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August 25, 2025

INDUSTRY NEWS

AGC's PLA Response, an ICE Webinar, and Redistricting Coming into Election Season

By Dustin Steiner, Vice President Government & Industry Relations


As we reported in June, the Trump Administration, through the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), reaffirmed the Biden Project Labor Agreement (PLA) mandate, saying “For clarity, the Trump Administration supports the use of PLAs when those agreements are practicable and cost-effective, and blanket deviations prohibiting the use of PLAs are precluded.” You can read the full memo here. Last week, AGC of America responded with a letter and a request to meet. Per AGC of America, “The letter discusses practical problems with the federal mandate and offers practical recommendations for easing the burden on contractors and for advancing economy and efficiency in procurement.” You can read it here.


AGC of America is also hosting a webinar with crisis communications expert Anthony Huey, who will discuss how to handle all facets of a potential ICE raid, including internal communications and media inquiries. This webinar is slated for August 27 and is free to members! To learn more and to register, please click here.


Back in California, the state legislature voted to put a partisan redrawn congressional map on the ballot for November 4. Buckle up! The newly minted Proposition 50 is sure to be a hotly contested race over the next few months, already garnering $13 million in favor of Governor Newsom’s plan. This plan is in response to a Republican-led effort in Texas to redraw district lines in their favor. Unlike California, the Texas plan does not need voter approval. Redrawing lines is nothing new. In fact, the term “gerrymander” dates back to Founding Father and fifth Vice President of the United States, Elbridge Gerry, who, as governor of Massachusetts, approved a bill that changed district boundaries, creating one that detractors thought resembled a salamander.


In a cruel bit of irony, Gerry is said to have been an opponent of the process that now bears his name. What is “new” about this process is the timing. Gerrymandering, while commonplace, generally occurs following a census. Every 10 years, states go through a process of redrawing congressional districts. The U.S. House of Representatives has 435 members, so those seats are sometimes reapportioned in accordance with population growth or decline. California, for example, lost a seat in 2022 (for the first time in its history). Texas Republicans have said their 2022 maps do not adequately support the percentage of Republican voters in their state. California Democrats have made a similar claim in addition to saying Texas struck first, and they are simply protecting California voters in response. 


For his part, Governor Newsom, who almost assuredly has presidential aspirations, has drawn this line in the sand in a public and national way. This could very well be his launch into 2028 or a stumbling block, depending on the voters. Republicans hold a razor-thin margin in the House, so the balance of powers is also at stake. Back in San Diego, Rep. Darrell Issa’s seat is firmly in the crosshairs of Prop 50. 

City of San Diego Council Committee Votes to Forego Competitive Bidding

By Mike McManus, Director of Engineering Construction & Industry Relations


Information tends to dribble out of the City of San Diego. We discovered some months ago that the city has budgeted three “mill and pave” crews, as they call them. Now we have heard from sources outside the city that they also have two sidewalk replacement crews and a storm drain replacement crew. The city does not dispute that they are doing construction work with city forces and foregoing competitive bidding on millions of dollars of construction work.

 

Their position is that they are not bound by the Public Contract Code (PCC); they are governed by the City’s Municipal Code. The PCC states that public construction projects of $75,000 or less may be performed by the employees of a public agency. Above that amount, they must be competitively bid. The $75,000 limit involves the dollar value of labor, materials, and equipment at the rate the public agency charges itself. Labor costs for the work are calculated based on the agency's actual cost of labor, not prevailing wages. The City of San Diego municipal code sets the threshold for doing construction projects with city forces at $500,000.

 

The question is whether the city is abiding by the municipal code threshold of $500,000 per project and using the competitive bidding process to get the best price. And if not, how is the city going to fix the municipal code threshold question?

 

A City Council committee recently voted, unanimously, to authorize the Mayor to use city forces to construct three Capital Improvement projects worth $18.8 million. So much for the municipal code threshold that requires projects over $500,000 to be competitively bid.

 

To keep things in context, the City’s Capital Improvement Program is very large. They have over 1,200 active projects valued at over $12 billion. According to the city’s website, there are over 600 projects in the construction phase. Now it appears that the city intends to do three large projects with city staff and without the public benefit of soliciting competitive bids on over $18 million of construction.    

Public Agency Survey Extended: Complete by September 12!


This quick, contractor-focused survey to rate public agencies on how they work with us is one of the only local metrics designed to capture the general contractor's perspective—your real-world experience on what it's like to work on projects in town. 


Results will be used to create a “Best of the Best” and “Worst of the Worst” list, highlighting where agencies are excelling and where they’re falling short. 


