Board authorizes design RFP for Community Square, delays relisting of beer‑garden building

The Village of Brown Deer board voted to authorize an RFP and the design phase for Community Square Park on Jan. 12, choosing to pursue a defined design before relisting or selling the original beer‑garden building.

Trustee Johnson moved and Trustee Thompson seconded a motion to "authorize staff to utilize the RFP process for the design and engineering of Community Square Park" to be paid from tier‑4 funds prior to any sale of the original building; the motion passed by voice vote.

Staff presented two options: relist the original beer‑garden building and use sale proceeds to fund Community Square, or proceed with design and engineering now and seek a user or broker later. Staff recommended not relisting immediately and said a focused design would make the site more marketable.

Key figures and timeline: Staff estimated the RFP/design scope at about $40,000 and indicated a likely total construction budget estimate in the $300,000–$350,000 range for the park. Staff said completing the RFP and design could set up construction to start the following year if funding and procurement proceed as planned.

What trustees discussed: Trustees asked whether the project would be pursued as a package (park plus building sale) and whether permanent features (turf, stage, courts) or temporary activations were preferred. Staff said the village might proceed without a broker initially and could consider brokerage later once a plan exists.

Ending: With the RFP authorized, staff will proceed with engineering and design work; trustees did not specify a contractor at the meeting and deferred detailed procurement to staff processes.