Earlier this year AGC conducted a comprehensive decision-making process to consider endorsement of a candidate for Governor. Leaders from our Government Affairs Council met with AGC members in each AGC District, and a robust discussion was had by the AGC Board of Trustees.

Rarely do individuals or organizations see eye-to-eye 100% of the time. AGC is no different in this situation. We are in agreement that changes are needed in our state government. We need new ideas; fresh faces; and different approaches to tackle the tough issues the state, its communities and our people face in the years ahead. Ultimately, AGC decided to endorse Senator Dino Rossi for Governor because we feel that he is the best candidate to restore balance and introduce a new vitality to state government.

Endorsements like ours are useful to candidates and voters, as they provide a helpful perspective or frame of reference. But our endorsement is really helpful if it is supported by the personal and financial commitment of AGC members. This message accompanies an invitation (see below) to an important fundraising event in support of the AGC-endorsed candidate, Dino Rossi. Please lend strength to our endorsement. Your participation, either in person or with a mailed-in contribution, will help assure that an AGC endorsement carries significance.

Please write a generous check to help Dino's campaign get his message out to the voters of Washington State.

DDES is seeking public comment on the proposal before it is transmitted to the County Council. Go to: http://your.kingcounty.gov/permits/codes/legnews.aspx for information on how to submit comments and for more details about the proposal. Comments are due by Friday, September 12, 2008, 4:30 p.m.

See the Daily Journal of Commerce article at County moves toward stricter SEPA rules for industry comments.

King County's action is likely to have statewide implications. The Department of Ecology is simultaneously taking steps to clarify how climate change and greenhouse gas emissions are addressed when state and local jurisdictions conduct environmental reviews and there is wide expectation that the King County proposal will have great influence on that process.

Under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), state and local agencies must consider possible environmental impacts that may result from governmental decisions.

These decisions may be related to issuing permits for private projects, constructing public facilities, or adopting regulations, policies or plans by state agencies, counties, cities, ports, and special districts such as a school and water districts.

Information gathered can be used to change a proposal to reduce likely impacts, or to condition or deny a proposal when adverse environmental impacts are identified.

Ecology Director Jay Manning launched a public process addressing climate change to head off future legal concerns for those making decisions and those with proposals coming under environmental review.

"Across the country, many local and state governments are developing regulations and guidance to address climate change in their environmental review processes," Manning said. "Some are doing it because they failed to address climate change and were challenged in court. I believe it is in our best interest to act now to clarify our state's SEPA rules and help prepare guidance regarding climate change."

Manning said if Ecology does not act soon, "We could face a similar ‘policy by litigation' scenario here in Washington - and that's not a path to go down if we want to make sure that our policies, regulations and guidance for climate change are as useful as possible to everyone."

State and local agencies must already consider the environmental effects of climate change and air emissions that may result from their decisions. However, Manning said that the existing rule needs to be clearer to better address climate change and greenhouse gas emissions during environmental reviews.

As part of the state Climate Action Team's work this year, Manning said a SEPA working group is working to help clarify SEPA rules and prepare important guidance information. In addition the Climate Action Team is addressing transportation, green building and energy efficiency, and waste reduction within other working groups and is an active participant in the Western Climate Initiative seeking to negotiate a "Cap and Trade" system.

One of the key initiatives of the AGC Legislative Office is to improve communication with and enhance the participation of members in developing and undertaking legislative efforts. The issue survey is an important element in that plan.

Please take a few minutes to click on the link below and share your views on issues which we expect to be debated during the 2009 Legislative Session. Your responses will help shape AGC's 2009 Legislative Agenda and guide the government affairs team as it responds to proposals pushed by others.
The survey software allows you to offer issues and comments which are "out of the box" and not listed in the survey matrix.

Please click on this link for the 2009 Legislative Priorities Survey and make your views known.

AGC Government Affairs and Safety programs are hosting the event.

RSVP to Michele Willms at 360.352.5000 or mwillms@agcwa.com. The bag lunch will be provided. No need to plan in advance, but feel free to let Michele know (by Sept. 22) if you have specific questions that you want to be sure are answered during the event. She will make sure L&I is prepared to respond.

"Brown Bag" meetings are a new series of periodic events offered by AGC Government Affairs program to address issues important to contractors' daily operations. They will cover business operational issues such as workers' comp, safety and employment regulations, as well as broader policy issues. AGC hopes the "Brown Bags" will prove useful to members' activities and afford them an opportunity to become involved in the various aspects of AGC's government affairs efforts. Watch for announcements of future events, and contact the Legislative Office if you have suggestions for future "Brown Bag" subjects.

