Construction Industry Steering Team Summary of Minutes
8 a.m., Thursday, June 12, 2025, Mark One Electric Co., Inc.
Attending: Manny Abarca, Sam Alpert, Dave Coleman, Joey Flickner, Kevin Gard, Steve Gercone, Chris Heegn, Dustin Himes, Todd Howerton, Jenna Johnson, Dominick Klobe, Chuck Martin, Kelly McClellen, DaRon McGee, Bo Moreno, Matt McNamara, Ralph Oropeza, Ryana Parks-Shaw, Tina Richard, Daniel Roach, Chris Stanton, Nate Zier, Bob Jacobi.
•Thanks to Rosana Privitera-Biondo and Mark One Electric Co., Inc. for hosting.
•Session #2 of the Construction Summit: Efforts continue working with the Fair Contracting Alliance. Efforts are also underway to promote Responsible Bidder Ordinances for local governments and school districts.
•Presentation by Ryan Parks-Shaw, Kansas City, Mo. Mayor Pro-Tem and City Councilwoman. Mayor Pro-Tem Parks-Shaw Noted the opportunity provided by Missouri’s passage of the stadium-incentive package yesterday. She emphasized that the city needs more cranes in the air but that economic development projects must be viewed by who benefits—broad-based, inclusive and sustainable. She recounted the city’s two recent bond projects generating more than a billion dollars for infrastructure including filling pot holes, the Barney Allis redevelopment and others, done with prevailing wage. The city must build for the future such as the 18th & Vine parking garage and build the local workforce through a training pipeline. More housing is also needed. Developers say lack of workforce is a problem so an ordinance is being considered to establish a city workforce development program task force fro all industries, and input from contractors and apprenticeship programs is requested. Mayor Pro-Tem Parks-Shaw is running for Mayor in 2027 but wants to start addressing these issues now. The city’s workforce development program will focus on getting leaders together including schools, apprenticeship programs, employers and others in a collaborative process. With the World Cup now just a year away when the spotlight will be on Kansas City it’s time for long-term, legacy projects that will write then ext chapter of the city’s history through continued partnership. She agreed with committee members that local workers should be used on such projects and they should help develop the next generation’s workforce. She agreed that participation in the trades’ apprenticeship programs changes lives, as her family’s union membership changed hers. Programs such as Missouri Works Apprentice-Ready provide the opportunity. An RBO ordinance with apprenticeship requirements would be a great way for city projects to help build the local workforce.
Mayor Pro-Tem Parks-Shaw also agreed with the committee on the importance of addressing mental health and the city is looking at incorporating that into its new jail planning.
•The Missouri legislature completed passage of the special-session bills to create a stadium incentive package, fund some key projects such as a KC mental health facility and provide substantial relief for St. Louis tornado victims. The stadium package includes a prevailing wage requirement.
•Jackson County legislators Chairman DaRon McGee and Manny Abarca provided updates on county issues. The county just agreed to a new budget, which will unfreeze many needed expenditures and projects. Still to be determined is the allocation of $70 million in ARPA funds, which must be made soon. The stadium bill also presents an opportunity; a county sales tax vote is not likely until next year and will separate the Chiefs and Royals projects with the Chiefs focusing on a $1 billion+ Arrowhead renovation and the Royals, unless they come under a KCMO program, decide on Clay County or look to Kansas, would be a new stadium. The county passed an RBO ordinance and it remains in place; there is an opening for an additional enforcement officer. The county will likely renew Strategic Workplace Solutions’ contract for another year for the jail project to address current prevailing wage issues and continue monitoring.
Other key county issues include safety practices for Parks and Recreation workers and projects particularly after the death of an employee driving a plow truck. While the trades require OSHA 10 and 30 training for all workers, there is little or no safety training or requirements for county parks workers. Contract negotiations between the county and SEIU are underway as well. he legislators expressed appreciation for invitations to the NABTU Pipelines program, noting the inspiring stories that were shared and suggested more exposure for those programs. The impact of property taxes is also key; state legislation could help and the county may pursue a vote for an elected assessor as all other counties in the state have. Committee members noted the impact of business personal property taxes increases, which have seen huge assessment increases. The legislators welcome committee members to attend legislative meetings, 3 p.m. each Monday, or to watch them online.
•NICE will hold its annual fundraising luncheon Oct. 23. NICE is moving on several fronts, including an advisory meeting with apprenticeship directors that will be annual, increasing the math for the skilled trades workshops for teachers, finding ways to help the apprenticeship programs relationships with schools and forms for job shadowing among other efforts. Committee members noted that schools aren’t expected to produce skilled craftspeople but to produce graduates ready to e successful in apprenticeship programs with solid math, reading nd communication skills. The importance of consistent attendance is also key—which is an issue for many younger workers who value work-life balance versus maximizing their income. Councilwoman Parks-Shaw said she would focus on the city’s efforts helping fill gaps, such as math literacy, in the workforce development pipeline. Committee members also expressed disappointment with the decision to close Jobs Corps centers, such as in Excelsior Springs, which provided opportunities for folks and workers for their apprenticeship programs and companies.
It was noted that the NABTU promotion of apprenticeship program often cites it a a better alternative than college, while actually the two paths are not mutually exclusive and the apprenticeship programs can be a path to college for this interested as well.
•Heartland Women in Trades now has details available for its fundraising kickball tournament Oct. 11 on its website or contact Jenna Johnson for information. Note the date has been updated from Oct. 4 to Oct. 11.
•Upcoming Events:
*Working Families Friend Golf Tournament June 13, Ironhorse Golf Club, 8 a.m.
*Registered Youth Apprenticeship 101 Training, June 17, 9 a.m.-noon, Union Station 4th Floor
*DBIA-MAR Shrimp Boil, June 25, Lenexa Public Market 4-6 p.m.
*USDOL Davis-Bacon Seminar, June 25-26, online
*Mid-America Labor/Management Conference July 6-9, 2025, Camden on the Lake
*LMC Craig Whitaker Memorial Golf Tournament July 22, Eagles Landing Golf Club
*LMC Board Meeting, July 24, 1 p.m., McCownGordon Construction
*CREWKC Quarterly Luncheon Aug. 27, 11:30 a.m., Grand Street Cafe
*DBIA Certification Workshop, Sept. 10-12; 1st 10 registrants get $500 scholarships
*LMC Sporting Clay Shoot Sept. 11, Saddle & Sirloin
*LMC Mid-Level Leadership Program begins Sept. 17, Rockhurst University
*USDOL Davis-Bacon Seminar, Sept. 24-25, online
*Heartland Women in Trades Kickball Tournament, Oct. 11
*MCA Golf Tournament Oct. 13, Nicklaus Golf Club at Lionsgate
*LMC/BOMA KC Public Officials Reception Oct. 16, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts
*NICE Awards Luncheon, Oct. 23, 11:30 a.m., Kay Barnes Ballroom
•Th committee will NOT meet in July due to the Mid-America Labor/Management Conference. The next meeting will be Thursday, August. 14 at Mark One.
•M/S/C to adjourn at 9:45 a.m.
The mission of the Labor-Management Council of Greater Kansas City is to enhance collaboration by solidifying trust and communication between labor and management in the community