Milwaukee County’s new facilities contract: “the good news and the bad news”

Source:  County Supervisor Patricia Jursik, 8th District

“Milwaukee County has entered into a contract with C. B. Richard Ellis to provide policy makers with a strategic road map for facility planning.  This roadmap will allow the County to consolidate holdings, reduce operating costs, address sustainability goals and reduce the geographic scope of its real estate holdings.

“In 1990, our workforce was about 9,400 strong.  By 2012, County employment was reduced to about 4,800.  While we have dramatically decreased our workforce, we continue to operate in largely the same space.  Our Strategic Planning process initiated the Facilities Resolution to address this concern.

“Last year, the County Board overwhelmingly approved a resolution recommended by the Long Range Strategic Plan Steering Committee to downsize the County’s facilities.  A Request for Proposals (RFP) was completed by last autumn.  The Board budgeted dollars to fund a comprehensive review of facility holdings to assist in the decision making process.

“The intent of the Budget Amendment was to initiate the planning process in time for planning the 2013 budget planning.  Since the facility study will take six months to complete, it was vital to initiate the work at the outset of the year and give priority to this project.

“The good news is the contract with CB Richard Ellis was finally completed yesterday, June 6, 2012, according to the County Executive’s staff.  Because of the late date, however, the bad news is that the facilities planning will not be available in time for budget planning and will now take another year to complete.  My office will continue to monitor the progress of this important strategic plan for Milwaukee County’s facilities.”

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