CONSTRUCTOR
COVERING GENERAL BUILDING & GENERAL ENGINEERING CONSTRUCTION agcsd.org
THE MAGAZINE OF THE ASSOCIATED GENERAL CONTRACTORS OF AMERICA, SAN DIEGO CHAPTER, INC.
CALIFORNIA STATE AUDITOR SLAMS CARB
Plus... 76th President of AGC San Diego Installed in Virtual Presentation COVID-19: Building Coalitions to Protect Construction and Contractors AGC Supports STEP’s Military Families
2021 VOLUME 1
THE VOICE OF CONSTRUCTION
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SAN DIEGO
contents
2021 Volume 1
The Associated General Contractors of America, San Diego Chapter, Inc. East County Headquarters 10140 Riverford Road Lakeside, CA 92040 Government Affairs Office 6212 Ferris Square San Diego, CA 92121 Phone (858) 558-7444 Fax (858) 558-8444
@agcsandiego
www.agcsd.org
10 INSTALLATION
Mike Williamson Installed as 76th President of AGC San Diego
16 POLITICAL ACTION
COVID-19: Building Coalitions to Protect Construction and Contractors
18 INDUSTRY NEWS
California State Auditor Slams CARB
22 GIVING BACK
AGC “STEPs up” to Support STEP’s Military Families
24 TRANSPORTATION
The State's Transportation Vision for 2050 Released
More Inside 8 Board of Directors 26 Education
THE VOICE OF CONSTRUCTION 4
AGCSD.ORG
14 Staff Changes
28 Upcoming Events
20 Build San Diego
30 Fall Golf Tournament
AGC SAN DIEGO CONSTRUCTOR Magazine is published quarterly. The opinions and assertions contained herein are those of the authors. Reproduction, either whole or in part, is not permitted without the express consent of the publisher. Copyright 2021 by AGCSD CONSTRUCTOR MAGAZINE. All rights reserved. Advertising rates are available upon request. Call (760) 466-7790. AGC San Diego, or Contractor News & Views are not responsible for content in ads submitted by AGC-SD Constructor Magazine’s advertisers.
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Senior Vice President
Vice President
Mike Williamson Pacific Coast Iron
Kari Kyne Kyne Construction, Inc.
Mike Berryhill Swinerton
Stephen Friar Hensel Phelps
President
Jason Mordhorst Hazard Construction Company
2021
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Secretary/ Treasurer
Past President
Austin Cameron TC Construction Company, Inc.
Dr. Gita Murthy RORE, Inc.
Bill Haithcock Casper Company
John Boies Granite Construction Company
Jeff Clinkscales Rossin Steel, Inc.
Paul Diaz CLC Chairperson
Randy Finch Finch, Thornton & Baird, LLP
Jeff Harper Harper Construction Company, Inc.
Alan Mashburn Bergelectric Corporation
Lawrence McMahon Alliant Insurance Services, Inc.
John Messick Sundt Construction, Inc.
Boris Shekhter Helix Electric, Inc.
Jim Summers EC Constructors, Inc.
Barry Swaim Tower Glass, Inc.
Norbert Schulz J.R. Filanc Construction Company, Inc.
Ex Officio Members
Mark Weiand Cox Construction Co.
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AGCSD.ORG
Wes Wise Cass Arrieta
Mike Furby Marathon Construction Corp.
