Construction Industry Steering Team Summary of Minutes
8 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015, Mark One Electric Co., Inc.
Attending: Nicole Abrahamson, Sam Alpert, Greg Davey, Jerry Helmick, Dave Kirkpatrick, Joe Mabin, Colleen White, Tom Whittaker, Bob Jacobi.
•Thanks to Rosana Privitera Biondo and Mark One Electric Co., Inc. for hosting.
•Tom Whittaker thanked committee members for their work and creative problem solving on the East Patrol project, which is nearing completion. The project has been successful generating job opportunities for the neighborhood. JE Dunn was also praised for its leadership of the project.
•A meeting on the KCMO downtown hotel project will be held later this morning. Committee members are urged to contact City Council members in support of the project, which could face a ballot issue. More than four years of work has been involved, and creative financing has been used to avoid the use of city general fund dollars to support the project. New conventions have already been announced tied to the project.
•Differences in standards and enforcement among agencies are being discussed on One Light and other projects with HUD funding. Apprenticeship standards are being updated, and programs are urged to report changes in standards, and particularly when variances are needed on specific projects.
•The Cerner project is going well.
•KCMO Streetcar is winding down. No firm date yet on when the system will be carrying passengers.
•KCATA is piloting geographic workplace goals on a small project; if it goes well, a similar program may be used on the larger Prospect MAX project.
•The Missouri House upheld Gov. Nixon’s veto of “right-to-work.” Other vetoes were overridden including unemployment compensation changes and local governments ability to enact minimum wage ordinances; both bills will be challenged in court. The Missouri Senate has new leadership: Sen. Ron Richard as President Pro Tem and Sen. Mike Kehoe as Majority Leader.
•Kansas’ budget issues are likely to impact transportation funding further.
•KCMO’s mandatory benchmarking ordinance is in rule-making for implementation. The city manager found no existing incentive programs for energy-reduction; the advisory committee continues to meet.
•The Kansas Supreme Court is considering whether to hear the city of Mission’s appeal overturning its driveway tax.
•The Workforce Subcommittee continues to work on implementation. A recent PBS show spotlighted a Cleveland woman who is becoming an electrician; a link is here www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/seeing-need-cleveland-program-trains-steelworkers-tomorrow/.
•The Carpenters District Council invites committee members to the grand opening of its new training facility on Oct. 13, 4-6 p.m. at 8955 E 38th Terrace, KCMO 64129.
•The LMC’s Public Officials Reception will be next Thursday, Oct. 15, at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. A shuttle will be available for those who want to attend both the reception and the Breast Cancer Foundation fundraiser.
•NICE holds its first major fundraiser Nov. 17 and will recognize the impact of former US Sen. Kit Bond on the area’s construction industry.
•The next committee meeting will be 8 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 12 at Mark One Electric Co., Inc.
•Upcoming Events:
*Carpenters District Council Training Facility Grand Opening, Oct. 13, 4-6 p.m.,
8955 E 38th Terrace, KCMO 64129
*The Challenge of Implementing a Significant Safety Improvement Initiative, Oct. 15, 8:30-
10 a.m., JCCC
*LMC Public Officials Reception, Oct. 15, 5-7 p.m., Kauffman Performing Arts Center
*KC CREW Real Estate Market Update, Oct. 20, 11:30 a.m., Mission Hills CC
*Construction Expo, Oct. 21
*NICE Luncheon, Nov. 17, 11:30 a.m., Sen. Bond Keynote speaker, Downtown Marriott
*iBuild Showcase, April 13, 2016, Bartle Hall
*Mid-America Labor/Management Conference, July 10-13, 2016, Camden on the Lake
*LMC Craig Whitaker Memorial Golf Tournament, July 18, 2016, Oakwood CC
For details on the above events, please contact the sponsoring group or the LMC.
•M/S/C to adjourn at 9:45 a.m.