OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

St. Louis Board of Aldermen Meeting - February 13, 2026: Data Center Pause Defeated, Multiple Bills Introduced and Perfected

Board of Aldermen — Friday, February 13, 2026
BodySt Louis, Missouri
SessionBoard of Aldermen
DateFriday, February 13, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:44:33

Transcript — Verbatim
0:18

The board will now come to order.

0:20

Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

0:23

Alder Woman Schweitzer.

0:26

Alderman Oldenburg.

0:28

Alderman Cohn.

0:30

Present.

0:31

Alderman Narayan.

0:33

Alderman Devote.

0:35

Here.

0:37

Alder Woman Velasquez.

0:39

Alder Woman Sonny.

0:42

Alder Woman Cox Antweed.

0:45

Alderman Browning.

0:47

Alder Woman Clark Hubbard.

0:50

Alder Woman Keys.

0:52

Alder Woman Tyus.

0:54

Present.

0:56

Alder Woman Boyd.

0:58

Here.

1:00

Alderman Aldrick.

1:02

President Green.

1:04

Present.

1:05

Alder Woman Velasquez.

1:08

14 present.

1:09

According to being present, we will be led in an opening reflection prayer by Alonzo Townsend, the son of American Blues singer, guitarist, and pianist Henry Townsend.

1:27

Good morning.

1:29

This morning's reflection is about St.

1:32

Louis's most best and natural resource.

1:35

It's music.

1:37

Our heritage stands taller and wider than almost any music city in the country.

1:42

Chicago, Nashville, Austin, New Orleans.

1:46

The only difference that we have from those cities is that their music scene, their artists are infrastructured into their city, into their tourism, into their way of life.

1:55

We have an obligation to make sure that our most natural, almost greatest resource that we have is not only infrastructured, not only rooted, but also lifted for the future of our community, for the future of our artists, so they can feel that they can not only live and thrive here, but also that our beacon shines just as bright as all those other Cs I named.

2:16

This past week, Tina Turner's kit was introduced by St.

2:21

Louis City XC.

2:22

Why is this important?

2:23

Because it reflects exactly what I'm speaking of.

2:47

I ask you all to consider to think about making sure that this city's most deepest treasure, our music, our musicians, our artists are lifted or being the actual flag that we wave when it comes to St.

3:03

Louis.

3:17

How important they really are to their community, and how important they really are to the infrastructure of St.

3:23

Louis.

3:23

Thank you so much for allowing me to have some of your time.

3:26

God bless.

3:41

Thank you, Madam President, members of the board.

3:58

And it's full of celebration and peace, right?

4:02

Um, that you deserve the most.

4:24

I'm sorry, Heat Up St.

4:26

Louis does here the way they the way that they only can in utility assistance.

4:31

So thank you to Allen.

4:32

Thank you, especially to the owner of the Hardy on Hampton, who let me borrow his apron this morning.

4:42

The woman from the 11th.

5:00

Uh Brian Watson with the laborers union.

5:03

And I want to take this opportunity to publicly thank him and the union who came to the 11th ward and with chainsaws and every tool that they could bring, they came along with me to cut down tree debris in the elevated 11th ward.

5:27

And our ward looks so much better, gentlemen, because of you.

5:31

Thank you.

5:32

Thank you.

5:32

Thank you.

5:37

Additionally, I thought I saw Fred Searcy with the plumbers union up there.

5:43

There he is.

5:43

He's sitting down.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural████████████████████████████28%
Legislative Process█████████████13%
Parks and Recreation████████████12%
Public Engagement███████7%
Transportation Safety██████6%
Public Health█████5%
Technology and Innovation████4%
Community Development████4%
Environmental Protection████4%
Summary of Proceedings

St. Louis Board of Aldermen Meeting - February 13, 2026

The St. Louis Board of Aldermen met on Friday, February 13, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. in the Board of Aldermen Chambers. The meeting included an opening reflection on the city's music heritage, approval of appointments, introduction of several bills (including a failed attempt to pause data center approvals), perfection of multiple ordinances, adoption of resolutions honoring community figures, and announcements about Mardi Gras and tornado recovery. The board adjourned until February 20, 2026.

