcomes, pros, and cons; and <br />the communication review. Kevin Fitzgerald, Planning Director for the Center for Public Technology <br />at the Institute of Government, will be working on the assessment. The cost of phase one will be <br />$7,500 and the plan would be to complete the work over the summer with a written report in <br />September. He was unable to attend this meeting, but will be able to attend the June 25t" meeting. <br />Elaine Holmes explained what the assessment would include. <br />Commissioner Carey supports moving ahead with this in phases. He thinks there should <br />be more organization in County government. <br />Commissioner Gordon is disappointed that a review of the County's Information <br />Technology (IT) plan, the infrastructure in supporting County Communications, and the assessment of <br />communications among departments is not included in phase one. Elaine Holmes will ask Mr. <br />Fitzgerald if he could address this in phase one. <br />Chair Halkiotis agrees with Commissioner Gordon about the IT plan. He thinks we have to <br />differentiate between what the plan is to an advisory board and what the plan really is to a group of <br />users. <br />The staff will consult with Kevin Fitzgerald about including the IT plan in the first phase and <br />the costs and will report back on the 25t". The Board is very interested in pursuing phase one. <br />f. Housing Bond Program <br />The Board considered awarding funding to recommended bond projects. <br />Tara Fikes said that the Orange County voters approved a 1.8 million-dollar housing bond <br />issue in November of 1997. In December of 1999, this Board approved three bond projects, for a total <br />of $690,000. These bond projects are listed in the agenda abstract. After that commitment, the <br />Board decided that it wanted to review the housing bond policy. Any additional commitments were <br />delayed until this was completed. This process was completed this spring and there is approximately <br />$1,110,000 remaining to be committed from the 1997 bond. In May, the County issued a request for <br />proposals soliciting proposals from existing County housing non-profit agencies. A total of eight <br />proposals were received and those proposals requested a total $1,989,419 worth of projects. A <br />summary of the proposals is provided in the agenda abstract. The Project Review Committee met <br />this month and reviewed the proposals. Out of the eight proposals, two were found to be incomplete <br />and they were unable to rate the applications. All of the other six projects did clear the minimum <br />threshold of 60 points. However, the committee is recommending that four of the projects be funded <br />from the remaining bond funds. The four projects are on page two of the agenda abstract. There are <br />three rental projects and one new construction home ownership project. The committee wanted to <br />Hate that, although they were Hat able to fund all six projects with the remaining bond money, they <br />wanted to remind the Commissioners that there is an affordable housing fund that the Board <br />established last year of $250,000 that might be used to try and fund the remaining projects. <br />