2026-10-21 - Budget and Public Employees Committee

07:11Good morning. This is a budget and

07:13public employees committee. Today is

07:16Wednesday the 21st. It is 10:03. Madame

07:20clerk, please call the role.

07:22>> Alderwoman Sier.

07:26>> Vice Chair Brownie

07:28>> present. Alderwoman Velasquez

07:31>> present.

07:32>> Alderman Devote

07:34>> present.

07:35>> Chair Aldrich

07:36>> present.

07:37>> Alderwoman Sier

07:40present we have quum.

07:46>> Thank you madame clerk. With that we

07:49have established a quorum. Uh next item

07:51of the agenda is approval of minutes

07:54from Thursday October 8th 2026. And I'll

07:57take a motion to approve the minutes.

08:04>> So moved.

08:05>> Second.

08:06>> It was moved by the alderman from the

08:07ninth, seconded by the alderwoman from

08:09the 6th. And we approve the minutes from

08:10October 8th, 2026. Madam clerk, please.

08:14>> Alderwoman Sier,

08:17Vice Chair Browning,

08:19>> I.

08:20>> Alderwoman Velasquez,

08:22>> I.

08:23>> Alderman Dvote,

08:24>> present. Chair Aldrich

08:28>> Ilderwoman

08:33Sonier.

08:38>> Three I votes, one present.

08:40>> All right. Thank you, Madam Clerk. With

08:41that, we have approved the minutes from

08:43or yeah, we approved the minutes from

08:45October 8th, 2026. Uh the next item on

08:49the agenda will be board bills for

08:50review which is board bill 59 sponsored

08:53by myself and co-sponsor President

08:55Green. And I will turn it over to the

08:57vice chair of the budget committee,

08:58Alman Browning.

09:04>> Thank you, Alderman Aldridge. You are

09:06recognized on board bill 59.

09:21All right. Thank you, Vice Chair

09:23Browning, and members of the budget and

09:25public employees committee. Um today I

09:28bring back in front of the committee uh

09:30board bill 59

09:33uh which is putting the question in

09:35front of voters to expand the language

09:38uh for the halfsent sales tax that was

09:41originally in front of the voters back

09:42in 2017 to be able to um expand part of

09:47that. Um there was multiple things on

09:49that ballot measure um from north south

09:52metro expansion which was 60% of that

09:55tax. Uh neighborhood revitalization

09:58which is 10% of that tax, workforce

10:00development which is 10, public safety

10:03initiatives which was 10 and

10:04infrastructure improvements. Um we are

10:07not touching um any of the other items

10:10outside of the North South Metro Link

10:13expansion uh to put in front of voters

10:15the ability to be able to use that tax

10:18for uh North South Metro Link expansion

10:21or uh BRT bus rapid transit. Um, I do

10:26want to thank my colleagues, uh, well,

10:28there's a lot of thanks, but I do want

10:30to thank my colleagues, uh, from the

10:32budget and public employees committee

10:34that raised, I think, some concerns of,

10:37um, some language that was in the

10:40original bill around mass transit. um

10:43mainly Aldwoman Sier and Aldo Velasquez

10:46to um figure out how do we get to a more

10:51detailed and not so broad uh language

10:55especially as voters go hopefully vote

10:57on this. Um so after working with all

11:01these amazing people to the left I do

11:03want to thank uh by state or metro

11:05bystate um the the city of St. Louis, uh

11:09Scott Oggovie mainly was a huge help as

11:11well as advocates um from the

11:14transportation community from CMT and

11:16the realators uh to kind of take those

11:19concerns into consideration.

11:22So in front of us I do have a committee

11:24sub that I know I've shared with uh all

11:26the committee members um on that concern

11:29that was brought by uh all the woman

11:32Alaska and Sier which in the committee

11:34sub what we're doing is we're striking

11:36out other mass transit initiatives and

11:40inserting that with other bus rail

11:43paratransit services and enhancements

11:46um in the committee sub everywhere where

11:48there is that language it is stried out

11:51there is um additional amendments that I

11:54also have that we need to adopt because

11:58u when we changed it in the bill uh we

12:01didn't do it in the exhibit and of

12:03course due to our timeline I wasn't able

12:05to include in the committee sub so the

12:08amendments that we uh that's also in

12:10front of us is the same thing in the

12:12exhibit of the bill where it say mass

12:13transit initiative we strike it out to

12:15make sure all the language is clean with

12:17other bus rail paratransit services

12:20enhancements ments. So before adopting

12:22the committee sub, Mr. Vice Chair, I'm

12:24open up or open to any questions that

12:27committee members may have.

