The Labor-Management Council of Greater Kansas City

Whoops, It's March 13

The Construction Committee is actually meeting March 13, not 12 as in the previous post. Same day, time and place. Thanks to Bill Miller, Building Erection Services and the American Subcontractors Association, for catching the wrong date in the notice.

Construction Meeting March 12

The LMC's Construction Industry Committee will meet at 8 a.m., Thursday, March 12 at Mark One Electric Co., Inc., 909 Troost. A National Institute for Construction Excellence board meeting will follow at 9:30 a.m.

LMC Board Meets March 19

The LMC Board of Directors will next meet at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 19, at Fire Fighters Local 42, 6320 Manchester.

LMC Announces Issues Agenda

The Labor-Management Council of Greater Kansas City has, through a vote of its Board of Directors, adopted the following public issues positions for 2008. The LMC’s by-laws require that at least 80% of Board members from both labor and management agree in order for a position to be taken.

The issues agenda is developed by the Issues Committee, with additional input from the Construction Industry Committee, and voted on by the Board. The LMC encourages all to share these positions with appropriate elected and appointed officials.

Kansas City, Mo.

•The LMC endorses the renewal of Kansas City’s transit tax on the April 8 ballot.
•The LMC takes no position on any smoking ban issues on the April 8 Kansas City, Mo., ballot.
•The LMC endorses the Bannister Mall TIF project approved by the City Council and support its retention if brought to a ballot issue.

States of Missouri and Kansas

•The LMC endorses retention of the Missouri Plan for judicial selection and the similar policy that exists in Johnson County, Kansas.
•The LMC opposes immigration reform proposals that would put the burden of I-9 verification on contractors for subcontractors. Verification responsibility should fall only on the direct employer of those workers
•The LMC supports for reasonable and effective economic development incentives
•The LMC supports for transportation funding and planning for future transportation systems and funding.
•The LMC opposes TABOR (taxpayer bill of rights)
•The LMC tables at this time any position regarding school vouchers in Missouri or Kansas.

State of Missouri

•The LMC opposes the “Missouri Civil Rights Initiative” that would ban affirmative action programs and is attempting to gather signatures to get on the ballot. Opponents are urging Missourians to not sign the petition.
•The LMC supports Prevailing Wage in its present form
•The LMC supports restoration of Medicaid funding to its level before the cuts of 2005.
•The LMC supports the removal of gaming loss limits in Missouri.
•The LMC supports reforms of 1099 misclassification enforcement in Missouri.
•The LMC supports restoration of Missouri programs that foster economic development and provide critical services such as Medicaid, education, the arts, childcare subsidies for working parents and others.

City of Overland Park, Ks.

•The LMC endorses the renewal of the Overland Park sales tax for infrastructure.

Federal

•The LMC opposes proposed changes in the U.S. Small Business Administration rule that would severely limit the areas of federal contracting that include women as disadvantaged contractors.

Downey to Speak at LMC Awards Dinner

Bill Downey, Chief Executive Officer of Kansas City Power & Light Co., will be the keynote speaker at the LMC's annual Awards and Anniversary Celebration Dinner on April 17 at Argosy Casino. More details to come.

In addition, the LMC will announce recipients of its annual Leadership in Labor-Management Cooperation and Service to the Labor-Management Council Awards. The LMC Executive Committee will vote this week on nominations that were submitted by Friday, Feb. 15.

The form for reservations and sponsorships can be found at Download awadsfrm.cwk (WP).pdf (38.5K)

Construction Committee Makes Recommendations to LMC Board

Construction Industry Steering Team Summary of Minutes
8 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 14, 2008, Mark One Electric, 909 Troost

Attending: Rosana Biondo, Troy Carlson, Jim Delaney, Gary Eagan, Lyle Farrand, Rick Greeno, Frank Jackson, Garry Kemp, Dave Kendrick, Bob Looman, Payne Mendenhall, Herb Millard, Bill Miller, Julie Perkins, Lonnie Scott, Kevin Sexton, Ron Shafer, John Tompson, Craig Wright, Bob Jacobi., Doug Martin, Oz Qureshi.

•Introductions and thanks to Rosie Biondo and Mark One for hosting.

•Presentation from YouthBuild regarding a Kansas City Housing Authority program to train 18-24 year-olds in basic work and construction skills using residential construction projects and other curriculum. YouthBuild plans to train, place and follow-up on 37 per year for two years under a $1 million+ U.S. DOL grant. Many participants are minorities and/or females. The Committee suggests that the program connect with apprenticeship programs, NICE and other programs doing similar or complementary work and invites YouthBuild to return to future meetings.

