Report 2018-030 Recommendation 11 Responses
Report 2018-030: State Bar of California: It Should Balance Fee Increases With Other Actions to Raise Revenue and Decrease Costs (Release Date: April 2019)
Recommendation #11 To: Bar of California, State
To ensure that it maximizes the revenue from its San Francisco building, in the event of any future staff growth, State Bar should avoid adding space by reducing its space allocations when practical to more closely match industry standards.
Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2022
This recommendation is no longer relevant. The State Bar has informed its Board of Trustees and employees that it will be consolidating to a significantly reduced footprint after the sale of 180 Howard Street in San Francisco, which will include hoteling/shared space in lieu of dedicated workspaces for each person. The Bar will also be implementing hoteling/shared space in its Los Angeles office to accommodate future headcount growth.
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Resolved
Because the State Bar will be selling its San Francisco building, this recommendation is no longer relevant.
Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From April 2021
The State Bar began assessing its space usage in the San Francisco office to determine if it could further consolidate its operations and release one or more of its current floors for leasing to tenants. This effort is now on hold due to the pandemic and the resulting downturn in the leasing market.
- Estimated Completion Date: Unknown
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Partially Implemented
Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2020
The State Bar began assessing its space usage in the San Francisco office to determine if it could further consolidate its operations and release one or more of its current floors for leasing to tenants. This effort is now on hold due to the pandemic and the resulting downturn in the leasing market.
- Estimated Completion Date: Unknown
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Partially Implemented
1-Year Agency Response
The State Bar completed a reconfiguration in its Los Angeles office to add two offices and 26 cubicles within its existing footprint. The State Bar has no plans to secure any additional space in other buildings, but will continue to accommodate future growth by reconfiguring its existing space in Los Angeles and San Francisco according to industry standards. The State Bar is also assessing its space usage in the San Francisco office to determine if it could further consolidate its operations and release one or more of its current floors for leasing to tenants.
- Estimated Completion Date: Ongoing
- Response Date: April 2020
California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Partially Implemented
State Bar has begun its efforts to reconfigure its office space in response to this recommendation and intends to continue these efforts in relation to its San Francisco office. We anticipate receiving the results of State Bar's assessment of its space usage in the San Francisco office.
6-Month Agency Response
The State Bar has no plans to secure any additional space. As it plans for staff growth and reconfiguration of its existing space, such reconfiguration will be planned in accordance with industry standards as recommended. This will be an ongoing process as reconfigurations are planned and implemented over the next several years. Currently, the State Bar is reconfiguring space in the Los Angeles office to add two offices and 26 cubicles within the existing footprint. The State Bar is also making reconfiguuration plans in San Francisco, with the dual goals of adding more seats within the existing footprint, and releasing some State Bar space for additional office and retail tenant leasing.
- Estimated Completion Date: Ongoing
- Response Date: October 2019
California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Partially Implemented
60-Day Agency Response
In progress. The State Bar has no plans to secure any additional space. As it plans for staff growth and reconfiguration of its existing space, such reconfigurations will be planned in accordance with industry standards as recommended. This will be an ongoing process as reconfigurations are planned and implemented over the next several years.
- Estimated Completion Date: Ongoing
- Response Date: June 2019
California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending
State Bar has stated its intention to implement this recommendation. It intends to reconfigure existing space to accommodate staff growth over the next several years.
All Recommendations in 2018-030
Agency responses received are posted verbatim.