St. Louis Board of Aldermen: New Board Bills 11/10/2016 (185-194)

City hall will be closed tomorrow for Veterans Day, so the St. Louis Board of Aldermen will meet today, review the agenda here..

The following ten Board Bills will be introduced at today’s meeting:

1. B.B.#185 – Krewson – An Ordinance recommended and approved by the Airport Commission and the Board of Estimate and Apportionment making certain findings with respect to the transfer of up to One Million Three Hundred Thousand Dollars of excess moneys that the City, the owner and operator of Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, intends to transfer from the Debt Service Stabilization Fund (“DSSF”) in accordance with Section 516.B of the Lambert-St. Louis International Airport Indenture of Trust between the City, as Grantor, and UMB Bank, N.A., as Trustee, to the “Annual Budget”, for current expenses of the government as detailed in EXHIBIT “1”, which is attached hereto and incorporated herein; containing a severability clause; and an emergency clause.
2. B.B.#186 – Krewson – An Ordinance recommended and approved by the Airport Commission, the Board of Public Service, and the Board of Estimate and Apportionment, establishing and authorizing a public works and improvement program (the “Airfield, Building & Environs Projects”) at Lambert-St. Louis International
   Airport, consisting of capital improvement projects to and for the terminal complexes, concourses, parking facilities, taxiways, runways, and associated Airport buildings, structures, and facilities, roadways and environs including certain equipment and vehicles, and other associated Airport improvements, as more fully described in the attached EXHIBIT A, entitled “FISCAL YEAR 2017 PROJECT/EQUIPMENT LIST”; and containing a severability and an emergency clause.
3. B.B.#187 – Krewson – An Ordinance recommended and approved by the Airport Commission, the Board of Public Service, and the Board of Estimate and Apportionment, establishing a public works project for the Lambert Airport Road Traffic Flow Improvement- Along Lambert International Blvd., Airflight Drive, Air Cargo Road Intersection Improvements, including Pan Tilt Zoom cameras, and signal optimization for intersections of Pear Tree Lane, Natural Bridge Road, Shops Drive, Cypress Road, and the entrances and exits to Terminal 2; and containing a public work emergency clause.
4. B.B.#188 – Krewson – An Ordinance recommended by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment authorizing and directing the Director of Airports and the Comptroller to enter into and execute the “First Amendment to Wine Concession Agreement AL-354” (“First Amendment”) to the Lambert-St. Louis International Airport® Wine Bar Concession Agreement AL-354, between the City and Taste Inc., d/b/a Vino Volo; containing a severability clause; and containing an emergency clause.
5. B.B.#189 – Bosley – An Ordinance recommended by the Planning Commission on November 2, 2016, to change the zoning of property as indicated on the District Map and in City Block 971, from both, “C” Multiple-Family Dwelling District and “G” Local Commercial and Office District to “C” Multiple-Family Dwelling District only, at 2601 Dayton, and containing an emergency clause.
6. B.B.#190 – Baringer – An Ordinance recommended by the Planning Commission, to change the zoning of property as indicated on the District Map, from “A” Single-Family Dwelling District and “F” Neighborhood Commercial District to the “F” Neighborhood Commercial District in City Block 5753.05 (4650 Hampton and 4601-21 Sulphur); and containing an emergency clause.
7. B.B.#191 – Coatar – An Ordinance recommended by the Planning Commission, to change the zoning of property as indicated on the District Map and in City Block 784 (1302-24 & 1324R Russell & 2128 Dolman), from “J” Industrial District to the “E” Multi- Family Dwelling District, so as to include the described parcels of land in City Block 784; and containing an emergency clause.
8. B.B.#192 – Vaccaro – An ordinance requiring the Corrections Commissioner to post a quarterly report on the City’s Division of Corrections website regarding administrative segregation of inmates at city detention centers; and containing a severability and an emergency clause.
9. B.B.#193 – Cohn – An ordinance approving a blighting study and redevelopment plan dated October 25, 2016, for the 3400 Meramec St. Redevelopment Area after finding that said Redevelopment Area (“Area”) is blighted as defined in Section 99.320 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri; and containing a severability clause.
10. B.B.#194 – Ortmann – An ordinance approving a Redevelopment Plan for the 2901-2909 Indiana Ave. Area, after finding that the Area is blighted as defined in Section 99.320 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri; and containing a severability clause.

The meeting begins at 10am, it can be watched online here.

Readers: Reduce The number of Vehicle Lanes on Eads Bridge

The recent non-scientific Sunday Poll was about the Eads Bridge,specifically the configuration of the top level.

