The Milwaukee County Parks and Culture Committee on May 6 approved a resolution allowing the Department of Parks to enter a settlement and mutual release with Grandview Management Inc., doing business as Zillie Hospitality Group, resolving disputes tied to the parties' 2013 catering and facility management services agreement as amended in 2019.

Karen Tidwell, deputy corporation counsel, and Jim Tarantino, deputy director for Milwaukee County Parks, told the committee the settlement resolves disagreements about fees and COVID‑era closures. "This settlement agreement would resolve some issues related to the COVID era and what fees may have been owed to the County and in return for a payment that will help with the parks department's revenue goals this year," Tarantino said.

Under the resolution the vendor will make a payment of $82,072 to the county; the agreement also adds a three‑year renewal term to the existing catering services contract at Burnet Botanical Gardens, county attorneys said. Committee materials and discussion show the change applies only to the Burnet agreement, not to the separate contract Zillie holds for Mitchell Park Domes.

Supervisor Rebecca Ekblad moved to adopt the resolution. The motion passed on a 4–3 roll call: Supervisor Taylor (Aye); Supervisor Martin (No); Supervisor Coggs‑Jones (No); Supervisor Martinez (No); Supervisor Ekblad (Yes); Supervisor O'Connor (Yes); Chairman Sheldon Washman (Aye). Committee staff recorded the outcome as approved.

Tidwell said the claims asserted by both parties had legal merit and that the proposed settlement was a recommended way to resolve those claims without protracted litigation. Several supervisors asked if additional closed‑session discussion was warranted; county counsel said closed session had not been properly noticed for this meeting and suggested members take detailed questions to upcoming committee hearings where closed session could be properly scheduled.

The item had been referred to the committees on judiciary, law enforcement and general services, and on finance; Tarantino and Tidwell said follow‑up questions could be addressed in those bodies.

No changes to the contract's Mitchell Park Domes agreement were part of this vote, county staff said.