Lars Herman Herman Construction Group
Legal Counsel
Don McKillop Law Offices of Donald R. McKillop
2021
STAFF DIRECTORY
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP Eddie Sprecco Chief Executive Officer
Glenn Hillegas Apprenticeship Executive Vice President
Brad Barnum Executive Vice President
Pete Saucedo Apprenticeship Executive Director
Dustin Steiner Vice President Government & Industry Relations
AGC STAFF
APPRENTICESHIP STAFF
Inna Alizade Accounting/ Administrative Assistant
Dakota Anderson Curriculum and Instruction Coordinator
Vince Hundley Safety Director
Marty Anderson Apprenticeship Coordinator San Diego
Phil Hurley Controller
Shari Buch Apprenticeship Registrar
Paul Josselyn Plan Room Reporter
Tanya Buch Administrative Manager
Scherrise Judge Senior Plan Room Reporter
Layheang Chho Attendance Clerk
Marcy Knopman Executive Assistant
Karla Gonzalez Apprenticeship Liaison Riverside
Kellie Korhonen Digital Communications and Technology Manager
Raul Guedea, Jr. Apprenticeship Outreach Coordinator
Rae Krushensky Director of Meetings & Events / Membership Services
Jon Hill Apprenticeship Instructional Resource Coordinator
Cindy Lauridsen Plan Room Reporter
Alan Jurgensen Mentor Instructor
Lisa Lovelace Director of Plan Room Services
Keith Levingston Apprenticeship Coordinator Riverside
Mike McManus Director of Engineering Construction & Industry Relations
Sheressa Macera Apprenticeship Liaison San Diego
Robin Scott Administrative Assistant Becca Schaffer Education & Safety Marketing Manager Glen Schaffer Director of Marketing/Education Jason White Administrative Assistant
Kristy Melnyk Scheduling and Certification Specialist Sergio Ortega Apprenticeship Coordinator Orange County Karina Ramirez Apprenticeship Liaison Orange County Alicia Rodriguez Apprenticeship Upgrade Specialist Amber Sonka Apprenticeship Compliance Monitor AGCSD.ORG
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INSTALLATION Mike Williamson Installed as 76th President of AGC San Diego The Associated General Contractors of America, San Diego Chapter, Inc. (AGC) installed its 2021 officers and board members at the Chapter's first Virtual Installation Program on Tuesday, January 26. The event was sponsored by Alliant Insurance Services and Markel Surety. Mike Williamson, President of Pacific Coast Iron, was installed as the 76th President in AGC's 94-year history, and he succeeds Bill Haithcock of Casper Company. Pacific Coast Iron is a progressive structural steel and miscellaneous iron fabricator and erector, and it has been serving Southern California government, commercial, residential, and medical clients for 45 years. Mr. Williamson has been an active AGC member for many years. As a member of AGC's Board of Directors, he has served as Senior Vice President, Vice President, Secretary/Treasurer, and Chair of AGC's Government Relations and Political Action Committees, Membership Committee, and Plan Room Committee.
AGC LEADERSHIP OTHER AGC OFFICERS:
Kari Kyne, Kyne Construction, Inc. as Sr. Vice President Austin Cameron, TC Construction Company, Inc. as Vice President Gita Murthy, RORE, Inc., as Secretary/ Treasurer Bill Haithcock, Casper Company, as Past President
THE REMAINING BOARD MEMBERS FOR 2021:
Mike Berryhill, Swinerton John Boies, Granite Construction Company Jeff Clinkscales, Rossin Steel, Inc. Paul Diaz, Bergelectric Corporation, Chair of AGC's Construction Leadership Council (CLC) Randy Finch, Finch, Thornton & Baird, LLP Steve Friar, Hensel Phelps Jeff Harper, Harper Construction Co., Inc. Alan Mashburn, Bergelectric Corporation
10 AGCSD.ORG
Larry McMahon, Alliant Insurance Services, Inc. John Messick, Sundt Construction, Inc. Jason Mordhorst, Hazard Construction Company, Inc. Norbert Schulz, J.R. Filanc Construction Company, Inc. Boris Shekhter, Helix Electric, Inc. Jim Summers, EC Constructors, Inc. Barry Swaim, Tower Glass, Inc. Mark Weiand, Cox Construction Co. Wes Wise, Cass Arrieta
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The following AGC members have been appointed to the 2021 Executive Committee and will serve as Ex-officio Members of the Board of Directors: Mike Furby, Marathon Construction Corporation Lars Herman, Herman Construction Group, Inc.
RETIRING BOARD MEMBERS
Eric Stenman, Balfour Beatty, served for 10 years and as the 2017 AGC President. Diane Koester-Byron, I.E. Pacific, Inc., served for 8 years Mark Payne, Swinerton, served for 5 years, and Shawn LePine, Bergelectric Corporation, served as the ex-officio member in 2020.
