Council advances ordinance lowering project labor agreement threshold, adds workforce provisions

Council considered Ordinance 26‑090 to amend municipal code chapter 2‑14 to expand the applicability of project labor agreements for public works projects, reducing the dollar threshold from $5,000,000 to $1,000,000 and adding workforce development and reporting requirements.

Jim Beach, chief of staff, acknowledged the city previously used project labor agreements on relatively few projects and said administration would seek more detail. Council members asked whether the ordinance would allow bypassing union requirements; Beach and other staff said they did not believe the city could lawfully refuse PLA terms when applicable, and that applicability may depend on funding sources and project specifics.

Councilwoman Feliciano and Frisbie highlighted the ordinance’s community recruitment provisions — including partnerships with local technical schools and training programs — and expressed support for workforce pipelines to give Trenton youth apprenticeship opportunities. Members asked for labor representatives and union stakeholders to present at an upcoming meeting before second reading.

On first reading the ordinance passed by roll call; council asked administration and labor stakeholders to provide follow‑up information and examples of prior PLA usage in the city.