Health & Human Development Committee — St. Louis, MO
Date: 2025-10-16
Time: 09:00

Agenda
 Health & Human Development Committee
 Meeting
 St. Louis Board of Aldermen
 Thursday, October 16, 2025 - 9:00 AM
 Kennedy Room
President Megan Green
Alderwoman Pamela Boyd, Chair
Alderman Thomas Oldenburg, Vice Chair
Committee Members:
Alderwoman Sharon Tyus
Alderwoman Alisha Sonnier


Order of Business
I. Call to Order
II. Roll Call
III. Approval of Minutes
 Minutes of the Thursday, July 10, 2025, committee meeting
[IGNORE_NUMBERING]
IV. Board Bills for Review
 (The committee will discuss the following and take public comment on the following).
 Board Bill Number 78
 Introduced by Alderwoman Anne Schweitzer
 Cosponsor: Alderman Michael Browning
 An ordinance updating the Forestry Division’s regulations relating to weeds, native plants,
 and other vegetation in the City of St. Louis, containing definitions, reporting, abatement,
 enforcement, and severability provisions.
[IGNORE_NUMBERING]
V. Resolutions for Review
 None
VI. Committee Discussions
 None
VII. Acknowledgment of Any Written Testimony
VIII. Announcements
IX. Excused Members
X. Adjournment

Agenda
 Health & Human Development Committee
 Meeting
 St. Louis Board of Aldermen
 Thursday, October 16, 2025 - 9:00 AM
 Kennedy Room
President Megan Green
Alderwoman Pamela Boyd, Chair
Alderman Thomas Oldenburg, Vice Chair
Committee Members:
Alderwoman Sharon Tyus
Alderwoman Alisha Sonnier


Order of Business
I. Call to Order
II. Roll Call
III. Approval of Minutes
 Minutes of the Thursday, July 10, 2025, committee meeting
[IGNORE_NUMBERING]
IV. Board Bills for Review
 (The committee will discuss the following and take public comment on the following).
 Board Bill Number 78
 Introduced by Alderwoman Anne Schweitzer
 Cosponsor: Alderman Michael Browning
 An ordinance updating the Forestry Division’s regulations relating to weeds, native plants,
 and other vegetation in the City of St. Louis, containing definitions, reporting, abatement,
 enforcement, and severability provisions.
[IGNORE_NUMBERING]
V. Resolutions for Review
 None
VI. Committee Discussions
 None
VII. Acknowledgment of Any Written Testimony
VIII. Announcements

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IX. Excused Members
X. Adjournment




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 Preliminary Minutes
 Health and Human Development Committee Meeting
 St. Louis Board of Aldermen
 Thursday, July 10, 2025 – 9:00 am
 Webinar

Alderwoman Pamela Boyd, Chair Megan Green, President
Alderman Thomas Oldenburg, Vice Chair
Committee Members:
Alderwoman Sharon Tyus
Alderwoman Alisha Sonnier


Order of Business
 I. Call to Order
 The Chair called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.

 II. Roll Call
 The following members were present: Ms. Sonnier, and Chairwoman Boyd. 2 members were
 present. A quorum was not established.

 The following members joined the meeting while it was in progress making it 3 members and a
 quorum was established: Mr. Oldenburg

 III. Approval of Minutes
 Minutes of the Thursday, June 12, 2025 committee meeting.

 The Chair entertained a motion to approve the minutes of the Thursday, June 12, 2025 committee
 meeting.

 Mr. Oldenburg moved to approve the minutes of the Thursday, June 12, 2025, committee meeting.

 Seconded by Ms. Boyd.

 The Chair directed the Associate Clerk to call the roll.

 The Associate Clerk called the roll and the following votes were recorded:

 The following members were present: Mr. Oldenburg, Ms. Sonnier, and Chairwoman Boyd. 3 Aye
 votes were cast.

 The following voted Aye:
 None

 The following voted No:
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 None.

 The following voted Present:
 None

 The following Abstained:
 None

 The following members were present in the meeting but did not cast a
 vote:

 A total of 3 votes were cast. The motion carried.

IV. Board Bills for Review
 None

V. Resolutions for Review
 None

VI. Committee Discussions
 (The committee will discuss and take public comments on the following.)


 Discussions Item Number 1
 Animal Control
 The committee will hold a discussion with representatives from the City Animal Control about stray
 dogs, staff patrols and various other animal control-related issues.