Opening Reflection

  • Alonzo Townsend, son of blues musician Henry Townsend, delivered a reflection on St. Louis's music heritage, urging investment in the local music scene to match cities like Nashville and Austin. He also noted that a Tina Turner kit was introduced by St. Louis City SC.

Consent Calendar (Routine Approvals)

  • Approval of minutes from February 6, 2026, was moved by Alderwoman from the 10th, seconded by Alderwoman from the 11th, and passed by voice vote.
  • Appointments to the South Grand Community Improvement District: Bobby Lessantine, Brian Roche, and Matt Gio were appointed by Mayor Spencer. The motion was moved by Alderwoman from the 7th, seconded by Alderwoman from the 10th, and passed unanimously.
  • Appointments to the Locust Central Special Business District: Reappointments of Karen Drake, Jennifer Prushner, Michael Berkerman, and Dr. Byron Duval, and appointments of Courtney Mueller and Robert Malty were approved. Motion moved by Alderman from the 14th, seconded by Alderwoman from the 11th, and passed.

Suspension of Rules – Introduction of Board Bills

  • Board Bill 170 (Alderman Narayan): Establishes a two-way stop sign near a school at Forest Avenue and Glades Avenue. Suspension passed 14-1.
  • Board Bill 171 (Alderwoman Sanye): Raises the minor purchase order limit from $500 to $2,500 for city departments. Supported by mayor, supply commissioner, board president, comptroller, and director of operations. Suspension passed.
  • Board Bill 172 (Alderman from the 9th): Would impose a pause on processing new data center applications until regulations are established. Alderman stated the pause would not affect current applications. Suspension failed 7-8.
  • Board Bill 173 (Alderman from the 14th): Directs installation of speed humps in the 14th ward. Suspension passed 13-2.
  • Board Bill 174 (Alderwoman Sanye): Appropriates $2.5 million from RAM settlement interest to support community development corporations (CDCs) facing financial crisis after the tornado and federal cuts. Alderwoman Sanye emphasized urgency, noting some CDCs may close by May. Suspension passed 11-4.

First Reading of Board Bills

  • Board Bills 148–174 were read into the record, covering topics including opioid settlement funds, honorary street names, speed humps, public nuisance review board, mobile food vendor operations, impact assessments, TIF plans, forestry regulations, tornado recovery funds, clean energy board, stormwater grants, water infrastructure, CDC definition, and tax abatement. Co-sponsors were added for several bills.

Second Reading and Committee Reports

  • Several bills were reported out of committees with do-pass recommendations, including Board Bill 25 (car rental operations at Lambert Airport), Board Bill 128 (Kingsbury Place CID), Board Bill 7 (Central West End South SBD), Board Bill 54 (charter amendment for special elections), Board Bill 137 (charter modernization), Board Bill 98 (parking revenue bonds), and multiple speed hump bills (81, 135, 139–144) and public safety bills (145, 146).

Perfection Consent Calendar

  • Board Bills 121, 123, 129 were adopted as a consent calendar by voice vote, after Board Bills 122, 134 were removed by request, and 133 was moved to the regular perfection calendar.

Perfection of Board Bills (Individual Votes)

  • Board Bill 126 (Short-term rental tax): Alderman from the 4th clarified the bill only imposes a 3% hotel tax on short-term rentals as approved by voters in 2004 (Prop S), separate from ongoing lawsuit over short-term rental regulations. Perfected by voice vote.
  • Board Bill 122 (TIF progress report): Alderwoman from the 12th requested a roll call, expressing opposition to TIFs. Perfected 13-1.
  • Board Bill 133 (FEMA crisis counseling): Alderman from the 14th requested a roll call, voting present. Alderwoman from the 12th (standing in for the sponsor) argued the $78,253.60 is needed for mental health services after the tornado. Perfected 13-1 (one present).
  • Board Bill 134 (Forestry regulations): Alderwoman from the 1st explained the bill clarifies abatement rules for occupied and non-occupied parcels. Several alders asked about reporting, salvage yard exemptions, health department authority, fine waiver discretion, and tax bills. Alderwoman from the 1st noted fine waivers are for correcting errors. The bill gained many co-sponsors and was perfected by voice vote.

