Thursday, April 28, 2016

OFFICER BREAKFAST WITH JOHN RODGERS: April 21, 2016





PHOTO, L-to-R: Sean Pringle, Anthony Severy, Jazz Gilbert, Cara Martinez, John Rodgers & Phil the Hedgehog, Kristen McFarland, Steven Haugaard, Jonathon Centofranchi, and Jason Hsia. PC: Photo provided by Cara Martinez.

ASCE SLO Officer Breakfast with John Rodgers
Thursday, April 28, 2016
Big Sky Cafe, San Luis Obispo

Cal Poly SCE Chapter Officers: Sean Pringle, Kristen McFarland, Steven Haugaard, Jonathon Centofranchi, Jason Hsia.
ASCE SLO Branch Officers: Anthony Severy, Jazz Gilbert, Cara Martinez.

*Phil the Hedgehog (mascot) appearance courtesy of Kristen & ASCE National.
(Thanks Kristen!)

Friday, April 15, 2016

NETWORKING SOCIAL (FREE PIZZA): May 5, 2016

Please join us for a FREE member appreciation and outreach pizza lunch social at Petra Mediterranean Pizza and Grill in SLO on May 5th. Unlike our monthly meetings there will not be a structured presentation at this event.

This is strictly a networking event and members are encouraged to invite prospective members, past members or non-members! Please forward and/or invite anyone you think may be interested.
While this event is FREE for all attending, please RSVP below so that we can ensure we have enough pizza for everyone!

Get more information...

Register Now!

I can't make it

If you have any questions about the event or how to register please contact me at the info listed below.

Thank you for your participation in ASCE and we look forward to seeing you at the pizza social.

Sincerely,

Ben Jensen
ASCE San Luis Obispo Branch
benj@wallacegroup.us
805-544-4011

When
Thursday May 5, 2016 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM PDT
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Where
Petra Mediterranean Pizza and Grill
1210 Higuera St
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401


Thursday, April 14, 2016

BRANCH MEETING: April 21, 2016

Please join us at our April Branch meeting for a presentation by John Rogers, our 2015-2016 Los Angeles Section President and Vice President of Engineering at CLE Engineering in Murrieta, CA. John will be presenting on ASCE's three strategic initiatives-Sustainable Infrastructure, the ASCE Grand Challenge, and Raise the Bar as well as the upcoming Legislative Fly-In and upcoming ASCE Dream Big movie release.

John will be speaking more in depth about the following ASCE Strategic Initiatives:

Sustainable Infrastructure - As civil engineers, we are entrusted to maintain and modernize America's deteriorating infrastructure as well as make our communities sustainable.

ASCE Grand Challenge - The investments needed to improve our infrastructure continue to increase well beyond available funding. How do we close the infrastructure gap? ASCE has issued a grand challenge to civil engineers and the industry to significantly enhance the performance and value of infrastructure projects over their life cycles by 2025 and foster the optimization of infrastructure investments for society.

ASCE's Raise the Bar - ASCE seeks to advance the civil engineering profession and the public welfare by actively supporting the national movement to raise educational requirements for licensure of future professional engineers.

Aside from ASCE John has primary professional responsibility for all Civil Engineering Design and Land Surveying performed by CLE Engineering in Southern California. His land development experience extends over almost 40 years and includes project experience throughout the six-county areas. Projects have included industrial and commercial developments, condominiums, hotels, multi-family projects, wineries, single-family residences in environmentally sensitive areas, road designs in difficult terrain, public and private schools, churches and parks.

For additional details and sign-up, please click here.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Thursday, March 17, 2016

CONTINUING EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY: Accessibility Training

A Chapter of the International Code Council (ICC) & AIA California Central Coast (A Chapter of the American Institute of Architects), presents:

ACCESSIBILITY TRAINING 
(Based on the 2013 California Building Code)
5 hours CEU credits

After this class you will be able to:
- Know how to effectively use and understand the new organization of Chapter 11B.
- Understand how to apply the requirements for alterations of public accommodations, including exiting, “path of travel”, & employee work areas.
- Understand how the accessibility provisions of the 2013 CBC apply to exterior areas and features, including trash enclosures, parking lots & paths of travel.
- Know the difference between “common areas” and “public areas” in Multi-Family Housing projects.

