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NO on Prop 50 and SoCal Joint Legislative Meeting THIS THURSDAY!

By Dustin Steiner, Vice President, Government Affairs

TOMORROW is Election Day! Dust off that ballot and mark NO on 50 then drop it in the mail or at a local polling place.

On Thursday, join AGC San Diego and AGC California in a Joint Legislative Committee meeting to discuss bills and laws that affect our industry. Since our last joint meeting, AGC’s Sacramento lobbyists, Pacific Coast Capitol Advisors, have been busy working on behalf of all contractors both in San Diego and across the state. Please join us to hear how these new laws will impact your business. We will also be discussing bills that did not make it through the legislature and some that we expect to be reintroduced in the new year.

Our semi-annual meeting is Thursday, November 6, at 9 A.M. This meeting is open to ALL members. Join fellow contractors and bring questions for AGC’s legislative advocates. If you'd like to keep updated on legislative happenings at the federal, state, and local level, please join our Government Relations Committee.  

To register for this Joint Legislative Committee Meeting, click this link

What: Joint Legislative Committee Meeting

When: November 6, 2025 - 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Where: AJ Kirkwood Offices

4300 N Harbor Blvd, Fullerton, California 92835

If you cannot make it in person, DM me for a virtual link.

2025 Build San Diego Celebrates the Best Projects in San Diego

Congratulations to our 26 entries and all our winners at the 2025 Build San Diego Awards!

AGC San Diego is proud to recognize you today and always!

Our awards banquet early last week brought over 200 constructors, subcontractors, and affiliates in to celebrate construction in a new, dynamic way.

Special thanks to our title sponsors for their continued dedication to industry: Hawthorne Cat and Western Alliance Bank (formerly Torrey Pines Bank). We also want to call out Trevor Kolocheski from Hawthorne Cat and John Maguire of Western Alliance Bank for assisting in the presentation of our awards. We couldn't do this without you! 

Thank you to Heather Myers, our MC, for her third round with us at this awards. Heather is a national correspondent for Newsmax and a licensed real estate agent here in San Diego.

AGC also wants to thank our judges, who gave their time and energy to judging this year’s entries, namely Lou Smith, former commander at NAVFAC and former port commissioner; Margie Perez, district division chief at Caltrans; and Bill Morgan, director at the County of San Diego Department of Public Works.

For those who missed it, here is a list of all who submitted a project for this year's awards (and the build/merit award winners):

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION - PUBLIC WORK

• Del Mar Heights School Rebuild - Balfour Beatty
• UCSD Pepper Canyon West Living and Learning Neighborhood - Clark Construction - BUILD
• Oceanside Fire Station No. 1 - Cox Construction Co.
• SAN Airport Administration Building - Sundt Construction, Inc. - MERIT
• 1st Marine Division Operations Complex (P-1130) - Harper Construction Company, Inc.

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION - PRIVATE WORK

• Vista Lane Affordable Family Homes - C&S Companies
• Sandbox - Dempsey Construction, Inc. - MERIT
• Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla Tower II - McCarthy Building Companies - BUILD
• Hotel Del Coronado Victorian Guestroom and Corridor Renovations - Swinerton Builders

HEAVY/HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION

• Gillespie Field Runway 9R/27L Rehabilitation Project - Hazard Construction ENGR LLC - BUILD
• City of San Marcos Creek District Infrastructure Project - SEMA Construction - MERIT

UNDERGROUND/UTILITIES CONSTRUCTION

• AgX MFRO - FILANC - MERIT
• P-079 Potable Water Conveyance - Orion Construction Corporation - BUILD

UNIQUE SMALL PROJECT - PUBLIC WORK

• Dulzura Conduit North of SR-94 & West of Barrett Lake Road - TC Construction Company - BUILD

UNIQUE SMALL PROJECT - PRIVATE WORK

• San Diego Automotive Museum Berg Family Library - Barnhart-Reese Construction, Inc. - BUILD
• Courtyard Renovation at The Lodge at Torrey Pines - Dempsey Construction, Inc. - MERIT

SUSTAINABLE PROJECT

• City of San Marcos Creek District Infrastructure Project - SEMA Construction, Inc. - MERIT
• Pure Water Oceanside Advanced Water Purification Facility - Shimmick - BUILD

UNIQUE SPECIAL PROJECT

• Kearny Mesa Fire & Rescue Repair Facility - Barnhart-Reese Construction, Inc.
• Botanical Building Improvements - EC Constructors, Inc. - BUILD
• Emergency Repair at Hodges Dam - Marathon Construction Corporation and Cass Arrieta
• Gaylord Pacific Resort and Convention Center - Mortenson | McCarthy, A JV Partnership - MERIT
• Gilman Drive Storm Drain Failure - Orion Construction Corporation
• San Diego International Airport (SDIA) Terminal Development Plan - United Airlines Hangar Terminal (UAHT) Reassembly - Soltek Pacific Construction Company
• SAN Airport Administration Building - Sundt Construction, Inc. - MERIT
• Hotel Del Coronado Victorian Building Meeting Rooms - Swinerton Builders

Thank you again for your commitment to San Diego's construction industry.

