Stanislaus supervisors to address labor debate

A dispute involving contractor unions and labor on government projects resurfaces today before Stanislaus County leaders.

Despite strong union opposition, county supervisors two weeks ago tentatively agreed not to require project labor agreements for county construction, but signaled they would study the issue more before today's final vote.

PLAs spell out labor terms such as wages and benefits, reducing strike threats. They've been used on public and private projects for about seven decades.

Unions generally like them, saying PLAs ensure quality work. But critics say they drive up prices and discourage small local bidders, and a June 28 meeting erupted into a struggle between the two sides.

The county has not required PLAs; officials want to make official a clear policy favoring open competition, a report says. It would not prevent contractors from using PLAs, the report says.

Today's meeting will start at 9 a.m. in the basement chamber at Tenth Street Place, 1010 10th St., Modesto.

Supervisors also are scheduled to:

• Raise fees for 20 streetlight districts in unincorporated communities throughout the county, including a $175.50-per-year jump in the North McHenry No.2 district, to $1,299 per year. The increases are blamed on metal thieves stealing wires. Rates in six other districts would go down, including a $128 drop in the Sylvan Village district, to $47.64 per year.

• Hold a public hearing and conclude landowner voting on whether to create a storm drain district in a business park area north of Modesto. Summit Corporate Center initially was skeptical about expanding its district, southwest of Bangs and McHenry avenues, to fix $46,000 worth of flooding problems in the Bangs Industrial Park. But Summit's $177.50-per-acre fees would drop by half in some cases and more in others, a new report says. Fees north of Bangs would range from $89.36 to $363.16 per acre. If approved, the county would collect about $17,300 per year in fees.

• Support state legislation promoting Internet access in underserved areas. While 30 percent of Californians don't have high-speed Internet in their homes, the figure rises to 49 percent in the Central Valley and 50 percent for Latino families.

• Hire Bond Blacktop of Union City for $444,600 to coat asphalt on 11 miles of roads near urban areas throughout the county.

• Apply for $350,000 in state Urban Greening Planning grants for Modesto's airport neighborhood, in a partnership with Modesto and the Tuolumne River Trust. If awarded, the money could pay for plans to reduce carbon gas in the neighborhood, including bike paths, a community garden and health projects.

• Approve plans for a new Juvenile Hall building and a list of 14 prequalified contractors bidding for the job. They include ACME Construction of Modesto, C.T. Brayton & Sons of Escalon, and J.L. Bray and Son of Salida. The state will pay $18 million of the $24.2 million cost for a 47,000-square-foot, 60-bed jail with classrooms, food service and an outdoor recreation yard. Work could start in October and finish next spring.

• Schedule a July 26 public hearing on plans to rezone 0.45 acres near Ceres at 1300 Bystrum Road. The applicant hopes to transform a child care center into a 15-bed, senior-assisted-care facility and eight-bed boarding house.

Bee staff writer Garth Stapley can be reached at gstapley@modbee.com or (209) 578-2390.