 The Chair recognized Justin Hauser and Allison Parker with Animal Control to talk about
 animal control related issues.

 Ms. Hauser provided a power point presentation and stated if anyone had question they would
 be happy to answer any questions.

 Ms. Oldenburg asked about the contract between Care St. Louis and the Department of
 Health.

 Justin stated the contract is to provide the shelter operations services.

 Ms. Sonnier asked about the challenges they are facing with providing space for all the
 animals.

 Justin stated they are in need of additional and the current space is not adequate for the needs
 of the city.

 After no further comments from the committee, the chair opened the discussion up to the
 public.

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 Public Speakers
 1. Rachel

 After no further comments the discussion was ended.

VII. Acknowledgment of Any Written Testimony
 None

VIII. Announcements
 None

IX. Excused Alderman
 None

X. Adjournment
 Having no other business to discuss, the Chair entertained a motion to adjourn the meeting.

 Mr. Oldenburg moved to adjourn the meeting.

 Seconded by Ms. Sonnier.

 The motion was carried by unanimous consent.

 The meeting adjourned at 9:45 a.m.




 Minutes prepared by: Associate Clerk Rozlyn Smith
 Minutes approved:

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Summary
Board Bill Number 78
Introduced by Alderwoman Anne Schweitzer
October 3, 2025

An ordinance updating the Forestry Division’s regulations relating to weeds, native plants, and
other vegetation in the City of St. Louis; containing definitions, reporting, abatement,
enforcement, and severability provisions.




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 BOARD BILL NUMBER 78 INTRODUCED BY ALDERWOMAN ANNE
 SCHWEITZER
 COSPONSOR: ALDERMAN MICHAEL BROWNING

1 An ordinance updating the Forestry Division’s regulations relating to weeds, native plants, and

2 other vegetation in the City of St. Louis; containing definitions, reporting, abatement,

3 enforcement, and severability provisions.

4 WHEREAS, St. Louis City encourages the preservation, restoration, and management of native

5 plant communities and wildlife habitats within the City limits. The city recognizes that the use of

6 wildflowers and other native plants in home, school, corporate, municipal, or other managed

7 landscapes is economical, reduces maintenance, and effectively conserves water, soil, and other

8 elements of the natural community. Moreover, landscaping with native plants and the

9 preservation, restoration, and management of native plant communities and wildlife habitats may

10 preclude the introduction of pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, and other pollutants into the

11 environment; and

12 WHEREAS, the City further acknowledges the need to enjoy and benefit from the biodiversity,

13 beauty, and practical values of natural landscapes, and seeks to assure that residents have the

14 freedom to employ varying degrees of natural landscaping as viable and desirable

15 alternatives to other conventional modes of landscaping; and

16 WHEREAS, the City seeks to encourage each property owner to create and sustain a condition

17 of ecological resiliency on their land. It is not the intent of this legislation to allow

18 vegetative areas to be unmanaged or overgrown in any way that may adversely affect the public

19 health or safety, or pose a threat to agricultural activity; and

20 WHEREAS, it is the express intent of this city that it shall be lawful to grow native

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 Board Bill Number 78
 Schweitzer
 October 3, 2025


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1 plants, including, but not limited to, ferns, grasses, forbs, aquatic plants, trees, and shrubs

2 in a landscape when these plants were obtained not in violation of local, state, or federal laws;

3 and

4 WHEREAS, Growth of weeds and other vegetation and the presence of debris on land in the

5 City of St. Louis are detrimental to and endanger the public health, safety, and welfare of the

6 residents of the City.

7 BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS, AS FOLLOWS:

8 SECTION ONE. Repeal

9 Ordinance Number 59860 is hereby repealed in its entirety, and in lieu thereof, a new

10 ordinance is hereby enacted as follows.

