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Tuesday, January 14, 2025Building Professionals: Addressing Wildfire Risk Starts with Actionable Solutions
Recent events highlight the profound challenges wildfires pose to the safety and resilience of our communities. They also underscore a vital truth: meaningful actions can reduce risks and protect homes and neighborhoods. In Marin County, significant strides have been made to tackle wildfire risk by listening to experts and implementing proven strategies. Leaders like Jack Cohen and Stephen Pyne, featured in a recent LA Times article, remind us that wildfire disasters are not inevitable. By addressing
Monday, January 13, 2025Capitol Connection #1394
Capitol Connection Q&A for Contractors By Shauna Krause, President, Capitol Services, Inc. Better to know beforehand than worry, so let’s shock a contractor with this answer. Another inquiry seeks to know who really ‘owns’ a contractor’s license when a Qualifier parts ways with the company. Finally, a NV and CA comparison for RME’s… Q: My brother-in-law is a “C-10” (Electrical) qualifier. He recently left the company he worked for, and he and I are going to start an electrical company. Does
Monday, January 13, 2025Joseph Garbarino: Pioneering Leader in Recycling and Waste Management Passes Away
Marin Sanitary Service mourns the loss of Joseph Garbarino, owner of Marin Sanitary Service and founder of Marin Recycling and Resource Recovery Association, a visionary in recycling and waste management who passed away at the age of 91. Known for his passion for conservation and innovation, Garbarino transformed waste management practices nationwide. From launching the first county-wide curbside recycling program in 1980 to advocating for sustainable packaging, his contributions have set a global standard.
Friday, January 10, 2025Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery Now Open on Saturdays!
Wednesday, January 08, 2025Safety & Training Short: Conducting an Effective Investigation
Objective: To identify typical phases of incident investigations for those who conduct them The goal of an accurate and thorough incident investigation is not to place blame, but to determine the true cause of the incident and make changes that reduce the chances of similar incidents occurring in the future. Make sure your investigation includes each of the phases below to assure that your team has every opportunity to uncover all root causes.Click here to download the complete training short in
Tuesday, January 07, 2025Start the Year Strong: The Importance of IT Strategy, Cybersecurity, and Proactive Planning
Welcome to 2025! The start of a new year is always an exciting time. It’s a chance to build on the successes of the past and embrace the opportunities ahead. At Professional Computer Concepts, we’re ready to help you tackle 2025 with confidence, ensuring your IT infrastructure is secure, efficient, and prepared for whatever the year brings. Here’s how you can make the most of this fresh start and set the stage for success: 1. Reflecting on Lessons Learned The start of the year is the perfect time to
Monday, January 06, 2025License Requirement for Minor Work Increases from $500 to $1,000
December 31, 2024 SACRAMENTO, CA – Starting January 1, 2025, Assembly Bill 2622 (Carrillo, Chapter 240, Statutes of 2024) increases the minor work license exemption from $500 to $1,000, but there is a catch: the work cannot require a permit, and the unlicensed person cannot employ anyone for the project. In other words, if the minor work is subject to a permit requirement of any kind, or if the unlicensed person hires one or more workers to assist or perform the work, a license is required – even if the
Monday, December 30, 2024Marin Economic Forum: Did you know? The Marin Economic Forum has met its goals
The MEF Board of Directors recently decided to dissolve the organization effective January 2025. The reason behind the decision was a robust analysis that showed the county and at least 4 other jurisdictions had added staff resources to focus on economic development. When MEF was founded in 2010, there was no staff at the county, or any jurisdiction, with this responsibility and that was perceived as a threat to the economy following the Great Recession of 2008-9. MEF benefitted from incredible support
Monday, December 23, 2024California Employers, Get Ready! Wide Range of Employment-Related Laws Will Take Effect January 1, 2025 + 4 Essential California Employee Handbook Updates for 2025
