Committee approves contract with Prism Technical to monitor procurement and hiring commitments tied to Mandel Group housing project

The Financial Affairs Committee approved a contract with Prism Technical, not to exceed $86,937, to provide procurement inclusion and workforce-monitoring services tied to the Mandel Group—s Harlow & Hamm multiunit residential proposal at the Blanchard Street parking lot site. The committee also approved a level-3 fund transfer to establish a budget for the contract paid with TIF 11 funds.

Staff said the term sheet for the Mandel project requires the developer to award 25% of professional services and construction costs to disadvantaged businesses and to target 25% of new hire hours to workers from designated distressed ZIP codes in Milwaukee County. City staff described Prism—s role as more than passive monitoring: the firm supports the developer in building relationships needed to meet inclusion goals and reports to the city.

Finance staff noted Prism has worked on three prior city projects and that Prism—s fee is time-and-materials with a maximum cap; on a prior project the budgeted amount was $82,000 but final cost was $58,943. Staff said the current not-to-exceed amount assumes up to 30 months of construction but projects often complete in 20–24 months.

Committee discussion stressed the value of having the monitor under contract with the city rather than the developer, so the monitor reports directly to the city and can help the city expand supplier and contractor lists. Staff said those relationships have led to the city identifying minority-owned suppliers it did not previously know, and that using an independent monitor helps ensure compliance with the TIF-related developer commitments.

Alder Morgan moved approval and Alder Arnie seconded. The motion passed on a voice vote recorded as 6–2–1.