Two City Council members held a meeting with the public on Thursday evening dealing with concerns and questions regarding a possible new terminal at Kansas City International Airport.
City Councilwomen Jolie Justus and Alissia Canady met with members of the Greater Kansas City Women’s Political Caucus at All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church.
Several issues were brought forward during the event, from communication on the project with the public to Burns and McDonnell’s motivation behind submitting an unsolicited and privately financed bid last month for a new terminal.
Colleen White, who said she attended on behalf of the Women Construction Owners & Executives group, told 41 Action News she wanted to see diversity in the workforce that builds the possible new terminal.
“We want to see more women get some work on the airport and all the other projects here in town,” she explained. “We want to give these women business owners a chance to succeed, grow, and become more viable businesses than they already are."
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Thursday’s meeting occurred as firms from around the country continue to come forward and express interest in being part of the massive project.
Following the announcement from Burns and McDonnell last month, Los Angeles-based engineering firm AECOM came forward requesting to be part of the talks.
The firm has been part of numerous airport projects, including work at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, Boston Logan International Airport, and Denver International Airport.
“They (AECOM) were the first one to step forward and say, ‘We're going to want to submit as well,’ which is why we began to change our process,” explained Canady.
National firm HNTB has also come forward and expressed interest.
Among other projects, the group served as the master architect behind a new terminal project at Wichita Mid-Continent Airport.
The talks have also attracted local firms.
A City Council member told 41 Action News last week that Garver, based out of Overland Park, had expressed interest in the new terminal talks.
The firm has been a part of numerous airport improvements around the country, including terminal and parking garage projects at Clinton National Airport in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Firms have until August 10 to finalize a complete design and funding package for a new terminal.
With over a month to go before the deadline, Canady said other firms could join the rush.
“There may be others that come forward in the same manner that will be willing to put forward a design, build, and finance proposal and be willing to put forward a competitive bid,” she explained. “This is a competitive process. It's designed to be competitive for good reason because competition drives down cost and it brings forth innovation."
Following the August deadline for firms, City Council will have until August 24 to finalize ballot language for the new terminal vote.
City Council members expect to hold a public vote on a new terminal plan in November this year.