12:30>> Thank you. We'll go to the committee and

12:32see if anyone has any questions. Uh

12:34starting with uh Alderwoman Velasquez.

12:39>> Thank you, Vice Chair. I have no

12:41questions. I just want to uh on the

12:43committee substitute. I just want to

12:44thank the bill sponsor. I know this is

12:47uh complicated and very important piece

12:49of legislation and I know we're all busy

12:52so sometimes we get feedback to you late

12:54and I appreciate your flexibility in um

12:57addressing our concerns a couple weeks

12:59ago and also today so I have no

13:01questions

13:02>> and I do appreciate uh I think uh I

13:05don't I don't think there's no question

13:07anybody want to make sure that this go

13:08to the ballot but want to get it right.

13:09So, know we've talked about this

13:11language and um late night calls

13:15conversations, but I appreciate your

13:17leadership and uh bringing the concerns

13:19and always willing to work to try to get

13:21it correct. So, thank you.

13:22>> Thank you,

13:24>> Alman Devote.

13:26>> No questions.

13:29Um having no other members present I'll

13:31just ask so the intention of this is

13:34simply clarify instead of mass transit

13:37which types of transit will uh eligible

13:40and um let me see you're nodding yes but

13:43just

13:44>> yes so u instead of um just saying mass

13:47transit like you said vice chair is

13:48being a little bit more descriptive of

13:50where what uh other type of

13:53transportation between bus rail pair

13:55transit I've been practiced that word a

13:58million times today and um the how that

14:01can be used for that and the

14:02enhancements around those.

14:04>> Okay, that is my only question. Um with

14:07that, you're uh recognized to proceed.

14:11>> Thank you. Uh with that, I would um just

14:14ask that the committee would make a

14:16motion to adopt the committee substitute

14:18to board bill 15.

14:21>> So moved.

14:26Second. Okay.

14:28>> Moved by the alderman from the fifth,

14:29seconded by the other one from sixth.

14:31Madame clerk, please call a role to

14:33adopt the amendment number one to

14:36committee substitute.

14:37>> No, we're adopting. Sorry, we're

14:39adopting the committee sub, right?

14:40>> It's a committee sub, not an amendment.

14:42Okay. To commit to adopt board bill 59,

14:45committee substitute.

14:48>> Alderwoman Sier.

14:51I

14:53>> vice chair Browning.

14:54>> I

14:55>> Alderwoman Velasquez.

14:57>> I

14:58>> Alderman Devote.

14:59>> I

15:00>> chair Aldrich.

15:01>> I

15:02>> Five I votes.

15:05>> Thank you. With that, we've adopted the

15:07committee substitute. You're now

15:08recognized on board bill number nine,

15:10committee substitute.

15:11>> Thank you, Vice Chair Browning. Um if

15:13it's okay with you, uh Mr. chairman,

15:16unless you want to do individually. Um I

15:19can wrap these up in one motion, but

15:21amendment number one, amendment number

15:22two, and amendment number three. Um

15:25again, in exhibit of the board bill, um

15:27on the first page of the exhibit, the

15:29summary, again, it had mass transit that

15:32didn't uh take that out. So, we're

15:35placing that language with the language

15:36we just adopted, trying to be

15:37consistent. as well as amendment number

15:40two. Um in exhibit two, uh it mentions

15:44man mass transit in the section of

15:46transit as well as um it mentions mass

15:50transit twice uh in the section of where

15:52we did change the title or originally

15:54said mass transit to other where it

15:56originally said mass transit. We changed

15:58the title to that to make sure it's

16:00consistent with other bus rail

16:02paratransit service enhancements. But in

16:04that uh section it would mention mass

16:07transit twice. So the goal of these

16:09three amendments again is to make sure

16:11that everything is in sync where there

16:13was mass transit mentioned outside of

16:15the board bill um where was mentioned in

16:18exhibit that is cleaned up and I know I

16:20already said thank you to the old woman

16:22from the seven six but I know the old

16:24woman from seven got here. This is I

16:26think some of the concern that uh you

16:29and the old woman brought up and

16:30appreciate you guys working to be clear

16:33on that language. So with that I'm open

16:35up for any questions.

