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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: October 23, 2007 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. ~~ -G <br />SUBJECT: Authorization for Purchasing Director to Exceed Signature Authorization for <br />Emergency Work on Elevator at Whitted Building <br />DEPARTMENT: Purchasing, Public Works PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />ATTACHMENT (S): <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Pam Jones, 245-2652 <br />Wilbert McAdoo, 245-2627 <br />PURPOSE: To consider authorizing the Purchasing Director to issue purchase orders not to <br />exceed $60,000 in order to expedite the repair/refurbishment of an elevator at the Richard E. <br />Whitted Center. <br />BACKGROUND: The elevator at the Richard E. Whitted Center between buildings A and B was <br />installed in 1979. Some improvements were made during the renovations in 2002, primarily for <br />ADA and fire safety components; however refurbishing and modernizing the elevator is critical at <br />this point. The elevator has experienced periodic problems in the past, but since late- <br />Septemberthe elevator has failed with far greater frequency and has left clients and staff <br />stranded on several occasions. During the week of October 15, 2007, the frequency of failure <br />left the elevator unusable for a period of approximately three days, causing serious operational <br />difficulties, in particular for Social Services staff located on the top floor. The Social Services <br />Director relocated workers to the ground floor to serve clients, which allowed them to maintain <br />uninterrupted service to the clients, but was extremely disruptive to staff. <br />The Public Works staff report the immediate problem has been resolved and the elevator is <br />operational for the moment, although given the recent history and age of the unit, further <br />problems are likely. While there are two elevators in the Whitted Center, this is the only unit that <br />serves the top floor and as such is heavily used by persons visiting Health and Social Services <br />as well as the approximately 100 staff members that work on the upper two floors of the <br />building. Given the tenuous status of the repairs this week, staff believes it is imperative to <br />move forward with refurbishment as quickly as practicable. Otis, the elevator manufacturer and <br />the vendor who would carry out the work, is currently preparing final pricing, which has <br />previously been estimated at $60,000. <br />Assuming the Board authorizes the Purchasing .Director to exceed the current approval <br />threshold of $20,000 for this item, the notice to proceed can be released as quickly as pricing is <br />finalized within the next few days. Upon .receipt of the notice to proceed from the County, the <br />vendor will complete drawings and submittals for County and State approval. Approximately <br />