Code Blue Emergency Weather Response Program (BB 91)
At a glance
- What: Board Bill 91 would add a Code Blue emergency weather response program to the City Code (new section 11.120): declaration of Code Blue, shelter access and operations, transportation, protection of survival supplies and public outreach. It creates a Code Blue Fund dedicated to the city's local 3% sales tax on adult-use marijuana, and carries an emergency clause.
- Where it stands: First reading and referral to the Health and Human Development Committee on October 9, 2026. Sponsored by Alderwoman Sonnier (7th Ward) with Aldridge, Boyd and Velázquez; President Green asked to be added as a co-sponsor.
- Background: The same day the board adopted Resolution 149 honoring the Code Blue response team for the 2025-26 winter (about $3.3 million, roughly 25,000 bed nights, shelter for over 600 people on the coldest nights beside about 400 year-round beds, per the video). President Green said the current budget has dedicated Code Blue funding and the Board of Estimate and Apportionment approved provider contracts for this winter that week.
- Next: Committee hearing in Health and Human Development; no date in the records read.
Resolution 149 (October 9, 2026)
- Sponsor: Sonnier. Velázquez moved to adopt after asking unanimous consent; Browning seconded and moved to take it en banc (seconded by Velázquez); both votes carried by voice. The sponsor asked that it be read in full, and she and her guests spoke before a photo break.
- Findings in the text: the 2025-26 winter formalized Code Blue with tiered activation levels one through four and made emergency shelter available to over 600 people on the most dangerous nights; a Code Blue Coalition formed in spring 2025.
- The resolution recognizes the two Mission: St. Louis winter co-coordinators, Department of Human Services Director Adam Pearson (who personally drove transport vehicles at night), Health Commissioner Victoria Anwuri, Health Services Manager Michael Gilbert and the health department staff, the Neighborhood Stabilization Division, and volunteers.
- It calls on the city to continue investing in and expanding Code Blue and related winter response programs.
- Video and minutes differ on one point: the video shows the board first took up Resolution 150 (a courtesy resolution) by mistake; the minutes record that 150 was adopted by voice, then reconsidered (12 aye, 1 no: Aldridge; Sonnier present, not voting) before 149 was adopted.
Sources
- Board of Aldermen minutes, October 9, 2026 (preliminary): https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/city-laws/upload/legislative/minutes/Minutes%20October%209,%202026%20Updated.pdf
- 2026-10-09 - Board of Aldermen (full board video, auto-captions)
- https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/events/eventdetails.cfm?Event_ID=55678
Discussion time
About 30 minutes across 1 meeting (from transcript timestamps; approximate).
| Meeting | Minutes |
|---|---|
| 2026-10-09 - Board of Aldermen | 30 |
Log
2026-10-09 - Board of Aldermen
Minutes: BB 91 had its first reading and was referred to Health and Human Development; the President asked to be added as co-sponsor. Resolution 149 adopted by voice vote en banc. Resolution 149 honoring the Code Blue response team adopted after about 29 minutes of presentations; BB 91 had its first reading and went to Health and Human Development.
2026-10-28 - Health and Human Development Committee
Agenda: BB 91 is listed for the committee's 5:15 PM meeting (agenda posted Oct 22, not amended). No result yet.
2026-10-30 - Full Board of Aldermen Meeting
Committee substitute BB 91CS (3% marijuana sales tax; emergency clause) referred to committee. The emergency clause is routine bill language, not a declared emergency.