AGC Holiday Dinner Dance at the Hotel Del Coronado a Sellout- Dec. 2nd

Reminder– Join with fellow AGC members in bringing an unwrapped toy to place underneath our dinner dance Christmas tree.  The gifts will be presented to Children’s Hospital & Health Center following our dinner dance, carrying on a tradition established 19 years ago.

Over 400 members and guests will attend the AGCSD’s Annual Holiday Dinner Dance in the ballroom of the Hotel Del Coronado this Saturday, December 2^nd.  The Holiday Dinner Dance is sponsored by Alliant Insurance Services and California Bank and Trust.  This year’s Committee responsible for the event includes Allison Beall, Pacific Building Group; Candace Friedman, Acme Safety & Supply Corp.; and Mandy Parent, Data Net Solutions.   The Dinner Dance begins at 6:00 pm with cocktails in the Ballroom followed by dinner and dancing to Rockola.

We would also like to recognize the AGC Meetings and Events Committee for a job well done during 2006…..all AGC major events…the Dinner Dance, Affiliate Day Golf, Spring Golf, the Baseball Bash, the Softball Tournament, Day at the Races, the Annual Installation of Directors and Officers  were sellouts this year.  In addition a number of Mixers were also held and attended by 250-400 each!!!  The Meetings and Events Chair is Allison Beall, Pacific Building Group…..good job Allison and the Committee.

Members interested in sponsoring events during 2007…..you can find a form here.  We expect a bigger and even better year during 2007!!!!!

 

AGC San Diego Annual Meeting…..Mayor Sanders to Attend

All AGC members are invited to attend the December 13^th, 2006 Annual Meeting which will be held at the Hilton San Diego Resort on Mission Bay, 1775 East Mission Bay Drive beginning at 11:00 am promptly.  San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders will address the Annual Meeting beginning at 11:15 am.

The Mayor has been asked to focus his comments on the City’s infrastructure needs and how he intends to address this critical situation.  Since the City’s pension crisis became known to the nation’s financial community, the City has been unable to enter the bond market to obtain financing for most infrastructure needs.  For over two years, our infrastructure, which was in need of hundreds of millions in repairs and upgrades when the pension crisis began, has been ignored.  This has resulted in water main breaks, sewage spills, and delays in upgrades that allow for needed new development.  Those AGC members that are involved in this type of construction indicate that the situation is turning into a crisis.  Many of those close to the situation believe that the lack of attention is starting to create a problem similar to a roof leak that is ignored……at first there are some relatively minor stains in the ceiling….and unless the problem is addressed, the rain starts to pour in, destroying not only the roof and the ceiling, but much of the interior of the structure.  A simple fix soon becomes a major expenditure….and this scenario is taking place throughout the City’s horizontal and vertical infrastructure as we wait for the financial institutions to allow San Diego back into the bond market. 

How does this affect you?  Well, those members that have historically worked for the City are without, for the most part, a major customer…..but maybe more importantly, as our City falls into disrepair, it will eventually have a significant impact on firms’ decisions to invest in the City…..does it make sense for a major corporation to build a new facility in a community that has a failing infrastructure???

AGC has been attempting to make our political leaders aware of the severity of the problem since it began over two years ago.  The Mayor is the first to look us in the eye and give us any confidence that he understands the problem and has a plan to fix it.

After the Mayor’s comments, a lunch will be served, followed by the election of new Board members and the Executive Vice President’s Annual Report to the membership, which will detail AGC activities and finances.

Again all members are invited to attend…..we expect that this meeting will be a very informative two hours. 

A registration form can be found here.  Register now!!!

 

Mayor Sanders Proposes Water and Sewer Rate Increases to Fix Neglected System

In response to state and federal mandates to improve the region’s water and wastewater systems, San Diego City Mayor Jerry Sanders has proposed boosting water and sewer rates.  The new rates will allow the City to finance approximately $600 million in critical capital improvement projects for the water system and $650 million in projects for the wastewater system

Unfortunately, the use of the funds raised from the 2002 rate increases (five annual 6% increases for water and four annual 7.5% increases for wastewater) has come under some serious scrutiny, as there have been allegations of mismanagement.  An in depth review of the accounting and management practices of the Water and Wastewater Departments found that $1 million of those funds were used to fund other city services.  In addition, some of the projects that had been started with the rates funds have remain unfinished due to the City’s inability to access outside financing.

