Capital Project Initiative 2010

About the Program

Category: County Administration and Management (Best in Category)

Year: 2011

The Hennepin County Property Services department has undertaken a comprehensive assessment of its facilities capital project management system in an effort to control costs, improve processes, and implement more cost-effective buildings. Changing financial and industry conditions, increasing project complexity, shifting user expectations, inadequate financial systems and processes all have contributed to a need to take a fresh look at how the department can re-position itself to carry out the delivery of capital improvements in an optimal manner. A team of professional staff members has collected and analyzed data, conducted research about alternative delivery systems, met with internal and external colleagues, and brainstormed about every aspect of the facility capital project management process. Out of this detailed analysis, the Capital Project Initiative / 2010 (CPI/2010) was developed, which consists of 18 interconnected initiatives that address changes and improvements to existing policies, fiscal controls, Library standards and project delivery processes. Recommendations have been developed for each initiative and ongoing work has been identified and is being completed by a variety of department staff of all disciplines and other project stakeholders. The guiding goal of the Capital project Initiative/2010 is ultimately to execute quality facility projects at a reasonable cost and on a timely basis that meet current and emerging County program needs. Implicit in this goal is the recognition that changes need to be made in the facility capital process and that cost and schedule reductions are mandatory. At the same time, however, the goal has been carefully worded to reflect county values around quality and program needs.