California Surveyors Forums

Under the new restrictions of the Corona Virus, does anyone know of any firms which have simply "sent the crews home" indefinately? I see a lot of contruction projects going on around me, and the workers are still doing what they do. This has already had a huge effect on a lot of local businesses (non-survey) around me, and have seen some closing their doors. I guess, a two-man crew can stay 6 feet apart (US Survey Foot of course), and limit the crew to less than 10?

Starting tonight we're sending our crews home with the charging stations for equipment so they don't have to come into the office building for field work days. They'll come to the office parking area at the start of the day and immediately go to the trucks to get the field work complete. Office staff are telecommuting as possible, but will still need to come in occasionally to go through files and access records that aren't digitized.

With the Bay Area county shelter in place order, I was told only "essential" survey crews were Ok to work (i.e. public transportation, public utility projects, government work).

Yolo County doesn't (yet) have a mandatory shelter-in-place rule in effect, but I can't see any reason a 1-man crew working on an unpopulated project should refrain from working as usual. That's what I've been doing. (Though I did wipe down the gas pump handle and keypad this morning with a bleach wipe before filling my truck.)

MikeT wrote:With the Bay Area county shelter in place order, I was told only "essential" survey crews were Ok to work (i.e. public transportation, public utility projects, government work).

Mike-Do you see all contstruction projects "STOP" in the Bay area? I think not. So, with that, why would that apply to surveyors, and not carpenters, electricians and plumbers and the like?

Attached is what Marin County sent out . . .

Crazy times . . . but remember someone is fiscally worse off that you. I hope we don't get a taste of what our folks/grandparents called the "Depression".

Phil - Sonoma

Jim Frame wrote:Yolo County doesn't (yet) have a mandatory shelter-in-place rule in effect, but I can't see any reason a 1-man crew working on an unpopulated project should refrain from working as usual. That's what I've been doing. (Though I did wipe down the gas pump handle and keypad this morning with a bleach wipe before filling my truck.)

I worked (solo) today. Saw a two-person crew working on my way to my job.

PLS 5528--Apparently construction projects in Bay Area have not stopped for now. I'm not there right now so I'm getting info. second hand.
I was trying to decipher and understand the Shelter in Place Order and how it applies to us.

Boston Mayor Walsh announces 'Boston Resiliency Fund,' suspends construction activity
https://www.wcvb.com/article/boston-may ... 0/31674314

"Mayor London Breed announced what she calls a "defining moment" in U.S. response to the pandemic. Beginning at 12 AM, all residents within the city can only leave home for doctor's appointments or runs to the grocery store." All construction activity will suspend and contractors are being asked to button up their jobs.

We are in a deep recession. The shoe hasn't dropped yet. Public works money may be shifted to health and social services. Potholes will have to take the back seat. There may be the exception being proposition money, certain gas tax etc that is prohibited from being spent elsewhere. Does that exception apply in a state of emergency?

https://www.latimes.com/business/story/ ... n-forecast

"California is expected to shed more than 280,000 of its payroll jobs, with leisure, hospitality and transportation sector jobs accounting for more than one-third of those. That would drive up the unemployment rate to 6.3% by the end of this year, with effects continuing into 2021, when the unemployment rate is expected to average 6.6%."

Probably best, if you have school age kids lining up for a free meal, to ask them to grab an extra cheese sandwich for you.

Bird

hellsangle wrote:Attached is what Marin County sent out . . .

Crazy times . . . but remember someone is fiscally worse off that you. I hope we don't get a taste of what our folks/grandparents called the "Depression".

Phil - Sonoma

quick scan: 10 (a) (iii), and 10 (a) (iv), and 10 (c), 10 (f) (xx) seem to cover normal survey activities

In the Bay Area shelter in place counties Mike T is on point. I am aware of several companies that have sent the crews home, as clearly required. The only relevant exemption is 10(c) “public works construction, construction of housing” etc. The other cited exceptions are clearly not applicable.

