THE
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF THE CITY
OF
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
POLICY
ON PAYMENT OF PREVAILING
WAGES BY PRIVATE
REDEVELOPERS
OR OWNER ‑
PARTICIPANTS
Revised:
February 1986
Introduction
Under
the Community Redevelopment Law of the State of California, The Community
Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles may enter into contracts or
other agreements with developers of property to assist in the acquisition or the
improvement of such property to eliminate blight. The Agency is also empowered
to enter into agreements with owners of property in redevelopment project areas
to develop their property pursuant to the requirements of adopted redevelopment plans. In all
such agreements, the Agency may require the private owner or developer to comply
with conditions which the Agency deems necessary to carry out the purposes of the Community Redevelopment
Law.
Under
certain circumstances,
the Agency may provide funding which has been obtained from the Federal
Government for use by private developers or owners in the development of their
property. In such cases, the federal grant or loan or mortgage assistance
program may require that construction work performed in such projects comply
with the requirements of the Davis‑Bacon Act (40 U.S.C. 276 et seq.),
which requires the payment of wages to laborers and mechanics at a
rate not less than the minimum wage specified by the Secretary of Labor in
periodic wage rate determinations.
In
addition, whenever the Agency contracts directly for public works improvements,
the contractor is required by pertinent State law provisions to pay not less
than the prevailing rate of wages to workers employed on the public
work.
The
public purposes which underlie both the Davis‑Bacon Act and the State prevailing
wage requirements apply no less to work performed on a project which is the subject
of an agreement between the Agency and a private developer or owner. Those
purposes include protecting the employees of contractors on public projects from
substandard wages, promoting the hiring of a local labor force, and ensuring, to
the extent possible, that the quality of the work to be performed will not be
compromised by the payment of less than the prevailing rate of wages. That is,
developers who seek Agency assistance, or property owners who wish to develop
their property pursuant to an owner participation agreement, should not be
permitted to pay, or to allow their contractors or subcontractors to pay less
than the prevailing rate of wages for work performed pursuant to an agreement
with the Agency.
The Legislature has declared that the redevelopment of blighted areas and the provisions for appropriate construction policies in them constitute public uses and purposes and are governmental functions of state concern in the interest of health, safety and welfare of the people of the state and of the communities in which the blighted areas exist. The Legislature has further declared that genuine employment opportunities for all the people of the State are vital to the State’s peace and prosperity, and that a fundamental purpose of redevelopment is to expand employment opportunities for jobless, underemployed and low‑income persons. Therefore, the Agency has determined that the application of prevailing wage requirements to private developers or owners of property who enter into agreements with the Agency for the development of such property is a necessary condition in carrying out the purposes of the Community Redevelopment Law.
1.
Statement of Policy
It
is the policy of the Agency that any developer or owner of property who enters
into an Agreement with the Agency for the development of such property shall pay
or cause to be paid to all workers employed in connection with the development
of such property, not less than the prevailing rates of wages, as provided in
the statutes applicable to Agency public works contracts, including without
limitation Sections 33423-33426 of the California Health and
Safety Code and Sections 1770 ‑
1780 of the California Labor Code. However, notwithstanding the foregoing,
this policy shall not apply to the payment of wages to such workers who have
been approved by and are appropriately registered in a Starting
Apprenticeship Program administered by the Building Trades. Those workers shall be paid at the rate
of wages prescribed by the appropriate collective bargaining agreement in effect
for such trade; provided a list of current enrollees in the Program has been
submitted to the Agency for review. In addition, the foregoing Agency policy
shall not apply to Agreements in which the total aggregate cost of construction
does not exceed $250,000 in the case of residential and $100,000 in the case of
non‑residential developments.
However, notwithstanding the foregoing, a special residential wage rate
established by the State of California, Department of Industrial Relations,
Division of Labor Statistics and Research for public projects, may be paid to
those trade‑crafts or classifications performing work on Agency sponsored
residential projects in which a developer or contractor has requested and
received approval from the Agency to pay.
