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OCTOBER 6, 2020

 
Zoom meeting with L&I Director Joel Sacks --
join us tomorrow

AGC members, join us on-line this Wednesday, Oct. 7, for an hour with Dept. of Labor and Industries director Joel Sacks. AGC-member networking begins at 9:45 a.m.; the meeting with Director Sacks begins at 10:00 a.m.
Topics to be discussed include COVID worker’s-compensation numbers, construction-industry stats on mask compliance, certified payrolls, the use of technology, timely release of retainage and more.
Join us virtually via Zoom -- click here for more information and to register.
Council threatens progress made
on Cherry Point amendments

The Whatcom County Planning Commission wrapped up its yearlong ten-session work-session series on August 13, completing their review of the County Council’s proposed Cherry Point comprehensive plan amendments.
As previously written, AGC members are generally concerned about the Council’s expanded use of conditional-use permits and oppose the original amendments sent by the Council for review to the Planning Commission. However, the Commission’s review of the Council’s Cherry Point amendments resulted in recommendations that make significant improvements.
In its review, the Commission established a constructive review process that includes all stakeholders, industry, government agencies and environmental groups. The Commission had strongly urged industry and the environmental community to come together and work through some of their differences. While initially awkward, this collaboration resulted in a joint proposal all parties could live with on some very challenging issues.
The Council now has the Commission’s Cherry Point amendment recommendations, and the Council appears to be struggling in their process to finalize the version to be voted on by them. Four of the seven councilmembers seem to prefer their original version, showing a disregard of the nearly year's worth of work. The original amendments are unworkable for the industry and have a potential for significant negative economic consequences for the county’s economy and, in particular, for the industries and contractors working at Cherry Point.  AGC members must let the County Council know that, if they are going to move forward with the Cherry Point amendments, they must include the well thought-out recommendations from the Planning Commission derived from the collaborative efforts of industry and the environmental groups. To support Cherry Point jobs, we need to continue to make our voices heard by the County Council. Urge the Council to accept the Planning Commission’s amendment recommendations that were thoughtfully developed through compromise from both industry and environmental stakeholders.
No one gets everything they want in contentious policy discussions. We must always work together to solve our disagreements. We must repair our present and build our future through collaboration and compromise.
Federal Facilities Three-Year Outlook, Oct. 14
AGC's annual Federal Facilities Three-Year Outlook meeting is just around the corner. Register today to make sure the event is on your calendar! The event features a presentation from Jordan Howard, AGC of America's director of federal & heavy construction, with the latest outlook on federal contracting from Washington DC, and a preview of upcoming federal projects from NAVFAC, Army Corp of Engineers, General Services Administration, and the U.S. Coast Guard - and more! This event is free for AGC members. Register today…
Help with navigating federal contracts
Navigating Federal Government Contracts Northwest 2020 will be held virtually over two half-days, October 21-22. This fourth-annual seminar, cohosted by AGCW, Washington PTAC, Pacific Northwest Defense Coalition and Oles Morrison Rinker & Baker LLP, is designed to help you navigate the rough seas of doing business with the federal government in "the new normal.” 

Join nationally recognized practitioners who will cover topics relevant to government contractors across all industries. Featured speakers include Douglas Oles (Oles Morrison; "Compensation for COVID Delays and Impacts'); James Nagle (Oles Morrison; "Federal Contacting Year-in-Review"); and John Klein and Mark Hagedorn (SBA Office of General Counsel; "New 8(a) and Mentor-Protégé Program Rules").
Click here to see the event flyer, and click here to register.
In 2022, AGC of Washington will celebrate
our one-hundredth year of existence —
and yeah, it’s a big deal!

Of course, we want our members to be a part of it in a big way. So we’re starting with a members-only contest to design the official AGC of Washington Centennial Celebration logo. Of course, the winning design will be used and seen high and low, far and wide, all over our centennial-celebration materials and events.
We’re making it interesting, too, with some great prizes, including $500 in cash. Entries are now being accepted -- click here for more information and rules.
New style of student housing at WCC
(Whatcom Talk) As students check into their new home in Cedar Hall on the Whatcom Community College campus, they may not immediately recognize their environment is built around the philosophy of Universal Design, but their experience will be touched by the deeply thoughtful elements of creating spaces that are equitable, hospitable, flexible, simple and intuitive.
Designed by Ankrom Moisan and built by Tiger Construction, Cedar Hall's first residents began to move-in in July. The project is the culmination of a vision to provide students with on-campus housing, intentional programming to help students adjust and thrive in a college environment, and to increase the opportunities for all students to obtain housing with fewer barriers and to be more active in their community.
The $28M LEED-certified structure will provide housing to 233 students, when operating at full capacity, along with offices for Residence Life staff. Read more…
FREE WEBINAR
Healthy coping skills and personal resilience

In partnership with the Construction Center of Excellence, AGC of Washington is hosting a free webinar, Developing Healthy Coping and Personal Resilience, on Oct. 26 from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. as another layer to construction personnel to handle the challenges and stressors from COVID-19, and also to continue to lay the foundation for our professionals to have meaningful discussions on and approaches to mental health, substance abuse and suicide prevention. Read more...
Take AGC’s survey on looming increases in unemployment-insurance rates
Largely due to the pandemic-caused shutdown of segments of the economy, unemployment insurance rates paid by employers are expected to increase significantly in 2021 and 2022 to cover the extraordinary amount of benefits being paid, and to replenish the dwindling unemployment insurance trust fund.
Overall, rates paid by employers are estimated to increase by $1 billion in 2021 and another $2 billion in 2022. Depending on their current rates, individual companies could see increases from the double digits up to 700%. Some firms that are already paying the highest rates may benefit from a cap on rates. Read more...

