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Battle begins on how to use education stimulus money
By NANCY HICKS / Lincoln Journal Star
Thursday, Mar 19, 2009
There’s a fight brewing over state aid to public schools — particularly over how to use about $234 million for education from the stimulus funding.
The Appropriation Committee’s preliminary budget now earmarks about $100 million in general fund tax dollars for additional state aid to schools the next two budget years.
A group of senators wants to keep state aid low — using the $100 million in state tax dollars. Then they would send the $234 million as grants to schools, to be used for one-time spending, like capital construction, computers or vehicles. Click here for the full article.
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Legislative Update
 By Sara Kay, Executive Director
The Nebraska Unicameral is at the half way mark – June 4 is the final day of the Session. Senators, Committees and the Speaker of the Legislature have designed their priority bills for the year. I had the opportunity to hear Speaker Flood speak this week on his perception of the top issues needing to be addressed this year, they include:
*The Death Penalty
*Expansion of mental health services for youth
*School Aid
One issue of interest to AIA Nebraska, LB 436 - provides for net metering of electricity, introduced by Senator Haar, is a Natural Resources Committee priority bill. Main objectives of bill: Encourages private investment in renewable energy; Stimulates economic growth; Enhances diversification of energy resources in the state.
One of our top priorities of the year, LB 632, The Nebraska Green Building Advantage Act, providing a tax rebate for new and retrofit commercial buildings. has not been designated a priority bill and remains in Committee. A note of thanks to Patrick Leahy, AIA, for testifying in support of LB 632 on behalf of AIA Nebraska.
To review bill summaries and positions click here.
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Non-Compliant Building Projects
By Mark Champion, AIA, NBEA Board Chair
Since the beginning of 2000, nearly half of all complaints received by the Nebraska Board of Engineers and Architects (NBEA) have been directly related to unlicensed practice (building projects completed without design services being provided by licensed architects or professional engineers). NBEA believes that these complaints may be only the tip of the iceberg and that substantial numbers of non-compliant structures are being built across our state, slipping through the laws intended to protect the public. One reason may be the real and perceived limit on the number of architects and engineers working in Nebraska, especially in the western two-thirds of the state. Another reason may be that code officials may not be notifying the Board when they come across a non-exempt project that does not have licensed professionals involved. NBEA has been working on ways to reduce the number of non-compliant building projects. With the recent addition of a Public Information Officer NBEA will expand its education efforts, working to assure that all parties associated with the building industry are well informed as to the legal requirements regulating the design of non-exempt structures. In addition, NBEA is considering a change in the definition and role of the Coordinating Professional as outlined in the E & A Act which would make it easier for owners in areas with less ready access to architects and professional engineers to design compliant structures.
Changes under consideration
A committee comprised of Board members Mark Champion, Roger Helgoth, Tom Laging, and Executive Director Melinda Pearson have developed an initial proposal aimed at getting at least one licensed professional actively participating on every non-exempt building project by redefining the role of the Coordinating Professional and developing a new “partially-exempt” second tier to the Exemption Matrix. We are requesting input from professionals in the building industry on this proposal.
Your comments please
NBEA would like to gather input from our members and other industry professionals regarding the proposed changes to the role of the Coordinating Professional and the addition of a second tier of exempt projects. If you have thoughts on how these changes would impact professional practice and compliance issues in our state, please forward them to the NBEA Executive Director, Melinda Pearson, at melinda.pearson@nebraska.gov.
Click for the entire article + matrix
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Machine Room Less Elevators Allowed in Nebraska
 Governor Dave Heineman signed new elevator regulation and escalator codes into law, allowing for machine room less elevators in Nebraska. AIA Nebraska was one of the leading entities in support of this revision, see correspondence in support.
The elimination of the machine room leads to lower construction costs for the consumer. In addition, the new MRL elevator technology uses, reduces the necessary power supply, which may contribute to the LEED rating system. This energy reduction further lowers construction costs and energy costs in building operations and allows more space within the building for other purposes.
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AIA Career Center
An online resource dedicated solely to job seekers and employers in the architecture profession, AIA Career Center lists positions of varying professional levels and categories (e.g., healthcare architect, marketing), both nationwide and internationally. Best of all in these difficult times, AIA Career Center services are free to job seekers.
