News & Updates
March | 2020
|
|
ACEC California Statement on COVID-19 and the Economy
|
|
ACEC California Executive Director, Brad Diede, released the following statement in response to current events, “Design firms and public agencies alike are implementing plans to ensure the safety and health of their employees and the public at large to address the COVID-19 outbreak. With this in mind, it is important that there be no call to halt work on essential infrastructure. Continued safe operations are critical to the economy to keep people working, maintain contractual obligations and schedules, and jumpstart recovery efforts in the wake of this crisis, including any future efforts to expand hospital capacity.”
|
|
We invite our members to join us on an online platform where firms can share what they are doing in response to the pandemic. It is up to the firms to post and remove whatever they would like to share. ACEC California staff will not vet the information which will allow the firms to freely share information as informational news quickly progresses from day to day. Please visit the
COVID-19 Response Forum
group for the latest news or to post your information.
Click the image below to join our forum.
|
|
ACEC California members should check the ACEC National
website
regularly regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. Our advocates in Washington D.C. are actively lobbying Congress to implement effective language in the legislation currently moving.
Click here
to see the letter from ACEC President and CEO, Linda Darr. National has also fielded surveys to glean insights into industry impacts, best practices, and trends related to your response to managing your business challenges related to the virus. The results will be made available through webinars and over their social media channels. They are also ramping up our communication through their blog,
The Last Word
, which they will use to distribute up-to-date information.
|
|
1. ACEC/MA agreed to let ACEC/National post their webinar on the ACEC on-demand LMS.
Speakers:
Mark Goodale, Principal, Morrissey Goodale LLC, Chad J. DaGraca, CPA, Partner, DiCicco, Gulman & Company LLP, Jackie Weir, Audit Partner, BDO USA, LLP, Jared Maxwell, Vice President & Equity Partner, Ames & Gough Insurance Agency, Cheryl Waterhouse, Partner, Donovan Hatem
Learn from these A/E Business Thought Leaders on ways to manage your business challenges related to the virus.
Sign up for Free below:
|
|
Tuesday, March 24 at 3:30PM
Speaker:
Amanda Machin, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
Webinar will cover the employer-related provisions in HR 6201 as amended: emergency leave, emergency sick leave, and the payroll tax credits for employers that are required to provide the leave.
Sign up for Free below:
|
|
|
3. As part of ACEC’s outreach to member firms during the coronavirus pandemic, we are convening small, medium, and large firm virtual round table sessions on Monday, March 23
rd
. These sessions will provide our members with a platform to discuss the issues facing your business as well as share ideas on how our industry can help our communities during the crisis.
The virtual roundtables are a free event for members. Registration links for each roundtable can be found below. Once registered you will be sent login information- joining the roundtable is easy and can be done through your computer of via phone. If you have questions on registration, contact Maureen Brown at
[email protected]
.
Monday, March 23, 2020
3:00-4:00PM Eastern
Monday, March 23, 2020
12:30-1:30 PM Eastern
Monday, March 23, 2020
2:00-3:00 PM Eastern
|
|
California Legislative Update
|
|
Although restrictions are in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic, matters at the California State Legislature continue to be in play for the time being. To that end, the ACEC California Legislative Committee met (virtually) this week to review legislation and take positions. And the Legislature will now go into Spring recess early, not to return until April 13
th
at the earliest. When the Legislature does return, matters are likely to move quickly, and ACEC California advocates are preparing for that. Members of ACEC California may contact the Government Affairs Director,
Tyler Munzing
, to see those positions, as our advocates continue to work on our behalf.
|
|
Caltrans: Changes due to COVID-19
|
|
Many businesses and agencies have begun making adjustments to working procedures due to COVID-19, including Caltrans. Normally we make this information available to ACEC California members only. But due to extraordinary circumstances, we are making it open to all viewers of our newsletter. Click here to see information Caltrans has shared regarding
A&E Contract Temporary Changes DPAC
. And click here to see modifications to the
Joint Training & Certification Program (JTCP).
