Sec. 10.45. Purpose. Each year, the City awards hundreds of millions of dollars in public works construction contracts to private contractors. This article, also referred to as the Public Infrastructure Stabilization Ordinance, advances the interests of the City by promoting the use of project labor agreements for those public works construction projects meeting certain criteria. Project labor agreements are the preferred tool to ensure that important proprietary goals of the City are achieved. These goals include completion of construction projects on time and within budget by minimizing labor misunderstandings, grievances and conflict, and by emphasizing worker safety. Project labor agreements also advance the City’s interests by ensuring that unemployed and under-employed residents will receive employment opportunities at City public works construction projects. Over the years, project labor agreements have proven to be an excellent mechanism to promote the hiring of unemployed and under-employed City residents. These agreements have proven their effectiveness in targeting construction employment and training opportunities to mitigate the harm caused by poverty which is geographically concentrated. City public works construction contracts are subject to the State’s prevailing wage laws or, in some instances, the Federal Davis-Bacon wage statute, each of which provides covered workers with substantially greater wages and benefits than otherwise required by law. Increasing access to employment opportunities where prevailing wages are paid is one way for the City to directly combat poverty and stimulate economic reinvestment. In addition, having the opportunity to work on a City contract affords workers valuable experience which can be used to garner future employment. The City has an interest in expanding the field of competent construction workers to address the problems associated with a significant local unemployed, under-employed and unskilled workforce. The City serves this interest by expanding the opportunities workers have to be referred for employment by private contractors who are employed by the City. Further, many unemployed and under-employed City residents are interested in getting good work and learning a construction trade. Young people constitute a significant portion of the City’s unemployed and under-employed residents.