Construction Industry Steering Team Summary of Minutes
8 a.m., Thursday, May 10, 2007, Mark One Electric, 909 Troost
Attending: Jim Beem, Rosana Biondo, KC Borden, Troy Carlson, Jim Delaney, Geral Eagan, Don Greenell, Frank Jackson, Garry Kemp, Bob Looman, Rory O’Connor, John Tompson, Tom Whittaker, Colleen White, Craig Wright, Daniel Romero, Walter Smith, Bob Jacobi.
•Welcome and thanks to Rosana Biondo and Mark One Electric for hosting the meeting.
•Presentation from Daniel Romero, Interfaith Worker Justice, on a partnership between Building Bridges (administered by IWJ) and Project Prepare and a possible $200,000 grant for the two programs from the Missouri Department of Transportation. He distributed a survey (attached) to determine the needs Building Bridges can best meet industry needs. Please complete the survey and mail to address there or fax to the LMC 9816-501-3198). The next Building Bridges class begins May 24.
•The NECA/IBEW Town Hall Meetings continue with excellent attendance and participation. Mark Breslin is tentatively scheduled to come in for a session with them on Nov. 3. There will be a presentation on the town hall meetings and the process to get there at the Mid-America Labor/Management Conference July 4-6.
•Locals 8 and 533 presented to the MCA regarding a similar process in those trades. Other trades are exploring and being encouraged to do likewise.
•The pilot project of the Kansas City Construction Partnership and the J.E. Dunn Construction Co. headquarters is nearing implementation, with the code of conduct nearly complete and a mid-June start date on the project. The next steps are to quantify the cost savings created by the project.
•The K.C.C.P is meeting with Dave Lovetere regarding the next large GSA project and the possibility of implementing the model project concept on May 15, 10:30 a.m., NECA.
•Kansas City, Mo., passed a Workforce Ordinance supported by the industry, church and community groups. The new Council may look at the ordinance again, the concern being the percentage of women required, with Councilwoman Hermann seeking a higher percent. The ordinance calls for 2% though industry-wide about 1.5% is average. The MBE/WBE ordinance has not yet been passed. New Mayor Funkhowser will appoint a chair to the workforce board created by the ordinance, and seeks input (please contact Garry Kemp) on that appointment. Other representatives on the Board include one member and one alternate from labor, from school sponsored training programs, from workforce referral organizations, from the Heavy Constructors, from the Builders, from the MBE Contractors Coalition, from the WBE Contractors Coalition, from the subcontractor associations and two from the community.
The new mayor will also be making other board and commission appointments. Both contractor and union leaders are urged to seek appointments particularly to key spots. (An application form is on the city’s website, www.kcmo.org) Examples with current vacancies include the Board of Zoning Adjustment, Brownfields Commission, Economic Development Corp., Plans and Zoning, Industrial Development Authority, Land Clearance Redevelopment Authority, Planned Industrial Expansion Authority, Tax Increment Financing Commission, Transportation Infrastructure Worksession and the Truman Medical Center.
•The LMC is hosting a reception for the new mayor and council on June 14, 5-7 p.m., at the Downtown Marriott/Muehlbach. Attendance and cosponsorships are encouraged.
•Legoland may or may not make the Missouri TIF budget, and remains under consideration by the city of Lee’s Summit; it would create many construction jobs but is also opposed by St. Luke’s Health Care System (Lee’s Summit Mayor Karen Messerli is an employee of St. Luke’s). A Lee’s Summit public hearing is scheduled for tonight.
•Garry Kemp and Bill Nelson are hosting a breakfast for business leaders to meet Jay Nixon, Missouri Attorney General and candidate for governor, on May 30. Please contact Garry if interested in attending.
•Attendance at the Kansas City Kansas Chamber meeting with U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts is also encouraged from 5-7 p.m. May 29 at Dave & Buster’s.
•Kansas Lt. Gov. Mark Parkinson met with the Building Trades and is very interested in workforce development, particularly creation of jobs with involving construction, utilities and others to determine longer range workforce needs.
•Last year Congress passed and the President signed legislation to impose a 3% withholding on all payments to contractors at federal, state and local entities with budgets above $100 million. The requirement takes effect in 2001 though there is some movement to move that up to 2008. Bills to reverse this include HR 1023 and S 777. Contact with members of Congress to support these bills and oppose the extra withholding is urged (see attached information).
•NICE’s iBuild was successful, with 1,500 students and a breakeven bottom line. Comments from teachers, students and exhibitors have been very positive. Planning for next year, which will also include a contest, will begin soon. NICE curriculum is also being introduced in the Kansas City, Kansas; Kansas City, Mo.; Hickman Mills and North Kansas City districts this year for 6th and 12th grades.
•Walter Smith, a retired Roofer and local representative for the Building Trades National Medical Screening Program at the Honeywell (formerly Bendix and Allied Signal) plant, urged broader awareness of the screening program for all who have worked at the plant at some point. Management as well as craft workers are eligible for free screenings and, if medical conditions developed after working on the plant site, substantial cash and free medical care settlements are available. (see attached).
•The next meeting will be 8 a.m., Thursday, June 14 at Mark One Electric Co., Inc.
•M/S/C to adjourn.