Public Meetings - St Louis, Missouri

The St. Louis Board of Aldermen convened on October 30, 2026, with President Green presiding. The meeting featured an opening reflection from Stray Rescue for Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, the adoption of resolutions honoring community leaders, and extensive debate on the future of the North-South transit tax. Consent Calendar - Minutes from October 23, 2026 were approved. - Resolution 165 was adopted honoring Judge Newton J. McCoy for his decades of service to the municipal courts. - Resolution 168 was adopted honoring Harris-Stowe State University, Sandra K. Kelly, Three Daughters and a Thousand Sons, and the Clean Slate Initiative for their expungement clinic. - Board Bills 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 directing speed humps in the 13th Ward were adopted. - Board Bill 79 directing speed humps in the 9th Ward was adopted. - Board Bill 91 establishing the Cold Weather Emergency Response Program (Code Blue Fund), funded by the city's 3% sales tax on adult-use marijuana, was adopted. - Board Bill 94 appropriating funds from national opiate settlement agreements was adopted. - Board Bills 47, 57, and 82 received final passage on the consent calendar. Public Comments & Testimony - Sandra K. Kelly, Founder of Three Daughters and a Thousand Sons, testified with community partners. She spoke about the importance of record expungement for returning citizens, framing it as a community effort to restore opportunity. Alderwomen celebrating the work noted over 1,000 records have been cleared. - Judge Newton J. McCoy gave retiring remarks, thanking staff and emphasizing the need to treat everyone with respect. - Honored Guests included Major Brittany Wells (U.S. Army), SLU policy pod students, and Sterling Samuel Miller. Discussion Items - Board Bill 59 Committee Substitute (Transit Tax Restructuring): The central debate was over a bill to let voters decide whether to redirect a half-cent sales tax (collected since 2017 for a North-South light rail line) to also allow Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). - Supporters (Aldermen from the 14th, 5th, 1st, 7th, and 13th Wards) argued the $1.1 billion light rail project is not feasible, while the 11.5-mile BRT line ($360-$590 million) connects more neighborhoods and puts the decision in voters' hands. - Opponents (Alderwoman from the 12th Ward) delivered a detailed history of broken promises to North St. Louis for rail transit, calling the current proposal a "cheat" and "fraud." She requested a roll call to vote no. - Outcome and Discrepancy: The bill was perfected. The clerk's tally recorded the vote as 13 in favor, 1 opposed (Alderwoman Keys). A discrepancy exists as Alderwoman Marlin (12th Ward) explicitly requested the roll call to register her dissenting vote, which was not reflected in the final count. - Introduction of Board Bills: BB 106 (Housing Act), BB 107 (ARPA funds), and BB 108 (Dickman Park) were introduced and referred to the HUDS Committee. Key Outcomes - BB 59 was perfected and heads to third reading and the April 2027 ballot. - Resolutions 165 and 168 were officially adopted. - Next Meeting: The board adjourned until Friday, November 6, 2026, at 10:00 AM.

