St. Louis Board of Aldermen Meeting – September 19, 2025
St. Louis Board of Aldermen Meeting – September 19, 2025
The St. Louis Board of Aldermen convened on September 19, 2025, at 10:00 AM (roll call at 14:50 UTC) with 13 members present. The meeting opened with a reflection by Norman Acres of the Osage Nation, acknowledging the city's ancestral lands and the collaboration on the Sugarloaf Mound preservation. Key actions included adoption of resolutions, perfection and final passage of board bills, and various administrative items.
Consent Calendar
- Resolution 109 – Recognizing the Osage Nation Sugarloaf Mound Preservation Plan. Adopted unanimously after being moved to the consent calendar with co-sponsors added en bloc. The mayor proclaimed the day as Sugar Loaf Mound Preservation Plan Day.
- Courtesy Resolution Consent Calendar – Adopted as a block, with several resolutions (103, 105, 106) later en banc'd or co-sponsored.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comments were made by non-aldermen during the formal portion. Norman Acres provided an opening reflection on behalf of the Osage Nation, expressing gratitude for the city's partnership.
Discussion Items
- Resolution 108 – Urging Congress to establish an end date for the Puerto Rico Financial Oversight and Management Board. Sponsored by Alderwoman Velasquez. Debate ensued; Alderwoman Tayas requested more information and voted present. Adopted 13-1 (13 aye, 1 present).
- Resolution 111 – Affirming support for executive order on data centers. Moved to the Public Infrastructure and Utilities Committee without floor debate.
- Board Bill 60 – Ordinance amending zoning code to permit and regulate accessory dwelling units (ADUs). After discussion, Alderwoman Clark Hubbard moved perfection. Several aldermen expressed support, while Alderman O'Ryan opposed due to potential short-term rental proliferation. Perfected 13-1 (1 no vote).
- Board Bill 19 (Floor Substitute) – Establishing the Jefferson Arms Community Improvement District. Third reading and final passage passed 13-1.
- Board Bill 33 (as amended) – Defining sheriff's powers and duties after debate on state statute authority and recent court directives. Final passage passed 13-1 (Alderwoman Tayas no).
Key Outcomes
- Resolution 109 adopted unanimously (all present aye) – formal city recognition of Osage Nation sovereignty and support for the mound preservation plan.
- Resolution 108 adopted (13 aye, 1 present) – text urging Congress to end Puerto Rico's oversight board.
- Board Bill 60 perfected (13-1) – now moves to third reading, allowing ADUs citywide with some restrictions.
- Board Bill 19 finally passed (13-1) – creates Jefferson Arms CID.
- Board Bill 33 finally passed (13-1) – codifies sheriff duties despite objections that it oversteps local authority.
- Appointments: Dave Leipholtz to Missouri History Museum Subdistrict Advisory Board (sent to committee); Deborah Cohen and Kimberly Thompson to Tower Grove South Special Business District (approved).
- Adjourned until Friday, September 26, 2025, at 10 AM.
Meeting Transcript
The board will now come to order. Madam Clerk, please call the roll. Alder Woman Sweit, sir. Alderman Aldenberg. Alderman Cone. Alderman Ryan. Alderman Devotee. Alderwoman Velasquez. Alderwoman Sanye. Alderwoman Cox Antwee. Alderman Brownie. Present. Alderwoman Clark Hubbard. Here. Alderwoman Keys. Alderwoman Saez. Present. Alderwoman Boyd. Alderman Aldrich. President Green. Present. Alderman Cone. Alderwoman Boyd. 13 present. According being present, we will be led in an opening reflection by Norman Acres with the Osage Nation. Good morning. You know, I want to uh to thank you for inviting us here today. And uh this morning when I got up, I was looking out the hotel window, and uh, and I was looking towards the east, and that sun was coming up, and it was very kind of a salmon pink color. And on the horizon, I happened to notice the dome and the architecture of the city, and uh for a moment when I was looking at that dome, it reminded me of a mound. And our Osage, our Wajazi people, the morning is a very special time for us. Uh, it's a time that we we get up and we pray and we speak to Wakanda, and one of my thoughts that happened when I was there was is that our ancestors lived in this area, they breathed the air, they drank the water, uh, and this place is sacred to us. Um the urban sort of experience from many, many hundreds of years ago when there were hundreds of mounds here in this area, has been kind of replaced with the city now. But one thing is is that uh we're still here as Osage people as indigenous people, and and I just wanted to say thank you, you know, to uh to the the board of aldermen, and also wanted to say thank you for uh counterpublic and uh and likewise Joan Heckenberg and Cap of Sci uh fraternity because what you've done is you sort of helped us kind of uh maintain our history, and uh and that's been you know very important for us. And um basically I just wanted to say these few words to you before uh before you started your meeting, and again, thank you for everything that you've done for our people. Okay, and we look forward to having a continued working relationship with this area. Um again, thanks from the Osage Nation, the Osage Historic Preservation Office, and just a many thanks from Osage people in general for your assistance with helping us take care of our history of the regular order of business to take up the first reading of resolution reference to committee calendar. Alder Woman from the eighth, you're recognized on the motion to suspend the rules for the purposes of introducing resolution one zero nine Madam President. Thank you. I'd like to make a motion to rules to introduce resolution one hundred nine. It's been moved by the Alder Woman from the eighth, seconded by the Alder Woman from the 11th, that we suspend the rules for the purposes of introducing resolution 109. This is a non-debatable motion. Madam Clerk, please call the roll. Alder Woman Sweat, sir. Aye, Alderman Aldenberg, Alderman Cone. Aye. Alderman O'Ryan. Aye, Alderman Devotee, Alderwoman Velasquez, Alderwoman Sanye. Aye, Alderwoman Cox Antwi. Aye, Alderman Brownie, aye, Alderwoman Clark Hubbard, Alderwoman Keys, Alderwoman Tayas. Aye.
openpublica.com