RETIRING COMMITTEE CHAIRS
The retiring committee chairs were recognized for their dedication and service to the AGC: Tom Gannon, Swinerton - Airport Liaison Committee Mike Williamson, Pacific Coast Iron Government Relations and PAC Kari Kyne, Kyne Construction, Inc. Membership Committee
Austin Cameron, TC Construction Co., Inc. Plan Room Services Mark Weiand, Cox Construction Co. - Safety Committee Steve Fry, Flatiron - Water Authority Committee
APPRENTICESHIP
Thomas L. Brown, Sierra Pacific West, Inc. - Chairman of the Apprenticeship Trust, recognized the top graduates from a class of 225 in the AGC's Apprenticeship Program.
AGC'S PROJECT MANAGEMENT CERTIFICATION COURSE
Glen Schaffer, AGC Director of Marketing & Education, and Paul Stout, Course Facilitator from Power Summit, recognized the 31 graduates of the 26-week Project Management Certification Course.
AGC MEMBER AWARDS A number of member awards were also presented by the Specialty Contractors' Council, and the Affiliate Members' Council:
AFFILIATE OF THE YEAR (COMPANY)
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY EXCELLENCE AWARD
Pam Scholefield, Scholefield Construction Law
Schaffer Enterprises
AFFILIATE OF THE YEAR (INDIVIDUAL):
Scholefield Construction Law
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR:
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY PROFESSIONAL AWARD
PRESIDENT'S AWARD
Matt Becker, Cement Cutting, Inc.
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP AWARD
Bill Haithcock, Casper Company
EXCELLENCE IN MARKETING AWARD Finch, Thornton & Baird, LLP
GOOD BUSINESS AWARD Brady SoCal, Inc.
Ryan Swenson, Simpson Strong-Tie
The Specialty Contractors Council presented the AGC President's Award to an individual who has gone above and beyond in his service to the industry. The President's Award was presented to John Krueger, (retired) West Coast Air Conditioning Company, for his invaluable assistance as the owner representative in overseeing construction of the AGC East County Headquarters and training center. His diligence and guidance went beyond expectations. Continues on next page >
AGCSD.ORG 11
CONSTRUCTION SAFETY EXCELLENCE AWARD (CSEA) WINNERS Mark Weiand of Cox Construction Co., AGC's 2020 Safety Committee Chair recognized the following firms for winning AGC's San Diego CSEA Awards in their respective categories (based upon hours worked):
BUILDING DIVISION
Western Pump, Inc.: 0 - 500,000 work hours BNBuilders, Inc.: 1,000,001 - 2,500,000 work hours Sundt Construction, Inc.: 2,500,001 5,000,000 work hours
CONSTRUCTION MANAGER DIVISION Harper Construction Company, Inc.: 1 500,000 work hours
FEDERAL/HEAVY DIVISION
Cox Construction Co.: 50,001 - 100,000 work hours
HIGHWAY DIVISION
L.B. Civil Construction, Inc.: 1 -250,000 work hours
SPECIALTY DIVISION
Synergy Electric, Inc.: 0-100,000 work hours Kyne Construction, Inc.: 100,001 - 250,000 work hours M Bar C Construction, Inc.: 250,001 - 500,000 work hours Johnson, Finch & McClure Construction, Inc.: 500,001 - 1,000,000 work hours Helix Electric, Inc.: 1,500,001 - 4,000,000 work hours Bergelectric Corporation: Over 5,000,001 work hours
UTILITY DIVISION
T.E. Roberts, Inc.: 0 - 250,000 work hours J.R. Filanc Construction, Inc.: 250,001 500,000 work hours
INSURANCE SERVICES DIVISION
SMART Safety Group: 100,001 - 300,000 work hours 12 AGCSD.ORG
