Inauguration of Lyda Krewson as St. Louis’ Next Mayor, Upcoming Board of Aldermen Meetings

Next week aldermen, new members & those re-elected, will be sworn-in. Their official swearing in takes place in a conference room off their chambers, followed by a ceremonial swearing in during the first meeting of the new legislative session. Following all will proceed to the rotunda (though it is rectangular) for the inauguration of their board colleague as mayor. This will take place Tuesday April 18th.

I may attend Krewson’s inaugural, so I can hear her speech in full.  The 2009 inaugural began at noon.

From a prior Board of Aldermen calendar:

• MONDAY, APRIL 17, 2017 – SINE DIE (LAST MEETING OF THE 2016-2017 SESSION)
• TUESDAY, APRIL 18, 2017 – FIRST MEETING OF THE 2017-2018 SESSION
• FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 2017 – NO FULL BOARD MEETING

In theory the first meeting of the new Board of Aldermen should be Friday April 28th. As I did last year, on Friday’s I’ll post a list of new board bills being introduced.

— Steve Patterson

Status Quo Affirmed In Recent Primary

St. Louis resists change, and with a few notable exceptions, the status quo was affirmed in Tuesday’s primary election. It’ll get rubber stamped in the formality known as the April 4th general election.

Despite St. Louis being overwhelmingly Democratic, we hold partisan primaries followed a month later by a general election that’s a complete farce. Why? Because voters wouldn’t know how to vote otherwise…or so I’ve been told. None of the people I voted for won, however, if I were a gambler I could have easily predicted the winners in most races.

MAYOR:

I like Lyda Krewson personally. She was the only mayoral candidate to ask me for my vote. A few days before the election I saw her at an event and she asked it I had endorsed anyone. “No”, I said. Krewson asked if she’d get my vote Tuesday, but I told her I already voted absentee. Her next question is obvious, did I vote for her?  “No”, I said again.

In the 7-way race Krewson was the winner with only 32.04% of the vote. That means a majority of voters wanted someone else to occupy room 200. This is why I said before the primary that St, Louis needs Ranked-Choice Voting. The final outcome may have been the same — or it may have been different — just depends on how voters ranked their 2nd & 3rd choices. Given how close Tishaura Jones was the result may have been different.

The general election on April 4th will be a 4-way race. Republican Andrew Jones, Libertarian Robb Cunningham, and Green Jonathan McFarland will lose to Democrat Lyda Krewson.

COMPTROLLER:

I like Darlene Green well enough, but there’s no Rolex watch for longevity in office. Darlene Green will decimate the Green party candidate in the general.

ALDERMAN:

This year was the odd-numbered wards — plus the 16th to fill a vacancy after Donna Baringer was elected to the state house in November.

Ward 1: Sharon Tyus was reelected in a 3-way race with 44.25% of the vote — most voters wanted someone else.

Ward 3: Brandon Bosley won the race usually occupied by his father. But 29.33% of the vote in the 6-way race shows a majority voted for someone else.

Ward 5: Disappointingly, Tamika Hubbard was reelected. Like other races, a majority of voters picked one of the other 5 candidates in the race. Hubbard got 43.23% of the vote.

Ward 7: The Democratic & Green primary candidates were unopposed, Democrat incumbent Jack Coatar will win April 4th.

Ward 9: This was the one big upset of the primary. Longtime incumbent Ken Ortmann was handily defeated by Dan Guenther. Ortmann for years refused to use email to communicate…relying on phone calls or face to face. Good riddance. Guenther got 64.2% to Ortmann’s 35.8%. Guenther will face Green candidate Katie Gore in the general. Gore was unopposed in the primary — she got ONE vote! This is why partisan primaries for local office are a waste of time & money — money that could be spent actually making our city better.

Ward 11: For the first time in years the 11th ward alderman will not be named Villa — because no Villa ran.   Sarah Martin, endorsed by Tom Villa, easily defeated her two challengers with 65.52%. The Green candidate got 3 votes in her unopposed primary race.

