PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
February, 2020
Well, it’s that time of year again. The Louisiana Legislature convenes at noon, March 9. Can’t wait. Not really. The fact is, whether we like it or not, if we’re not paying close attention bad things can happen. So, it is attention we shall pay. Your Legislative Committee will meet soon to review all pre-filed bills. We will communicate with the membership regularly about legislation impacting our industry. One way you can help is to let me know which legislators you know and feel comfortable contacting directly if there should be legislation impacting our industry. There will be occasions when just contacting your local representative or senator – whether you know them well or not - with a specific message will be helpful. Other times, having a personal connection to a member will be critical. To that end, please email me directly with the names of legislators you would be willing to contact if necessary. You can email me directly at
dbrasseaux@acecl.or
g
or
call me at 225-485-9818. Working together we are strong and influential!
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In this issue:
Board of Governor's Board Meeting Recap
ACECL Strategic Plan Update
2020 LTC Conference Session Reminders
January Chapter Meetings Recap
2020 Deep South Convention Save the Date
MOVEBR Updates
News You Can Use
FP&C Proposed Procedures Manual Changes
Member News
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ACECL BOARD OF GOVERNORS MEETING
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The ACEC of Louisiana Board of Governors held its February board meeting on February 13, 2020 in conjunction with the Critical Issues Summit.
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ACECL BOARD OF GOVERNORS UPDATES STRATEGIC PLAN
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At its February 13, 2020 Meeting, the ACEC of Louisiana Board of Governors adopted an updated Strategic Plan. This Strategic Plan is the result of a months-long process to identify the core long term goals of the organization. Following the action of the Board, the Chair and Vice Chair will assign champions to each Strategic Goal for the purpose of identifying key strategies to operationalize the Plan. The efforts at ACEC of Louisiana track the recent efforts by our national ACEC organization to update their Strategic Plan.
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LES TO SPONSOR CHANGES TO LAPELS STATUTE
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The Louisiana Engineering Society (LES) is sponsoring legislation supported by the Louisiana Professional Engineering and Land Surveying Board (LAPELS) to make changes to the Engineering and Land Surveying licensing law. While most of the items are housekeeping, there is one change that is a bit more substantive in nature. This proposed change provides an alternative path to licensure as a Professional Engineer in Louisiana, copying what has already been done in numerous states around the country.
(c) A graduate of an accredited engineering curriculum of four years or more approved by the board as being of satisfactory standing, who has twenty or more years of progressive engineering experience in work acceptable to the board, who is of good character and reputation, who has passed the examinations required by the board, and who has satisfied the requirements of R.S. 37:694.
This change would allow an engineer with 20 years of progressive experience and that has passed the PE exam to be licensed in Louisiana without having taken or passed the FE (Fundamentals of Engineering) exam (also known by many as the EIT exam). This change would in effect substitute 16 years of progressive engineering experience for the FE exam.
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Lafayette: February 18
Speaker: Bill Oliver, P.E.
DOTD District 3 Administrator
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Baton Rouge: February 10
Speaker: Jay Hardman, P.E.
Executive Director
Port of Greater Baton Rouge
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2020 Annual Conference and
Legislative Summit
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April 26-29, 2020
Marriott Wardman Park, Washington DC
#ACEC2020Annual
ADVOCATE, COLLABORATE, EXPERIENCE, AND CELEBRATE
in Washington, D.C.
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In partnership with the City of Baton Rouge's MOVEBR Small Business Outreach effort, ACECL invites you to attend an informational session on
Friday, March 13 from 9:00am to 11:00am,
Large Meeting Room
at the Main Library at Goodwood, 7711 Goodwood LIbrary, Baton Rouge.
Firms should make plans to attend if you are interested and planning to respond to MOVEBR engineering advertisements as a prime or as a subcontractor designated as a small business. The session will include:
- Overview of MOVEBR and how to do business in the program
- Update on the 20% small business aspiration
- Structured networking
This is an important opportunity for both prime and small business firms to network and build relationships as well as for everyone to get up to date information on the MOVEBR project selection process.
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Friendly reminder encouraging you to attend the Louisiana Transportation Conference being held March 1 – 4, 2020, at the Raising Cane’s River Center in Baton Rouge.
Session 43 in Room 5-6 at
1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 3, 2020 will include discussion of major changes to policies and processes related to DOTD consultant contracts.
For those of you who cannot make it to that session on March 3, 2020, DOTD will host additional presentations, as follows:
March 10, 2020
9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
DOTD Headquarters Auditorium
1201 Capitol Access Road
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
March 23, 2020
10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
8010 Desiard Street
Monroe, LA 71203
March 23, 2020
2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
3339 Industrial Drive
Bossier City, LA 71112
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On
Tuesday, March 3 at 10:15-Noon in Room 3-4
,
please join
ACEC/L for Session 32: Dispatches from the Front Line of Alternative Delivery and the Future of Transportation Funding:
Block 1: CMAR Case Study - GNO Causeway Bridge Widening
Project Manager/Designer/Contractor/Owner/Cost Estimator Panel
Block 2: P3 Case Study - Belle Chasse Bridge and Tunnel Replacement
Developer/Designer/Owner Panel
Block 3: Federal and State Funding Outlook
ACEC / DOTD Panel
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On
Wednesday, March 4 at 8:00am - 9:45am in Room 5-6,
DOTD will present Session 53: Consultant Contract and Construction Contract Updates (Room 5-6)
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Port of South Louisiana receives $13.4M transportation grant to make improvements
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HUD Approves Louisiana's $1.2B Flood Mitigation Plan
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While in Las Vegas for the Moving America Forward forum on infrastructure last weekend, ACEC had the opportunity to sit down with Rep. Dina Titus (NV1) for a podcast interview. Rep. Titus is a T&I Committee member and also serves on the Aviation Subcommittee. She had some interesting things to say regarding earmarks and the need to increase the gas tax and the Passenger Facility Charge. The interview is now posted at this link:
https://www.podbean.com/eu/pb-z5wzc-d473a2
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ACECL SUBMITS COMMENTS TO FP&C DRAFT PROCEDURES MANUAL UPDATE
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In follow up to my membership email relative to the Notice of Intent by the State Office of Facility Planning and Control (FP&C) to amend their Procedure Manual Rules, attached are the comments submitted by ACECL relative to the Procedure Manual
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Member Firms:
Affiliates:
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DOTD Transportation Conference
ACEC Business of Design Consulting Conference
Baton Rouge Chapter Luncheon
New Orleans Chapter Luncheon
ACECL Board Meeting
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Thank You to our 2020 Sponsors!
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Doreen Brasseaux
President & CEO
ACEC of Louisiana
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