11 SECTION TWO. Purpose and Intent

12 The Board of Aldermen of the City of St. Louis finds and declares as follows:

13 A. Growth of unmanaged vegetation and the presence of debris on land in the City of St.

14 Louis are detrimental to and endanger the public health, safety, and welfare of the

15 residents of the City; and

16 B. Such growth of unmanaged vegetation and the presence of debris are a concern to the

17 residents of the City; and

18 C. Prevention and correction of such conditions are properly the duties and responsibilities

19 of property owners, but if the owner does not manage it then it shall be abated by the

20 City.

21 SECTION THREE. Definitions

22 A. “City” shall mean the City of St. Louis, Missouri.


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 Board Bill Number 78
 Schweitzer
 October 3, 2025

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1 B. “City Property” shall mean all real property which is owned, leased, or maintained by the

2 City, any part of any right-of-way within the City, including city-managed parks.

3 C. “Commissioner” shall mean the Commissioner of Forestry of the City of St. Louis.

4 D. “Chronic violation” shall mean the third or more confirmed violations of this Code on the

5 same property during a calendar year.

6 E. “Chronic violator” shall mean a property that qualifies as a chronic violation in the

7 current year or the prior year.

8 F. “Carriage Walk” shall mean a section of concrete in the tree lawn connecting the public

9 street to the public sidewalk.

10 G. “Department of Health” shall mean the designated employees of the Department of

11 Health and Hospitals of the City of St. Louis.

12 H. “Forestry Division” shall mean designated employees of the Forestry Division of the City

13 of St. Louis.

14 I. “Health Commissioner” shall mean the Health Commissioner of the City of St. Louis.

15 J. “Invasive Plant” shall mean a non-native vegetation species that grows aggressively in

16 the State of Missouri, as listed by the Missouri Department of Conservation and/or listed

17 in the annual Vegetation Memo.

18 K. “Managed natural landscape” shall mean planned, intentional, and maintained planting of

19 native and ornamental plants, including but not limited to rain gardens, meadow, prairie,

20 vegetation, and ornamental plantings. For purposes of this definition, the following words

21 and phrases shall have the following meanings:




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 Schweitzer
 October 3, 2025

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1 a. “Meadow vegetation” shall mean grasses and flowering broad-leaf plants that are

2 native to the State of Missouri, and that are commonly found in meadow and

3 prairie plant communities, not including invasive plants, nuisance plants, or

4 noxious weeds, as defined in this section.

5 b. “Ornamental plants” shall mean grasses, perennials, annuals, and groundcovers

6 purposefully planted for aesthetic reasons.

7 c. “Rain garden” shall mean a native plant garden that is designed not only to

8 aesthetically improve properties but also to reduce the amount of stormwater and

9 accompanying pollutants from entering streams, lakes, rivers, and other bodies of

10 water.

11 L. “Native Plant” shall mean those plants, including but not limited to, grasses (including

12 prairie grasses), sedges, rushes, forbs (flowering broadleaf plants), vines, shrubs, ferns,

13 groundcovers, and trees that are native, as listed by the Missouri Department of

14 Conservation and/or listed in the annual Vegetation Memo.

15 M. “Noxious Weed” shall mean a vegetation species that is listed as a Missouri State

16 Noxious Weed by the United States Department of Agriculture and/or listed in the annual

17 Vegetation Memo.

18 N. “Nuisance Plant” shall mean toxic species known to cause death or severe allergic

19 reactions among a segment of the human population, such as Poison Hemlock, Poison

20 Ivy, and Ragweed, as listed by the Missouri Department of Conservation and/or listed in

21 the annual Vegetation Memo.

22 O. “Owner” shall mean a person owning or otherwise in legal control of property.


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 Schweitzer
 October 3, 2025

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1 P. “Person” shall mean an individual person, corporation, association, or entity of any kind.

2 Q. “Shared Use Path” shall mean a multi-use path designed primarily for use by bicyclists,

3 pedestrians, and other authorized motorized and non-motorized users, for transportation

4 purposes, and that may also be used for recreation. Shared use paths are physically

5 separated from motor vehicle traffic by an open space or barrier and are either within the

6 highway or other public right-of-way.

7 R. “Sidewalk” shall mean the portion of the street between the curb line and the adjacent

8 property line, intended for the use of pedestrians.

9 S. “Sustenance Garden” shall mean a cultivated area dedicated to growing vegetables,

10 herbs, fruits, nuts, and seeds meant for human consumption.

11 T. “Tree Lawn” shall mean the area between the public sidewalk and public street that often

12 has trees or other vegetation that is part of the public right-of-way.

13 U. “Turf-grass lawn” shall mean a lawn comprised mostly of grasses commonly used in

14 regularly cut lawns or play areas intended to be maintained at a height of no more than

15 seven (7) inches.