In
the case of an Agreement with the Agency which involves the use of federal
funds, such use shall be subject to the prevailing wage requirements, if any,
mandated by the federal program legislation by which such funds are authorized.
In the case of construction work financed in whole or in part with assistance
provided under the Community Development Block Grant (“CDBG”)
program of the United
States Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Davis
'Bacon Act applies to any Agreement with the Agency which involves CDBG
funds in the amount of $2,000 or more. However, this CDBG
requirement applies to the rehabilitation of residential property
only if such property is designed for residential use of eight or more
families.
2.
Construction of Terms and Phrases
For
purposes of implementing this policy, the following shall
apply:
(a) The
phrase "developer or owner" means any person, corporation, partnership, joint
venture, association or entity regardless of form, whether public or private,
for‑profit or not‑for‑profit, which enters into an
Agreement with the Agency, as hereinafter defined.
(b) The
phrase "an Agreement with the Agency" means any disposition and development
agreement, owner participation agreement, development agreement, loan agreement,
rehabilitation agreement, agreement for the sale of land or any
other agreement to which the Agency is a party, regardless of form or title,
whereby a developer or owner of property in the City of Los Angeles agrees to
develop or cause the development of such property.
An Agreement in which the Agency agrees to subsidize or guarantee a
rehabilitation loan to be made
to a developer or owner by a lending institution shall be deemed "an Agreement
with the Agency" for purposes of this policy. However, to the extent that an Agreement
with the Agency provides for the use of federal financial assistance, this
policy is not intended to supersede the prevailing wage requirements, if any,
mandated by the federal grant, loan or mortgage insurance program legislation by
which such assistance is authorized, but shall be deemed to be supplementary to
such requirements.
(c) The
phrase "the development of property" means any demolition, construction,
rehabilitation, reconstruction
or other work of improvement to be performed by or on behalf of an owner or
developer in accordance with an Agreement with the Agency.
(d) The
phrase "all workers employed
in connection with the development of such property" shall mean and refer to each craft,
classification or type of worker, as determined by the rules and regulations of
the California Department of Industrial Relations, actually
employed by the developer or owner, or by a contractor or subcontractor, to
perform labor or services in connection with the development of
the property. In the case of a family owned business which
employs family members, who have an ownership interest in such business, such
family‑members shall not be deemed to be "workers employed in connection with
the development of such property" for purposes of this
policy.
(e) The
phrase "prevailing rates of wages" means the general prevailing rate of per diem
wages in the locality in which the work is performed, for each craft or type of
worker needed to perform the work, and the general prevailing rate for regular,
holiday and overtime work in the locality, for each craft or type of worker
needed to perform the work, as provided to the Agency by the California
Department of Industrial Relations pursuant to Section 1773 of the Labor
Code.
(f)
The phrase "total aggregate cost of construction" means the total sum of
costs incurred by the developer or owner in connection with the development of
property which is the subject of an Agreement with the Agency, excluding the
cost of acquiring the property and also excluding the cost of tenant
improvements which are not paid for by the developer of owner, and which are
constructed under contract with a
contractor other than the general contractor or a
sub‑contractor already on the job. The intent of this Policy is to
cover only non‑excluded initial tenant improvements which are part of the
construction or substantial rehabilitation contemplated in the Agreement with
the Agency. The "total aggregate
cost of construction includes, without limitation, the cost to the developer or
owner of contractors' services, architectural and engineering services,
materials, direct labor and all other costs which are customarily considered to
be costs of construction. In the case of multiple projects which are
functionally or substantively related, Agency staff shall determine whether the
purposes to be served by this policy require that the costs incurred with
respect to such projects must be combined in determining the "total aggregate
cost of construction.”
This
policy shall be implemented and enforced by Agency staff as
follows:
(a) Every
Agreement with the Agency to which this policy applies shall contain a provision
whereby the developer or owner shall agree to pay or cause to be paid to all
workers employed in connection with the development of the property, not less
than the prevailing rates of wages, as provided in the statutes applicable to
Agency public works contracts, including without limitation Sections 33423‑33426
of the California Health and Safety Code and Sections 1770‑1780 of the
California Labor Code. Every Agreement with the Agency to which this policy
applies shall also contain a provision incorporating this policy by
reference.
