St. Louis Board of Aldermen Meeting - May 7, 2026
St. Louis Board of Aldermen Meeting - May 7, 2026
The St. Louis Board of Aldermen convened on May 7, 2026, with 10 members present, establishing a quorum. The meeting began with an opening reflection for ALS Awareness Month, followed by the introduction of resolutions, recognition of a retiring STL TV engineer, consideration of mayoral appointments, and perfection of a bill providing a one-time $1,000 lump sum payment to classified civil service employees.
Consent Calendar
- The courtesy resolution consent calendar was adopted unanimously.
- The meeting minutes from Friday, May 1, 2026, were approved by voice vote.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comments or testimony were heard during this meeting.
Discussion Items
- Opening Reflection: Sandra Marks, senior VP at Claiko Construction and ALS Association leadership committee member, spoke about ALS Awareness Month, honoring her late husband Cozy William Marks III and urging support for the ALS Association. She noted the ALS Walk in Forest Park on June 27 and the ALS Game on Gala in November.
- Resolution 14 – Honoring Kenneth Roberts: The board recognized Kenneth Roberts, video engineer at STL TV, on his retirement after 33 years of service. The resolution highlighted his role in advancing television technology, including a solo operational system for broadcasting committee meetings and a 2022 upgrade enabling virtual participation. Aldermen shared personal remarks, and the resolution was adopted by voice vote.
- Honored Guests: Alderwoman from the 11th Ward celebrated the opening of the second block of Veterans Tiny Homes on Aldyne Avenue and shared a personal birthday story about her childhood in Steele, Missouri, emphasizing oral tradition and family. Alderman from the 14th Ward introduced Ms. Leo, a 14th Ward resident volunteering in tornado recovery efforts.
- Mayoral Appointments and Referrals: Mayor Carrie Spencer submitted several appointments to various boards. Most were referred to appropriate committees (Public Safety, Health, Transportation and Commerce, Legislation) by voice vote; the appointment to the 2019 Grand Center Community Improvement District and Cherokee Street Community Improvement District were approved directly.
- Board Bill No. 9 – Civil Service Employee Compensation: This ordinance, introduced by Alderman Aldrich and co-sponsored by several aldermen, provides a one-time $1,000 lump sum payment to classified civil service employees using funds from the FY26 budget. A floor substitute was adopted to ensure alignment with existing ordinance language. Alderman from the 14th explained the bill is a fast-tracked appreciation bonus, with a separate 3% pay study bill expected from the FY27 budget. Alderwoman from the 12th raised concerns about part-time/per performance employees not being included, particularly in forestry, and noted the need for full-time positions. The board perfected the floor substitute with 12 ayes and 1 present.
- Announcements: Upcoming committee meetings were listed, including a public budget hearing on May 16 at Herbert Hoover Boys and Girls Club. Alderwoman from the 11th invited the board to a tornado commemorative event on May 23 and a family fishing derby on May 23 at Fairground Park. Alderman from the 14th wished the Alderwoman from the 11th a happy birthday and all mothers a happy Mother's Day.
Key Outcomes
- Resolution 14: Adopted to honor Kenneth Roberts for his 33 years of service at STL TV.
- Mayoral Appointments: The appointment of Dr. Mark Mullen to the Detention Facility Oversight Board was referred to the Public Safety Committee. The reappointment of Carl Wilson to the Senior Citizen Service Fund Board was referred to the Health Committee. The appointment of Stephanie Coran to the 2019 Grand Center Community Improvement District was approved. The reappointment of Janice Thomas to the Mental Health Board was referred to the Health Committee. The appointment of Margaret McDonald to the Airport Arts Advisory Committee was referred to the Transportation and Commerce Committee. The appointment of Jim Mao to the Clean Energy Development Board was referred to the Health Committee after initial motion withdrawal. The reappointment of K Vy Rosani to the Cherokee Street Community Improvement District was approved.
- Board Bill No. 9: Perfected (passed second reading) with a floor substitute by a vote of 12 ayes, 1 present (Alderwoman from the 12th). The bill will proceed to third reading and final passage.
- Necessary Absences: Alderwoman from the 5th and the President of the Board were excused for necessary absence.
- Adjournment: The meeting adjourned until Friday, May 15, 2026, at 10 a.m. in the Board of Aldermen Chambers.
Meeting Transcript
The board will now come to order. Madam Clerk, please call the roll. Alder Woman Schweitzer. President. Alderman Oldenberg. Alderman Fight. Acting President Cohn. Present. Alderman Narayan. Alderman Devoty. Alder Woman Velasquez. Alder Woman Sany. Alder Woman Cox and Twee. Alderman Browning. Alder Woman Clark Hubbard. Here. Alder Woman Keys. Alder Woman Tyus. Alder Woman Boyd. Alderman Aldric. President Green. Alderman Devotee. Alder Woman Velasquez. Alder Woman Keys. Alder Woman Tayus. 10 present. A quorum being present. We'll be led in an opening reflection by Sandra Marks with the ALS Association for ALS Awareness Month. Sandra. Thank you. Like I said, I'm Sandra Marks, and I'm a senior VP at Claiko Construction, but also I'm part of the leadership committee with the ALS Association. And I'm also very involved this year and last year as a chair of their annual gala. Uh May is May aware is ALS Awareness Month. And my husband, who many of you all may know or have heard of, Cozy William Marks III died last year after a five-year battle with ALS. And from the time Cozy was diagnosed until his death, the ALS Association was a major supporter from helping him with the care that he needed to the equipment that he had to have as disease progressed and certainly upon his death. Many also knew him from the things that he did in St. Louis. He was the chair of the Annie Malone Board of Directors for many years. He was the deacon of Antioch Baptist Church and very involved. And then he was the son of Cozy William Marks Jr., who's a renowned educator here in the St. Louis Public School District. So the ALS Association has been an important part of our family's life, and I want to make sure people are aware that this month, like every month, people continue to suffer from this. A very good friend of ours who I want to honor today, Bishop Calvin Scott passed recently from the same disease. So please consider getting involved if you aren't already. There's so many ways to be involved, too. June 27th is the ALS Walk in Forest Park. We're going to have a cozy's corner, and I hope to see many people there supporting these organizations that do so much. And then in November at the Chase Park Plaza, we'll have the ALS Game on Gala. So please look for more about it, and I really appreciate the opportunity to not only honor my husband, but to make people aware of how important this month is to so many. Thank you.
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