16:37We'll see if the committee has any

16:39questions. Uh starting with Alder one

16:41Sier.

16:43>> I don't have any questions. I would just

16:45thank the alderman for working with me.

16:47My concerns.

16:49>> Alder one Vasquez.

16:52>> I don't have any questions. I know that

16:53we're uh we're going to go back and look

16:56at the ballot language. Uh and I do

16:58think uh why having the paratransit

17:01piece is important. Obviously u many

17:03folks may not know what it means on the

17:05ballot, but we're going to talk about

17:06that. So, I have no questions. I will I

17:08will I'm in favor of adopting all these

17:09amendments today.

17:11>> Alman Devote,

17:13>> no questions.

17:14>> I also do not have any questions. Um,

17:17all three of these amendments are really

17:20the same thing just in different parts

17:22of the bill. Uh, so I'll accept a motion

17:25to adopt amendments one, two, and three.

17:29>> So moved

17:31>> to board bill 59, committee substitute.

17:33It's moved by the other one from the

17:34seventh. Uh seconded by the other from

17:36the sixth. Um madam clerk, please call

17:39roll.

17:41>> Alderwoman Sier

17:43>> I.

17:44>> Vice Chair Browning

17:46>> I.

17:46>> Alderwoman Velasquez

17:48>> I.

17:49>> Alderman Devote

17:51>> I.

17:52>> Chair Aldrich

17:53>> I.

17:54>> Five I votes.

17:56>> Right. With that, we have in front of us

17:58now board bill number 59, committee

18:00substitute as a

18:03>> thank you uh vice chairman and members

18:05of the committee. Um I am going to allow

18:07uh Tolby from Metro to come up and just

18:11say a few words.

18:13>> Okay, Mr. Roach, you're recognized.

18:18>> Thank you chairman, members of the

18:19committee. In regards to board bill 59

18:22and the amendment, what's very important

18:24is that uh to try to be respective of

18:27the committee's wishes, just to rehash

18:30uh what we went through this um this

18:32committee asked uh to go out to the

18:35voters specifically for that. I I think

18:37universally at that committee meeting we

18:40had great support from transit from this

18:42entire uh board and uh that was

18:45reflected in that. The support then has

18:48to move to the public. If we're asking

18:50to the public, we I I do want to ask

18:53respectfully of the of the committee to

18:55consider that we have to pass the bill.

18:58Um and simplicity as far as that's

19:01concerned is important. um something

19:03that's very direct and not too wordy is

19:05important for our citizens, seen in

19:08balance with the um policy and

19:11initiatives that were articulated by

19:13several of you uh last week uh to be

19:16sure that we're giving the public what

19:17they've asked for. Um I I agree uh

19:21entirely with that. I also would move to

19:24just as a matter of course um there's

19:26never a time that I will not show up to

19:28this committee or anything and discuss

19:30transit. I think we've been able to

19:33partner and be sure that we have great

19:35transit support. Part of federal funding

19:38is a requirement that I demonstrate that

19:41I am working with the local elected

19:43body. That is literally a scoring

19:46criteria in any green line project

19:48whether it is rail, bus, anything. I

19:52have to do it. So I have to show up to

19:55this um podium in order to get any

19:58federal dollars whatsoever. So there are

20:00some very interesting embedded breaks

20:03associated with that when it gets to

20:05specifics and we do have a problem of

20:08translating to the public exactly what

20:10some of these products are. Um

20:12Alderwoman Velasquez

20:14mentioned look paratransit is absolutely

20:17critical to my operation though all of

20:20the public understand what that is. I

20:21would unquestionably the answer is no. I

20:24wish it I wish it were a yes but it is

20:26not. So, um, we're trying, we're

20:28challenged as policy makers and

20:30obviously an operator of transit to move

20:32forward on something that is precise.

