St. Louis Board of Aldermen Formal Session Summary – March 20, 2026

The St. Louis Board of Aldermen convened on March 20, 2026, for a formal session. The agenda included extensive debate and voting on major legislative items such as a Nuisance Review Board, a moratorium on non-municipal detention facilities, a controversial smoking exemption for the convention center, and the streamlining of mobile food vendor regulations. Several mayoral appointments and routine consent items were also processed.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes Approved: The minutes from the March 13, 2026 session were approved by voice vote.
• Mayor's Appointments: Nick Hartzler was reappointed to the High Hill Special Business District. Marlin Codwell and Christy Griffin were appointed to the Detention Facility Oversight Board. All appointments were confirmed by voice vote.
• Third Reading & Final Passage (Consent): Board Bills 119 and 155 were finally passed by a vote of 14-0.

Discussion Items

• Nuisance Review Board (Board Bill 151): Sponsored by Alderman Aldrich (14th Ward). The bill proposed a new seven-person panel to hold public hearings on nuisance properties, initiated by a community petition process requiring signatures from a 350-foot radius.

  • Alderwoman Tyus (12th Ward) gave a lengthy and impassioned speech in opposition, arguing the core problem is that city departments fail to use existing powers. She cited a 13-year fight to close Sam's Package Liquor in her ward and statistics showing only five nuisance properties were closed in North St. Louis in five years. She argued the petition process places complainants at risk and is fundamentally flawed. She voted against the bill.
  • Alderman from the 5th expressed concerns that the bill creates a "third wheel" without requiring mandatory action ("may" vs "shall"), lacks a fiscal note for staffing, and doesn't address the accountability gap in existing nuisance law.
  • Outcome: The bill was perfected by a vote of 10-5.

• Moratorium on Non-Municipal Detention Facilities (Board Bill 138): Sponsored by Alderwoman Sanye (7th Ward). The bill enacts a moratorium until January 31, 2031, on permits for private detention facilities.

  • Alderwoman Sanye (Sponsor) argued it is a proactive measure to prevent facilities targeting unhoused or immigrant populations, leveraging the city's constitutional land-use authority.
  • Alderman from the 5th questioned the necessity, noting no specific facility is currently proposed. He warned the bill might "feed concerns" without concrete evidence.
  • Alderwoman Tyus (12th Ward) strongly opposed, calling it a "liberal progressive agenda" with no factual basis in St. Louis. She compared it to the "Close the Workhouse" movement, which she criticized as costly and uninformed.
  • Outcome: The bill was perfected by a vote of 12-3.

• Smoking Ban Exemption for Convention Center (Board Bill 167): Sponsored by Alderman Aldrich. The bill creates a time-limited exemption to the city's Clean Air Act to allow smoking at a specialized triennial convention (e.g., a cigar trade show).

  • Alderman Aldrich (Sponsor) stated the bill allows the convention center to compete for a major convention in 2030. Workers can opt out of designated smoking areas.
  • Alderman from the 9th opposed, highlighting a lack of definition for "convention facility," citing a Washington University study on the ineffectiveness of ventilation against secondhand smoke, and arguing the bill sets back 35 years of public health progress.
  • Alderwoman Tyus (12th Ward) strongly opposed, calling it "poorly written legislation" that invites legal challenges and undermines public health advancements.
  • Alderwoman from the 8th supported the measure, describing it as a very specific, infrequent opportunity with economic benefits and worker protections.
  • Outcome: The bill was finally passed by a vote of 8-6-1.

• Board of Adjustment Appointments: Mayor Spencer nominated Annie Grice, James Dallas, and Carmelo Desimon.

  • Alderwoman Tyus (12th Ward) and Alderwoman from the 11th voted no, arguing the city has a 20+ year pattern of excluding appointees who live north of Page Avenue, which disenfranchises North St. Louis in key land-use decisions.
  • Alderman Aldrich (14th Ward) defended the nominations, noting one new member lives north of Page.
  • Outcome: Appointments confirmed by a vote of 12-3.

• Streamlining Mobile Food Vendors (Board Bill 152): Sponsored by Alderman Aldrich. The bill passed easily with broad support. It creates designated vending districts, extends operating hours to 1 am, and establishes a QR code/decals system for compliance.

Key Outcomes

• Perfection of Board Bills:
  • BB 151 (Nuisance Review Board) perfected (10-5).
  • BB 138 (Detention Moratorium) perfected (12-3).
  • BB 169 (Hotel Tax Abatement) perfected (14-1).
  • BB 113, BB 152, and BB 166 perfected (voice votes).
• Final Passage:
  • BB 167 (Convention Smoking) finally passed (8-6-1).
  • BB 66 (Impact Assessment Criteria) finally passed (13-2).
• Appointments: Mayor Spencer's Board of Adjustment appointments were confirmed (12-3).
• Resolutions Adopted:
  • Res 197: Supporting urgent "quick build" safety improvements along Gravois Avenue.
  • Res 266: Opposing Missouri Senate Bill 1586, which would dissolve local solid waste districts.
• Deferral: BB 165 (Prepayment standards) was moved to the informal calendar by the sponsor for further discussion.