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.

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

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

St. Louis Board of Aldermen: New Board Bills 10/28/2016 (171-173)

The following Board Bills will be introduced at today’s meeting of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen, review the agenda here.

Board Bill No. 171 | Ordinance pertaining to water rates

BOARD BILL NO. 171 INTRODUCED BY: ALDERMAN ANTONIO FRENCH An ordinance pertaining to water rates; finding, determining and declaring that an increase in certain water rates is necessary for certain purposes; defining certain terms; repealing Ordinance 68694, parts of which are presently codified as Sections 23.04.220, 23.06.130, 23.16.020, 23.16.025, 23.16.040, 23.18.070, 23.20.020, 23.20.030, and 23.20.040, Revised Code, City of St. Louis 1994, Anno. (“Revised Code”), all having as their subject water rates and charges; enacting in lieu thereof nine new sections relating to the same subject; with an emergency provision.

Board Bill No. 172 | Ordinance amending development agreement regarding Ballpark Village

BOARD BILL #172 INTRODUCED BY ALDERMAN JACK COATAR AN ORDINANCE AFFIRMING ADOPTION OF A DEVELOPMENT PLAN, DEVELOPMENT AREA, AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECT UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE MISSOURI DOWNTOWN AND RURAL ECONOMIC STIMULUS ACT, SECTIONS 99.915 TO 99.1060 OF THE REVISED STATUTES OF MISSOURI, AS AMENDED (THE “ACT”); AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE EXECUTION OF A FIRST AMENDMENT TO DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS AND BALLPARK VILLAGE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ACT AND SAID DEVELOPMENT PLAN; PRESCRIBING THE FORM AND DETAILS OF SAID AGREEMENT; MAKING CERTAIN FINDINGS AS REQUIRED BY THE ACT WITH RESPECT TO SAID AGREEMENT; DESIGNATING BALLPARK VILLAGE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AS DEVELOPER OF THE DEVELOPMENT AREA IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ACT; MAKING CERTAIN FINDINGS WITH RESPECT THERETO; AUTHORIZING OTHER RELATED ACTIONS BY CITY OFFICIALS IN CONNECTION WITH THE AGREEMENT AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF CERTAIN PROPERTY WITHIN THE DEVELOPMENT AREA; AND CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE.

Board Bill No. 173 | Agreement with MSD regarding water data

BOARD BILL NO. 173 INTRODUCED BY: ALDERMAN ANTONIO FRENCH An ordinance adopted pursuant to the Intergovernmental Agreement Act, Sections 70.210 to 70.325, inclusive, of the Revised Statutes of Missouri, and authorizing the City of St. Louis to enter into an Intergovernmental Cooperation Agreement with the Metropolitan Sewer District for the purpose of sharing certain water data in the possession of the City with the Metropolitan Sewer District, for fair and substantial compensation received by the Metropolitan Sewer District, containing a severability clause and a governance clause.

The meeting begins at 10am, it can be viewed live here.

— Steve Patterson

Know Your Ballot: Statewide Races, U.S. Senate

The election is just two weeks from tomorrow. Before getting into statewide races, a recap of the posts starting at the bottom of the ballot:

• Propositions & Amendments
• Judges
• Citywide, State Rep, US Rep Races

Some of the statewide races have gotten nasty as we get closer to November 8th. Candidates from both major parties have been making accusations about their opponents. How do we know what to believe?

Thankfully we can look to PolitiFact Missouri for help distinguishing fact from fiction:

PolitiFact Missouri is a partnership of the University of Missouri School of Journalism and PolitiFact.com, a Pulitzer Prize-winning Web site of the Tampa Bay Times, to help you find the truth in politics.

Every day, reporters and researchers examine statements by Missouri elected officials and candidates and anyone else who speaks up on matters of public importance. We research their statements and then rate the accuracy on our Truth-O-Meter:

TRUE – The statement is accurate and there’s nothing significant missing.

MOSTLY TRUE – The statement is accurate but needs clarification or additional information.

HALF TRUE – The statement is partially accurate but leaves out important details or takes things out of context.

MOSTLY FALSE – The statement contains an element of truth but ignores critical facts that would give a different impression.

FALSE – The statement is not accurate.

PANTS ON FIRE – The statement is not accurate and makes a ridiculous claim.

See their latest here.

Missouri has voted for the GOP presidential candidate every election since 1980 — with the exceptions of Bill Clinton in 1992 & 1996.  However, Missouri’s relatively conservative Democrats have remained competitive in statewide races.  This election is no exception.

Because these races are so close I’ll be voting for the Democrat in most, exceptions noted below. I’ve linked to websites/social media controlled by the candidates, if found in a search.

FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL

• TERESA HENSLEY – DEM
• JOSH HAWLEY – REP

FOR STATE TREASURER

• JUDY BAKER – DEM
• ERIC SCHMITT – REP
• SEAN O’TOOLE – LIB
• CAROL HEXEM – GRN

FOR SECRETARY OF STATE

• ROBIN SMITH – DEM
• JOHN [JAY] ASHCROFT – REP
• CHRIS MORRILL – LIB

FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR

• RUSS CARNAHAN – DEM
• MIKE PARSON – REP
• STEVEN R. HEDRICK – LIB
• JENNIFER LEACH – GRN

FOR GOVERNOR — see RealClearPolitics polling data on this race

• CHRIS KOSTER – DEM — PolitiFact
• ERIC GREITENS – REP — PolitiFact
• CISSE W. SPRAGINS – LIB
• DON FITZ – GRN (If it looks like Greitens will lose, I’ll vote Green Party to help with future ballot access)
• LESTER BENTON [LES] TURILLI, JR. – IND

FOR UNITED STATES SENATOR — this closely watched race could impact which major party controls the U.S. Senate, see RealClearPolitics polling.

• JASON KANDER – DEM
• ROY BLUNT – REP — PolitiFact
• JONATHAN DINE – LIB
• FRED RYMAN – CST
• JOHNATHAN McFARLAND – GRN

In two weeks I’ll post on the race at the top of the ballot — the presidential race.

— Steve Patterson