[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6180542,"mediaKeyId","5117504-69e13b2571571bf86b29edddbb62b3f2","parentId",5117504,"title","Committee backs Bloomberg Sustainable Cities initiative technical assistance and funding","audioSeconds",432,"startMs",4931000,"endMs",5363000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5117504-69e13b2571571bf86b29edddbb62b3f2&start=4931&end=5363","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5117504-69e13b2571571bf86b29edddbb62b3f2/thumbnail_4931000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6180542/St-Louis-City/St-Louis-County/Missouri/Committee-backs-Bloomberg-Sustainable-Cities-initiative-technical-assistance-and-funding","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6180542-bf6d3d22fb2da7c1a50049a9c05a1ab6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770408095&Signature=LjEuPkc3Vm21hhBjfulIyHqeU-ThlOJYXFNtJ4t2zxQW-z6Y7cKSG2NvXEqcgRdXukxYJ8CBimQRc6BgYuGmaF3xgR9mPMeKjgD9KS90-Rw~PpdzJ7aPWmssxbdPmrJTQC~R3Nu7SkpBk-PZ1I6AzLW-b2-4Ve9JxlLdNU3tQsNRwKNut2xMOxXsWDfEGgGTpxH9DBwuqqn3vQ6zOSiU3yvvOwtPmMzuIzsjaIJF9-EW2V1pwdULNnnzwa4yiGHNe0TWyWBM4uFIOcErT5GfV7XKIINP0RjJwg~3fuHbA0w~fb9m9Dj8GYC~lx6zDuzoIqI3FYJkEu-jO~7zm0xQkQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of St. Louis, MO","date","2025-07-01T21:53:45Z","article","The Housing, Urban Development and Zoning Committee voted to advance Board Bill 47, accepting participation in Bloomberg Philanthropies’ American Sustainable Cities initiative, a three‑year program that pairs grant funding with a multidisciplinary technical assistance team.

Alderman Browning, who presented the item, said the initiative is a competitive program that will bring resources and a three‑person team to assist city staff and community partners with planning and project development for cleaner air and water, climate resilience and equitable economic benefits. “This particular grant addresses this in four core ways,” Browning said, listing local solution advancement, increased capacity across departments, strengthened community partnerships and dissemination of lessons learned.

Committee members praised the sustainability office and said the extra capacity is needed. Vice Chair Sayegh said she was “glad to see us doing this” and urged the city to continue sustainability work. Alderman Aldridge noted the grant is helpful but cautioned that “nothing ain't free,” an observation that committee members said recognizes grant conditions and city responsibilities.

The committee moved Board Bill 47 with a do‑pass recommendation; the record shows the item advanced with committee support and cosponsors from several members.

Why it matters: The Bloomberg program pairs funding with staff support and technical assistance; local officials said the combination would help the city develop projects and administrative capacity in areas where municipal departments have limited personnel resources.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Housing, Urban Development & Zoning July 1, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The committee supported Board Bill 47 to accept Bloomberg Philanthropies Sustainable Cities assistance — a three‑year initiative that offers grant funding plus a three‑person technical team to help St. Louis plan climate, air and water quality, and resilience projects.","taxTitle","St. Louis City, St. Louis County, Missouri","taxId",2587,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6180547,"Aldermen back registry and notice rules to connect neighborhood groups with city decisions",2855,3632000,6487000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5117504-69e13b2571571bf86b29edddbb62b3f2&start=3632&end=6487","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5117504-69e13b2571571bf86b29edddbb62b3f2/thumbnail_3632000.jpg","/articles/6180547/St-Louis-City/St-Louis-County/Missouri/Aldermen-back-registry-and-notice-rules-to-connect-neighborhood-groups-with-city-decisions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6180547-57b426e61b36ec41c7b317b69327ae15/orig.mp4?Expires=1770408095&Signature=OY-qvGyu7c3JO5M3FiCwjq-HR6-Ii3fpUSmLpYNrLnn-e2S~j6d7kCXPzC4~~eZFkG--LBU~q0aNOEd7NNXTP02urhHFHLmmsImgl6TXMmNnykiyTUuZh6wEOkT38eoh6rOVG2M1jSXLi5gn9BeNKAjzS-EeV5ywqRZMZnDT-QzQFTfL0VgzCcZJeLPSx3cB4pUdtnK9a7vrmYyIP-BqpVTFSB89L3Vgc-0cA~u2~n0j~Qwelq743XYEU7VEfEH4yh7O1gmMHLb~iYfIEFw1TpC15sdliJRDuWTVo6PPTD6s1UZA46EvdclZ1Vx74cLSAt2zowEcrW2b1i08VtL9rQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Housing, Urban Development and Zoning Committee approved a pair of measures to create a voluntary registry of neighborhood organizations and to require city departments to send specified public notices to registered groups.