Interested contractors can request drawings by contacting:

Lee Dunham
Project Engineer
Olympic Engineers
(206) 268-0965

Project requirements will necessitate that interested bidders will have to meet certain pre-qualifications in order to be eligible to bid on project.

Required construction permits should be issued by the City of Seattle in September.

AGC Property Committee is hopes to have contractor selection and associated contract requirements approved this fall.

Questions can be directed to either Lee Dunham at number above or Dick Bristow, at (206) 284-0061.

Ross Bros. & Co. Inc.
Mr. Steven Ross
3501 Brooklake Rd. N, Salem, OR 97303
Phone: 503.393.5885
Fax: 503.393.5892
Email: steveross@rossbros.org
Specialty: Heavy highway and bridge construction.

Swinerton Builders
Mr. Ron Montoya
3180 - 139th Ave. SE, Ste. 250, Bellevue, WA 98005
Phone: 425.283.5290
Fax: 425.283.5291
Email: rmontoya@swinerton.com
Specialty: Construction.

Introductory General Contractor

SODO Builders LLC
Mr. Gregory Steinhauer
270 S. Hanford St., Ste. 100, Seattle, WA 98134
Phone: 206.381.1690
Fax: 206.381.3927
Email: greg@sodobuilders.net
Specialty: We are an affiliate company of American Life Inc. and build our own projects.

Subcontractors

Architectural Millwork Installation
Mr. Pat Akina
12125 Cyrus Way, Mukilteo, WA 98275
Phone: 425.493.9555
Fax: 425.493.9554
Email: pakina@ami-llc.com
Specialty: Finish carpentry.

Mason Corporation
Ms. Elizabeth Mason
P.O. Box 2342, Tacoma, WA 98401
Phone: 253.627.6391
Fax: 253.627.5695
Email: lizmason@juno.com
Specialty: Painting and waterproofing.

Superior Steel & Ironworkers, LLC
Mr. Jim Edwards
240 Francis Lane, Issaquah, WA 98027
Phone: 425.996.8608
Fax: 866.588.4766
Email: jim.e@superiorsteel.biz
Specialty: Misc. steel installation, structural steel erection, post tension repair, steel fabrication.

Associates

4Refuel of Washington
Mr. Keith Gorman
4211 Alderwood Mall Blvd., Lynnwood, WA 98038
Phone: 425.949.4480
Fax: 425.949.4478
Email: kgorman@4refuel.com
Specialty: Fuel supplier.

Advance Capital, Inc.
Mr. Allan Kligerman
600 University St., Ste. 1616, Seattle, WA 98101
Phone: 206.622.8085
Fax: 206.622.7873
Email: allan@advance-capital.com
Specialty: Asset based lender.

B.D.M. Services L.L.C.
Mr. Brett Murrey
2226 122nd Ave. E, Puyallup, WA 98372
Phone: 253.312.2280
Fax: 253.863.4370
Email: murrbig@hotmail.com
Specialty: Provides on site recycling and demolition containers and portable storage units. LEED's compliant.

Chinook Materials, Inc.
Mr. Marc Cantwell
9125 SW Ridder Rd., Ste. B, Wilsonville, OR 97070
Phone: 503.855.3630
Fax: 503.210.0320
Email: marc.cantwell@chinookmaterials.com
Specialty: Division 8 - Operation and Maintenance of Doors and Frames.

Kleinfelder
Mr. Victor Clarke
2405 - 140th Ave. NE, Ste. A101, Bellevue, WA 98005
Phone: 425.562.4200
Fax: 425.562.4201
Email: vclarke@kleinfelder.com
Specialty: Materials testing and inspection, geotechnical engineering.

Patent Construction Systems
Mr. Mark Drees
7915 S. 261st St., Kent, WA 98032
Phone: 253.373.0210
Fax: 253.373.0216
Email: mdrees@pcshd.com
Specialty: Shoring, forming, scaffolding.

White Cap Construction Supply
Mr. Rick Tronson
18211 E Valley Hwy., Kent, WA 98032
Phone: 425.251.5701
Fax: 425.251.9281
Email: derrecktronson@whitecap.net
Specialty: Material supplier.

RETRO Members

American Rock Products Inc
Ms. Cathy Brady
2090 Robertson Dr., Richland, WA 99352
Phone: 509.375.1021
Fax: 509.375.5194
Email: cathy@americanrockproducts.com
Specialty: Material supplier.

