Board of Aldermen - Regular Meeting

The board will now come to order. Madame clerk, please call the role. Alderwoman Schwitzer, alderman Oldenberg, Alman Con present, alderman Ryan, Alman Devote here, Alderwoman Velasquez, Alderwoman Sonier, Alderwoman Cox Antui, Alderman Brownie, Alderwoman Clark Hubbert, this one,

Alderwoman Keys, Alderwoman Tyus. Alderwoman Boyd present. Alderwoman Ty present. Alderwoman Boyd present. Alderman Aldridge. President Green present. Odwan Odenberg. Alderwoman Velasquez. Alderwoman Sonier, Alderwoman Cox, Antwe, Alderman Brownie, Alderwoman Clark Hubard, Alderwoman Keys. We have P we have nine I mean eight present. We have a quorum.

A quorum being present will be led in an opening reflection by the ve vice president of the Arab Cultural Center in St. Louis, Dr. Mahir. for you to take a microphone if you want.

Good morning, St. Lewis and thank you esteemed members of the city's board of aldermen for the invitation to be present at the start of your meeting today the 20th of April 2026. I would like to share the following prayer by Arabic poet Abdul Mimandi. The prayer is an ode to patience. patience. We ask you to bring happy tidings to our skies. Let the shadows linger upon the joyous palms, dancing with a dawn that bears the weight of eternity. We have drawn near to the break of day. Patience, you are our very breath. You are the passion of the springs. Our earth fortifies its gaity with the clarity of the skies. And upon its ancient dawn, it stages a celebration of the times. It pours forth guidance into the rivers. It ves in beauty with the virgin stars and waters its hymns with tears of prayer and the offering of vows. Thank you.

Thank you. this point in time I would like to invite the alderman from the 5th to approach the dis with his special guests for the presentation of resolution 281 for our special order of the day. I have

Good morning.

Thank you, Madame President, members of the board. Uh, I'm talking to you today about Ed Bushmeer. Uh I met Ed uh quite a while ago uh through our respective work with the old 16th Ward Democratic Club. Uh Ed uh always sat in the back of the room, considerate, thoughtful. His wife Louise, who is with me today to my right, served as the the longtime committee woman. She was the politician. She was the one who directed traffic, at least back in those old club days. Uh I got to know Ed very well and over the years we kept in touch and in fact when I decided to to pursue this particular office, Ed and Louise were some of the very very first people that I spoke uh spoke without spoke to. Uh I can say with terrific confidence that every piece of advice that Ed provided to me was dead on. It was correct. Um, I'm here today and I wanted to bring this resolution because Ed is unique. Uh, Ed served more than 40 years uh in the service of the city of uh he worked under four different mayors, mayors ranging from Vince Sheam uh to Mayor Bosley and Harmon and eventually Francis Slay. Uh he served positions within the board of public safety, the water division, the airport, and he is also the longest serving uh serving assessor in the city's history. Uh Ed was a worker. He was a consumate professional and is is with honor that uh that we're here today. Um, madame clerk, if you would uh please read the

opening paragraph of our resolution 281.

Resolution number 281 recognizing Edward L. Bushmeer Jr. Whereas the board of the city of St. Louis pauses in solemn recognition of the life and legacy of Edward L. Bushmire Jr. who passed away on March 28th, 2026 after nearly four decades of distinguished public service to the city of St. Louis. And now therefore, be it resolved that we, the members of the city of St. Louis Board of Alderman, do hereby honor and celebrate the life of Edward L. Bushmeer Jr. and pause in our deliberations to recognize him for his extraordinary contributions to public service and his enduring impact on this city of St. Louis. Introduced this 20th day of April, 2026 by the Honorable Matt Devote Ottoman of the Fifth Ward. co-sponsors. The Honorable Megan Green, president of the board. The Honorable Anniser, alderwoman of the first ward. The Honorable Thomas Oldenberg, Alderman of the second w, the honorable Shane Conn, alderman of the third ward. The honorable Daniela Velasquez, honor alderwoman of the sixth ward. The honorable Alicia Sonier, Alderwoman of the seventh ward. The honorable Jamie Cox Antui, Alderwoman of the eighth ward. The honorable Michael Browning, alderman of the ninth ward. The honorable Shamine Clark Hubard, Alderwoman of the 10th ward. The Honorable Laura Keys, Alderwoman of the 11th ward. The Honorable Pamela Bour, Alderwoman of the 13th ward. And the Honorable Rashen Alderich, alderman of the 14th ward.

So Louise, Chris, and Kate, thank you for coming here today. And I I think the resolution says it all. Like to say any words. Thank you. I I want to thank you all very sincerely for this honor. Ed of course would have loved it. Um he loved this city. He loved working in this building and uh I appreciate all of you taking the time to do this.

Any further discussion? Alderman from the third Only about half the mics are working today. So you may need to mic number four. Uh 12 is working up here right there. Eight works. That's eight. Eight works. Eight works.

Okay. All right. Thank you, Madam President. uh members of the board. Um Ed is someone who I've known my entire uh career here in public service. He was someone who uh was always very knowledgeable, affable, and uh was never afraid to sit down with people to have conversations whether they were easy or hard. Um, he took great pride in this city. He took great pride in his work down here at city hall. And he took tremendous pride in his relationship with the community and friends and most importantly his family. Um, you know, Louise, you also have just been, you know, such a a wonderful gift to the city and a blessed friend for me and, um, all of your kids and grandkids and friends and neighbors are, you know, with you during this very difficult time as you, um, you know, um, come into a new new chapter in your own life, too. And, um, I can't say enough wonderful things about Ed and about the family. and um certainly he will be missed by many people in the city of St. Louis.

Alderman from the second.

Thank you, Madam President. Members of the board, Luis um and family, I apologize I'm not there in person uh to give Ed some tribute this morning, but I I wanted to say how very sorry I am uh that Ed is no longer with us. You know, public life and the pursuit of public life um is not easy. And Ted worked in public life um for decades and I always thought did it with grace and professionalism. Um he had a lasting impact on all those who do pursue public life and are in search of public virtue. So his memories, the moments and the impact he had on others will continue to matter and I want you all to know that very much. Thank you. Any further discussion? Alderwoman from the first.