The Health and Human Development Committee of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen convened on October 30, 2026, primarily to discuss and take public testimony on Board Bill 91 (Committee Substitute). The bill, sponsored by Alderwoman Sonier (Ward 7), seeks to codify the city's Code Blue emergency cold weather protocol into law and establish a dedicated funding source through the existing 3% marijuana sales tax. After hearing from over 20 members of the public, nearly all in support, the committee voted to advance the bill to the full Board of Aldermen. Consent Calendar - The committee unanimously approved the minutes from the October 22, 2026, committee hearing. Discussion Items Alderwoman Sonier presented the committee substitute for Board Bill 91, highlighting several key changes and features: - Timeframe: The mandatory activation period is December 1 to March 1, with an optional period from November 1 to March 31 to provide flexibility for inconsistent climate conditions. - Temperature Threshold: Activation is triggered when temperatures fall to 32 degrees Fahrenheit or below for two consecutive hours overnight. - Operational Flexibility: The activation window was changed from a fixed 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. timeframe to a flexible "six hours" to allow operations to begin early in the morning if needed. - Funding: The bill creates a non-lapsing Code Blue fund financed by the existing voter-approved 3% marijuana sales tax, capped at $5 million annually. Any surplus tax revenue beyond $5 million would revert to the city's general revenue. Administrative costs for the fund are capped at 7.5%. - Shelter Requirements: At least one trained staff person must be on site. Shelters receiving funding must be low-barrier. At least one overnight shelter must be pet-friendly. Specialized shelters (serving only women, families, or domestic violence survivors) may set their own low-barrier protocols. - Scope: The fund can also be activated for extreme heat events and natural disasters (e.g., the 2025 tornado). - Context: Alderwoman Sonier noted that the unhoused population had more than tripled following the May 2025 tornado. She referenced 129 cold-related deaths over the past four years, which were reduced to four last winter under the temporary executive order. Public Comments & Testimony The committee heard extensive public testimony, almost entirely in strong support of the bill. Speakers included state representatives, service providers, outreach volunteers, legal advocates, disaster case managers, social work and medical students, and community advocates. Key themes and positions included: - Life-Saving Impact: Multiple speakers stressed the bill is a matter of life and death. State Representative Kimberly Ann Collins (12th Ward) cited frostbite amputations and voiced strong support. Outreach volunteer KB Dillman (7th Ward, Tent Mission) noted last winter was the first in nine years she did not have to tell someone no bed was available. - Operational and Funding Stability: Several speakers, including Annie Rice (ArchCity Defenders) and Meredith Schatz (WashU), emphasized the need for a permanent funding source (the marijuana tax) over temporary solutions like RAM settlement funds to allow providers to plan ahead by issuing RFPs earlier. - Post-Tornado Vulnerability: Dallas Adams (3rd Ward) and Jacqueline Friedham (10th Ward) highlighted the acute housing crisis. Adams noted 391 people in the RAM-funded rental assistance program face homelessness when their aid ends between December and April, representing a potential 18% increase in the unhoused population. Friedham stated only about 40 of over 2,000 tornado repair applications had been completed. - Data and Statistics: Margot Chelser cited 129 recorded deaths from cold exposure in St. Louis over the last four years. Emily Fan (WashU) noted ER visits for unhoused individuals cost the city $1,500 to $3,700 per visit. Elise Schaeffer (MCE) noted St. Louis City represents over a third of heat deaths in Missouri despite being only 5% of the state's population. - Call for Broader Action: While strongly supporting the bill as a crucial first step, speakers like Mitchell Geg (4th Ward), Karen Yang (7th Ward), and Lauren Phila (Maplewood) called for future expansions such as a formal "Code Orange" extreme heat protocol, 24/7 walk-up shelters, Housing First policies, shelter in every neighborhood, and activation at higher temperatures (e.g., 40°F). - Concerns: Chris Wilcox (14th Ward) expressed that police should have no involvement in the program due to recent camp sweeps. Judith Alvey (9th Ward) questioned whether funds would be used wisely, and Kim Jane criticized slow city reimbursement policies for small organizations. Key Outcomes - The committee voted unanimously to adopt the committee substitute for Board Bill 91. - The committee voted to pass Board Bill 91 out of committee with a 'do pass' recommendation. (The roll call for the final advancement motion reflects a tally of four 'aye' votes, though the transcript notes five members being called and responding 'aye'). - Absent committee members were excused. The meeting was adjourned.

