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About the Board of Aldermen
Find qualifications, pay, basic Order of Business and the Structure of the Board of Aldermen as well as links to aldermanic committees, history and the legislative process.
Overview
The Board of Aldermen is the legislative body of the City of St. Louis. The Board of Aldermen creates, passes, and amends local laws, and approves the City's budget every year. City residents elect one alderperson from each ward in the City, and a President of the Board.
When in session, the Board of Aldermen meets weekly.
The Structure of the Board of Aldermen
Within the Board of Aldermen there are four officers. The President, Vice President, Majority Floor Leader, and Assistant Majority Floor Leader. The President is elected city wide, and the remaining three are determined by seniority.
The President presides over meetings, preserves decorum and determines all questions of order. He or she also appoints standing and special committees and serves as an equal member of all committees. The President assigns Bills to appropriate committees and refers Bills, when ready, to the Engrossment Committee. The President directs action from the dais in the front and center of the semi-circular chamber.
The Vice President performs all the duties of the President when he or she is absent.
The Majority Floor Leader handles all Aldermanic administrative duties on the floor. He or she moves to: defer the approval of the minutes until printed, approve minutes when printed in the Journal of the Board of Aldermen, excuse Aldermen, adjourn to a certain date and carry out miscellaneous duties assigned by the President. In the absence of the Vice President, he or she assumes the role.
The Assistant Majority Floor Leader performs all the duties of the Majority Floor Leader when he or she is absent.
The Clerk of the Board of Aldermen perform all duties necessary to the functioning of the Board. The Clerk is the official repository of all reports and records of the Board of Aldermen and his or her duties are almost limitless. His or her duties include the maintenance of the records of all proceedings. During the Board meetings, the Clerk is positioned just below the President and is responsible for voting procedures.
The Sergeant-at-Arms attends all meeting and takes care of the chambers as proscribed by the Aldermen.
Order of Business
At the time designated to begin, the Clerk will call the roll. When it is determined that a quorum of fifteen or more is present the President will then give a suggested prayer. Next, Aldermen recognize honored guests in the chamber. The order of business is structured in about twenty-three steps. In this time, issues may be debated. The process of debate is preserved in the rules which provides time for healthy discussion on all sides of a given issue.
Rules of the Board of Aldermen
Procedural
Rules of the Board of Aldermen pertaining to, but not limited to, Meetings, Order of Business and Procedures, Debate and Decorum, and Voting Procedures.
Conflict of Interest
Ordinance Number 71493 is a charter amendment approved by City voters at an election held Tuesday, April 5, 2022. Among other things, it contains requirements for Conflict of Interest Reporting and Responsibilities for members of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen.
Committees
The committees specialize on certain issues and can usually focus on the details of a Bill more effectively than the full Board. The committee meetings are all open to the public. There are 15 standing committees within the Board of Aldermen:
Budget and Public Employees Committee
The Budget and Public Employees Committee shall consider all matters pertaining to municipal finance, including the City budget, revenues, public debt, and the appropriation and disbursement of public monies. The committee also hears matters pertaining to City employment, its terms, conditions, and bargaining representatives, if any, as well as the rules, regulations, and operations of the Civil Service Commission. Maintains communication with the Budget Director, Office of the Comptroller, Board of Estimate and Apportionment, Director of Personnel, and Civil Service Commissions.
Committee of the Whole Committee
The Committee of the Whole is when, by motion, the Board forms itself to function as a committee. In this case all members of the Board are members of this Committee of the Whole. This committee is charged to review and discuss specific topics. In forming a Committee of the Whole, which can be done any time by a majority of the members present, the President shall appoint a Chair of the Committee and then vacate the Chair. The rules of order governing the Board shall be observed in Committee of the Whole insofar as they are applicable.
Convention and Tourism Committee
Considers all matters pertaining to the Kiel Auditorium, A.J. Cervantes Convention Center, Regional Cultural and Performing Arts Development Commission, the Convention and Tourism Fund, St. Louis Regional Convention and Visitors Commission, the Regional Convention and Sports Complex Authority and other related matters.
The Board of Aldermen authorizes the creation of a special committee for the purpose of addressing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to the City of St. Louis. The committee will look into and address issues that are specific to workers, businesses, public health, education, the economy, tourism, and the overall well-being of the residents in the City that are impacted by COVID-19. The committee will work to identify strategies to stabilize the City’s economy; to find ways to ensure the continued livelihood of workers; to protect the investments of business owners and entrepreneurs; to reduce unnecessary laws and regulations that might be a barrier to the rapid recovery of the local economy; to analyze potential policies concerning coordination of state and federal stimulus and other relief; to recommend other actions or policies that could improve and strengthen the City.
