County board rejects proposed Zilli settlement, later reopens review and sends item back to committees

The Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors on May 22 rejected a proposed settlement with Grandview Management Inc., doing business as Zilli Hospitality Group, but later voted to reconsider and sent the matter back to committees for further review.

The resolution presented to the board would have authorized the Department of Parks to enter a settlement and a three‑year extension of Zilli’s contract related to catering and facility management at county parks, including the Boerner Botanical Gardens. Supervisor Juan Miguel Martinez, who spoke against selling out public space to private contractors, urged accountability after residents said they had been told by parks staff to limit music and activities when private events were scheduled. Martinez said, “I don't want this to pass, but I'm sure it will,” expressing frustration that public events had been constrained.

Corpora­tion Counsel Scott Brown told the board his office had evaluated the dispute and recommended the settlement, saying the county’s position carried litigation risk and “we think it’s in the county's best interest” to settle. Several supervisors raised concerns about exclusive arrangements and how private vendors use county parks; others argued rejecting the settlement might expose the county to larger losses in court and could forfeit roughly $82,000 the county expected under the proposed agreement.

Nut graf: After extended debate about public access, vendor behavior, litigation risk and the value of contract revenue to parks, the initial roll call produced 8 ayes and 9 noes and the settlement failed. Later in the meeting the board voted 13–4 to reconsider the matter; a subsequent motion sent the item back to the Parks and Judiciary committees for additional discussion and (where appropriate) closed-session legal briefing.

Key points: - The settlement package as presented included a roughly $82,000 recovery figure tied to pandemic-era closures and a proposed three‑year contract extension for Zilli Hospitality Group at Boerner Botanical Gardens. - Opponents argued that Zilli’s exclusivity and conduct had constrained neighborhood events and private community activities at parks; proponents and parks staff cited steady revenue and an existing working relationship with the vendor. - Corporation Counsel recommended the settlement as the county’s best legal resolution; supervisors asked for detailed legal briefing and more opportunity for committee-level discussion.

Ending: The vote to send the item back to committee passed (14–3 on the motion to return to Parks and Judiciary). The county’s Parks and Judiciary committees will review the settlement and any legal briefing before the board takes further action.