The Board of Aldermen convened on October 23, 2026 at 5:00 AM (UTC) with 12 members present. The meeting featured a courtesy resolution calendar, including a resolution honoring retiring Planning Director Don Rowe, guest introductions, and several board bill readings and committee reports. All resolutions and consent items were approved unanimously. Consent Calendar - Resolution 161: Honoring Director Don Rowe for his decades of public service and congratulating him on his retirement, effective November 1, 2026. The resolution was co-sponsored by President Green and numerous aldermen. After remarks by Mr. Rowe and several aldermen, the resolution was adopted unanimously. - Resolutions 163 and 164: Introduced and placed on the courtesy resolution consent calendar via a suspension of rules (14-0 vote). Subsequently, the entire courtesy resolution consent calendar was adopted, with several aldermen added as co-sponsors. - Perfection Consent Calendar (Board Bills 47 CS, 57 CS, 82 as amended): Adopted and referred to the Legislation and Rules Committee for engrossment. Public Comments & Testimony No public comments or testimony were recorded. Discussion Items - Don Rowe Retirement: Director Don Rowe addressed the board, reflecting on his career since 1990, including his work with planning and urban design, conflict anticipation, and participation in the Big City Planning Directors Institute. Multiple aldermen spoke in praise of his service, citing his bus tours, mentorship, and contributions to planning and development in St. Louis, particularly in North City. - Introduction of Honored Guests: Aldermen introduced guests including Miss Kim (CEO of CMT), a tribute to the late mother of Alderman from the 11th Ward, a sixth ward intern, and alumni of the African American Studies program at Saint Louis University (amidst concerns about the program's potential dismantling). - Mayor's Appointments: The board received and referred the reappointments of William Seedhoff, Sarah Sims, and Selena Washington to the Developmental Disabilities Resource Commission to the Health and Human Development Committee. - First Reading of Board Bills: Board Bills 103 (mutual aid agreement for public works), 104 (2027 annual action plan for HUD funds), and 105 (data center business license and license fee) were read and referred to committees. - Second Reading and Committee Reports: Board Bill 59 CS (sales tax reallocation for bus rapid transit) and Board Bill 94 (opioid settlement funds appropriation) were reported out with "do pass" recommendations. Key Outcomes - Resolution 161 was adopted unanimously. - Resolutions 163 and 164 were placed on the consent calendar and adopted unanimously. - Board Bills 47 CS, 57 CS, and 82 as amended were adopted on the perfection consent calendar and referred for engrossment. - Board Bill 103 referred to Public Safety Committee; Board Bills 104 and 105 referred to Housing, Urban Development, and Zoning (HUDS) Committee. - Resolution 159 and 160 referred to HUDS Committee. - Mayor's appointments referred to Health and Human Development Committee. - Meeting adjourned until Friday, October 30, 2026 at 10:00 AM.

On 2026-10-22 (record timestamp 05:00:00 UTC), the St. Louis Public Infrastructure and Utilities Committee met to receive an update on the transition from the Streets Department to a Department of Transportation (DOT). The transcript indicates the meeting opened at 3:33 p.m. and a quorum was present. No board bills or resolutions were on the agenda. Chair Browning called the DOT transition a voter-approved priority (nearly 90% approval in November 2024) and emphasized safety and multimodal access as goals. Consent Calendar - The committee approved the minutes of the October 14, 2026 meeting by unanimous roll-call vote (5 ayes), on a motion by the alderman from the 5th ward and a second from the alderman from the 1st ward. - There were no board bills or resolutions for review. Public Comments & Testimony - James Stringfowl, an 11th Ward resident, testified. He expressed concern that the proposed DOT structure did not visibly include community residents or disability communities (wheelchair users and blind people) in decision-making, and he asked where experts would sit in the organizational chart. - Chair Browning and presenters responded by pointing to a preliminary public-engagement team concept and ongoing discussions about whether the ADA coordinator position should sit in the new department or remain in the Office on the Disabled. - No written testimony was submitted. Discussion Items - Caitlin Smith, Mayor’s Policy Advisor, and Streets Director James Jackson presented the transition plan. They said the goal is to move from a Streets Department focused on pothole filling, refuse, towing, traffic, and local maintenance to a DOT that plans and manages the city’s entire multimodal transportation network. - The draft DOT mission statement is: "To deliver a safe, reliable, and sustainable transportation network through strategic leadership, innovative planning, rigorous engineering, and year-round maintenance that connects our community, enhances quality of life." Smith