20:34So, I would really appreciate the

20:36committee's consideration of brevity um

20:39so that so that we give our partners the

20:42opportunity to pass this bill. I really

20:45appreciate the support and the very

20:47realistic discussions on what we want to

20:50move forward for public policy.

20:52Respectfully, u uh thank you for that.

20:54I'm available for any questions if

20:56there's any specifics. Uh uh thank you,

20:59Vice Chair Brown.

21:01>> Thank you.

21:02>> Uh does any of the committee have any

21:04questions for Mr. Roach? Just please

21:06indicate if you do. Seeing none, um

21:10Alderman Aldridge, you are recognized

21:12again on board bill number 59, committee

21:14substitute as amended in committee.

21:16>> Thank you, Vice Chair Browning. Uh with

21:18that, I think one of the things that uh

21:22president, our CEO, Mr. approach set for

21:24Metro is I think the importance of one

21:27getting this bill passed but giving the

21:28voters opportunity to vote on it um if

21:31they're you know we uh need to make sure

21:34that it is uh language that uh voters

21:38will be able to understand um because we

21:40definitely want to

21:43um we definitely want to make sure that

21:47um

21:49once it get to the ballot that

21:50ultimately it it does pass. Um, so with

21:55that,

21:56uh,

21:58Mr. Chair, uh, if it's okay with you,

22:02could we take a motion to recess, um,

22:06to,

22:08uh,

22:10as a committee, um, potentially figure

22:12out how to make that language simpler?

22:15>> Uh, yes. So, um, just so people know, it

22:19the committee structure doesn't allow

22:21for, uh, the kind of conversation we

22:23need to have to be able to hash this

22:25out. So, we're going to take a quick

22:27recess, uh, figure this out, and then

22:29when we come back, we'll provide update

22:31on what was discussed and why uh, what

22:34was decided so that we can uh, continue

22:36to be transparent for everybody in this

22:38process. Uh, so with that, uh, I'll

22:41accept a motion to move to recess.

22:44>> Move. Second. It's moved by the alderman

22:47from the 7th, seconded by the honor from

22:49the sixth. Madame clerk, please call

22:51roll.

22:53>> Alderwoman Sier

22:55>> I.

22:56>> Vice chair Brownie

22:58>> I.

22:58>> Alderwoman Vellesquez

23:00>> I.

23:01>> Alderman Devote

23:02>> I.

23:03>> Chair Aldrich

23:04>> I.

23:05>> Five I votes.

23:07>> Thank you. We are now recessed.

2:03:36All right. Good afternoon. Uh we are now

2:03:40uh resuming from recess. Uh Madame Cork,

2:03:43I think we need to call roll again.

2:03:51Alderwoman Sier

2:03:54present.

2:04:02>> Vice Chair Brownie

2:04:03>> present.

2:04:06>> Alderwoman Velasquez

2:04:07>> here.

2:04:09>> Alderman Devote

2:04:11>> present.

2:04:12>> Chair Aldrich

2:04:14>> present.

2:04:16>> Five present.

2:04:18>> With that we have a quorum. Um, I'm just

2:04:21going to take a brief moment to explain

2:04:24what we did while we were in our recess.

2:04:27We sat down uh with uh bystate and metro

2:04:33uh with our uh city planning uh

2:04:36department uh with Scott Olgvby and uh

2:04:39with representatives from CMT and uh we

2:04:42and a couple alders uh so as not to um

2:04:47not to not to have quorum but to make

2:04:48sure that we have enough people in the

2:04:50room to figure out the how the language

2:04:51should be phrased. Uh after some

2:04:54discussion, we decided to focus on

2:04:57brevity and clarity uh and try to make

2:05:00sure that the language was as direct as

2:05:02possible so that we were not uh

2:05:05confusing anyone but also making as

2:05:08clear as possible that we are intending

2:05:09to switch the uh funding source that

2:05:13currently is allocated in this half cent

2:05:15sales tax. 60% of that goes uh north

2:05:18south metro link transit. And now we are

2:05:21going to shift the language over to

2:05:24describe that funding to go to bus rapid

2:05:27transit or BRT. Uh so that's what we

2:05:31were doing is figuring out exactly the

2:05:33language. The focus was really on what

2:05:35was going to go on the ballot so that we

2:05:37could be as clear as possible and now uh

2:05:40we're going to be taking some steps to

2:05:42get the rest of the bill to match that.

