September 18, 2006

Discounted Room Block Expires Today for The AGC Fall Conference:

The discounted room block at the Hyatt Grand Champions expires today.  After today, the prevailing rates will apply.

The AGC of San Diego Chapter and the AGC of California have joined forces to bring the entire statewide AGC membership together for the AGC’s Desert Impressions Fall Conference.  The Conference will be held at the beautiful Hyatt Grand Champions Resort in Indian Wells beginning October 11, 2006 and concluding Saturday morning Oct. 14^th.  For a detailed itinerary of the 4 day event, click here:  http://www.agcsd.org/AGC%20flyers/San%20Diego%20Brochure.pdf  (it takes a moment to download).

The AGC Fall Conference offers a number of high profile seminars and educational sessions, opportunities to network with other AGC members from throughout the state, and time to enjoy a variety of social events.  In addition, California’s political leaders that are interested in making sure our state invests on our infrastructure are expected to attend. 

All AGC members are invited to attend the AGC’s Desert Impression’s Fall Conference. Join over 500 of your peers from throughout the state for education, politics, networking, and fun! 

Make your plans TODAY to attend the Fall Conference Oct 11-14^th

Contact Rae Krushensky at 858-558-7444, ext 107 or email raek@agcsd.org. 

San Diego City Council Considers “Big Box” Ordinance

By Jim Ryan AGCSD Executive Vice President

The San Diego City Council will start the process today to begin the debate on the “Big Box” Ordinance.  This Ordinance has been on the “back burner” for a couple of years. AGC Government Relations committee and Board have positions in opposition to any “Big Box” ordinance that restricts the construction process beyond existing zoning and planning regulations.

The Ordinance is part of a national campaign by the United Food and Commercial Workers and other unions that we assume are trying to organize Wal-Mart and other retailers.  Their basic strategy seems to be to run around the country and try to legislate ordinances at the local level that make it difficult for the “Big Box” retailers to do business.

Naturally, the San Diego City Council has a number of members that are more than willing to help.  There will be a debate starting today concerning the “Big Box” establishments.  Much of this debate will concern traffic and zoning problems the establishments cause in the City of San Diego.  For the most part, this is camouflage. The real issue is the inability of the “retail” unions to organize the workforce in these firms.

AGC sent a letter to the Council on Friday that made several points.  

1. Why is the Council and its staff spending time on this issue when they have not been able to bond construction projects for over two years?  The City’s infrastructure is starting to fall apart…..we suggested they spend all of their time solving this problem.  There is a reason that nearly every week there is a sewage spill or a water main break covered by the news media….the City can not ignore the City’s infrastructure any longer!!!

2. The Council seems to be enamored with the concept of “social engineering through construction contracts”…..i.e., solving complex social problems by putting restrictions on building. This strategy has not worked in the past with the city’s own construction projects, and certainly will not in the future if the concept is extended to the private sector. 

3. The Council should not intervene in a dispute between private firms and unions that are trying to organize those firms.  While we are sure the unions welcome the help, the fact of the matter is that they are probably spending all of their time lobbying public entities around the country when they should be trying to work out an agreement between their union and the firms they are trying to organize.  This dispute is none of the Council’s business….stay out of it!!!! 

Now I assume something like this is a “fun” diversion….but the Council has a real crisis they should be devoting 24/7 to…..we suggest that they focus on the real problems facing the City and stay out of a private sector union organizing dispute.

AGC Board of Directors Vote to Oppose Airport at Miramar

Last Thursday, AGC’s Board of Directors unanimously voted to “oppose” the advisory vote to relocate Lindbergh Field to Miramar MCAS (Prop. A).  The Navy, the largest user of construction services in Southern California, is opposed to the potential of joint use with a commercial facility, and AGC is opposed to a measure that could negatively impact the relationship our members have with the military.  Jim Ryan, AGC’s Executive Vice President is quoted in today’s Daily Transcript saying, “If the Navy doesn’t want it, then we’re against it.”

 Positions Finalized on Other Local and State Ballot Measures

AGC’s Board of Directors also took positions on a number of local and state ballot measures that will be considered by voters on November 7.  Most of the measures relate specifically to the construction industry, but there are a few of them that could affect business in general.  We have attached a list of the measures, AGC’s position, and a brief description.  Of particular importance are state Propositions 1A-1E and Prop. 84,and local Propositions L, M, N, O, P, R, S, and T.  As we have reported to you over the last few months, these measures, if passed, will result in over $6 billion of infrastructure investment for San Diego County.  A badly needed investment!

Information on all the State Propositions can be accessed via the Internet by clicking here:

http://www.ss.ca.gov/elections/elections_vig.htm.

Please contact Brad Barnum at bbarnum@agcsd.org or at 858-558-7444, ext 103 if you have any questions or need further information.

