St. Louis Board of Aldermen Meeting Summary - October 17, 2025
St. Louis Board of Aldermen Meeting Summary - October 17, 2025
The City of St. Louis Board of Aldermen convened on October 17, 2025, opening with a reflection for the upcoming Diwali celebration and a moment of silence honoring Ann Voss, a West End neighborhood leader. The Board addressed appointments, zoning changes, public safety ordinances, and community announcements, including a street fair for the Delmar Makers District.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes: Approved the minutes from the Friday, October 10, 2025, meeting.
- Appointments: Approved the Mayor's appointments of James Dwyer, Cal Bozowan, Jack Straub III, and Amy Ruffner to the Central West End Community Improvement District.
- Board Bills (Third Reading & Final Passage): Adopted Board Bills 64, 65, 71, 72, and 73 (as amended). These bills relate to real estate sales, zoning changes (specifically Board Bill 64), and energy efficiency financing.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Announcements: Alderman Woman from the 10th (Sonia) announced a memorial for Congressman William Clay Sr. scheduled for October 18, 2025, and a "DeWish on Delmar" street fair on October 17, 2025, celebrating community rebuilding.
- Community Events: Alderman from the 9th announced the Central West End Halloween party on October 25, 2025.
Discussion Items
- Mayor's Appointment to Senior Citizen Service Board:
- Context: Mayor Spencer nominated an individual for the Senior Citizen Service Fund board.
- Positions:
- Alderman from the 9th: Expressed concern that the nomination lacks representation from North St. Louis seniors and requested the appointment be sent to committee for vetting.
- Alderwoman from the 12th: Raised a point of order noting the vote had passed; later moved to reconsider the vote to allow for committee review.
- Outcome: The Board voted to reconsider the appointment (11 Aye, 0 No on reconsideration motion, though the transcript notes the motion to reconsider carried) and subsequently voted to send the nomination to the Health and Human Development Committee.
- Board Bill 78 (Forestry Division Regulations):
- Context: Reported out of the Health and Human Development Committee with a "Due Pass" recommendation. This ordinance updates regulations regarding weeds, native plants, and vegetation.
- Board Bill 68 (Cortex West Redevelopment):
- Context: A bill renewing the blighting determination for the Cortex West Redevelopment Corporation (CWRDC) to exercise eminent domain rights for development purposes.
- Positions:
- Alderman from the 9th: Expressed full support, citing the district's creation of thousands of jobs and tax revenue since the early 2000s.
- Alderwoman from the 12th: Expressed opposition, citing concerns regarding the granting of eminent domain to a private entity.
- Deliberation: The sponsor clarified that the tool is intended for title consolidation on unused properties and has never displaced residents.
- Outcome: The motion to perfect the bill passed with 11 Aye votes and 3 No votes (Alderwoman Keys, Alderwoman Tyus, and presumably Alderwoman Cox Antwi based on the count, though the transcript lists specific "No" speakers as Keys and Tyus; the count 11-3 suggests a third no vote).
Key Outcomes
- Appointments:
- Moved the Mayor's nomination for the Senior Citizen Service Fund board to the Health and Human Development Committee.
- Approved the four appointments to the Central West End Community Improvement District.
- Board Bills Perfecting:
- Board Bill 68: Perfecting the renewal of eminent domain powers for the Cortex West Redevelopment Corporation (11 Aye, 3 No).
- Board Bills 64, 65, 71, 72, 73: Passed on third reading and final passage (13 Aye).
- Resolutions:
- Resolution 129: Embanked in honor of Congressman William Clay Sr. after a motion to reconsider and adopt the courtesy resolution calendar carried.
- Adjournment: Adjourned until Friday, October 24, 2025. Excused Alderwoman from the 8th for necessary absence.
Meeting Transcript
The board will now come to order, Madame Clerk. Aldo Woman Miss Whitzer. Out of Woman Sonia. Aldo Woman Cats Antwi Altamin Browning. Aldo Woman Clark Hubbard. Out of woman keys. Out of woman's hias. Present. Out of the woman boy. Present. President Green. Present. Present. Twelve present, you have corn. A corn being present will be led in an opening reflection from Dharmash Sharma with Bap St. Louis as Dwali approaches on Monday, October twentieth, twenty twenty-five. Oh Shantihi Babatu. The verses you just heard were from the Shantipad. A sacred prayer for peace. Here is its meaning in English. May peace radiate there in the whole sky, as well as in vast etheral space everywhere. May peace radiate, may peace reign all over this earth, in water, and in all herbs, trees, and other creepers. May peace flow through the whole universe. May there be peace in our being, and may there always exist in all peace and peace alone. Peace, peace, and peace to us and all beings. May this peace guide our thoughts, words, and actions every day. May peace be with us all today and always. Thank you. I did add something to this room. I just put the notes for reconsider for most. We will dispense with line item four. Any introduction of honored guests. Any introduction of honored guests. Testing. Thank you. Yes. Thank you, Madam President, members of the board. I would like to add um my colleagues and everyone for a moment of silence in my honor of my honored guest. Ann Voss, who was a pillar in the 26th Board in the West End neighborhood. When I first ran in 2012, she was one of the short list of people that I was told to speak with and Ms. Voss. Taught me stories of how her and Marie Fowler and my grandfather worked together to bring communities together to foster inclusion and open the doors in the West End neighborhood and how she was proud of the work that they did then and was hoping that I could be here in a gap to continue to work. And I hope that I made her proud many times when I saw her still living on the historically black private street in the city of St. Louis Windermere place. And with that, I would like to ask for a moment of silence for Ann Voss. If we could please stand and bow our heads for a moment of silence. Seeing none, older woman from the 10th, you're recognized on the approval of the minutes from Friday, October 10th, 2025. Thank you, Madam President, members of the board. I move that we approve the minutes from Friday, October 10th, 2025. It's been moved by the older woman from the 10th, seconded by the older men from the 14th.
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