Date:  Friday April 29, 2016

Time:  7:30 AM to 1:30 PM

Location:  San Luis Obispo City/County Library Community Room
995 Palm St. SLO, CA

Presented by:  Chris Hansen Central Coast Access Specialists, LLC,

Contact Info:

Cost (Includes breakfast):
$75.00 for AIA-CCC and CCC-ICC Chapter members
$100.00 for non-members

Registration:
AIA-CCC Members, Register Here:

CCC-ICC Members, Register Here:

Non-Members, Register Here:

On-Line Registration Deadline:  5PM Wednesday, April 28, 2016  
Registration after April 28th will be at the door, subject to seating availability. Seating with tables is limited to 107, please register early.

Cancellation made at least one week prior to the class will be refunded. No refunds for cancellation will be given after that time. No refunds will be given for no-shows in the class.

Check-in and registration starts at 7:30 AM, class begins at 8:00 AM sharp. Coffee and light breakfast is provided. Class will NOT include a lunch break.

Parking:
City Parking structure is next door (south) of the Library on Palm Street. Another parking structure is across the street on Palm one half a block south.

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Central Coast Access Specialists, LLC, was founded in 2011 by Chris Hansen, to assist central coast architects, contractors, business and property owners in becoming compliant with California and Federal accessibility laws. Chris has worked in the field of building codes and code enforcement since 1990. In 2003 he became Inspection/Plan Check Supervisor for the City of Santa Barbara until he retired in September of 2011. Chris is an "Access Specialist", certified by the State of California (CASp #270 - 2010), an ICC Certified Plans Examiner (1999). an ICC certified Building Inspector (1995), and currently is a “Subject Matter Expert” for the Division of the State Architect sitting on their CASP Exam Development Committee.

Friday, March 4, 2016

BRANCH MEETING: April 1, 2016

Meeting Topic: An Evening with Ed Halpin, Pacific Gas and Electric Senior Vice President & Chief Nuclear Officer

Ed Halpin is the Senior Vice President, Power Generation & Chief Nuclear Officer for Pacific Gas and Electric Company. He is responsible for the safe, reliable, and efficient operations of DCPP, the license renewal of their units, the decommissioning of Humboldt Bay Power Plant, and will serve as the lead contact with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations.

Halpin came to DCPP from South Texas Project (STP) Nuclear Operating Company where he served as President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Nuclear Officer responsible for the overall strategic direction of STP and the operation of the STP's Units 1 & 2. In his more than 24 years with the company, Halpin advanced through positions of increasing responsibility and leadership, including site vice president, vice president of oversight, vice president and assistant to the CEO, plant general manager, operations manager, maintenance manager, systems engineering manager and design manager. He also played a key role in developing and sustaining the company's strong collaborative culture, which was critical to STP's transition to excellence.

Halpin served as an officer in the U.S. Navy's Nuclear Power Submarine Service. He graduated with honors from the U.S. Naval Academy earning a Bachelor of Science in Ocean Engineering and holds a master's degree in Strategic Communication and Leadership from Seton Hall University and another master's degree in Human Development from Fielding Graduate University. Additionally, Halpin has a Senior Reactor Operator Certification and is a graduate of the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations' Senior Nuclear Plant Management course and the Senior Nuclear Executives Seminar.

Ed welcomes all questions and will discuss a multitude of Diablo Canyon Power Plant topics (i.e. plant operation, power plant benefits, relicensing, etc.).  If you are interested in Diablo Canyon Power Plant come join us for an in-depth interactive presentation with Ed Halpin.


When
Friday April 1, 2016 from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM PDT
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Where
Pacific Gas & Electric Energy Education Center
6588 Ontario Road
San Luis Obispo, CA 93405

Dinner Menu
Dinner will be buffet style that includes BBQ tri-tip, BBQ chicken, homemade chili beans, fresh pasta salad, mixed greens salad, vegetable tray, garlic bread, fresh salsa, assorted cookies and cake, and assorted sodas and water.

Cost
$30 ($20/student)
We encourage the addition of friends, spouses, and anyone interested in the topic to join us for this meeting. Maximum occupancy is 75. Online payment is highly encouraged; however, we will accept payment at the door.

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

GOLF TOURNAMENT: 14th Annual Cal Poly SCE Tournament (April 22nd)

Golf Tournament:  14th Annual Cal Poly SCE Tournament

Date: Friday, April 22nd, 2016
Location: Blacklake Golf Resort, 1490 Golf Course Ln, Nipomo, CA 93444

Come play in SCE's annual golf tournament! It's a fantastic opportunity for students and representatives from multiple engineering companies to network. Lunch will be provided. We look forward to seeing you out there!

Questions:
Jonathon Centofranchi
(760) 520-5625


POST-MEETING INFO: Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) Implementation

We had a great turnout this past Thursday (2/18/2016) at Rooster Creek Tavern to hear Carolyn Berg present on the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act and what is being done locally to comply with the requirements.