and Jackson highlighted safety and community connection as core priorities. - Current Streets Department divisions would be retained, with a new planning, engineering, and project-delivery division added. Board of Public Service (BPS) President Rich Bradley said roughly five BPS transportation-focused positions—including the chief bridge engineer, grant manager, and compliance/DBE manager—would eventually move to the DOT. He assured the committee that BPS would not "dump" the work on the new department and would continue supporting grants and projects; he referenced July 1, 2029 as the transition timing. Bradley also said BPS staffing is at about 67% and cited the $131 million ARPA program as a recent test of the staff. - Proposed staffing/timeline: 2–4 initial DOT planner positions in Q2 FY2027; at least three bureau chiefs identified in Q2 FY2027; about three additional positions for FY2028. Jackson said Streets Department staff would not lose jobs; the transition is intended as an enhancement. - Street-condition data: St. Louis has over 4,100 lane miles. The Transportation and Mobility Plan, adopted November 2025, covers about 1,900 miles of arterials, primaries, and secondaries. LIDAR-based pilot assessments have been completed in two wards, totaling about 200 lane miles (one ward about 130, another about 73). The PCI (pavement condition index) scale runs 0 to 100, with below 40 indicating major maintenance need. Jackson said five more wards have been approached and the goal is to have their data by February 2027; each ward assessment currently costs $10,000, paid by the alderperson. Once citywide data is available, assessments would be done at least biennially. - Funding: Smith identified possible future revenue sources, including the introduced St. Louis Works bill, ward capital reallocation, parking funds, a future gas tax, and a rideshare tax that would require state law change. Alderman Devotee noted that this year each ward received $270,000 from St. Louis Works, total utility collections were just over $6 million, and a little over $3 million remained in the transportation fund after ward allocations and other portions. He also stated the Streets Department’s total FY budget is $46 million. Devotee pressed for a system that would survive changes in personnel; Jackson responded that the department would rely on objective condition data and professional recommendations, while elected officials would retain funding decisions. - Sidewalk program: Smith called the 50/50 sidewalk repair system "broken" and said the city is exploring a centralized block-by-block approach, possibly funded by property assessments estimated at $20–$40 per property at current funding levels. Alderwoman Schweitzer expressed frustration that First Ward sidewalk funds were not being spent and questioned the effectiveness of the program. Alderman Devotee argued the city has a non-delegable duty to repair sidewalks in the right-of-way and said work should be done immediately when residents contribute. Jackson said the department cleared more than 600 of roughly 4,000 backlogged sidewalk service requests in five to six weeks, many of which were duplicates or ineligible, and was bringing contractors on board to begin work in early 2027. - Transportation safety and priorities: Smith said a draft map of transportation priorities would go through the Complete Streets Committee and Capital Committee, with attention to the most dangerous streets and intersections. Chair Browning praised quick-build traffic calming; Jackson said a Gravois quick-build project would be installed within the next couple of weeks. Chair Browning also raised utility-coordination problems, citing utility cuts in newly paved Manchester and improper patches on ARPA-funded Kings Highway, plus about 40 utility holes in a single residential block in his ward. Jackson cited the Mayor’s one-dig policy and said three major utilities had submitted conflict information for 2027. - Alderwoman Coxantwee asked that outreach be tailored so residents understand the old system versus the new DOT structure, noting that many residents had not previously been involved in such government processes. - Chair Browning said he saw advantages in centralizing transportation funding and making street-condition data public, but agreed that the transition would require building aldermanic and public trust. Alderwoman Schweitzer said she was less likely to support ceding control before her ward had a condition assessment. Key Outcomes - Minutes of the October 14, 2026 meeting were approved unanimously (5–0). - No board bills or resolutions were considered. - The committee received the DOT transition update without taking a formal vote on the transition. - Next steps identified: continue LIDAR condition assessments in five additional wards, with data targeted by February 2027; develop initial DOT staffing/bureau chief requests for FY2027; finalize sidewalk contractor capacity so repairs can start in early 2027; install the Gravois quick-build traffic-calming project; and hold future discussions on sidewalk funding, utility coordination, and centralized DOT funding.

