St. Louis Board of Aldermen Meeting – October 10, 2025

The St. Louis Board of Aldermen met on October 10, 2025, at 10:00 AM. The meeting included an opening reflection on World Homeless Day, introductions of honored guests, approval of minutes, appointments, readings of board bills, and a historic vote to voluntarily recognize a union for legislative staff.

Opening Reflection – World Homeless Day

Kathy Connors, Executive Director of Gateway 180 and Chair of the St. Louis City Continuum of Care, provided a reflection on World Homeless Day. She highlighted statistics: 440 year-round shelter beds; 1,000 to 5,000 victims of the May tornado seeking shelter this winter; 2,035 permanent supportive housing beds in use; 23 individuals per month rehoused via family shelter; 150 tornado victims sheltered immediately after the tornado at Peter and Paul EL SAP campus. She noted a looming federal cap of 30% of HUD COC funding on permanent supportive housing, which could create a gap of $6.4 million and reduce the city's permanent supportive housing units from 683 to 478. Additionally, zero HUD notice of funding opportunity could mean a loss of $16 million in HUD COC housing funds. She called for unity to advocate and innovate to end homelessness.

Introductions of Honored Guests

• Alderwoman from the 13th Ward introduced Ms. Ollie Stewart, a senior rights advocate.
• Alderman from the 9th Ward introduced Ms. McDevitt’s fourth-grade class from New City School.
• Alderwoman from the 7th Ward acknowledged Harper Richardson (daughter of Neil Richardson) and welcomed the students.
• Alderwoman from the 10th Ward welcomed the class from New City School and recognized Dr. Joyce Robertson for her service to St. Louis Public Schools and her new role on the Circuit Attorney’s Citizen Academy.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes: Minutes from Friday, October 3, 2025, were approved by voice vote.
• Appointments: The appointment of Madeline Swanstrom to the Cousins MLK Grand Community Improvement District (term expiring September 1, 2028) was approved by voice vote.
• Perfection Consent Calendar: Board Bills 64, 65, 71, 72, and 74 were adopted on the perfection consent calendar.
• Third Reading and Final Passage Consent Calendar: Board Bills 52, 61, 69, and 74 floor substitute received final passage. The roll call recorded 14 aye votes. The President then signed them into law.

Discussion Items

• Board Bill 73 (Street Vacation): Introduced by Alderman Aldrick, an ordinance to vacate portions of 13th Street and two alleys. Alderman from the 14th Ward moved to perfect with an amendment to strike language stating "vacate area will be used to consolidate property for construction of an athletic field or future stadium" from the summary. The amendment was adopted by voice vote. The bill was then perfected as amended by voice vote.
• Board Bill 43 (Flood Prone Properties): Introduced by Alderman Narayan (4th Ward), companion to BB74, establishing a policy for purchase and demolition of seven flood-prone properties in the Ellendale neighborhood using HMGP funding. Perfected by voice vote.
• First Reading of Board Bills: Bills 79 (speed humps, 5th Ward), 80 (Clean Energy District participation), 81 (speed humps on Grandale Square and Washington Avenue), and 82 (quit claim deed for property at 1134 and 1138 Dr. Martin Luther King Drive) were introduced. BB82 was assigned to the HUDS Committee.
• Committee Reports: Board Bill 68 (Cortex West Redevelopment Area blight determination renewal) passed out of HUDS Committee with a "do pass" recommendation.

Key Outcomes

• Resolution 118 Floor Substitute – Voluntary Recognition of UAW for Legislative Staff: Alderman Aldrick moved to adopt a resolution voluntarily recognizing the United Auto Workers (UAW) as the bargaining representative for the legislative staff at the Board of Aldermen. The floor substitute cleaned up language (e.g., changed "United Auto Workers" to "UAW") and included legal staff. The resolution noted that 75% of the bargaining unit signed authorization cards. After discussion, the board voted on a roll call: 11 ayes, 3 abstentions (Alderman Devotee and two others whose names were not clearly read; Alderman Devotee and Alderwoman Tyus were recorded as abstaining later). The motion carried, making the St. Louis Board of Aldermen one of the first municipal legislative bodies in the U.S. to voluntarily recognize a union for its staff.
• Motion to Excuse: Alderwoman from the 12th Ward was excused for necessary absence by voice vote.
• Adjournment: The meeting adjourned until Friday, October 17, 2025, at 10:00 AM.

Note: No public comments from general citizens were heard during the meeting.