Help get out
the construction vote

To increase voter turnout from the construction industry, AGC of America urges members to communicate the importance of voting to employees. Research shows that employees want to hear from their employers about issues and elections. When messages are delivered properly, the employer is found to be a highly credible source of political information. AGC created the nonpartisan Election Resources website, which can be used to remind employees about the importance of voting and participating in this year's election. Don't worry, the resources will not advocate for the election of any particular candidates. AGC also created an Election Center where individuals can register to vote or check their registration status and view the candidates that will be on the ballot. Check it out and help AGC get out the vote.
Workers’-comp rates to remain flat on average; AGC pushes for reforms
L&I is proposing no increase in the average rate employers pay for workers’ compensation insurance in 2021. If the proposal is adopted, this will be the first time in 20 years that workers’ compensation rates have dropped or stayed steady for four years in a row. As always, proposed rates for individual construction classifications vary greatly and while the vast majority decreased between 1% to 12%, a few increased.
“Our 2021 rate proposal recognizes the toll the pandemic is taking on employers and workers in our state,” said L&I director Joel Sacks. “Although our projected workers’ compensation costs are going up, we’re keeping premiums the same by taking advantage of the reserves we’ve built over the years by improving services and reducing disability.” Read more...
Construction seems OK despite economic uncertainty -- but will the work hold?
(Equipment World) As Equipment World put together their most recent Used Equipment Special Report, a quote from Dennis Howard stood out. In response to economic uncertainty and the ever-present cloud hanging over everything that the coronavirus pandemic has become, the vice president of fleet and remarketing for Deere-dealer RDO Equipment said, “If you watch the news and then go talk to five contractors, you’re going to feel a lot better after talking to the contractors. Most people are positive and they’ve got work.”
Encouraging words for now. But will contractors continue to have those ever-important backlogs as they make their way into the fall and winter? No one knows – people are staying far away from crystal balls right now – and we’re all getting fed-up with not knowing. Read more…
Construction spending rises; residential boom outweighs other categories
(AGC of America) Construction officials caution that demand for non-residential construction will continue to stagnate without new federal coronavirus recovery measures, including infrastructure and liability reform.
Construction spending increased by 1.4 percent in August, as strong gains in residential construction outweighed decreases in most private nonresidential segments and many public categories, according to an analysis by AGC of America of government data released recently. Association officials cautioned that nonresidential-construction demand will likely continue to stagnate without new federal measures to offset the economic impacts from the coronavirus. Read more…
Contractors up & down supply chain gain the most from further tech commitment
(Construction Business Owner) The latest research from Dodge Data & Analytics on building information modeling (BIM) focuses on mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) contractors. It reveals that these contractors have embraced BIM and are seeing extraordinary value from its use. However, it also demonstrates that a major challenge for many of these contractors is a lack of commitment to BIM use by other key parties involved in a project. Read more…
Be Smart: Stay Six Feet Apart banners available
If you have not ordered your AGC Be Smart: Stay Six Feet Apart social-distancing banner and would like to have one, you’re in luck! The AGC office has a quantity of these vinyl 7’x3’ banners available for purchase at $45 plus tax, with orders filled on a first-come, first-served basis. If you're interested, please email Penny Schmitt for more details.

Masks keep
us open;

no masks

shut us down.


Visit StaySafeWA.com
to learn how
you can help.

UPCOMING EVENTS
October 19-23
Moss Adams/AGC 2020 Build Washington Awards - Virtual Celebration

Join us as we celebrate our members' brightest projects, people and programs of 2019!
Each day during the week of October 19, we'll be announcing the winners in select categories (31 overall!) -- culminating on Friday, October 23 with the announcement of our 2020 Grand Award winners! Stay tuned for more information, coming soon.

October 21; 8:30 – 9:30 AM
Northern District Virtual Meeting: Crew Safety using Ergonomics and Ergonomic Wearables
Click here
for program details and registration
.

October 22; 10 AM-12 PM
Culture of CARE: RISE Up Manager Training
Click here
for program details and registration
.

October 22; 1 PM – 3 PM
Culture of CARE: RISE Up Worker Orientation
Click here
for program details and registration
.

November 4; 9:45-11 AM
AGCW 2020 Election Recap (via Zoom) 
Click here for program details and registration.

The AGC Education Foundation is offering continuing-education classes in a live, interactive, remote environment. We are working closely with our instructors to maintain our high-quality training programs and are finding great success in a virtual environment.

Visit the AGC Education Foundation website for the latest information on all upcoming classes.

Questions? Comments?  Please email Lance Calloway,
Northern District manager


AGC Northern District Report
is a publication of the
Associated General Contractors of Washington

1200 Westlake Avenue N., Suite 301, Seattle Washington 98109  -  Copyright 2020, AGC of Washington. All rights reserved.

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Click here for a complete listing of upcoming class offerings from AGC's Education Foundation
 
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