Thank you, Madame President and of the board. Um, you know, I rise today uh just to share my condolences with the family. Uh, I grew up down the street from the Bush Meyers and I knew, you know, Ed pretty much my whole life, I think. Um, you know, growing up, he was my friend Chris's dad. Um, and that's how I knew him. I knew he did something very important for the city, but I didn't know what. But, uh, Louise, of course, was always in our classrooms growing up, and I knew she was very involved and someone who cared deeply about the community. And then I, as I got older and my mom ran for office, the person who helped her most, the people who helped her most were Louise and Ed Bushmeer. And Luis Tonkovich and Ed Busher. I'm as a I sh saved I uh also am a um still have my my name and didn't take my husband. So I respect that very deeply but I always thought that was cool growing up I should say too. Um but Ed and Louise were always super helpful uh with my family and my mom and her political career. Um, and then as I got into to office and ran as well, Louise and Ed would talk with me and give me advice. And whether we agreed or not, as Alderman from third said, we could always have the conversations. Uh, and I would run into Ed at the retired city employee meetings and he would always know, frankly, more than I ever did or do about what's happening in the city of St. Louis. And so I would learn something from him every time we spoke. Um, I can't imagine losing a parent. So, I just feel so much for you all. And, uh, yeah, reach out if you ever need anything. Thank you.

Any further discussion? Alderman from the fourth. Thank you, Madam President, members of the board. Uh, I would move that we pass this resolution in bank. It's been moved by I withdraw my motion and I would like to be added as

Okay. So not if there is anyone else who would like to be added as a co-sponsor um please raise your hand and the clerk will add you alderwoman from the sixth. All right that is there any further discussion? seeing none. Um, I also just want to say that Ed is an amazing person. Um, I mean, he wasn't he was always willing to sit down with anyone, have a conversation, no matter how difficult it was. Um, we truly lost somebody that was such a wonderful public servant for our city for such a long time. It's very rare to find. Um, and so on behalf of the board, we are so sorry for your loss. Um, but we, you know, will reme remember Ed in perpetuity for all of the great deeds did for our city. So, thank you. Okay, if we could please get on the steps here to uh get a picture and um to commemorate Ed. It wasn't it wasn't it wasn't passion during the

reason for collaps. Okay. Any introduction of honored guests? Any introduction of honored guests? Seeing none, alderman from the 14th, you are recognized on the motion for the approval of the minutes from Friday, March 20th, 2026.

Thank you, Madam President. Members of the board, I move that we approve the minutes from Friday, March 20th, 2026. It's been moved by the alderman from the 14th, seconded by the alderwoman from the 7th, that we approve the minutes from Friday, March 20th, 2026. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor signify by saying I. I.

Opposed. Motion carries. Report of city officials. The report of city officials can be found in A B C D of the agenda and has been placed in the Google Drive for your review. Dear members of the board, I have the pleasure to submit the following individual for appointment to the Gardenide Subdivision Special District Business District, Laida Ghart. I respectfully request your approval on these appointments. Sincerely, Cara Spencer. We'll see up first. Okay.

Okay. Okay.

Yeah. Just just want to be able to see for her appointment. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That was just

dear members of the board, I have the pleasure to submit the following individuals for appointment to the science center sub business advisory board. The appointment of Maurice Johnson Malone, John Berglin. I respectfully request your approval of the appointment era Spencer. Alderman from the ninth, you're recognized of Mayor Spencer's appointments to the science center subdist advisory board. Thank you. Uh I would move that we accept the mayor's appointment of Marius Johnson Malone and John Berglin to the science center subdist advisory board.

It's been moved by the alderman from the ninth, seconded by the alderman from the third that we approve mayor Spencer's appointments to the science center subdist advisory board. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor signify by saying I. I opposed. There's something. Motion carries. Dear members of the board, I have the pleasure to submit the following individual for reappoint to the board of adjustment. The reappoint of George hit. I respectfully request your approval of these appointments. Sarah Spencer. Alderwoman from the 7th. You are recognized on Mayor Spencer's appointment to the board of adjustment.

Thank you, Madam President. Members of the board, I would request to hold this today. Uh, madame clerk, please make note that we are going to hold this appointment for today.

So noted. Dear members of the board, I have the pleasure to submit the following individual for appointment to the Gordon Side Subdivision Special Business District. The appointment of Laida Ghart. I respectfully request your approval of these appointments. Sincerely, Caris Spence. Alderman from the 5th. You are recognized of Mayor Spencer's appointment to the Garden Side Subdivision Special Business District. Alderwoman from the first. Do you want to take that?

Yes, I do. The mic doesn't work. Hello. Uh, thank you, Madam President, members of the board. On behalf of the alderman from the fifth, I would like to accept the or make a motion to accept the Garden Side Subdivision Special District appointment. Second. It's been moved by the alderwoman from the first, seconded by the alderman third that we approve Mayor Spencer's appointment to the Garden Side Subdivision Special Business District. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor signify by saying I. I opposed. I motion carries.

Dear members of the board, I have the pleasure to submit the following individual for appointment to the school or special business. The appointment of Jim Rick, the appointment of Les Fields. I respectfully request your approval on these appointments. Sincerely, Cara Spencer. Alderwoman from the 7th. You are recognized on Mayor Spencer's appointments to the Sulard Special Business District. Thank you, Madam President and members of the board. On behalf of the alderwoman 8th, I would like to make a motion appoint Jim Rick and Les Fields to the Special Business District. It's been moved by the alderwoman from the seventh, seconded by men from the third that we approve mayor Spencer's appointments to the Sulard Special Business District. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor signify by saying I.