Your efforts will be rewarded! The best agency will receive an award. Take a moment to share your perspective and make your voice count.


Complete the survey by September 12!

2025

September 18 - Public Agency Showcase Mixer/Dinner - SD Yacht Club

October 6 - AGC Fall Golf - Country Club of Rancho Bernardo

October 16 - CLC Cool Cars Classic & Mixer - AGC HQ

October 28 - Build San Diego Awards - Deadline for late entries - TODAY @ 12 PM

December 6 - Christmas in Coronado - Hotel Del Coronado

COMMITTEE/COUNCIL MEETINGS

AUGUST MEETINGS

August 28 - 1:00 PM - City of San Diego @ City Offices

August 29 - 11:00 AM - Construction Technology Committee - Virtual

EDUCATION / SAFETY TRAINING

Classes are held at our Ferris Square location in Sorrento Valley, our AGC Headquarters in Lakeside, or online.


AUGUST CLASSES

 

SAFETY TRAINING CLASSES

August 26                 Frame Scaffold Competent Person Training

August 27                 Fall Protection Competent Person Retraining

August 27 - 29 24-Hour Competent Person Fall Protection for EM 385-1-1

August 28                 How to Write an Effective Activity Hazard Analysis (AHA)

 

SEPTEMBER CLASSES

9/8 - 9/10 - 24-Hour Competent Person Fall Protection for EM 385-1-1 (6 SEATS OPEN)

9/9 - Confined Space CPT

9/9 - Stormwater Virtual Seminar - Preparation of Phased SWPPP Exhibits

9/9 - Microsoft Project Professional SOLD OUT

9/10 - BLUEBEAM REVU Takeoffs & Estimation Training  

9/10-11 - Construction Quality Management for Contractors (CQM-C)

9/10 - Excel Beginner Training 

9/10 - Project Contracting Fundamentals

9/11 - Microsoft WORD Beginner

9/12 - E-Learning: Resident Management System (RMS) for USACE Projects

9/15 - EM 385-1-1 40-Hour

9/15 - Fall Protection Competent Person Refresher Training 

9/15 - QuickBooks Beginner 

9/16 - CPR - First Aid - AED Training 

9/16 - E-Learning: Becoming a Successful Supervisor 

9/16 - Microsoft Project Professional: 

9/17 - Prevailing Wage, Certified Payroll & Compliance 

9/17 - E-Learning: BLUEBEAM REVU Customizations Training 

9/17 - Excel Intermediate Training 

9/18 - Microsoft Word Intermediate 

9/19 - Prevailing Wage Compliance Administration 

9/22 – OSHA 30-Hour Construction Outreach 

9/22 – OSHA 10-Hour for Construction 

9/22 – 24-Hour Competent Person Fall Protection for EM 385-1-1

9/22 – QuickBooks Int/Adv Desktop version 

9/23 – E-Learning AI in Construction SOLD OUT

9/24 – Construction Scheduling Critical Path 

9/24 – Excel Advanced Training 

9/25 – E-Learning AI In Construction SOLD OUT

9/25 – Microsoft Word Advanced 

9/29 – Excel Beginner 

9/30 – Rough Terrain Forklift Operator Certification

9/30 – MS PowerPoint Beg/Int 

9/30 – Webinar: Time Mgmt. Skills & Good Habits 


We appreciate your interest in our class offerings and assure you that AGC San Diego fully supports your educational needs. Should you have any inquiries or specific class requests, please do not hesitate to reach out directly to Becca Schaffer at training@agcsd.org or call (858) 731-8158. We are here to assist you. AGC San Diego remains dedicated to enhancing the construction workforce through tailored educational programs and safety training, and we truly value your engagement as a member.


JULY - DECEMBER 2025 CATALOG

If you do not see a class your team needs, please contact the AGC San Diego Education Department to check the upcoming schedule, or schedule a group training session.

Becca Schaffer (858) 731-8158.

PLAN ROOM

FIND US

AGC East County Facility & Apprenticeship Training Center
10140 Riverford Road
Lakeside, CA 92040
(858) 558-7444
AGC Government Affairs Office &
Fall Protection Training Campus
6212 Ferris Square
San Diego, CA 92121
2nd floor

About Monday Morning Quarterback

AGC San Diego Chapter'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 Chief Executive Officer, Eddie Sprecco, and Vice President Government & Industry Relations, Dustin Steiner.


Please contact Eddie Sprecco or Dustin Steiner with your comments, or with information that should be conveyed to the industry through this service. Well over 3,000 individuals employed by AGC member firms are part of this system.

AGC San Diego Chapter, Inc.

The VOICE of Construction

(858) 558-7444

agcsd.org

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