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Ordinance adopted to require apprentices on larger Edmonds public‑works projects
Summary
Council amended city code to align with July 2024 state changes requiring apprentices on larger public‑works contracts; ordinance clarifies responsibility criteria and references city purchasing policies.
The Edmonds City Council unanimously adopted an ordinance to amend the Edmonds Municipal Code to reflect recent state changes requiring apprenticeship utilization on certain public‑works projects.
What changed
The ordinance revises ECDC sections related to bidder responsibility and apprenticeship requirements and directs readers to state law and the city’s purchasing policies for implementation details. The state requirement discussed at the meeting calls for at least 15% of total labor hours on covered projects to be performed by apprentices enrolled in state‑approved apprenticeship programs; the city’s updated code will incorporate thresholds and implementation procedures.
Timeline and thresholds explained to council
City Engineer Rob English explained that the state implementation is phased by project size: beginning July 2024 through June 30, 2026, the apprenticeship requirement applies to projects estimated at more than $2,000,000; the threshold then ratchets down in later years (staff presented the phased schedule during the briefing). English said the city reviewed five years of projects and expects a modest number of annual contracts to meet the threshold (roughly two to three projects per year initially).
Contractor responsibilities and enforcement
Contractors will be required to submit utilization plans at bid award, and the city will monitor progress during construction. The Washington Department of Labor and Industries will track program participation statewide. The ordinance also anticipates an incentive program (staff estimated incentives could range from roughly $1,000 to $5,000 depending on the project) and a penalty system for unmet goals without an approved good‑faith effort.
Council reaction and vote
Council members commended staff for the work; Council Member Ack moved approval. The motion passed unanimously.
Next steps: staff will implement the provisions through contract documents, review utilization plans at award and monitor apprentice hours during construction.
