Public Meetings - St Louis, Missouri

The Board of Aldermen held a regular meeting on Friday, June 5, 2026, at 9 a.m. with Acting President Cone presiding. The meeting featured courtesy resolutions honoring two legal figures, introduction of new board bills, final passage of a citywide employee raise, and approval of a tax abatement for a pasta manufacturer. All actions were conducted with 9 to 13 members present. Consent Calendar - Approval of Minutes: The board approved the minutes from the May 29, 2026 meeting by voice vote. - Courtesy Resolution Consent Calendar: Resolutions 37 and 38 were adopted en bloc by voice vote. - Perfection Consent Calendar: Board Bills 21 (amending a lease agreement with Material Sales Company) and 19 (extending the minority and women owned business enterprise program sunset to December 31, 2026) were adopted by voice vote. Discussion Items - Resolution 37 – Honoring Raymond B. Flojo: Alderman Devoty introduced a resolution recognizing Raymond B. Flojo for over 20 years of service in the City Counselor’s Office. Multiple aldermen praised his professionalism. Flojo expressed gratitude and acknowledged mentors. The resolution was adopted unanimously by voice vote. - Resolution 38 – 70th Anniversary of Legal Services of Eastern Missouri: Alderwoman Cox Antwi sponsored a resolution celebrating the organization’s 70 years. Executive Director Dan Glazier and several aldermen highlighted Legal Services’ work on housing, vacancy, and tornado recovery. The resolution was adopted unanimously by voice vote. - Introduction of Board Bills 36 and 37: Alderman Aldrich moved to suspend the rules to introduce Board Bill 36 (charter amendment requiring Board approval of the city counselor) and Board Bill 37 (one-time $1,000 supplemental payment for Board of Aldermen employees). The motion passed 11-1-1 (one present). Both bills were assigned to committee. - Board Bill 29 – Disaster Relief Funding: Alderwoman Clark Hubbard sponsored a bill to accept disaster relief funding from the Missouri Department of Public Safety and Missouri Housing Development Commission for recovery from the May 16 tornado. The board suspended the rules to perfect the bill (12 aye votes), and it was added to the regular perfection calendar. Several aldermen added as co-sponsors. - Board Bill 12 – 3% Raise for City Employees: Alderman Aldrich moved final passage of a bill providing a 3% salary increase for all classified city employees, effective June 14, 2026. The bill also adjusts pay grades. It passed unanimously with 13 aye votes. - Resolution 33 as Amended – Tax Abatement for Winland Foods: Alderwoman Schweitzer presented a resolution recommending personal property tax abatement for Winland Foods at 611 Marcel Avenue. The Transportation and Commerce Committee amended it to explicitly require prevailing wage standards. The resolution was adopted 12-0 by roll call vote. - Resolution 34 – Gardenside Subdivision Special Business District: Alderman Devoty introduced a resolution to establish a special business district for the Gardenside Subdivision. It was adopted by unanimous consent with 12 aye votes. Key Outcomes - Resolutions 37 and 38: Adopted unanimously. - Board Bills 36 and 37: Introduced and referred to Legislation (BB36) and Personnel & Public Administration (BB37) committees. - Board Bill 29: Placed on regular perfection calendar for future vote. - Board Bill 12: Finally passed and signed by the president (13-0 effectives June 14, 2026). - Resolution 33 as Amended: Adopted 12-0. - Resolution 34: Adopted by unanimous consent (12-0). - Committee assignments: Board Bill 36 to Legislation; Board Bill 37 to Personnel & Public Administration. - Excused absences: Aldermen from the 2nd and 7th wards were excused for necessary absence. - Next meeting: Friday, June 12, 2026, at the Board of Aldermen Chamber.

