The Board of Aldermen of the City of St. Louis convened on January 9, 2026, to conduct routine business, including the approval of minutes, appointment confirmations, and the introduction of multiple board bills and resolutions. The meeting opened with a civic reflection on cervical cancer awareness by Public Health Nurse Kim Spain and included tributes to the late Firefighter O'Neill and a celebration of record-breaking promotions for African American women in the Fire Department.
The board will now come to order. Madam Clerk, please call the roll. Aldo Woman Sweisser. President. Alderman Odenberg. Alderman Cone. Alderman Lyan. Alderman Devoting. Alder Woman Velasquez. Here. Auto Woman Sonia. Auto Woman Cox Antoine. Alderman Browning. Alder Woman Clark Hubbard. Alder Woman Keys. Alder Woman Thais. Alder Woman Boyd. Present. Alderman Aldridge. And so I was President Green. Present. Alderman Cone. Alder Woman Keys. Audow Woman Ties. We have 12 present. Accorde being present, we'll be led in an opening reflection by public health nurse for the St. Louis Health Department, Kim Spain for Civic Cervical Health Awareness Month. Good morning. My name is Kim Spain. I'm a registered nurse. I serve as public health nurse and regional program coordinator for the Show Me Healthy Women Program with the City of St. Louis Department of Health. I'd like to begin by thanking the City of St. Louis Board of Aldermen and Women for the invitation and the opportunity to speak today about an issue that directly affects the health of the women across our city. January is cervical cancer awareness month, an important time to focus on prevention, early detection, and support for girls and women in St. Louis. Regular screening and vaccinations make cervical cancer one of the most preventable cancers. Awareness is the first step in protecting cervical health. Most cervical cancers are caused by the human papillom papilloma virus or HPV, which is very common. Regular screenings, such as PAP test and HBV tests, detect changes early, often before cancer develops. Preventative care gives women the best chance to stay healthy, and we want every woman to know the importance of keeping up with the recommended screenings. Protecting cervical health isn't just for women today. Helps protect children from certain cancers later in life. Although vaccinations can be started as early as age nine. Here in St. Louis, certain zip codes, including 63102, 63103, 63106, 63107, 63108, 6311, 63116, and 63118. These challenges can include limited nearby health care options, transportation barriers, lack of insurance, difficulty taking off work. Recognizing these disparities allows us to focus on resources and outreach efforts where they're where they are needed most. For women who face barriers to care, there is a local resource called Show Me Healthy Women. This program is offered in the city of St.