Some construction sites are still going, as per the above. I don’t think the purpose is to exempt every site survey, lot line adjustment survey, boundary survey, architects office, civil engineers office, lawyers office, surveyors office etc. from this order because we’re all ‘involved with construction’. Unless you’re on a construction site, stay home.

Don’t we want to be professionals and not construction workers? This is a public health emergency the likes of which we’ve never seen, not a time to look for loopholes.

Mnuchin warns virus could yield 20% jobless rate without action
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles ... n-k7wheob8

Liked "Don’t we want to be professionals and not construction workers? This is a public health emergency the likes of which we’ve never seen, not a time to look for loopholes."

Elias French wrote:<snip>... not a time to look for loopholes.

I heartily agree.
we all need to be physically strong, and maintain a positive outlook.
My wife and I are both High Risk, but I trust our local environment will see us thru this.

Keep your distance, avoid confined areas, keep clean, wash your food.

The biggest danger is being unwitting carriers. Most of us, if infected, will have no symptoms.

following in the spirit of the regulations and advisories ... even if they don't directly apply, is the responsible thing to do.

I read that essential construction projects include housing, so at what level? I have projects for new ADU's, (new housing), so why can't I continue? Surveyors have been caught up inappropriately before, AB5, RS filing fees, so until mandated and kicked off the street I'll proceed as a one-man crew. As discussed with another one-man firm, how many police do we normally see while we work in residential streets?
Be safe out there!

One of my clients in Alameda County called their health department who is in charge of the definition of essential services. According to them, sole proprietors can continue working in Alameda County. We work alone and are not surrounded by people. We don't qualify for unemployment, etc. He gave me a phone number to verify this info. (510.267.8000).

If working solo, it really makes no sense to stay home. I worked yesterday and only spoke when spoken to and I kept a safe distance from people. There was home construction going on down the street. Many people are out walking with their kids, and some were at a playground nearby. Working by myself is a nothingburger.

I don't want the stink eye
were off for a few weeks

Notwithstanding what MikeT got from Alameda County regarding sole proprietors, the Shelter in Place order is clear. As stated above, the only relevant exception being 10(c) "...work necessary to the operations and maintenance of... ...public works construction, construction of housing...". For crews and office staff, I have been instructed and believe they should be able to qualify for unemployment for any lost hours; not sure about sole proprietors. I am aware of many surveyors that have ceased field operations, and am aware of large commercial sites that are completely shut down.

This is a terrible situation for us to be in as a nation, and the more we all do now to stay home the less we may need to do later. Think of the big picture. We'll be lucky if we're still able to worry about this in a week or two. Best to us all.

[quote="Jim Frame"]Yolo County doesn't (yet) have a mandatory shelter-in-place rule in effect"

I guess that has changed in the last couple of days?

"public works construction, construction of housing..."

Would you be less likely to get the Corona Virus on a Public Works or Housing Project as opposed to any other project? These regulations are never really thought of very well (unless they are "self serving" to the ones which create them? This so reminds me of the gun restrictions in California. You can buy a gun that has the same amount of rounds as another, but, because the other looks more threatening, it is illegal? Rediculous

So how does unemployment insurance work? Do I end up paying some of this? Curious...........

Does this mean I can't go fishing????

Gromatici wrote:Does this mean I can't go fishing????

Of course you can go fishing, just practice the suggested social distancing between your bait and fish, lol!!!

Luckily for me the weather isn't good to launch the boat, and some lakes are closed. With my luck I'd drive 70 miles to launch and a cop would be stationed at the public ramp, absorbing tax payers money. If not, what are the chances I come back to a ticket on my truck?

Employers pay all unemployment insurance. Workers pay nothing towards it.

Gromatici wrote:Does this mean I can't go fishing????

As long as you stay 6 feet away from the fish (US Survey Foot of course)