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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: June 27, 2006 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. Jr--Z <br />SUBJECT: Biological and Cultural Surveys of the Homestead Road Campus <br />DEPARTMENT: ERGD, Purchasing PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />David Stancil, 245-2590 <br />Pam Jones, 245-2650 <br />PURPOSE: To authorize the solicitation of proposals for surveys of biological, cultural and <br />archaeological resources on the 33-acre Homestead Road Campus owned by Orange County, <br />BACKGROUND: For several years now, new County park projects have included a set of <br />surveys to identify cultural and biological resources present on the site, so that this information <br />may be used in creating a design for a park master plan. The same has been proposed for the <br />Homestead Road County Campus, The property is the site of the County's Southern Human <br />Services Center, two buildings constructed by the Interfaith Council on a three acre tract leased <br />from the County, and the Seymour Senior Center, currently under construction. There are other <br />potential building sites for yet to be determined public facilities, The site also features a nature <br />trail that was completed with the assistance of an AmeriCorps volunteers in 2003, That trail links <br />with other footpaths on adjacent properties, <br />In preparation for the planned August 22, 2006 discussion of the master plan for construction at <br />this site, and to ensure that subsequent design and construction of County facilities does not <br />unwittingly destroy important natural or cultural resources on the property, it has been proposed <br />that the County conduct the following additional surveys of the property: <br />- A biological survey to determine if special plant and wildlife habitat or commtanities exist <br />on site. A survey of significant trees has already been completed for the entire site; and <br />- A cultural and archaeological survey to identify cultural resources, archaeological <br />remains and other cultural "matter" present on the site. <br />Orange County would seek qualified and experienced professionals to conduct these surveys, <br />The biological survey could be conducted in-house by the Land Conservation Manager and <br />biologists on the Commission for the Environment. The survey of cultural and archaeological <br />resources would likely require the services of one of a number of firms that perform these types <br />of surveys in the region. <br />FINANCIAL IMPACT: The biological survey would be conducted in house and as such have no <br />additional cost to the County, The cultural and archaeological survey is estimated to cost up to <br />