St. Louis Board of Aldermen Meeting - October 3, 2025
St. Louis Board of Aldermen Meeting - October 3, 2025
The St. Louis Board of Aldermen convened on Friday, October 3, 2025, at 10:00 AM in the Board of Aldermen Chambers. The meeting was called to order with 15 members present, led by President Green. The session included an opening reflection for Domestic Violence Awareness Month by Diamond Divas, consideration of several resolutions and board bills, and a prolonged debate on data center regulation. Key outcomes included the adoption of resolutions honoring a departing legislative assistant and supporting MWBE participation, as well as the perfection of board bills related to boiler safety and speed humps. The board also voted 10-3 to adopt a resolution affirming an executive order regulating data centers.
Consent Calendar
- Courtesy Resolution Consent Calendar: Adopted unanimously. This included Resolution 127, honoring Chelsea Murtaugh, legislative assistant for the 7th Ward, for her contributions including attending over 500 neighborhood meetings and processing over 350 Citizen Service Bureau requests. The resolution was introduced by Alderwoman Sonney and was embanked and adopted.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Public Testimony on Data Centers: During the discussion of Resolution 111, a public hearing in committee on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, drew over 30 public speakers. Many residents expressed concerns about potential impacts on utility rates, water usage, and the environment, while others emphasized the need for economic development. The planning commission had recommended a moratorium due to lack of data on existing data centers and potential ratepayer impacts.
Discussion Items
- Resolution 111 – Data Center Regulation: Alderwoman Schweitzer (1st Ward) introduced the resolution to affirm Mayor Spencer’s Executive Order 92, which defines data centers as a conditional use and requires 40 questions during the permitting process. Alderman Oldenburg (2nd Ward) criticized the process as rushed, arguing it could harm economic development. Alderman Browning (4th Ward) also expressed concerns about speed. Alderwoman Schweitzer defended the approach as a compromise that allows permits to continue while increasing scrutiny.
- Board Bill 69 – Boiler Safety: Alderman Narayan (4th Ward) presented the bill to implement recommendations from the Chemical Safety Board following a 2017 boiler explosion that killed four people. The bill was perfected with broad support.
- Board Bill 70 – Speed Humps (14th Ward): Alderman Aldridge (14th Ward) introduced a floor substitute to add two streets omitted in committee. The bill was perfected after adopting the substitute.
Key Outcomes
- Resolution 127 – Chelsea Murtaugh: Adopted and embanked.
- Resolution 126 – MWBE Participation: Adopted unanimously. Calls on contractors and developers to honor existing MWBE commitments and comply with Executive Order 91. Co-sponsored by multiple alderwomen.
- Resolution 111 – Data Center Regulation: Adopted by a vote of 10-3 (Ayes: Schweitzer, Oldenburg, Cone, Narayan, Devotee, Velasquez, Sonney, Cox Antoine, Browning, Clark-Hubbard; Nays: not individually recorded, but two no votes noted on roll call). The resolution affirms Executive Order 92 and establishes interim regulations.
- Board Bill 69: Perfected unanimously.
- Board Bill 70 (Floor Substitute): Perfected unanimously.
- Appointments Approved: Mayor Spencer’s appointments to the 2019 Grand Center Community Improvement District (Arnez Newton), the Art Museum Subdistrict (Dr. Donald Suggs and Emily Pulitzer), and the Board of Adjustment (Jim Dallas and Ms. Vaughn) were all approved.
- Closed Session: The board voted 12-aye to go into closed session to discuss personnel matters.
Meeting Transcript
The board will now come to order. Madam Clerk, please call the roll. Alder Woman's wife, sir. Alderman Oldenburg. Here. Alderman Cone. President. Alderman Naryan. Alderman Devotee. Present. Alder Woman Velasquez. Alder Woman Sonny. Alder Woman Cox and Twee. Alderman Browning. Alder Woman Clark Hubbard. Alder Woman Keys. Alder Woman Tit. Present. Alderman Aldrich. President Green. Present. We have 15 presents. According being present, we will be led in an opening reflection by the founder and director of operations of Diamond Divas, Eddie Ross, an observance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Thank you, President Green. At this time, I would like to present um Miss Shantasha Love, the director of business, to uh carry on with the prayer. Amen. If we could close our eyes, our heads. Father God, in the name of Jesus. First, Lord, we want to take time first to say thank you. Thank you for life. Thank you for waking us up this morning, clothed in our right mouth. Thank you for the activities of our limbs, God, and thank you, God, for another opportunity. Lord God, we thank you, God, for what we have experienced today. Thank you for the love that we felt already. Lord, and as we've gathered here today, God, I actually pray, God, for the vault for this board of Alderman. Lord God, we ask God that you would allow them, God, to serve from their hearts. God, as we pray, God, we ask that you will look upon their needs, God, as they serve this city. We thank you, God, in observance of domestic violence awareness month for every survivor. Lord, wrap your loving arms around them now, God, and help them understand that there is life after domestic violence. God, we thank you, God, that for those leaders that are in their area, their neighbors, God, their families, God, we thank you now that you're protecting them and you're giving them resources they need. Lord, and as we have come before you, God, we ask that you would help the city of St. Louis. God, we thank you, God, that even now you're going to help God with the crime and the val and the violence that's in our city. Protect this city, protect our children, God, in the name of Jesus. We thank you, and we praise you and we love you. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Amen. Amen. Thank you so much.
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