The Health and Human Development Committee of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen met at 9:04 a.m. on October 22, 2026, with Chair Boyd presiding. Four members were present, constituting a quorum. The committee approved the October 1 committee minutes, heard testimony and advanced Board Bill 94 on opioid settlement funding, and received a detailed presentation and public testimony on Board Bill 91 to codify the Code Blue emergency shelter program. No agenda or minutes document was supplied with the transcript; this summary is based on the verbatim transcript. Consent Calendar - Minutes of the October 1, 2026 committee hearing were approved by roll-call vote with four ayes. Public Comments & Testimony - James Truth (founder of an organization focused on correctional institutions) raised concerns about both bills. He asked whether any opioid settlement funds under Board Bill 94 would address the needs of people who are incarcerated or recently released from St. Louis detention facilities. For Board Bill 91, he asked whether the Code Blue program would establish a direct referral process for individuals released from the city justice center and whether they would have a realistic way to reach emergency shelter during dangerous weather. - Dr. LJ Punch (Eighth Ward resident and community health advocate) expressed strong support for Board Bill 91, praising sustained funding and the bill’s coverage of cold, heat, and disaster. She raised one concern: that Code Blue participation should not become a mechanism of surveillance or displacement for unhoused people, and urged protective language on that point. - Chelsea Murda Vossmeyer (former legislative assistant to Alderwoman Sonier) spoke in support of Board Bill 91. She said shelter providers need permanent, predictable funding, cited point-in-time counts of more than 500 unsheltered people in 2025 and more than 1,700 in 2026, and noted the May 2025 tornado left more than 5,000 families homeless or housing insecure. She also said the city’s after-action review identified the lack of durable funding as a huge risk, argued that codifying Code Blue with dedicated marijuana-sales-tax revenue would prevent people freezing to death while funding arrives too late, and said the bill would stop encampment sweeps during a Code Blue except for imminent dangers. Discussion Items - Board Bill 94 – Opioid Settlement Funding: Chair Boyd introduced the bill. Craig Schmidt (Government Services Analyst, Department of Health) said a 2025 federal report estimated illegal opioids cost the United States $2.7 trillion in 2023, and that St. Louis recorded 407 opioid-related overdose deaths in 2023 and 198 in 2025, a 50% decrease, with 114 preliminary deaths through September 30 of the current year. Bo Richman (Behavioral Health Bureau Chief) described about $3.8 million in city opioid settlement appropriations and the proposed allocation of $953,898.95. He highlighted community partners Williams and Associates and Haven Recovery, including individual success stories in treatment and housing, and other uses such as $55,000 for EMS/Fire airway ventilation equipment and medication lock boxes for St. Louis Children’s Hospital (500 already supplied and 500 more to reach 1,000). He also noted that 26 organizations applied in response to a Notice of Funding Availability; Commissioner Warrior clarified that the NOFA total was $1.2 million, not $2 million. - Board Bill 91 – Code Blue Codification: Alderwoman Sonier presented the bill. It would put Code Blue in city code, require activation at 32°F or colder using National Weather Service overnight forecasts from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., and make the shelter response permanent. Code Blue would run November 1 through March 31, with required operation December 1 through March 31, plus daytime warming sites from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and overnight shelter beds from 5 p.m. to 7 a.m. The bill would establish four access-point quadrants, free transportation, at least one pet-friendly overnight shelter, and notification through official city channels. It would create a Code Blue fund paid from the city’s existing 3% recreational marijuana sales tax, capped at $5 million per year, beginning in fiscal year 2028, with a 7.5% administrative-cost cap and reimbursement requirements if disaster funds cover costs. Alderwoman Sonier noted that Code Blue is currently governed by Executive Order 93, last winter’s operation used $3.3 million in RAM settlement interest funds, and this year’s general budget includes $2 million for Code Blue. The fund could also be used for extreme heat, other severe weather, or declared disasters. - Marijuana fund discussion: Asked about the funding source, Alderwoman Sonier said the marijuana tax fund currently holds about $1.76 million for the calendar year, after collecting about $469,000 in its first partial year and $1.5 million last year. She said she would provide an updated figure at the committee’s next hearing. Key Outcomes - The chair announced that Board Bill 94 had passed the committee; Alderwoman Keys, Alderwoman Sonier, and Alderwoman Cox-Anthony added themselves as co-sponsors. - Board Bill 91 was discussed but not voted on; a further committee hearing was scheduled for the next Wednesday at 5:15 p.m. in the Kennedy Room to continue discussion and community input. - The committee adjourned after the presentations and testimony.