Tere are the visuals from the poll:

Again, those voting were self-selected so the results aren’t scientific or representative of the regional mindset — just of 46 individuals. Still, these 46 do represent a small segment of the region — those interested in local infrastructure.

Q: How should the top of the Eads Bridge be configured in the future?

• 4 vehicle lanes, pedestrians Arch side only (existing) 12 [26.09%]
• 3 vehicle lanes, pedestrians Arch side only 5 [10.87%]
• 3 vehicle lanes, pedestrians both sides, wider on Arch side 5 [10.87%]
• 2 vehicle lanes, pedestrians Arch side only 3 [6.52%]
• 2 vehicle lanes, pedestrians both sides, wider on Arch side 14 [30.43%]
• 2 vehicle lanes, pedestrians both sides, equal width 3 [6.52%]
• 0 vehicle lanes, pedestrians full width 1 [2.17%]
• Unsure/No Answer 3 [6.52%]

Just over a quarter supported the maximum number of vehicle lanes (4). A smaller number (21.74%) supported reducing driving lanes from 4 to 3. A whopping 43.47% voted to reduce vehicle lanes from the existing 4 to 2. Only one person (2.17%) voted to eliminate cars altogether.

I support the option that happened to receive the most votes: “2 vehicle lanes, pedestrians both sides, wider on Arch side.” Why?

The pedestrian width is barely the minimum required while 4 vehicle lanes greatly exceeds demand. While I recognize the greatest pedestrian demand is on the Arch side, the North side is also interesting,

So why not just make it all pedestrian? That would be as bad as it is currently, just in a different way. When driving, I like to use the Eads Bridge to cross the Mississippi River — it is the only non-interstate bridge crossing the river downtown.

If anything, I think it is worthwhile to examine the configuration of the top deck and see if a change should be made in the future.

— Steve Patterson

Know Your Ballot: Presidential Candidates

Election day is tomorrow…finally.  Here is a list of prior posts starting at the bottom of the St. Louis ballot:

• Propositions & Amendments
• Judges
• Citywide, State Rep, US Rep Races
• Statewide Races, U.S. Senate

By now most, if not all, of you know how you’ll vote tomorrow. This post isn’t intended to get anyone to change their minds, my purpose is to help the undecided and to explain the rational behind my own choice.

FOR PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT (A VOTE FOR PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT IS A VOTE FOR THEIR ELECTORS) (VOTE FOR ONE PAIR)

I should point out the ballot language is different than every other race on the ballot. “A vote for their electors” is referring to Missouri’s 10 electors in the electoral college. Nationally, there are currently 538 electors  — Missouri’s 10 is less than 2% of the 270 needed to win.

This video is good, though it reinforces the two-party duopoly:

While two states (Maine & Nebraska) have proportional electors, all 10 in Missouri vote for the president/vp team with the most votes — winner take all. Since 1980 there have been nine presidential elections, with all Missouri’s electoral college votes going for the Republican pair seven times.  The two times Missouri went for the Democrat was Clinton/Gore in 1992 & 1996 — two decades ago. Obama/Biden came very close in 2008, but not in 2012.

For years Missouri went for the president that was elected, but not the last two elections. Missouri has lost its previous status as a bellwether/battleground state. The only reason Clinton & Trump visited Missouri since becoming nominees was to attend the recent debate at Washington University, or raise money. Missouri is considered safe red or leaning red, depending upon who you ask.

• FiveThirtyEight lists Trump as having a 90.3 chance of winning Missouri a week ago, up from 83.3%as of 10/6/2016.
• 270ToWin lists Missouri as sold red, not even pink.
• RealClearPolitics does show Missouri as pink, but Illinois as solid blue.

It’s safe to assume all 10 of our electoral college votes will go to Trump/Pence. Still, the electoral college map favors Clinton. The following video is from August so the polling data mentioned is dated, but the electoral math remains basically the same:

Missouri voters have five pairs to choose from, the two major parties and three 3rd parties:

• HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON / TIMOTHY MICHAEL KAINE – DEM
• DONALD J. TRUMP / MICHAEL R. PENCE – REP
• GARY JOHNSON / BILL WELD – LIB
• DARRELL L. CASTLE / SCOTT N. BRADLEY – CST
• JILL STEIN / AJAMU BARAKA – GRN

Last week I voted, but I didn’t vote straight party. With many offices on the ballot I voted for 6 Democrats, 3 Greens, 1 Libertarian, and 1 Republican. The presidential race is one where I voted Green — to help them try to get 5% of the popular vote nationwide.