If approved by the City Council, the water rates would go into effect on July 1 and would increase 6.5% annually for 4 years.  The sewer rates would go into effect on May 1 and would increase 8.75% for the first two years and 7% for the following two years.  The revenue generated would help fund pipeline replacement and rehabilitation projects, major upgrades to the water treatment facilities at Alvarado, Miramar, and Otay, replacement of large sewer trunks, installation of new water mains to replace the crumbling cast iron reaching the end of their serviceable lifespan, and a number of other projects.

A series of public hearings is planned before the City Council considers the Mayor’s proposals, which is tentatively planned for February 26.  AGC will closely monitor the process to make sure our elected officials understand the importance of funding the region’s infrastructure and to make sure city officials properly use the funds to build these vital projects.  In addition, we will participate in a number of meetings with stakeholders, such as the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, to make sure our points are heard throughout the business community.

 

Council members Peters, Frye, Hueso, Young, and Atkins…..What Are You Thinking?
By Jim Ryan AGCSD EVP

Evidently, the United Food and Commercial Workers have run out of patience…..and the five Council members listed above are going to respond.  On Tuesday, it appears that the Council will vote by a 5-3 margin to not allow firms that want to build “supercenters” in San Diego that are over 90,000 sq ft and sell groceries as well as other merchandise.  The reasons the five Council Members are giving involve congestion, etc….the typical reasons.  But the real reason is an ongoing union organizing dispute between the United Food and Commercial Workers and firms that include groceries in these large stores.

Our objection……the concept of restricting viable construction projects and development because of an unrelated private sector labor dispute.  Labor disputes should be solved by the direct parties to the dispute….they need to sit down and work out their problems….unions have the right to organize employees and force negotiations between the union and the employer.  Somehow, the five Council Members listed above feel compelled to enter into this dispute by pressuring the retailers through passing this ordinance!!!!

Now, when we discuss this with the five Council Members they tell us with conviction of the harm super centers do to the community.  “This vote has nothing to do with labor”…..however, it seems inconsistent that they have exempted supercenters that are over 90,000 sq ft. sell groceries and general merchandise, but also sell memberships!!!!  Evidently, the crowded parking lots at the membership-only supercenters are different????

Council Members….social engineering through construction projects never works……stay out of it!     AGC members and others who would like to voice concern are invited to send an e-mail letter to the Council Members that has been prepared by AGC staff. Simply click on http://www.bipac.net/issue_alert.asp?g=AGC_SD&issue=Big_Box&parent=agc_sd, follow the directions, and your letter will be sent electronically. 

 

The AGC Specialty Contractors Council & Affiliate Members Council announce the 2006 Member Awards Nominations

Click here to find nomination forms for the 2006 AGC Annual Awards.  Also included, is a summary sheet explaining the award categories.  The awards will be presented during the AGC Installation Dinner on January 23, 2007 at The Hilton La Jolla, Torrey Pines.  The program will also include the installation of the 2007 AGC Board of Directors, the AGC Apprenticeship graduation and the Construction Safety Excellence Award (CSEA) winners.  The award nomination forms are due in the AGC office no later than December 8, 2006.

Those nominated will be required to complete a questionnaire concerning their qualifications.  If there are any questions please contact Rae Krushensky directly at (858) 731-8157 or (raek@agcsd.org).

 

November
November 28 - Project Engineering – 7:00 AM
November 28 – Project Management Class – 3:00 PM
November 29 – Blue Print Reading Class – 12:00 PM
November 29 – CPR/First Aid – 8:00 AM 

December
December 8 –Scaffolding
December 12 - "Building Information Modeling" (BIM) Workshop
December 15 – HR Mini Conference
December 19 - Excel Class ... Intermediate
December 27 – CPR/First Aid
December 28 - NAVFAC WEBCM

 

All meetings will be held at AGC unless indicated otherwise 

NOVEMBER MEETINGS
November 28 – County of San Diego Liaison Committee Meeting – 1:00 PM
November 29 – City of San Diego – 1:00 PM    POSTPONED 

DECEMBER MEETINGS
December 6 – Safety Committee Meeting- 7:00 AM
December 12- Navy Liaison Meeting – Subject to change- 11:30 AM @ Navy Facility TBD
December 12- Education & Training Committee – 11:30 AM
December 13- Toastmasters – 7:00 AM at Roel
December 14 – Specialty Contractors Council 11:00 AM @ AGC

 

Save The Dates: 
December 2 – Holiday Dinner Dance at Hotel Del Coronado
December 13 – AGC Annual Meeting –Hilton Mission Bay
January 23, 2007 – Installation Dinner – Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines
(Installation of Officers & Directors, AGC Membership Awards, Safety Awards, & Apprentice Graduations)