The City Commission approved a living wage ordinance last fall, but that doesn’t mean the Kaw Valley Living Wage Alliance is planning to disband.

Members of the alliance, who held their fourth annual Labor Day picnic Monday in South Park, say they’re refocusing their efforts on enforcement of the living wage and on other issues such as affordable housing and health care.

“You could say it’s increasing quality of life,” said Graham Kreicker, an event organizer. “You could also say it’s social justice.”

Kreicker estimated more than 400 people attended the picnic.

The alliance pushed for a living wage ordinance for two years before it was approved in October 2003. The ordinance requires that businesses that receive tax breaks from the city to pay a minimum wage that is 130 percent of the federal poverty level for a family of three. In Douglas County, that was about $9.53 an hour in 2003.

So far, only one company — Amarr Garage Doors — has submitted a tax abatement application that was affected by the living wage ordinance. The company’s expansion will require them to pay at least a living wage.

“The type of businesses looking to come to the city are different now,” said City Commissioner Boog Highberger, who attended the picnic. “Nobody’s even proposing we use taxpayer money to subsidize low-quality jobs.”

Nearly a year after the living wage ordinance was approved, the alliance continues to see it as a victory, said Stephanie Harsin, a member of the board of directors.

“We’re definitely happy with that,” Harsin said. “It’s something that should be so uncontroversial. If we’re essentially using taxes to buy jobs, we need to create good jobs.”

Evelyn Heironimus-Bishop, 3, has her face painted by Zoey Ramberg as Jake Heironimus-Bishop watches at the Kaw Valley Living Wage Alliance Labor Day celebration at South Park. About 400 people attended the event Monday.

She said the group planned to watch City Hall closely to make sure requirements of the ordinance were followed by city staff.

Meanwhile, she said, the alliance also will shift its focus to affordable housing and health insurance issues. Mayor Mike Rundle plans to appoint a task force to study affordable housing in coming weeks.

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“At this point, we don’t have answers,” Harsin said. “We want to start that discussion and figure out what we can do.”