The Board of Estimate and Apportionment (ENA) held a special meeting on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, with all members present: Mayor Spencer, Comptroller Banger, and President Green. The meeting was called to order just after the Board of Police Commissioners adjourned. The original agenda included a presentation on the balanced budget, but that was postponed due to a late proposal from the Police Board of Commissioners that would significantly impact the city's finances. Consent Calendar - Item 1 was a request from the Comptroller's Office for ENA approval of contracts and leases from various city departments, as listed in exhibit A. The item was presented for the first time and passed unanimously (3-0). Discussion Items - Police Board Pay Raise Proposal: The Board of Police Commissioners is considering raises for lieutenants and above of 18 to 22 percent. Mayor Spencer explained that this proposal arrived late (Monday evening) and will have cascading impacts on the city's budget, throwing it out of balance. The budget director, Paul Payne, is now pivoting to understand the implications. Comptroller Banger expressed that this feels like an unfunded mandate and is disappointed by the impact on the city. President Green voiced frustration that the Police Board did not come before the Board of Aldermen for proper vetting, which could have avoided a last-minute curveball. - Budget Director Recognition: All board members thanked Budget Director Paul Payne for his continued work, with President Green jokingly promising more Diet Coke and M&Ms. Key Outcomes - Item 1 (contracts & leases) approved unanimously (3 votes in favor, 0 opposed). - Police pay raise proposal will require further work to balance the budget; the budget director is now analyzing the impact. - Adjournment occurred after a motion and second. No other items were discussed. --- Note: The agenda and minutes were not available for this meeting; the summary is based solely on the transcript.

The Housing, Urban Development, and Zoning Committee of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen met on June 4, 2026, to consider Board Bill 29, which authorizes the acceptance and expenditure of $11 million in state disaster relief funds for tornado recovery efforts. The committee heard presentations from the Mayor's Office of Recovery and a Missouri State Representative, and unanimously passed the bill with a do pass recommendation. Consent Calendar - The committee approved the minutes from the meeting of May 26, 2026, by a vote of 5-0. Discussion Items - Board Bill 29 – Disaster Relief Funding: Alderman Clark Hubbard presented Board Bill 29, introduced by her office. The bill authorizes the City to accept and spend $10 million from the Missouri Department of Public Safety for demolition of FEMA-ineligible properties damaged by the May 2025 tornado, and $1 million from the Missouri Housing Development Commission (MHDC) for home repair. Julian Nix, Chief Recovery Officer, explained that the $10 million will fund approximately 120-140 demolitions, with 68 already in permitting and 56 either complete or underway. The $1 million will support a home repair program with 17 properties in the pipeline. State Representative Kimberly Ann Collins provided context on the state’s total $186 million appropriation authority for St. Louis recovery, noting that conversations are ongoing about using remaining funds for rebuilding beyond demolition. Several aldermen asked about the process, timeline, and potential expansion of funding uses. Alderman Clark Hubbard emphasized the importance of transparency and direct communication with state partners. Key Outcomes - Board Bill 29: The committee voted 5-0 to pass Board Bill 29 with a do pass recommendation. Aldermen Clark Hubbard, Aldridge, Browning, Cone, and Sweitzer were added as co-sponsors. The bill now moves to the full Board of Aldermen. - Future Meeting: Chair Clark Hubbard announced a second hearing on Board Bill 22 will be held on June 5, 2026, at the Julia Davis Library, with virtual participation possible pending confirmation.

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.

