Transportation and Commerce Committee Meeting – March 5, 2026: Board Bill 167 on Convention Center Cigar Exemption
Transportation and Commerce Committee Meeting – March 5, 2026
The Transportation and Commerce Committee of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen met on March 5, 2026, to consider Board Bill 167, which would create a limited exemption from the city's Clean Air Act for the convention center to host a specific cigar convention. The meeting included approval of prior minutes, testimony from city officials and a local business owner, and a committee vote on the bill.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes: The committee unanimously approved the minutes from the meeting of Tuesday, February 10, 2026. (Motion by Alderman from the 4th Ward, seconded by Alderwoman from the 1st Ward; vote: 4-0 in favor.)
Public Comments & Testimony
- Brad Dean, President and CEO of Explore St. Louis: Expressed full support for the bill, emphasizing the economic impact (2,000+ jobs sustained, significant direct spending and tax revenue) and stating that no employee would be required to work the event – it would be opt-in/opt-out. He noted the facility can manage the event with proper filtration.
- Brian Atchison, Chief Sales Officer, Explore St. Louis: Described the Premium Cigar Association trade show, which currently rotates between New Orleans and Las Vegas, and estimated $8 million in direct spending, $550,000 in tax benefits, and $12.5 million overall economic impact. He stated the convention would bring 5,000 attendees and support 1,500–2,000 hotel rooms.
- Brent Buchanan, Director of Facilities, Convention Center: Explained the building's zoned HVAC system, use of charcoal air filters, positive/negative pressure, and MERV 14 filters to contain and remove smoke. He stated the facility could be fully turned over for another event within a day or two.
- Patrick Stanley, Owner of Stanley Cigar Bar: Spoke in favor of the convention, describing his personal experience attending similar events and the hospitality of the cigar community. He highlighted the 150-year history of his business and the potential for unifying the city with the cigar industry.
- Written Comments: Three written comments were received in support of the bill (noted by the committee after the vote).
Discussion Items
- Board Bill 167 (Sponsored by Alderman Aldridge, Co-Sponsored by Alderwoman Cox Antwee): The bill would amend Ordinance 68481 to exempt the convention center from the Clean Air Act for a limited, one-time private event or trade show. The sponsor stated the exemption is intended to allow St. Louis to compete for and host the Premium Cigar Association trade show, which would bring $4.2 million in economic impact (per the sponsor) and $264,000 in local tax revenue (per the sponsor). Other witnesses cited higher figures. The bill includes worker protection language (page 4, line 3) allowing employees to opt out of working the event.
- Committee Concerns: Chair Cone, the only member voting no, voiced strong concerns about the public health implications of weakening the Clean Air Act, referencing the lengthy debate when the act was passed in 2010 and his mother's death from lung cancer. He warned of a slippery slope that could lead to further exemptions. Alderman Ryan asked about employee opt-in/opt-out and whether the event could become recurring (targeted every 3–5 years). Alderwoman Schweitzer and Cox Antwee expressed support after hearing about the filtration system and economic benefits.
Key Outcomes
- Vote on Board Bill 167: The committee voted 4-1 to pass the bill out of committee with a "do pass" recommendation. (Motion by Alderwoman from the 8th Ward, seconded by Alderman from the 4th Ward; Chair Cone voted no; all others present voted yes.)
- Next Steps: The bill will proceed to the full Board of Aldermen for consideration. If enacted, it would allow the convention center to host the Premium Cigar Association trade show, likely in 2030 or later.
Meeting Transcript
The transportation and commerce committee meeting will come to order. Madam Kirk, please call the role. Alderman Ryan. Here. Alder Woman Swip, sir. Alder Woman Cox and Twee. Chair Cone. Present. Auto Woman Cox and Tweet. For present. We have quorum. Thank you, Madam Clerk. First item on the agenda is the approval of our meeting minutes from Tuesday, February 10th. I'll entertain a motion. Thank you here, Mike's. Move that we approve the minutes of Tuesday, February 10th, 2026. Second. It's been moved by the Alderman from the fourth, seconded by the Alder Woman from the first, that we approve our meeting minutes from February 10th, 2026. Madam Clerk, please call the roll. Altman Oldenburg. All right. Alderman Ryan. Alder Woman Switzer. I Auto Woman Cox and Twee. Chair Comb. Alder Woman Cox and Tweet. Four I votes. Thank you. With that, you have sustained the motion from the Alderman from the fourth to approve our meeting minutes. We have one item on the agenda for today, which is Board Bill 167, sponsored by Alderman Aldridge. Alderman. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Madam Clerk, could you read the summary of Board Bill 167? Board bill number 167 introduced by Alderman Rashim Aldrick and Jamie Cox Antwey. An ordinance amending ordinance number 68481 to create a limited exemption for convention facilities within the city of St. Louis for certain private events or trade shows. The exemption applies only under specified circumstances, and it's intended to allow flexibility for convention related activities while maintaining the overall purpose and enforceability of existing regulations, including a cerebrality clause. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Thank you, members of the Transportation and Commerce Committee for hearing Board Bill 167. So Board Bill 167 is a board bill I'm uh really excited about. Um and it would amend the Clean Air Act, uh just one section of it where there's an exemption for the convention center. Uh most of the language on Board Bill 167 is again coming from ordinance 68481. Majority of the changes that we are mainly changing in this ordinance is on page two and continues on page three, starting in the middle at uh line eight, where it talks about a can the convention center as defined in this ordinance. And what we're doing is in the previous ordinance, it had the a convention center not allowed uh to be able to uh be able to partake in smoking as very also as various other locations. And what we're asking and attempting to do uh with this is to exempt out the convention center. So a really cool um opportunity at least came to my front desk uh a few weeks ago, or about honestly about a few months ago now. Apparently, this is been something that kind of has been in the works for a while, but we couldn't get it there. But uh an opportunity to bring and a convention to uh the convention center uh that I think would be something that St. Louis would uh really benefit from.
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