ECA Member News!

Eight New Traffic Laws for 2012

a) Child safety seats
Children will be required to ride in a car seat or a booster seat until they are 8 years old, or reach a height of 4'9". Clader said children who do not meet the age or height requirement must ride in the back seat, unless there is no back seat or it is occupied with other children.

b) DUI checkpoints
Drivers are required to stop and submit to a sobriety checkpoint. However, police are not allowed to impound a vehicle for 30 days if a driver's only offense at the DUI checkpoint is that they don't hold a valid driver's license, Clader said.

c) Reckless driving convictions
People convicted of reckless driving will be able to apply for a restricted driver's license before the completion of their one-year suspension, if they meet specific requirements, including installing an Ignition Interlock Device, Clader said.

d) Crossing lines
Clader said vehicles will not be allowed to cross double parallel solid white lines, except where permitted.

e) Double fine zone
A part of Vasco Road between Interstate 580 in Alameda County and Walnut Boulevard in Contra Costa County will be designated as a double fine zone until Jan. 1, 2017.

f) Plugging in your EV
Electric Vehicles (EV) must be plugged in for refueling when in an EV parking spot, or face being towed. Clader added a person cannot block, obstruct or bar access to an EV parking spot.

g) Ads on vehicles
Local governments will be able to regulate ad signs on any motor vehicle parked or left standing on a public street, except for signs painted directly on or permanently fixed on the vehicle for decoration, identification or display, Clader said.

h) Repeat DUI offenders
A person, whose license has been revoked for 10 years because of three or more DUIs, can apply for a restricted driver's license after five years if the person installs an Ignition Interlock Device. Clader added the DMV can terminate a restricted license if the IID requirements are not met.

Stevenson Supply, a century-old Sonoma County firm, has expanded by acquiring Al Ruoff & Son, a Vallejo company.

"We're very excited about the expertise and reputation that Al has built," says Kent Stevenson, President and a fourth-generation leader at Stevenson Supply.

Al Ruoff & Son has been in Vallejo since 1964, primarily serving the construction industry. "I really look forward to working with Stevenson Supply," said Ruoff. "It's a great opportunity for my customers."

The Al Ruoff & Son store in Vallejo on Lemon Street will be rebranded as a Stevenson Supply outlet, and will carry the full Stevenson line of geotextile fabrics, erosion and sediment control products, surveyor supplies, safety equipment, traffic control supplies and survey lasers. In addition to the industry-best survey stakes that have long been a staple at Ruoff's company, the Vallejo store will continue to sell wood pellet fuel.

The current Stevenson Supply location in Santa Rosa provides materials and support to the coastal counties of the North Bay. The new location provides easy access to the Highway 80 corridor and the greater Bay Area, so Stevenson can more readily serve customers throughout the region.

Kent Stevenson and Territory Sales Manager Rick Dennis are available to assist general engineering contractors who are required to comply with storm water protection regulations.

A family-owned business that celebrated a century of service three years ago, Stevenson Supply has evolved with the times, from selling and servicing farm equipment, to offering state-of-the-art contractor products.

The company is located at 3601 Regional Parkway in Santa Rosa, conveniently near Highway 101 and the Sonoma County Airport. The Santa Rosa telephone number is 707-575-3335. The new location in Vallejo is at 1328 Lemon Street, close to the Highway 80/780 interchange. The Vallejo telephone number is 707-644-7709.

Visit Stevenson Supply on the web at www.stevensonsupply.net or call the main office at 707-575-3335 for more information.

September 12, 2011

SANTA ROSA, CA – Rick Dennis, a 35-year veteran of the heavy construction industry, has joined Stevenson Supply as a Territory Sales Manager. Rick will be based in the East Bay and San Francisco Peninsula area.

Rick was a longtime John Deere dealership employee and “friendly competitor” when Stevenson sold heavy equipment. “Rod Stevenson and I have known each other since the late 1970s,” said Rick. “I’m very excited to be working with Stevenson Supply. This will be a good opportunity for both of us.”

Rick has a reputation as a good friend to his customer base and for being open and forthright in his dealings with customers.

“We are looking forward to having Rick on the team,” said Kent Stevenson, Vice-President of Sales and a third generation member of the Stevenson firm. “We are expanding our service coverage to our existing and future customers in the East Bay and San Francisco Peninsula. We are also currently pursuing a couple of business acquisitions in the Bay Area.”

A family-owned business that celebrated a century of service three years ago, Stevenson Supply has evolved witsh the times, from selling and servicing farm equipment, to offering state-of-the-art contractor products.

The company is located at 3601 Regional Parkway in Santa Rosa, conveniently near Highway 101 and the Sonoma County Airport. The showroom is well-stocked with safety products, lasers, traffic control and surveying supplies, erosion/sediment control products, geotextile products and other contractor’s supplies.

Visit Stevenson Supply on the web at www.stevensonsupply.net or call the company at 707-575-3335 for more information.

BKF ENGINEERS CONGRATULATES STAFF ON PASSING THE CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL LICENSING EXAM

Santa Rosa, CA - BKF Engineers (BKF) congratulates Jason Kirchmann, PLS, PE, who recently passed the 2011 California Professional Engineers examination. Jason joined BKF in 2002 and became a professionally licensed Land Surveyor last year after passing the rigorous exam. He is proud of his demonstrated excellence on projects such as:

·         Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa

·         Sonoma County Fairgrounds Water Quality Improvements

·         Healdsburg Downtown Streetscape and Infrastructure Improvement Projects 

BKF employs a highly qualified staff of civil engineers, land surveyors, field / technical support staff, and administrative professionals. BKF offers a full range of Civil Engineering, Land Surveying and Land Planning services. We facilitate and obtain regulatory approvals as part of our Project Management and Entitlement Services. BKF provides solutions to projects by establishing designs based on defined goals, developing practical alternatives, clear communications, and delivering documents which facilitate construction.  BKF is committed to developing projects that are economical, sustainable, and respective of the communities they serve.  

BKF is a leading Civil Engineering and Land Surveying firm in California with 9 offices including Santa Rosa, Redwood City, San Jose, Walnut Creek, Pleasanton, Sacramento, Oakland, Richmond and Orange County.  BKF’s 2011 rankings include:

·         One of the Top Firms in the North Bay, by the North Bay Business Journal

·         The Largest Engineering firm in Silicon Valley, by the Silicon Valley Business Journal

·         Sixth Largest Firm in the Bay Area, by the San Francisco Business Times

·         #229 Nation-wide in McGraw Hill Engineering News Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firms

Santa Rosa, CA May 4, 2011

KriStar Enterprises, a leading manufacturer of innovative storm water management products, is pleased to announce the appointment of Mike Kimberlain as Vice President, Engineering.

Mr. Kimberlain joined KriStar in 2007 as a regional engineer working with municipalities and consulting engineers in the design of storm water transmission and treatment systems. He possesses a Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and has been practicing Civil Engineering with a specialty in Storm Water Management for the last 10 years. His background has been key in the development, testing and product

development protocols, and in advising specifiers on appropriate storm water management solutions. He is an active participant in several national storm water programs including the State of California Construction General Permit and the Industrial General Permit.  Mike’s engineering expertise and extensive knowledge in the storm water management industry are an asset to KriStar and we are pleased to have him accept this position.
For further information concerning this release or KriStar Enterprises, Inc., contact Michelle Dunlop (mdulop@kristar.com) 800-579-8819 or visit our website at www.kristar.com.