The St. Louis Board of Aldermen convened on Friday, May 29, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. in the Board of Aldermen Chambers. Vice President Cohn presided with 15 members present. The meeting included introductions of honored guests, approval of minutes, first readings of several board bills, debate and perfection of a compensation plan for city employees, adoption of resolutions, and approval of mayoral appointments. Consent Calendar - Approval of Minutes: The minutes from the meeting on Friday, May 21, 2026, were approved unanimously. - Third Reading and Final Passage of Board Bills: Board Bill 2 (introduced by Alderwoman Schweitzer and others) and Board Bill 11 (introduced by Alderwoman Clark Hubbard and Alderman Cohn) were passed on the consent calendar with a unanimous 15-0 vote. - Courtesy Resolutions: A consent calendar of courtesy resolutions (including Resolution 32, 33, and 35) was adopted unanimously. Introductions and Recognitions - Alderwoman Boyd introduced Theodore Noel D'Souza, a newborn attending his first board meeting. - Alderwoman from the 10th introduced Samantha Williams, new lead government relations manager for Amherst Missouri, and thanked the St. Louis Sports Commission. - Alderwoman from the 10th also recognized the 225 residents of Council Tower Senior Apartment Building, who experienced a water outage over the past two weeks. She thanked numerous volunteers, including the Area Agency on Aging, the Urban League, the Federation of Block Units, the Red Cross, AmeriCorps, and others who provided water and meals. The water has been restored. - The Chief Clerk's children's birthdays were celebrated. First Reading of Board Bills The following board bills were introduced and referred to the appropriate committees: - Board Bill 28 (Alderman Devotee): Requiring water meters on certain service connections, with enforcement mechanisms. - Board Bill 29 (Alderwoman Clark Hubbard): Accepting disaster relief funding from the Missouri Department of Public Safety and Missouri Housing Development Commission. - Board Bill 30 (Alderman Aldric): Removing a loophole requiring the city to create a sunshine portal but not post to it. - Board Bill 31 (Alderwoman Clark Hubbard): Appropriating $21,379,967 for the parking division's operating and capital expenses, including $1,475,768 for capital improvements, for FY2026-2027. - Board Bill 32 (Alderman Cohn): Authorizing a sub-award from Bloomberg Philanthropies American Sustainable Cities Initiative for a youth climate action fund. Discussion Items - Referral of Board Bill 24: Alderwoman from the 6th moved to refer Board Bill 24 back to the Budget and Public Employees Committee. The motion passed with a unanimous roll call vote of 15-0. - Board Bill 12 – City Employee Compensation Plan: Alderman from the 14th sponsored the bill, which repeals and replaces the previous 3% pay increase with a new 3% increase based on a citywide classification and compensation study by Evergreen Solutions. The bill establishes open pay ranges, raises minimum salaries for many positions, and applies to all classified employees. Discussion included questions from Alderwoman from the 12th about the open range pay scale and the determination of pay levels. The bill was perfected with a unanimous 15-0 vote. - Resolution 33: Alderwoman from the 1st moved to refer Resolution 33 to the Transportation and Commerce Committee, which was approved. - Resolution 35 – Pride Month: Alderwoman from the 8th introduced a resolution commemorating Pride Month in St. Louis, noting the kickoff at Forehand Brewery and Pride Fest downtown from June 27-28. The resolution was adopted after being added to the consent calendar, with a unanimous vote of 15-0. Key Outcomes - Board Bill 12 was perfected and will proceed to final passage. - Board Bill 24 was referred back to the Budget and Public Employees Committee. - Board Bills 2 and 11 received final passage. - Resolution 35 was adopted. - Mayor's appointments were approved: Margaret McDonald to the Airport Arts Advisory Committee, and Stephen Westbrooks and Emily Andrews to the Clean Energy Development Board. - The meeting adjourned to Friday, June 5, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. in the Board of Aldermen Chambers.

The Legislation Rules Committee of the St. Louis City Council met on Friday, May 29, 2026, at 2:15 PM, with Chair Velasquez presiding. The committee approved the minutes from the previous meeting and voted to appoint two members to the Clean Energy Development Board. No public testimony was received. Consent Calendar - Minutes Approval: The committee approved the minutes from the March 17, 2026 meeting. The roll call showed four ayes and one present (Alderman Narayan), and the motion carried. Public Comments & Testimony - No public testimony was offered. Discussion Items - Mayoral Appointments to Clean Energy Development Board: The committee considered two appointments: Stephen Westbrooks and Emily Andrews. No representative from the mayor's office was present. The chair noted no discussion and moved to appoint each individually. Key Outcomes - Appointment of Stephen Westbrooks: Motion by Chair Velasquez, seconded by Alderman Narayan. The roll call vote was 5 ayes (Cone, Narayan, Keys, Sunier, Devotee, Velasquez). Appointment approved. - Appointment of Emily Andrews: Motion by Chair Velasquez, seconded by Alderman Narayan. Approved by previous roll call (5 ayes). Appointment approved. - Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned after the appointments.