•Mickey Dean is now interim Human Relations director for KCMO, and the one-year grace period is coming up for the KCMO Minority Workforce Ordinance. The Committee will closely monitor the progress of ordinance implementation.

•M/S/C to recommend that the LMC oppose the “Missouri Civil Rights Initiative” that would ban affirmative action programs and is attempting to gather signatures to get on the ballot. Opponents are urging Missourians to not sign the petition.

•M/S/C to recommend that the LMC oppose proposed changes in the U.S. Small Business Administration rule that would severely limit the areas of federal contracting that include women as disadvantaged contractors.

•The Kansas City Council is waiting for the results of proposed Missouri legislation regarding sale of stolen metals to require vide identification.

•The Kansas legislature is considering the Holcomb power plant and a future transportation plan, and gaming is moving forward pending the Kansas Supreme Court ruling.

•The Kansas City Construction Partnership is meeting with owners, contractors and developers. It is also working with Johnson County and the Mid-America Regional Council on unified code. The Dunn headquarters project is underweight and other possible projects are being sought.

•KCPL President Bill Downey will be the keynote speaker at the LMC Awards Dinner on April 17 at Argosy Casino. Invitations will go out soon.

•M/S/C to recommend that the LMC elect Mike Ballard, KCPL construction manager, to its Board.

•NICE’s iBuild is May 6. Boths are still available and volunteers needed. It will include the Crayons to CAD middle school contest and 2,500 high and middle school students. A more formal job fair will be a part of this year’s iBuild, based on a test at the March 29 KCMO youth job fair. NICE is moving forward with KCK schools and is working with Independence, Shawnee Mission, Blue Valley, DeSoto and Hickman Mills districts on curriculum. The Construction & Engineering Academy proposal will be presented to the KCMO School Board Education Committee tonight and to the full Board next week for approval of $10 million over three years. Rep. Cleaver has requested $4 million from the federal government and Sen. WIlson at least $1 million from Missouri to complete the renovation of the first building and creation of the iBuild lab.

•The Building Trades are encouraging participation at a March 12, 6-8 a.m. breakfast fundraiser for Jay Nixon.

•The next meeting will be 8 a.m., Thursday, March 13 at Mark One Electric Co., Inc.

•M/S/C to adjourn at 9:20.

Condolences & Congrats

The LMC offers its sympathy to Rick Greeno and his family. Rick's sister recently died.

We also mourn the death of Harold Cullum's daughter. Harold is retired from the United Way and the United Food and Commercial Workers.

And congratulations to Kevin Sexton. Though he doesn't look it, Kevin is now a grandfather.

Finally, we are deeply saddened by events in Kirwood, Mo. Kansas City and Kirkwood have many connections, and the events there in addition to the tragic consequences for so many families remind us of the sacrifices our public servants--from public safety officers to elected and highly visible appointed officials--make in the service of our democracy.

KCMO Searches for Water Funding Formula

LMC Executive Director Bob Jacobi is a member of the Kansas City, Mo., Water Services Utility Funding Task Force. The Task Force is considering ways to pay for the $3 billion+ in upgrades to the city's water system to comply with EPA requirements. Since the city provides water for many other municipalities in the area as well, changes in rates will likely affect many non-residents of KCMO.

Kansas City, Mo., has among the lowest water rates of major metropolitan areas but an increase in rates and perhaps taxes will be necessary to fund just the EPA-mandated changes, much less other improvements and maintenance that will have to be made. Much of the city's system is more than a century old.

Please contact Bob at [email protected] or (816) 501-4565 if you have ideas, concerns or other input for the Task Force and ultimately the City Council to consider.

Construction Committee To Share Valentine's Day

If you are sending roses to a member of the LMC's Construction Industry Committee, you might try forwarding them to Mark One Electric Co., Inc., as the committee meets at 8 a.m. on Valentine's Day, Thursday, Feb. 14. That meeting will be followed by the Board meeting of the National Institute for Construction Excellence in the same location.

Maloney Says to Try 'Fierce Conversations'

Though he doesn't like the title, Jim Maloney recommended the book "Fierce Conversations" by Susan Scott to the LMC's Mid-Level Leadership class Jan. 30.

As part of his presentation "The Phenomena of Communication," Maloney noted the principles of "Fierce Communications" can be very useful to apply. Examples of the seven principles outlined include "tackle your toughest challenge today," "master the courage to interrogate reality" and "take responsibility for your emotional wake." Application of these principles can lead to more effective, productive communications, he says.

Maloney, executive director of the Community Leadership Association at the University of Georgia and a former Rockhurst University professor, leads the participants through "The Phenomena of Leadership" at the Feb. 6 class.

Contact the LMC for more information on the Mid-Level Leadership program.