Mark also recognized the San Diego member firms that competed last year in our local competition and made it through to the rigorous competition in AGC of America's nationwide CSEA finals at the 2020 National Convention:
BUILDING DIVISION
BNBuilders, Inc.: 1st Place, 900,001 - 2 Million work hours
CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT DIVISION
Erickson-Hall Construction Co.: 1st Place, Over 1 Million work hours Harper Construction Company, Inc.: 3rd Place, Under 275,000 work hours
UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE DIVISION
Orion Construction Corporation: 2nd Place, Over 151,000 work hours
SPECIALTY DIVISION
Brewer Crane & Rigging: 3rd Place, Under 275,000 work hours
AGCSD.ORG 13
STAFF CHANGES End of an Era...AGC Welcomes New Staff! By Eddie Sprecco, CEO
After 20 years of dedicated service to the membership of AGC San Diego, our very own Executive Vice President Brad Barnum has decided to hang up his spurs and ride off into the sunset...Well, maybe leave the spurs on until after the sunset ride...Whatever analogy you prefer, Brad has been the face of AGC Government Affairs for two decades, and will leave behind a great legacy and large shoes to fill. On that note - after looking far and wide for candidates for the position, AGC San Diego welcomes a familiar face; Dustin Steiner our brand-new Vice President Government & Industry Relations. Dustin most recently served as Chief of Staff for San Diego County Supervisor Kristin Gaspar, and previously served as Chief of Staff for, now retired, Supervisor Bill Horn. Prior to the Chief of Staff role, Dustin served as Land Use Advisor for Horn, where his responsibilities included Public Works, General Services, and Planning/Development, among other duties. During Dustin's time at the County, he also worked closely with SANDAG, MTS, the Airport Authority, the Port, the City of San Diego, CSAC and many other regional organizations and governments that the County interacts with. Prior to his time at the County, Dustin worked for multiple members of Congress as a Legislative Assistant "on the Hill," and earned a Master's in Public Policy from American University while living and working in our Nation's Capital, where he was the victim of a drive-by darting (ask him about it...). Dustin is a husband and a father of three - all named after past Presidents - which indicates he is a bit of a history buff, and also a recovering political junky. Digging deep into the resume, Dustin earned his keep as a "Shoe Sales Associate" at Nordstrom while earning his undergraduate degree from U.C. Santa Barbara - so, he has some experience filling shoes... While Dustin brings quite a lot of knowledge and contacts to the table, he will need to get up to speed on serving as the primary "Voice of the Construction Industry" in San Diego. Thankfully, Brad has agreed to stay on for the first half of the year to impart two decades of industry knowledge on his successor. I ask you, the mighty membership, to do the same. Reach out to Dustin, welcome him to the team, and don't be afraid to fill his ears with your own experiences in the industry and current challenges that you face. While much more will be written and said about Brad Barnum's many exploits here at the AGC, we are confident that Mr. Steiner will carry on Brad's strong commitment to our membership and the broader construction industry as we navigate rough seas ahead. Welcome aboard Dustin!
