Q&A
Concerns about transparency in space allocation and leasing decisions
1:15:01
·
168 sec
Council Member Brewer raises concerns about the lack of transparency in space allocation and leasing decisions. Commissioner Molina explains the process of determining space needs and availability in city-owned buildings.
- Council Member Brewer expresses concerns about the lack of public information on available city space
- Commissioner Molina explains that DCAS does not make the decision for an agency to go into leased space
- The process involves OMB, inventory of available space in city buildings, and consideration of agency needs
- Less than 1% of space in city-owned buildings is vacant and available for use
Gale A. Brewer
1:15:01
Okay.
1:15:02
But it but, you know, it's very non transparent.
1:15:05
Example, I don't know what's available at one center street.
1:15:08
I've been worked there for many, many years.
1:15:10
I understand that there's some space that needs to be fixed up.
1:15:13
I've been in every single floor myself.
1:15:16
Also at, you know, what are the other city owned buildings?
1:15:19
To Lafayette's gonna be vacant, essentially.
1:15:22
Mhmm.
1:15:22
So why are we and, also, what's with, I call it, 22 Reed Street, even though that building's in bad shape, is there more space there?
1:15:30
What I'm saying is, we all wanna save the taxpayer money.
1:15:34
Are there not city owned buildings that the department for the agent could go into?
1:15:39
I I have to say from it doesn't seem to ring true that we absolutely have to rent more space at vast cost.
Louis Molina
1:15:48
Okay.
1:15:49
So let me just answer it this way.
1:15:53
We do not make the decision.
1:15:55
Right?
1:15:56
For an agency to go into a lease space.
Gale A. Brewer
1:15:59
You do not make the decision.
Louis Molina
1:16:00
What happens is a decision is is may where an agency may need to relocate the current space that they're in is not optimal moving forward.
1:16:09
And o and b is involved with determining after they request for space to determine where can that space go if it's determined that they should be considered for additional space.
1:16:22
We then do an inventory of our space that's available within city buildings, and we have like I think it's like less than or just about 1% space that's vacant that can be utilized.
1:16:33
And as you know, our buildings are very, very old.
Gale A. Brewer
1:16:35
I know.
Louis Molina
1:16:37
Once we determine that there is not a suitable city building that an agency can use, that is when we begin a process working with the tenant representatives to identify sites, locations, that could be used, and we begin this process of trying to figure out where is the best location.
1:16:56
We give a lot of difference to the agency on location because they know their workforce better.
1:17:01
They know the clients that they serve better.
1:17:03
And then we work with our tenant representatives on trying to figure out what location best can suit the operations of that given agency.
Gale A. Brewer
1:17:13
Okay.
1:17:14
I hear you.
1:17:14
The issue is that the public, with all due respect, has no idea that all of the city space is taken or not up to par.
1:17:23
We don't have any information.
1:17:24
So the public thinks, I'd love to go to 14 Wall Street.
1:17:28
I'm sure it's a nice space.
1:17:29
But, you know, is it the most Is it the best for the taxpayer?
1:17:35
That's also you're asking the same question between 250 and 14 Wall.
1:17:39
I'm asking another question, which is, isn't there any city owned space?
1:17:42
Even though they may not wanna go there, I understand that.
1:17:45
But it it seems to me that we're not giving the public the full status.
Louis Molina
1:17:49
Well, let me be clear.