2:05:44Uh which Alderman Aldridge will describe

2:05:46those changes. Uh thank you vice chair

2:05:49Browning and I think you um covered kind

2:05:54of the basis why I went on recess. I do

2:05:56want to thank uh you Aldwoman Velasquez,

2:06:00Aldwoman Sier and Alderman Devote as

2:06:03well as partners from CMT um partners

2:06:06from our uh city department um for I

2:06:10think as you mentioned trying to make

2:06:12sure that uh at the end of the day that

2:06:14the language is uh clear of what we're

2:06:17asking voters to vote on um to be able

2:06:20to use funds that it's already collected

2:06:22to uh shift to BRT and the committee sub

2:06:26that we adopted earlier. Uh there was

2:06:28language that said that this could be

2:06:30used um for BRT or bus rail transit um

2:06:36paratransit uh enhancements. And I think

2:06:40the goal of the legislation is

2:06:43ultimately um ask voters if they want to

2:06:47um allow this fund to go to BRT. uh

2:06:50understanding that's a little bit more

2:06:52uh easier process to be able to get

2:06:54across the finish line and start to make

2:06:56transit a little bit more accessible. Um

2:06:59so I think with clearing up the language

2:07:01in front of everybody is a new committee

2:07:04sub uh that gets rid of um the language

2:07:08that we adopted earlier around bus rail

2:07:11and paratransit enhancement and keeps it

2:07:13very simple um to uh north south metro

2:07:17link to also include bus rapid trans

2:07:20period and I do want to read the ballot

2:07:23language um so it's it's clear of what

2:07:26we're asking voters to and then we'll

2:07:29take any questions from uh committee

2:07:31members. So, the new language is just a

2:07:33lot more clear and straight to the point

2:07:35of how this tax would go to funding uh

2:07:38bus rapid transit. So, it states that

2:07:40the city of St. Louis currently collects

2:07:42a halfsent sales tax for the economic

2:07:45development or economic development. 60%

2:07:48of this sales tax is to fund North South

2:07:50Metro Link transit. Shall the city allow

2:07:55the transit portion of this tax to also

2:07:57fund BRT? This portion would not create

2:08:01a new tax. This is a tax that has

2:08:03already uh been in front of the voters

2:08:05and voted on in 2017. So, it's not

2:08:08additional tax. This change would apply

2:08:10to funds already collected and future

2:08:13tax revenue. And an annual public audit

2:08:16is also required uh of how these funds

2:08:18are being used um on top of Metro

2:08:21currently already comes in front of

2:08:23transportation and commerce where we

2:08:24have to vote on their budget. Um, so I

2:08:27think uh I think as you stated,

2:08:29Alderman, and and some of my colleagues

2:08:31like Ald Velasquez, uh it's important to

2:08:34make it very clear to what we're asking

2:08:37voters to vote on um to be able to use

2:08:39these funds for BRT and not some of the

2:08:42additional things that uh we currently

2:08:44adopted. So, uh I really appreciate this

2:08:47committee for working to simplify the

2:08:50language as possible and put it in front

2:08:51of the voters for them to either decide

2:08:54yes or no. um if we do not do anything,

2:08:57what's currently happening is the fund

2:08:59is still being collected and uh we're

2:09:02not able to use it because of the north

2:09:03south metro. So being able to uh pivot

2:09:07to be able to use it to upgrade our

2:09:09transit uh in the city of St. Louis to

2:09:11bus rapid transit is what we're asking

2:09:13voters to do. So before I adopt the

2:09:15committee substitute, I will take any

2:09:17questions uh from the committee or

2:09:20comments.

2:09:21>> Thank you. I think because the committee

2:09:23substitute is appearing and this is a

2:09:25new committee substitute that's

2:09:26appearing today. We do need to move to

2:09:29suspend the rules in order to put that

2:09:30in front of us and then we can move to

2:09:32adopt the committee substitute. So I

2:09:34will accept a motion at this time to

2:09:37suspend the rules.