(b) Every
owner or developer entering into an Agreement with the Agency to which this
policy applies shall include, in all contracts for work relating to the
development of the property to which the Agreement applies, a provision whereby
the contractor shall agree to pay and shall cause its subcontractors to pay all
workers employed in connection with such contact or subcontract not less than
the prevailing rates of wages, as provided in the statutes applicable to
Agency public works contracts, including without limitation Sections
33423‑33426 of the California Health and Safety Code and Sections 1770‑1780 of
the California Labor Code.
(c) Prior
to
the execution
of any Agreement with the Agency to which this policy applies,
Agency staff shall provide a copy of this policy to the owner or developer. It
shall be the obligation of the developer or owner to provide copies of this
policy to its contractors and subcontractors.
(d) Prior
to the commencement of construction, and as soon as practicable, Agency staff
shall hold an orientation meeting with any owner or developer who enters into an
Agreement with the Agency to which this policy applies, and with the General
Contractor of such owner or developer in order to explain such matters as the
specific rates of wages
to be paid to workers employed in connection with the development
of the property, preconstruction
conference requirements, recordkeeping
and reporting requirements necessary for the evaluation of an owner or
developer's compliance
with this
policy.
4.
Enforcement
(a) Every
owner or developer entering into an Agreement with the Agency to which this
policy applies shall maintain or cause its contractors and subcontractors to
maintain an accurate record showing the name, occupation and actual per diem,
regular, overtime and holiday wages paid to each worker and fringe benefits (as
appropriate) paid to or on behalf of each worker employed in connection with the
development of the property, the hours worked by such workers and amounts
withheld pursuant to law. It shall be the responsibility of the owner or
developer to maintain such records in the event that its contractors or
subcontractors do not maintain such records. Such records shall be open for
inspection by Agency staff at reasonable hours.
(b)
Agency staff shall periodically monitor compliance with this policy by
inspecting payroll records, interviewing workers at the construction site or by
other similar means. Any owner or developer entering into an Agreement with the
Agency to which this policy applies shall cooperate with Agency staff in
carrying out this policy.
(c)
Agency staff shall promptly and thoroughly investigate any claim made by
a worker that less than prevailing wages were paid for work performed in
connection with the development of property to which this policy applies. Any
owner or developer entering into an Agreement with the Agency to which this
policy applies shall cooperate with and cause its contractors
and subcontractors to cooperate with Agency staff in carrying out such
investigation, and shall promptly pay or cause its contractors or subcontractors
to pay any amount determined by Agency staff to be the difference between
the applicable prevailing wage for the number of hours worked by
the claimant and the amount actually paid to the claimant. At the request of
Agency staff, an owner or developer shall withhold funds from its contractor, or
cause its contractor to withhold funds from a subcontractor, prior to the
completion of such investigation, to ensure that the amount of such restitution,
if required, is available.
(d). In the
event that the Agency staff determines that a contractor or subcontractor has
violated any provision of this policy, the developer or owner and Agency staff
shall agree on appropriate measures, in addition to
restitution, to ensure that such
contractor or subcontractor complies with this policy. Such measures may include, without
limitation, a requirement that during the contract, period the owner or
developer withhold funds from the contractor or cause the contractor to withhold
funds from the subcontractor, or that the contractor post a bond or provide a
letter of credit or other security in an amount sufficient to ensure that
workers employed in connection with such contract or subcontract receive
the prevailing rates of wages for the work to be performed. Any
owner or developer entering into an Agreement with the Agency to which this
policy applies shall include in its contracts and require its contractors to include in subcontracts, appropriate provisions by which the
provisions of this paragraph may be carried out.