I. Opposed? I motion carries. That's the point of report. That's the extent of the report of city officials. Anyone wish to take any bills or resolutions off of any of our informal calendar? Uh, alderwoman from the 12th. Madam President, members of the board, I'd like to take I move to remove board bill 59 from the uh informal calendar, third reading informal calendar and move it to third reading consent. Please, Madame Clerk, please make note of that. So noted. Does anyone else wish to take any bills or resolutions off of any of our informal calendars?

Seeing none, first reading of board bills. We have none. We can dispense with line item 12. Reference to committee of board bills. We have none. And dispense with line item 13. Second reading report of standing committees. We have none. And dispense with line item 14. Report of special committees. We have none. We can dispense with line item 15. Board bills for perfection consent. We have none. Can dispense with line item 16. Board bills for perfection. We have none. Please dispense with line item 17. Uh report of engrossment.

Board bill 13 149 152. Committee sub as amended. 163 1668 175 138 151 159 board bill 59 169 169 I'm sorry and board bill 59 third reading and final passage of board bill's consent

board bill 113 board bill 149 board bill 152 2 committee sub as amended. Board bill 163, board bill 166, board bill 168, board bill 16, 175 and and 59, alderman from the 14th. Thank you, Madam President, members of the board. I would like to put board bill 152 committee substitute as amended on the regular third reading and final passage calendar. So noted on the regular Okay.

Yes ma'am. Please make note of that. So with that uh alder uh alderman from the 14th you are recognized on the motion to adopt the third reading final passage of board bills on the consent calendar. Thank you madam president members of the board. I move that we pass the third reading final passage for bills on the consent calendar. Second. It's been moved by the alder uh men from the 14th, seconded by the alderman from the third that we adopt the third reading final passage of board bills on the consent calendar. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, madame clerk, please call the role. A woman swager.

I alenberg. Hi Alman Conn. Hi Alderman Ryan. Hi Alderman Devote. Hi Alderwoman Velasquez. Hi. Alderwoman Sonier. Hi. Alderwoman Cox Antui. Alderman Brownie. Alderwoman Clark Hubard. I alderwoman Keys. Alderwoman Tus. I. Alderwoman Boyd.

Alderman Aldridge. Hi. President Green I. Alderwoman Cox Antwe. Alderwoman Boyd. We have 13 I votes. By your vote, you sustain the motion from the alderman from the 14th to third read and finally pass the aforementioned bills. Third reading and final passage of board bills. Board bill number 149 sponsored by oop sorry 138

130 I'm sorry 138 sponsored by alderwoman Sonier President Green alderman con alderwoman Swisser alderwoman keys alderman browning alderman Aldridge alderwoman Clark Hubard an ordin is declaring the moratorium until to January 31st, 2031 on all approvals for non-municipal detention facilities proposed within the city of St. Louis, including the approval of building permits, special use permits, plan review, project plans, and development plans where the subject matter of the project is a proposed non-municipal detention facility.

Alderwoman from the 7th, you are recognized on the third reading and final passage of board bill 138. Thank you, Madam President, and members of the board. I would like to make a motion to third read and finally pass board bill 138. Second. It's been moved by the alderwoman from the 7th, seconded by the alderman from the 14th that we third read and finally pass board bill 138. Alderwoman, you may proceed.

Thank you, Madam President, members of the board. Um, we had quite a robust discussion over this before. We also had a very robust committee hearing, so I will not go into depth. Um, I think the summary is excellent at comprising what this does, which is proposing a moratorum on non-municipal detention facilities for any sort of special use permit or other land uses within our city. Any further discussion? Any further discussion? Seeing none, then it's been moved by the alderwoman from the 7th, seconded by the alderman from the 14th that we third reading pass board bill 138. Madam clerk, please call the role. Alderwoman Spicer, hi.

Alman Odenberg, present. Alderman Cole, hi. Alderman Ryan, hi. Alderman Devote, present. Alderwoman Velasquez, hi. Alderwoman Sonier. Hi. Alderwoman Cox Antui. Alderman Brownie. Hi. Alderwoman Clark Hubard.

I alderwoman Keys. Alderwoman Tus. Alderwoman Boyd. Alderman Aldridge. President Green I Alderwoman Cox Antiwoman Terwoman Keys Alderwoman Tuserwoman Boyd we have nine I votes Tyus um no

we have nine N I votes one no vote three to present. By your vote you sustain the motion from the alderwoman from the seventh to third read and finally pass board bill 138. Bo 151 sponsored by Alderman Aldridge President Green alderman Odenberg Alderman Orion alderwoman Sonier Alderwoman Velasquez alderwoman Clark Hubbert. an ordinance to amend the public nuisance ordinance by repealing certain sections and adding new ones to create a nuisance review board. Alderman from the 14th, you're recognized on the third reading final passage board bill 151. Thank you, Madam President. Members of the board, I move the third read and final pass board bill 151.

It's been moved by the alderman from the 14th, seconded by the alderwoman from the 7th that we third read and finally pass board bill 151. Alderman, you may proceed. I renew my motion. Any further discussion? Any further discussion? Seeing none, oh, alderwoman from the 12th.

President, members of the board, I again arise uh to oppose this board bill. Um I'm finally getting nuisances closed in my ward after years of nonfunction. I do not believe this. In fact, I know this not to be a good board bill, not this poorly written. And to give the city councelor the control of whether to prosecute uh or present evidence is just unreal. Um a few years ago, older woman, can you try talking a little louder? We're having a hard time hearing you on this end. And our volume is up as loud as it goes. Can you hear me now? Cuz this is Let me see if I can do something with my volume. Okay.

Turn. You still can't hear me. We can hear you. You're just very faint. I have it on the same settings I always have it on when I'm on Zoom. Let's Let me see if I can turn it up anymore. It's up as high as I can. We can turn it.

Yeah, we can hear you. Just talk loudly.