16 V. “Right-of-Way” shall mean property located within and adjoining streets, roads, and

17 alleys within the City, which is owned, controlled, or maintained by the City, including

18 but not limited to areas commonly referred to as the “tree lawn” between the public

19 sidewalk and the public street.

20 W. “Unmanaged vegetation growth” shall mean an area not maintained in which any turf-

21 grass, hay, weeds, brush, or other vegetation has grown to a height of over seven (7)

22 inches or the presence of invasive, nuisance, or noxious plant vegetation as a result of the


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 Board Bill Number 78
 Schweitzer
 October 3, 2025

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1 absence of active cutting, mowing, or other maintenance. This definition shall not

2 include:

3 a. Sustenance Garden as defined in this section;

4 b. Managed natural landscape area(s) that is wholly contained within the parcel on

5 which it is planted and maintained;

6 c. Vegetation located on agricultural land;

7 d. Vegetation found on shoreland within 35 feet of the ordinary high-water mark.

8 X. “Non-Occupied Parcel” shall mean a parcel of land with no lawfully permitted occupant.

9 SECTION FOUR. Reporting

10 A. The Forestry Division shall annually report to the Health and Human Development

11 Committee or its successor the second week in January, presenting the Vegetation Memo.

12 a. Annual Vegetation Memo may include:

13 i. List of prohibited debris on lots and land;

14 ii. Methods the City will use during the year to abate weed and debris

15 nuisances;

16 iii. Abatement fee including equipment, labor costs, quantity of material used,

17 clerical costs, and other data appropriate to document the actual cost of the

18 abatement;

19 iv. Other information the Commissioner of Forestry deems necessary and

20 appropriate, including any Native Plants, Noxious Weeds, and Nuisance

21 Plants that are not on the Missouri Department of Conservation or United




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 Board Bill Number 78
 Schweitzer
 October 3, 2025

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1 States Department of Agriculture lists, and examples of native landscape

2 restorations and best practices for design and maintenance.

3 SECTION FIVE. Public Nuisance and Responsibility of Property Owner

4 A. All unmanaged vegetation growth or noxious weeds that have attained a height of seven

5 (7) inches or more growing or being upon any lot or land, including the tree lawn and

6 midpoint of the alley within the city, are hereby declared a public nuisance. Every owner,

7 occupant, or person in control of any lot or land, including the tree lawn and midpoint of

8 the alley within the City, shall cause such lot or land to be kept free from such noxious

9 weeds, invasive plants, or nuisance plants by methods approved by the Commissioner of

10 Forestry.

11 B. Managed natural landscapes may include plants and native grasses in excess of seven (7)

12 inches in height and which have gone to seed, but may not include any noxious weeds,

13 nuisance plants, or invasive plants, and must be maintained so as not to include

14 unintended vegetation.

15 a. Managed natural landscapes may not include any noxious weeds, nuisance plants,

16 or invasive plants, or any other plantings, which, due to location and manner of

17 growth, constitute a hazard to the public or may cause injury or damage to

18 persons or property.

19 b. Managed natural landscapes shall not include turf-grass lawns left unattended for

20 the purpose of returning to a natural state.

21 c. Managed natural landscapes on the right-of-way may not obstruct sight distance

22 for vehicular, bicycle, or pedestrian traffic as determined by the City.


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 Board Bill Number 78
 Schweitzer
 October 3, 2025

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1 d. All vegetation on private property shall be maintained so that no part thereof is

2 obstructing the public right-of-way, and must be trimmed or maintained in order

3 to allow at least eight (8) feet of vertical clearance for streets, sidewalks, and

4 shared use paths. Vegetation shall be cultivated so as not to intrude into the public

5 right-of-way in such a manner as to create a hazard for pedestrians using the

6 sidewalk or shared use path, with no vegetation no more than seven (7) inches

7 within six (6) inches from the public right-of-way.

8 e. Street light poles, public utility poles, traffic signals, and street signs of any type

9 shall be kept free of all climbing or creeping vegetation.