14 AGCSD.ORG
AGCSD.ORG 15
POLITICAL ACTION COVID-19: Building Coalitions to Protect Construction and Contractors By Brad Barnum, Executive Vice President
The COVID-19 pandemic has been devastating in so many ways…lives lost, sheltered-in families, an economic shut down, etc., but one bit of silver lining has emerged, and that has been the ability of the construction industry to effectively build coalitions as it maneuvers through the multitude of changing regulations and orders. AGC and other trade associations banded together on Day 1 of this crisis, and a few examples of teamwork should be highlighted. Keep Construction “Essential” It was mid-March last year when COVID-19 rolled into the U.S., and on March 20, with pressure from the construction industry, Governor Newsom amended the shelter-inplace order to specifically exempt construction activities. A list of Essential Workers was then published to add clarity to those exempted, and it included construction: "Construction Workers who support the construction, operation, inspection, and maintenance of construction sites and construction projects (including housing construction)." It was time for unity across the construction industry, and AGC led the charge to communicate to the 100+ public agencies in San Diego County that 14 construction trade associations and labor organizations are committed to delivering essential infrastructure while protecting workers and the general public. On April 29, the group released The Construction Industry COVID-19 Exposure Response and Prevention Plan (Plan), which is a consolidation of best practices from health experts and boots-on-the-ground experiences from construction safety professionals. This coalition continues to meet virtually every Monday, and AGC’s Safety Director Vince Hundley, who participates in a Cal/OSHA COVID Advisory Committee, provides valuable feedback and expertise for any changes that need to be made to the Plan. The coalition has been an effective tool for the industry and for contractors as they operate during this crisis. Legislative Relief A number of COVID-19 relief bills have been introduced in Sacramento, and the coalition has rallied around an effort to allow California tax deductions on PPP loan business expenses. Some contractors, like many businesses throughout the U.S., have been fortunate enough to receive loans from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) that will help pay their workers and stay afloat. However, since January 1, California won’t allow a tax deduction on any business-related expenses from those loan funds (the Federal government allows the deduction). 16 AGCSD.ORG
AGC and other construction associations banded together to ask the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce to help seek legislative relief for businesses unable to deduct PPP loan business expenses. AB 80 has been introduced to bring California’s tax treatment of covered PPP loans into conformity with federal tax laws, and budget language was approved to allow a deduction of up to $150,000 in expenses covered by the PPP loan. Some coalition members, including AGC, are opposed to legislation that will extend state supplemental paid sick leave (SPSL) for employers with 500 or more employees, which, along with the federal SPSL, has been expired since December 31, 2020. AB 84 and SB 95 will reinstate SPSL effective January 1, 2021 to September 1, 2021. In other words, employers are on the hook for SPSL to employees who were unable to work due to COVID-19-related reasons since January 1, 2021 AB 84 and SB 95 are unnecessary, as employees currently have multiple sources of both paid and unpaid leave that can be used for COVID-19 related purposes. The bills also create more litigation risk and make it more difficult for businesses to stay open. AGC opposes both bills and has sent a Call to Action for members to email their legislators asking them to vote “no.” COVID-19 has been terrible for all of us, but one thing is for sure…the construction industry continues to survive with an engaged association membership and an effective coalition of other organizations.
AGCSD.ORG 17
INDUSTRY NEWS California State Auditor Slams CARB By Mike McManus, Director of Engineering Construction & Industry Relations
The California state auditor criticized the California Air Resources Board (CARB) for mishandling some of its climate-change programs in a recently published report. The Audit said, among other things, that the state is in danger of failing to meet the Legislature’s targets for reducing emissions. The California Air Resources Board has been considered a nationwide leader on clean air and carbon policy. The report by State Auditor Elaine Howle is highly critical of the agency’s handling of its responsibilities during recent years, spending the last four years fighting the Trump Administration on climate regulations to the great detriment of meeting California’s goal on greenhouse gas emission reductions. In the audit, Howle said that CARB has failed to produce accurate measurements as to how well its regulations actually reduce emissions. The effectiveness of CARB’s whole regulatory scheme does not have anything that allows for an analysis of whether or not the regulations are producing results that are commensurate with the costs associated with those regulations. Beyond that, the agency appears to overstate the emissions reductions generated by its incentive programs, including rebates to encourage Californians to buy electric cars and other “zeroemission vehicles.” 18 AGCSD.ORG
The most damning statement in the audit was, that California probably won’t achieve its goal — established by the Legislature — of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by about 40% by 2030. This is based on a graph showing that at the present pace of greenhouse gas emissions reductions, the state will fall well short of the legislative mandate. “The state will fall short of meeting the 2030 goal unless emissions reductions occur at a faster pace,” the audit said. Given all the regulations that have proliferated under CARB it still is not moving the needle much on its basic responsibilities under the Clean Air Act. CARB officials admit that ninety percent of Californians still breathe unhealthy air. That is the agency’s bottom line major purpose that it is failing to deliver on and shows the dysfunction at this agency. The audit said the centerpiece of the air board’s climate change effort, a cap-and-trade system, is highly unpredictable. The system, which requires industrial polluters to purchase emissions credits at market prices, faltered badly last year when the COVID-19 pandemic tanked the economy. That dramatically reduced the demand for credits; last spring the air board auction raised just $25 million, well below the $700 million usually generated.