Okay. Um again, I rise in opposition of this board bill. There are uh first of all fatal flaws to this board bill. Um and one of them is to let the city councelor have that much control over our nuisances. In the first place, they hijacked our nuisance uh process by saying we had to do certain things and go through them. We never gave the city councelor the ability to control our nuisance process and now we are doing that. That is a big mistake. Um when I continued to ask for data from the city councelor because North St. Louis was not able to close nuisance nuisance properties down or when they did they open them right back up. Then the city counselor said they couldn't get me the data or they didn't have it by ward. And then finally I was able to ask them what they had closed in the last 5 years um under their process. And in five years they closed five pieces of property in north all of North St. Louis. And this is when we had 28 wards five places that they were able to close and two or three of them open back up. So they have no business in control of anything. Michael Garvin specifically should not be in control of it. He's been the bride all these many bride m bridesmaid all these many times and now all of a sudden he is actually the bride. That's scary to me. Um part of the problems with the gas stations that we have in North St. Louis is with his uh his uh um quiet compl with the board of adjustment to push those B gas stations into North St. Louis, it's particularly the Salamus gas station. So that is a problem. The whole problem of saying that if you don't live from 300 if you don't live 350 ft from a nuisance that you cannot sign the petition is just asine. It makes no

sense. It's as though you say that the community itself cannot be affected by a neighborhood nuisance. And I'll give you an example at the corner of and these are all nuisances that we had closed when we were the 20th ward close to being closed and then when they redistrict they put them into different wards and open them back up. But an example would be at the corner of Hammond and Uclan. Everybody in Kingsway East knows it. And they've had shootings, shootouts, everything that you can talk about. We've taken phones away. We took Luther away. We put uh cameras up and nobody could seem to do anything much like the store at Shreve and Anderson until the feds came in on February the 13th and closed it. Thank you, federal agents and I want to say the St. Louis city police and the St. Louis uh county police all came in together, but the feds seem to be able to close things that we can't close in our own community. They find 35 people operating illegally in these stores and gas stations in North St. Louis and a few in North County, but the city police could not find them. But at this particular spot at Hammond Place and Uclid, there was a uh a fallout and a fall. People got into an argument and a fight and then they could not go. Most of our streets are closed over in the 4900 block off of Kings Highway. So they went to the middle of the 4900 block of Code Brilliant and they fired got out the car and had a gun battle in the middle of the street. The people on the street had nothing to do with it except for that they had to run for their life. And our current city marshal can tell you about this because he was the police chief then. And as soon as I talked to him, he said, "Orderoman, you've been dealing with this for 20ome years. You had that closed almost a a few uh years ago." I did have it almost closed until redistricting and then it was it's back

open again and it's notorious. But to say that the people who live in the 4900 block of of Co Brilliant cannot sign that petition as a nuisance and our whole community cannot sign that petition as a nuisance. It's asinine. It just makes no sense. Okay, for the people who want to do it because they were affected. So you don't put in there anybody affected by it. You say you have to be 350 ft and you're following something that we do for how to get a liquor license which is another asinine thing because when we have liquor and people are hanging out on the corners like they do are doing with the with the salamas at the corner of Kings Highway and like they used to do when they were at Uclit. It affects the whole community and people are driving by and they're having shootouts and people are almost getting shot and you're saying, "Well, if you don't live uh 350 ft from it, then you can't sign a petition to say that it's a nuisance." That's ridiculous. And then the people who have decided have to live so near to it that they're scared that if they're signing something for a nuisance that the person who was doing it is going to come knocking at their door. So again, as I spoke about before, um we we we we joke about the thin blue line. We joke about it and say, "Oh, well, we know about it." But it really means that the police don't tell on each other and the police have openly told me that they don't because I'm scared that they won't have my back or whatever. So if we have a thin blue line, the police department, how can we not have that same kind of thing in communities? If Miss Jones lives next door to somebody who is terrorizing, she may not want to uh sign that petition, but down the street, they're still terrorizing that very street. They may want to cuz they're a little far far removed. Or just the fact that they're having to deal with the terror. If they're driving

up and down the street and they're shooting up or shooting in the air or whatever, but they only live at one spot, it doesn't mean they're not nuisances in the entire block or neighborhood. And one of the ways that you can find a nuisance in North St. Louis often is because you see all of a sudden people disappear all around the nuisance. everything co uh covenant house salamas that place that's right on you hammer place the people are moved away they leave that's the same thing that was happening at Anderson and stream they just vacate the property because nobody has done anything so instead of writing something that is much more comprehensive and and making sure that it gets done we're making something that's going to make it much harder for people to be involved in the process and so I want to come back cuz we you you probably going to pass this, but when I come back, I want you to take the 12 word out of it cuz we are getting things done now. And I do not want this to be a thing of somebody that lives four houses down is not within the radiance and cannot sign a petition although they are being affected. So if I get shot by a bullet and because I live five houses too far, but the the nuisance originated at one spot, but the nuisance doesn't stay in a same spot all the time. It uh runs comes down the street for Christmas Eve of of uh Christmas 2025. We had two separate shootings which I can never remember in my life in the 40 the 51 and 50 maybe two or 51 and 1500 block of North I can't remember which one but they all spilled out into Kings Highway. They've been a nuisance problem but that stuff doesn't stay stagnant. A nuisance can become a lot of things. So just to be able to say you can only sign that

petition at one spot is ridiculous. The other thing we talked about is uh there's no mandatory language in here. We're giving this over to this group of people and um looking at what we're looking at for the board of adjustment and um the people who were appointed to these things, there's been a wink and a nod that these kind of nuisances belong in North St. Louis that nobody can do anything about it or shouldn't. No, not that they can't. They don't do anything about it. Um because oh well it's got to be somewhere as John Kohler once said about something in that's now in the uh 12th ward. It doesn't have to be any such place. It doesn't have to be any place. It ought to be closed down the same way. The same way you close down Salama across from Dar Webby is the same way Salama should have never been at the corner of King's Highway in St. Lucas Avenue. There should not be shift. We should not be going through a uh a a war zone. Um when I come if I come to the port of all I don't I don't drive by slamas because that's north that's north of me. I have to buy drive by crown crown um gas station at Martin Luther King and Kings Highway. I should not have to drive by that place that has had all of these reports. Why are they in existence? What is it? I don't live 350 ft from it, but I'm still affected by it. So that is a this is a terrible criteria about what a nuisance is and it is not something that is in the best interest of the community. Now you may think it's good for you pass it for your wards but the 12th w I'm coming back and asked to be taken out of that because it makes no sense and there are some things that are nuisance on its face. If you're having gunfire that doesn't need to be a nuisance board that doesn't need to be anything. You're a nuisance. The way you make a thing such as a swimming pool,

you a swimming pool in itself is not a nuisance, but it is an attractiveness.

