EVERETT — There could soon be additional requirements to use apprentice labor on city projects in Everett if a proposed ordinance introduced to the City Council on Wednesday is approved.
The ordinance would expand current requirements mandating certain construction or renovation projects in the city to use at least 15% apprentice labor.
Currently, those mandates are in place for all projects on city buildings that cost over $1 million, or any other construction or renovation project the city undertakes with a cost over $5 million.
The new ordinance would expand upon these requirements, eventually requiring apprentice labor on all city construction or renovation work expected to cost more than $1 million.
In 2023, the state Legislature passed a law requiring all municipal public works contracts awarded after June 2024 with a cost of over $2 million to use apprentices for at least 15% of the project’s labor hours. The threshold will drop to $1.5 million in July 2026 and to $1 million in July 2028.
Everett’s ordinance, if approved by the council, would implement the $1 million threshold sooner, by July 2027 rather than 2028.
“Not only are you accelerating progress and creating meaningful opportunities for apprentices working in Everett now, but more importantly, tomorrow,” said Seth Newsom, an Everett resident, during public comment at Wednesday’s council meeting.
Council member Ben Zarlingo previously worked as a carpentry laborer, he said at Wednesday’s meeting. He supports apprenticeship programs, in part, because of his personal experience working without one.
“Without an apprenticeship program, I realize now I didn’t have the guidance, I didn’t have the supervision, I didn’t have the chance to learn, and maybe most importantly, I didn’t have the protections of an apprenticeship program in terms of safety,” Zarlingo said.
The ordinance would require apprentices to work at least 15% of an entire project’s labor hours, Everett Government Affairs Director Jennifer Gregerson said, but it does not specify any requirements for apprenticeship rates within each individual trade involved in a construction project.
The ordinance, however, would require the mayor to provide annual reports to the City Council showing the numbers of apprentices, organized by trade, utilized on city projects.
“In the future, if we find that this isn’t delivering on what one would expect — like all the apprenticeships are in one trade and not in another — then we’d have a chance to refine it,” Gregerson said.
The mayor will also report the number and percentage of minorities, women, veterans and Everett residents used as apprentices on each project, the ordinance reads.
It also gives the city leeway to approve certain contracts with companies who are unable to comply with the requirements due to a lack of apprentice availability or high material costs, as long as the contractors “demonstrated a good faith effort to comply with the requirements” of the ordinance, it reads.
The council is expected to vote on the ordinance May 21.
Will Geschke: 425-339-3443; william.geschke@heraldnet.com; X: @willgeschke.
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