2:09:38>> Actually first you have to have voting

2:09:40on the prevailing side to reconsider.

2:09:42You don't you don't want to you're not

2:09:43doing it.

2:09:43>> I don't know that we're going to go that

2:09:45route. Okay. Uh I think we're just going

2:09:47to adopt the new committee substitute

2:09:48which will then replace the previous

2:09:51committee substitute. Uh so but because

2:09:53this is a new committee substitute

2:09:54coming less than 24 hours uh before the

2:09:57meeting I think we need the rules do

2:10:00that. So um at this time I'd take a

2:10:02motion to suspend the rules uh to adopt

2:10:06uh committee substitute for board bill

2:10:0859.

2:10:09>> So moved.

2:10:10>> Second.

2:10:12>> Madam clerk. All right. It's moved by

2:10:13the alder one from the seventh. Seconded

2:10:15by the alderman from the six. Madam

2:10:17clerk, would you please call?

2:10:19>> Alderwoman Sier

2:10:21>> I.

2:10:22>> Vice Chair Browning.

2:10:24>> I.

2:10:24>> Alderwoman Velasquez.

2:10:26>> I.

2:10:27>> Alderman Devote.

2:10:29>> I.

2:10:30>> Chair Aldrich.

2:10:31>> I.

2:10:32>> Five I votes.

2:10:34>> Now with the rules being suspended, I'll

2:10:36accept a motion to adopt the committee

2:10:38substitute for board bill 59.

2:10:41>> So moved.

2:10:42>> Second.

2:10:43>> Okay. Moved by the alderman from the 7th

2:10:46uh seconded by the alderman from the

2:10:48sixth.

2:10:49>> Previous role

2:10:50>> call previous role from the alderman

2:10:52from the 14th hearing. No objection. The

2:10:55committee substitute for board bill 59

2:10:57is now in front of us.

2:10:59>> Thank you. Uh Mr. Chairman, make sure

2:11:01that we're down eyes and crossing our

2:11:03tees and doing it right. And I open up

2:11:05for any question. Uh committee

2:11:07substitute to board bill 59.

2:11:09>> Thank you. We'll go through the

2:11:10committee. Aldo one s

2:11:12>> I don't have any questions. I just

2:11:13really would like to thank uh you know

2:11:15the folks from CMT, Mr. Oggov, um all of

2:11:19the folks who have just participated in

2:11:20this process and helped us to get this

2:11:23far and the committee for participating.

2:11:26I think it's um you know really

2:11:27important that we get this moving and

2:11:29get this going so we can start the other

2:11:31part of the process which is making that

2:11:33we about what this is. So no questions

2:11:36just thank you for your work alderman

2:11:38and thank you for everybody for their

2:11:39work.

2:11:41>> Thank you. Although one Vasquez,

2:11:44>> thank you. I have no questions. I just

2:11:45want to echo my thanks uh for the

2:11:47sponsor for um being, you know, willing

2:11:50to make these changes because it is

2:11:52important and obviously it's something

2:11:53that affects every city resident. And

2:11:55madam clerk, I would like add it as a

2:11:56co-sponsor.

2:11:59>> So noted alderman devote

2:12:03>> I don't have any questions. Uh I would

2:12:05uh also join and I think uh the work

2:12:08that was done today is excellent

2:12:11evidence of partnership and what can be

2:12:13achieved when folks listen for the

2:12:16betterment of putting a fair question

2:12:17before the voters uh very very soon. And

2:12:21madame clerk if you would also add me as

2:12:23co-sponsor.

