St. Louis Board of Aldermen Meeting – October 10, 2025
St. Louis Board of Aldermen Meeting – October 10, 2025
The St. Louis Board of Aldermen convened on October 10, 2025, with 12 members present, achieving a quorum. The meeting began with an opening reflection in observance of World Homeless Day by Kathy Connors, Executive Director of Gateway 180 and Chair of the St. Louis Continuum of Care. Honored guests included Ollie Stewart, a senior rights advocate; a fourth-grade class from New City School; and Dr. Joyce Robertsonada. The board approved minutes from October 3, appointed Madeline Swanstrom to the Martin Luther King Grand Community Improvement District, and introduced several bills. Key actions included perfecting street vacation and flood-prone property bills, passing a consent calendar of routine bills, and adopting a historic resolution voluntarily recognizing the United Auto Workers (UAW) as the bargaining representative for the board’s legislative staff.
Opening Reflection and Honored Guests
- World Homeless Day Reflection: Kathy Connors presented statistics: 440 year-round shelter beds; between 1,000 and 5,000 tornado victims expected to seek shelter; 2,035 permanent supportive housing (PSH) beds in use; 23 individuals per month rehoused via family shelter; 150 tornado victims sheltered at Peter and Paul El SAP campus. She warned of a potential $6.4 million reduction in HUD COC funding, loss of 478 PSH units, and a possible $16 million loss due to zero HUD NOFO. She urged codification of a winter plan and advocacy for HUD funding.
- Honored Guests: Alderwoman from 13th introduced Ollie Stewart (senior rights advocate). Alderman from 9th and Alderwoman from 7th welcomed New City School fourth graders. Alderwoman from 10th introduced Dr. Joyce Robertsonada.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes Approval: Approved minutes from Friday, October 3, 2025 (unanimous voice vote).
- Appointment: Approved Mayor Spencer’s appointment of Madeline Swanstrom to the Martin Luther King Grand Community Improvement District (unanimous).
- Perfection Consent Calendar: Adopted Board Bills 64, 65, 71, 72, and 74 without opposition. These included bills to repeal obsolete boards, authorize honorary street naming (Brian McKenna Way), and accept hazard mitigation grant funding ($697,678.87 from SEMA).
- Third Reading Consent Calendar: Passed Board Bills 52, 61, 69, and 70 floor substitute by roll call vote of 14 ayes.
Discussion Items
- Board Bill 73 – Street Vacation: Alderman Aldrick introduced a bill to vacate rights in 13th Street and alleys near Carr Street, Tucker Boulevard, etc. An amendment (Amendment 1) was adopted to strike language stating the vacated area would be used for an athletic field or future stadium. The bill as amended was perfected with no further discussion.
- Board Bill 43 – Flood Prone Properties: Alderman Narayan presented a companion bill to BB 74. It establishes a policy for purchasing and demolishing seven flood-prone properties in Ellendale using HMGP funding from SEMA. With BB 74 already on the consent calendar, BB 43 was perfected unanimously.
- Resolution 118 – Voluntary Union Recognition: Alderman Aldrick moved to adopt a floor substitute for Resolution 118, voluntarily recognizing UAW as the bargaining representative for the board’s legislative staff. The floor substitute cleaned up language (e.g., changed “United Auto Workers” to “UAW” and included legal staff). Alderman Aldrick noted that the legislative staff organizing committee collected signatures from 75% of the bargaining unit. After discussion, the resolution was adopted by roll call vote of 11 ayes, 3 abstentions. This makes the St. Louis Board of Aldermen one of the first municipal legislative staffs in the US to unionize.
Key Outcomes
- Passed Board Bills: BB 73 (street vacation as amended) perfected; BB 43 (Ellendale flood properties) perfected.
- Adopted Resolutions: Resolution 118 floor substitute (UAW recognition) adopted (11-3).
- Committee Assignments: BB 79, 81 to Public Infrastructure; BB 80, 82 to HUDS.
- Next Meeting: Adjourned to Friday, October 17, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. in the Board of Aldermen Chambers.
Meeting Transcript
The board will now come to order. Madam Clerk, please call the roll. Alderman Sweitzer. Alderman Oldenburg. Present. Alderman Cone. Alderman Orion. Alderman Devotee. Present. Alder Woman Velasquez. Alder Woman Sanyer. Alder Woman Cox Antwee. Alderman Browning. Alder Woman Clark Hubbard. Alder Woman Keys. Alder Woman Tyus. Alder Woman Boyd. Present. Alderman Aldrick. President Green. Present. Alderman Cone. Alder Woman Velasquez. Alder Woman Keys. Alder Woman Thaez. We have 12 present. A quorum being present will be led in an opening reflection by the executive director of Gateway 180, Kathy Connors, an observation of World Homelessness Day. Thank you, President Green. Thank you all for the invitation. It is an honor to be here today. I want to point out that I also currently serve as our St. Louis City Continuum of Chair. Continuum of Care Chairperson. So this morning on World Homeless Day, I would like to reflect on some community to statistics with you. 440 year-round shelter beds. Between 1,000 and 5,000 victims of our May tornado who will be seeking shelter this winter as cold weather arrives. 2,035 permanently supportive, permanent supportive housing beds currently in use in our community. 23 individuals per month being rehoused via our family shelter with the assistance of intense case management. 150 tornado victims sheltered immediately after the tornado at Peter and Paul El SAP campus. A looming government cap of 30% of HUD COC funding allowed to be spent on permanent supportive housing, a potential gap or reduction of 6.4 million in HUD COC funding dedicated to permanent supportive housing in our own community, a reduction of 478 permanent supportive housing beds or units from our current 603, 683 units, zero HUD notice of funding opportunity announced, meaning the potential for a reduction or a loss of 16 million dollars of HUD COC housing funds in our community. It is time to advocate for our HUD funding based on our community needs and data, and it is time to formalize or codify a winter plan to protect the most vulnerable in our community from the dangers of the extreme cold weather now and for years to come. It is time to come together as elected community leaders, service providers, and members of the St. Louis Continuum of Care to afford both our unhoused neighbors and our amazing city, the dignity, hope, and solutions that are deserved and that we know can be effective. On World Homeless Day, and every day, let's unite to problem solve, advocate, and to innovate to establish change and end homelessness in our community. Thank you. Thank you so much, Kathy. Any introduction of honored guests. See Alder Woman from the 13th. Thank you, Madam President and the board. And thank you, Kathy, for coming forth.
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