Housing, Urban Development, and Zoning Committee Meeting - February 18, 2026

The Housing, Urban Development, and Zoning Committee met on February 18, 2026, with Chair Clark Hubbard presiding and six members present, establishing a quorum. The committee considered six board bills: three involving real estate and cooperation agreements, two allocating ARPA funds to the water division, and one tornado relief measure. Votes were taken on four bills.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes Approval: The committee unanimously approved the minutes from the Tuesday, February 10, 2026 meeting. Motion by Alderman Aldridge, seconded by Alderman Browning. Vote: 6-0 (six ayes).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Board Bill 131: Dr. Heather Sweeney, Executive Director of the Gateway Foundation, spoke in support of converting a former restaurant space in City Garden into a visitor center with concessions and gallery space. She emphasized community hub and arts programming goals.
• Board Bill 132: Kevin Trapp, Chief Bridge Engineer for the Board of Public Service, testified that the city owns a 2,000-foot section of the MacArthur Bridge on the Illinois side that is a liability. He stated that East St. Louis Mayor Powell requested ownership to demolish it and develop housing. He estimated demolition cost at $3 million, which the city would avoid by vacating.
• Board Bill 160: No public speakers signed up.
• Board Bill 161: No public speakers signed up.
• Board Bill 157: No public speakers signed up.
• Board Bill 158: No public speakers signed up.

Discussion Items

• Board Bill 131 – City Garden Visitor Center: Alderwoman Sweitzer presented a cooperation agreement amendment allowing the Gateway Foundation to convert a vacant restaurant space into a visitor center with concessions, gallery space, and community exhibits. Several aldermen expressed support, noting the space's history of restaurant turnover and the need for activation downtown. Vice Chair Sonier highlighted alignment with upcoming Brickline transit connection.
• Board Bill 132 – MacArthur Bridge Vacation: Alderwoman Sweitzer explained the bill vacates a portion of the MacArthur Bridge on the Illinois side, selling it to East St. Louis for $1. Alderman Cohen questioned past precedent for donating bridges and expressed concern about East St. Louis's ability to afford demolition. Alderman Browning noted the city would save $3 million in demolition costs. Director Rich Bradley of BPS confirmed an agreement between Mayor Jones and Mayor Powell. The bridge is barricaded, a safety hazard, and serves no municipal purpose.
• Board Bill 160 – Water Infrastructure ARPA Interest: Alderwoman Sweitzer introduced a $1.2 million allocation of ARPA interest funds for water main replacement. Director Nirj Patel of Public Utilities detailed 64 critical water main projects (average $500,000 each) and a total capital need of $700 million. The bill would fund 2–3 projects, including mains on Weber Road, Kia Cook, and Semple Avenue. Vice Chair Sonier and others discussed the need for rate increases, bonding, and state revolving funds to address long-term needs. Alderman Aldridge requested a holistic update on ARPA funds.
• Board Bill 161 – ARPA Reallocation to Water Division: Alderwoman Sweitzer presented a $6,866,460.48 reallocation of unspent ARPA funds to the water division as revenue replacement for 2024 expenses. Caitlin Smith from the mayor's office explained the mechanism. Nancy Walsh from the city counselor's office confirmed Treasury guidelines allow reallocation. Alderman Aldridge questioned specific line items, including $10,000 from the impacted tenants fund and $2 million from CDA projects. No vote was taken; the bill will be discussed further on February 24, 2026.
• Board Bill 158 – Clean Energy Development Board Cleanup: Chair Clark Hubbard presented a bill to reinstate the St. Louis City PACE program by removing six words that inadvertently repealed the authorizing ordinance. No questions were raised. Alderman Aldridge noted this demonstrates how legislation is refined in committee. The bill was advanced for a rule suspension to expedite.
• Board Bill 157 – Tornado Home Repair ARPA Interest: Chair Clark Hubbard presented a $3.8 million allocation of ARPA interest for direct home repair in the May 2026 tornado zone, with a small portion for Legal Services of Eastern Missouri for title clearing. Director Julia Nix of the STR Recovery Office reported over 3,200 applications for private property assistance, with home repair needs exceeding $150 million. The bill was amended to streamline distribution via emergency contracts. Vice Chair Sonier and Alderman Aldridge raised concerns about funding sustainability, noting the office may exhaust home repair funds by April 2026. Director Nix confirmed a $100+ million gap and that the city is in conversations with MHDC for state funds.

Key Outcomes

• Board Bill 131: Moved to pass with a do pass recommendation by Vice Chair Sonier, seconded by Alderwoman Sweitzer. Vote: 7-0 (seven ayes).
• Board Bill 132: Moved to pass with a do pass recommendation by Vice Chair Sonier, seconded by Alderman Cohen. Vote: 7-0.
• Board Bill 160: Moved to pass with a do pass recommendation by Alderman Aldridge, seconded by Vice Chair Sonier. Vote: 7-0.
• Board Bill 161: Held for further discussion; no vote taken. Scheduled for February 24, 2026 committee meeting.
• Board Bill 158: Moved to pass with a do pass recommendation by Alderman Browning, seconded by Vice Chair Sonier. Vote: 7-0. Chair Clark Hubbard indicated plans to suspend the rules for final passage.
• Board Bill 157 (as amended): Moved to pass by Chair Clark Hubbard, seconded by Alderman Aldridge. Vote: 7-0. The amended bill includes streamlined distribution for home repair and title clearing.