Summer 2015
                       ACEC/L NEWSLETTER
Robby Cangelosi Award established for young engineers
Robby Cangelosi, 1962-2015
The legacy of Robert L. "Robby" Cangelosi is that of a caring 
and optimistic man, loyal to his friends and steadfast in his faith.

Robby, who died on May 1 of pancreatic cancer, will be remembered by his ACEC/L family in the annual presentation of the Robby Cangelosi Award. Robby was the Principal in Charge and Office Manager of the Baton Rouge office of T. Baker Smith and a member of the ACEC/L Board of Governors at the time of his passing.

The Robby Cangelosi Award will be given each year to an outstanding young professional engineer who is contributing to the engineering profession and demonstrating the ability to positively impact the community through professional accomplishments and community involvement. The initial presentation of the award will be made at the annual Project Outlook event on Nov. 12.

Click here for more information on the award.

New ACEC/L Board, Officers chosen for 2015-16

The American Council of Engineering Companies of Louisiana has elected Tony A. Arikol of Baton Rouge-based Professional Engineering Consultants Corporation as president of its Board of Governors for 2015-16.

 

Other officers elected at the association's recent annual meeting include President-Elect Robert Schmidt of AECOM in Baton Rouge; Vice President Kurt Evans of Digital Engineering, Inc., in Kenner; Secretary-Treasurer Raymond J. Reaux of C.H. Fenstermaker & Associates, Inc., in Lafayette; and National Director D. Brad Graff of Cothren, Graff, Smoak Engineering, Inc., in Shreveport. The national director sits on the ACEC national board and serves as a state representative to the national association.

 

Board members elected include Andy Craig of Mohr & Associates in Shreveport; Steven R. Robertson of John J. Guth Associates, Inc., in Shreveport; J. Ryan Spillers of Lazenby & Associates in West Monroe; Andree F. Cortez of T. Baker Smith in Thibodaux; David Dupre of Meyer Engineers in Metairie; Lynne E. Roussel of Terracon in Baton Rouge; and Alison Catarella-Michel of Urban Systems, Inc., in New Orleans.

 

Chapter presidents include David Leslie of Forte and Tablada, Shreveport; Craig Campbell of Associated Design Group, Inc., Lafayette; Laurence Lambert of Stantec, Baton Rouge; and Jim Martin of Design Engineering, Inc., New Orleans.

 

The officers, members at large and chapter presidents comprise the board of governors for ACEC/L. 

 

Back to top



2014-15 ACEC/L President D. Brad Graff signs the ACEC/L-DOTD Initiative Agreement, which is the culmination of more than a year of meetings, negotiations and compromises between the state and consulting engineers. 

The agreement states a willingness between the state and consulting engineers to make several positive changes in the areas of contract procurement, administration, quality assurance/control and claims. John Basilica of HNTB was instrumental in leading the effort between the state and consulting engineers.

Legislative Wrap-up

By Dan Mobley

LegUpdate 

 

Dan Mobley

The American Council of Engineering Companies of Louisiana is an active participant in the legislative process on behalf of its member firms. We identify and monitor bills that have any impact on our profession, and we make sure your elected representatives know what an impact our members firms have on our economy.

 

While we remain vigilant in tracking the formation of new laws, the recently concluded state legislative session left a lot of people in the engineering and transportation community scratching their heads like a group of Sunday drivers encountering a new DOTD roundabout. Upon closer inspection, it appears we are headed in the right direction; we're just taking an unfamiliar path to get there.

 

When the session began, all eyes were on a pair of tax proposals that would benefit transportation. One measure would have raised sales taxes by one penny, with the revenue earmarked for a group of statewide transportation projects and capitalization of a statewide infrastructure bank. The second proposal was to raise the motor fuels tax by 10 cents, with the money going toward transportation projects. Both bills enjoyed more support than any similar measure has received in the last seven years. However, the straight-forward bills to raise taxes for basic government services ultimately gave way to a legislative labyrinth masterminded by Sen. Robert Adley, chairman of the Senate Transportation, Highways and Public Works Committee.

 

Adley's plan involves several moving parts. First, the 2008 law to transfer vehicle sales tax revenues from the general fund to the Transportation Trust Fund was repealed. In theory, the vehicle sales tax money would have been a bump of as much as $400 million to transportation. In the real world, it is questionable at best that DOTD ever would have received the money because the law kicked in only if the legislature could balance the general fund budget without the vehicle sales taxes, a feat it never accomplished.