2:12:24>> So not

2:12:27>> thank you. Um I I'll ask a couple

2:12:29questions just for clarity so that

2:12:30everyone can know um why these changes

2:12:33are are being made. Uh so the the new

2:12:37language that's now in front of us uh

2:12:39leaves open the opportunity for these

2:12:43funds that have been collected via this

2:12:45economic development tax. The half cent

2:12:48sales tax 60% of it goes towards

2:12:51Metroink transit. Uh in the original

2:12:54language back in 2017, that language

2:12:56said north south Metroink. It was not

2:12:59clear that it was able to be applied to

2:13:01bus rapid transit. Uh this new language

2:13:05is asking the voters for authorization

2:13:08to be able to use uh that previous

2:13:12amount that was collected towards

2:13:14Metroink transit and use it for bus

2:13:17rapid transit. not just the construction

2:13:20of it but also the operation of it to

2:13:23make sure that it is successful. Uh

2:13:25we're not asking at this time to fund

2:13:27other metro services uh or other transit

2:13:31services. This is really oriented

2:13:33towards authorizing the taxes already

2:13:37collected and any future tax being

2:13:39collected uh to be able to go towards

2:13:41bus rapid transit. Does that sound

2:13:43accurate? Alderman,

2:13:44>> you're 100% correct. And I think uh

2:13:47that's why this language is a little

2:13:50better than the language that we adopted

2:13:51earlier that it's very clear that this

2:13:54goes to BRT, not to any other services

2:13:57um that Metro may operate, but this is

2:14:00for the construction and operation for

2:14:01BRT. Yes, sir.

2:14:03>> Thank you. And I also having been part

2:14:05of that discussion want to emphasize

2:14:07that the changes were made so that this

2:14:09question could be made as clear as

2:14:11possible to voters. Uh this is not

2:14:13intended to confuse anybody or pull one

2:14:16over on anybody. We certainly want

2:14:18people to know what they're voting for.

2:14:20And so the effort over the next several

2:14:22months is going to be to educate people

2:14:24about what BRT or bus rapid transit is,

2:14:28how it is beneficial to our city. I've

2:14:30talked about it before uh at this

2:14:33committee of of what a fan I am. I've

2:14:35ridden it in other cities. It is not

2:14:38like a regular bus. It has dedicated

2:14:40lanes, signal prioritization, a

2:14:42different bus vehicle. Uh it very much

2:14:45is like a rail line on wheels. And so it

2:14:49is uh much cheaper to build in the way

2:14:52that we will be able to offer a premium

2:14:55transit service for our residents that

2:14:58will connect our city like it has never

2:15:00been connected before. uh and allowing

2:15:02people to traverse north south across

2:15:05our city and connect to the existing

2:15:07metro link line that goes east west. So

2:15:10this is a huge step forward for our

2:15:12city. Uh it's something I believe in

2:15:14doing because it is better to have some

2:15:16transit than no transit at all and I

2:15:20would also like to be added as a

2:15:21co-sponsor.

2:15:22>> So not with that uh we'll now see if we

2:15:26have any public comment on this bill. Uh

2:15:29so uh madam clerks, is there anyone from

2:15:32the public signed up to testify on this

2:15:33bill?

2:15:34>> We have not.

2:15:35>> Thank you. And with that, alderman, you

2:15:37are recognized to close.

