Trench safety is no accident. Accidents can and do occur in trenches/excavations as a result of inadequate hazard assessment, improperly sloped walls or incorrect shoring materials.  click Trench Safety

Practical Tips for the Construction Industry. Thanks To Jared Goble, George Petersen Insurance and Jim Persons.

click here

Given the significance of this ongoing threat, we recommend that each work shift begin with a short tailgate meeting on the measures to protect our construction workers.

Construction employers must take all necessary precautions to minimize the risk of COVID-19 transmission and illness to themselves, workers, and others at the jobsite. click ECA Safety Memo

The City of Santa Rosa has temporarily limited its operations to provide essential inspection services ONLY to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in our community. This means the City of Santa Rosa has reduced staffing during the pandemic and is focused on providing inspection services that support the most restrictive construction activities that are presented under both the State and County health orders. For more information on actions the City has taken to slow the spread of coronavirus in the community, visit srcity.org/PreventTheSpread. As of April 7, 2020, the following inspection services are available under Sonoma County Order No. C19-03 (Order): link

On April 1, 2020 the County extended the Shelter In Place Order No. C19-03 to May 3, 2020.  The extension also brought with it additional restrictions associated with construction activities.  We’ve received a significant number of requests from the construction and private development communities regarding the activities that are allowed under the County’s amended health order.   The construction specific activities that have received an exemption from the Shelter In Place requirement and are currently allowed to commence are highlighted in Section 13 (F)(F) of the Order.  I’ve included a list of the specific activities below:

• Projects immediately necessary to the maintenance, operation or repair of Essential Infrastructure;
• Projects associated with Healthcare Operations, including creating or expanding Healthcare Operations, provided that such construction is directly related to the COVID-19 response.
• Affordable housing that is or will be income-restricted, including multi-unit or mixed-use developments containing at least 10% income-restricted units;
• Public works projects if specifically designated as an Essential Governmental Function by the lead governmental agency;
• Shelters and temporary housing, but not including hotels or motels;
• Projects immediately necessary to provide critical non-commercial services to individuals experiencing homelessness, elderly persons, persons who are economically disadvantaged, and persons with special needs;
• Construction necessary to ensure that existing construction sites that must be shut down under this Order are left in a safe and secure manner, but only to the extent necessary to do so; and
• Construction or repair necessary to ensure that residences and buildings containing Essential Businesses are safe, sanitary, or habitable to the extent such construction or repair cannot reasonably be delayed;
• Construction or debris removal activities undertaken pursuant to Chapters 40 and 40A of the County Code, or any other construction and debris removal activities on fire damaged or destroyed properties;

Not long after the execution of the amended order, the County produced a resource document that provides a summary of the changes that were made.  The summary document and the amended order are available at the SoCo Emergency website.

https://socoemergency.org/order-of-the-health-officer-shelter-in-place-extended/

The City is currently providing any inspection services needed to support the construction activities allowed under the extension of Order No. C19-03.  We recently published a resource document (COVID Inspection Guidelines 4.7.20 – Final_) specific to the delivery of inspection services.  The document also explains the process a contractor can go through to have a project reviewed in order to determine eligibility for future inspections.  Construction projects that are not exempted from the order are still permitted to perform certain actives needed to shut down the construction site in a fashion that leaves it in a safe and secure state.  The vast majority of our current inquiries are associated with this provision.  Our guidance document describes how a contractor can obtain formal approval regarding the specific inspections that will be provided under this scenario.

Gabe Osburn | Deputy Director of Development Services
Planning and Economic Development Department | 100 Santa Rosa Ave | Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Tel. (707) 543-3853 | Fax (707) 543-3936| gosburn@srcity.org

Construction Technician I/II

Brelje & Race Consulting Engineers is a multi-disciplined firm offering a broad range of civil engineering planning and design, construction management, environmental permitting and surveying services. With strong roots since our 1954 start in Sonoma County and a diverse project portfolio, our commitment to high-quality technical work and outstanding client service makes us one of the most sought after firms in the North Bay region.

We have an immediate opening for a full-time Construction Technician I or II and are seeking a qualified individual with underground utility, asphalt paving and/or water/wastewater treatment plant experience. The individual will be responsible for field engineering and construction monitoring at various project sites in Sonoma, Lake and Mendocino Counties. The distinction between CT I and CT II is the attained level of experience and education.

Responsibilities include contract compliance monitoring; observation and reporting of construction activities; coordination of quality control testing; tracking and coordinating adjustments to project schedule; and maintaining client goals and expectations. Office duties may include assisting with contract administration services such as reviewing submittals, responding to requests for information, and maintaining construction contract logs and files.