AGC San Diego also recognized the best of the best in the public agency space and awarded the City of San Diego the Public Owner of the Year award. First runner-up was Caltrans, and second runner-up was the University of California San Diego.

Check out all our awardee videos here on our YouTube channel.

See who had the most fun in our Glambot by brushing through the gallery here.

Check out our Flickr album for images from the event.

Get a high-level summary of the event on our website here.

To our silver sponsors, Milwaukee Tool and Mi-Box of San Diego, thank you. And, to our We Support Construction banner sponsors – we appreciate your support.

Remember, it's good business to do business with AGC San Diego members! 

California Prevailing Wage 101

By Adrianna Lopez, Director of Labor Relations

California’s prevailing wage laws are often misunderstood or overlooked, yet they play a critical role in shaping the construction industry. Whether you're a contractor, office administrator, or payroll professional, understanding the fundamentals of prevailing wage is essential to staying compliant and competitive. This article introduces the core purpose and impact of prevailing wage laws and sets the stage for deeper learning in our upcoming compliance training course

1. What Is Prevailing Wage, and Why Was It Created?

Prevailing wage laws originated with the federal Davis-Bacon Act and are codified in California Labor Code §1720. Their primary purpose is to prevent wage undercutting on publicly funded projects, ensuring fair compensation for workers. By establishing standard wage rates for specific trades and regions, these laws promote fair competition between Union and open-shop contractors.

2. What Counts as a Public Works Project?

Public works projects include construction, alteration, demolition, installation, and repair work funded in whole or in part by public funds. Examples range from schools and roads to affordable housing and more. In California, any project exceeding $1,000 in value typically triggers prevailing wage requirements. A common misconception is that privately managed projects are exempt; if public funds are involved, prevailing wage rules likely apply.

3. Who Sets the Rates, and What Do They Include?

In California, the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) sets prevailing wage rates based on trade classifications and geographic regions. These rates include both base wages and fringe benefits such as health insurance, pension contributions, and training funds.

4. Why It Matters to Contractors and Payroll Teams

Compliance with prevailing wage laws is not optional. Violations can result in hefty fines, debarment from future public works contracts, and reputational damage. Payroll teams must accurately complete certified payroll reports, track apprenticeship hours, and ensure proper registration with the DIR.

5. What’s Next: Mastering Compliance

Want to go deeper? Sign up for our virtual training course this Friday to learn how to stay compliant, avoid penalties, and streamline your payroll process. This comprehensive 8-hour training will cover certified payroll reporting, fringe benefit calculations, apprenticeship requirements, and more. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain practical skills and confidence in managing prevailing wage compliance.

Industry Support Needed for SDSU Student Teams at Mock Problem

The San Diego State University (SDSU) Construction Engineering & Construction Management students are preparing for the Associated Schools of Construction (ASC) Competition, scheduled for February 2026. Teams have been training weekly and are ready for their final practice competition day, also known as a mock problem.

AGC Members, please join us on November 19 at 4:30 p.m. for a mixer with students and attendees, then team presentations. See the list below, start at 5 p.m. at the AGC San Diego Office in Lakeside.

• Commercial - Coached by Clark Construction
• Electrical - Coached by Helix Electric
• Heavy Civil - Coached by FILANC
• Preconstruction - Coached by Swinerton
• Sustainable Building - Coached by McCarthy

Help us help the students by sharing your industry knowledge and helping them make their presentations the best they can be. These bright young people will be great construction industry professionals; let's show them how fun and supportive our industry can be.

Click here to RSVP.

Launching: Construction Engineer & Site Management Accelerator Class

AGC San Diego is excited to announce a new partnership with Field Ready! We are launching the "Construction Engineer & Site Management Accelerator," a comprehensive four-module online training course designed to equip future engineers with essential skills.

Learn at your own pace about project scheduling, design tools, and more. Take advantage of our pre-launch special and save $300 before the new year! This opportunity is perfect for early-career engineers and anyone interested in enhancing their skills. Don't miss out! 

Dates and times are up to you; AGC has these on the calendar every Monday of each week through the end of the year for easy selection. 

Events | AGC San Diego

2025

November 4 - Get to Know AGC SD - AGC HQ

December 6 - Christmas in Coronado - Hotel Del Coronado

2026

January 20 - SAVE THE DATE - Installation Dinner & Member Awards - Hilton Del Mar

February 5-8 - Winter Conference - Big Sky Montage

NOVEMBER MEETINGS

November 5 - 7:00 AM - Safety Committee - Lakeside

November 6 - 11:30 AM - Specialty Contractors’ Council - offsite

November 12 - 7:30 AM - Build & Serve Charitable Alliance - Virtual

November 12 - 1:00 PM - County of San Diego @ County Operations Center

November 13 - 11:30 AM - HR Practices - offsite

November 20 - 9:00 AM - City of San Diego @ City Offices

November 21 - 11:00 AM - Construction Technology Committee - Virtual

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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