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Record of Proceedings

St. Louis Board of Aldermen Meeting Summary - October 17, 2025

Board of Aldermen — Friday, October 17, 2025

BodySt Louis, Missouri

SessionBoard of Aldermen

DateFriday, October 17, 2025

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 35:55

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:20

The board will now come to order.

0:21

Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

0:23

Aldo Womas Whitzer.

0:29

Aldamical.

0:45

Aldo Woman Cox Aunt We Alderman Browning.

0:52

Aldo Woman Clark Hubbard.

0:54

Out of woman keys.

0:57

Out of woman's highest.

1:00

Present.

1:01

Out of women boy.

1:04

Present.

1:09

President Green.

1:11

Present.

1:14

Altimate Aldenberg.

1:18

Aldo Woman Velasquez.

1:21

Present.

1:27

Aunt Wees.

1:32

Twelve present, you have corn.

1:34

A corn being present will be led in an opening reflection from Dharmash Sharma with that Saint Louis as Dwali approaches on Monday, October twentieth, twenty twenty-five.

3:20

The verses you just heard were from the Shantipat, a sacred prayer for peace.

3:26

Here is its meaning in English.

3:29

May peace radiate there in the whole sky, as well as in vast etheral space everywhere.

3:36

May peace radiate, may peace reign all over this earth, in water, and in all herbs, trees, and other creepers.

3:46

May peace flow through the whole universe.

4:05

May this peace guide our thoughts, words, and actions every day.

4:10

May peace be with us all today and always.

5:33

Michael.

5:41

I did add something to this room.

5:43

I just put the notes for uh reconsider for motion.

5:53

I can hear it off.

5:54

I just we will dispense with line item four.

6:03

Any introduction of honored guests.

6:06

Any introduction of honored guests.

6:08

Alder woman from the 10th.

6:16

Testing.

6:17

Thank you.

6:19

Thank you, Madam President, members of the board.

6:20

I would like to add um my colleagues and everyone for a moment of silence in my honor of my honored guest.

6:37

She was one of the short list of people that I was told to speak with and Ms.

6:42

Voss.

6:53

Um 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 um 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 um uh still living on the historically black private street in the city of St.

7:26

Louis Windermere place.

7:28

Um she would often tell me that and so it's her daughter Mary Ann and her granddaughter.

7:34

I can't wait to meet you all in person.

7:36

I'm so sorry for your loss for the entire Voss family.

7:40

And with that, I would like to ask for a moment of silence for Anne Voss.

7:44

If we could please stand and bow our heads for a moment of silence.

8:02

Thank you, Madam President, members of the board.

8:04

Today, as my honored guest, I would like to have business owner and I think one of the many trailblazers uh in the downtown area uh that's doing really good work, Mr.

8:13

John Berglin, who is up in the gallery as well as I would like to have all of the hardworking men and women of the streets department that I've been working uh overtime uh before we go into uh winter to have uh done a lot of repaving in the 14th, and I know that I've seen them over in the ninth ward as well, but they work very hard, they're underpaid, uh, and I appreciate them.

8:36

I've been on Sean and Kent, um Cludious Mac Smith, but I'm glad that we finally get around to it.

8:42

So thank you to the actual hard workers that are getting it done.

8:44

Uh and thank you, Mr.

8:45

John Burglar for being here.

8:47

Any further introduction of honored guests, any further introduction of honored guests.

8:53

Seeing none, older woman from the 10th, you're recognized on the approval of the minutes from Friday, October 10th, 2025.

8:59

Thank you, madam president, members of the board.

9:01

I move that we approve the minutes from Friday, October 10th, 2025.

9:06

It's been moved by the older woman from the 10th, seconded by the alderman from the 14th, we approve the minutes from Friday, October 10th, 2025.

9:12

Is there any discussion?

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Procedural█████████████████████████████████████████████63%

Community Engagement███████10%

Community Development███████10%

Eminent Domain████6%

Affordable Housing████5%

Personnel Matters██3%

Public Engagement██3%

Summary of Proceedings

St. Louis Board of Aldermen Meeting Summary - October 17, 2025

The Board of Aldermen convened on October 17, 2025, commencing with a Diwali reflection and a moment of silence honoring the late Anne Voss. The meeting proceeded with the approval of minutes, appointments to city boards, the introduction of new board bills, and the perfection of legislation regarding the Cortex West Redevelopment Area. The session concluded with the adoption of a resolution honoring Congressman William L. Clay Sr. and a series of community event announcements.

Consent Calendar

Minutes from Friday, October 10, 2025, were approved unanimously.
The appointment of William Sudoff to the Senior Citizen Service Fund Board was initially approved but subsequently moved to reconsider and sent to committee due to a procedural interruption and concerns regarding North St. Louis representation.
The appointments of James Dwyer, Kyle Bozowen, Jack Straub III, and Amy Ruffner to the Central West End Community Improvement District were approved unanimously.
Board Bills 64, 65, 71, 72, and 73 (as amended) were adopted on the consent calendar.
The courtesy resolution calendar was adopted.