Required Qualifications:

Construction Technician I

• Minimum 2 years of experience as construction estimator, foreman or superintendent or 1 year of prior construction inspection experience
• Experience with a variety of project types such as underground utilities, concrete or steel structures, asphalt paving, mechanical pumping and/or water /wastewater treatment systems
• Microsoft Office Suite familiarity
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Self-motivated and detail oriented
• Valid California Driver’s License

 Construction Technician II

• BS Degree in Civil Engineering or Construction Management with 0 years of experience; OR

Minimum 4 years of experience as construction estimator, foreman or superintendent or 2 years of prior construction inspection experience

• Coursework or experience with a variety of project types such as underground utilities, concrete, masonry or steel structures, asphalt paving, coatings, pipe fusing, sewer linings, mechanical pumping and/or water/wastewater treatment systems
• Microsoft Office Suite proficiency
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Self-motivated and detail oriented
• Valid California Driver’s License

 Desired Qualifications:

• Knowledge of California State construction standards (Caltrans)
• Familiarity with AutoCAD or similar software
• California E.I.T. Registration
• QSP or other specialized certifications
• Familiarity with CSI MasterFormat®
• OSHA Hazwoper 40-Hour training

Brelje & Race offers a small office work environment with large company amenities and resources. We provide an opportunity for professional development and advancement along with whole life balance. In addition, Brelje & Race provides competitive salaries, generous bonuses and a comprehensive benefits package. Most of our staff have tenures of over 15 years with the company.

Our outstanding team performance stems from a collaborative environment that is supportive, challenging and fun. Engaging in monthly social activities such as bowling, ziplining and summer picnics, enhances our already strong and effective working relationships.

If interested, we encourage you to send us your resume.

Contact:

Sean Jeane, P.E.
Associate Principal
707-636-3740

Brelje & Race Consulting Engineers
475 Aviation Boulevard, Ste. 120
Santa Rosa, CA 95403

BoDean Company, Inc. is looking for an Hot Plant Site Manager to join our team! BoDean offers a safe, healthy work environment where teamwork and dedication are encouraged! We do offer an exciting benefit package which includes Vacation, Sick Time, Holidays, 401K, Medical & Dental Insurance, Life Insurance as well as Profit Sharing for all full-time employees. Please reply to this email with a resume and cover letter in order to be considered.

Position Title: Site Manager – AC Operations

Status: Production Staff / Non-Exempt

1 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE JOB

Responsible for the overall operation of the batch plant. Duties include, AC operations, plant processing, and the coordination of plant material needs.

PROVIDES SUPERVISION TO
Equipment and Plant Operators, Laborers, Maintenance, and Weighmaster.

2. RESPONSIBILITIES – ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Responsible for ordering and determining the inventory material needs of the asphalt plant (oil, cold feed truck scheduling).
• Assignment and/or reassignment of AC production staff in order to assure daily duties are carried out as directed.
• Establish plant schedules, including personnel weekly schedule to assure adequate coverage for production needs.
• Responsible for the instruction and training of all employees in the proper operation and related activities of the plant (WM 2000).
•
• Track orders and assure accuracy of information provided.
• Serve as sales support staff by greeting visitors and customers in a positive and professional manner and providing good customer service.
• Responsible to resolve problems/concerns as they occur during the workday.
• Assist in maintaining strong quality control over material and production procedures.
• Assure adherence to all safety rules and regulations.
• Provide input to the Director of Production on plant operations and potential staffing needs.
• Responsible for shutting down procedures and assuring that everything is locked upon leaving.
• Assist in loading operations, maintenance needs, excavation, recycle plant, dust control and all other operational needs of the plant site.
• Responsible for storm water preparation and compliance.
• Responsible for process of dealing with employee accidents.
• Host monthly safety meeting and ensure proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Scheduling of oil.

ANCILLARY FUNCTIONS

• Attend seminars and maintain continuing education to facilitate plant
• operations, safety regulations and management of personnel.
• Provide input for the annual budgeting process.
• Research and development of new and used equipment.
• Research and development of new asphalt production techniques.
• Adhere to all BoDean policies and procedures.
• Maintain onsite employee files.

4. QUALIFICATIONS
• Degree in Industrial Operations or four years work experience in related field may be substituted for the education.
• Knowledgeable in all phases of AC batch operations.
• Ability to communicate both orally and in written form.
• Ability to organize information, develop and implement reporting procedures.
• Must be a self-starter, organized, cooperative and able to work under pressure.
• Must be able to work at a steady pace for long periods of time.
• Must be able to tolerate the exposure and conditions of working outdoors.
• Valid California Driver’s License.
• Ability to work overtime and weekends as directed.

5. WORK ENVIRONMENT
Primarily works outdoors in assisting with the overall operation of the asphalt batch plant. Continuous exposure to changes in temperature, weather conditions, and moderate to high levels of dust, noise and hot asphalt oils. Contact is made with hazardous machinery, such as crusher, conveyor belts, electrical control panel, heavy equipment, and welding materials. Walking surfaces may be uneven. Some managerial duties shall be performed in field office.

6. PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Standing, walking and sitting intermittently throughout work shift. The individual is required to utilize moderate manual dexterity for record keeping and telephone functions. Occasional lifting up to 50 pounds, carrying, bending and stooping when performing production activities. Visual acuity, near and far. Hearing and verbal skills required.

7. IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR

Director of Production

ECA FIRE RESOURCE LIST 2020

Tri Counties Bank offers a unique brand of customer Service with Solutions® providing a breadth of personal, small business and commercial banking services serving communities throughout Northern and Central California, including Santa Rosa and the San Francisco Peninsula.

Established in 1975 and now with assets of over $6.5 billion, Tri Counties Bank is a wholly-owned subsidiary of TriCo Bancshares (NASDAQ:TCBK) headquartered in Chico, California.

In addition to its California communities branch network, the Bank provides easy access to its services with advanced online and mobile banking, a nationwide network of over 32,000 surcharge-free ATMs, and bankers available by phone 7 days per week.

In Santa Rosa, to learn more call (707) 522-5480, visit the branch at 819 4^th Street or visit www.TriCountiesBank.com.

A Newsletter 5-2-19

John’s Soapbox

KUDOS to the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors!

Have I gotten mellow in my view of elected officials? It is possible. This Soapbox is going to compliment the existing Supervisors in office in Sonoma County. I know-if I wanted to I could find some things to gripe about, but fair is fair-let’s honestly look at some of the accomplishments the existing five have been able to get some credit for.

I want to start with Shirlee Zane’s unabashed support of building 14 tiny homes for veterans on Russell Avenue. Look-we all know the overall homeless problem is too complex and too varied to have some easy solution. However, in Sonoma County there are several hundred homeless veterans and I personally believe this small “slice” of the big problem is solvable. In 2015 the opportunity for this project was presented and the Supervisors appointed the Community Housing Sonoma County to manage the project. Paula Cook worked tirelessly to get this project built on County owned land. Shirlee Zane supported, cajoled, spoke in favor of, and provided the impetus to get 14 tiny homes built on a small parcel of land on Russell Avenue, just north of the County jail and just south of Kaiser Hospital. To see an article on this, click here—

The location is ironic as it is entirely possible, that without these tiny homes providing safe haven for these guys, they could end up either in the jail, or in the hospital. Instead, they have a tiny home with a roof over their head, neighbors with common interest and shared history, and a door to lock that all combine to instill purpose, hope, security and pride in lives that might otherwise have none of that.

Kudos to Shirlee!

We all know what a traumatic series of events Mother Nature has dumped on our County (and others). No budget could have anticipated and had coverage for the massive commitment of resources the County of Sonoma had to put out to overcome the Tubbs and Nuns fires as well as the floods of the Russian River in 2019. The ability of the County Supervisors to get emergency funding to cover much of those costs is unprecedented. It is a tribute to their relationships with Congressmen Thompson and Huffman, as well as State Senator Mike McGuire, and State Assemblymen Jim Woods and Bill Dodd. Those relationships enabled trust and communication which led to getting emergency funding that might not have been available otherwise. It is a tribute to the character and hard work of all five of our County Supervisors that our Sonoma County budget, although stretched and frayed from the emergencies, has held up and continues to fund public safety, transportation infrastructure, and health and human services to a large extent, as it did before the emergencies.

Kudos to Susan, James, David, Shirlee, and Lynda!

Transportation infrastructure has been addressed by this group of Sonoma County Supervisors for the past 6-7 years in a healthy and productive manner. They all get the benefit of regular maintenance of our roads being good practice to safeguard the underlying structural integrity of our 1384 miles of roads in unincorporated Sonoma County. The plan that was put into action several years ago to repair our roads has so far reconstructed or resurfaced over 500 miles of our County roads. Sonoma County has been spending more General Fund dollars on roads than any other County in California for several years now. To go back to 2017 and the repaving of 170 miles in one season, click on this link from the North Bay Business Journal— link

Despite the pressure the emergencies put on the County Budget from the fires and floods, the County still intends to vote on May 21, 2019 on a planned road improvement funding that has not been reduced. The floods of 2019 caused another $23 million in damage to County roads due to washouts from high water that will get funding separate from the May 21, 2019

Supervisor vote. Emergency funding for those roads damaged in the floods is currently being sought by the Supervisors and I have no doubt they will be successful. Thanks for fixing our roads!

Kudos to David, Lynda, James, Susan and Shirlee for fixing our roads!

The 2020 elections will see Lynda Hopkins, Susan Gorin, and Shirlee Zane run as incumbents for re election to the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors. Slated for ECA Board action on May 21, 2019, will be whether to support and endorse the incumbents or not. This will be a Board decision, not a John decision. If you want to state your opinion on whether we should endorse these incumbents, please let me know and I will share your opinion at that Board meeting.

That’s All Folks!

John Bly