It has come to my attention that there are disparities in getting paid by different agencies in Sonoma County and in Marin and other Counties. Rather than have individual issues addressed by the ECA, where we try and discuss the protocol of each agency in dealing with a specific contractor or supplier of services, it may be time for a more “global” approach. The intent of a global approach is to collaborate with the agencies, not criticize them. The underlying consideration going in to the process is that there should be clear rules, mostly the same from agency to agency, and the vendors (us) should be able to depend on a specific time line of receiving payment IF WE HAVE DONE THE PROTOCOL/PROCESS CORRECTLY FROM OUR END. I believe that agencies want to be a preferred vendor, and if they have adequate protection in safeguarding their progress payments, they will want to be considered fair and efficient in their handling of monthly progress payment applications. As a former Contractor, I was acutely aware of who was difficult to deal with in their arguing/debating over minor items like “materials on hand but not installed”, what % of mobilization was reasonable to be paid, counting the number of manholes installed, and submission of certified payroll by all subs and by prime contractor in a timely manner. If we did all those things correctly, why could we not see a very quick turnaround in our payment application vs some arbitrary waiting period of up to 60 days sometimes?
Here is an idea for a more global approach:
- Research the protocol of each major agency in our geographical area. That would be, at a minimum, 13 Marin County Cities, 9 Sonoma County Cities, and several in Napa, Mendo, and Lake Counties as well. This is daunting. I think I would recommend starting with four entities to see how it goes-Sonoma County, City of Santa Rosa, City of Rohnert Park, and the City of Petaluma to start with.
- Ask our membership to chime in on the agencies they have experience with. Some will be good, some not so good. All of the opinions from our members will be their perspective, not the perspective of the awarding agency. All of the opinions would be protected so the agency would not know where or who they came from, and I would demand the opinions be constructive rather than just a “whine session”.
- Try to schedule several Zoom meeting/workshops with the stated intended outcome to be a more uniform means of submitting, processing and receiving progress payments by contractors and suppliers. These sessions would be give and take and I would expect the outcome would be very constructive.
- Collaboration, cooperation, and honestly looking in the mirror would have to be done by both sides. Contractors and suppliers must recognize that some protocols are important to the awarding agency, and the awarding agencies must recognize they need to remove ambiguous or confusing procedures and all we are asking for is a fair and dependable time line if we “toe the line”.
What do you think fellow ECA Members? If you would participate in this endeavor, please contact me and I will start working on it. If you think it is a waste of your valuable time, tell me and I will “stand down”. If you think it is important to get paid in a timely manner, then let’s do something so you can get paid when you are “Working for A Livin”.
That’s All Folks!
John Bly
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SUMMARY OF WHAT AND WHO ECA Endorses!!!!
Cotati: ECA Endorses Ben Ford, Laura Sparks, Susan Harvey
Petaluma: ECA Endorses Kathy Miller, and Mike Healy
Rohnert Park: ECA Endorses Jake Mackenzie
Sonoma: ECA did not endorse any candidate in Sonoma.
Sebastopol: ECA Endorses Diana Rich, and Evert Fernandez
Santa Rosa: ECA Endorses Jack Tibbetts, Chris Rogers, Jorge Inocencio, and Eric Christensen
Windsor: ECA Endorses Dominic Foppoli for Mayor
Healdsburg: ECA Endorses David Hagele, Ariel Kelly, and David Jones
Cloverdale: ECA did not endorse any candidate in Cloverdale.
State Ballot Measures:
ECA voted to OPPOSE California Ballot Measure Prop 15
Local Ballot Measures:
ECA voted to ENDORSE Sonoma County Measure DD
ECA voted to OPPOSE Sonoma County Measure O, County of Sonoma, Mental Health, Addiction and Homeless Services Measure Transactions and Use Tax Ordinance
ECA voted to OPPOSE City of Santa Rosa’s Measure Q, City of Santa Rosa, Sales Tax Extension
ECA voted to take no position on any other State or Local Ballot Measures
Bits and Pieces:
The website for Measure DD is up and running and we would appreciate you visiting the site, endorsing the Measure, and sharing the messaging on social media. www.gosonomaact.com
Sign locations: The Yes on DD Campaign, needs sign locations to mount “Yes on DD, Keep Us Moving” on private property. Specifically, frontages along Highway 101, Highway 12, and Lakeville Highway are desired. I know some of you have property along these roads. If you contact me, I will give you the information on where the signs are now. There are 4’x8’ signs available and 3’x5’ signs available. We did not make any small front yard signs. All signs are currently stored at Operating Engineers Offices in Rohnert Park. We ask that you pick up the signs, let me know how many you picked up, and where your sign locations are that you are mounting them at. If you have no means to pick the signs up and mount them, I can make arrangements to do that for you. Please help us help you!!
So far, I have heard from Ghilotti Brothers, Ghilotti Construction, Mark Soiland, and Erik Fowler who have provided sign locations. We would like to hear from some others!!
Funding: The Campaign could use some funding. We have commitments or checks in hand from the ECA, Operating Engineers Local 3, Ghilotti Brothers, Soiland Company, Inc., and the Sonoma County Alliance.
We have endorsements from many folks including, but not limited to: The ECA, the Sonoma County Alliance, the Operating Engineers Local 3, the Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition, Friends of Smart, the Petaluma Chamber Advocacy Committee, and the Press Democrat Editorial Board (their article is included here–)
This Measure is such a big help to our ECA members and working families. Please take the time to read up on the Measure on the website www.gosonomaact.com and help “Keep Us Moving”!
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Eric Christensen is running for City of Santa Rosa Council. Eric would be the first businessperson to serve on the City Council for many years. He owns his own business, it is local, and he needs our help. The ECA has teamed up with several other organizations to hold a drive through event to help Eric out. Please take a moment to read the attached Flyer and take the additional time to support a true business friendly candidate!!!