(e) In
the event of a dispute between the owner or developer, or its contractors or
subcontractors, or a claimant, and the Agency staff with respect to an Agency
staff determination, the owner or developer, or its contractors or
subcontractors, or the claimant, as the case may be, shall have the opportunity
to bring the dispute before the Agency Board for review. The Agency Board may
take such action as it
deems appropriate, including: (i) affirming the Agency staff determination;
(ii)
referring the matter back to Agency staff for further investigation; (iii) reversing or modifying the Agency staff determination; (iv)
directing the Agency staff to appoint an independent hearing examiner
for further investigation; or (v)
such other action as the Board may deem appropriate under the
circumstances.
(f)
Penalties. In addition to
any restitution required by this Policy and/or applicable law, any developer or
owner determined by the Agency to have violated any provision of this Policy,
shall forthwith
pay the following as a penalty to the
Agency:
(1)
Payment of less than Prevailing Wages:
$50
per calendar day, or portion thereof, for each worker paid less than prevailing
wages.
(2)
Failure to Provide all requested Records and/or Provide Access to Jobsite
or Workers:
$5,000
per day, or portion thereof.
The
provisions of this section 4 (f)
shall be included verbatim in the clause required by Section 3 (a)
for Agreements with the Agency, and in the clause required by Section 3
(b) for owner and developer
agreements.
5.
Sanctions
Any
developer or owner determined by the Agency to have paid less than prevailing
wages for work performed in connection with the development of property to which
this policy applies, or whose contractors or subcontractors have been found to
have paid less than the prevailing rate of wages, shall promptly pay or cause
its contractors or subcontractors to pay restitution to any worker to whom wages
less than the prevailing rate have been paid. The amount of such restitution
shall be the difference between the applicable prevailing wage rate for the
number of hours the claimant was found to have worked and the amount actually
paid to the worker. In the event
that such restitution is not promptly made, Agency staff may refer the matter to
the State Department of Industrial Relations or other appropriate governmental
agency or licensing board for further action. In the event that the Agency staff
determines that there is a pattern of noncompliance with this policy by any
owner or developer, or its
contractors or subcontractors, the Agency staff may refer to the
State Department of Industrial Relations or other appropriate
governmental agency licensing board for further action. Moreover, in the event that the Agency
Agreement involves any direct Agency assistance to the developer or owner,
including without limitation, financial assistance, or discretionary Agency
action such as the grant of a variation from requirements of the redevelopment
plan, or other Agency consideration, the failure by the developer to comply with
this policy shall be deemed to be a breach of contract, authorizing the Agency
to take all appropriate action, including rescission of the Agreement, or to
seek judicial relief for damages or injunctive relief.
The
Agency Board reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to waive or
modify any provision of this policy with respect to any project, upon a showing
that the interests to be served by this policy and the purposes generally of the
Community Redevelopment Law will not be adversely affected by such waiver or modification.
AFFIRMATIVE
ACTION PLAN
1.
The contractor, subcontractor or bidder certifies and agrees that it
shall immediately make a good faith effort to include within its employ said
minorities in numbers proportionate with the goals outlined
below:
Minorities
Females
Non‑Construction
All occupational
Paraprofessional
and Above
28.3%
28.3%
Construction
Percentage of Hours Worked
All trades
28.3%
6.9%
If
the contractor(s), subcontractor(s) workforce does not meet the above goals,
it shall submit an attachment to this Plan that includes the
following:
(i)
A utilization evaluation which analyzes (a) minority group representation
in all occupational categories and or trades represented by the contractor or
subcontractor's employees, (b)
hiring practices for the past year including recruitment and testing for all
occupational categories and trades represented by the contractor or
subcontractors employees and (c)
upgrading, transfer and promotion practices for the past
year.
(ii)
Specific goals and timetables for the prompt achievement of full and
equal employment opportunity where deficiencies are shown to exist by the
utilization analysis performed in (i) above.
(iii) A table of
occupational categories and/or trades including titles, classifications,
principal duties and applicable rates of pay utilized by the
contractor.
