Drafter
Clerk 03/21/2022
Title
A MOTION requesting that the executive prepare a feasibility assessment report and implementation plan on King County's ability to facilitate the manufacture of concrete for use in county projects and projects of public partner entities.
Body
WHEREAS, concrete is not only the backbone of the construction industry, but it is also foundational to the economic stability and growth of the region, and
WHEREAS, because a labor dispute with a limited number of companies has caused significant delays or shut down nearly all local public sector and private construction, the local concrete market is failing the county and region, and
WHEREAS, the labor dispute has for more than the last one hundred days, significantly reduced the availability of local commercial-scale production of concrete, and
WHEREAS, King County respects and recognizes the collective bargaining process and continues to urge the parties to return to the negotiating table with federal mediators, to bring an end to this region's debilitating dispute, and
WHEREAS, current public infrastructure projects like Sound Transit light rail expansion, West Seattle bridge reopening, Washington state Convention Center expansion, University of Washington's Behavioral Health Hospital, completion of the Georgetown wet weather facility and the Metro transit department's rapid ride H and G lines are experiencing costly delay due to the labor dispute, and
WHEREAS, this ongoing dispute may harm future projects and result in costly delays or cancellation of taxpayer-funded work, such as expansion of Harborview Medical Center, and electrification of Metro transit department's south base, as well as road safety improvements in the unincorporated area, and
WHEREAS, the ongoing dispute is also impairing private development, including housing construction, during the current housing crisis when need for homes is greater than available housing, and
WHEREAS, the ongoing dispute is resulting...

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