Transportation and Commerce Committee Meeting - June 3, 2026
Transportation and Commerce Committee Meeting - June 3, 2026
Note: The transcript indicates the meeting was held on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, but the provided date for the meeting is June 3, 2026. This summary uses the provided date.
The Transportation and Commerce Committee met to approve previous meeting minutes and discuss Resolution 33, which authorizes a sales tax abatement on equipment for the Winland Foods expansion in the First Ward. The meeting included an amendment to require prevailing wage compliance, a presentation from the St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC), and public testimony. The committee did not vote on the resolution; it was continued to a special meeting on Friday, June 5, 2026.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes: The committee unanimously approved the minutes from the May 26, 2026 meeting by a roll call vote of 3 ayes.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Jerry Connolly (public comment): Raised concerns about transparency, noting that the Zoom link provided on the meeting notice did not work and he had to use an alternative link. He argued that the public did not have adequate notice to participate. He also criticized the lack of financial analysis presented at the Port Authority Board meeting on April 9, 2026, and the omission of state tax credits (Missouri Works program) from the discussion. He opposed the 10-year, 80% tax abatement, stating it was inequitable given the city's budget pressures and upcoming water rate increases. He suggested either tabling the resolution for better notice or reducing the abatement to 20%.
Discussion Items
- Resolution 33 – Winland Foods Tax Abatement: Sponsored by Alderwoman Schweitzer (First Ward), the resolution authorizes a sales tax abatement on equipment purchases for the expansion of Winland Foods' pasta manufacturing plant. The plant, which employs about 105 people, was previously facing closure but now plans to invest $38–39 million in equipment, create 25 new semi-skilled and skilled jobs, and produce new products (manicotti and jumbo shells). The expansion is expected to be operational by September 2026 (processing) and November 2026 (packaging).
- Amendment: Alderwoman Schweitzer introduced an amendment to add language requiring the project to meet prevailing wage ordinances (71094 and 71962). The amendment was adopted unanimously by voice vote.
- SLDC Presentation: Paul Weatherford presented the community benefits and financial analysis. The project scored 32 points on the community benefits scorecard, making it eligible for a 10-year, 80% personal property tax abatement. Points were awarded for job creation (25 quality jobs), capital investment ($46 million total), location in Economic Justice Index Area 4 and the Crandolette Patch employment district, proximity to a bus stop, and receipt of outside state funds. The net present value of the abatement was estimated at $2.4 million, about 5% of total project costs.
- Company Statement: Todd and Bob Chapin (plant manager) spoke on behalf of Winland Foods. They highlighted the company's history (spun off from TreeHouse Foods in 2022), the plant's near-closure 18–24 months ago, and the community support that enabled the expansion. Bob Chapin described the new products and the expected timeline.
- Committee Discussion: Alderman Narayan expressed concern about the public notice issue raised by Mr. Connolly and suggested rescheduling. Alderwoman Schweitzer agreed to postpone the vote to allow for proper notice, noting the importance of keeping the project on schedule for the next Port Authority meeting. Chairman Cohn proposed a special meeting on Friday, June 5, 2026, at 9:00 a.m., which was accepted by the committee.
Key Outcomes
- Minutes Approved: The minutes from May 26, 2026 were approved unanimously.
- Amendment Adopted: Amendment #1 to Resolution 33, adding prevailing wage requirements, was adopted unanimously.
- Resolution Continued: No vote on Resolution 33 as amended. The committee will reconvene on Friday, June 5, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. to continue discussion and possibly vote.
- Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned following a motion and second.
Meeting Transcript
Good morning, everyone. It is Tuesday, June 2nd at 1005 a.m. The Transportation and Commerce Committee will now come to order. Madam Clerk, please call the roll. Alderman Oldermore. Alderman Ryan. Here. Alderwoman Schweitzer. Present. Alder Woman Coxantui. Chair Cone. Present. Alderman Oldenberg. Alder Woman Cox Antoine. Three present. Yeah, cool. Thank you, Madam Clerk. And the first item on our agenda is the approval of the meeting minutes from Tuesday, May 26th, 2026. Is there a motion to approve our meeting minutes? I move that we approve the May 26 minutes. Second. It's been moved by the Alderman from the fourth, seconded by the Alderwoman from the first that we approve our meeting minutes from Tuesday, May 26, 2026. Madam Clerk, please call the roll. Alderman Oldenberg. Alderman Lyan. Iderwoman Schweitzer. Aye. Alder Woman Cox Antwerp Chair Cole. Aye. Alderman Oldenberg. Alder Woman Cox and Twee. Three I votes. By your vote, you have sustained the motion of the Alderman from the fourth to approve our meeting minutes from Tuesday, May 26th. The uh only item that we have on our agenda for this morning is a resolution uh that is sponsored by the Alderwoman from the first, resolution number 33. So I will turn it over to Alderwoman Schweitzer. Thank you so much. Uh thank you so much, Mr. Chairman, and uh thank you to the members of the committee for hearing this resolution. Uh resolution 33 is on behalf of a project happening with Winland Foods, which is in my ward. They are doing a very exciting expansion to uh their plant uh and making um even more products available uh from the first ward made right here in St. Louis. Uh so they are here to talk a little bit about the project and SLDC is here to talk about um the abatement that is on the um purchase of different equipment that they need to do this expansion of the sales tax. Uh so SLEC can talk a little bit about that and uh this moves through the port authority mostly. Uh the part that we have an involvement with with the Board of Aldermen is doing a resolution uh which we're doing here, which is why it's a little different than the traditional board bill you might see for an abatement. Um, you know, with that all said, um, I do want to to pass it over to our speakers, but because I have one uh small amendment to the resolution, I'd like to do that up front so that we're talking about the resolution in its entirety before they speak. Um, if that's all right, Chairman. I am fine with that. Please proceed, Alder Woman. Thank you. So um this amendment is uh aware as clause, um, amendment number one, uh, that uh basically just states that the project does need to meet the requirements of ordinances 71094 and 71962, which regard to prevailing wage on projects.
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