Four Candidates In Democratic Primary to be President of the Board of Aldermen

Today’s post is for those who’ve not made a decision about who to vote for in the 4-way race for the Democratic nomination to be president of the Board of Aldermen. The partisan primary will be March 5th, the winner will very likely easily defeat the Green Party nominee the general election on April 2nd.

If St. Louis government were a game of chess, the president of the Board of Aldermen would be the queen. It is a unique position: Empowered in both the city’s legislative and executive branches, the board president can wield power both in offense and defense. It’s equally capable of holding its own in a fight or just holding ground against an advancing opponent. (Riverfront Times)

To assist with your pre-voting research, here are the four candidates in the Democratic primary, listed here in reverse ballot order, with relevant links:

Jimmie Matthews:

• Ballotpedia

Lewis Reed:

• Ballotpedia
• Website

Megan Ellyia Green

• Ballotpedia
• Website

Jamilah Nasheed

• Ballotpedia
• Website

I personally enjoy seeing competitive challengers, not a fan of incumbents easily winning another 4 year term just because challengers are too timid to take on the power of incumbency.

I’d always heard the phrase “It’s not what you know, but who you know.” When I was younger I didn’t connect that to elections, but it’s very true.  I know the top 3 candidates, as well as people working on their campaigns.  Social media plays a role these days.

I’ve already voted absentee, but I voted based on my favorability of the candidates and their policy positions. I’m not going to say who I voted for, I will say it wasn’t Matthews. Hopefully each of you have made up your mind, or will use some criteria to make a selection before Tuesday March 5th.

In the 2015 race the voter turnout was less than 10%. Given the competitive citywide race the turnout should be in double digits, but it was less than 15% in 2007 — the last year of a competitive primary for President of the Board of Aldermen.  Your vote can make a big difference this year — VOTE!

— Steve Patterson

Last Meeting of St. Louis Board of Aldermen Before Spring Elections

The St. Louis Board of Aldermen will meet at 10am today, their 31st meeting of the 2018-2019 session. This is their last meeting before the March 5th primary and April 2nd general.

Since no new bills could get through the process before the end of the 2018-2019 session, there are no new bills being introduced. Today’s agenda includes a long list of bills that will likely get passed and sent to the mayor for her signature.

The meeting begins at 10am, past meetings and a live broadcast can be watched online here. See list of all board bills for the 2018-2019 session.

— Steve Patterson

St. Louis Board of Aldermen: New Board Bills Week 30 of 2018-2019 Session

The St. Louis Board of Aldermen will meet at 10am today, their 30th meeting of the 2018-2019 session. This is the first full board meeting of 2019.

Today’s agenda includes four (4) new bills covering a wide variety of issues:

• B.B.#233 – Arnowitz – An Ordinance authorizing and directing the Director of the Department of Human Services, to accept funding in an amount not to exceed fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) from the OASIS Institute and to enter into and execute agreements with the OASIS Institute in substantially the same form as Exhibit A and Exhibit B, attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference, for the purpose of providing two fall prevention programs for older adults; appropriating said funds and authorizing the Director of the Department of Human Services, upon approval of the Board of Estimate and Apportionment, to expend such funds as permitted by the agreements; and containing an emergency clause.
• B.B.#234 – Arnowitz – An Ordinance authorizing and directing the Director of the Department of Human Services, to enter into and execute an agreement in substantially the same form as Exhibit A, attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference, with the Missouri Association of Area Agencies on Aging (MA4) for the purpose of providing certain home and community based services in an amount not to exceed seventeen thousand dollars ($17,000); appropriating said funds and authorizing the Director of the Department of Human Services, upon approval of the Board of Estimate and Apportionment, to expend such funds as permitted by the agreement; and containing an emergency clause.
• B.B.#235 – Kennedy – An ordinance amending Section One of Ordinance 67588, to exclude those blocks of N. Kingshighway Blvd. between Delmar Blvd. and Wells Avenue from the Eighteenth Ward Liquor Control District.
• B.B.#236 – Roddy – An ordinance recommended by the Board of Public Service to conditionally vacate above surface, surface and sub- surface rights for vehicle, equestrian and pedestrian travel in a section of Spring beginning approximately 445 feet south of Forest Park and continuing southwardly 30 feet to its terminus at Market/Interstate 64 in the City.

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 — the new bills listed above may not be online right away.

— Steve Patterson

St. Louis Board of Aldermen: New Board Bills Week 29 of 2018-2019 Session

The St. Louis Board of Aldermen will meet at 10am today, their 29th meeting of the 2018-2019 session.