Board Bill 44 directs the Neighborhood Stabilization Division to establish a registration process and public database for resident‑led neighborhood organizations; Board Bill 45 requires specified notices to be sent to relevant registered neighborhood organizations and authorizes additional communications. Alderman Shamim Clark Hubbard sponsored both bills.

Dana Malcus, facilitator of a working group convened by the St. Louis Vacancy Collaborative, told the committee the registry was developed after interviews, focus groups and a review of other cities. “The registry can be accomplished with existing NSD resources,” she said, and the registry is designed to strengthen neighborhoods by making it easier to find groups, receive targeted notices and coordinate local efforts.

Under the proposed rules, organizations would sign up voluntarily and renew annually, provide a simple written governance document (which can be short), identify the geography they serve, and demonstrate that a majority of their members live within that geography. Registered groups would receive direct copies of public notices relevant to their area; the committee discussed a 200‑foot buffer so notices would also reach adjacent neighbors when appropriate. Peter Hoffman of Legal Services of Eastern Missouri said expanded, targeted notice “will lead to more informed and engaged citizenry.”

A range of neighborhood leaders testified in favor. Keith Crawford, president of the Northpointe Neighborhood Association, said a public registry and direct notices would help emerging associations coordinate with other groups and local officials; Audrey Ellerman and others said the registry would create a more consistent paper trail for community engagement and make residents easier to reach. Several testifiers asked that community improvement districts (CIDs) and special purpose districts (SPDs) be included in notice lists; multiple aldermen said that adding CIDs/SPDs could be handled through Board Bill 45 at perfection or in a follow-up amendment.

Some organizations and alliance representatives — including Matt O’Leary of the Washington Avenue Corridor CID and a steering committee member of the St. Louis Neighborhoods Alliance — supported the bills but asked the committee to consider expanding eligibility to include established CIDs, SPDs and community development corporations that already provide neighborhood services and could be useful notice recipients.

The committee accepted an amendment to Board Bill 45 to explicitly add conditional‑use and public‑hearing notices to the list of required notifications. Alderman Clark Hubbard said the amendment responded to a zoning department suggestion and aimed to ensure the registry would cover notices that frequently affect neighborhoods.

Votes: The committee voted 7–0 to give Board Bill 44 a do‑pass recommendation. Board Bill 45, as amended, received a do‑pass recommendation in committee with no objections on a previous roll call.

Why it matters: The registry aims to centralize information about active neighborhood groups and to systematically connect them to planning, zoning and other city processes. Supporters said it will make engagement more transparent and efficient; some community leaders urged the committee to ensure the system is broad enough to include community development organizations and business districts that also engage neighborhood stakeholders.","The committee approved Board Bills 44 and 45 to create a voluntary registered neighborhood organization (RNO) registry and require certain public notices be sent to registered groups. Supporters said the registry will improve outreach and coordination; some speakers urged including business improvement districts and CIDs in notice lists.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6180551,"Committee considers bill to codify interior housing standards and loosen some occupancy rules for larger families",2784,100000,2884000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5117504-69e13b2571571bf86b29edddbb62b3f2&start=100&end=2884","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5117504-69e13b2571571bf86b29edddbb62b3f2/thumbnail_100000.jpg","/articles/6180551/St-Louis-City/St-Louis-County/Missouri/Committee-considers-bill-to-codify-interior-housing-standards-and-loosen-some-occupancy-rules-for-larger-families","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6180551-bd524d01a579f32a3aa9d98443b7ddee/orig.mp4?Expires=1770408095&Signature=RfZmJ4pRfTx9qR7QDfMqzzuIXRlryTku0Fu8yizkFr3s6U89xL~E9id6WQv2Aod49C3Is4eRr3xduSOoghOKIkwu5DjBin1CoxVhgIj9H8Dikxit7Rzjh9BS2AjAld8kAvHuugNG2Dg795M6nQTVLBhtvqAMsbE8uTV2O5NdltAAhlNPpiReOQeMdZplS-N7uuPZLh501T0uXtWv4yFziKKgPCEcT5xzPaJFTpB9zz8rtLpkJWr0f5bJu-RZmAKzJSPsYR1ffGcWA9rgqaTTcUPgw9yraee3AnKEuREpQGBhxhaUa2QdqQ8R63qyQCgMWwPwXU8hNgyNaFjNOy6liQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A St. Louis Board of Aldermen committee on housing reviewed Board Bill 18, a proposal to codify interior housing inspection standards and to change occupancy rules to better accommodate larger and multigenerational families.