Ward 13: Incumbent Beth Murphy was unopposed in her primary, as was the Green candidate. The latter received 4 votes.

Ward 15: Voters overwhelmingly rejected Jennifer Florida’s bid to once again represent them in city hall. Megan Green got 66.1% of the votes in the 2-way race. Florida resigned a few years ago when appointed to finish the term as Recorder of Deeds, but she lost the election for a new term.

Ward 16 (Special election): Ald Donna Baringer was elected to the state house to replace termed-out Michele Kratky. Kratky then ran for the aldermanic seat vacated by Baringer — but Thomas Oldenburg defeated her. Republican Abigail Niebling faces an uphill battle in April even in the conservative 16th ward.

Ward 17: Joe Roddy won yet another 4-year term by defeating one primary challenger, he is unopposed in the general.

Ward 19: Sadly, Marlene Davis defeated her primary challenger. with 70.09% of the vote, she is unopposed in the general. Status quo maintained.

Ward 21: With Ald Antonio French in the mayor’s race, this became an open seat. John Muhammad won the 3-way race with 44.66%, 2nd place was close with 42.83%.  Muhammad is unopposed in the general.

Ward 23: Vacarro wasn’t challenged, is unopposed in the general.

Ward 25: Cohn wasn’t challenged, is unopposed in the general.

Ward 27: Ald Chris Carter didn’t seek another term. Another Carter ran in the 3-way race, but Pam Boyd won with 48.01%.

PROPOSITION S:

The $5,000 annual fee for short-term (aka Payday) loans was passed citywide but the vote was split along race/geography.

• Wards that voted no: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 18, 19, 21, 22, 27
• Wards that voted yes: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28

The 26th ward was the only ward mostly North of Delmar to vote yes — by just 32 votes. This says to me many are unaware of cheaper alternatives such as this and this.

St. Louis Board of Aldermen: Last Full Meeting Before March 7th Primary

Today is the last meeting of the Board of Aldermen before the primary election on March 7th. Bills that don’t get approved by today are dead. The meeting begins at 10am, it can be watched online here.

From a recent agenda:

• FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2017 – LAST FULL BOARD BEFORE SPRING RECESS
• MONDAY, APRIL 17, 2017 – SINE DIE (LAST MEETING OF THE 2016-2017 SESSION)
• TUESDAY, APRIL 18, 2017 – FIRST MEETING OF THE 2017-2018 SESSION
• FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 2017 – NO FULL BOARD MEETING

— Steve Patterson

St. Louis Board of Aldermen: Last Board Bills of 2016-2017 Session (275-309)

The ice storm a few weeks ago meant the Board of Aldermen didn’t meet as scheduled, throwing off their schedule and mine. So here are the board bills that have been introduced since my last posting on new bills:

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St. Louis Board of Aldermen: 28 New Board Bills 1/20/2017

Today is the last day for aldermen to introduce new bills for the 2016-2017 session.  Last week an agenda was posted for week 2u to be held on the 13th. That meeting apparently didn’t happen. The 28 Board Bills I posted about a week ago will be introduced today…or so it seems:

• B.B.#247 – Conway –An ordinance recommended by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment authorizing and directing the St. Louis Municipal Finance Corporation to issue and sell the Corporation’s City Justice Center Leasehold Revenue Refunding Bonds, Series 2017 (Direct Purchase) in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $7,000,000 in order to refund or redeem, if desirable, all or a portion of the Corporation’s City Justice Center Leasehold Refunding Revenue Bonds, Series 2005.
• B.B.#248 – Conway – An ordinance recommended by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment of The City authorizing and directing the St. Louis Municipal Finance Corporation to issue and sell its Leasehold Revenue Refunding Bonds in order to refund all or a portion of its outstanding Refunded Bonds and its Leasehold Revenue Improvement Bonds to fund the construction, repair, improvement and renovation of the Cervantes Convention Center (collectively, the “Leasehold Revenue Bonds”) in one or more series in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $30,000,000; and containing an emergency clause.
• B.B.#249 – Conway  –An ordinance recommended by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment authorizing and directing the St. Louis Municipal Finance Corporation to issue and sell, in one or more series, its Police Capital Improvement Sales Tax Leasehold Refunding Revenue Bonds, Series 2017A, in order to, refund all or a portion of the outstanding Police Capital Improvement Sales Tax Leasehold Revenue Bonds, Series 2007 and the Juvenile Detention Center Leasehold Refunding Revenue Bonds Series 2017B, in order to, refund all or a portion of the outstanding Tax?Exempt Juvenile Detention Center Leasehold Revenue Bonds Series 2008B.
• B.B.#250 – Villa  –An Ordinance relating to the I?55/Loughborough Redevelopment Project authorizing and directing the Mayor and Comptroller to execute a First Supplemental Financing Agreement, which supplements and amends that certain Financing Agreement, by and among the City, the Industrial Development Authority of the City and the Loughborough Commons Community Improvement District, in connection with the Authority’s Tax Increment and Community Improvement Refunding Revenue Bonds, Series 2017 (Loughborough Commons Redevelopment Project) (the “Series 2017 Bonds”), pursuant to which certain TIF Revenues and CID Revenues will be assigned for the benefit of said Series 2017 Bonds; and containing a severability clause.
• B.B.#251 – Coatar – An ordinance recommended by the Planning Commission to change the zoning of property in City Block 483.03 (1322?32 Dolman Street) from “C” Multiple?Family Dwelling District and “F” Neighborhood Commercial District to the “E” Multiple?Family Dwelling District; and containing an emergency clause.
• B.B.#252 – Spencer – An ordinance recommended by the Planning Commission to change the zoning of property from “B “ Two? Family Dwelling District and “J” Industrial District to the “B” Two?Family Dwelling District in City Block 1648 3627 & 3635 S. Jefferson); and containing an emergency clause.
• B.B.#253 – Krewson  –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, the owner and operator of Lambert?St. Louis International Airport, and the City of Kinloch, providing for the sale of approximately .674 acres of property owned by St. Louis and located in St. Louis County, for the sum of Twenty Two Thousand, Two Hundred and Twenty Dollars ($22,220.00); and containing a severability clause and an emergency clause.
• B.B.#254 – Krewson  –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, the owner and operator of Lambert?St. Louis International Airport, which is located in St. Louis County, Missouri, and Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church of South Kinloch, providing for the sale of approximately 1.076 acres of property owned by St. Louis and located in St. Louis County, for the sum of Forty Three Thousand, One Hundred Eighty Two Dollars ($43,182.00); and containing a severability clause and an emergency clause
• B.B.#255 – Krewson  – An Ordinance recommended and approved by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment authorizing and directing the Director of Airports and the Comptroller to enter into and execute the “Second Amendment to Lease Agreement AL?226” to the Lambert?St. Louis International Airport® Lease Agreement AL?226, between the City and Jet Linx St. Louis, LLC, dated March 7, 2013 and authorized by City Ordinance No. 69384, approved February 6, 2013, as amended by the First Amendment to Lease Agreement AL?226, dated August 20, 2013, which was authorized by City Ordinance No. 69497, approved July 10, 2013, granting to the Lessee; containing a severability clause; and containing an emergency clause.
• B.B.#256 – Krewson  –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 Lambert?St. Louis International Airport to enter into and execute the Assignment and Assumption of Interest in Dual Customs Agreement and Consent of The City agreement whereby the City consents to the assignment by Brownsville International Air Cargo, Inc. to Bi?National Gateway Terminal, all of Assignor’s right, title and interest in the Dual Customs Agreement AL?353, between the City and Assignor; containing a severability clause; and containing an emergency clause.