 

Then, the Adley plan called for the diversion of excess mineral revenues to transportation projects, beginning in the 2017-18 budget year. The idea is that once the state's general fund takes the first $850 million in mineral revenue, the excess would flow to transportation. Exactly how much money would go to transportation depends largely on the barrel price of crude oil. According to the several sources, including the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources' Technology Assessment Division, the state receives between $10 million and $12 million of direct revenue from oil severance taxes and royalty payment for every $1 per barrel change in oil prices. If that holds true, oil will have to top $70 a barrel before any money finds its way to roads, bridges and ports. Even with oil prices hovering around $50 a barrel this summer, most believe there's a better chance the price of oil will go up than the legislature ever weaning its general fund off the vehicle sales tax revenue.

 

Some viewed the swap for the $400 million in vehicle sales tax money for the $100 million in mineral revenues as a bad deal for transportation. However, while it is doubtful the mineral fund route will ever reach $400 million, the chances that some money actually will make it to transportation projects are much better.

 

Another gear in the Adley plan is a Constitutional Amendment 1, which recasts the Budget Stabilization Fund (commonly referred to as the Rainy Day Fund) as the Budget and Transportation Stabilization Trust. This trust would have two subfunds - the Budget Stabilization Subfund and the Transportation Stabilization Subfund. Money for each subfund would come from mineral revenues. Voters will get a chance to vote up or down on that Constitutional Amendement1 in the October 24 election.

 

Another important measure on the October 24 ballot is Constitutional Amendment 2, which simply states, "Do you support an amendment to authorize the investment of funds for a state infrastructure bank to be used solely for transportation projects?" This amendment, by Rep. Karen St. Germain, is the same measure voters resoundingly defeated last fall, but efforts to pass that amendment were dogged by the fact that there was no infrastructure bank to fund. This year, St. Germain's legislation to create the bank passed, so hopes are high that the amendment to fund the bank will pass this year.

 

Another important bill that passed this session was a new law that limits the seemingly free flow of money from the TTF to State Police. Rep. Terry Landry's bill puts a $45 million cap on TTF transfer to State Police this year; the cap drops to $20 million in 2016-17 and then to $10 million each year thereafter. We believe Landry's bill is significant because it immediately puts tens of millions of dollars more into transportation without raising taxes for transportation. This is important because there surely will be a move in 2016 to raise the state gas tax, which has been stuck at 20 cents-per-gallon for a quarter-Century.

While transportation may have dominated part of the legislative stage, other bills important to the engineering community were settled:

  • Design-Build Legislation - Act 156 (SB 66). This law extends the time for any port to utilize the design-build method pilot program for five years from December 31, 2015 to December 31, 2020.
  • Construction Management At Risk Legislation - Act 163 (SB 162) This law changes the floor on CMAR projects from $25 million to $3 million and limits the CMAR pilot program to 10 projects. The previous law required the owner to select the CMAR contractor either before, but not later than, design is 30% complete if the benefits of the CMAR method reduce as the design process progresses. The new law declares that the benefits of using the CMAR method reduce as project design progresses and allows the owner's design professional to determine the design completion percentage. 

In closing, I want to share some thoughts on the importance of ACEC/L's work in monitoring the legislative process and in providing valuable information to our public officials on matters that impact our member firms. While many in Louisiana consider the political scene in general as a form of spectator sport and small-talk fodder, ACEC/L sees it differently. What happens at the capitol does not stay at the capitol; it often affects your business. ACEC/L monitors hundreds of bills each session to identify those that can help or hurt our member firms. We contact your legislators to let them know how their actions impact our member firms, and we follow up with personal visits, phone calls, emails, attendance at committee meetings and testimony.

 

When we speak to public officials, they listen to us because they know we represent our industry, not an isolated issue or a one-time project or proposal. If your engineering firm is not a member of ACEC/L, it should be. We provide excellent opportunities for networking, continuing education and information on the latest issues, trends and best practices. We also have affiliate memberships available to companies that support the engineering profession. For more information about joining ACEC/L, contact us at 225-927-7704.

 

Back to top

Louisiana members in leadership roles with National ACEC

Kenneth Smith, Chairman, Business Resources and Education Committee
Anthony "Tony" Mumphrey, III, ACEC Committee of Fellows
James Ledet, ACEC/PAC Champions Committee

All ACEC/L members can be involved with National ACEC by signing up for committee opportunities.



Group photo of the first class of the Emerging Leaders Institute
The first session of the ACEC/L and the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Louisiana Emerging Leaders Institute series at the Breazeale, Sachse and Wilson Law Firm was a great success. 

The Emerging Leaders Institute series is a leadership and career development program for individuals committed to developing both their professional and personal leadership abilities. Emerging Leaders includes three one and one-half day sessions, all in the Baton Rouge area. Participants are eligible to earn a total of 22.5 AIA HSW/PDHs/LUs with full participation. Session II will be August 27-28 at the Port of Greater Baton Rouge.

