IN THIS ISSUE

** COBB ENGINEERING, POE & ASSOCIATES, WHITE ENGINEERING WIN ACEC ENGINEERING
EXCELLENCE AWARD
** CECO MEETING SET FOR APRIL 22ND
** CECO LEGISLATIVE REPORT
** 2ND ANNUAL ODOT/CECO PARTNERING CONFERENCE SCHEDULED FOR MAY 1ST
** MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION UPDATE FORMS DUE BY APRIL 18TH
** CECO & OKLAHOMA "KEY" TO THE SUCCESS OF ACEC'S CONSULTING CONGRESS
DAY/LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM

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COBB ENGINEERING, POE & ASSOCIATES, WHITE ENGINEERING
WIN ACEC ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE AWARD

Cobb Engineering Company, Poe and Associates, and White Engineering Associates were honored Tuesday, March 18th as recipients of a national "Honor" award in ACEC's annual Engineering Excellence Awards.

The firms received the award for the "I-40/Arkansas River Bridge" reconstruction project. This is the highest honor any Oklahoma project has ever received in the ACEC Engineering Excellence Awards competition.

A total of 24 awards were presented at the gala banquet. Honor awards were presented to 16 firms, 7 firms received Grand awards, and one firm received ACEC's highest honor, the Grand Conceptor Award.

Over 160 projects were entered in this year's competition, and making it to the top 24 is quite an achievement. Just a few of the other top 24 award winners were: "The Phoenix Project" which was the reconstruction of the Pentagon following the September 11th terrorist attack; two projects related to the attack on the World Trade Center on September 11th - "World Trade Center Report" and the "WTC Disaster Response" -; structural systems for "Reliant Stadium" in Houston; "Seahawks Stadium" in Seattle; and the Grand Conceptor Award winner, a "Removable Spillway Weir" for a dam in Pomeroy, Washington.

Present to receive the "Honor" award were Bob Williams and Jim Benson of Poe and Associates along with Marty Hepp of Cobb Engineering Company. Director of Transportation Gary Ridley was also in attendance accepting the award on behalf of ODOT.

Senator Jim Inhofe and Congressman Brad Carson attended the reception prior to the banquet, offering their congratulations to the firms and ODOT on receiving this prestigious award. Later, Senator Inhofe was the featured speaker at the Awards Banquet.

In addition to the "Honor" award, two other Oklahoma projects were named "National Finalists". Zahl-Ford, Inc. received an award for the "Oklahoma City Museum of Art", while Atkins was honored for the "Ford Center Arena" project.

CECO offers our congratulations to all of the firms on their accomplishments and awards.

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CECO MEETING SET FOR APRIL 22ND

The next CECO meeting will be held Tuesday, April 22nd at the CECO Office in Oklahoma City. For this meeting, CECO is going to incorporate an ACEC Desktop Seminar into the regular quarterly meeting. Registration will include both the "Lunch and Learn" seminar and lunch.

The topic of the seminar is, "Financial Risk Management ­ How to Get Paid!" Effective project financial risk management focuses on prompt payment of invoiced amounts and reduction of work performed without contractual authority. The effects of poor scope definition and poor contract change management usually arise as lack of payment for work performed. Instructors will discuss contract clauses, project management practices and guide documents that will improve financial results from technical project managers and teams. Use of lien rights, suspension of work, copyright of work product, conditional delivery of work product and expedited payment collection rights will also be discussed.

Because this is an "internet based" seminar, the meeting will start exactly at 11:30am. The "Lunch & Learn" seminar will be followed by the regular CECO business meeting. Registration information has been sent to all members.

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CECO LEGISLATIVE REPORT

The 2003 Session of the Oklahoma Legislature is moving toward it's third major deadline this coming Thursday, April 3rd. At that time, bills must have cleared Committee in the opposite house, i.e., House bills clearing Senate committees and vice versa. The next deadline will then come on April 24th by which bills will have to be approved by the full opposite house. Of the 1741 bills that were introduced in the House and Senate, only 976 survived the originating house.

While according to the calendar there are still almost 2 months left in this legislative session, the reality is that we may be less than 30 days from adjournment. CECO was told by high-ranking legislative sources last week that serious consideration is being given to an early May adjournment, even though the Constitutional adjournment date isn't until May 30th. Our sources said that considering the current budget situation, there is strong consideration being given to finishing all of the budget bills in the next couple of weeks using currently available funds and without addressing any additional funding sources (i.e., tax increases), and then simply adjourning. Then, a special session of the Legislature would be called at a later date to address funding enhancements (i.e., tax increases).

If this happens, then a lot of people, including CECO, will be scrambling in the next couple of weeks to get their programs adopted prior to the possible early adjournment.

