This is a historic moment for public works in the city of San Diego. After decades of neglect, the city is intending to rebuild our streets, sidewalks, storm-drains, libraries and parks, and replace an aging water-wastewater system. In the coming fiscal year, the city is proposing over $330 million in capital improvement projects.
The city will be requiring the application of state prevailing wages to all public works contracts. This is intended to multiply the benefits of the taxpayer investment within the local community. After five decades of virtually exempting itself from prevailing wages, this reversal is the hallmark of new leadership in City Hall that wants to create good jobs, and generate long-term value in the spending of our construction dollars.