That deprived the state of millions of dollars used by the air board to implement many of its other climate change programs, the audit said. CARB is required to use cap-and-trade funds in a way that maximizes economic benefits and fosters job creation. More specifically, state law requires CARB to establish programs that increase access and provide benefits to Californians living in environmentally disadvantaged communities as well as low and moderate income communities. The audit recommended that CARB should develop a process to define, collect and evaluate data that will translate to metrics showing socioeconomic benefits that result from each of the incentive programs. “Although the auction has rebounded somewhat since then, proceeds remain below the historical average,” the audit said. “This uncertainty, together with the short time frame remaining before the 2030 date for achieving the state’s (greenhouse gas) goals, increases the challenge.”
At the same time, the audit said the air board has struggled mightily to control carbon emissions from cars and the rest of the transportation sector, the source of about 40% of all the carbon produced in California. Although greenhouse gases from other sources have declined, vehicle, cars and trucks, emissions have actually been of the rise since 2013, the audit said. Additionally, CARB can’t get a handle on how well its incentive programs are prompting Californians to shift to electric vehicles. “Without accurate information in the annual reports — which would make these reports a reliable emissions measurement tool— the Legislature’s ability to make decisions about investments towards the State’s (greenhouse gas) goals may be hampered,” the audit said. In spite of all the uncertainty, Gov. Gavin Newsom last fall issued an executive order aimed at phasing out sales of new gas- and diesel-powered cars by 2035. The air board’s executive officer, Richard Corey, said the agency agrees with many of the auditor’s findings and said it is working on reforms.
AGCSD.ORG 19
BUILD SAN DIEGO Announcing the 2021 AGC Build San Diego Awards “Call for Entries” By Rae Krushensky, Director of Meetings & Events and Member Services
It’s time to start working on your entries for the prestigious AGC Build San Diego Awards Program. The awards recognize San Diego’s most impressive construction projects ranging across the building, highway & transportation, underground & utility infrastructure, and heavy division categories. The event is scheduled for November 16, 2021. We are very honored to have Hawthorne Cat and Torrey Pines Bank, back as our Title Sponsors this year!
Hawthorne Cat and Torrey Pines Bank have been supporting this vital construction industry event for many years. They make a great team and AGC San Diego partner. Entries in the Build San Diego Awards program are open to all General Contractor, Contractor and Specialty Contractor members who worked as the “prime” on the job they are submitting for, and who are in good standing with The Associated General Contractors of America, San Diego Chapter, Inc. By entering the awards program, you are providing your project team with a fantastic opportunity to showcase their achievements to our panel of exceptional and influential judges, and to the industry. Recipients of a coveted Build San Diego Award in the following categories will have demonstrated the very best when it comes to building a better San Diego: • • • • • • • •
Building Construction - Public Work Building Construction - Private Work Heavy / Highway Underground / Utilities Unique Small Project - Public Work, not to exceed $6 Million Unique Small Project - Private Work, not to exceed $6 Million Unique Special Project Sustainable Project
To be eligible, projects must have been completed between September 1, 2019 and August 31, 2021. For awards program and submission information visit: http://www.agcsd.org/Membership/BuildSanDiego2021.html ENTRY DEADLINE: Any time before August 31, 2021 @ 12:00 NOON Questions? Please contact Rae Krushensky, (619) 592-4525. 20 AGCSD.ORG
AGCSD.ORG 21
GIVING BACK AGC “STEPs up” to Support STEP’s Military Families By Jodie Taylor, Managing Partner, Career Construction
STEP (Support The Enlisted Project) is a non-profit organization that supports military families in Southern California. STEP’s mission is to build financial self-sufficiency among junior, active duty, enlisted military members, and recently discharged enlisted Veterans and their families facing financial crisis. They do this through counseling, education, and grants. To date, STEP has served more than 5,000 military families since its inception in 2012. As an active member of the AGC’s Build and Serve Committee, I invited a representative from STEP to one of our meetings to explore ways where the committee may be able to assist them. For the last two years, we have participated in the Thanksgiving Food Drive. Our AGC members were able to donate nonperishable food items for multiple Thanksgiving