For additional information, please see the County’s website:

Cara Martinez (L) and Carolyn Berg (R).
(PC: Wes Thomson)

Thursday, February 11, 2016

BRANCH MEETING: February 18, 2016

Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) Implementation

Presented by Carolyn Berg, County of San Luis Obispo

California’s Central Coast Hydrologic Region relies on groundwater for approximately 80-percent of its water supply to serve rural, urban, agricultural, and environmental demands. San Luis Obispo County, one of six counties within this region, has 22 groundwater basins underlying 3,304 square miles of largely rural and agricultural lands. Historically, these groundwater basins have had no requirements to manage groundwater. However in January 2015, the State enacted its first major groundwater law –the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA)—that requires local agencies to establish governance structures in order to sustainably manage groundwater resources, and to prepare and implement Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSP).

Based on the State Department of Water Resources’ (DWR) 2014 Final Basin Prioritization, there are five high and medium priority groundwater basins mapped in San Luis Obispo County: Paso Robles (High), Santa Maria (High), Los Osos (High), San Luis Obispo (Edna) Valley (Medium), and Cuyama Valley (Medium). On January 13, 2015, the County Board of Supervisors adopted the SGMA Strategy and directed staff to implement the policy. The overarching strategy seeks to: “establish community focused Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSA) based on cooperative interagency and stakeholder relationships in order to comply with SGMA requirements.” It also describes specific actions such as seeking the maximum feasible funding through grant applications, supporting establishment of organizational agreements, and maximum feasible outreach to all potentially affected stakeholders.

Carolyn Berg, Senior Water Resources Engineer of County Public Works, will present an overview of the new SGMA law, and local efforts to comply with its requirements.

---

Location: 
Rooster Creek Tavern
200 East Branch Street
Arroyo Grande, CA 93420

Date & Time: 
Thursday February 18, 2016 at 12 noon.

For additional details and sign-up, please click here.


Thursday, January 14, 2016

BRANCH MEETING: January 21, 2016

Please join us at our January Branch meeting for a presentation by Aaron Hilton with MNS Engineers, Inc. on the "Los Osos Valley Road/Hwy 101 Interchange".

Topic
Los Osos Valley Road (LOVR) is an important and highly traveled corridor for the City of San Luis Obispo, ultimately connecting Madonna road with south Higuera.

The current (LOVR) interchange at U.S. 101 was built at the southern end of San Luis Obispo in 1962. As the city and population have grown, the interchange has become outdated and in need of additional capacity to provide more efficient driving conditions for its users.

Construction of the current project began in the fall of 2014 to correct operational deficiencies and improve safety, add a new bridge adjacent to the existing LOVR overcrossing and widen the LOVR bridge crossing over San Luis Obispo Creek. The project will provide improved pedestrian and bicycle access along both sides of LOVR, construct drainage improvements and reconstruct all four on and off ramps. Currently all of the Structure have been completed and the final portion of LOVR is being re constructed.  The work is expected to be substantially complete by March of this year.  A separate landscaping project will follow the completion of construction further enhancing the southern “entryway” to the city.

The City of San Luis Obispo is the project sponsor and implementing agency of this $24 million construction project. Caltrans will provide oversight during construction and for the life of the project for improvements within State right-of-way. MNS has provided construction management and inspection services during the construction of the project.  Granite Construction is the Prime Contractor on the project.


Note
For those who are interested, there will be a site visit prior to lunch beginning at 11:00 AM. Meet in the Margie's Diner parking lot (1575 Calle Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405). Safety gear is not required but is recommended. Wear comfortable shoes.

Location
Madonna Inn
100 Madonna Road
San Luis Obispo, CA 93405

Date & Time
Thursday, January 21, 2016
Site Visit - 11:00 am
Lunch - 12:00 pm


Thursday, December 10, 2015

BRANCH MEETING: December 17, 2015


Topic
Please join us at our December Branch meeting for a presentation by John Duffy with Yeh and Associates on "Living with Landslides". With the forecast of heavy winter rains caused by “El Nino” conditions, the possibility of widespread slope instabilities is a likely scenario. Under such conditions expedited recognition, assessment, and mitigation of unstable slopes will be in demand in order to keep infrastructure operational through the storm periods. John Duffy with Yeh and Associates will share experiences gained from the 1997/1998 “El Nino” event and other more recent storm events while he served as engineering geologist with the California Department of Transportation.

Location
Rooster Creek Tavern
200 E. Branch Street
Arroyo Grande, CA 93420

Date & Time
Thursday, December 17, 2015 - 12:00 pm


Click here for more information and to sign up.