RFQ La. agencies must use competency and qualifications, not costs or quotes, to select "design professionals"
Steven Loeb
Steven B. Loeb, ACEC/L legal counsel

Louisiana law provides under La. R.S. 38:2318.1 (Hammett Act), that it is the policy of the state of Louisiana, its political subdivisions, and agencies to select providers of design professional services on the basis of competence and qualifications. The law prohibits public entities from using price or price-related information as a factor in the selection of a design professional. The La. Attorney General in Opinion No. 07-0185 (Sep. 18, 2007) made clear that, pursuant to La. R.S. 38:2318.1, a Public Entity is prohibited from requesting price quotes on design professional services.

 

The problem under the Hammett Act is that it contains no definition of "design professional services." However, since the adoption of ACT 782, Regular Session, 2014 creating CMAR (effective Aug. 1, 2014) (R.S. 38:2225.2.4), the term "design professional" is clearly defined to mean "an engineer, architect, or landscape architect who has secured a professional license from a Louisiana registration board as required by state law and who is selected by an owner in accordance with state law."

 

Therefore, there should no longer be any doubt that whenever any public entity awards any contract to a registered engineer, architect, or landscape architect, the public entity shall not use price or price-related information as a factor for selection, nor may the public entity request price quotes regardless of whether the services involve any "design" so long as the person to perform these services is a "design professional."

 

If you are aware of any public entity in Louisiana that is using cost as a selection factor or is asking for quotes on any services to be performed by a design professional, please contact the ACEC/L office at 225-927-7704.

 

calendarCalendar of Events
When:    Thursday, August 27, 9:30 am - 11:45 am and
                Friday, August 28, 9:30 am - 11:45 am
Where:   Port of Greater Baton Rouge
 
ACEC Fall Conference
When:    Wednesday, Oct. 14, 8:00 am - 4:00 pm through 
                Saturday, Oct. 17, 8:00 am - 4:00 pm (ET) 
Where:   Boston, MA

2015 Emerging Leaders Institute Session III
When:    Thursday, Nov. 5, 8:00 am - 4:00 pm and
                 Friday Nov. 6, 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Where:   Port of Greater Baton Rouge

2015 Project Outlook
When:     Thursday, Nov. 12, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where:    Baton Rouge Renaissance Hotel


ACEC members now have access to the Long-Term Health Care Insurance Outreach and Education Program offered through ACSIA Partners (formerly LTC Financial Partners). This program provides insightful education, discounted rates, and an opportunity for your employees to receive reduced medical underwriting for Long-Term Care Insurance. Transamerica is the carrier for this plan.

To learn more, visit http://www.lifehealthtrustltc.com or call (877) 761-6982 (M-F, 8 am - 4 pm PST) to talk with a LTC specialist.

NewmemberACEC/L welcomes new members

ACEC/L welcomes ECM Consultants - NTB Associates, Inc.Marrero, Couvillon & AssociatesHatch Mott MacDonaldOneSource EHS, Inc., and Building & Earth Science as new members!

 

To view the websites and contact information for all ACEC/L members, visit the ACEC/L Members Page on our website.

 

AffMemberDirAffiliate member directory

 

 

Alexander & Sanders - Baton Rouge

 

BFM Corporation, LLC - Kenner

 

BOH Bros Construction Co., LLC - New Orleans

 

NEW! Centerpoint Energy - Shreveport 

 

ConTech Engineered Solutions - Shreveport

 

CROM Corporation - Gainesville, FL

 

CxA Services, LLC - Lafayette

 

Cycle Construction Co., LLC - Kenner

 

Delta Process Equipment - Denham Springs

 

NEW! Eagan Insurance Agency, LLC

 

Environmental Technical Sales, Inc. - Baton Rouge


 
NEW! Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions, Inc. - Jackson, MS

 

ExactSource, Atlanta, GA

 

Hanson Pipe & Products, Inc. - New Orleans

 

HUB International Gulf South - Baton Rouge

 

Iberia Bank - Harahan

 

Louisiana Asphalt Pavement Assn. - Baton Rouge

 

Regions Bank - Baton Rouge

 

Surveying & Mapping, LLC - Baton Rouge

 

Whitney Bank - New Orleans

 

Do you know of a Louisiana business that could benefit from an affiliate membership in ACEC/L? Contact Janet Tomeny at 225-927-7704.

 

Back to Top

Lambert Media logo
Newsletter written and produced by:

Lambert Media, a communications consulting firm
225-937-8113