Here's an update on two bills which CECO is watching closely:

HB 1385 ­MOTOR FUEL TAX INCREASE. If passed, this would put to a vote of the people an increase in the state motor fuel taxes on both gasoline and diesel fuel. A 5-cent increase in the gas tax over 3 years and 7-cent increase in diesel would phase in over 4 years would provide ODOT with critical funding. ODOT estimates it would cost about $7.3 billion to bring the state highway system up to "minimum" standards. While this increase in the state motor fuel tax will not solve all of the problems, it is a critical first-step.

While bits and pieces of the increase would go to cities, counties and various "modes" of transportation (i.e., rail, transit, air, etc.), overall, approximately 90% of the new revenue generated by the gas and diesel fuel increase would go to new construction and maintenance, of which engineering firms will get their share through the design of these new projects. The actual splits for the "modes" are very fluid right now, and will eventually be worked out in Conference Committee. However, it is virtually assured that the 90% figure is probably a minimum for new construction and maintenance.

Since our March update, several good things have happened. First, on a vote of 72-23, the House approved the bill a couple of weeks ago. The bill was then sent to the Senate Transportation Committee, where the bill received committee approval on a 12-8 vote.

The bill is now pending full Senate consideration, which may come as early as later this week.

As with the House side, Republican support in the Senate for HB 1385 is critical. While the chief sponsor of the bill is a Republican, many Republicans have taken a "no tax increase pledge", and are opposing the bill for that reason. But, as we pointed out on the House side, this bill IS NOT A TAX INCREASE but rather they are simply voting to ALLOW THE PEOPLE to decide if the motor fuel tax increase is warranted.

The current goal of CECO and a large coalition of transportation-related groups is to get this bill through the Senate and into Conference Committee. The Senate version differs from the House version, and the House sponsor has already said that he wants the bill to go into Conference Committee to workout the differences. With that, the coalition is simply asking the Senate to "keep the bill alive" at this point so that the Conference Committee can work out the differences between the two houses.

CECO members are urged to CALL YOUR SENATOR and urge their support and ask them to keep HB 1385 "alive" when it comes to the floor in the next few days.

Your calls are very important, and we ask that you make calls to your Senator as soon as possible. The Senate Switchboard number is 405-524-0126. Don't know who's your Senator, go to http://www5.lsb.state.ok.us/legislators/lsbaddress.asp, type in your address, and your Senator will be identified.

Time is short, so please make your calls today!!!!!

HB 1451 ­ STATE ARCHITECTS ACT. This bill would make major changes to the State Architects Act, primarily in the area which stipulates when an Architect is required on a project.

As we reported last month, current law has a "laundry list" of building types (school, auditorium, public owned buildings, etc.) on which an architect is required if the cost of the project is over $40,000. But, for some other types of commercial buildings there is an "exception" for buildings that are two stories or less in height. Architects have been trying for years to get this changed, but have not come up with a workable solution.

Major opposition is coming from two groups, the homebuilders association and the building designer's association. These two organizations are closely related, and their membership are those who design and build "strip" shopping centers. "Strip" malls do not fall into the current definition of a building, but would if the new "code use group" and "occupancy" limits are adopted.

While the bill was approved by the House Judiciary Committee, major amendments were made on the House floor which basically "gutted" the bill. In lieu of the original meaningful language, amendments proposed by the opponents of the bill provide that a legislative task force be convened to study the issue and make recommendations for legislative language. The bill passed the House in this fashion and has subsequently received Senate Committee approval. The bill is currently awaiting full Senate action.

In the amended language, seats on the legislative task force have been assigned to various interested organizations including CECO. If passed in it's current form, a member of CECO would be appointed to the task force by Senate President Pro Tem Cal Hobson.

CECO will continue to keep watch on this bill to assure that if a task force is formed, CECO will be involved.

We are still closely watching the budget issues, and how the Legislature is going to handle the $700 million deficit over last year's budget. Rumors and whispering of "sales tax on professional services" are still floating around the Capitol, including the "temporary" removal of all exemptions for one or two years. And now with the possibility of "early adjournment" and a possible Special Session looming, tax issues will be coming to the forefront in the very near future.

As always we will keep you informed of any late breaking developments, and, of course, if you have any questions about any legislation, please do not hesitate to contact CECO.

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2ND ANNUAL ODOT/CECO PARTNERING CONFERENCE

SCHEDULED FOR MAY 1ST

ODOT and CECO will host our 2nd Annual Partnering Conference, Thursday, May 1st at the Meridian Convention Center in Oklahoma City.

Over 150 ODOT staff and consulting engineers attended last year's conference, and we hope to exceed that number this year.

The Conference will begin at 9:00am, and Governor Brad Henry has been invited to present the opening address.

Following Governor Henry, Walter Kudzia for the Federal Highway Administration will present an update on FHWA activities as well as other initiatives at the federal level.