Education and Youth Matters Committee
The Education and Youth Matters Committee will consider matters pertaining to education and youth development. This includes youth and adult education and youth development matters in both the public and private sectors.
Engrossment, Rules, Resolutions and Credentials Committee
Sees that all bills are properly engrossed. They also examine all enrolled bills correcting any errors and report the same with the words, "truly enrolled", endorsed. Their duties also include the examination of certificates of election by newly elected Aldermen. Along with considering qualifications of Aldermen, they are responsible for an annual review of the Rules of the Board of Aldermen. This committee is responsible for the enforcement of the Rules adopted by the Board.
Health and Human Development Committee
The Health and Human Development Committee shall consider all matters pertaining to health, social services, environment, parks and recreation, and youth/adult education. Maintains communication with the Departments of Health, Human Services, Parks, Recreation, and Forestry, the St. Louis Agency on Training and Employment, and the leadership of local educational institutions.
Health and Human Services Committee
Considers all matters pertaining to the Department of Health and Hospitals and the Department of Welfare. This committee also handles matters pertaining to the Office on Aging.
Housing, Urban Development and Zoning Committee
Considers all matters pertaining to housing, urban development and zoning, including the Community Development Agency and Commission, the St. Louis Development Corporation and the appropriation and disbursement of all federal monies administered by said agencies.
Housing, Urban Development and Zoning Committee
The Housing, Urban Development and Zoning Committee shall consider all matters pertaining to housing, urban and neighborhood development and zoning, including blighting and redevelopment plans. Maintains communication with the Community Development Agency, St. Louis Development Corporation, Planning and Urban Design Agency, Building Division, Affordable Housing Commission, and Planning Commission.
Intergovernmental Affairs Committee
The committee is authorized to establish and maintain relationships with all federal, state and local governmental agencies and to evaluate and monitor the efficiency and effectiveness of all programs initiated through the Board of Aldermen or other legislative concerns.
The committee considers and reports upon existing and proposed laws and recommends changes when indicated. It examines matters relating to elections, registrations and revisions of ordinances and reports on all bills and measures remaining from the last session and requiring further consideration. The committee also examines matters of personnel, civil service, the Law Department, Complaint Board, City Courts, Register and duties of the City Marshall and suggests improvements. It considers the amount and sufficiency of city bonds and license taxes.
Legislation and Rules Committee
The Legislation and Rules Committee shall consider all matters relating to existing and proposed laws, redistricting, elections, voter participation, and registrations, as well as issues related to intergovernmental affairs. This committee is responsible for correcting any errors with board bills, ensuring that all board bills are properly engrossed, conducting the examination of certificates of election by newly elected Aldermen, and enforcing the Rules of the Board of Aldermen. On an annual basis, the committee shall review the Rules of the Board of Aldermen and recommend any changes. Maintains communication with the Clerk, Law Department, Municipal Court, Register, and Charter Commission.
Long Term Healthcare (Special Committee) Committee
Investigates the state of the long-term care field, its nonprofit and for-profit providers, its regulators, its recipients and their demographics, rates of pay, staffing pipeline, systemic problems, and possible solutions. Additionally, the special committee provides an interim report to the Board of Aldermen's Health and Human Services Committee three (3) months from its first convening. This report describes policy solutions for the City of St. Louis and healthcare employers. Makes recommendations regarding safe staffing, equitable pay, advocacy for worker safety, and worker safety training.
Neighborhood Development Committee
The committee considers blighting and redevelopment plan bills that pertain only to vacant, scattered site residential or proposed blighted area where no relocation will be necessary to complete the proposed redevelopment.
Parks and Environment Committee
The committee considers all issues pertaining to parks, recreation and forestry, as well as, all matters concerning environmental or ecological concerns within the City, including the abatement of air, noise and water pollution and problems affecting the preservation of open space.
Personnel and Administration Committee
The committee considers all matters pertaining to the employees of the Board, the various offices of the Board, the Aldermanic budget, all Aldermanic expenses and disbursements and all other related matters, consistent with these Rules. They establish operating policies for the office staff, to be executed and supervised by the Clerk.