The Transportation and Commerce Committee met on May 26, 2026, to consider a lease extension for a riverfront barge maintenance company and a mayoral appointment to the Airport Arts Advisory Council. The committee approved the minutes from March 3, 2026, and passed Board Bill 21 and the appointment with votes. Consent Calendar - Approval of Meeting Minutes from March 3, 2026. Moved by the Alderman from the 4th, seconded by the Alderwoman from the 8th, approved by voice vote with four ayes (Alderman Oldenburg, Alderwoman Schweitzer, Alderwoman Cox Antoine, Chair Cone). Discussion Items - Board Bill 21 – Lease Extension for Material Sales Company Introduced by the Alderwoman from the 8th. James Morrow, an attorney with the city council’s office, presented: Lease began in 2006 with a 10-year term and three five-year extension options. This is the final five-year extension. Rent increases continue at about 3% annually, starting at just over $1,700 per year and ending at just over $2,000 in 2030. Material Sales operates permanently moored barges between MacArthur Bridge and Poplar Street Bridge for maritime maintenance and overhauls. No committee questions. Motion to pass with a due pass recommendation by Alderman from the 4th, seconded by Alderwoman from the 1st, passed by voice vote (roll call: Alderman Oldenburg aye, Alderwoman Schweitzer aye, Alderwoman Cox Antoine aye, Chair Cone aye). - Mayoral Appointment to the Airport Arts Advisory Council – Margaret McDonald Margaret McDonald, a 10th Ward resident, presented her background: BFA in art history, interior architecture degree, former interior designer at HOK (involved in airport expansion) and Arcturus, now a consultant. She served on the Downtown St. Louis SID board and as its president. She expressed interest in integrating art into the new terminal and preserving existing pieces such as the Alicia Lachance terrazzo floor medallion in Terminal One. Committee members expressed support. Motion to approve by Alderman from the 4th, seconded by Alderwoman from the 8th, passed by voice vote with no objections. The nomination will go to the full Board of Aldermen on the upcoming Friday. Key Outcomes - Board Bill 21 passed out of committee with a due pass recommendation. - Appointment of Margaret McDonald to the Airport Arts Advisory Council approved by committee and referred to the full Board. - A committee hearing was requested for the following week by an alderwoman (likely from the 4th); the Chair will coordinate scheduling with the clerk. - Committee adjourned after marking the Alderman from the 2nd excused for necessary absence.

The St. Louis Board of Aldermen convened on May 21, 2026, with 12 members present, establishing a quorum. The meeting featured a special order celebrating the Transgender Day of Visibility, multiple unanimous approvals, and introductions of new legislation. Key actions included the adoption of a resolution recognizing March 31 as Transgender Day of Visibility, approval of appointments to the Lighthouse Community Improvement District, and suspension of rules to introduce a bill concerning Homer G. Phillips Senior Apartments. Consent Calendar - Approval of Minutes: The Board unanimously approved the minutes from the May 15, 2026 meeting. - Adoption of Courtesy Resolution Consent Calendar: Adopted by voice vote without opposition. - Adoption of Board Bills for Perfection Consent Calendar: Board Bill 2 (Water Division funding for community water fluoridation equipment repair/replacement) and Board Bill 11 (installation of speed humps on the 5100 block of Vernon Avenue) were advanced unanimously. Public Comments & Testimony - Jordan Braxton (resident of the 14th Ward, Miss Trans USA 2026) delivered an opening reflection on the Transgender Day of Visibility. She noted that 747 anti-transgender bills had been proposed nationally, 23 passed, and 12 signed into law, while 58 anti-LGBTQ bills were defeated in Missouri during the current legislative session. She estimated that up to 4,000 transgender adults live in the St. Louis area. She expressed gratitude for the city’s support and urged year-round visibility. Discussion Items - Resolution 28 – Transgender Day of Visibility: Sponsored by Alderman Aldridge (14th Ward), the resolution formally recognized March 31, 2026 as Transgender Day of Visibility in St. Louis, commending the organizers of the “Visibility for Our Lives” events. Alderman Aldridge and several colleagues voiced