Later that morning, updates will be presented on the current ODOT/CECO initiatives which task groups have been working on for the past year. That will be followed by lunch at which Secretary of Transportation Phil Tomlinson and ODOT Director Gary Ridley will discuss legislative initiatives at the State Capitol, as well as funding and system enhancements.

The afternoon will feature three concurrent sessions. The Concurrent Sessions will be repeated so that each attendee has an opportunity to attend all three sessions.

Registration for the ODOT/CECO Partnering Conference is $45.00 per person, and registrations should be returned to CECO by Wednesday, April 23rd.

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MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION UPDATE FORMS DUE BY APRIL 18TH

All member firms have been sent their annual Membership Update form. The information requested is critical for CECO Budgeting purposes as well as determining your firm's dues for FY 03-04.

Please complete the form and return it to CECO as soon as possible, but no later than April 18th. Thanks for your assistance.

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CECO & OKLAHOMA "KEY" TO THE SUCCESS OF ACEC'S CONSULTING CONGRESS DAY/LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM

CECO participated in ACEC's annual Consulting Congress Day (CCD) activities in mid-March and played a very critical role in the overall success of the event.

The importance of the involvement of CECO is due to the fact that several members of the Oklahoma Congressional Delegation hold key positions on Committees which will "make or break" the ACEC Legislative Program.

Representing CECO at the CCD activities were CECO Past President Bob Williams, Jim Benson, Marty Hepp, and Executive Vice President Jim Sullins.

As you know, on the Senate side Senator Jim Inhofe is Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and Senator Don Nickles is Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee. Inhofe's committee will write the reauthorization of TEA-21 while Nickles' committee will fund the reauthorization. On the House side, Congressmen John Sullivan and Brad Carson hold key seats on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, which will write the House version of TEA-21. And, Congressman Ernest Istook chairs the House Appropriation Committee's Sub-committee on Transportation, which will have oversight on the funding for TEA-21.

During the CCD activities, CECO's delegation met twice with Senator Inhofe and Congressmen Sullivan and Carson. Monday afternoon March 17th, CECO Executive Vice President Jim Sullins met one-on-one with Congressman Sullivan at the Congressman's invitation. Tuesday evening, March 18th, Senator Inhofe and Congressman Carson attended that Engineering Excellence Awards Reception, giving the CECO members present an opportunity to talk with the Senator and Congressman in a more relaxed atmosphere. Then on Wednesday, March 19th the CECO delegation met with all three at length in their offices. In addition to these meetings, CECO representatives met with the remaining members of the Oklahoma Congressional Delegation and/or their staff during the CCD activities.

During our meeting with Senator Inhofe, who was also the featured speaker at the Engineering Excellence Awards Banquet, the Senator made it very clear that Oklahoma was going to be the beneficiary of his and the other delegation member's seats of influence. Senator Inhofe said that he was not a fan of the Senate seniority system, but that since that was the system that's in place, he was going to take full advantage of his position to see that Oklahoma faired very well when projects and funding is decided. When told that at an earlier CCD meeting that Senator Kit Bond (R-Missouri) had flatly stated that "Oklahoma and Missouri" had been the doormat states for too many years and that this year was our year to get our fair share, Senator Inhofe could not agree fast enough. He told CECO that Oklahoma had been "shorted" more than $1 billion over the past few years, and that we were going to get that and more back.

In our meetings with Congressmen Sullivan and Carson they reiterated that Oklahoma had been a "donor" state for far too long, and that they were going to do everything possible to right that wrong.

While the "donor" state issue has always been a sore-point with the Oklahoma delegation and the Oklahoma transportation community, realistically Oklahoma will probably not reach the 100% level this year. Somewhere in the 95-96% range is probably more likely. However, to offset that, so-called "special projects" is where Oklahoma will see many benefits. "Special Projects" , commonly referred in the media to as "pork barrel projects", are projects which are specially funded above and beyond the normal appropriations set forth in the reauthorization bills. Each member of Congress submits a list of "special projects" in his district and while all will not be funded, some will be funded.

The two top projects on everyone's "special projects" list is the Crosstown Expressway in Oklahoma City and the I-44/Skelly Expressway in Tulsa. Combined, these two projects will cost in the $500-600 million range. Additionally, other projects around the state, such as U.S. Highway 60 from Pawhuska to Vinita, are high on the Congressional "wish list". While the total amount of "special projects" will be determined at a later date, don't be surprised if Oklahoma's share of these projects total up somewhere near $1 billion.

In addition to the TEA-21 reauthorization issue, CECO talked with the Delegation about environmental streamlining; anti-outsourcing and government competition issues; and, fair labor standards act revisions as it pertains to design firms.

CECO will work with the Oklahoma Delegation during the reauthorization process, and the Delegation has promised to keep in close contact with CECO as the legislative moves forward.

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