M.A. DeAtley Construction, Inc.
Mr. Jack Paluso
829 Evans Rd., Clarkston, WA 99403
Phone: 509.751.1580
Fax: 509.751.1922
Email: jack@madcon.net
Specialty: Heavy/Highway.

Reinstatements

G.K. Knutson Inc.
Greg Knutson
2232 Pacific St.
Bellingham, WA 98229
Phone: 360.384.2539
Fax: 360.384.5629
Email: greg.gkknutsoninc@comcast.net
Specialty: Structural steel framing and thermal protection.

Hertz Equipment Rental Corp.
Bret Anderson
5055 - 4th Ave. S
Seattle, WA 98134
Phone: 206.767.8400
Fax: 206.767.8275
Email: banderson@hertz.com
Specialty: Equipment rental.

Through Construction Week, student "general contractors" vie for the most competitive bid to build a new art center and learn how this rapidly growing industry offers some of the highest paid professions in our state. Explore the wide spectrum of career choices in construction. Construction Week is a component of Washington Business Week, a week-long opportunity for high school students across the state to learn about teamwork, leadership, and setting real-life goals. The Association of Washington Business is the founding sponsor of Business Week, and AGC of Washington sponsors Construction Week.

In thank-you letters to AGC, several of the students shared their experiences during the July 20-26 Construction Week. Some excerpts:

"I have played sports my whole life, but never have I been a part of such great teamwork."
-Austin Erath, Kennewick

"I learned a whole lot about managing a company and how to get ready to build a project...Our speakers were totally awesome, they made me look at things in a different perspective."
-Garrett Goodwin, Richland

Get to know your AGC staffers! In offices in Seattle, Bellingham, Olympia, Tacoma and Yakima, AGC staff members are working on issues important to you, from legislation to safety to labor and more! AGC Executive Vice President David D'Hondt has made "Get to Know Your AGC Staff" a regular feature of AGC Works. The first profile is of AGC Communications Director Jerry VanderWood, not (just) because he's the editor of AGC Works but because that's the name David pulled out of a hat! Thanks to Communications Assistant Sarah Teague, whom you'll hear more about in a future profile, for her help with the article.

Get to Know Your AGC Staff: Jerry VanderWood

Jerry VanderWood is originally from Greenville, South Carolina. He graduated from the University of South Carolina (Go Gamecocks!), but also attended Clemson University (Go Tigers!). After college, he moved to Washington, DC to feed his interest in politics and over seven years he worked for Congressmen Carroll Campbell (SC) and Jim Saxton (NJ). While in DC he met his wife, Shari, who was a Congressional as well as White House aide.

Shari had lived in Seattle for several years before her stint in DC, and she convinced Jerry that Seattle was the greatest place on earth, and all that. So the pair moved out and landed in Issaquah. Jerry has three kids and his hobbies include being a "soccer dad", being an avid (meaning lazy) TV watcher, and a sports fan. His last vacation was spent at Ocean Shores where he and his family were able to stay at a beachfront condo that was donated by AGC member Bill Kloster for the BUILD PAC auction. They flew kites, played tennis, and walked their two dogs on the beach.

Due to his current non-aerodynamic shape, some may be surprised to learn that Jerry was a competitive swimmer in his youth. He later coached swim teams and once took his team all the way to a championship. Today he stays plugged into the Issaquah community by serving on the board of Issaquah Select Youth Basketball program and on the editorial board of the Issaquah Reporter Newspaper. A few years ago he earned a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Washington (Go Huskies!).

This is Jerry's "second term" at AGC. Jerry worked here from 1989 to 1993. He then worked for Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and later for a nonprofit communications and political consulting firm headed by former Seattle Mayor Charles Royer. Looking to make another change, Jerry came back to the AGC last summer as our new Director of Communications. He produces AGC Works and AGC's new print magazine, Cornerstone. He led the overhaul of AGC's website, staffs AGC's Future Leadership Forum (FLF), deals with the news media and helps out with major events. All of that means that Jerry ends up knowing a little bit about a lot of things AGC-related, so members with questions can usually count on Jerry to steer them to the appropriate resident experts.

One of the key initiatives of the AGC Legislative Office is to improve communication with and enhance the participation of members in developing and undertaking legislative efforts. The issue survey is an important element in that plan.

Please take a few minutes to click on the link below and share your views on issues which we expect to be debated during the 2009 Legislative Session. Your responses will help shape AGC's 2009 Legislative Agenda and guide the government affairs team as it responds to proposals pushed by others.

The survey software allows you to offer issues and comments which are "out of the box" and not listed in the survey matrix.

Please click on this link for the 2009 Legislative Priorities Survey and make your views known.