The ASCE San Francisco
575 Market St, Suite 400 | San Francisco, CA 94105
415-546-6546 | htpp://www.asce-sf.org
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December 2021, Volume 70, No. 12 |
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by Richard Markuson, Region 9 Legislative Advocate
Fall Recess Ends
The Legislature will return to Sacramento on January 3, 2022, at 2:00 pm.
State Legislation
Following is the final list of ASCE tracked bills. They are sorted by bill number.
AB 43 (Friedman - D) grants Caltrans and local authorities greater flexibility in setting speed limits based on recommendations the Zero Traffic Fatality Task Force made in January 2020. Signed by the Governor ASCE Position: Watch
AB 464 (Mullin - D) expands the types of facilities and projects EIFDs may fund to include the acquisition, construction, or repair of commercial structures of small businesses, or facilities in which nonprofit community organizations provide health, youth, homeless, and social services, as specified. This bill is sponsored by the author. Signed by the Governor. Chapter 25, Statutes of 2021. ASCE Position: Support
AB 955 (Quirk - D) establishes additional requirements for the Department of Transportation (Caltrans) when it reviews an application for an encroachment permit for a broadband facility. Signed by the Governor ASCE Position:
AB 1010 (Berman - D) requires architects to complete five hours of continuing education training on zero net carbon design for every two-year licensing period. Signed by the Governor - Chapter 176, Statutes of 2021. ASCE Position: Watch
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Known Conditions Adversely Affecting the Project Must be Disclosed
By Eugene Bass
A contractor on a City canal improvement project incurred extra costs and was delayed in the performance of the work because of requirements that were imposed by regulatory agencies of which the contractor was not aware. The City, however, was aware of the requirements and had not disclosed them to the contractor before bidding... Because of the City's concealment and nondisclosure, the contractor could not and did not address the potential impact of the restrictions in it’s bid. When the bids were submitted and the contract was awarded, neither the contractor nor its subcontractors contemplated the delays that subsequently occurred arising out of the nondisclosures.
The undisclosed facts were that certain of the materials from the project would have to be treated as hazardous wastes and would require special disposal. In addition, work on the project had to be suspended from April 1 to September 30. This caused the contractor to have to perform work during the rainy season.
Before the bids were submitted, the City was aware that regulatory agencies intended to impose restrictions on the disposal of excavated material and on project access. However, the City not only ignored the restrictions in designing the project and preparing project plans and specifications, but concealed information about the restrictions from bidders.
This article is intended only to provide general information regarding legal issues. It is not to be relied upon for legal advice. Contact your attorney for advise and guidance on general and specific legal issues.
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Region 9 Digital Strategy Initiative
By: Rune Storesund, Dr.Eng., P.E., G.E.,
San Francisco Section Region 9 Governor
ASCE Region 9 (California) is embarking on a new Digital Strategy initiative to streamline the overall member experience for activities within ASCE Region 9, such as local event registrations, professional development tracking, awards nominations, and Section, Branch, Institute, and Group voting. A major component of our future-looking digital approach is a Region 9 database that seamlessly provides integration across the four Region 9 Sections (Los Angeles Section, Sacramento Section, San Diego Section, and San Francisco Section). The aim of this effort is to reduce the need for multiple data entry and greatly streamline and reduce the administrative burden for our volunteer officers so more time can be spent on member engagement.
Currently, each Section, Branch, Institute, and local Group approaches websites and web management as an individual entity. Collectively, we are spending in excess of $50,000 each year on duplicative services. By consolidating and integrating web services, we can reduce the core expenditures to a fraction of that $50,000 (say $5,000 per year), resulting in the availability of $45,000 each year in member digital enhancement and engagement services.
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Region 9 Aligned Elections Initiative
By: Rune Storesund, Dr.Eng., P.E., G.E.,
San Francisco Section Region 9 Governor
ASCE Region 9 (California), which consists of the Los Angeles Section, the Sacramento Section, the San Diego Section, and the San Francisco Section and has over 17,000 ASCE members, is coordinating to align Section and Branch elections with the Society election and voting, which occurs in May each year.
The purpose of this initiative is to enhance the individual ASCE member experience by streamlining the current ‘voting’ season, which spans May to end of September, into one consolidated period of time for both Society-wide as well as local branches/groups. ASCE members would have one voting period for both Society and local election matters.
Informal polling during San Francisco Section’s “Get Out and Vote” campaign in May 2020 found overwhelming support from members to consolidate the disparate array of voting seasons into one. Informal polling of the local branches/groups within the San Francisco Section also found great support, with the caveat that some organizational/procedural changes would be required to restructure current calendars to achieve the consolidated ASCE ‘voting’ season. The polling also found that members were far more likely to vote for items of local interest rather than at the Society level. Thus, engaging members for local elections is anticipated to increase member participation at both the local and Society levels.
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Thank you to our Bronze Sponsor! |
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NEW ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES
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