New California employment laws are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2025. These laws address a variety of issues, including the state minimum wage, discrimination protections, paid time off, and employers’ messages about unionization. Quick HitsCalifornia’s minimum wage will increase from $16.00 to $16.50 per hour.New legislation clarifies that employers may not discriminate against workers because they have a combination of protected characteristics or do not have a driver’s license.California
Monday, December 23, 2024New Law Changes in 2025 Affecting Licensees, Applicants and Stakeholders
Sacramento, CA – The Contractors State License Board (CSLB) is advising licensees, applicants, and other stakeholders of key legislative updates following the implementation ofSenate Bill 1455 (Ashby, 2024). This bill, effective January 1, 2025, extends the Board’s “sunset” date from 2025 to 2029 and makes other changes to the law, which are described below. Key Provisions of SB 1455 1. Public Works Project LicensingWhat’s New? Awarding authorities must now ensure that public works project bidders
Thursday, December 19, 2024Windows 10 End of Life: Plan Ahead and Save on 2024 Expenses
Windows 10 End of Life: Plan Ahead and Save on 2024 Expenses Did you know that Windows 10 reaches end of life in October 2025? This means any devices still running Windows 10 will become a security risk to your network once Microsoft stops support. If you’ve been holding off on upgrades or replacements, this might be the perfect time to act, especially if you’re looking for smart ways to allocate 2024 expenses. We can help evaluate your current devices and assist with upgrading or replacing them to keep
Tuesday, December 17, 2024Finding Your Business's Compensation Equation
You’re an employer. You hire people to complete jobs and projects, and then they get paid for their efforts. But that’s just the surface-level description of the employer-employee relationship. When you peel back the layers, the topic of compensation becomes far more nuanced and complex. The real question every business leader must address is: How do you truly determine how much to pay your employees? Is it based on an arbitrary agreed-upon rate? Or perhaps it stems from the results of a detailed
Tuesday, December 17, 2024Celebrating our Member Referral Partners - Thank You for Helping Us Build Our Community!
We would like to recognize and celebrate our wonderful REFERRAL PARTNERS!2024:Rouset Schwartzbart, Schwartzbart Plumbing, who referred Jonathan Sandler, J Construction Solutions (Special thanks to Rouset for pledging his bonus to our Workforce Development and Scholarship Fund!) Janine Aurichio, YES2YUM Life Styling, who referred, Andrew Mann ArchitectureGreg Cook, Cook Construction, who referred Katharine Moodie, Perseverance AdvisorsKatharine Moodie, Cook Construction, who referred Shelley Chen,
Sunday, December 15, 2024End-of-Year Computer Security Checklist: Secure Your Digital Future in 2025
Plan for 2025 with confidence! Protect your digital future with our end-of-year cybersecurity checklist. Access the Checklist here: End-of-Year Computer Security Checklist: Secure Your Digital Future in 2025
Thursday, December 05, 2024SolarCraft Introduces Ductless Heat Pumps for Marin, Sonoma and Napa Homes
SolarCraft Celebrates 40 Years of Sustainability with the Introduction of Ductless Heat Pumps. SolarCraft, a leading provider of solar energy and battery storage solutions in Marin, Sonoma, and Napa counties, is thrilled to announce the addition of ductless heat pump systems to its suite of energy-efficient home solutions. As the company celebrates 40 years of serving Northern California, this innovative offering marks another milestone in SolarCraft’s commitment to providing sustainable, locally
Tuesday, December 03, 2024Marin Economic Forum -Did You Know? New State economic initiative is promising for Bay Area sectors
A major policy initiative for the State of California economy was recently launched by the Newsom administration to create good-paying jobs and regional economic development. The “California Jobs First Economic Blueprint” will guide the State’s investments in key sectors to drive sustainable economic growth, innovation, and access to good-paying jobs over the next decade. The complete Economic Blueprint will be released early next year, along with $120 million to support “ready-to-go" job-creating projects
Wednesday, November 20, 2024Fall 2024 edition of the California Licensed Contractor Newsletter
Continued Here Write us at cslbinfo@cslb.ca.gov for questions or feedback regarding this newsletter.
Monday, November 18, 2024Applications OPEN: Fire Safe Vendor List!