Two bills were introduced last week that weren’t on version 1 or 2 of that agenda.  See BB 220 (Redevelopment Plan for 5467-5559 Delmar) and BB 221 (Redevelopment Plan for 5539-5551 Pershing)

Today’s agenda includes ten (10) new bills covering a wide variety of issues:

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 — the new bills listed above may not be online right away.

— Steve Patterson

St. Louis Board of Aldermen: Thirty (30) New Board Bills Week 28 of 2018-2019 Session

The St. Louis Board of Aldermen will meet at 10am today, their 28th meeting of the 2018-2019 session. This is the first full board meeting of 2019.

Today’s agenda includes thirty (30) new bills covering a wide variety of issues:

• B.B.#190 – Davis – 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 St. Louis Lambert International Airport, consisting of capital improvement projects to and for the terminal complexes, airfield structures and facilities, and associated Airport structures, facilities, and environs including certain snow equipment and vehicles, and other associated Airport improvements, as more fully described in the attached EXHIBIT A, entitled “FISCAL YEAR 2019B PROJECT/EQUIPMENT LIST” at a total estimated cost of Six Million Dollars; authorizing an appropriation in the total amount of Six Million Dollars as follows: a) Five Hundred Eighty Eight Thousand Nine Hundred Sixty Four Dollars from the Airport Development Fund and b) Five Million Four Hundred Eleven Thousand Thirty Six Dollars from the Passenger Facility Charge Fund; authorizing the Mayor and the Comptroller to enter into and execute easement agreements granting such easements or right-of-ways; authorizing and directing the Director of Airports with the approval of the Board of Estimate and Apportionment to let contracts providing for mapping, appraisal, and escrow services, title work, ground maintenance, security services, legal services, and other related services for the implementation and administration of the Airfield, Building & Environs Projects; authorizing and directing the Board of Public Service with the advice, consent, and approval of the
• B.B.#191 – Davis – An ordinance recommended and approved by the Airport Commission, the Comptroller and the Board of Estimate and Apportionment, making certain findings with respect to the transfer of up to Thirteen Million Seven Hundred Twenty-Seven Thousand Seven Hundred Sixty-Nine Dollars ($13,727,769) of excess moneys that The City, the owner and operator of St. Louis Lambert International Airport, intends to transfer from the Debt Service Stabilization Fund to the Airport Revenue Fund 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, dated as of October 15, 1984, as amended and restated as of July 1, 2009, as amended and supplemented; authorizing a transfer in an amount not to exceed Thirteen Million Seven Hundred Twenty- Seven Thousand Seven Hundred Sixty-Nine Dollars ($13,727,769) from the DSSF into the Revenue Fund during the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2018, to be used to make funds available to mitigate rates on an annual basis during the term of the Airport Use and Lease Agreement commencing July 1, 2016; containing a severability clause; and containing an emergency clause.
• B.B.#192 – Davis – An ordinance establishing and creating a Planned Unit Development District for a portion of City Blocks 3926 and 4585 to be known as the “Olive West Planned Unit Development District”.
• B.B.#193 – Davis – An ordinance recommended by the Airport Commission and the Board of Estimate and Apportionment authorizing and directing the Director of Airports and the Comptroller to enter into and execute a Second Restated and Amended Lease Agreement Northern Tract Site, between the City, the owner and operator of St. Louis Lambert International Airport, which is located in St. Louis County, and Bi-National Gateway Terminal, LLC, a limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of the State of Missouri, granting to the Lessee the right to occupy and use the “Leased Premises”consisting of approximately 61.10 acres and improvements thereon commonly known as the “Northern Tract Site”, in Section 201 and EXHIBIT “A” and EXHIBIT “B” of the LeaseAgreement AL-094, in order to: a) demolish any existing improvements that are not retained improvements, b) construct new improvements in order to accommodate international cargo enterprises and other air cargo operations and distribution facilities, c) develop and operate a fixed base operator facility, and d) perform all operations and functions that are incidental or necessary to such use and development or authorized in the Lease Agreement AL-094; authorizing and directing the Mayor, the Comptroller, the Register, the City Counselor, the Director of Airports, and other appropriate officers, agents, and employees of the City.
• B.B.#194 – Moore – An ordinance approving a Redevelopment Plan for Cottage/N. Taylor/Maffitt/Cora.
