RDA Min 1987-09-14 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Item No.2 (continued) In response to question, City Attorney Schricker said that local preference hiring and minority preference hiring were amended out of the Charter as a specific requirement for legal reasons, since it is necessary to make specific findings as the basis for local preference. Robert Gilmore, Business Manager, Building Trades Council of San Mateo County 300 8th Street, San Mateo, read a statement in favor of establishment of prevailing wage rates and provided a copy of the statement and other materials to Council. (Statement is on fi lee ) Tom Adams, 1875 South Grant, attorney representing the Building Trades Council of San Mateo County, said that there are some 15,000 construction workers in the County and commented regarding the value of their purchasing power here. Mr. Adams suggested that if less than prevailing wages are paid, there will be a negative effect on business and an increase in the cost of social services. Mr. Adams said that union workers contribute to apprentice and returning- worker programs, stating it would be appropriate to adopt a prevailing wage requirement for all Redevelopment projects and, thus, obtain full benefits of Red eve lopment. John Crockett, Business Manager, Carpenters Union Local 1408, 820 Cassia Street, requested establishment of a policy of paying prevailing wage rates for Redevelopment projects. He reported that for projects in other Bay Area cities where prevailing wages are not required, as many as 80% of the workers are from out-of-state and take their payout of the area. Norman Nutcher, 308 Hiller Street, Business Manager, Sheet Metal Workers Local 104, said he is in agreement with the previous speakers. Gary Saunder, 837 Seminole, Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 467, objected to figures in the staff report regarding Heron Court and said requiring prevailing wages would not add to the cost of construction. Tom Hunter, Business Manager, Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 467, suggested figures in the staff report are deliberately incorrect and said that the Davis-Bacon Act is proposed to remain at $50,000 for new projects and $15,000 on rehabilitation projects for a "trigger" with regard to establishing prevailing wage rates. Mr. Hunter said there will be no cost by requiring prevailing wages rates in the construction business in San Mateo County, and everyone here would be protected econcmically. Director Greenalch stated for the record that Council members have had excel- lent staff reports covering all sides of the prevailing wage issue and with regard to Davis-Bacon called attention to page 80 of ENR of May 21, 1987 stat- ing that the Solicitor General George Salem advocated increasing the threshold for "triggering" prevailing wages at $1 million for certain projects and $100,000 for others which supports the statement of Agency Executive Director Chu rch. Red ev. Agency 9/14/87 Page 2 MINUTE BOOK NO. 47 Page No. 360 ...... ...._......'W'---'.'----"'---'-'--"---'--""'--~------------...