Some Pomona Projects to Pay Prevailing Wage

Developers of city-assisted redevelopment projects will be required to pay workers prevailing wages or face fines under a new policy adopted this week by the City Council.

The resolution, proposed by Councilman C. L. (Clay) Bryant, passed 3 to 2 after a spate of verbal attacks and accusations were traded among council members. Bryant and council members Nell Soto and Tomas Ursua voted in favor, and Mayor Donna Smith and Councilman Mark Nymeyer were opposed.

The prevailing wage refers to the average pay for a particular skill performed in a certain locality. It is calculated periodically by the state labor commissioner’s office. Pomona is the fifth city in Los Angeles County to prohibit substandard wages for construction work subsidized by a redevelopment agency, Deputy City Atty. William Curley said. Monterey Park, Baldwin Park, Santa Monica and Los Angeles are covered by prevailing wage laws.

Some Limits

Only developers who receive Redevelopment Agency assistance are affected by the policy. Additionally, the policy would be limited to residential projects of more than $250,000 and non-residential projects of more than $100,000. It imposes a $25 fine on developers, contractors and subcontractors for each day they are found to be in violation of the policy.

“This is so we can get citizens out of living at the poverty level,” Soto said before the council voted. “I have nothing against big business. We need development in this town. (But) if someone wants to come into Pomona they’re going to come in with prevailing wages whether they like it or not.” Soto’s comments were applauded by about 10 people at the meeting.

But Smith said the prevailing-wage rate would only drive developers across the county line at a time the city is struggling to attract businesses. She added that she was skeptical of the fact that only four other cities in Los Angeles County have similar policies, and that only Monterey Park’s is almost identical to Pomona’s. The mayor also accused Soto, Ursua and Bryant of bowing to union demands.

‘Muscled’ by Unions

“If this is such a good thing for Pomona, why aren’t other cities jumping on the bandwagon?” Smith said. “I have nothing against unions--my father was in a union--(but) I’ve had several meetings with union members and I’m tired of being muscled by them.”

Soto, in turn, leveled her own attacks against Nymeyer, who earlier had said it was none of the city’s business to monitor contractors’ payrolls.

“Mr. Nymeyer is still campaigning,” Soto responded, pointing to a cable television camera in the back of the council chambers. “This will not be held as a campaigning forum for grandstanding.”

The state Labor Code and the federal Community Development Block Grant program already require prevailing wages for work directly funded by city agencies. But the laws do not cover projects assisted by redevelopment agencies in other ways, through such means as condemnation and acquisition of property, off-site improvements or preferential treatment in land sales.

Most large developers in Pomona already offer prevailing wages because they contract with unions for construction work, Curley said. Although the resolution takes effect immediately, projects already in the construction phase will be exempt from the policy, he said.

In other actions Monday night, the council:

Voted 5 to 0 to appoint Bryant as Pomona’s representative on the San Gabriel Valley Mosquito Abatement District Board of Trustees.

Voted 3 to 2 to create a Board of Parking Place Commissioners to oversee all vehicle parking districts, with Smith and Nymeyer dissenting.

Postponed adoption of developer fees for road and highway improvements, public safety projects, and traffic signal and control devices.

Voted 5 to 0 to endorse the 1988 South Coast Air Quality Management District plan for improving regional air quality.