meals. The items were collected by a team of volunteers from the committee and delivered to STEP. Items were then sorted into full meal packages, paired with a turkey provided by a local businessperson, and distributed to families in need. As a committee, we received a personal note of gratitude from STEP’s CEO, Tony Teravainen, who was overwhelmed with the volume of donations that came from our group. Aside from collecting items for STEP’s Thanksgiving Drive, the AGC Build & Serve Committee, along with the AGC Meetings & Events Committee, collected toys for AGC’s 2020 Annual Toy Drive and donated to families of STEP. Also, many Build & Serve Committee members participated in “Adopt a Family” to be paired with families in need. Each family provides a wish list of gifts for Christmas. The families receive their gifts, along with food and baby items at a distribution day in the middle of December. During the month of March 2021, the Build & Serve Committee partnered with STEP for its Annual Baby Drive. Some committee member firms volunteered to serve as a drop-off location site throughout the county: Atlas Technical Consultants, Balfour Beatty, Career Construction, Erickson-Hall Construction Co., and Hawthorne Cat.
22 AGCSD.ORG
STEP requested such items as baby wipes, diaper rash cream, shampoo, baby powder formula and diapers. Families should not have to debate between paying the electric bill or purchasing diapers for their children.
AGC will continue to support STEP throughout the year. Supporting our military families and other organizations in need is what “GIVING BACK” is all about! If you would like to get involved in AGC’s Build & Serve Charitable Alliance, please contact Marcy Knopman at marcy@agcsd.org. The committee is always accepting like-minded individuals who have a passion for making a real difference to those in need.
AGCSD.ORG 23
TRANSPORTATION The State's Transportation Vision for 2050 Released By Mike McManus, Director of Engineering Construction & Industry Relations
The State of California released in March the California Transportation Plan (CTP) 2050 with little fanfare. Caltrans has prepared the CTP pursuant to California state law, which requires the Governor to submit the plan to the California State Legislature and the Secretary of the United States Department of Transportation. The CTP 2050 is a policy framework that provides a vision for the future of our transportation system. What a vision it is indeed.
ridership, due in large part to the phenomenal rise in popularity of the automobile, ultimately led the company to discontinue all streetcar service in favor of bus routes by 1950.
The CTP is a document written by planners for planners who spend a lot of time contemplating the future. The plan is less about the forces of economics and human behaviors and mostly a collection of the latest academic driven social engineering ideas to compel people of the future to do things they are not doing now a la the story of a future society in Brave New World. If we look back to 1950 here in San Diego and compare it to the transportation vision in 2050, we seem to be going around in circles. The San Diego Electric Railway (SDER) system is pictured below at its height in the 1940's. It was the original mass transit system in Southern California, using 600-volt DC streetcars. The SDER was established by sugar heir and land developer John D. Spreckels in 1892. The railroad's original network consisted of five routes: The Fifth Street and Logan Heights Lines, the First and "D" Streets Lines, the Depot Line, the Ferry Line, and the "K" Street Shuttle. The company would establish additional operating divisions as traffic demands led to the formation of new lines. The company also engaged in limited freight handling primarily as an interchange with Spreckels' San Diego and Arizona Railway (SD&A) from 1923 to 1929, map of lines pictured to the right. At its peak, the SDER's routes would operate throughout the greater San Diego area over some 165 miles of track. Steadily declining 24 AGCSD.ORG
The recently released CTP says we are going back to those days whether you like it or not. In contrast to the demise of the SDER, which was based on the "popularity" of the automobile and the market forces and human behaviors that became associated with that. The future being contemplated by our state government will be driven by the population being compelled by the government to do things that will be good for them because slowing down climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions will be their top priorities. The top transportation priority of the CTP 2050 is local and regional expansion of mass transit. The cost and benefits are not known as this is not a revenue constrained plan. It is more akin to a manifesto. Also included in the plan is the idea of Connected Autonomous Vehicles (CAVs), which somehow will become common and support the first and last mile trips of those who are compelled to take transit.