The Board of Estimate Apportionment met on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, in regular session. Mayor Spencer presided, and roll call showed all members present: Mayor Spencer, Comptroller Bearinger, and President Green. The board considered 14 items presented for the first time, with one item (number 10) stricken from the agenda for further amendments. All other items were approved unanimously. Consent Calendar - Items 1 through 9 and 11 through 14 were adopted by a unanimous roll call vote (3-0) after a motion by a board member. The approved items included: - Item 1: Approval of contracts and leases from city departments. - Item 2: Approval of intra-departmental and interdepartmental transfers. - Item 3: Approval of transfers between projects for capital improvement funds. - Item 4: Airport authority table of organization change to add an airport operations supervisor position. - Item 5: Airport authority table of organization change to add 20 limited-term airfield maintenance worker positions for winter weather operations (Nov 1, 2026 – Apr 1, 2027). - Item 6: Airport authority table of organization change to add an airport operations manager classification. - Item 7: Department of Public Safety table of organization change to add a Deputy Commissioner of Buildings and remove two positions. - Item 8: Authorization to submit the 2027 Annual Action Plan to HUD for CDBG, HOME, ESG, and HOPWA funds. - Item 9: Appropriation of opioid settlement funds from McKinsey & Company and Walgreens settlements. - Item 11: Approval of an amendment to a luggage cart rental concession agreement with Smarty Cart Inc. (extended through Nov 30, 2028). - Item 12: Approval of a lease amendment with Enterprise Leasing Company of STL for premises in St. Louis County. - Item 13: Authorization to accept HUD Community Project Funding for construction of a new refuse transfer station south of the riverfront. - Item 14: Approval of trust indenture, equipment lease, performance agreement, and bond purchase agreement for the C2N Diagnostics LLC project (taxable industrial development revenue bonds not exceeding $27.6 million). Discussion Items - No substantive discussion was recorded on any agenda item. The board voted on the agenda as prepared without debate. Key Outcomes - Item 10 (Board Bill 80 regarding Homer G. Phillips Senior Apartments lease) was stricken from the agenda by a 3-0 vote, as additional amendments were expected. - All remaining items (1-9 and 11-14) were approved unanimously via a single roll call vote (3-0). - The meeting was adjourned shortly after the votes.

The Housing, Urban Development, and Zoning (HUDZ) Committee of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen met on October 21, 2026, with Chair Clark Hubbard presiding. The committee unanimously approved the minutes from the October 13 meeting and received the St. Louis Development Corporation's (SLDC) annual compliance report. Public testimony addressed transparency and school district consultation, while committee members raised concerns about prevailing wage violations in two projects and the competitive environment for development. Consent Calendar - Unanimous approval (5-0) of the minutes from Tuesday, October 13, 2026. Public Comments & Testimony - John Reaganbogen, speaking on behalf of the SLPS Parent Action Council, commended the committee's work and the annual compliance report. He urged stronger consultation (not just notification) with St. Louis Public Schools for projects over $1 million, noting that SLPS has no representation on LCRA despite having seats on LRA and TIF commissions. He flagged a recurring issue where Development Proposal Reports are missing from board bills and suggested improvements to the scorecard and financial analysis processes. He also noted that many developments proceed without any abatement, which is positive. - A second speaker (name not provided in transcript) called for greater public disclosure on all tax-abated projects from the past 10 years, including activation status and specific parcel details. He cited the Fairfield Hotel/Marriott project, which received abatement through a pre-existing redevelopment area, and argued that expensive homes in areas like Lafayette Square and Botanical Heights received abatements they did not need. He recommended more transparency in annual reporting. Discussion Items - SLDC Annual Compliance Report: Madeline Bollinger, SLDC Incentive Compliance Manager, presented the mandatory annual report under City Code Chapter 3.160. She detailed the required components: community benefits scorecards, financial analysis, notification of SLPS and labor organizations for projects over $1 million, community engagement for projects over $10 million, and inclusion of clawback provisions in development agreements. She summarized projects approved in 2025: - Under $1 million: 5105 Cabini, 1122 Jonas Hubbard