Personnel and Administration Committee
The Personnel and Administration Committee shall consider all matters pertaining to the employees of the Board, the various offices of the Board, the Aldermanic budget, all Aldermanic expenses and disbursements and all other related matters, consistent with these Rules. They establish operating policies for the office staff, to be executed and supervised by the Clerk.
Professional Services Agreement Committee
This committee reviews, screens and selects companies to provide various types of professional services for the St. Louis Board of Aldermen.
The committee hears matters pertaining to City employment, its terms, conditions, and bargaining representatives, if any, as well as the rules, regulations and operations of the Civil Service Commission.
Public Infrastructure and Utilities Committee
The Public Infrastructure and Utilities Committee shall consider all matters pertaining to essential public services, including the maintenance, equipment, operation, service, and assessment of rates and charges of public utilities or services, whether City owned or franchised, such as water, electricity, gas, sewer, telephone, internet, and refuse. The committee also considers all matters pertaining to urban infrastructure used by the general public, including streets, alleys, sidewalks, traffic lights, signage, and parking. Maintains communication with the Director of Public Utilities, and the Department of Streets, Traffic, and Refuse.
The Public Safety Committee shall consider all matters pertaining to law enforcement and the protection of the public from dangers affecting safety including violence, crimes, and disasters. The Committee also hears matters related to maintaining an efficient and equitable justice system. Maintains communication with all divisions within the Department of Public Safety, the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, Municipal & Circuit Courts, and the Circuit Attorney.
The committee considers all matters pertaining to the Department of Public Safety, the Police Department, corrections, excise laws and regulations, the Fire Department, the Division of Building and Inspections and the City Emergency Management Agency.
The committee hears bills pertaining to the maintenance, equipment, operation, service and assessment of rates and charges of public utilities, whether City owned or franchised.
Special Committee on Long Term Healthcare Committee
This committee is continuing from the 2022-2023 Legislative Session. It will investigate the state of the long-term care field, its nonprofit and for-profit providers, its regulators, its recipients and their demographics, rates of pay, staffing pipeline, systemic problems, and possible solutions. No later than March 29, 2024 the special committee will share its findings and recommendations with the Board of Aldermen.
Special Committee on Reducing Red Tape Committee
This committee will work to identify strategies to protect the investments of business owners and entrepreneurs; to reduce unnecessary laws and regulations that might be a barrier to the growth of the local economy; to recommend other actions or policies that could improve and strengthen the City; and to perform other duties assigned by the Chair of the Special Committee. The Committee shall not extend past the Board of Aldermen 2023-2024 Legislative Session.
Special Committee on the Transition to 14 Wards Committee
The special committee makes recommendations upon all aspects of the administrative transition from 28 wards to 14 wards, including the review of personnel structures, staff compensation, and departmental procedures; standing committee functions, the allocation of responsibilities, and aldermanic appointments to consolidate committee responsibilities and members; ward capital allocation, current account balances and projects, and appropriate funds for future distribution to 14 wards; already established municipal ordinances, policy, and documents, including past legislation and the Rules of the Board of Aldermen, and revise to reflect 14 wards and alderpersons.
Streets, Traffic and Refuse Committee
Considers all matters pertaining to streets, alleys, sidewalk, traffic and signage, parking and refuse.
Transportation and Commerce Committee
All matters pertaining to the transportation and commerce industries, including airports, railroads, wharves, ports, bridges, inter-city/state trucking, state and federal highways, public and mass transit.
Transportation and Commerce Committee
The Transportation and Commerce Committee shall consider all matters pertaining to business attraction, retention, and development, the City’s convention and tourist centers, Arts & Cultures commissions, and transportation and commerce industries, including airports, railroads, wharves, ports, bridges, inter-city/state trucking, state and federal highways, public and mass transit. Maintains communication with Airport Authority, the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission, the Regional Convention and Sports Complex Authority, the Regional Arts Commission, Missouri and Federal Departments of Transportation, and relevant components of the St. Louis Development Corporation.
Ways and Means review bills related to questions of finance, assessments, budget, public debt, appropriations and other bills not properly referable to other committees, except monies administered by the Community Development Agency or the St. Louis Development Corporation.
Related Links
Board Bills, Resolutions, and Ordinances
How a Bill becomes an Ordinance and is adopted into the City Revised Code.
History of the Board of Alderman
Brief history of the Board of Aldermen
Requirements to Run for Aldermen
Requirements to run for office for the Board of Aldermen and for President of the Board of Aldermen
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