Results - AGC’s Softball Tournament

 

The results of this past Saturday’s Softball Tournament are as follows:

Division A Winners: Edge Development

2^nd Place: Cement Cutting

Division B Winners: T.B. Penick & Sons

2^nd Place: Bergelectric

Congratulations to the winners and thanks to all the teams that participated. It was a great day for competition, camaraderie, and team building!

Welcome New Members

The AGC Board of Directors and the AGC Staff would like to welcome the following new members to the Association.  Remember….” It is Good Business to do Business with an AGC Member!”

Company	Type of Work	Contact	Phone	email
A-1 Fire Protection Inc.	Fire protection	Kent McCarty	858.623.2733	A1firehzo@aol.com
Advantage Tennis Courts Inc.	Grading	Chris Swortwood	858.350.9996	chris@advtennis.com
Bill Lowe Developments		Bill Lowe	951.378.5582	bill@bldev.net
Bio Clean Environmental Services, Inc.	Storm water filters	Greg Kent	760.433.7640
Enterprise Fleet Services	Vehicle fleet services	Don Glover	858.546.8200
G Brothers Construction Inc.	Carpentry/drywall	Rick Gutierrez	714.590.3070	rick@gbrothers.net
G Squared Computing	Consultant	Gerrick Danielson	858.715.3837	agc@gsquaredcomputing.com
Granado Bland APC	Law firm	Brent Granado	949.861.4100	Brent.granado@gblaws.com
Jerry Cole	Retired	Jerry Cole
T.L. Shield & Associates, Inc.	Carpentry	Barbie Pride	818.509.8228	Barbie@tlshield.com

LAST CALL: The AGC Specialty Contractor’s Council Tailgate and KGB Sky Show….This Saturday, September 23rd

Today is the “last call” for the Aztec Tailgate & Sky Show tickets. The final order will go in by 2:00 PM TODAY!  Profits for the event go to fund scholarships for SDSU’s new JR Filanc Construction & Management Program.

The Specialty Contractors prepare tri-tip carne asada with a “real man’s” stainless steel barbeque that is 20 feet long, and is transported on a large trailer with tandem wheels.  The barbeque is owned by Bergelectric and American Technologies.  It is probably worth the ticket price just to see the grill and our Specialty Contractors preparing the food!!!!

A great tailgate…..great college football……and the KGB Sky Show…..Give your employees a treat……register now!!!!!

 “iSqft Randy’s” iSqFt Tip of the Week & Obscure factoid

iSqFt Tip of the Week:

Keyword search allows you to search projects in the Plan Room by CSI codes, text word, or a phrase that may be found in project specifications.

Obscure Factoid:

95 years ago, football was played without helmets. Punching, kicking, and gouging were legal moves. During the 1905 college season, 18 players were killed on the field.

Please note:  CLASSES HAVE RESUMED AT THE AGC OFFICE LOCATED AT 6212 FERRIS SQUARE

SEPTEMBER CLASSES

 

September 20 – Prevailing Wage – 9:30 A.M at AGC

September 21 - Supervisory Training Unit 5 – Session 4 “The Critical Path” – 7:30 AM at AGC

September 21 - Construction Project Management, “PM Template” 3:00 PM for information on scheduling, email:  agcclass@powersummit.com

September 22 – Human Resource Seminar – “ Exempt vs. Non- Exempt” 9:00 A.M. at AGC

September 26 – Microsoft Excel Level 1 – 8:00 A.M.

September 27 - CPR/First Aid – 8 AM at AGC

September 29 – Advanced SWPPP Training- 7:30 AM at AGC

 

 

SEPTEMBER MEETINGS – All meetings will be held at AGC unless indicated otherwise

 

September 19 – Education Committee Meeting – 12:00 PM

September 20 – Public Building Liaison Meeting – 7:00 AM

September 20 – AGC Toastmasters @ Roel- 7AM

September 21- Specialty Contractors Council CANCELED

 

 

September 23– Aztec Football Tailgate and SkyShow

October 11-14^th – Joint Fall Conference with AGC of California in Palm Springs – details on website

Keep us informed: Please notify us if there is ever a change of address, phone/fax, or change of contact person so we can update our records. Thank you!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AGC's Monday Morning Quarterback, is a  "hot off the press” and  to the point, Monday morning briefing on the important issues facing San Diego's construction industry.  It is prepared by AGC Executive Vice President, Jim Ryan and Vice President Government Relations, Brad Barnum.

Please contact Jim Ryan at jryan@agcsd.org or Brad Barnum at bbarnum@agcsd.org with your comments, or with information that should be conveyed to the industry through this service.  Well over 2,000 individuals employed by AGC member firms are part of this system.

To add/delete employees to this system, contact Marcy Knopman, Director of Operations & Communications at mknopman@agcsd.org.