Media Release

Alachua County's Capital and Improvement Team would like to invite all citizens to the kick-off of the County's Annual Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for fiscal years 2006/7 through 2010/11. The kick-off will take place on February 3, 2006 between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. The kick-off will consist of an orientation and will take place in the Jury Assembly Room at the Criminal Courthouse, 220 S Main Street, Gainesville.

This is an open session. However, due to limited space it is suggested that representatives be limited to no more than three employees per department and/or agency. Refreshments will be provided.

This orientation will serve the following purposes:

1. Educate new employees on the CIP process
2. Share both the Annual Facilities Maintenance Master Plan and the 5 Year Maintenance Plan with participants, as many of the capital investments and improvements noted on this plan are based on Life Cycle Costing (LCC)
3. Provide agencies and departments with opportunities to introduce new requirements to the Community Planning Group (CPG)
4. Review current projects and make recommendations or suggestions relating to their rankings or priorities
5. Address fiscal principles, factors affecting today's construction industry, priorities, strategies, time lines, and criteria
6. Explain and distribute Capital Project information packets.

A Capital Project is defined by adopted Board policy as the following:

Capital Projects includes projects/equipment with a minimum cost estimate of $25,000 and an asset life of at least five (5) years including those projects that involve a new purchase of capital outlay, infrastructure and any construction or renovations of County Infrastructure.

Here are some examples of what qualifies under the Capital Project/Improvement Program:

1. Purchase or construction of a new building
2. Technology enhancements such as the installation of Building Automation Systems for Real Time Monitoring
3. Design and engineering cost
4. Expansion or renovation of existing facilities
5. Reconstruction
6. Demolition
7. Replacements or upgrades of elevators, HVACs and roofs
8. Satisfying space needs requirements

Following the kick-off, the Capital and Improvement Team will conduct face to face interviews with each department, agency and constitutional office.

For more information, citizens should please contact Ms. Karin Smith at (352) 374-5229 or email Charlie Jackson at crjackson@co.alachua.fl.us.