• B.B.#195 – Oldenburg – An Ordinance recommended by the PlanningCommission pertaining to “The Lighthouse Area Special Use District;” repealing Section Six of Ordinance 70557 relating toConditional Use Regulations for The Lighthouse Area Special Use District and enacting in lieu thereof a new section on the same subject matter; and containing a severability and an emergency clause.
• B.B.#196 – Oldenburg – An Ordinance recommended by the Planning Commission pertaining to the Zoning Code, Title 26; amending Chapter 26.08 of the Revised Code by adding definitions for the terms micro wireless facility, small wireless facility, wireless facility, and utility stations and utility towers; repealing Section One of Ordinance 70555, codified as Chapter 26.20 of theRevised Code, pertaining to the “A” Single-Family Dwelling District, and enacting a new Chapter in lieu thereof on the same subject matter; repealing Section Five of Ordinance 64868, codified as Section 26.24.020 of the Revised Code, pertaining to the Use Regulations of the “B” Two-Family Dwelling District, and enacting in lieu thereof a new section on the same subject matter; repealing Section Two of Ordinance 70812, codified as Section 26.40.025 of the Revised Code,concerning Use Regulations for the “F” NeighborhoodCommercial District, and enacting in lieu thereof a new section on the same subject matter; repealing Section Three of Ordinance 70812, codified as Section 26.52.020 and 26.52.025 of the Revised Code, pertaining to Use Regulations and Conditional Uses of the I Central Business District, and enacting in lieu thereof a new section on the same subject matter; repealing Section Five of Ordinance 70812, codified as Section 26.60.020 of the Revised Code, pertaining to Use Regulations of the K Unrestricted District, and enacting in lieu thereof a new section on the same subject matter; and containing a severability and an emergency clause.
• B.B.#197 – Oldenburg – An Ordinance recommended by the Planning Commission pertaining to the Forest Park Southeast Form Based District; amending Ordinance 70732 by amending the definition for utility / communication uses, and repealing and replacing table 5.13; repealing Section One (C) of Ordinance 70732, and enacting a new Section One (C) in lieu thereof on same subject matter; and containing a severability and an emergency clause.
• B.B.#198 – Oldenburg – An Ordinance recommended by the Planning Commission pertaining to the Central West End Form Based District; amending Ordinance 69406 by amending the definition for utility/communication uses, repealing and replacing table 5.13 and updating the regulatory plan maps; repealing Section One (C) of Ordinance 69406, and enacting a new Section One (C) in lieu thereof on same subject matter; and containing a severability and an emergency clause.
• B.B.#199 – Davis – An ordinance approving a Redevelopment Plan for 3000 Locust.
• B.B.#200 – Roddy – An ordinance repealing paragraph (f) of Section Two of Ordinance 63780, approved on May 31, 1996, as amended in Ordinance 64550, approved January 15, 1999, and Ordinance 68236 approved January 16, 2009 and in lieu thereof a new paragraph (f) is enacted extending the period of time during which the Central West End Southeast Special Business District shall be permitted to collect a tax within the boundaries of the district and increasing the amount of such tax to an amount not to exceed $0.85 per $100.00 of assessed valuation of all real property within such district and to amend and restate the use for which the additional revenue produced by such tax may be put to include cleaning, landscaping and maintenance, security and public safety, purchase and installation of public infrastructure, public transportation, administration, and contingency fund for such categories; and containing effectiveness and emergency clauses.
• B.B.#201 – Roddy – An ordinance submitting to the qualified voters residing in the Central West End Southeast Special Business District, as established in Ordinance No. 63780, approved
  May 31, 1996, amended in Ordinance No. 64550, approved January 15, 1999, and amended in Ordinance No. 68236, approved January 16, 2009, a proposal to extend the levy of a tax on the real property located in said district for an additional ten years and increasing the amount of such tax to an amount not to exceed $0.85 per $100 assessed valuation; submitting said proposal to the voters of said district at the General Election on April 2, 2019; and containing an emergency clause.
• B.B.#202 – Cohn – An ordinance approving a Redevelopment Plan for Meramec St./S. Compton/Bates/S. Grand.
• B.B.#203 – Ingrassia – An ordinance pertaining to the permit fees established pursuant to the City Bike Share Policy established and authorized by St. Louis City Ordinance 70710; establishing a Micro-Mobility Fund, and requiring the permit fees collected pursuant to the City of St. Louis Bike Share Policy to be deposited into the Micro-Mobility Fund.
