Title
IMPLEMENTATION OF APPRENTICE UTILIZATION REQUIREMENTS ON CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS OVER $250,000
COUNCIL STRATEGIC INITIATIVE ADDRESSED:
Strengthen economic conditions & create new opportunities
CITY ATTORNEY REVIEW: N/A
SUMMARY STATEMENT:
In 2009, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 1938 establishing apprentice utilization requirements for construction contracts estimated to cost more than $250,000. This resolution requires at least fifteen percent (15%) of the labor hours worked in each apprenticeable trade on the project, excluding foremen, superintendents, owners and workers not subject to prevailing wage requirements, be performed by apprentices enrolled in apprenticeship programs approved or recognized by the Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council. This requirement applies to the labor hours of the general contractor and all subcontractors.
Many contractors have not met the utilization requirement and frequently request waivers due to a claimed lack of apprentices available to work on their project. The public works director discussed our utilization experience with the local building trades council and the regional apprenticeship program coordinator at the state Department of Labor and Industries to review the availability of apprentices and explore ways to improve utilization on our projects. Based on those discussions, project specifications have been revised in an effort to obtain a higher level of compliance with requirements of Resolution No. 1938.
Attached is a staff report providing background information and the current status of our apprentice utilization efforts.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
For information and discussion.
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