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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: October 3, 2006 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. ~ - C _ <br />SUBJECT: Cultural and Archaeological Survey Policy for Orange County Development <br />Projects <br />DEPARTMENT: Purchasing, ERCD PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Draft Policy Pam Jones, 245-2660 <br />Example of C&A Survey RFP (SHSC) David Stancil, 245-2590 <br />Tina Moon, 969-8959 <br />PURPOSE: To consider adopting a new policy requiring Cultural and Archaeological Surveys <br />for all Orange County development projects involving ground disturbance. <br />BACKGROUND: In recent months, the Board has expressed interest in formalizing a policy to <br />require a Cultural and Archaeological Survey as part of all County development projects <br />involving ground disturbance. Cultural and archaeological surveys typically include the following <br />components: background research, systematic surface and subsurface investigation (digging <br />based on a grid system), field reconnaissance, and a reporting of the results. Information from <br />these surveys can be used to assist in the siting of future facilities and/or for identifying areas of <br />historic and cultural interest for possible interpretation. <br />In past projects, Orange County staff have prepared a Request for Proposals (RFP) outlining <br />the scope of the work, and advertised the project to consultants who meet standard criteria. <br />The scope of work varies according to the specifics of the project. A conceptual design or plan <br />for the proposed development is an essential part of the RFP. The plan delineates those <br />portions of the site where the most intensive ground disturbance (new buildings and parking) will <br />occur and therefore where subsurface archaeological investigation should occur, from those <br />portions of site where limited to no ground disturbance will take place and reconnaissance <br />fieldwork is sufficient. <br />The attached draft policy outlines a process for Orange County to pursue for Cultural and <br />Archaeological Surveys for all County development projects. Presumably the department <br />pursuing the development would prepare or oversee the preparation of the conceptual design <br />for the project. The logistics of which department would prepare the RFP for the Cultural and <br />Archaeological Survey would be determined internally, on a case by case basis, to ensure that <br />survey work is completed in tandem with the development project. <br />