The last seventy years has seen a massive expansion of our highway system across the nation. The CTP 2050 envisions no new roads, but maintaining the roads we do have. The plan is to reduce congestion by placing a tax, or toll, on people who drive their cars on certain roads and in the dense urban cores of our cities and make transit riding free. In other words, driving in some areas of California will be only for those with enough disposable income to afford it. Zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) are also going to be required long before 2050 here in California. While much will change over the coming decades, the CTP states that "Californians will still be driving in 2050. To reach our 2050 climate goals, we must continue to advance clean fuel technologies, including ZEV technology and supportive infrastructure." ZEV technologies refer to three different vehicle types - battery electric vehicles, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, and "transitional" plug-in hybrid electric vehicles-all of which can support the goal of reducing emissions. Yes, it looks like a brave new world is coming.
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EDUCATION CQM-C Online Class a Success By Becca Schaffer, Education & Safety Marketing Manager The AGC San Diego Chapter is the premier education resource for the construction industry in San Diego County. Our Education and Safety training programs serve current construction industry employees, adults interested in construction careers and those looking to be competent certified in their field of work. Training over 2000 participants annually we strive to provide the very best training no matter the topic. This past year has been interesting as we were forced to move a lot of our classes to online learning. We have all been pressed to develop new skills and find new ways to come together during this time and while the virus has put distance between us, working together, we still have managed to train a successful workforce. Nationwide response to our "Live Instructor Led Virtual Classes" has been outstanding! We are grateful for the technology that has enabled us to still offer world-class training, so attendees don’t have to travel the world to get it. One class in particular that has been a resounding success is the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Construction Quality Management for Contractors (CQM-C) program we have been offering for USACE since 2003. The AGC San Diego Education department along with our program instructor, Larry Smith, knew we had to keep going through the 2020 Pandemic. With request and approval from our Sacramento District, USACE gave us the go ahead to develop a LIVE virtual classroom for the CQM-C
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training. It took about one month of downtime to develop, test and launch but we didn’t really skip a beat. Since April 2020 we have been able to hold two sessions a month with thirty participants in each class. We have reached participants from all over the world, India, Kuwait, Guam, China, Japan, Puerto Rico and Mexico. As far up in the United States as Alaska and Maine and across the water to Hawaii and even a little island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. As we moved into 2021 the news arrived that the USACE had finally revised the CQM-C program and on February 24, 2021 after a few weeks of development, the AGC offered our first virtual training class on the updated training program. They made a lot of changes to the student study guide and program outline and now allow for Virtual Live Training classes. The USACE is also in the midst of developing a task force to make sure the CQM-C program is updated every two years to offer the most relevant and important information moving forward. For those of you needing to renew your certificate or receive your certificate for the first time we will continue to offer the program online twice a month. You can go to our website www.agcsd.org to register or contact the AGC Education Department at 858-558-7444 ext 204. Although most of our training had been offered online the past 12 months, we are excited to be getting back into the classroom. Our 2021 Construction Project Management Program sold out again this year with
32 participants with 12 of those choosing to attend the program virtually. When we can, we will offer our classes as hybrid classes for those who wish to attend in person and for those who wish to attend virtually. Our virtual classes will always be LIVE classrooms so being able to join remotely will be a requirement. Most educational classes will be held at our new Headquarters in Lakeside, with Competent Person Training in the areas of Fall Protection, Confined Space, Scaffold and Trenching and Excavating staying at our location on Ferris Square. As we safely move forward into 2021, more and more classes will be posted on our website. If we are not currently offering classes you need, or in the time frame you want please call us. We are happy to work with you on bringing classes to your site or our facility contingent on you meeting the minimum class size requirements. Contact Becca Schaffer for more information, 858-558-7444 x 204 or agcsdeducation@ agcsd.org.
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JOIN US... SPRING CONFERENCE - MAY 13-16 @ The Boulders Resort & Spa, Scottsdale, AZ
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