Legislation & Rules Committee

Regular Meeting

St. Louis, MO · June 24, 2025

Minutes

Minutes Legislation & Rules Committee Tuesday, June 24, 2025 2:00 PM Kennedy Room Minutes are preliminary and may change until finally approved I. Call to Order The Chair called the meeting to order at 2:01 p.m. II. Roll Call The Chair directed the Associate Clerk to call the roll and the following members answered their names: Mr. Cohn, Mr. Narayan, Ms. Keys, Ms. Sonnier, Mr. Devoti, Chair Velazquez, and President Green. 7 members were present. A quorum was established. III. Approval of Minutes None IV. Board Bills for Review (The committee will discuss the following and take public comment on the following) Board Bill Number 5 Introduced by Michael Browning, Rasheen Aldridge An ordinance changing the filing fee of citywide elected offices, including mayor, comptroller, and President of the Board of Aldermen, to two hundred and fifty dollars and changing the filing fee for Aldermen to one hundred dollars. Chair Velazquez recognized Mr. Browning for introducing Board Bill Number 5 before the committee. Mr. Browning presented a PowerPoint presentation outlining the reasons for the changes to the filing fees for the city-wide elected offices and how it would affect future candidates. After no further discussion, the Chair recognized Casey Millburg, Policy Director for the Mayor's Office. Ms. Millburg spoke in support of Board Bill Number 5. She stated that it's a simple fix with a substantially broad positive and smart impact that is commensurate with other jurisdictions. She stated that it is not a sum of money that is dependent upon in the annual budget. She stated that it's based upon the number of folks who file every single year, so we would not be short-changing anything that is completely and totally relied upon in a consistent way by our board of elections. After no further discussion, the Chair opened the discussion up to members of the committee for questions and comments. Mr. Narayan stated that he is not in favor of Board Bill Number 5 the way it is right now. He stated that the issues that Prop D has caused need to be cleaned up. He stated that if candidates paid personally for the filing fees, he would be behind it. He stated that a signature barrier would be a much stricter barrier to entry than funds that could be raised through a campaign account. He stated that much more work needs to be done on Board Bill Number 5. Mr. Devoti stated that in Kansas City, Missouri there is no filing fee requirement but a signature petition requirement. He asked what those requirements were and if they were comparable to the City of St. Louis. Mr. Browning stated that there are 300 signatures for the wards and 500 at large. So, depending on the turnout, it could be higher. He stated that the City of St. Louis is higher dependent on how many people voted for mayor the last time around, so the more engaged electorate you have, the higher the signature requirement would be. If you base the amount off of the last election, St Louis would have a slightly higher signature requirement. President Green stated that she is in support of Board Bill Number 5. She stated that it is a good common sense clean-up Board Bill. She stated that paying pretty hefty ballot filing fees is more of a product of the salary increases that happened when the Board of Aldermen went from part-time to full-time. She stated that the change to Prop D was that instead of the money going to the political party, it went to the city. President Green asked to be added as a co-sponsor to Board Bill Number 5. Chair Velazquez stated that she is in support of Board Bill Number 5 and agreed with everything President Green stated. After no further questions or comments from members of the committee, the Chair recognized Mr. Borgmeyer, Democratic Director, Board of Elections. Mr. Borgmeyer explained the filing fee to run for office in the City of St. Louis is out of whack with other state offices. He stated that Board Bill Number 5 allows for the fees to align more with other states. He explained that initially when the Bill was filed there was a note that stated that the fiscal impact on the Election Board does not collect those fees and that would go to the general revenue. After no further discussion, the Chair opened the discussion up to members of the committee for questions and comments. Hearing no questions or comments from members of the committee, the Chair opened the discussion up to members of the public for public testimony. Not In Support of Board Bill Number 5 1. Sean Fauss Hearing no further testimony from members of the public, the Chair Velazquez entertained a motion to pass Board Bill Number 5 out of committee with a Do Pass Recommendation. Mr. Devoti moved to pass Board Bill Number 5 out of committee with a Do Pass Recommendation. Seconded by Ms. Velazquez. The Chair directed the Associate Clerk to call the roll. The Associate Clerk called the roll and the following votes were recorded. The following voted Aye: Mr. Devoti, President Green and Chair Velazquez 3 Aye votes were cast. The following voted No: Mr. Cohn, Mr. Narayan Two The following voted Present: Ms. Keys, Ms. Sonnier Two The following Abstained: None A total of 3 Aye votes, 2 No votes and 2 Present votes were cast. The motion failed. After no further discussion, the Chair adjourned the meeting. V. Resolutions for Review None VI. Committee Discussions None VII. Acknowledgment of Any Written Testimony None VIII. Announcements None IX. Excused Members All members were present. X. Adjournment Having no other business to discuss, the Chair entertained a motion to adjourn the meeting. Ms. Sonnier moved to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Mr. Cohn. The motion was carried by unanimous consent. The meeting adjourned at 2:38 p.m. [MIN_SIGNATURES]