10 f. Managed natural landscapes in the tree lawn must adhere to the following

11 parameters and be maintained by the property owner:

12 i. In a four (4) feet radius from all fire hydrants, no vegetation shall attain a

13 height of seven (7) inches or more;

14 ii. Fifteen (15) feet from all intersections, crosswalks, and curb cuts, no

15 vegetation shall attain a height of seven (7) inches or more;

16 iii. All vegetation shall be no more than a height of seven (7) inches for six

17 (6) inches from the public right-of-way to ensure the public right-of-way

18 is clear, including carriage walks;

19 iv. All vegetation shall not attain a height greater than three (3) feet;

20 v. If no carriage walk is present, then there shall be no vegetation greater

21 than seven (7) inches for a continuous four (4) feet in width encompassing

22 the entirety of the tree lawn at least every ten (10) feet.


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 Board Bill Number 78
 Schweitzer
 October 3, 2025

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1 C. The city shall not be liable for damage to any vegetation planted, or to any property or

2 fixtures placed, in or upon the city right-of-way that results from work performed by the

3 city in the tree lawn or right-of-way.

4 D. The presence upon any lot or lands, other than properly licensed and operated salvage

5 yards, within the City of debris of any and all kinds and varieties included in the annual

6 Vegetation Memo or determined by the Commissioner of Forestry to be unhealthy,

7 unsanitary, or unsafe is hereby declared a public nuisance. It is the duty of every owner,

8 occupant, or person in control of any lot or land, including the tree lawn and midpoint of

9 alley within the City, to remove debris from such lot or land forthwith.

10 E. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to be in conflict with or in

11 violation of any of the provisions of any code relating to nuisances in the City of St.

12 Louis, as such codes exist at the time of the effective date of this ordinance and as such

13 codes may be amended in the future

14 SECTION SIX. Abatement

15 A. Whenever the Forestry Division determines that there has been a violation of Section

16 Five, notice shall be given to the owner or the person or persons responsible therefore in

17 the following manner:

18 a. Such notice shall:

19 i. Be in writing;

20 ii. Include a description of the lot or land;

21 iii. Include a statement of the violation(s) and the reason(s) the notice is being

22 issued;


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 Schweitzer
 October 3, 2025

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1 iv. Include a correction order allowing up to ten (10) calendar days to abate

2 the nuisance; and

3 v. Inform the property owner of the right to appeal within thirty (30) days to

4 the Forestry Division, whose decision shall be final.

5 b. The notice shall be directed to the owner(s) of such lot or lands as recorded most

6 recently in the City of Saint Louis Assessor's Office. The notice shall be served in

7 one of the following ways:

8 i. Hand-delivered to the owner or owners; or

9 ii. Posting the notice in a conspicuous place in or about the lot or land

10 affected by such notice and shall be deemed served twenty-four (24) hours

11 after the posting thereof; or

12 iii. Mailing a copy of said notice by regular mail, postage prepaid, direct to

13 the owner(s) place of business or the address currently recorded in the

14 Assessor's Office of the City of Saint Louis, and shall be deemed served

15 twenty-four (24) hours after the mailing of the notice.

16 B. A non-occupied parcel shall only have to have one violation notice at the beginning of

17 the growing season to be abated.

18 C. If a condition is not abated within the time provided following the notice, the Forestry

19 Division may abate it, and the code official shall have the authority to issue an

20 administrative citation to any person responsible for the violation.

21 D. When debris is found that, in the judgment of the Commissioner, may constitute an

22 immediate danger to public health and safety, they shall notify the Department of Health,


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 Board Bill Number 78
 Schweitzer
 October 3, 2025

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1 which shall inspect the property. Pursuant to Article XIII Section 14-C (c) of the City

2 Charter, if the Department of Health, on such inspection, finds a nuisance and that its

3 continuance is a danger to the public health and safety, they may order the Forestry

4 Division to abate such nuisance as soon as practicable.

5 E. After abating any nuisance, the Forestry Division shall record the following: date of the

6 abatement, location of the abatement, condition abated, the amount of personnel time and

7 equipment, quantity of material used, clerical costs, other data appropriate to document

8 the actual cost of the abatement, and date(s) of notice.

9 F. The Forestry Division shall bill the owners of any property on which the City abates a

10 nuisance under this ordinance for the cost of such abatement and an administrative

11 citation fine of one hundred dollars ($100) for unmanaged vegetation growth and five

12 hundred dollars ($500) for debris.