The measure would move interior safety requirements that had been placed in Exhibit A of an earlier rental-registry ordinance into the text of the city's housing conservation code and would alter occupancy definitions: bedrooms would still have a 70-square-foot minimum, the first occupant would retain a 150-square-foot standard, the requirement that a main (master) bedroom be the largest room would be removed, the two-person limit for a main bedroom would be eliminated, and children under age 6 would not count toward occupancy totals.

Sponsor Alderman Velasquez said the bill “codifies those” interior requirements so inspectors and the public would not have to refer repeatedly to an exhibit. Casey Milberg of the mayor’s office told the committee the measure “corrects that and does place those within the code,” and said the change is intended to make it easier for larger families — including immigrant and multigenerational households — to find housing in the city without changing the square-footage minimums. Gilberto Pinella, director of the Office of New Americans, said the mayor’s office supports the bill and called it a way for immigrant families to “have the opportunity to establish themselves and begin a life here in Saint Louis.”

Commissioner Ware of the Building Division told the committee the division “doesn't see any huge issues with amending Exhibit A in the existing housing conservation code” and that the safety provisions for smoke detectors, egress and structural/mechanical systems remain unchanged. Ware said inspectors and code enforcement will continue to apply judgment in overcrowding assessments and that the change reducing the age threshold for exempted children from “under 30” (a previous internal practice) to under 6 is a “tweaking of sorts.”

Several committee members pressed the administration on enforcement capacity. Alderman Cohn said he was “a little flabbergasted” to hear the Building Division was not doing proactive, citywide inspections and that the department inspects properties only when a permit is pulled or a complaint is filed. Commissioner Ware confirmed that proactive block‑to‑block surveys are on hold until the division is fully staffed and that inspectors generally respond to complaints, permits or agency referrals. Ware supplied recent enforcement data showing about 19 addresses with notices of violations for overcrowding in 2024; he said roughly 25% of those received notices or fines while other cases were repeats, had no evidence on site, or could not be inspected because entry was barred.

Alderman Cohn and other members said the limited number of overcrowding enforcement actions raised concerns that a loosening of occupancy rules could be exploited by bad actors — landlords who might overcrowd properties for profit — and could create health, safety and nuisance concerns for neighbors. Committee members and witnesses also discussed the limits of visual verification of child age during inspections and the existence of an appeals process in which unit owners can submit supporting documentation if a notice of violation is issued.

No changes to short-term rental occupancy rules or to the square-footage standards for additional occupants were proposed. The sponsor said the bill is intended to modernize the code for diverse family structures without altering the city’s life-safety standards.

At the committee's close, a member moved that Board Bill 18 receive a “do pass” recommendation and a roll call was taken. The transcript records the motion and the roll call but does not include an audible final announcement of the committee’s disposition in the provided record.

Why it matters: The measure directly affects how inspectors interpret occupancy and interior-housing standards, and it could change where and how larger families — including newly arrived immigrant households and multigenerational households — can live in the city. Committee members emphasized that implementation will depend on code‑enforcement practices and staffing.","A St. Louis aldermanic committee reviewed Board Bill 18, which would place interior inspection standards into the city code and revise occupancy rules — notably removing a two-person limit for main bedrooms and excluding children under 6 from occupancy counts — while raising enforcement and staffing concerns.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee backs Bloomberg Sustainable Cities initiative technical assistance and funding

Aldermen back registry and notice rules to connect neighborhood groups with city decisions

Committee considers bill to codify interior housing standards and loosen some occupancy rules for larger families