2:15:40>> Thank you. Um

2:15:43uh ultimately I want to first say uh I

2:15:46think uh Vice Chair Browning you kind of

2:15:48hit uh the nail on the head of how this

2:15:51is an opportunity uh to bring a transit

2:15:54service uh to the city that we currently

2:15:56don't have and really be able to move

2:15:58people quicker throughout the city. Um

2:16:00being able to have rapid buses to get

2:16:02them to work or from home or wherever

2:16:04they're trying to go. Um, and it's very

2:16:06clear what this tax is used for and that

2:16:09was due to the work of this committee. I

2:16:11take a playbook out of alderwoman Clark

2:16:13Hubert's uh saying you know the

2:16:14committee is where it happens and um due

2:16:17to uh the alwoman from the sixth

2:16:20alderman from the ninth alderoman from

2:16:22the seventh and alderman from the fifth

2:16:24as well as advocates I think we have a

2:16:26much better stronger clear and precise

2:16:29bill that uh we can put in front of

2:16:31voters. Currently right now we are

2:16:33collecting uh this uh this sales tax um

2:16:37and we know with uh the makeup of the

2:16:40metro link it would be uh the north

2:16:42south metro line it's a lot more

2:16:43expensive. We don't have the players in

2:16:46the federal government right now, but we

2:16:47do know um this BRT is very similar. I

2:16:50think said it's like a bus on rail. Uh

2:16:53and being able to uh start with this one

2:16:56line and expand out to make sure that we

2:16:59have more uh rapid buses throughout the

2:17:01city, I think is a good start. So, um I

2:17:04I'm very grateful and thankful for the

2:17:06work that was put in and the

2:17:07collaboration that was today uh to get

2:17:10the language as simple as possible to

2:17:12put in front of the voters uh to

2:17:13hopefully that they vote yes u and and

2:17:16be able to start to bring an additional

2:17:19uh major uh upgrade to our transit

2:17:21system in the city of St. Louis. So, uh

2:17:23thank you all. With that, uh I would

2:17:26just ask for a due pass recommendation

2:17:27on board bill 59 committee substitute.

2:17:31Thank you. I'll accept a motion at this

2:17:33time to pass board bill 59 committee

2:17:36substitute out of committee with a pass

2:17:37recommendation.

2:17:38>> So moved.

2:17:39>> Second.

2:17:40>> It's moved by the other one from the

2:17:42seventh. Uh seconded by the alderoman

2:17:44from the sixth.

2:17:46>> Previous role.

2:17:47>> Hearing a call for previous role from

2:17:49the other one from the sixth. And

2:17:51hearing no objection. Board bill 59

2:17:53committee substitute has now been passed

2:17:55out of committee with a due pass

2:17:56recommendation. Congratulations,

2:17:58Alderman, and thank you all to have

2:17:59worked uh with us on this. I want to

2:18:02echo my colleagues and appreciating the

2:18:05uh collaborative teamwork today to make

2:18:07sure that we could get this right and

2:18:09ready to send to voters.

2:18:16>> I don't know. Did you say board bill 59

2:18:19committee substitute as amended?

2:18:22>> It's just board bill 59 committee

2:18:24substitute, not as amended.

2:18:27Committee substitute too.

2:18:29>> It just board bill 59 committee

2:18:31substitute.

2:18:32>> Okay. Thank you.

2:18:34>> It's a new committee. It's not the same

2:18:36committee substitute at from the

2:18:37beginning of the meeting.

2:18:38>> Yes. The new committee substitute uh

2:18:40replaces aute and the amendments that we

2:18:43adopted. Um so this is the new committee

2:18:47substitute.

2:18:48>> Thank you. And also I do want to thank

2:18:50uh if I didn't say thank you to Metro

2:18:52but also to staff members of Alders who

2:18:56also um was pulling this together. Huge

2:18:58shout out to Dominic Lewis for my office

2:19:01uh that made this happen of the language

2:19:04uh make sure it was correct and also to

2:19:07uh Gindia and the president office.

2:19:10There's been a lot of players to get us

2:19:12here. So huge thank you to everybody. Um

2:19:15next item on the agenda is resolutions

2:19:17for review. We do not have any. We do

2:19:19have any committee discussion. Madam

2:19:21clerk, do we have any acknowledgement or

2:19:23written testimony?

2:19:24>> We have none.

2:19:25>> Uh announcements. I do have one

2:19:28announcement. This Thursday, tomorrow,

2:19:32uh there will be an open house uh at the

2:19:34Polish Heritage Center, which is 1413

2:19:38North 20th Street, um where they will be

2:19:41talking about um uh BRT, another

2:19:44opportunity that they're out in the

2:19:45community. It'll be from 5:00 to 7:00 uh

2:19:48for people to show up to be able to

2:19:50learn about what uh BRT is and to get

2:19:53input uh on how this is potentially uh

2:19:57or what it will look like from the

2:19:59design phase and provide feedback um to

2:20:02the team on the BRT process. So again,

2:20:05that is uh tomorrow at the Polish

2:20:08Heritage Center, 1413 North 20th Street.

2:20:10I'll be there because it's great or the

2:20:12mighty 14th ward from 5 to 7. Is there

2:20:15any other announcements?

2:20:18Seeing none, all members was present.

2:20:20I'll make a motion to adjurnn.

2:20:23>> A second.

2:20:25>> Uh all in roll.

2:20:27>> It was made by the chair of the 14th to

2:20:30adjurnn. Second by the alderman of the

2:20:32ninth call for previous row. See no

2:20:34objection. We are journ.

2:20:37>> We did it.