Agenda

Packet

Agenda Legislation & Rules Committee Meeting St. Louis Board of Aldermen Tuesday, June 24, 2025 - 2:00 PM Kennedy Room President Megan Green Alderwoman Daniela Velazquez, Chair Alderman Matt Devoti, Vice Chair Committee Members: Alderman Shane Cohn Alderman Bret Narayan Alderwoman Laura Keys Alderman Alisha Sonnier Order of Business I. Call to Order II. Roll Call III. Approval of Minutes None IV. Board Bills for Review (The committee will discuss the following and take public comment on the following) Board Bill Number 5 Introduced by Michael Browning, Rasheen Aldridge An ordinance changing the filing fee of citywide elected offices, including mayor, comptroller, and President of the Board of Aldermen, to two hundred and fifty dollars and changing the filing fee for Aldermen to one hundred dollars. V. Resolutions for Review None VI. Committee Discussions None VII. Acknowledgment of Any Written Testimony VIII. Announcements Page 1 of 11 IX. Excused Members X. Adjournment Page 2 of 11 Summary Board Bill Number 5 Introduced by Alderman Michael Browning April 25, 2025 An ordinance changing the filing fee of citywide elected offices including mayor, comptroller, and President of the Board of Aldermen to two hundred and fifty dollars and changing the filing fee for Aldermen to one hundred dollars. Page 3 of 11 BOARD BILL NUMBER 5 INTRODUCED BY ALDERMAN MICHAEL BROWNING 1 An ordinance pertaining to the filing fee of city elected offices including mayor, comptroller, 2 President of the Board of Aldermen, and Aldermen. Containing definitions and a severability 3 clause. 4 WHEREAS, since the city moved to non-partisan approval voting, the filing fee for those who 5 run for office goes to general revenue instead of the political party; and 6 WHEREAS, the current elected filing fee is 1% of the office’s salary, and 7 WHEREAS, in 2023, the Board of Aldermen reduced from 28 seats down to 14, and an 8 Alderman’s salary doubled, making the filing fee over seven hundred dollars; and 9 WHEREAS, those running for city elected offices pay a higher filing fee than those running for 10 statewide office and Missouri Senators; and 11 WHEREAS, filing fees for state positions in the St. Louis City government are $100, which is 12 far lower than filing fees for Aldermen, Comptroller, and Mayor; and 13 WHEREAS, cost should not be a limiting factor in a person’s ability to file to run for an elected 14 office; and 15 WHEREAS, there are a number of other requirements to file to run for office, including the 16 collection of signatures. 17 BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS, AS FOLLOWS: 18 SECTION ONE. Definitions 19 The following terms shall have the meaning herein prescribed unless otherwise expressly stated 20 in this ordinance: 21 a. “City” shall mean the City of St. Louis. Page 1 of 3 Board Bill Number 5 Browning April 25, 2025 Page 4 of 11 1 b. “Citywide Elected Office” shall mean the citywide positions outlined in the city charter, 2 currently including the Mayor, Comptroller, and President of the Board of Aldermen. 3 SECTION TWO. Amended Code 4 Chapter 2.08 of the Revised Code of the City of St. Louis is hereby amended by repealing 5 Sections 2.08.060 and 2.08.070 of said Chapter and enacting in lieu thereof a new section to be 6 known as Section 2.08.060 of Chapter 2.08 of the Revised Code of the City of St. Louis. Which 7 the new section shall be read as follows: 8 2.08.060. Candidate Payment. 