Public Works Administration

AB 195 (Hall) – Co-Sponsor
As Introduced on January 28, 2013

AB 195, by Assembly Member Isadore Hall, would extend the sunset date on existing design-build authority granted to counties until July 1, 2020. 

The design-build method is an approach to delivering public works projects which counties find beneficial. Under design-build, the owner contracts with a single entity to both design and construct a project at a fixed price. The owner prepares documents that describe the concept of the project and the desired outcome for the project. In addition to price, proposals are generally evaluated on criteria such as best-value, qualifications and design quality. There are a number of advantages to using design-build, when compared to the traditional design-bid-build method:

• Projects can be completed faster, as construction can commence during the design phase;
• Contractors are provided with more flexibility over project design, materials and construction methods. This promotes project design and construction innovation, which can ultimately result in higher quality, as well as cost savings; and
• Time-consuming and costly disputes between designer and contractor are reduced, because both parties are affiliated with the same entity.

Approximately nine counties have used the design-build method for project delivery for a variety of projects ranging from parking facilities to parks and recreation projects to fire stations. Counties and tax payers in general, benefit from the use of design-build authority due to cost savings produced by this method of project delivery. Furthermore, given the continued difficult economic times across the State, local agencies need maximum flexibility to delivery projects based on their expertise in choosing the right delivery method.

AB 195 was passed out of the Assembly Appropriations Committee on May 15 by a vote of 16 to 1, with an amendment to change the sunset extension to two years (until July 1, 2016) from the introduced version of a six-year extension. The Appropriations Committee analysis expressed a desire to await the Legislative Analyst’s Office next report on the use of county design-build authority (due in 2014) before pursuing a longer term extension or even an elimination of the sunset date altogether.
SB 785 (Wolk) – Support
As Amended on May 2, 2013

SB 785, by Senator Lois Wolk, would recast existing design-build statutes for purposes of eliminating inconsistencies and consolidating present statutory authority as well as extend the sunset date on existing design-build authority and reduce the project cost threshold to projects that exceed $1 million. 

The design-build method is an approach to delivering public works projects which counties find beneficial. Under design-build, the owner contracts with a single entity to both design and construct a project at a fixed price. The owner prepares documents that describe the concept of the project and the desired outcome for the project. In addition to price, proposals are generally evaluated on criteria such as best-value, qualifications and design quality. By using design-build, projects can be completed faster, as construction can commence during the design phase. Contractors are provided with more flexibility over project design, materials and construction methods. This promotes project design and construction innovation, which can ultimately result in higher quality, as well as cost savings. Further, time-consuming and costly disputes between designer and contractor are reduced, because both parties are affiliated with the same entity.

Approximately nine counties have used the design-build method for project delivery for a variety of projects ranging from parking facilities to parks and recreation projects to fire stations. Counties, and tax payers in general, benefit from the use of design-build authority due to cost savings produced by this method of project delivery. Furthermore, given the continued difficult economic times across the State, local agencies need maximum flexibility to delivery projects based on their expertise in choosing the right delivery method.

SB 785 is set for hearing before the Senate Appropriations Committee on May 20.

Transportation

SCA 8 (Corbett) – Support 
As Introduced on December 14, 2012

SCA 8, by Senator Ellen Corbett, would reduce the vote threshold for special taxes to fund transportation projects to 55 percent, from the current two-thirds vote requirement. 

As a matter of long-standing policy, CSAC supports these measures and others that would reduce the vote threshold from the current 2/3 supermajority requirement. The measure would allow communities to self-determine the level of revenues they want. CSAC has encouraged the Legislature to consider this, and all of the other voter threshold measures, in a broad discussion about what is appropriate to be placed before the voters in 2014. That discussion should consider the needs and desires of local communities, as well as providing counties the flexibility to pursue special taxes in either the entire county or only in the unincorporated areas.

SCA 8 was passed out of the Senate Governance and Finance Committee on May 15 by a vote of 5 to 2.