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Agenda Item
45 Reconsideration of Item 3 from the June 23, 2020 City Council Policy Session - Eight-Hour Rule Request for Consideration to Research a Prevailing Wage Ordinance
The American Subcontractors Association of Arizona (ASA) opposes this item. Impacted industry stakeholders have not had an opportunity to provide critical feedback on the proposed Prevailing Wage ordinance, which will place enormous compliance burdens on contractors who are already struggling in today’s economy. -Ryan DeMenna, Registered Lobbyist with the City of Phoenix
The Home Builders Association of Central Arizona ("HBACA") opposes this item. We do not believe the City has the legal authority to enact such an ordinance under A.R.S. 34-321. Additionally, the likely effect would be to increase construction costs in the City, including for new homes, depriving many families the opportunity for the safety, security, and stability that comes with home ownership. Jackson Moll, V.P. of Municipal Affairs, HBACA, Registered lobbyist with the City of Phoenix.
The Arizona Multihousing Association (AMA) opposes this item due to its impact on affordable housing. One prominent study on local Prevailing Wage laws and their impact on Low Income Housing Tax Credit projects indicted that such laws increased the cost of affordable housing construction by 9-37%. These added construction costs will undermine the city's "Housing Phoenix" plan that was unanimously approved just two weeks ago.
Jake Hinman for AMA, Registered Lobbyist with the City of Phoenix
I'm the owner of the Brewer Companies & Benjamin Franklin Plumbing. Two years ago we developed the Brewer Craftsman Academy, (breweruniversity.com), to train young men and women to begin their careers in the plumbing trade. Each year I spend $800,000+ on training. I don't feel as though I should be told to pay someone else when I am already training successfully. There are other quality training programs in the private sector. This was set aside last week and I ask you to do the same today.
On behalf of NAIOP Arizona - the voice of commercial real estate. This proposed ordinance will increase costs on all construction projects. The language is also written too broadly and could potentially apply to a large amount of private developments. Please vote no.
My name is Nohemi Quintero, and I am the Controller for Reds Plastering Inc. We are a subcontractor who does work in the City of Phoenix. I oppose the proposed Prevailing Wage ordinance. If adopted, this policy will place tremendous compliance burdens on my business, which is already facing challenges in today’s economy. Please oppose the ordinance, and focus the City’s time on more urgent matters.
My name is Roxana Aguirre, and I am the Administrative Assistant for Red's Plastering Inc. We are a subcontractor who does work in the City of Phoenix. I oppose the proposed Prevailing Wage ordinance. If adopted, this policy will place tremendous compliance burdens on my business, which is already facing challenges in today’s economy. Please oppose the ordinance, and focus the City’s time on more urgent matters.
Opposed. This will likely make it harder for businesses to survive, especially now. Typically, large corporations can afford a high minumum wage. Smaller business that make profits on the margin cannot do it.
I am a lifetime Phoenician and a local business owner. The prevailing wage ordinance will add an unreasonable burden to our business owners are already mandated with many requirements and have been working very hard to keep the public and employees safe during the current pandemic. I urge the council to vote no on all the agenda items related to impacts on businesses at this time so our businesses can bring the jobs into our great City.
I am in favor of reconsideration of the 8-hour rule request to research a prevailing wage ordinance. Arizona construction wages have been repressed for decades and only slightly higher than I earned in the early 80's. This ordinance is a good first step to ensure taxpayer dollars invested in permanent infrastructure are dispersed legally and responsibly to the workforce. A prevailing wage will attract better talent, lead to higher contractor profits and provide greater opportunities for all.
My name is Jeanne Jimenez, and I am the Vice President for M&J Caulking and Waterproofing, Inc.. We are a subcontractor who does work in the City of Phoenix. I oppose the proposed Prevailing Wage ordinance. If adopted, this policy will place tremendous compliance burdens on my business, which is already facing challenges in today’s economy. Please oppose the ordinance, and focus the City’s time on more urgent matters.”
My name is Tonya Schulte and I am the owner of The Profit Constructors. I oppose this proposal. We are an accounting firm serving construction companies with many subcontractor clients who perform work in the City of Phoenix. This regulation would place an undue amount of compliance burden on many of our clients who are already struggling under the weight of compliance load. I strongly urge you to vote no on this issue and move on to other far more urgent matters.
I am Bob Brown CEO of Arizona Foundation Solutions, #17 of the Sun Devil 100. I oppose this proposal. It adds burden to an already stretched overhead in surviving these uncertain times. This smacks of corporate welfare for union contractors. It will increase your project costs, add to your burden to administer, and make it more difficult for small contractors to compete in an already difficult environment for them. Lets lay this one to rest to address more important matters.
Substandard contractors and businesses claim that prevailing wage, creates more burdensome regulatory oversight and paperwork. The fact is that this ordinance forces them to be held accountable for cash pay/tax fraud that has become prevalent in the Phoenix construction market. Also they won’t be able to exploit workers and skirt the rules by misclassification of employees or abusing undocumented immigrants. I support this effort.
My name is Donn Kaebisch, and I am the Business Development for RJ Russo. We are a subcontractor who does work in the City of Phoenix. I oppose the proposed Prevailing Wage ordinance. If adopted, this policy will place tremendous compliance burdens on my business, which is already facing challenges in today’s economy. Please oppose the ordinance, and focus the City’s time on more urgent matters.”
