The City Council got it right on local hiring on Monday.
The electeds voted 6-2 Monday night to delay approval of a $177.5 million construction contract for the Central Library seismic retrofit until PCL Construction Services Inc. produces a written local hire and procurement plan after learning that few if any Pasadena residents worked on the project’s first phase.
Yes, it could delay the reopening of one of Pasadena’s most venerable institutions, and that’s worthy of concern as Councilmember Steve Madison said.
However, the lack of a plan is just as concerning.
Respect to Justin Jones and Tyron Hampton for leading the way with questions on the matter.
Jones visited the site and was told there were no local residents working on the project.
Hampton said he could not vote to move the project forward without a written local hiring plan.
Respect.
But consider this, if accountability factors were set in place at the beginning of this project, including plans in writing, there may not be concerns over a delay.
Yes, it’s been said that Pasadena is the center of the universe.
If that’s the case, City leader must remember that the welfare of its people must be at the center of Pasadena’s motivations and movements.
Elected and City officials must consider local hiring a top issue when big projects are approved.
Yes, PCL reported that approximately 7% of Phase 1 spending — roughly $500,000 out of $7.8 million — went back to the local economy through a combination of local suppliers, trade partners and workforce.
It’s also great PCL is projecting that 11 to 12% of Phase 2 contract spending will go to the local economy, exceeding its contractual commitment of 10%.
Still the company could not produce local hiring numbers on Monday, and the proof is in the numbers.
And without numbers, we have to move forward with caution. The City got burned on the Parsons project which also promised to meet local hiring benchmarks.
I said it in this space in 2023 and I say it again.If you want to build here, you have to hire here is the message the City must send developers.
Not only should money go into the pockets of local experienced contractors, but others should be trained so they can acquire gainful employment.
Don’t just give them a stick and point to the cement maker.
Train them, and train them well.
You want to make a boatload of money locally.
Open your wallet and hire local people to do the work.
Pasadena has the workforce.
Enact a local hiring committee, or adhoc committee of EDTECH, to monitor the PCL written plan which is due to come back to the City Council later this month.
Jobs still make the world go round.
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