Just 5 percent of the national vote for the Green Party Stein/Baraka ticket can be a true game-changer for American politics. It will qualify the Green Party for recognition as an official national party, and for federal funding in the 2020 presidential race proportional to the amount of votes received — at least $8 million to $10 million. It would also secure ballot access in a number of states that automatically grant ballot status if the presidential candidate receives anywhere from 1 percent to 5 percent of the vote (varying by state). It means the party can leap over the undemocratic barriers to ballot access for independent parties in many states, and help us lay the groundwork for a truly competitive challenge to the two-party system and the corporate rule it perpetuates. — Dr Jill Stein on MSNBC

In Missouri, Illinois, and most states, voters can vote for the ticket that best represents their values. Voters in battleground states like Florida & Pennsylvania, on the other hand, have a much tougher choice as their vote will help determine the final winner.

I didn’t want to waste my vote on a major party candidate when it could help a 3rd party in four years. This is my 8th time voting in a presidential election, though my pick won’t even get a fraction of one electoral college vote — I’ve never felt better about my decision.

— Steve Patterson

Sunday Poll: Would You Reconfigure The Top Deck Of The Eads Bridge, How?

Last month I attended the celebration marking the completion of work on the Eads Bridge to give it another 75 years of life.

After posting a photo to Twitter & Facebook, a discussion began on Twitter about the configuration of the top deck — it’s currently four vehicle lanes with a pedestrian part on the Arch side (South).

Today’s non-scientific poll is an attempt to see if readers have a preference about reconfiguring the bridge, or keeping it as is. This poll required visuals:

For the purpose of this poll bicyclists were not given a separate bike lane, they could take a vehicle lane or use the pedestrian area — including bike lanes would’ve have added too many options. The poll below has the above configurations listed in the same order. An unsure was added at the bottom.

The poll will be open for 12 hours, closing at 8pm.

— Steve Patterson

St. Louis Board of Aldermen: New Board Bills 11/4/2016 (174-184)

The following eleven (11) Board Bills will be introduced at today’s meeting of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen, review today’s agenda here. Note: this post was updated at 8:20am with links to each Board Bill.

• B.B.#174 – Roddy – An ordinance determining that the Tax Increment Financing Plans listed in Exhibit “A” are making satisfactory progress under the proposed time schedule for completion of projects therein.
• B.B.#175 – Roddy – An ordinance approving a Redevelopment Plan for 4398 Chouteau.
• B.B.#176 – Roddy – An ordinance approving a Redevelopment Plan for 916-26 Talmage and 4307 Chouteau.
• B.B.#177 – Coatar – An ordinance approving a Redevelopment Plan for 501-09 Olive and 303 N. Broadway.
• B.B.#178 – Spencer – An ordinance approving a Redevelopment Plan for 2920 Cherokee.
• B.B.#179 – Davis – An ordinance prohibiting the issuance of any 3 a.m. closing permits for any currently non-3 a.m. licensed premises within the boundaries of the Nineteenth Ward Liquor Control District, as established herein, for a period of three years from the effective date hereof; containing exceptions and allowing, during the moratorium period, for the renewal of or transfer of existing licenses, under certain circumstances, and containing an emergency clause.
• B.B.#180 – Ogilvie – An ordinance approving a blighting study and redevelopment plan dated September 27, 2016 for the 6654-56 Mitchell; and containing a severability clause.
• B.B.#181 – Kennedy – An ordinance repealing Ordinance 69396 and 69006 and in lieu thereof enacting a new ordinance prohibiting the issuance of any package or drink liquor licenses for any currently non-licensed premises within the boundaries of the Eighteenth Ward Liquor Control District; and containing an emergency clause
• B.B.#182 – Roddy – An ordinance dissolving the Special Allocation Funds for theGgrand and Shenandoah Redevelopment area and terminating the designation of a certain portion of the City, relating to that redevelopment area and authorizing certain actions relating thereto, and containing severability and emergency clauses.
• B.B.#183 – Roddy – An ordinance dissolving Special Allocation Funds for the Lasalle Building Redevelopment area and 500 N. Kingshighway Redevelopment area, and terminating the designation of certain respective portions of the City, relating to each as a redevelopment area and authorizing certain actions relating thereto and containing severability and emergency clauses.
• B.B.#184 – Roddy – An ordinance terminating a Modesa Development plan, downtown St. Louis Core Development and Streetscape Enhancements Development Area, as approved by ordinance No. 67320 and the development project and the designation of the development area described therein; dissolving the Special Allocation Fund; and containing a severability and emergency clause.

The meeting begins at 10am, it can be watched online here. I want to learn more about 182-184.

The Board of Aldermen usually meet on Friday mornings, but next week their meeting will be held on Thursday November 10th because city hall will be closed Friday the 11th for Veterans Day.

— Steve Patterson