St. Louis Board of Aldermen Week 28 of 2017-2018 Session

The St. Louis Board of Aldermen will meet at 10am today, their 28th week of the 2017-2018 session.

This week skips two bill numbers that weren’t on the Week 27 agenda. Numbers 219 & 220 are listed but don’t show an introduction date, perhaps they’ll be introduced soon. They’re not on today’s agenda — at least not the one I  viewed yesterday at 11am.

SEVEN (7) NEW BOARD BILLS ON THE AGENDA* FOR INTRODUCTION TODAY 1/5/18:

*Note that just because a bill is on the agenda doesn’t mean it’ll be introduced, similarly, bills not on the agenda might be introduced if they suspend the rules to do so. This information is based on the published agenda as of yesterday @ 8am:

• B.B.#221 – Ingrassia –An ordinance approving the petition to establish the EQH Market Street Community Improvement District; finding a public purpose therefor, and containing a severability clause and emergency clause.
• B.B.#222 – Pres. Reed –An ordinance directing the Public Safety Director to complete an annual Public Safety Plan and present the findings of the Plan to members of the Board of Aldermen and the Board of Aldermen Public Safety Committee.
• B.B.#223 – Williamson – An ordinance approving a Redevelopment Plan for 5522 Delmar.
• B.B.#224 – Davis  – An ordinance recommended by the Airport Commission, the Board of Public Service, and the Board of Estimate and Apportionment authorizing and directing the Director of Airports and the Comptroller to enter into and execute an Agreement and Contract of Sale for the Sale of Property, between St. Louis, and Union Electric Company d/b/a Ameren Missouri, providing for the sale of approximately 1.3994 acres of property owned by St. Louis for the sum of Eighty Thousand Dollars; authorizing and directing the Mayor and the Comptroller to enter into and execute the quit claim deed to the Agreement entitled “Form of Quit Claim Deed for St. Louis Property”, remising, releasing, conveying, and forever quit?claiming unto Ameren, the St. Louis Property subject to the avigation easement and restrictive covenants as defined and provided for in said quit claim deed; and containing a severability clause and an emergency clause.
• B.B.#225 – Davis –An Ordinance recommended and approved by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment authorizing and directing the Director of Airports and the Comptroller, owner and operator of the St. Louis Lambert International Airport to enter into and execute the First Amendment to the Restated and Amended Lease Agreement AL?223 between the City and Signature Flight Support Corporation, amending the Restated and Amended Lease Agreement AL-232, dated June 25, 2013; the First Amendment was approved by the Airport Commission; containing a severability clause; and an emergency clause.
• B.B.#226 – Davis –An Ordinance recommended and approved by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment authorizing and directing the Director of Airports and the Comptroller of The City of St. Louis, the owner and operator of the St. Louis Lambert International Airport, to enter into and execute, the First Amendment to Lease Agreement AL-222 between the City and MHS Travel and Charter, Inc., amending the Lease Agreement AL?222, dated June 25, 2013; containing a severability clause; and an emergency clause.
• B.B.#227 – Arnowitz – An ordinance, recommended by the Board of Estimate & Apportionment, authorizing and directing the Mayor and Comptroller, to enter into and execute an agreement or agreements with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) for the receipt of Lead Hazard Reduction Demonstration Grant (LHRD) funds; appropriating the sum of Two Million, One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($2,100,000) which the City has been awarded for the LHRD program; authorizing and directing the Director of the Community Development Administration (“CDA”) to contract with municipal agencies, non? profit corporations and other entities, as necessary for the expenditure of LHRD funding; and directing the Comptroller to issue warrants thereon upon the City Treasury; and containing an emergency clause.

The meeting begins at 10am, past meetings and a live broadcast can be watched online here. See list of all board bills for the 2017-2018 session.

— Steve Patterson

Opinion: Take Parking Away From Treasurer’s Office

Former St. Louis treasurer Larry Williams reminds me of a small town version of New York’s Robert Moses (1888-1981), using the state legislature to give him money & power while also remaining free of oversight. At least Williams got elected. Over & over because St. Louis voters can’t think beyond the incumbent. Moses would’ve been proud of Williams:

The job grew even more powerful and its duties vastly expanded in the 1990s, when Larry Williams successfully lobbied the state Legislature for bonding authority. He went on to create an empire of jobs, parking meters and garages. (Post-Dispatch)

With a few exceptions, if an incumbent runs for another term they’ll be re-elected. Even if they must resign amid scandal they’ll get re-elected.  So when Larry Williams announced in 2012 he wouldn’t seek another term, there was suddenly a chance for other politicians to move up to a cozy position.

In the 2012 Democratic primary for St. Louis Treasurer only one of the four candidates questioned the logic of a treasurer being responsible for parking This candidate, as a then-state rep, also indicated having the knowledge & experience necessary to change state law back to the way it was before longtime treasurer Larry Williams had it changed to give himself more money & power.  This candidate for treasurer said numerous times they didn’t want to be a “parking czar.”

This was exactly what I wanted to hear. But after winning the primary, general, and being sworn into office the tune, however, was different. I liked Tishaura Jones before she became what she explicitly said she didn’t want to be — a parking czar. Regardless of who is treasurer, it makes no sense to continue Williams’ self-serving manipulation of the state legislature. In the recent non-scientific Sunday Poll more than half agreed — though the number of votes was low:

Q: Agree or disagree: City parking responsibilities (& revenues) should remain within the County-level Treasurer’s office

• Strongly agree 3 [12.5%]
• Agree 1 [4.17%]
• Somewhat agree 3 [12.5%]
• Neither agree or disagree 0 [0%]
• Somewhat disagree 1 [4.17%]
• Disagree 3 [12.5%]
• Strongly disagree 11 [45.83%]
• Unsure/No Answer 2 [8.33%]

Hopefully the latest lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of this odd arrangement will be successful.

— Steve Patterson

Goodbye Twenty Seventeen, Hello Twenty Eighteen

The ten year period 2000-2009 made sense to start off with  “Two Thousand…” when saying the year. For the last 8 years (2010-2017), however, it made more sense to start off with “twenty…” These last few weeks it seemed like I’ve been hearing more reporters, anchors, commercials saying “twenty” than “two thousand..”An exception was Jane Pauley hosting CBS Sunday Morning yesterday. she said every year as “two thousand…”

This is like fingernails on a chalkboard to me.

Still, I know many of you will continue saying “two thousand…”  But in two years it’ll be 2020. Will you say the obvious “twenty twenty” or the awkwardly long “two thousand twenty”?

Regardless of how you say it, have a great 2018!

— Steve Patterson