Specific
good faith efforts to guarantee equal employment opportunity are outlined
below:
(a)
recruit and make efforts to obtain minorities and females
through:
(1)
advertising employment opportunities in minority community news
media;
(2)
notifying minority community organizations of employment
opportunities;
(3)
maintaining contact with schools and trade institutions with minority and
female students to notify them of employment
opportunities;
(4)
encouraging present minority and female employees to refer their friends
and relatives;
(5)
promoting after school and vacation employment opportunities for minority
and female youth;
(6)
validating all employment specifications, selection requirements, tests,
etc.;
(7)
maintaining a file of the names and addresses of each minority or female
worker referred to it and what action it took concerning such workers;
and
(8)
notifying the Agency in writing when a union with whom it has a
collective bargaining agreement has failed to refer a minority or female worker
to it.
(b)
continually evaluate personnel practices to assure that hiring,
upgrading, promotions, transfers, demotions, and lay‑offs
are made to achieve and maintain an ethnically balanced work
force.
(c)
utilize training programs and assist minority and female employees in
locating, qualifying for, and engaging in such training programs to enhance
their skills and advancement.
(d)
secure cooperation or compliance from the labor referral agency to its
contractual affirmative action obligations.
(e)
establish a person at the management level of the contracting entity to
be its Equal Employment Opportunity Officer; such individual to
have the authority to disseminate and enforce the Firm's Equal Employment and
Affirmative Action Policies.
(f)
maintain such records as are necessary to determine compliance with equal
employment and affirmative action obligations, and make such records available
to City, State, and Federal authorities upon request.
2.
The contractor shall make a good faith effort to contract with said
minority and female contractors, subcontractors, and vendors for services and
supplies by taking affirmative actions which include but are not limited to the
following:
(a)
advertise invitations for subcontractors' bids in minority community news
media.
(b)
contact minority and female contractor organizations for referral of
prospective subcontractors.
(c)
contact any other source likely to yield qualified minority or female
contractors and vendors.
(d) make
purchases from qualified minority and female owned vendors where
practical.
3.
The contractor and each subcontractor shall make a good faith effort with
respect to apprenticeship and training programs to:
(a)
recruit and refer minority and female employees to such
programs.
(b)
establish training programs
within its firm and/or its association that will prepare minority
and female employees for advancement opportunities.
(c) abide
by
the requirements of the Labor Code of the State of California with
respect to the provision of apprenticeship opportunities.
4.
The contractor and each subcontractor shall establish written company
policies, rules, and procedures which shall be encompassed in a company‑wide
Affirmative Action Plan for all its operations and contracts. Said policies
shall be provided to all its employees, subcontractors, vendors, unions, and all
others with whom it may become involved in fulfilling any of its contracts. The
company's Affirmative Action Plan shall encompass the requirements contained
herein as a minimum.
5.
Where problems are experienced by the contractor or the subcontractor in
complying with its affirmative action obligations, the contractor or
subcontractor shall submit a statement to Equal Opportunity to document their
good faith effort to comply with the requirements and shall state the
following:
(a) the
nature of the problem.
(b) what
it attempted to do, how, and on what date.
(c) to
whom its efforts were directed.
(d) the
response received and date.
(e) what
other steps it has taken or will take to comply and when.
(f)
why it has been or will be unable to comply.
6.
Contractors and subcontractors shall keep employment and other records
available to evaluate the Affirmative Action Compliance program, and shall make
such records available to the Agency upon request.
7.
Designation of Equal Employment Opportunity Officer
Firm
Name and Address
![]()
hereby
appoints
Name of Appointee/Previous Title
as
its Equal Employment Opportunity Officer. The officer has been given the
authority to establish, disseminate, and enforce the Equal Employment and
Affirmative Action Policies of this firm.
The
contractor/subcontractor by his signature af f ixed hereto declares under penalty of perjury
that:
It
has read the above AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PROGRAM
requirements.
It accepts the requirements contained therein as the basic Affirmative Action Plan for all its operations within the City of Los Angeles (or the applicable workforce recruitment area of the contractor if the contractor is located outside the City of Los Angeles.)
________________________________
_______________________________________
DATE
COMPANY NAME
________________________________
_______________________________________
SIGNATURE
ADDRESS
________________________________
_______________________________________
NAME
AND TITLE
CITY, COUNTY, STATE, ZIP
CRA/90‑6