It attracts nuisances. So people who say, "Well, it's not such and such fault because all those people are hanging out there and shooting and stuff," you're an attractive nuisance. When it's closed down, you don't have it. And a prime example again is Shrie and Anderson in the Pinrose neighborhood. Took us 12 years to get that stuff closed down, but the corner is quiet. It was a nuisance, but it was also an attractive nuisance. So, if we're going to say that if you uh are affected by driving by and gunfire almost shoots you or something happens to you, but you can't sign a petition to get rid of it because you don't live uh 350 ft is a mistake. We should not have things like this. We should have mandatory language. This bill is not a good bill. And setting up a board in which more than likely the very people who are affected in North St. Lewis will not be representative is a mistake and it should not happen. And um I want a roll call cuz this is bad legislation. Any further discussion? Any further discussion? Seeing none, alderman from the 14th, you're recognized to close. I renew my

It's been moved by the alderman from the 14th, seconded by the older woman from the seventh that we third reading pass board bill 151. Madame clerk, please call the role. Alderwoman Switzer, hi. Alderman Odenberg, I. Alderman Con, I. Alderman Ryan, hi. Alderman Deote, no. Alderwoman Velasquez, hi. Alderwoman Sonier. Hi. Alderwoman Cox Entry. Alderman Brownie. Hi. Alderwoman Clark Hubard. Hi. Alderwoman Keys.

No. Alderwoman Ty. No. Alderwoman Boyd. No. Alderman Aldridge. Hi. President Green. I Alderwoman Cox Antwe alderwoman Boyd we have 10 I votes and three no votes.

By your vote you sustain the motion from the alderman from the 14th to third read and finally pass board bill 151. Board bill 169 sponsored by Alderwoman Keys. an ordinance amending ordinance number 7183 effective January 1st, 2024 by modifying the terms of of real estate tax abatement. Alderwoman from the 11th, you are recognized on the third reading and final passage of board bill 169. Can you hear me? Thank you. Um, thank you, Madam President, members of the board. Um board bill 169 um is for the Kemp Stbridge um hotel that was supposed to ward that is rather supposed to be built here in uh the elevated 11th ward. Uh changes were necessary uh in order for the buildout to happen. uh due to the increased cost of material uh they had to modify the plan. Instead of two hotels being built, now they will build one, but they're extending the um range and scope of the one hotel that they are going to build with the second one to happen later on. Um they did increase the um the uh the abatement slightly uh from 75 to 90%. So with that uh I ask for your favorable consideration on board bill 169.

She'd like to make a motion to third reading. I'm so sorry I said all of that. I'd like to uh ask for that you uh third read third read uh board bill 169. Second. It's been moved by the alderwoman from the 11th, seconded by the alderman from the 14th that we third read and finally pass board bill 169. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, madame clerk, please call the role. Alderable Switzer. Alderman Odenberg. Hi, Alderman Conn. Hi, Alderman Orion. Alderman Devote.

Hi, Alderwoman Velasquez. Hi, Alderwoman Sonier. Alderwoman Cox Anti, Alderman Brownie. Hi, Alderwoman Clark Hubard. I al Keys. I Alderwoman Tyus I Alderwoman Boyd Alderman Aldridge I President Green I think I I'm sorry

I alderwoman Cox Antwine Alderwoman Boyd we have 12 I votes one no vote but your vote Please sustain the motion from the alderwoman from the 11th to third read and finally pass board bill 169. Thank you.

Board bill 152 committee sub as amended sponsored by Alderman Aldridge and President Green, an ordinance which amends certain sections of chapter 8 of the St. Louis revised codes to streamline mobile food vendor operations. Alderman from the 14th, you are recognized on the third reading, final passage, board bill 152, committee substitute as amended.

Thank you, Madam President. Members of the board, uh I'm uh before I make a motion, I just want to talk a little bit about board bill 152 committee substitute as amended. Um so, board bill 152 uh or 152 committee substitute as amended uh was a bill to cut the red tape around uh our current food trucks that we have in the city of St. Louis. Um, this is something that myself and uh the president office have at least been embarking on for the last two years of legislation. We're doing my history. Apparently, this has been an ongoing conversation at the board of alderman for years. Uh there has been uh this food truck code has been uh redone almost uh 12 times and the goal of the legislation again was to make it easier for uh food trucks to operate. So, in the legislation, uh, you've seen that, uh, we took a different approach from the year before. Uh, last year, there was a board bill that allowed food trucks that I sponsored to kind of go citywide. Instead, we took a more honed in approach and we created these food truck markets where food trucks would only be able to operate in certain zones. One of the zones that we looked at creating was uh, 8th and Market Street going to about 16th in Market. We also looked at 18th and 19th in Olive. Uh with the collaboration and help of a lot of my colleagues, I do want to thank Alderwoman Sier for coming up with some areas that worked in Cherokee Street. I want to thank the Alderwoman from the 11th ward. We're working with Grand Art Center with coming up an area that worked in the elevated 11th ward as well as Alderwoman Jamie Cox Antwe with working with areas that uh potentially could have worked in Sulard. And with these designated spots right now, it will only allow them to be able to operate in those areas. Right now, when folks try to go get their licenses for food trucks, which eventually also need to be addressed because they have to get like free for license. Uh once they actually get their license, they realize

