St. Louis Board of Alders Meeting - December 5, 2025

The Board of Alders convened to address a World AIDS Day reflection, affirm the human right to food, and vote on multiple legislative items including earnings tax renewal and election code modernization. The meeting included a special presentation on food insecurity led by Food City St. Louis, followed by routine consent calendar actions, the introduction of resolutions regarding the Sheriff's vacancy, and a motion to enter a closed session.

Consent Calendar

• The Board unanimously adopted the courtesy resolution consent calendar.
• The minutes from November 21, 2025, were approved.
• Board Bills 83, 103, and 108 were passed on the perfection consent calendar (with Bill 108 moved to the regular perfection calendar upon request).
• Board Bills 79, 86, 96, and 97 received third reading and final passage on the consent calendar.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Jordan Braxton (Pride St. Louis): Delivered an opening reflection for World AIDS Day, calling on the City of St. Louis to allocate more city revenue for HIV testing, treatment, and services, and to develop citywide programs for the African American community who account for 62% of new infections.
• Darren Jackson (Food City St. Louis): Expressed gratitude for the Board's partnership and highlighted that one in three children in the city lack food access. He emphasized that food insecurity stems from inequitable systems rather than scarcity and described the city itself as a "food desert" for most residents. He called for the Board to be servants rather than saviors to ensure communities are fed.
• Alderwoman Velasquez (6th Ward): Expressed support for Food City's work, noting their effective response during the recent tornado.
• Alderwoman Keys (1st Ward): Echoed support for Food City and encouraged colleagues to meet with the organization.
• Alderwoman Boyd (12th Ward): While acknowledging the need for the earnings tax, expressed strong opposition to the proposed tax structure due to existing loopholes and exceptions for the wealthy and developers. She stated she will vote "no" as a protest vote until the tax is applied fairly to everyone.
• Alderwoman Boyd (12th Ward): Expressed opposition to Board Bill 88 regarding election code modernization, characterizing it as an attempt to "backdoor" fixes to the messy Prop D implementation rather than a genuine cleanup, and arguing it concentrates power.
• Alderwoman Keys (1st Ward): Expressed support for the earnings tax renewal, emphasizing its critical role in funding police and fire services.
• Alderwoman Sanye (7th Ward): Expressed support for Board Bill 88, disagreeing that it creates a mess, and highlighted the need to clarify outdated language and filing fees in the election code.
• Alderwomen Clark Hubbard (10th Ward) and Tyus (9th Ward): Expressed support for Board Bill 108 regarding HUD funding but requested clarification on ARPA funding distribution concerns.

Discussion Items

• Resolution 166 (Right to Food): The Board adopted a resolution affirming access to adequate affordable, nourishing, and culturally meaningful food as a basic human right. The resolution commits the city to investing in equitable policies and collaborating with community organizations.
• Board Bill 100 (Earnings Tax Renewal): Discussion centered on whether to renew the city's 1% earnings tax, which constitutes over one-third of the general revenue fund. Supporters argued it is essential for basic services like police, fire, and streets. The proposal faces procedural hurdles regarding exceptions and loopholes, leading to a protest vote from Alderman Boyd.
• Board Bill 88 (Election Code Update): The Board debated modernizing the municipal election code to remove outdated statutes, adjust filing fees, and align with nonpartisan approval voting. Critics argued the bill fails to address the root causes of issues created by Prop D, while supporters maintained it is a necessary cleanup to restore faith in democracy.
• Resolution 193 (Sheriff's Vacancy): The Board debated a resolution declaring the need for the Board of Alders to participate in any litigation regarding the replacement of the Sheriff. Discussions highlighted a potential conflict of interest if the City Counselor, who represents the Mayor, also represents the Board. An amendment was introduced and passed to formally state the Board's intention to intervene in the pending case with independent counsel.

Key Outcomes

• Resolution 166: Adopted unanimously. The Board affirmed the right to food and committed to coordinating across departments to advance food security.
• Board Bill 100: Perfected by a vote of 14 ayes to 1 no. The measure is now scheduled for a vote by the qualified voters in 2026 to renew the earnings tax.
• Board Bill 88: Perfected by a vote of 12 ayes, 2 noes, and 1 present. The election code updates were approved.
• Board Bill 108: Perfected by a vote of 13 ayes and 3 present (Alderman Boyd, Alderman Aldrich, and Alderman Cohn). The authorization for the 2026 HUD action plan and CDBG funds was approved.
• Resolution 193: Adopted as amended by a vote of 14 ayes to 1 no. The Board affirmed its right to be included in the process for filling a Sheriff vacancy and intends to intervene in the ongoing litigation with independent counsel.
• Board Bill 112: Introduced on first reading for a supplemental appropriation of $350,000.
• Closed Session: The Board voted 14-0 to go into closed session to discuss matters related to the hiring, firing, disciplining, or promoting of employees.
• Adjournment: The meeting adjourned until Friday, December 12, 2025.