Press Democrat
From the article:
A proposed housing, retail and hotel development along the Petaluma River brings with it the promise of nearly 2,500 temporary and permanent jobs.
Monday night, Petaluma City Council members and labor leaders sought to pin down the Riverfront developer that those hires would be locals, particularly in construction, one of the hardest hit industries during the recession.
“Seek guarantees that those jobs stay here and are at area-standard wages,” urged Carl Sanchez of the Sheet Metal Workers Local 104.
Several council members said they hoped developer Basin Street Properties would commit to hiring local. “I hear what's been said here tonight,” said company chairman Bill White. “We have always prided ourselves on using a lot of local labor, and intend to continue doing that.”
The job data came as part of a city-mandated fiscal and economic impact analysis, or FEIA, which analyzes impacts the 39-acre project will have on the local economy and workforce. The city began requiring such reports several years ago to help guide leaders in approving large projects that had the potential to cannibalize existing businesses.
The city has no requirements on hiring practices for private developments.
Riverfront includes 273 residential units, 90,000 square feet of commercial space, a 120-room hotel and seven acres of open space on vacant land on Hopper Street between the river and Highway 101.