strong support for the trans community, emphasizing solidarity amid state and federal attacks. The resolution was adopted by unanimous voice vote and then “embanked” (all Board members signed on as co-sponsors). - Suspension of Rules for Board Bill 27: Alderman Tyus (12th Ward) moved to suspend the rules to introduce Board Bill 27, which concerns the transfer of an amended lease for the Homer G. Phillips Senior Apartments (2601 Whittier Street). The motion passed with 13 aye votes. - First Reading of Board Bills: - Board Bill 24 (Fire EMS funding for emergency medical transportation) – sponsored by Alderman Velasquez, Devoting, and Clark Hubbard. - Board Bill 25 (Water rates increase) – sponsored by Alderman Browning and Cone. - Board Bill 26 (Position classifications and salaries in the Treasurer’s Office) – sponsored by Alderman Aldridge. - Board Bill 27 (Homer G. Phillips lease) – sponsored by Alderman Tyus. - Second Reading and Committee Report: Board Bill 12 (employee compensation plan for classified service) was reported out of the Budget and Public Employees Committee with a “do pass” recommendation. It includes an emergency clause effective June 14, 2026. - Appointments to Lighthouse St. Louis Community Improvement District: The Board approved Mayor Spencer’s appointments: new appointment of Philip Schrack and reappointments of Dan Cook and Scott Riley. The roll call vote resulted in 13 ayes. Key Outcomes - Resolution 28 adopted unanimously – all members co-sponsored the resolution. - Lighthouse CID appointments approved (13 ayes). - Rules suspended for Board Bill 27 (13 ayes) – placed on first reading and referred to the Housing, Urban Development, and Zoning (HUDs) committee. - Board Bills 24, 25, 26, and 27 received first reading and were referred to committees (Budget & Public Employees; Public Infrastructure; HUDs). - Board Bill 12 advanced from committee for further consideration. - Meeting adjourned until Friday, May 29, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. in the Board of Aldermen Chambers.

The Budget & Public Employees Committee met on May 18, 2026, to review board bills and the city's FY27 operating budget. Key actions included unanimous passage of Board Bill 9, providing a one-time $1,000 payment to city employees and a 7% pay increase for certain fire department classifications. The committee also began discussion of the general operating budget (Board Bill 1), with Budget Director Paul Payne presenting an overview of the $1.41 billion plan. A significant portion of the meeting focused on the police department budget, as departmental representatives were not present. Public testimony overwhelmingly opposed increased police funding and called for greater investment in programs such as Code Blue, Right to Counsel, and the Office of Violence Prevention. Consent Calendar - Minutes from a prior meeting (noted in the transcript as both Wednesday, May 25, 2026, and Wednesday, March 25, 2026 — a discrepancy exists in the source) were approved unanimously (5–0). Public Comments & Testimony - Mark Orahula (Ward 9): Urged rejection of the proposed police budget, arguing that critical programs like Code Blue (underfunded by $1.5M), the Office of Violence Prevention (requested $12.9M, allocated $8.8M), and Right to Counsel (allocated only 40% of its request) are being shortchanged. He also expressed concern about police collaboration with ICE. - Alicia Hernandez (Advocacy Director, MICAP; Ward 2 resident): Opposed additional police funding beyond the state-required minimum, citing racial profiling and police cooperation with ICE. She called for full funding of Right to Counsel and the Office of Violence Prevention. - Nate Lindsay (Dutchtown Council): Criticized the building division for failing to address vacant properties, noting zero full-time inspectors dedicated to vacancy enforcement and over $20M in uncollected fees. He urged funding for building division staffing and growth-oriented policies. - Julian Holt (Ward 12): Expressed disappointment that police funding continues to increase while community-based solutions are underfunded. He argued that police protect capital, not people, and called for defunding police in favor of social services. - Helen Bailey (11th Ward): Questioned the need for 300 additional officers given population decline, and advocated for a study of police effectiveness and an audit of police spending. She also highlighted the need to fund recreation