Construction Industry Steering Team Summary of Minutes
8 a.m., Thursday, June 14, 2012, Mark One Electric Co., Inc.
Attending: Sam Alpert, Troy Carlson, Greg Chastain, Jim Delaney, Theresa Garza-Ruiz, Scott Hoisington, Steve Janasz, Ron Johnson, Dennis Joyce, Dave Kendrick, Kevin King, Bill Livingston, Jay Lucas, Robbie Makinen, Herb Millard, Dan Osman, Mike Sanders, Ken Schaefer, Kevin Sexton, Chris Stanton, Jon Thompson, Colleen White, Keith Winn, Bob Jacobi.
•Introductions and thanks to Rosie Biondo and Mark One for hosting.
•Presentation by and discussion with Mike Sanders, Jackson County Executive, regarding transit. (see notes taken by Troy Carlson at end of the minutes)
•Discussion regarding KCMO prevailing wage and Section 3 enforcement in light of recent budget cuts to enforcement staff.
•The proposed KCMO prevailing wage ordinance is being discussed with council members.
•The Missouri and Kansas legislative sessions concluded with minimal accomplishments but also minimal damage to the LMC’s agenda. Redistricting will now bring significant changes to the Kansas legislature as well as to Missouri’s in 2013. Recent discussion from the development community is hopeful that next year will be a better environment for economic development bills.
•A presentation on KCMO upcoming ballot issues will be sought for the July meeting.
•Upcoming Events:
*Working Families Friend Golf Tournament, June 20, Teetering Rocks
*KC CREW Happy Hour Tour of Vitagraph Building June 28, 5-7 p.m.
*Major League Baseball All-Star Week July 6-10
*Mid-America Labor/Management Conference, July 15-18, Lodge of the Four Seasons
*DBIA & ASA Summer Social, July 19, 4 p.m., Burns & McDonnell
*LMC Golf Tournament, July 23, Oakwood Country Club
*Joint Contractor Safety Session, 8 a.m., Aug. 9, Overland Park Marriott.
*GKC Building Trades Golf Tournament, Aug. 16, Eagles Landing Golf Club
*KC CREW Golf Tournament, Meadowbrook, Aug. 20
*Dave Peterson Memorial Golf Tournament, Aug. 26
*Working Families Friend Fall Cookout, Sept. 6
*Laborers Charity Golf Tournament Sept. 14, Drumm Farms
*ASA Golf Tournament, Oct. 5, 11 a.m., Tiffany Greens
*iBuild Showcase, April 26, 2013, Bartle Hall.
•The next meeting will be July 12, 2012, 8 a.m. at Mark One Electric Co., Inc., 909 Troost, KCMO.
•M/S/C to adjourn.
Summary of Notes from Mike Sanders Transit Discussion--Thanks to Troy Carlson
Rail mass transit in the KC area. Over $1 billion on construction. 15-20 years project. Could people to work for a generation. Transit bill in being discussed in Washington DC and could be passed early next year. It is a bipartisan issue - about jobs/transit, etc.
We need to be in line to receive those dollars. We all see what is going on in DC and this may be the last transit bill to pass for 10 or more years. Virtually every major metro area has rail transit except KC. Last big chance we have,
Studies have been completed for two major corridors, Blue Springs and Grandview/KC, the third one is close. Need to have an agreement with the Kansas City Southern, Kansas City Terminal Railways. Then it can go to the ballot. Leaders in all affected communities support it and it is bipartisan - Roy Blunt and Claire McCaskell are both for it.
Transit is about more than just transit. All we have to do is look at other cities - look at St. Louis. Talk to the COC in St, Louis, since they got it they got new development in St. Louis - $3 Billion. For every investment $1 with $3 return - it is consistent. With rail transit, the tracks have been there for 120 years and will be there for another 120years.
Charlotte NC, Beckenberg County example. The new development driven by the rail (2007-2008) is so high it is paying for the bonds on this project. Development follows rail transit. It has impact whether or not you ride a train. Huge deal for ED growth in KC. If we do not invest now, we will not see anything for 10+ years.
Currently unused rail tracks make it affordable, but if those tracks resume freight use, the project is many times more expensive and won’t happen.
The stops are what really drives development. Look at the KCS route. About every 3 or 4 miles, we will have to build a stop and each one costs about $1 million. And the Rock Island corridor goes all the way to Branson. Think about having a train from Union Station to Branson. Have one going to Lawrence. We've got to get these train routes to KCI. Tourism is big for economic development, and transit is necessary for tourism to grow. There is support in Platte and Cass Counties, even Lafayette County for dealing with a possible I-70 toll. Polls show support in Jackson and Platte. If this passes,there is a five member board overseeing the construction overseen by the County Executive. It is the biggest thing I will work on in my political career. Is is contingent on Federal money? No. We would use the tax money collected soon and then super-match for bigger projects with federal money later. The tax will generate $400 million-plus.