Housing, Urban Development & Zoning Committee Meeting 2025-10-29
Housing, Urban Development & Zoning Committee Meeting 2025-10-29
The Housing, Urban Development, and Zoning Committee convened with six members present to review and approve Board Bill 84, authorizing the 2026 Annual Action Plan for federal housing and community development funds. Director Noelle Pfeffer of the Community Development Administration (CDA) presented the $17.5 million allocation plan, highlighting increased support for food assistance amidst federal SNAP uncertainties and the city's ongoing recovery from the May 16th tornado. The committee deliberated on specific funding allocations and scoring methodologies before sustaining a recommendation for due passage via a 6-0 vote.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the minutes from the meeting held on Tuesday, October 14, 2025.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Alderman Browning requested clarification regarding why Legal Services of Eastern Missouri did not receive CDBG funds; the Director clarified that the organization did not submit an application, though potential funding via the vacant building fund was discussed. Alderman Browning expressed appreciation for the Director's efforts to find alternative funding sources.
- Alderman Aldridge expressed support as a co-sponsor for the bill.
- Alderman Browning expressed support as a co-sponsor for the bill.
Discussion Items
- 2026 Annual Action Plan Overview: Director Pfeffer outlined the funding landscape, noting a projected 5% reduction in CDBG allocation due to proposed federal cuts ($3.3 billion to $3.1 billion). She highlighted the CDA's deployment growth, rising from ~$20 million (2020-2022) to $58 million in 2024.
- Public Services Allocation: The committee discussed the constraint of allocating only 19% of CDBG funds to public services. Director Pfeffer explained the competitive scoring process, noting 31 awards were selected from 96 applications. She detailed specific funding for food assistance:
- Total funding for food access identified as $321,355.
- New awards included Operation Food Search for tornado recovery food assistance and Peter and Paul Community Services for the Ugen Shelter.
- Funding for Operation Brightside maintained at historic levels ($370,000), though they requested an additional $65,000 which was denied due to budget constraints.
- Alderman Sonier (muffled audio initially, then clarified) expressed full support for the increased focus on food access given anticipated state and federal cuts to SNAP benefits.
- Housing and Economic Development: Allocations included $3.5 million for homeowner assistance (repair and down payment), $3 million for housing production/rehabilitation, and support for small businesses via programs like TREX and Upwards Care.
- Eligibility Clarification: Director Pfeffer clarified that non-municipal programs must submit applications to qualify; Legal Services of Eastern Missouri was not funded this year because no application was received.
Key Outcomes
- Board Bill 84: Moved by Alderman Cohn, seconded by Alderman Swiester, and passed with a recommendation for do-pass.
- Roll Call Vote Result: The motion to pass Board Bill 84 with a due pass recommendation was sustained.
- Vote Tally: 6 Aye (Cohn, Weiser, Keys, Browning, Aldrich, Hubbard), 0 Nay.
- Public Comment Notification: The committee noted the 30-day public comment period ending November 12, 2025, with a public hearing scheduled for November 6, 2025.
- Adjournment: The committee adjourned with no further resolutions or written testimony.
Meeting Transcript
All right, good morning. We'll call today's housing, urban development, and zoning committee meetings order. Madam Clerk, please call the role. Ottawa and cohn. Ottawa Miss Weitzer. Vice Chair Sonyer. Other and Browning. Present. Alderman Aldrich. Vice Vice Chair Sonyer. President. Alderman Browning. Ottawa and Aldrich. Present. Chair Clark Hubbard. Here. Automants, Ottawa Ms. Weitzer. We have five present. We have a core. All right, with that, I'll accept a motion to approve the minutes from Tuesday, October 14, 2025. Second. Madam Clerk, it was moved by Alderman Browning and seconded by Alderman Aldridge. Can you please call the role? Altaman Cone. Ottawa Ms. Weitzer. Vice Chair Sonyer. Aye. Ottauman Browning. Aye. Altaman Aldridge? Aye. Chair Clark Hubbard? Aye. Alta Woman Sweiser. We have five I votes. All right, with that, we successfully approved the minutes from Tuesday 14th, uh, October 14th. I'm gonna pass it over to Alderman Cohn so that I can be recognized on board bill. Thank you, Otterman Cone. Madam Clerk, can you please read the summary for Board Bill 84? A board bill recommended by the Board of S apportionment authorizing the mayor to submit the 2026 annual action plan to the United States Department of Urban and Housing and Urban Development, authorizing and directing the mayor and the commandroller to enter into an execute agreements with HUD for the recipient of 2026 Community Development Block Grants, 2026 Home Investment Partnership, 2026 Emergency Solution Grant, and 2026 Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS funds appropriating C D C D B Gome S ESG and HOWPA grant funds authorizing the director of the community development administration, Department of Human Services, and Department of Health to make negotiate and execute contracts as may be necessary to expand funds and containing severality and emergency clauses. Thank you so much, Madam Clerk. We know that this is an annual action plan that we do every year here down at the City of St. Louis through CDA and hear it through our HUS committee, but I'm excited today to hear it even more because of the alignment that I know it's gonna have and the fierce urgency we have now as the city is going through recovery and rebuilding from the May 16th tornado. So seeing how we can pull from wherever we can to see hope of rebuilding, um, I think is what we are all committed to. So with that, I'm gonna bring up Director Pfeffer and his team for his presentation. Thank you very much, Madam Chair, and good morning, honorable committee members. My name is Noelle Pfeffer. I lead the city's community development administration.
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