We are thrilled to announce that you can now apply to be included in the California Fire Safe Council’s first-annual Fire Safe Vendor List! This free publication launching in early 2025, will list businesses throughout California working in the fields of fire safety, prevention, and/or mitigation. By connecting local Fire Safe Councils, wildfire resilience organizations, and homeowners alike with qualified vendors, the Fire Safe Vendor List is streamlining the process of sourcing products and services
Wednesday, November 13, 2024Home Hardening in Action
When wildfire swept through Camarillo, California, Steven Snyder’s fire-hardened home emerged unscathed amid widespread destruction in his neighborhood. By choosing to build with fire-resistant materials—Class A roofing, fireproof siding, ember-resistant vents, and a fully cleared defensible space—Snyder’s home stood resilient against the flames. His story underscores the critical role of wildfire-ready construction as California’s seasons grow more intense, especially in high-risk areas like Marin
Tuesday, October 29, 2024ALERT! New Regulation, File before 12/31/2024 to avoid potential jail time and files of $591/day!
On January 1, 2024, the new requirement to file a beneficial ownership information (BOI) report with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) went into effect. More than 32 million entities – mostly small businesses – have to file this report, which is required by a federal law called the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA). Violations of this law can result in a civil penalty of up to $591 per day, the violation continues and criminal penalties of up to $10,000 and two years in prison. If your
Saturday, October 12, 2024Get Cash for Heat Pump Water Heater Upgrades - Support Your Clients in a Broken Water Heater Emergency
Get $1,500 for Installing a Heat Pump Water Heater MCE’s Emergency Water Heater Incentive provides contractors $1,500 to help cover the cost of installing and maintaining a temporary loaner water heater (gas or electric) as part of the customer’s permanent heat pump water heater (HPWH) installation. As more households move toward environmentally-friendly options and the Bay Area passes new regulations to support California’s clean energy goals, your clients will need to start replacing gas appliances
Wednesday, August 07, 2024The Future of Home Insurance May Rely on Fire Smart Building
Earlier in July 2024, the New York Times published an article highlighting the collaboration of researchers at the Insurance Institute of Business & Home Safety (IBHS) and insurance agencies, who are grappling with escalating losses due to the magnitude of wildfires across the West. The research emphasizes the role of a home's design features to withstand wildfire by focusing on key areas of home ignition risk: near-home landscaping, and the building’s materials and design often referred to as home
Thursday, January 04, 20242024 Marin County & City Building Permits
Click the links below to view a current list of permit reports published and provided by the County of Marin and the individual cities/towns including Corte Madera, Larkspur, Mill Valley, Novato, Ross, San Anselmo, San Rafael, Sausalito and Tiburon. If what you're looking for is not listed below, please don't hesitate to call our offices directly at 415.462.1220 or contact Gabriela Shea at mba@marinbuilders.com. Important Note: This list is updated monthly with the most current information we receive from
Sunday, January 01, 2023Liens & Completions 2023 - 2024
Click the links below to view a current list of Liens & Completions published and provided by the County of Marin. If what you're looking for is not listed below, please don't hesitate to call our offices directly at 415.462.1220 or contact Paula Krause
Wednesday, September 09, 2020Biggest Workers’ Compensation Mistakes by Contractors
In this crazy time of the COVID-19, it is not the time to cut corners to your detriment. While well intentioned contractors are always attempting to keep costs down to make a profit, they make some mistakes regarding workers’ compensation insurance. Most common mistakes are:Certifying with the Contractors License Board that they do not need workers’ compensation insurance as they have no employees when they may have employees or use day laborers. . Not checking the sub-contractors to make sure they are
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Lien Protection Checklist - SUBCONTRACTOR
Click here for Subcontractor Lien Protection Checklist to protect your Lien rights provided by the Marin Builders Association and Dan McLennon of Smith, Currie & Hancock, LLP.Reviewed and Updated February 2024
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Lien Protection Checklist - GENERAL CONTRACTOR
Click here for General Contractors Lien Rights Protection Checklist to protect your Lien rights provided by the Marin Builders Association and Board member Dan McLennon.Reviewed and Updated February 2024