Third Reading and Final Passage

  • Board Bills 99 and 130 were passed on the consent calendar by voice vote (roll call: 13 aye).

Resolutions

  • Resolution 239 (Board of Adjustments rules) referred to HUDs committee for hearing on February 24.
  • Resolution 240 (Supporting Bird City designation) referred to Health and Human Development committee.
  • Resolution 241 (Proposal to amend MUTCD for new street sign) referred to Public Infrastructure committee.
  • Resolution 242 (Naming pavilion in Loretta Hall Park after Ricardo "Ricky the Ruler" Dwanell Riley) adopted by voice vote.
  • Resolution 243 (Naming basketball court after Floyd Irons) adopted by voice vote.
  • Resolution 244 (Naming skating rink after former Alderwoman Tamika Hubbard) adopted after tributes to her work, including over $1.75 billion in development and projects like NGA, Webster School senior living, and Save A Lot.
  • Resolution 245 (Amending Board of Aldermen Rules) referred to Legislation and Rules committee.

Announcements & Adjournment

  • Alderwoman from the 10th announced Mardi Gras weekend events (Mayor's Ball at City Hall, parade on Saturday) and noted proceeds from the ball will go to tornado recovery.
  • Alderwoman from the 7th noted a well-attended town hall on tornado recovery at Golden Record and requested a moment of silence for Sam, a murder victim in Tower Grove East who was a skating coach and restaurant team member.
  • The board adjourned until Friday, February 20, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.

Meeting Transcript

The board will now come to order. Madam Clerk, please call the roll. Alder Woman Schweitzer. Alderman Oldenburg. Alderman Cohn. Present. Alderman Narayan. Alderman Devote. Here. Alder Woman Velasquez. Alder Woman Sonny. Alder Woman Cox Antweed. Alderman Browning. Alder Woman Clark Hubbard. Alder Woman Keys. Alder Woman Tyus. Present. Alder Woman Boyd. Here. Alderman Aldrick. President Green. Present. Alder Woman Velasquez. 14 present. According to being present, we will be led in an opening reflection prayer by Alonzo Townsend, the son of American Blues singer, guitarist, and pianist Henry Townsend. Good morning. This morning's reflection is about St. Louis's most best and natural resource. It's music. Our heritage stands taller and wider than almost any music city in the country. Chicago, Nashville, Austin, New Orleans. The only difference that we have from those cities is that their music scene, their artists are infrastructured into their city, into their tourism, into their way of life. We have an obligation to make sure that our most natural, almost greatest resource that we have is not only infrastructured, not only rooted, but also lifted for the future of our community, for the future of our artists, so they can feel that they can not only live and thrive here, but also that our beacon shines just as bright as all those other Cs I named. This past week, Tina Turner's kit was introduced by St. Louis City XC. Why is this important? Because it reflects exactly what I'm speaking of. I ask you all to consider to think about making sure that this city's most deepest treasure, our music, our musicians, our artists are lifted or being the actual flag that we wave when it comes to St. Louis. How important they really are to their community, and how important they really are to the infrastructure of St. Louis. Thank you so much for allowing me to have some of your time. God bless. Thank you, Madam President, members of the board. And it's full of celebration and peace, right? Um, that you deserve the most. I'm sorry, Heat Up St. Louis does here the way they the way that they only can in utility assistance. So thank you to Allen. Thank you, especially to the owner of the Hardy on Hampton, who let me borrow his apron this morning.

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