Ordinances by Michael Browning

An Ordinance recommended by the Planning Commission on November 15, 2023, to amend the boundaries of the Washington University Medical Center (WUMC) Community Unit Plan (established by Ordinance Number 67939 and subsequently amended by Ordinance Numbers 68863 and 70046) so as to add five parcels in portions of City Blocks 3961 and 3904 which are now owned by WUMC or its constituent entities.

This Board Bill would establish requirements pertaining to the retention of employees performing janitorial and security services under contracts for such services with the City and/or City Agency. It provides for certain exemptions, setting forth consequences for violations, establishing requirements in the event the City and/or City Agency outsources janitorial and security services being performed by employees of the City and/or City Agency and establishes policies in the event the City and/or City Agency determines to have its employees perform janitorial and security services. It contains a severability clause and effective date clause.

An Ordinance pertaining to the creation and administration of a property tax credit to freeze property tax rates for eligible senior taxpayers residing in the City of St. Louis.

The proposed bill amends Ordinance Number 71430 and Ordinance Number 71647 to amend the definition of Complaint, to require the acceptance of anonymous complaints, requiring member orientation and member training for the COB and DFOB, allowance of Independent legal counsel with certain provisions and to be procured from the budget of the Division of Civilian Oversight, and requiring specific entities to appear before the COB or DFOB only when their presence could potentially interfere with criminal or civil proceedings; and containing an emergency clause.

The proposed bill amends Section Two of Ordinance Number 70794, adopting 2018 International Building Code with amendments, by the addition of a new subsection, subsection 119.3.3, to authorize the Building Commissioner to take steps to secure vacant buildings or structures of five-hundred thousand (500,000) or more square feet which pose significant, extensive concerns to the health, safety, and wellbeing of the public, to prevent their entry and occupancy including but not limited to the use of steel barriers or plates and engaging the services of a security services provider, with the cost of any such measures being paid for by the owner of the building or structure.

The proposed bill repeals Section 2.08.010 of the City’s Code, which provides the nomination of candidates for the offices of Mayor, Comptroller, President of the Board of Aldermen and Aldermen at a primary election. In lieu thereof of a new Section 2.08.010 is enacted that eliminates the primary requirement where two or fewer candidates file declarations of intent pursuant to Section 2.08.050 or if two or more candidates file declarations of intent and a candidate or candidates withdraw pursuant to 2.08.400 leaving two or fewer candidates. In such cases the two candidates or candidate shall advance to the general election.

This bill requires a permit to operate a Short-Term Rental in the City of St. Louis, requires designation of a Short-Term Rental Agent to respond to concerns regarding the operation of a Short-Term Rental, prescribes an application process and process for the appeal of the denial of a Short-Term Rental permit, as well as process for the revocation of any such permit.

This Board Bill seeks to approve a Chapter 99 Redevelopment Plan and Blighting Study for the 4221-4227 Forest Park Ave. Redevelopment Area. The project consists of the construction a residential building in the Central West End Neighborhood. The prospective redeveloper is producing 38 one-bedroom units, at the cost of $10.6 million. The redeveloper plans to utilize LIHTC and private funds for this project. The financial model concludes that the project supports fifteen (15) years of tax abatement (10 years based on 90 percent of the assessed value of the incremental improvements and followed by 5 years based on 50 percent of the assessed value of the incremental improvements).

The proposed bill will prohibit persons from openly carrying or displaying any firearm readily capable of lethal use within the City unless the person possesses a valid concealed carry endorsement or permit as provided herein on their person or fails to present such endorsement or permit upon demand by a law enforcement officer.

This proposed ordinance would establish a program providing access to legal representation for tenants facing eviction or equivalent proceedings; provide an appropriation for initial costs to begin the program; create the position of program coordinator in the Department of Human Services to implement and oversee the program; require the ongoing assessment of and oversight over the needs and outcomes of the program; provide that organizations providing legal representation under the program should work to provide the best possible outcome for a case; require property owners to provide tenants information regarding the availability of the program when terminating tenancy, and require the program coordinator to produce and make available to property owners materials for this use; and require that the program coordinator will work to engage and educate tenants and others about the program, including a severability clause, and an emergency clause.

This Board Bill, recommended by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment, appropriates up to Four Hundred Thousand Dollars ($400,000.00) of the OD2A grant award to the Department of Health. The Department of Health is hereby authorized to accept such funds. The Director of the Department of Health is hereby authorized to expend such funds, and to make, negotiate, and execute any and all contracts or other documents on behalf of the City, for the purposes set forth in the grant; and contains an emergency clause.