• B.B.#204 – Oldenburg – An ordinance amending Section Three of Ordinance No. 70892 pertaining to the establishment of procedures and requirements for the collocation and deployment of Small Wireless Facilities in the right-of-way and City property by adding a new subsection L to Section Three of Ordinance 70892 to permit the City to require reasonable, technically feasible, nondiscriminatory and technologically neutral design or concealment measures in a Historic District; and containing an emergency clause.
• B.B.#205 – Vollmer – An ordinance approving a Redevelopment Plan for 1929 Edwards St. & 5210 Daggett.
• B.B.#206 – Vollmer – An ordinance approving a Redevelopment Plan for 5126 Daggett & 5135 Daggett.
• B.B.#207 – Coatar – An ordinance approving a Redevelopment Plan for 200 North 4th Street.
• B.B.#208 – Ingrassia – An ordinance approving a Redevelopment Plan for 2647-2653 Locust.
• B.B.#209 – Spencer – An ordinance approving a Redevelopment Plan for 3535 Michigan.
• B.B.#210 – Roddy – An ordinance approving a Redevelopment Plan for 4325-4333 Swan.
• B.B.#211 – Guenther – An ordinance approving a Redevelopment Plan for 2821-2823 Iowa.
• B.B.#212 – Ingrassia – An ordinance pertaining to the duties of the Commissioner of Corrections and St. Louis City Sheriff, amending Title 16, Chapter 16.16 by adding to new sections to Chapter 16.16; new section16.16.350 requiring that the physical health needs of pregnant inmates, including providing for adequate nutrition, clothing, continued and adequate access to prenatal care and all other pregnancy related health services, and to limit the restraint of pregnant inmates throughout their pregnancies and post-partum period while in custody; and new section 16.16.360 requiring that adequate feminine hygiene supplies for all female and/or menstruating inmates be provided; and containing an emergency clause.
• B.B.#213 – Navarro – An ordinance pertaining to parking within the “Skinker-Fauquier Parking District;” establishing the location and restrictions for curb parking in the restricted parking zone within the “Skinker-Fauquier Parking District;” authorizing the placement of Permit Parking Only signs within the District; and prohibiting the parking, within the District, of any vehicle which does not display the authorized permit; containing definitions, a penalty clause and an emergency clause.
• B.B.#214 – Moore – An Ordinance establishing a two-way stop site at the intersection of Warne and Lexington regulating all traffic traveling northbound and southbound on Warne at Lexington and containing an emergency clause.
• B.B.#215 – Coatar – An ordinance submitting to the qualified voters of the City a gross receipts tax to be imposed on telecommunications and fiber network providers as set forth herein; providing for an election to be held therefore and the manner of voting thereat; and, upon passage of said ballot measure, an amendment to City Ordinance 67717 as codified in Section 23.34.020 of the Revised Code and Sections 23.34.010 though 23.34.030 of the Revised Code reflecting gross receipts tax to be imposed as approved by the voters of the City; establishing a Telecommunications Gross Receipts Tax Fund, and requiring the gross receipts tax collected pursuant to the Sections 23.34.010 through 23.34.030 of the Revised Code to be deposited into the Telecommunications Gross Receipts Tax Fund to be appropriated and expended to further smart city initiatives in the City.
• B.B.#216 – Kennedy – Pursuant to Ordinance 68937, an ordinance authorizing the honorary street name Homer G. Phillips Way, which shall begin at the intersection of Aubert and Fountain and run north on Aubert to the intersection of Aubert and Maple.
• B.B.#217 – Kennedy – An ordinance repealing Ordinance No. 69984 which pertains to the creation and administration of the City of St. Louis Civilian Oversight Board, codified in Section 3.140.010 –3.140.080 of the City Code of Ordinances, and creating a new St. Louis Civilian Oversight Board (the “COB”) as provided in §590.653, RSMo, which shall have the power to receive complaints, make findings, and recommend disciplinary action based upon its review and investigation of complaints by members of the public alleging misconduct by members of Division of Police involving excessive use of force, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, discourtesy, or use of offensive language, including but not limited to, slurs relating to race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, immigrant status, and disability; and containing a severability clause and emergency clause. COB will have the authority to make findings and recommendations regarding the Division of Police policy, procedure, operations and training.
• B.B.#218 – Vollmer – An ordinance approving a Redevelopment Plan for 5726 Reber Place.
• B.B.#219 – Kennedy – An Ordinance setting forth regulations for the use of surveillance technology by the City, requiring Surveillance Technology Usage Rules, Regulations and Guidelines be Established and Approved by the Board of Aldermen before such technology may be used and plans may be put into practice; and containing a severability clause and 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 — the new bills listed above may not be online right away.

— Steve Patterson