On behalf of the Greater Phoenix Chamber and the broader business community, I urge the council to oppose.
The American Subcontractors Association of Arizona (ASA) opposes this item. Impacted industry stakeholders have not had an opportunity to provide critical feedback on the proposed Prevailing Wage ordinance, which will place enormous compliance burdens on contractors who are already struggling in today’s economy. -Ryan DeMenna, Registered Lobbyist with the City of Phoenix
Oppose
The Home Builders Association of Central Arizona ("HBACA") opposes this item. We do not believe the City has the legal authority to enact such an ordinance under A.R.S. 34-321. Additionally, the likely effect would be to increase construction costs in the City, including for new homes, depriving many families the opportunity for the safety, security, and stability that comes with home ownership. Jackson Moll, V.P. of Municipal Affairs, HBACA, Registered lobbyist with the City of Phoenix.
The Arizona Multihousing Association (AMA) opposes this item due to its impact on affordable housing. One prominent study on local Prevailing Wage laws and their impact on Low Income Housing Tax Credit projects indicted that such laws increased the cost of affordable housing construction by 9-37%. These added construction costs will undermine the city's "Housing Phoenix" plan that was unanimously approved just two weeks ago.
Jake Hinman for AMA, Registered Lobbyist with the City of Phoenix
I'm the owner of the Brewer Companies & Benjamin Franklin Plumbing. Two years ago we developed the Brewer Craftsman Academy, (breweruniversity.com), to train young men and women to begin their careers in the plumbing trade. Each year I spend $800,000+ on training. I don't feel as though I should be told to pay someone else when I am already training successfully. There are other quality training programs in the private sector. This was set aside last week and I ask you to do the same today.
On behalf of Valley Partnership
Registered lobbyist with the City of Phoenix
On behalf of NAIOP Arizona - the voice of commercial real estate. This proposed ordinance will increase costs on all construction projects. The language is also written too broadly and could potentially apply to a large amount of private developments. Please vote no.
My name is Nohemi Quintero, and I am the Controller for Reds Plastering Inc. We are a subcontractor who does work in the City of Phoenix. I oppose the proposed Prevailing Wage ordinance. If adopted, this policy will place tremendous compliance burdens on my business, which is already facing challenges in today’s economy. Please oppose the ordinance, and focus the City’s time on more urgent matters.
My name is Roxana Aguirre, and I am the Administrative Assistant for Red's Plastering Inc. We are a subcontractor who does work in the City of Phoenix. I oppose the proposed Prevailing Wage ordinance. If adopted, this policy will place tremendous compliance burdens on my business, which is already facing challenges in today’s economy. Please oppose the ordinance, and focus the City’s time on more urgent matters.
Opposed. This will likely make it harder for businesses to survive, especially now. Typically, large corporations can afford a high minumum wage. Smaller business that make profits on the margin cannot do it.
I am a lifetime Phoenician and a local business owner. The prevailing wage ordinance will add an unreasonable burden to our business owners are already mandated with many requirements and have been working very hard to keep the public and employees safe during the current pandemic. I urge the council to vote no on all the agenda items related to impacts on businesses at this time so our businesses can bring the jobs into our great City.
I am in favor of reconsideration of the 8-hour rule request to research a prevailing wage ordinance. Arizona construction wages have been repressed for decades and only slightly higher than I earned in the early 80's. This ordinance is a good first step to ensure taxpayer dollars invested in permanent infrastructure are dispersed legally and responsibly to the workforce. A prevailing wage will attract better talent, lead to higher contractor profits and provide greater opportunities for all.
My name is Jeanne Jimenez, and I am the Vice President for M&J Caulking and Waterproofing, Inc.. We are a subcontractor who does work in the City of Phoenix. I oppose the proposed Prevailing Wage ordinance. If adopted, this policy will place tremendous compliance burdens on my business, which is already facing challenges in today’s economy. Please oppose the ordinance, and focus the City’s time on more urgent matters.”
My name is Tonya Schulte and I am the owner of The Profit Constructors. I oppose this proposal. We are an accounting firm serving construction companies with many subcontractor clients who perform work in the City of Phoenix. This regulation would place an undue amount of compliance burden on many of our clients who are already struggling under the weight of compliance load. I strongly urge you to vote no on this issue and move on to other far more urgent matters.
I am Bob Brown CEO of Arizona Foundation Solutions, #17 of the Sun Devil 100. I oppose this proposal. It adds burden to an already stretched overhead in surviving these uncertain times. This smacks of corporate welfare for union contractors. It will increase your project costs, add to your burden to administer, and make it more difficult for small contractors to compete in an already difficult environment for them. Lets lay this one to rest to address more important matters.
Substandard contractors and businesses claim that prevailing wage, creates more burdensome regulatory oversight and paperwork. The fact is that this ordinance forces them to be held accountable for cash pay/tax fraud that has become prevalent in the Phoenix construction market. Also they won’t be able to exploit workers and skirt the rules by misclassification of employees or abusing undocumented immigrants. I support this effort.
My name is Donn Kaebisch, and I am the Business Development for RJ Russo. We are a subcontractor who does work in the City of Phoenix. I oppose the proposed Prevailing Wage ordinance. If adopted, this policy will place tremendous compliance burdens on my business, which is already facing challenges in today’s economy. Please oppose the ordinance, and focus the City’s time on more urgent matters.”