Public Comments & Testimony

Alderwoman (10th Ward): Paid tribute to the late Anne Voss, highlighting her historical work in the West End neighborhood with Marie Fowler and the speaker's grandfather, noting the speaker's hope to continue that legacy of inclusion.
Alderwoman (10th Ward): Recognized Mr. John Berglin (noted as "John Burglar" in transcript, likely Berglin) as a downtown trailblazer and publicly thanked the Streets Department staff for repaving efforts in Wards 9 and 14.
Alder Woman (13th Ward): Expressed strong opposition to the initial appointment of William Sudoff, arguing that the board lacks members representing seniors in North St. Louis and that nominees are not being adequately vetted or represented in the community.
Alder Woman (12th Ward): Expressed opposition to Board Bill 68, stating she would vote "no" and holding a firm position against granting eminent domain to a private entity (Cortex) regardless of the development's visual success.
Alder Woman (10th Ward): Announced a memorial service scheduled for October 18, 2025, for Congressman William L. Clay Sr., and promoted the "Delish on Delmar" street fair (October 17, 5-10 PM) and the Central West End Halloween party (October 25, 8-10 PM costume contest).

Discussion Items

Appointment to Senior Citizen Service Fund Board: After the initial vote passed, the Alderwoman from the 13th Ward raised a point of order regarding the lack of community representation. The motion was reconsidered, and the appointment was referred to the Health and Human Development Committee for further vetting.
Board Bill 68 (Cortex West Redevelopment Area): The Alderman from the 9th Ward defended the bill as a necessary "blighting tool" to consolidate titles and clear property without displacement, noting the area has no active use. Despite the Alderwoman from the 12th Ward's continued opposition to the use of eminent domain by a private entity, the bill proceeded to a roll call vote.
Resolution 129: Following a motion to reconsider the initial vote, the board unanimously adopted a courtesy resolution honoring Congressman William L. Clay Sr.

Key Outcomes

Board Bill 68 (Cortex West Eminent Domain Renewal): Perfection passed with 11 aye votes and 3 no votes. The bill renews the blighting determination and eminent domain rights for the Cortex West Redevelopment Corporation.
Board Bill 68 Vote Tally Breakdown: 11 votes in favor (Aldermen Aldenberg, Aldridge, Browning, Cone, Green, Narayan, Sanyer, Sweitzer, Tyus, Velasquez, and Alderman from the 9th/14th/10th/11th/3rd as noted) and 3 votes against (Alderwoman Tyus, Alderwoman Keys, Alderwoman from 12th Ward). Note: Specific names of the 3 dissenters include Alderwoman Tyus and the 12th Ward Alderwoman; the third "no" may be implied or unrecorded in the roll call snippet, but the total is 3 no.
Referral: Mayor Spencer's appointment of William Sudoff was directed to the Health and Human Development Committee.
Adoption: Board Bills 43, 64, 65, 71, 72, 73 (amended), and 74 were placed on the third reading calendar. Board Bills 64, 65, 71, 72, and 73 were finally passed.
Next Meeting: Scheduled for Friday, October 24, 2025, at 10:00 AM.

Meeting Transcript

The board will now come to order. Madam Clerk, please call the roll. Aldo Womas Whitzer. Aldamical. Aldo Woman Cox Aunt We Alderman Browning. Aldo Woman Clark Hubbard. Out of woman keys. Out of woman's highest. Present. Out of women boy. Present. President Green. Present. Altimate Aldenberg. Aldo Woman Velasquez. Present. Aunt Wees. Twelve present, you have corn. A corn being present will be led in an opening reflection from Dharmash Sharma with that Saint Louis as Dwali approaches on Monday, October twentieth, twenty twenty-five. The verses you just heard were from the Shantipat, 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 this peace guide our thoughts, words, and actions every day. May peace be with us all today and always. Michael. I did add something to this room. I just put the notes for uh reconsider for motion. I can hear it off. I just we will dispense with line item four. Any introduction of honored guests. Any introduction of honored guests. Alder woman from the 10th. Testing. Thank you. 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. She was one of the short list of people that I was told to speak with and Ms. Voss. Um 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 um 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 um uh still living on the historically black private street in the city of St. Louis Windermere place. Um she would often tell me that and so it's her daughter Mary Ann and her granddaughter. I can't wait to meet you all in person. I'm so sorry for your loss for the entire Voss family. And with that, I would like to ask for a moment of silence for Anne Voss. If we could please stand and bow our heads for a moment of silence. Thank you, Madam President, members of the board. Today, as my honored guest, I would like to have business owner and I think one of the many trailblazers uh in the downtown area uh that's doing really good work, Mr. John Berglin, who is up in the gallery as well as I would like to have all of the hardworking men and women of the streets department that I've been working uh overtime uh before we go into uh winter to have uh done a lot of repaving in the 14th, and I know that I've seen them over in the ninth ward as well, but they work very hard, they're underpaid, uh, and I appreciate them.

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