Visit the Career Center website where you can:
• Post résumés instantly
• Research the current job market
• Manage all of your job opportunities
• Receive Job postings in your inbox
As an AIA member, you can enjoy improved service and even more career-management resources without having to set up a Career Center account.
• Click the "AIA Career Center Account Access" link
• Enter your AIA member e-mail address and password
• Click "Create a Professional Profile" to upload your résumé
• View all jobs, browse by category, or use "advanced search" for narrower targeting
Visit the AIA Career Center.
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Stimulus Resources
The AIA National Government Advocacy team has developed resources for members to make sure the money is spent wisely and on ways to stimulate the design and construction industries. Please check the website often it will continue to be updated as resources become available.
List of "shovel-ready" projects the mayors of each state submitted in the 2008 U.S. Conference of Mayors report.
STATERECOVERY.org is a service of The Council of State Governments (CSG) designed to help states rapidly decipher potential funding opportunities and share best practices by tracking how the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of state government are responding to and affected by this historic legislation.
A summary of the transportation provisions, including funding timeframe and maintenance of effort requirements.
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Calendar of Events
March
DESIGN-BUILD INSTITUTE OF AMERICA Nebraska District
March Breakfast Meeting-
The New Political Subdivisions Construction Alternatives Act-How to Make it Happen!
Presenters: Rex R. Schultze & Ed Hoffman
Wednesday, March 25, 2009 7:30 – 9:00 am
When: Wednesday, March 25, 2009, 7:30 – 9:00 am
Where: Scott Conference Center 6450 Pine Street, Omaha, Nebraska
Cost: Members: $20.00 * Non-member: $25.00 * Students: $ 5.00
Log onto www.acteva.com/go/dbiama to register! Click here for more information.
Questions please contact:
Nebraska District Chair, Steve Selting (402) 449-0810
DBIA-MAC Executive Director, Oretta Smith (816) 506-1881
mean........matters Featuring works by Deon Bahr
Architect turned artist, Deon Bahr's past work and new works will be on display at A to Z printing.
When: The works will remain on display March through April 7:30am-5:00pm.
Where: A to Z Printing- 8230 Cody Drive, Lincoln, NE
www.bahrart.com
April
One day seminar on ACI 318-08 Building Code April 2, 2009
Overview
There are many important changes in ACI 318-08. The licensed design professional is required to assign exposure categories and classes based on the severity of the anticipated exposure of structural members to achieve durability. Requirements are presented to select effective stiffness to determine lateral deflections. A new simple procedure helps determine if compression members are considered braced or unbraced. Provisions are introduced for design of headed stud assemblies. Design and detailing requirements are correlated with the Seismic Design Categories in the IBC. Use of high strength confining steel is permitted to help reduce congestion. The beneficial effect of supplementary reinforcement and anchor reinforcement on the capacity of anchors is quantified.
Click here to register. For more information visit www.concreteseminars.com
College of Architecture Friends Association Awards Banquet, April 3rd, 2009
Click here for invitation
AIA Nebraska- Western Chapter Spring Conference April 9, 2009
AIA Nebraska- Western Chapter Spring Conference will be in Kearney, NE. Be watching for more details. For information contact Grant Creager or call (308) 532-1202.
Green Building Operations & Maintenance:
The LEED Implementation Process workshop
Where: Metropolitan Community College
Fort Omaha Campus, Building 7, Room 107
North 30th Street & Fort Street
Omaha, NE 68111
When: April 24, 2009
Click here for Information or visit www.usgbc.org/workshops to register.
Hurry, there are only a few spots left!
Need help registering for USGBC LEED workshop or online course? Click here
May
2009 ASLA Central States Conference- Omaha, Ne May 14-16
Landscape Architects in IA, NE, SD, ND, KS, MO, and OK plan to meet in Omaha May 14-16
Thursday begins with a joint daOMA lecture featuring Walter Hood.
Friday, at the Down Town DoubleTree, hear from a wide array of speakers about
creativity across professional boundaries and conclude with tours and awards on Saturday.
We would like to extend a special invitation to our AIA colleagues to attend this exciting conference at the same rate as our members . . . . $150 for two days.
Check it out at the Conference website and register online.
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