Please note, these updates are based on the dates they were released. As circumstances continue to change, additional adjustments may have been, or will be, made
.
|
|
Insurance Coverage Issues Related to Coronavirus Pandemic
|
|
This
report
provided by the
ACEC Business Insurance Trust (BIT)
outlines insurance coverages applicable to various claims that could arise in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic, and outlines the likelihood of recovery.
|
|
Testing Centers Temporarily Closed
|
|
The ASBOG Fundamentals of Geology (FG) and Practice of Geology (PG) exams, scheduled for March 20, 2020 at California State University, Long Beach, have been canceled. Click
here
for more information.
The NCEES paper-and-pencil exam administration, scheduled for April 2020, has been canceled. Click
here
for more information.
The California State Land Surveyor exam is currently scheduled for administration at Prometric test centers for April 16, 2020. This date will remain as scheduled unless Prometric extends their site closures. Click
here
for more information.
|
|
2020 Legislative Visit Day Cancellation
|
|
With the recent COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic it is with great disappointment that we are forced to cancel our joint Legislative Visit Day scheduled for May 20, 2020. This was the first year that three respected organizations ACEC California, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) – Region 9, and the American Public Works Association (APWA) – Region VIII were to come together and collaborate with our members and due to the recent circumstances, we are having to cancel this year’s event. The safety and health of our attendees are always our number one concern. LVD will be scheduled for next year, May 12, 2021, where we hope to partner with APWA and ASCE, as we were planning for this year.
LVD Refund Process
Refunds for those who registered for LVD 2020, are being fully refunded as of March 18, 2020. Please allow 5-7 business days to see the credit on your account. If you have any questions in regards to your refund please contact
[email protected]
|
|
We realize that there is a lot of information currently out there about COVID-19 much of it contradictory. Please review the included information from our Trust Financial Advisor, CAPTRUST. All Trust services will continue to be available during this time of concern. Please feel free to contact Bruce McFarland for
additional information
as we work our way through these turbulent times together.
[email protected]
or (800) 660-6523
|
|
ACEC California Scholarship Foundation
|
|
 |
ACEC California would like to formally thank all the firms who donated to the ACEC California Scholarship Foundation in the month of February. We are grateful for their continued support:
|
- Au Clair Consulting Inc.
- AYCE Consulting Engineers, Inc.
- Base Consulting Group, Inc.
- Bay Area Geotechnical Group
- C.A. Wehsener Engineering, Inc.
- GENTERRA Consultants, Inc.
- Risha Engineering Group, Inc.
- SPEC Services, Inc.
- TSAC Engineering
|
|
|
|
Donate to the ACEC California Scholarship Foundation
|
Over the years, ACEC California has awarded more than over $600,000 in cash grants to hundreds of outstanding students. Your donation to the Foundation is an important investment in the future of the engineering and land surveying professions.
To donate, please
click here
or send a check made payable to the ACEC California Scholarship Foundation to:
ACEC California
c/o Stephanie Reed
1303 J Street, Suite 450
Sacramento, CA 95814
|
|
|
|
ACEC California Member Updates
|
|
ACEC California Welcomes
New Members
ACEC California would like to welcome member firms that joined either new chapters or ACEC California in January:
Camarillo
Los Angeles County Chapter
Site civil engineering including grading plans, utility plans, and street improvement plans. Our work is focused largely on infill sites and redevelopment work in the private sector; however we also have several public project contracts. Our work is heavily focused on charter school design and multifamily residential, with additional projects focused on subdivision work, custom single family residential, industrial projects, and commercial projects. We also have a sister company under our umbrella (CCE Construction LLC) that allows us to offer design build services. Disciplines Offered: Civil-General, Construction Management, Fire/Earthquake/Hazards/Safety, Hydrology, Land, Development
Los Angeles
Los Angeles County Chapter
Site civil engineering including grading plans, utility plans, and street improvement plans. Our work is focused largely on infill sites and redevelopment work in the private sector; however we also have several public project contracts. Our work is heavily focused on charter school design and multifamily residential, with additional projects focused on subdivision work, custom single family residential, industrial projects, and commercial projects. We also have a sister company under our umbrella (CCE Construction LLC) that allows us to offer design build services. Disciplines Offered: Civil-General, Construction Management, Fire/Earthquake/Hazards/Safety, Hydrology, Land, Development
|
|
Does your chapter have any news or acknowledgments? Upcoming events or meetings you want to promote?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
