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HomeMy WebLinkAbout4/19/2022 Item 6d, Down ViaEmailOnly emailcouncil@slocity.org April19,2022 Attn:MayorandCityCouncil CityofSanLuisObispo 990PalmStreet SanLuisObispo,California93401 SUBJECT:CouncilAgendaReportItem6dfor04/19/2022 CommunityWorkforceAgreement {ƚźƌƭğƓķağƷĻƩźğƌĻƭƷźƓŭğƓķLƓƭƦĻĭƷźƚƓ{ĻƩǝźĭĻƭ DearMadameMayorandCityCouncil: IappreciatethisopportunitytosubmitmycommentstoCouncilrelatedtoevaluationofaCommunity WorkforceAgreementΛͻ/‘!ͼΜforthe/źƷǤ͸ƭpublicworksprojectsaspartofthe/źƷǤ͸ƭgoalforEconomic Recovery,Resiliency&FiscalSustainability.Additionally,Iwouldliketothankthe/ƚǒƓĭźƌ͸ƭStaffontheir extensiveeffortstosolicitandincorporateƭƷğƉĻŷƚƌķĻƩƭ͸interestandinputonthissubjectmatteraspart oftheirverythoroughandcomprehensivereportonatopicascomplicatedasaCWA. ShouldCouncildirectStaffproceedwithnegotiationstowardsaCWAimplementation,weurgetheCouncil toadoptits{ƷğŅŅ͸ƭrecommendationtoexclude,constructionmanagement,surveying,andinspectionand materialstestingfromcoveragebyaCWAforthereasonssetforthbelowaswellasthoseincludedinthe {ƷğŅŅ͸ƭreport. IamtheManagingPrincipalforEarthSystemsPacificCentralCoastoffices,includingourSanLuisObispo office.Wearealocalgeotechnicalengineering,materialtestingandinspectionfirmwithextensive experienceworkingonpublicworksprojectssubjecttotheapplicableCaliforniaprevailingwagelaws. However,asamatterofcompanypolicy,EarthSystemsdoesnotprovideservicesforprojectsemploying CWAswhichincludesoilsandmaterialstestingandinspectionservicesΛͻLƓƭƦĻĭƷƚƩƭandĻĭŷƓźĭźğƓƭͼΜasa coveredcraftsubjecttotheCWA.Thereasonsforthisaremultifold,butourprimaryconcernis,witha CWAinplace,ourabilitytoprovideourcustomarylevelofhighqualityandtimelyservicewillbeseverely impactedbytheapproachrequiredbyaCWA.Further,asanengineerbasingmyprofessionalopinionupon ourƭƷğŅŅ͸ƭobservations,aswellasthetesting,itiscriticaltohavestaffwhounderstandwhatI,personally, amlookingfor.ThishelpsthemdetermineconsistencywithrecommendationsIhavemadeinthefieldor inageotechnicalengineeringreport.Ibelievethissamelevelofservicecannotbeperformedbypersonnel whohavenopriorexperienceworkingwithmeormyfirmandarechosenbaseduponwhoisavailable thatday. Weverymuchsupportthe/źƷǤ͸ƭgoaltosupportlocalbusinessandcommunitymembers.EarthSystems hasbeeninbusinessformorethan50years,andIhavebeenworkingintheSanLuisObispoofficefor24 years.Ithasalwaysbeenimportantforustobepartofthecommunity,notonlythroughourworkproduct butthroughcontributingtothelocalcommunity.Asanexampleofthelongevityandcontinuityofservice, wewereoutatCalPolylastweekandwillbeagainthisweektodonateourdrillingservicesforthe advancedgeotechnicalexplorationandlaboratoryclass.EarthSystemswasdonatingtheseserviceswhen IwasattendingclassesatCalPoly.WhilenotadirectcontributiontoorganizationsintheCity,itshows ourcommitmentlocally.Inthelastcoupleofyears,manylocalorganizationsstruggled,asweallknow. Wemadeaconsciousefforttoincreaseourlevelofcommitmenttolocalagenciesbyincreasing contributionstoplacesliketheFoodBank,WğĭƉ͸ƭHelpingHand,RanchBurroDonkeySanctuary,Etc.We madecontributionstogetscienceexperiencesintohomesinSanLuisObispo,asstudentswereathome ratherthanintheclassroom.Wecontinuedtosupporttheartsthroughtheperformingartscenterand workforPCPAandSolvangTheaterfest. Whilewedonotdothesethingsforrecognitionandwewillcontinuetodosonomatterwhatthecouncil chooses,theinclusionofprofessionalserviceslikeconstructionmanagement,surveying,andgeotechnical inspectionandtestingintheCWAwouldmeanwecouldnotproposetoworkonthesecriticalprojectsin thecommunitywehaveworkedsolongtosupport.Weareproudtobepartofthecommunityandalways willbehereforourfellowcommunitymembers. Thankyouforyourtimeandconsideration. Sincerely, RobertDown,PE ManagingPrincipal 2