that they actually cannot operate uh anywhere pretty much in the city of St. Louis. So, by creating these zones, we make it a little bit easier. and I wanted to take an approach of uh not going in areas that may not work for uh other parts of the city. Um I I remember having a conversation I think last year with the alder woman of the 12 ward uh and taking a smaller approach when we held the bill to kind of relook at where these uh locations could work. And I appreciate her actually bringing that up because I think this year we came up with a bill uh instead of just saying citywide and going outside of my ward, but uh taking an approach and working with other alders I think was a kind of the best way. Expanding the hours from 11 to 1:00 I think uh is really important in the areas that we looked at of uh creating these food truck zones. A lot of locations or a lot of the businesses that are around these areas uh restaurants close at 10:00. Not saying that the bar is not still open, but if somebody want to grab a bite to eat, the kitchen is closed at 10:00. So, giving people a different option uh to be able to have food and after they either leave Fox or sometimes I go to Grand Art Center and I go to Sophie's, uh there's no kitchen or just staying downtown and not having a variety option of food. Food trucks can really, I think, um fill in that void that we're lacking. As we look at Clayton is looking at creating a pilot program to allow food trucks. Other cities from Nashville uh to Louisiana um to well Louisiana, New Orleans, all the same. That's the state. Louisiana, the city um to California have figured out how to make food trucks work within uh their city. And I know my colleagues have been getting inundated with a bunch of emails on uh food trucks and the concern that they have of I think mainly extending the hours from 11 to 1. And in my opinion, as somebody who live downtown

and represent downtown, I do just want to go on record that people that are coming downtown, I can tell you this or probably the Grand Art Center. Um they're not going to those locations for a food truck. They're going to those establishments. Uh, and in the meantime, while they're at those establishments in the kitchen cos, why not have a food truck? And, you know, I really hate I think the narrative that has been uh out there that if we allow food trucks downtown that we're going to cause more crime and more issues. Um, and yes, we need to figure out how do we uh work with our law enforcement to make sure we stop the revving of the engine. Again, I live down here. I hear it. make sure that we don't make downtown be a place that uh folks want to come and have a good time and disrupt a piece of residents that live here. But I can say firsthand I believe food trucks isn't going to be that reason that people are going to want to come downtown to other cities. I do want to thank all my colleagues uh here at the board of alderman because this bill was on the consent calendar meaning that on March 20th when it was for a voice vote uh there was no push back, nobody voted no. There was healthy conversation with me and the old woman from the 12th. There was healthy conversation with me and the old woman from the 13th. Um, and I think we got the bill to a very good spot. I also want to thank the food truck association as well as the restaurant association. Anytime you can have uh a restaurant association that represents 700 plus restaurant brick and mortars and food trucks come together and say that they both agree, I think is a win. There's definitely been this narrative out there that by passing this bill that we're going to hurt brick and mortars. We even uh you know right now in our ordinance there's a a radius that food trucks cannot be 150 ft uh close to a brick and mortar. One of the things that we took from the restaurant association in collaboration was we increased it from 150 ft to 200 feet understanding that our brick and mortars are essential to uh to the city of St. Louis postco our brick and mortars are struggling.

Also see that by having food trucks we have a lot of vacancy on these storefronts and if we can help food trucks uh build uh the wealth to hopefully open up a brick and mortar I can see it as a pipeline where people that have food trucks automatically can go into a brick and mortar. I will say um I do take some uh responsibilities. One of the things that from the alderwoman from the first have said, sometimes you don't always have to rush things and get it right. I think I've heard that also from the alder woman from the 12th. When we looked at this code again, food trucks have been uh this code alone has been amended about 12 times. There's so much outdated stuff in the food truck code that still mentioned the 24th ward and not allowing them there. And there's no 24th ward. There's things that mention downtown a creating a downtown fund for parks which that fund never exists. There was one small error as we uh amended the bill and I know a lot of my colleagues got uh an email from the Cardinals on this clean zone uh that they talk about that was implemented probably in 2021 or 22. It was a bill passed by Phyllis Young that created areas where food trucks couldn't operate mainly downtown. Now, while I do disagree with the Cardinals that this bill I think still excluded them out because we kept the South Downtown Project, we made it where only food trucks can operate in certain areas. And we made it very clear that licensed sidewalks still only have to operate in the 19 areas approved by the streets department, which is not in the downtown area. Um, sometimes things don't have to be rushed and uh, if their legal is saying there could be an issue by taking those streets out, you know, we come back May 1st. I do look forward to working with the Cardinals uh, to make sure that they're at the table to make sure that we put that correct language in. Uh, with that language in, I appreciate their full support of the future bill that will be coming. I look

forward to continuing to work with my colleagues to hopefully get the 15 support again to make sure that it's done right. Um, and we'll be looking to file this bill very uh soon when we're able to file bills May 1st because I think it is important that uh we do cut red tape uh not only for food trucks but for so many different uh entrepreneurs and for constituents that are trying to do business here in the city of St. Louis. So again, I do want to thank everybody that's been at the table. This is not the end, but this is just an ongoing work in progress. I'm sure the third time is going to be a charm when we file the bill early May 1st. And with that, Madam President, I look forward to putting board bill 152 committee substitute as amended on the informal calendar. Third read and third read and formal calendar.

Madame clerk, please place board bill 152 committee substitute as amended on the informal calendar. So noted that

report of the finally passed and signed by the president. Bill 113, 149, 163, 166, 168, 175, 138, 151, 169, 59. All other business being suspended, the president shall in open session affix her signature here to that these may become law.

Right there. Thank you. First reading resolutions and reference to committees.

We have none. You can dispense with line item 22. Second reading of resolutions, committee reports and adoption. Report from the personnel committee. At this time, I would like to entertain a motion that meeting of the full board of alderman meeting be closed to the public under the provisions of 610.0213 0213 of the Missouri Resp by statutes in order to discuss matters related to the hiring, firing, disciplining or promoting of employees at the board of aldermen. Second. Motion like to make a motion that we go into close session for the hiring, fire, and disciplining of employees under that code that the president said. Second.