Street, 3843 Ohio Avenue. - $1–10 million: 4415 Margareta (former Ashland School childcare center). - Over $10 million: Amberstones/Tiffany Place (passed by committee October 13), 4500 Washington Avenue (Liberty Hospital rehab), Elliott School, and others. EEZ projects included Sensiate Technologies ($134M expansion) and Triple A Cooper Transportation ($17M). One TIF project (Midtown Public Infrastructure) was also passed. - Charts showed a decline in tax-abated parcels from 3,700 in 2016 to 1,500 currently; of 130 projects approved by the Board of Aldermen since 2017, 54 have been completed, 40 are under construction/planning, 15 canceled/stalled, and 21 are in redevelopment areas. For EEZ, 17 of 24 approved by the Board have been activated; for TIF, 5 of 8 approved. - Committee Q&A on Compliance and Prevailing Wage: - Alderman Schweitzer questioned the status of prevailing wage compliance at the “Rail” and “1014 Spruce” projects, whose abatements were activated despite documented violations. SLDC’s Zach Wilson deferred to legal counsel, stating he could not discuss the special agreements. Schweitzer and others pressed for more information and for ensuring underpaid workers are compensated. - Vice Chair Sonier revealed that these incentives were activated by former SLDC director Otis Williams despite non-compliance, calling it a parting gift that took the agency out of compliance. He stressed that such actions undermine the ordinances and need to be addressed. - Chair Clark Hubbard acknowledged receiving calls about the issue and noted that one affected worker had died before receiving compensation. - Alderman Schweitzer and another alderman (from the 9th Ward) discussed competition with surrounding municipalities, which have fewer rules. Wilson noted St. Louis has over 16,000 tax-exempt parcels and 25,000 vacant lots, and that new processes need time to breathe. He emphasized the need for predictability to attract developers. - An alderman from the 4th Ward echoed compliance concerns and asked about signage requirements for prevailing wage during construction. Key Outcomes - The committee received and filed the SLDC annual compliance report without a vote. - Multiple members expressed intent to follow up on the prevailing wage violations at the Rail and 1014 Spruce projects, including requesting legal details and ensuring worker compensation. - The committee excused Alderman Cone for necessary absence, approved by voice vote. - The meeting adjourned.

The Housing, Urban Development, and Zoning (HUDZ) Committee of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen convened on October 15, 2026, to consider mayoral appointments, two affordable housing redevelopment plans, and a policy to pre-authorize incentives for long-vacant land. The committee approved minutes from its October 6, 2026 meeting, confirmed 11 appointees to two boards, voted to advance two redevelopment plans, and held a third bill for further discussion. Consent Calendar - The committee unanimously approved the minutes from its meeting on Tuesday, October 6, 2026. Public Comments & Testimony - John Reagan Bogan, co-chair of the SLPS Parent Action Council Housing and Incentives Committee (speaking as a parent and not on behalf of the school district), provided testimony on three board bills: - Board Bill 47 (Tiffany Neighborhood): Expressed full support, specifically praising the inclusion of large 3-5 bedroom units and the full compliance with the city's development proposal report ordinance. - Board Bill 57 (Old North/St. Louis Place): Expressed general support but noted the required Development Proposal Report was not publicly attached to the bill, requesting that SLDC ensure it is posted for future hearings. - Board Bill 70 (Forest Park Southeast): Opposed the pre-authorization of a 90% tax abatement, calling it "far too high" for a strong market neighborhood. He recommended the committee vote no or hold the bill until the abatement cap is lowered or a provision is added requiring the future developer to return to the full Board. Discussion Items Mayoral Appointments (Baden Market Center Special Business District) - Chair Clark Hubbard moved these appointments to the top of the agenda. Four appointees testified in person, expressing a strong commitment to restoring resources and improving the business district. A fifth appointee, Teresa Myers, was approved in her absence due to prior vetting. The committee voted 6-0 to confirm all five. Mayoral Appointments (Nuisance Property Review Board) - Six appointees with extensive experience in code enforcement, community organizing, legal proceedings, and property management were sworn in and testified. Alderman Aldrich praised the group's collective institutional knowledge. The committee voted 5-0 to confirm the appointments. Board Bill 47 – Tiffany Neighborhood Redevelopment (Sponsored by Vice Chair Sonyer) - Vice Chair Sonyer presented