• B.B.#257 – Hubbard  –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 for the receipt of Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Funding; appropriating the sum of Twenty?Nine Million, Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($29,500,000) which the City has been awarded as a Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant for the Near North Side; and containing an emergency clause.
• B.B.#258 – Coatar  – An Ordinance Approving The Petition Of An Owner Of Certain Real Property To Establish A Community Improvement District, Establishing The 501 Olive Community Improvement District, And Containing An Emergency Clause And Containing A Severability Clause.
• B.B.#259 – Kennedy  – An ordinance authorizing and directing the Fire Commissioner, on behalf of the Mayor and the City of Saint Louis, to enter into and execute a Grant agreement with the U.S. Department of homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Assistance to Firefighters Grant, to fund the 2015 Fire Operation and Safety Grant, and containing an emergency clause.
• B.B.#260 – Kennedy  – An ordinance recommended by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment, authorizing a supplemental appropriation; amending Ordinance #70272, commonly referred to as the budget ordinance for Fiscal Year 2016?17; appropriating and setting apart revenues to address the expenditure required and set forth herein for the current fiscal year, in the amount of $95,000, to be apportioned to the Division of Corrections for the purpose of establishing a charity bail fund to assist certain non?violent defendants in posting bail as allowed by the Court, and to alleviate the cost of housing such persons, and to save public funds currently allocated for the incarceration of such persons, and containing an
  Emergency Clause.
• B.B.#261 – Green/Spencer/Howard/Arnowitz  – An ordinance requiring employers to provide unpaid leave for victims of domestic violence, sexual violence, and stalking; containing definitions; violations; a penalty clause; and a severability clause.
• B.B.#262 – Hubbard – An ordinance recommended by the Board of Public Service to conditionally vacate travel in alley in City Block 527 as bounded by Delmar, 14th, Lucas and 15th.
• B.B.#263 – Roddy  – An ordinance recommended by the Board of Public Service to conditionally vacate travel in alley in City Block 2342 as bounded by North Market Street, 19th Street, Maiden Lane and 20th Street.
• B.B.#264 – Davis  – An ordinance recommended by the Board of Public Service to vacate travel in remaining 188.07 feet of the 20 foot wide east/west alley in City Block 940 beginning at 21st Street and extending eastwardly to a point, same bounded by Dr. Martin Luther King Drive, 20th St., Delmar Blvd. and 21st.
• B.B.#265 – Ogilvie  – An ordinance recommended by the Board of Public Service to conditionally vacate travel in the northern 5 feet of the 15 foot wide east/west alley in City Block 5066 beginning at Kraft St. and being bounded by Wise Ave., Louisville Ave., West Park Ave. and Kraft.
• B.B.#266 – Bosley  – An ordinance recommended by the Board of Public Service to vacate travel in several streets and alleys bounded by St. Louis Ave. on the north, 22nd St. on the east, Cass Ave. on the south and Jefferson Ave./Parnell St. on the west.
• B.B.#267 – Coatar  – An Ordinance pertaining to a City Housing Conservation Program; amending, Ordinance 67914, adopted on April 11, 2008, containing an Emergency Clause.
• B.B.#268 – Roddy  – An ordinance pertaining to parking within the “Chouteau?Newstead Parking District” and the “Taylor? Chouteau?Tower Grove Parking District”; which establishes the location and restrictions for curb parking in the restricted parking zone in the two districts created by this ordinance; containing definitions, a penalty clause and an emergency clause.
• B.B.#269 – Davis  – An ordinance approving the petition for the addition of certain real property to the Forsyth Associates Community Improvement District; establishing the expanded Forsyth Associates Community Improvement District; and containing a severability clause.
• B.B.#270 – Bosley  – An ordinance, relating to the Solid Waste Services Fee established under Ordinance No. 68698, authorizing an increase to said fee of two dollars ($2.00) per month per dwelling unit commencing with the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2017, and containing an emergency clause.
• B.B.#271 – Coatar  – An Ordinance Approving Amendments to the Blighting Study and Plan for the Eleventh/Clark/Eighth/Poplar Area.
• B.B.#272 – Krewson  – An ordinance approving a blighting study and redevelopment plan for 6201 Delmar; containing a severability clause.
• B.B.#273 – Vollmer  – An ordinance approving a Redevelopment Plan for the 5217 Botanical Ave.
• B.B.#274 – Vollmer  – An ordinance approving a Redevelopment Plan for the 5214 Wilson Avenue.

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

— Steve Patterson