The Labor-Management Council of Greater Kansas City

The LMC congratulates Alvin Brooks, former KCMO Councilman among many other leadership roles, for being named Kansas Citian of the Year at the KC Chamber annual dinner. Alvin has been a supporter of the LMC mission during his long public service career and attended the 40th Anniversary Celebration earlier this year.

We also appreciated attending the dinner at the National Institute of Construction Excellence table and discussion with Kansas Sen. Dinah Sykes.  The LMC also congratulates Gordon Lansford, JE Dunn Construction Co., for completing a successful term as Chamber chair, and Rockhurst University President the Rev. Thomas Curran, S.J., for his outstanding invocation.

The LMC's 41st Anniversary and 21st Awards Dinner is set for April 30, 2020, at Argosy Casino. Contact the LMC for details on sponsorship and other ways to participate.

The LMC congratulates Donna Maize on being named Kansas City, Mo., Fire Chief. She succeeds Gary Reese, a graduate of the Mid-Level Leadership Program.

Construction Committee Hears from PortKC, Discusses KCI

Construction Industry Steering Team Summary of Minutes

 8 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019, Mark One Electric Co., Inc.

Attending:  Sam Alpert, Willis Bowers, Greg Chastain, Greg Davey, Brian Dietz, Jerry Helmick, Kevin Gard, Chris Heegn, Gabe Jones, Kevin King, Greg Lever, Bill Livingston, Mike Malicoat, Alise Martiny, Jon Stephens, Vickie Tarpley, Erica Torres, Laura Wagner, Colleen White, Bob Jacobi.

•Thanks to Rosana Privitera Biondo and Mark One Electric Co., Inc. for hosting.

•Discussion with Jon Stephens, PortKC executive director.  Jon explained the changes being made in PortKC’s processes and vision, including the wages paid on jobs created by projects, an improved RFP process, focus on community benefits and projects with existing infrastructure, workforce housing, greater outreach and community input, stricter geographic focus, third-party verification of projects goals and standards, alignment with other city economic development agencies, enhanced transit and workforce development among others.  Key projects include the Google data center, which could create on-going employment of hundreds of construction workers, the Bannister federal complex redevelopment, Strata office tower, Isle of Capri casino, housing including workforce housing by the river, Richards-Gebauer among others.  He noted that the agency would like to align with other eco devo agencies on prevailing wage and other standards to avoid incentive "shopping" by developers.  He asked for input on how the agency is doing and for opportunities to be engage with the industry and community.

•The KCMO Council is scheduled to vote on the Strata office tower project with a revised incentive plan.  Committee members were urged to contact the Council in support of the project.

•Jackson County is working on an ordinance to require training workers under prevailing wage to be registered apprentices.

•Missouri’s new apprenticeship program is urged to recognize building trades programs that have been successful for nearly a century.  Sen. Gina Walsh sent a letter to Gov. Parson inviting him to visit any of these programs.  State Auditor Nicole Galloway recently visited the Builders’ Training Center and the programs based there.

•Discussion of progress on the KCI project.  Disappointment was expressed with the high proportion of non-KC area contractors winning bids, including for pre-fabrication work, and the resulting challenge of getting local contractors to bid.  Many of the non-local contractors are not familiar with local requirements and procedures, and it was noted that KCMO voters expect local firms and workers to benefit from the project.

•M/S/C to postpone the December 12 meeting due to the USDOL meeting on Davis-Bacon that coincides with the meeting time.  The meeting will resume Jan. 9, 2020, at Mark One.

•NICE had a successful Annual Awards Luncheon Oct. 27; iBuild is April 16.

•Upcoming Events:

*GKC Chamber Discussion on Economic Incentives, Nov. 14, noon

*Conversations with KCMO Municipal Court, Nov. 14, 6 p.m., KC North Community Center;

  Nov. 16, 9 a.m., Southeast Community Center

*Groundbreaking for Francis Chouteau & Native American Fountain, Chouteau Parkway,

  Nov. 15 at 10 a.m.

*MBE/WBE Bid Website Workshop, Nov. 19, 11:30 a.m., JE Dunn Construction

*Affordable Housing: A Status Report with Mayor Lucas, Nov. 20, 6:30 p.m., Plaza Library

*Labor Law Lunch on Tips for Arbitration Cases, FMCS & UM Extension, Dec. 4, noon,

  FMCS at 2345 Grand; http:tinyurl.com/LLL-DEC2019

*CREW KC luncheon, Jan. 14, 11:30 a.m., Grand Street Cafe

*iBuild Reception, April 15, 2020

*iBuild 2020, April 16, 2020

*LMC 41st Anniversary Celebration and 21st Awards Dinner, April 30, 2020, Argosy Casino

*Mid-America Labor/Management Conference, July 12-15, 2020, Camden on the Lake

*Craig Whitaker Memorial LMC Golf Tournament, July 27, 2020, Oakwood Country Club

*Federal Mediation & Conciliation Service National Conference, Aug. 18-20, 2020,

  Chicago

*NICE Awards Luncheon, Oct. 27, 2020, 11:30 a.m., Muehlbach

  For details on the above events, please contact the sponsoring group or the LMC

•M/S/C to adjourn at 9:30 a.m.

•Next Meeting: 8 a.m., Thursday, Jan. 9, 2019, Mark One Electric Co., Inc.

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.

The LMC was pleased to support the National Institute for Construction Excellence annual awards luncheon Oct. 27 at the Muehlbach. See a photo of the LMC table at left under NICE 2019 Awards.

The LMC thanks all veterans for their service on Veterans' Day.

Mid-Level Leadership participants learned how to address co-workers affected by a life-altering event and how to create psychological safety in the workplace to improve productivity at the final fall session Nov. 6 at Rockhurst University. Lisa Cooper, co-founder of Workplace Healing, LLC and Haley Grayless, VaxaColllective, presented and led the discussions. See photos from the fall sessions at left under Mid-Level Leadership 2019.