Jerry Ellison, Civil Engineer, City of Los Angeles Bureau of Engineering

Erik Updyke, Senior Civil Engineer, County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works

The Greenbook, formally known as the Standard Specifications for Public Works Construction, is widely used by cities and counties from Santa Barbara County to San Diego County.  However,  the procedures for development of the specifications it contains, the structure of the organization governing its publication, as well as the current issues it is addressing are not well known nor understood.  In an effort to improve communication and understanding, the Greenbook and its sister publications will be discussed in a column in this publication on  a regular basis.

The Greenbook was first published in 1967.  The organizational structure of the Greenbook and related publications was dissolved and a new structure created in 1995.  Publication of the Greenbook, the Standard Plans for Public Works Construction, and the Special Provisions Guide for use with the Standard Specifications for Public Works Construction is under the oversight of Public Works Standards, Inc.(PWSI), a nonprofit mutual benefit corporation.  The members of PWSI are the American Public Works Association (APWA), Associated General Contractors of California (AGCC), Engineering Contractors Association (ECA), Southern California Contractors Association (SCCA), BNI Publications, and others as may be added by the members.  The Board of Directors of PWSI is composed of five members representing APWA, and four other members, one each representing each other member of the corporation. 

The Greenbook Committee is an Administrative Committee of PWSI responsible for producing a new edition every three years and a supplement in each intervening year, promoting the publication, as well as evaluating additions, deletions and revisions.  This same committee also does the same for the Standard Plans for Public Works Construction and the Special Provisions Guide , each of which will be discussed in more detail in future columns.

The Greenbook Committee is composed of at least 25 members and 25 alternates appointed by Public Works Standards, Inc.  Seventeen members and 17 alternates from designated public agencies and utilities are nominated by the APWA .  Six members and six alternates are nominated by the AGCC, and one member and one alternate are each nominated by the ECA and the SCCA.  The Greenbook Committee may also nominate additional members.  The Operating Policies and Procedures of the Greenbook Committee provide that members nominated by the Greenbook Committee be either representatives of public agencies, public utilities, contractor associations, or firms that serve as consultants to public agencies, public utilities or public works contractors on matters pertaining to public works construction.  Also, that they have demonstrated their participation in the proceedings of the Greenbook Committee by their attendance at 5 Greenbook Committee meetings in each of the prior two years as evidenced in the monthly meeting minutes for those prior two years.

The Greenbook Committee structure includes the following standing  subcommittees, Specifications, New Materials-Underground, New Materials-Surface, Standard Plans, Special Provisions Guide, and Editorial Standards.   Each subcommittee meets monthly and discusses and makes recommendations to the full committee concerning changes submitted as well as other issues related to their focus.   Specifications focuses on Part 1.  New Materials-Underground focuses on underground materials and methods of construction in Parts 2, 3 and 5.  New Materials Surface focuses on surface materials and methods of construction found in Parts 2, 3, 4, and 6.  Special Provisions Guide focuses on provisions in the Greenbook which require specificity, choice, or additional information to be contained in the contract-specific special provisions as well as the format and structure of the special provisions. 

The Greenbook Committee and its subcommittees meet as follows:

Greenbook Committee:  3rd Thursday of each month, except December, at the AGCC Headquarters, 1906 W. Garvey Avenue South, Suite 100, West Covina, at 9:30 a.m..

Standard Plans:  Immediately after the Greenbook Committee

Specifications and Special Provisions Guide:  Wednesday before the Greenbook Committee at the Engineering Contractors Association, 8310 Florence Avenue, Downey, at 9:30 a.m..

New Materials Underground:  Tuesday before the Greenbook Committee, 11:00 a.m., at AGCC Headquarters.

New Materials Surface: Tuesday before the Greenbook Committee, 9:30 a.m., at AGCC Headquarters.

It is important to note that all meetings are open to both members and nonmembers.  Nonmember agencies, consultants, and interested suppliers, producers and contractors are encouraged to attend and participate in the meetings.