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<br />planning group (surveys distributed to known interested parties, community <br />meetings, charettes, etc) <br />• Couple the broader based public information with the formation of smaller <br />planning groups. Benefits here may be found in the time needed to agree <br />upon an acceptable date/time for meetings, administrative time needed to <br />schedule meetings and potentially to improve the expediency in which the <br />work is completed. <br />Board approvals-Design and Construction Phases <br />Board approval is currently required for: <br />• All projects requiring the expenditure of funds in excess of $20,000; <br />and <br />Ail architect and engineering contracts, regardless of the dollar <br />amount. <br />Alternatives to consider: <br />• Additional authorization for the Manager and Purchasing Director to award <br />informal bids. <br />Award of a bid can be delayed up to four weeks, depending upon the bid <br />date vs. the next available BOCC meeting. While formal advertised bids <br />(those that exceed $300,000) far construction are mandated by State law <br />for BOCC approval, informal bids are not. Is there a level higher than the <br />current $20,000 authorized for Purchasing Director approval that could <br />expedite smaller projects? The most recent example is the Smith Middle <br />School/Efland Cheeks Lighting Project, in which the bid was under <br />$300,000 and within the budgeted amount. The purchase order could've <br />been cut within 24 hours of the receipt of bids, but was rather delayed by <br />at least two weeks pending BOCG approval. <br />Increasing authorization limits could be conditioned upon factors at the <br />Board's discretion, For example: <br />• No award within the prescribed authorization limits could be <br />made without BOCC approval unless it was within the <br />appropriated project budget; and <br />• The Board would receive monthly updates of all awards for <br />construction projects made by staff within the authorization level. <br />Additional authorization for the Manager to approve professional services <br />contracts. <br />The County Manager can now authorize professional services contracts <br />up to $5,000, with the exception of architect and engineering contracts, <br />which require first dollar approval by the BOCC. Authorization far the <br />Manager to sign contracts far professional services at a higher level and <br />including architect and engineering services could cut 2-4 weeks off of the <br />