a plan to rehabilitate 21 scattered apartment buildings into 60 affordable units (3-5 bedrooms) at or below 60% Area Median Income (AMI). The total project cost is approximately $15.4 million. The developer, Efficiency Consulting & Development (Yafit Alamine), emphasized that no resident will pay more than 30% of income on rent due to HUD HAP funding. The committee adopted a committee substitute with a fiscal note and voted 5-0 to pass the bill with a "do pass" recommendation. Board Bill 57 – Amber Stone Development (Sponsored by Alderman Aldridge) - Alderman Aldridge presented a similar scattered-site project in the Old North and St. Louis Place neighborhoods, rehabbing 67 affordable units with 3-5 bedrooms. Developer Yafit Alamine noted the project's low operational capital and the necessity of the tax abatement to maintain the development long-term. Following public comment, SLDC acknowledged the missing Development Proposal Report and committed to attaching it to the bill online going forward. The bill was passed out of committee with a "do pass" recommendation via voice vote. Board Bill 70 – Forest Park Southeast Vacant Land Incentives (Sponsored by Alderman Browning) - Alderman Browning gave a detailed presentation on the history of the two vacant parcels, tracing the destruction of the neighborhood to the construction of Highway 6440 and subsequent decades of land speculation and "demolition by neglect." The bill seeks to pre-authorize a tax abatement of up to 90% for 10 years for the land without a specific developer attached, in order to create a "predictable path" for development. - Alderman Aldrich expressed hesitation about departing from the standard process, requesting an amendment requiring the future developer to appear before the HUDZ committee. Vice Chair Sonyer echoed the need for a transparency amendment. Alderman Browning defended the pre-authorization model but agreed to work on the language. SLDC noted the plan is in effect for 25 years and that any developer must still pass the "but for" test. - Outcome: The bill was held in committee to allow for the drafting of an amendment requiring future developer oversight. Key Outcomes - Appointments Confirmed: The committee approved 11 mayoral appointments to the Baden Market Center Special Business District (6 ayes) and the Nuisance Property Review Board (5 ayes). - Board Bills Advanced: Board Bill 47 (Tiffany) and Board Bill 57 (Old North) were passed out of committee with "do pass" recommendations, advancing to the full Board of Aldermen. - Board Bill Held: Board Bill 70 (Forest Park Southeast) was held in committee pending the addition of an amendment related to developer transparency and oversight.

The Legislation and Rules Committee convened at 9:09 a.m. with Chair Velasquez presiding, Vice Chair Devotee present, and Alderman Cohn, Alderman Narayan, Alderwoman Keys, and Alderwoman Sany in attendance; a quorum was established. The committee approved prior meeting minutes and engrossed three bills. No board bills or resolutions were listed for review, and no written testimony was submitted. Note: the raw transcript labels the meeting as Friday, October 9, 2026, but the provided meeting date used in this summary is October 15, 2026. Consent Calendar - The committee approved the minutes of the September 25, 2026, meeting by roll-call vote. Discussion Items - Board Bill 51 committee substitute – Deputy Clerk Johnson confirmed that clerk staff and financial analysts had reviewed all dates, figures, cross-references, and citations; that section numbering was accurate; that exhibits and attachments were properly incorporated; and that the summary and bill text were correctly formatted. Committee members had no questions. A motion to engross Board Bill 51 committee substitute passed without objection. - Board Bill 69 committee substitute – The same checklist was confirmed by Deputy Clerk Johnson, including accurate section numbering, proper incorporation of exhibits and attachments, and correct formatting. No committee questions were raised. A motion to engross Board Bill 69 committee substitute passed without objection. - Board Bill 75 as amended on the floor – Deputy Clerk Johnson testified that the amendment reflected in the red-line version had been incorporated accurately and that dates, figures, cross-references, citations, section numbering, exhibits, attachments, summary, and bill text were all reviewed and correctly formatted. No committee questions were raised. A motion to engross Board Bill 75 as amended on the floor passed without objection. Key Outcomes - Board Bill 51 committee substitute was engrossed. - Board Bill 69 committee substitute was engrossed. - Board Bill 75 as amended on the floor was engrossed. - The committee received no written testimony. - Alderwoman Sany and Vice Chair Devotee were excused from the remainder of the meeting, and the committee adjourned.