Volunteers are the backbone of ALCC
Volunteerism is the driving force behind many organizations. Most of us understand the value of offering our time, skills, and talent to a good cause. But fitting volunteer work into our busy, accelerated business days can often seem impossible.

Enter the age of micro-volunteering. While volunteers serving on a task force or committee are important, small efforts on behalf of a cause can go a long way.

Today the Colorado Water Plan is being released. ALCC will review the plan in detail and share our analysis soon. You can hear the presentation of the plan at https://youtu.be/iLAwtxKIDqM. Once approved, the plan should be available for download at www.coloradowaterplan.com.

ALCC has closely followed the development of construction defects legislation in the state legislature. Construction defects litigation is a source of concern, and developers and those in related industries are eager for bills that will help protect them from unnecessary lawsuits.

Recently, Denver area Denver City Council proposed a bill (Bill 15-0811) that would amend the Denver Revised Municipal Code by adding a new Article XII to Chapter 10 concerning construction defect claims in common interest communities.

Key Ordinance Features include:

A new web site and smartphone app aims to help the green industry better comply with current ordinances and regulations.

Contractors working in the field need to know which rules apply to each site. Getting it wrong can cost time and money. But finding the right rules means searching websites or calling various cities and water providers. That can be time-consuming, and it’s often confusing to know whose rules apply.

In recent weeks, Congress has taken several steps toward legislation to reform the H-2B visa program for non-agricultural workers.

Senate bill introduced
S. 2225, known as the Save Our Small and Seasonal Businesses Act of 2015, was introduced on October 30, 2015 by Senator Thom Tillis (R) of North Carolina. The official title of the bill is “A bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to establish an H-2B temporary non-agricultural work visa program and for other purposes.”

 
Bringing young people into the landscape industry through high school classes and real-world internships is underway in two Front Range high schools. More schools are ramping up with interest, and teachers are seeking industry input. ALCC volunteers will provide Irrigation 101 training to teachers from around the state in January, and teachers we have met can’t wait to get started. Here’s what’s happening at Green Mountain and Platte Valley high schools.

“This has been the hardest year of my professional life. I almost gave up this year – it was all about people.” That is what one landscape company owner replied in response to ALCC’s Fast Friday question asked in early October about what company’s biggest pain points were this season. Another wrote, “It was the worst year of my life.”

This week, Colorado Green NOW continues its coverage of Colorado companies that brought home awards from the LANDSCAPES Conference, and Hardscape North America (HNA) trade show in Louisville, Kentucky in October.

News from the House Judiciary Committee regarding a bill to reform the H-2B program:

Small Business Committee Chairman Steve Chabot (R-Ohio), House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), Congressman Andy Harris (R-Md.), and Congressman Charles W. Boustany, Jr., MD (R-La.) today introduced a bill to reform the H-2B seasonal guestworker program. The H-2B guestworker program is used by American employers to hire foreign workers for temporary and seasonal work, such as forestry, seafood processing, and other industries.

NALP issued the followed update regarding S. 1140 (Federal Water Quality Protection Act):

Thanks to everyone who called and sent letters in support of S.1140. While S. 1140 failed to garner the necessary 60 votes to advance the legislation, the Senate followed up earlier today to pass a Congressional Review Act resolution.