Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Steve Geller
Department: County Commission
Information
Requested Action
title
MOTION TO DIRECT Office of the County Attorney to draft an Ordinance amending the Broward County Code of Ordinances to implement the Construction Apprenticeship Program (“Apprenticeship Program”) on a date certain; and to continue to waive application of the Apprenticeship Program to competitive solicitations until that date certain. (Mayor Geller)
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Why Action is Necessary
Board action is required to direct the Office of the County Attorney to draft an Ordinance.
What Action Accomplishes
Directs the Office of the County Attorney to draft an Ordinance amending the Construction Apprenticeship Program.
Is this Action Goal Related
No
Previous Action Taken
Summary Explanation/Background
On May 8, 2019, the Board enacted an Ordinance creating the Apprenticeship Program. The Apprenticeship Program requires that contractors responding to a solicitation for certain County construction projects commit to participating in an apprenticeship program registered with the Florida Department of Education or the United States Department of Labor. After award and for the duration of the construction contract, at least 12% of the labor hours on the construction project must be performed by apprentices employed by the contractor or its subcontractors.
On August 19, 2019, the Board directed the Office of the County Attorney to prepare certain amendments to the Apprenticeship Program and, consistent with the Office of Economic and Small Business Development’s request, delayed implementation of the Apprenticeship Program until June 2020.
On June 2, 2020, the Board considered and approved those amendments to the Apprenticeship Program, including to limit its application to construction projects in the amount of $5 million or more (an increase over the prior $2 million threshold), to clarify the program’s application to work orders, and to add certain reporting requirements. The effective date of these amendments was set as 60 days after the end of the current Local State of Emergency regarding COVID-19.
Because the Local State of Emergency remains in effect, the Apprenticeship Program has not formally commenced.
This item, if approved, would direct the Office of the County Attorney to prepare an amendment to the Apprenticeship Program to set a date certain (such as 30 days after enactment of the proposed amendment) by which the Apprenticeship Program will commence, and would extend the waiver of the Apprenticeship Program to include all construction contracts solicited or awarded by the County between June 2020 and the commencement date of the Apprenticeship Program. This will provide potential County contractors with appropriate notice of the commencement date for the Apprenticeship Program, and will allow for inclusion of the necessary terms in County procurement solicitation documents.
Source of Additional Information
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
To be determined by the Office of Management and Budget upon presentation of a draft Ordinance.