9 Each candidate previous to filing declaration papers as prescribed by Section 2.08.050 10 shall pay to the treasurer of the city, for citywide elected office’s two hundred and fifty dollars 11 ($250) and for aldermen one hundred dollars ($100), take a receipt therefor, and file such receipt 12 with and at the same time he/she files his/her declaration papers. The sum of money, so paid, 13 shall go into the general revenue fund of the City. 14 SECTION SIX. Severability 15 If any term, condition, or provision of this Ordinance shall, to any extent, be held to be invalid or 16 unenforceable, the remainder hereof shall be valid in all other respects and continue to be 17 effective and each and every remaining provision hereof shall be valid and shall be enforced to 18 the fullest extent permitted by law, it being the intent of the Board of Aldermen that it would 19 have enacted this Ordinance without the invalid or unenforceable provisions. In the event of a 20 further subsequent change in applicable law that renders valid a provision of the Ordinance that 21 was previously held to be invalid or unenforceable, said provision shall thereupon be restored to Page 2 of 3 Board Bill Number 5 Browning April 25, 2025 Page 5 of 11 1 its full effect, be capable of enforcement without further action by the City, and shall thereafter 2 again be binding. Page 3 of 3 Board Bill Number 5 Browning April 25, 2025 Page 6 of 11 BOARD BILL NUMBER 5 FISCAL NOTE Preparer’s Name: Ryan Coleman Phone Number or Email Address (will be available publicly): colemanr@stlouis-mo.gov Bill Sponsor: Alderman Michael Browning Bill Synopsis: An ordinance pertaining to the filing fee of city elected offices including mayor, comptroller, President of the Board of Aldermen, and Aldermen. Reduces fee from 1% of the elected position salary to a flat $100 for candidates of Aldermanic elections and to a flat $250 for candidates of citywide Mayoral, Board of Aldermen President, and Comptroller elections. Type of Impact: The proposal will reduce the amount of funds currently going to the General Revenue Fund during municipal election years. The reduction is projected to be well under $15,000 in FY2027 (FY2026 is not a municipal election year), but perhaps up to $16,000-$17,000 in FY2029, when the two highest-paid offices—mayor and comptroller — will be up for reelection again. Agencies Affected: Board of Election Commissioners SECTION A Does this bill authorize: • An expansion of services which entails additional costs beyond that approved in the current adopted city budget? ____Yes X No • An undertaking of a new service for which no funding is provided in the current adopted city budget? ____Yes X No • A commitment of city funding in the future under certain specified conditions? ____Yes X No • An issuance of bonds, notes and lease-purchase agreements which may require additional funding beyond that approved in the current adopted city budget? ____Yes X No (01/2017) Page 7 of 11 • An execution or initiation of an activity as a result of federal or state mandates or requirements? ____Yes X No • A capital improvement project that increases operating costs over the current adopted city budget? ____Yes X No • A capital improvement project that requires funding not approved in the current adopted city budget or that will require funding in future years? ____Yes No If the answer is yes to any of the above questions, then a fiscal note must be attached to the board bill. Complete Section B of the form below. SECTION B • Does the bill require the construction of any new physical facilities? ____Yes __X__No o If yes, describe the facilities and provide the estimated cost: ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ • Is the bill estimated to have a direct fiscal impact on any city department or office? _X___Yes ____No o If yes, explain the impact and the estimated cost: Changing the filing fee from 1% of the elected position's salary to $100 for Aldermanic races and $250 for citywide races for Mayor, President of the Board of Aldermen, and Comptroller will reduce the revenue collected by the Board of Election Commissioners in years with municipal elections (odd-numbered years). If the proposal were in effect for the FY2025 municipal election cycle, the estimated reduction would have been approximately $15,500 (see Table 1 below). With the significantly lower salary of the President of the Board of Aldermen (PBOA) and given that the position is filled two years following the Mayoral and Comptroller races, the PBOA election cycles will tend to generate relatively less revenue when filing fees are based on the elected position’s salary. The table on the following page shows estimates of what the approximate effect of the proposal would have been if it were in effect for the 2025 municipal election cycle (it is not and will not be) and provides an estimate of the potential effect in FY2027 if a similar number of candidates file. The notations of “Challenger” are illustrative and do not reflect any prospective filing knowledge. 2 Page 8 of 11 Table 1 No. Candidate 2025 2026 No. Candidate 2027 2028 1 Mayor $139,854 NA 1 Pres BOA $96,304 NA 2 Mayor Challenger 1 139,854 NA 2 PBOA Challenger 1 96,304 NA 3 Mayor Challenger 2 139,854 NA 3 PBOA Challenger 2 96,304 NA 4 Mayor Challenger 3 139,854 NA 4 PBOA Challenger 3 96,304 NA 5 Comptroller 119,002 NA 5 Ward 2 72,000 NA 6 Comptroller Challenger 1 119,002 NA 6 Ward 2 Challenger 72,000 NA 7 Comptroller Challenger 2 119,002 NA 7 Ward 4 72,000 NA 8 Ward 1 72,000 NA 8 Ward 4 Challenger 1 72,000 NA 9 Ward 1 Challenger 72,000 NA 9 Ward 4 Challenger 2 72,000 NA 10 Ward 3 72,000 NA 10 Ward 6 72,000 NA 11 Ward 3 Challenger 1 72,000 NA 11 Ward 8 72,000 NA 12 Ward 3 Challenger 2 72,000 NA 12 Ward 8 Challenger 72,000 NA 13 Ward 5 72,000 NA 13 Ward 10 72,000 NA 14 Ward 7 72,000 NA 14 Ward 12 72,000 NA 15 Ward 7 Challenger 72,000 NA 15 Ward 12 Challenger 1 72,000 NA 16 Ward 9 72,000 NA 16 Ward 12 Challenger 2 72,000 NA 17 Ward 11 72,000 NA 17 Ward 14 72,000 NA 18 Ward 11 Challenger 1 72,000 Total $1,321,216 19 Ward 11 Challenger 2 72,000 20 Ward 13 72,000 Total $1,852,422 Filing Fees @1% $18,524 Filing Fees @1% $13,212 Filing Fees @ $250/$100 Filing Fees @ $250/$100 each $3,050 each $2,300 Difference (If In Effect in FY25) $15,474 Difference in FY2027 (est.) $10,912 3 Page 9 of 11 • Does the bill create a program or administrative subdivision? ____Yes __X__No o If yes, then is there a similar existing program or administrative subdivision? ____Yes ____No o If yes, explain the how the proposed programs or administrative subdivisions may overlap: ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ • Describe the annual operating, equipment, and maintenance costs that would result from the proposed bill, as well as any funding sources: Please see the previous fiscal impact and estimated cost response. Complete the chart below to list the total estimated expenditures required of the City resulting from the proposed board bill and any estimated savings or additional revenue. Financial Estimate of Impact on General Fund Fiscal Impact Year 1 (current) Year 2 Year 3 Additional Expenditures NA NA $0 Additional Revenue NA NA ($10k - $12k) Net NA NA ($10k - $12k) Financial Estimate of Impact on Special Funds Fiscal Impact Year 1 (current) Year 2 Year 3 Additional Expenditures Additional Revenue Net • Describe any assumptions used in preparing this fiscal note: 4 Page 10 of 11 Please see Table 1. • List any sources of information (including any City officials, agencies, or departments) used in preparing this fiscal note: Civil Service Compensation Plan and Pay Bill (Ordinance #71687, 2023). The 2025 Candidate Filing list was obtained from the Board of Election (BOE) Commissioners website on the final day of filing (1/2/2025). • Have the financial estimates of this bill been verified by the City Budget Division? ____Yes _X___No o If yes, by whom? _______________________________ . 5 Page 11 of 11