It's been moved by the alderman from the 14th, seconded by the alderwoman from the 7th that we go into close session. Uh, madame clerk, please call the role. Alderwoman Schwiser, hi. Alderman Odenberg, hi. Alderman Conn, hi. Alderman Ryan, hi. Alderman Devote, hi. Alderwoman Velasquez, hi. Alderwoman Sonier, hi. Alderwoman Cox Anti. Alderman Browning. Hi, Alderwoman Clark Hover. I Alderwoman Keys. Hi. Alderwoman Tyus.

I Alderwoman Boyd. Alderman Aldridge. Hi. President Green. I. Alderwoman Coxenti. Alderwoman Boyd. We have 14 eye votes.

By your vote, you sustain the motion. STL TV, if you could please place us in close session. And if anyone who is not a member of the board of alderman with the exception of Sharita could please vacate the chambers that includes press and we are back. Alderman from the 14th you are recognized on the motion to adopt the courtesy resolution consent count. Thank you, Madam President. Members of the board, I move adopt the courtesy resolution consent calendar.

It's been moved by the alderman from the seconded by the alderwoman from the 7th that we adopt the courtesy resolution consent calendar. Is there any discussion? Uh, seeing none, all those in favor signify by saying I. I. Opposed? I carries. I miscellaneous and unfinished business. We have none. announcements. Tuesday from Oh, go ahead. Tuesday, April 21st, 2026, full board meeting. The annual meeting is at 11:00 a.m. in the chambers. Thursday, April 23rd, 2026, personnel administration will have a hearing at 11:00 a.m. in the Kennedy room. That's the extent of the announcement. Unless you want to be

Any further announcements? Alderman from the fourth. Thank you, Madam President. Members of the board, uh, I would request a moment of silence for Officer Gregory Triplet, who, uh, passed away earlier this month during a training exercise. We could all please stand and give a moment of silence. What else?

Alderwoman from the seventh. Thank you, Madam President, members of the board. Um, I would like to be added as a I would I would like to be added just request to be added as a co-sponsor to resolution 285. Unfortunately, we have already passed the courtesy resolution calendar. I thought maybe Okay. Uh, alderman from the fourth or sorry, 11th and then fourth.

Thank you, Madame President, members of the board. Uh I just like to announce that today I have two brother's birthdays. They are 10 years apart born on the same day. The older my brother Mark passed away in 2021 of CO. Uh but my brother Paul is still here and so I'm just wishing them a very happy birthday. Also let we're going to celebrate our clerk after we walk out of here. And I know that everybody's probably ready to get a little something to eat. So, please join us in the Is that a meeting room, break room, multi-purpose room, leisure room, uh please join us there. Thank you. Alderman from the fourth.

Thank you, Madam President. Members of the board, having voted on the prevailing side of the courtesy resolution calendar, I move that we reconsider. Second. It's been moved by the alderman from the fourth, seconded by the alderman from the 14th that we reconsider the courtesy resolution calendar. Uh, madame clerk, please call the role. Alderwoman Schwitzer, I. Alderman Odinberg, I love you. Alderman Con. Pass. Alderman Nion. Hi. Alderman Devote. Hi. Alderwoman Vellesquez. Alderwoman Sier. Alder woman Cox Antwe. Alderman Brownie.

Hi. Alderwoman Clark Huard. I Alderwoman Keys. Hi. Alderwoman Tus. I. Alderwoman Boyd. Alderman Aldridge. Hi. President Green. I Alderman Odenberg. Alderman Conn7 present. Alderwoman Velasquez 979. Alderwoman Cox Anti. Alderwoman Boyd. Wait,

11 eye votes and one voted present. By your vote, you sustain the motion. We will now go back and take up the courtesy resolution consent calendar. Alderman from the 14th, you are recognized on the motion to adopt the courtesy resolution consent calendar. Thank you, Madam President. Members of the board, I move that we adopt again the courtesy resolution calendar. It's been moved by the alderman from the 14th, seconded by the alderwoman from the 7th, and we adopt the courtesy resolution calendar. Alderwoman from the 7th. Thank you, Madam President, members of the board. I would like to request to be add as co-sponsor to resolution 284 to 292.

If you could please add alerwoman from the 7th to resolutions 284 2824 to 292 I'm having a hard time hearing you. 284 to 292 284 to 292. No. Alderwoman from the six. You can also add me as a co-sponsor to those same resol. add alderwoman from the six to those same resolutions. Is there anyone else that is looking to be added as a co-sponsor? Alderman from the third.

Uh you can add me as a co-sponsor to those resolutions as well. And in addition to those, I would like to be added as a co-sponsor to 296 or I'm sorry 297, 298, and 299. So not madame clerk, please make note of that. Uh alderwoman from the 11th. Thank you, Madam President, members of the board. I'll take all of the ones that Sonier had and add on all the same ones that Alderman um had. Thank you. I know. Madame Clerk, please make note of that. Don't know it. Any further additions? Alderwoman from the six. Say,

uh thank you, Madam President. I would like to be added to uh Alderwoman Keys courtesy resolutions. Those I believe are 290 29 292 to 298 if I'm allowed to speak for my colleague from the seventh. She would also like to be added but I will I'm sorry you said 292. Yes 298. All of keys. Okay. 292 through 298. So noted. You got the same for me? Absolutely. There anyone else looking to be added? Alderman from the 14th. Thank you, Madam President, members of the board. I like to be added to every resolution.

So noted, Madame Clerk, please make note of that.

Right. Uh, alderwoman from the 12th, I just want to announce I will be a no vote on previous votes from now on if we're going to do this. Okay. Wow. Okay. Thank you. Let's go home. Folks, thank God we couldn't hear. You hear that? Right. Any further additions? Alder McKe is up. Uh, alderwoman from the 11th. Thank you, madam. I I would like to be added to all resolutions as well. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Please make note of that. So noted.

