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1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: February 9, 2016 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 4 <br /> SUBJECT: Environment and Agricultural Center Project Update <br /> DEPARTMENT: Asset Management Services PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br /> ("AMS"), Department of <br /> Environment, Agriculture, <br /> Parks & Recreation ("DEAPR") <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> A) Environment & Agriculture Center Jeff Thompson, (919) 245-2658 <br /> Fact Sheet from 2014 Orange David Stancil, (919) 245-2522 <br /> County Facility Report <br /> PURPOSE: To receive a report on the Environment and Agricultural Center capital project and <br /> provide feedback to the County Manager and staff. <br /> BACKGROUND: On June 16, 2015 the Board of County Commissioners appropriated design <br /> and due diligence funds in the FY2015-16 Capital Investment Plan for a new or renovated <br /> Environment and Agricultural Center on its existing and desired Revere Road site. The purpose <br /> of the renovation is to improve the facility as an operationally efficient and centralized provider <br /> of agriculture related services. <br /> Over the past 3 months, County staff and consultants have performed due diligence on the site <br /> in preparation for the coming engineering and design activities. A request for qualifications <br /> ("RFQ") process was initiated in September 2015 for the designer for the project. Nine <br /> submittals were reviewed, and four firms interviewed with a staff panel representing DEAPR, <br /> Cooperative Extension, Asset Management Services, the Soil & Water Conservation District <br /> Board of Supervisors, and the Commission for the Environment. <br /> The interview panel has since selected a preferred designer. Staff is negotiating the <br /> professional services agreement and related fees and hopes to bring a recommendation for this <br /> firm as part of the agenda review process in March. <br /> Once the designer is engaged, the first priority in the design process will be to solicit <br /> stakeholder feedback for the project. The designer will conduct surveys of building residents, <br /> County partners, elected officials, staff, and other interested stakeholders in an effort to <br /> assemble the best facility of its type and purpose for Orange County. <br /> The project team will present this information to the Board for its discussion and feedback. As <br /> the project progresses through this collaborative design process, staff will provide future <br />