centers and redevelopment in North St. Louis. - Caitlin Kilgo (Ward 7): Opposed a 7% raise for a police department she described as the “most murderous” in the country, noting that one in three children in St. Louis goes to bed hungry. She called for zeroing out the police budget. - Torin Taylor (ward not specified): Challenged the committee to cut police funding and confiscate police hardware, referencing unnecessary militarized responses. - Etta Taylor (Ward 7): Opposed the budget due to lack of police transparency and underfunding of Right to Counsel, which she said supports both tenants and good landlords. - Sarah Watkins (Ward 7): Criticized Mayor Cara Spencer and Comptroller Darlene Green for not fully funding Right to Counsel, and accused SLMPD of violence against protesters. She urged full funding for housing and violence prevention programs. - Carrie McCullin (Ward 2): Opposed giving police any funding above the legal minimum. - Donnie Kahn (Ward 2): Advocated for fully funding Right to Counsel (+$1.5M), Office of Violence Prevention (+$4.1M), and Code Blue (+$1.5M), and for collecting unpaid taxes from developers like Green Street. - Kennard Williams (Action St. Louis, Ward 9): Urged rejecting the police budget, noting that the department requested $5M for expected lawsuits—funds that could fully finance other safety programs. Discussion Items - Board Bill 9 (One-time Employee Payment and Fire Parity): Presented by Alderman Aldrich and Director of Personnel Brian Light. The bill provides a $1,000 one-time lump sum to all civil service employees from FY26 surplus funds and a 7% pay increase for probationary fire private, fire private, probationary fire equipment dispatcher, and fire equipment dispatcher classifications to maintain charter-required parity with the police department. All committee members expressed support and several added themselves as co-sponsors. No public testimony was offered. The committee voted unanimously (5–0) for a do-pass recommendation. - Board Bill 1 (FY27 General Operating Budget): Budget Director Paul Payne presented the $1.41 billion proposed budget (0.5% increase over the prior year). The general fund is $637.1 million (4.9% increase). Highlights included $18 million for employee pay increases, $8.6 million increase for the police department, $2 million for the forestry division (weed/debris), $2 million for Code Blue, $4 million for building demolition, $1 million for Right to Counsel, $1 million for tiny homes, and $5 million for the PSAP. Revenue projections assume 1.7% growth, with modest increases in earnings, sales, and use taxes, but a decline in the marijuana sales tax (estimated $1.4M vs. original $1.7M). The police department budget (proposed at $159M, approximately 26% of the general fund) was discussed at length. Committee members expressed frustration that neither the Board of Police Commissioners nor police leadership attended to answer questions. Alderman Browning questioned the department's use of recruiting funds (historically budgeted at $100K but unspent) and the lack of transparency under state control. Aldermen Velazquez and Sonnier voiced concern about the constitutional and practical implications of the state takeover. Alderman Devotee noted that, given pending litigation against the city, it would be legally imprudent for police representatives to testify. Chair Aldrich noted that the police board was invited but chose not to appear. Director Payne confirmed that the budget complies with state law requiring a certain percentage of general revenue be allocated to police, though the exact interpretation of “general revenue” is unclear. He also noted that the police department’s capital request ($21.4M) far exceeded the recommended $3.1M, and that the department had attempted to zero out funding for park rangers and cut marshal salaries—actions that the proposed budget reverses. Key Outcomes - Board Bill 9 passed unanimously (5–0) and will be sent to the full Board of Aldermen. - Board Bill 1 is held; the committee will conduct department-by-department hearings over the following weeks. Scheduled hearings include the Mayor’s Office, Public Safety, Fire, Parks, Building Division, and more. - The committee noted the police department's refusal to present its budget and reaffirmed an open invitation for future appearances. - Public testimony and committee comments will inform potential amendments to the FY27 budget before final approval.