County staff seeks contract to update master space plan; Phase 1 set as data-gathering foundation

Travis Purdue, the county’s facilities director, presented a proposed master space plan intended to reassess offices, public space and future capital needs since the 2019 plan.

Purdue said the consultant’s scope mirrors the RFP and prioritizes operational profiling, stakeholder interviews and a complete inventory of county square footage. He emphasized the importance of Phase 1 data collection and said the contract contains pause points so subsequent phases cannot commence without county approval.

Purdue outlined the four phases and not‑to‑exceed amounts: Phase 1 – $187,200 (data gathering, stakeholder meetings, up to 50 building observations); Phase 2 – $199,700 (industry benchmarking, updated standards and 230,000 square‑foot floor analysis); Phase 3 – $127,100 (detailed space programs and 5–10 year projections); Phase 4 – $176,600 (alternatives, portfolio optimization and regionalization analysis). He said the overall timeline for all phases is roughly 30–44 weeks with built‑in pause points.

Commissioners asked whether the board could approve only Phase 1; Purdue confirmed the contract will be presented for all phases but contains language preventing movement into later phases without county authorization. Commissioners pressed on telework, storm activation, regionalization and how the study will separate wants from needs; Purdue said those issues are part of the phased deliverables and will be vetted as data arrives.

Board members generally supported beginning with Phase 1, requested clear pause points and said they expect presentations of Phase 1 findings before committing to further work.

No formal vote was taken; staff will return the contract to the consent agenda with the not‑to‑exceed language and pause‑point provisions.