Construction Industry Steering Team Summary of Minutes
8 a.m., Thursday, March 13, 2025, Mark One Electric Co., Inc.
Attending: Sam Alpert, Rosana Privitera-Biondo, Rita Cortes, Brian Curtin, Rochel Daniels, Greg Davey, Ed Downey, Eric Floyd, Kevin Gard, Tammy Henderson, Kevin Hendrickson, Dustin Himes, Mike Himes, Todd Howerton, Dominick Klobe, Check Martin, Damon Miles, Bo Moreno, Ralph Oropeza, Tina Shonk-Little, Chris Stanton, Laura Wagner, Nathan Willett, Brian Wood, Josh Wyrick, Nate Zier, Bob Jacobi.
•Thanks to Rosana Privitera-Biondo and Mark One Electric Co., Inc. for hosting.
•Session #39 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 North Kansas City School District Superintendent Rochel Daniels on the district’s $175 million, zero tax increase bond issue on the April 8 ballot. Previous bond issues have generated great progress in improving district buildings for better learning as pat of a 10-year, $500 m million plan that has seen reductions in the district’s tax levy. Home values in the district have risen 10% faster than in the rest of the metro area. Students and parents feel great pride in new and remodeled schools and, as committee members noted, in schools parents helped work on. The bond issue on the April ballot continue the progress with fine and performing arts renovations, significant middle school renovations at Northgate and New Mark, new gym and updated finishes at Oakwood Manor, purchase of the Northland Innovation Center building that would save rent and provide more space and other maintenance projects in the district. The district will work to see that contractors are of high quality, follow requirements such as prevailing wage and support the local economy. School board member Laura Wagner added that she can be contracted as well on any project issues. McCownGordon is the district’s partner on the projects. The Building Trades have endorsed the bond issue. The committee expressed appreciation to Superintendent Daniels for the presentation and continued relationship with the district.
•Presentation by Kansas City Councilman Nathan Willett on the Northland Workforce Development Center, which would provide substantially expanded career development programs for districts north of the river as well as possible use by Kansas City Public Schools. The center received a $30 million matching grant from the state of Missouri but needs to raise the match by June. Councilman Willett is working on an ordinance that would direct PILOT funds from Northland data centers towards meeting the match, and seeks support for the ordinance when it’s ready. The center would house 23 programs, including several construction-oriented ones, at a convenient location near Hwy-152 & Platte Purchase. The new center would dramatically increase the number of students served versus current capacity of a center in latte city. Several union snd contractors have contributed to the match but significantly more is needed and could be met with the planned ordinance. Committee members can contact KCMO Council members to support the ordinance.
•Presentation by Rita Cortes, Kansas City Public Schools Board member, on the district’s $464 million bond issue also on the April 8 ballot. The district is ramping up the campaign for the issue, which need a 4/7ths favorable vote to pass. Rita is a former union contractor and attorney and is open to questions on any of the district’s projects. A property tax increase is required as the district hasn’t had a bond issue for more than 60 years. She also announced that the night before the KCPS Board authorized, from a COP bond, construction of a new King school and community center. JE Dunn Construction is the general contractor. The district has hired an owner’s representative to help ensure all standards are met on both district projects and those of participating charter schools, which can access up to $50 million of the bond proceeds.
•The Missouri legislature is likely to pass SB 4, which would make possible adding electric power capacity much needed for planned economic development. While there are concerns about rate increases as a result of the bill, there are added consumer protections in the bill and adding the capacity sooner would be less expensive than waiting. (The day after the meeting Evergy announced at the GKC Chamber it would invest $500 million in new energy production plants as a result of the bill’s passage).
•Missouri HB 939, which would preempt local governments’ ability to impose new energy code requirements, has passed the House. Another bill would preempt local building codes, which committee members expressed opposition to.
•KCMO has an ordinance that took effect Jan. 1 limiting the ability to eject job candidates based on their criminal records. Organization should be careful that their hiring procedures are compliant with the ordinance. Opportunities for second-chance workers is open in the apprenticeship programs, it was noted, except for sex offenders and those convicted of murder (case-by-case).
•NICE expects more than 50 exhibitors and 2,500+ students at the iBuild Showcase on April 8 at Bartle Hall. Exhibit space is still available but needs to be arranged ASAP if not already reserved. NICE has hired Tina Shonk-Little as Program Coordinator and looks forward to her enhancing and expanding NICE’s service to the industry and to schools.
•There will be a fundraiser for Missouri Works March 27 at Top Golf, 1-4 p.m., to support its construction and manufacturing workforce development programs. Contact information is moworksinivitative.org.
•Upcoming events:
*USDOL Davis-Bacon Seminar, March 18-19 online
*DBIA-MAR Happy Hour March 23
*DBAI/AIA event Legendary Development, March 26, 4:30 p.m. AIA office 1801 McGee
*Missouri Works fundraiser, Top Golf, March 27, 1-4 p.m.
*Election Day for Missouri local governments and school districts, April 8
*NICE iBuild Showcase April 8, 2025
*DBIA Regional Conference April 9, Briarcliff Marriott, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
*LMC Anniversary Celebration and Awards Dinner, April 10, Argosy Casino
*Working Families Friend Texas Hold’em Poker Night, April 18, 5:30 .p.m., Pipefitters Local 533 hall
*DBAI-KCHE Event-Unlocking Efficiency & Value Is DBIA Right for You? April 23
*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 Sporting Clay Shoot Sept. 11, Saddle & Sirloin
*USDOL Davis-Bacon Seminar, Sept. 24-25, online
*LMC/BOMA-KC Public Officials Reception Oct. 16, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts
*NICE Awards Luncheon, Oct. 23
•M/S/C to adjourn at 10 a.m.
•Next Meeting: 8 a.m., Thursday, April 10, 2025 at Mark One Electric Co.
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