SACRAMENTO, CA

[Sponsored by The Professional Engineers in California Government (PECG)], a constitutional amendment-- that will probably be placed before voters on the state's June ballot-- would require the state to use cost-analysis based competitive bidding (not qualification) when processing engineering, architectural, landscape architectural, surveying, environmental, or engineering geology services in excess of $50,000. [See LASN August 1997, "CA Private Firms Battle State Engineers."]

In an interview with LASN, Robin Ettinger, Registered Landscape Architect with the State of California, spoke "only as a private citizen; this is [his] own personal opinion." He described the 1934 California constitutional amendment, the "clean government amendment," as a precursor to the PECG Initiative.

Ettinger explained, "Political machines were taking over [the construction process], and there was virtually no competitive bidding for projects, so CA passed this amendment for blind or closed competitive bidding. Meaning, [transportation officials] should use state employees whenever possible. However, the state had to contract jobs out because there were simply not enough [state] workers. Now, the focus has shifted toward the architectural and engineering aspects of the process. The PECG Initiative is trying to open up the process, and actually will help small businesses, including landscape architectural firms. If you are qualified, you can get work. It will not take away work from the private sector-- it will, however, clean up some of the bureaucratic mess, and will speed up the contract process. AIA and ASLA are calling it a 'competition killer.' [I believe this is] not true, for it will actually clean up and stop state waste of money."

[As to the argument about overhead costs like employee salaries not being included in the bidding process], Ettinger "doesn't know how that argument started. Salary and benefits are included in my department's bidding process... If we do make a mistake in our design, it comes out of the budget, because we don't use Errors & Omissions Insurance [like private firms]."

Yet, as Stan Bowman, Manager of Government Affairs for the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), explains, opposition to the amendment remains strong. "ASLA National and the California Council of the ASLA (CC/ASLA) oppose the PECG Initiative. We view it as a threat to private enterprise and good government. The result will be to increase costs to government and [to] undermine the effective use of private-sector designers on many projects. ASLA has given money [to help fight the amendment] through a national coalition, the Council on Federal Procurement of Architectural and Engineering Services (COFPAES), which it is chairing.

Randy Hlubik, 1998 President-Elect of CC/ASLA, agrees. " CC/ASLA was asked to get involved, and [council members] asked other California chapters to help out against the initiative. Each chapter board has asked for membership response. However, Landscape Architects tend to be complacent about things like this, [and have been] pretty silent on a local level. AIA/CC is currently carrying the flag." Hlubik urges for a unified vote against the initiative.

The coalition, Taxpayers for Efficient Government, counters opposition to PECG by explaining that "Competitive bidding for contracts would ensure fairness, impartiality and the best deal for the tax dollar. Contracts shall be awarded to qualified private firms through a publicized competitive bidding process with sealed bids, the same as the current process for construction contracts." Initiative supporters insist that public and private sectors will compete for projects on a "level playing field," based on qualifications, cost, safety and the public interest. General consensus indicates that if the PECG amendment is passed in California, it will set a precedent for similar actions in other states across the nation.

Landscape Architects in learning more about PECG may contact its sponsoring organization at 916-446-0400, or CC/ASLA at 909-781-1930.

LASN wants to know! Where do you stand on this initiative? Email the LASN Editorial Staff at landarchx@aol.com and share your insight!!