All right. Any further additions going once, going twice, going three times? All right. It has been moved by the alderman from the 14th, seconded by the alder uh woman from the 7th that we adopt the courtesy resolution consent calendar. All those in favor signify by saying I. I.

Opposed? Motion carries. Any further announcements? Any further announcements? Well, before we close today, I would um since this is our last meeting of the uh 2526 session, I would just like to extend a few words of gratitude to the board of uh board at large for your work this session. Um today we may close the book on the 2526 legislative session. Uh and I think a lot of us recognize this was a session that was unprecedented in a lot of way. um is in spite of a lot of the challenges we had, we made some um progress doing things like expanding access to affordable housing. Um thanks to Alderwoman Velasquez, we raised occupancy limits. Thanks to Alderman Con, we reduced lot sizes to make it easier to develop. Thanks to Alderwoman Clark Hubard, we finally legalized accessory dwelling units in our city, so maybe one day my parents can uh live in my backyard. Um, we also ensured that funding for tenant protections through Prop S um was was created so that we could fund the impacted tenants fund right to council program and affordable housing trust fund long term. And I want to make sure we thank Alderman Norion for his work on that over several sessions. Uh we were able to reallocate ARPA funds thanks to Alderwoman Schweitzer to our water infrastructure getting some very critical funding that it needs. And just a few weeks ago, thanks to the work of Alderwoman Cox Antwe, we were able to renew the city's earnings tax with an unprecedented 85% of the vote. And thank you to everybody in this room who I know in uh engaged your constituents, educated them about

the importance of this tax so that we can continue to fund city services. We also passed two charter amendments that are going to be on the ballot this fall, modernizing our founding document to make us more into a 21st century. I want to thank Alderman Devote and Alderwoman Velasquez for all of their continued work on trying to update our very antiquated charter uh and do that very necessary work that doesn't always get all of the uh glitz and glamour that some other issues do.

Thanks to Alderman Con, we codified the economic justice scorecard to ensure that developments benefit the community, not just developers. And all of that said, we faced the biggest challenge that this body has faced in a very long time. Um, the May 16th tornado which sent an already underinvested part of our city reeling. But in the in the aftermath, I am so proud of this body in rising to the occasion. Um, in the immediate aftermath, we passed uh $43 million in um in relief funding with bills passed by Alderwoman Sonier, Alderwoman Clark Huard, Alderwoman Boyd, Alderman Aldridge. Um, and you know, every time we called a special meeting, and we had a lot of them this session, you all rose to the occasion and stepped up and came to make sure we could get that mo that funding moved quickly. So, I want to thank all of the members of the board for uh your flexibility in being able to do that. And while I'm extremely proud of the work we did, we know that people in our community still are not seeing or feeling the results that we need them to feel. And so, going into this next session, we know that tornado recovery has got to remain one of our top priorities. So, tomorrow marks the beginning of a new session. Um I hope to be there but as many of you know I am now nine months pregnant so you may not see me day now. Um but I hope to be there and uh and in that new session we have a lot of things that are going to be on our um forefront from the very first day. We're going to need to pass a balanced budget that addresses the needs of our residents and recognize that this is going to be one of the most difficult budget years that we have had in a long time. Um, we recognize that as we confront the uh

strain of the loss of local control of our police department, it's putting a lot of strain on other things in our city budget. So, this is going to be a um I'm going to thank the budget committee in advance for the work that you will be quickly doing this season. And with that, it's more crucial than ever that we hear from and acknowledge our residents concerns and priorities through this budget process as those revenues get harder to have. We also have to make sure that programs that this board has championed over the last few years, such as uh the right to council program, impacted tennis fund, and Prop NS continue to be funded. And we have to reaffirm our commitment to transparency and accountability by creating a public-f facing database of city contracts, reforming our procurement process, and establishing an office of compliance. We also know that the city needs to properly regulate data centers in ways that protect our residents from environmental and financial impacts. And we know that that legislation will be coming very early in the session as well. Um, and we need to update our MWBE program to ensure that our goals are aligned with the most recent dis study. And perhaps most importantly, we need to pass a bill that invests the RAM settlement funds thoughtfully and with a special mind paid to those who are still struggling due to last year's tornado. I think almost all of us are in alignment that those funds need to be allocated in some way toward north side redevelopment and tornado recovery, downtown investment, and citywide infrastructure. And I look forward to having those conversations uh over the coming months. And last, we know that we need heavy investment in our water infrastructure. For decades, we've delayed over $700

million in critical water investments and that our residents keep bearing the burden every time they have a water made break. And so, we will be working on ways to make sure that that water system is sustainable beyond just Rams funds. And this year, we know more than any other that we have the opportunity and the obligation to make a real difference for our city and our residents. And I just want to reiterate how proud I am of the work that this board put in this past uh session during some very difficult times during some times where we had to be very flexible. Um and I look forward to working with all of you to deliver and continue to deliver for the people who are counting on us in our next session. So thank you so much for your work this year. Alderman from the 14th, you are recognized on the motion to excuse.

Thank you, Madam President. Members of the board, I'd like to make a motion that we excuse the older woman from the eighth ward and the older woman from the 13th. 13th 13th here in the beginning, right? Oh, she was here. Yeah. Alderwoman from the eighth. I'd like to make a motion that we excuse the older woman from the eighth ward. It's been moved by the alderman from the 14th. seconded by the alderwoman from the seventh that we excuse the alderwoman from the eighth for necessary absence. All those in favor signify by saying I. Opposed. Motion carries. Alderwoman or aldermen from the 14th. You are recognized in the motion to adjourn. Snee die.

Thank you madam president members of the board. I'd like to make a motion that we adjourn snee die and come back Tuesday April sign. I'd like to make a motion we adjourn for siny die. It's been moved by the alderman from the 14th, seconded by the alderwoman from the 11th that we adjourn uh sin die until Tuesday, April 21st, 2026 in the board of alderman chambers at 11:00 a.m. into in order to start our new session. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Opposed. Motion carries. We are adjourned. Yeah. Oh, good.