13 a. The administrative citation fine for repeat violations of the same code provision

14 by the same person at the same property shall be subject to additional fines as the

15 code official deems appropriate, so long as any such fine is assessed 30 days or

16 more after the previous fine date unless the property is marked in chronic

17 violation or as a chronic violator, then each day after notice of a nuisance and the

18 correction period from this ordinance is unabated may be considered a separate

19 violation.

20 b. The administrative citation fine shall include the following information:

21 i. 1. The date of the violation or, if the date of the violation is unknown, then

22 the date the violation is identified;


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 Schweitzer
 October 3, 2025

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1 ii. The address or a definite description of the location where the violation

2 occurred;

3 iii. The section of the applicable code violated and a description of the

4 violation;

5 iv. The amount of the fine for the code violation;

6 v. A description of the fine payment process, including a description of the

7 time within which and the place to which the fine shall be paid;

8 vi. An order prohibiting the continuation or repeated occurrence of the code

9 violation described in the administrative citation;

10 vii. A description of the administrative citation review process, including the

11 time within which the administrative citation may be contested and the

12 place from which a request for a hearing form to contest the administrative

13 citation may be obtained; and

14 viii. The name and signature of the citing code official.

15 G. The Commissioner shall have the authority to waive fines and fees at their discretion.

16 H. Any administrative citation fine paid pursuant to subsection shall be refunded if it is

17 determined, after a hearing, that the person charged in the administrative citation was not

18 responsible for the violation or that there was no violation as charged in the

19 administrative citation.

20 I. Payment of a fine under this ordinance shall not excuse or discharge any continuation or

21 repeated occurrence of the code violation that is the subject of the administrative citation.

22 J. Fines and fees may be collected in the following manners:


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 Schweitzer
 October 3, 2025

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1 a. The fine and fee shall be paid to the city within thirty days from the date of the

2 administrative citation.

3 b. The amount of the unpaid administrative citation fine may be certified by the

4 Forestry Division and submitted to the Office of the Comptroller for issuance of a

5 special tax bill, to be collected according to and in the same manner as real estate

6 taxes under, Chapter 71.285 RSMo.. These special tax bills may not be forgiven

7 except by the City Counselor, who shall, in writing, instruct the Forestry Division

8 to forgive such special tax bills or liens. Further, special tax bills shall be

9 permitted to be waived when ownership of said property for which the bill was

10 issued is accepted by the Land Reutilization Authority, Saint Louis Development

11 Corporation, or any other City agency.

12 c. Whenever the Forestry Division abates a nuisance under this ordinance, it shall be

13 certified by the Forestry Commissioner and added to the annual real estate tax bill

14 or sent to the office of the Comptroller to be included in a special tax bill.

15 K. Any recipient of an administrative citation may contest that there was a violation of the

16 code or that they are the responsible party by completing a Request for Administrative

17 Hearing petition and returning it to the Forestry Division, along with a non-refundable

18 filing fee of $20.00, within thirty days from the date of the administrative citation.

19 a. A Request for Administrative Hearing petition may be obtained from the Forestry

20 Division

21 b. The person requesting the hearing shall be notified of the time and place set for

22 the hearing at least ten (10) days prior to the date of the hearing.


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 Schweitzer
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1 c. If the code official submits an additional written report concerning the

2 administrative citation to the hearing officer for consideration at the hearing, then

3 a copy of this report also shall be served on the person requesting the hearing at

4 least five (5) days prior to the date of the hearing. The Forestry Division shall

5 designate the hearing officer for the administrative hearing.

6 d. A hearing prior to the hearing officer shall be set for a date that is not less than

7 fifteen (15) days and not more than ninety (90) days from the date that the request

8 for hearing is filed in accordance with the provisions of this ordinance.

9 e. At the hearing, the party contesting the administrative citation shall be given the

10 opportunity to testify and to present evidence concerning the administrative

11 citation; The party contesting the administrative citation may be represented by

12 counsel at any hearing, though this is not a requirement.

13 f. The failure of any recipient of an administrative citation to appear at the

14 administrative citation hearing shall constitute a failure to exhaust their

15 administrative remedies.

16 g. The code violation notice, property record, and related documentation in the

17 proper form, or a copy thereof, shall be prima facie evidence of the municipal

18 code violation. The code official who issued the notice of violation need not be

19 present.

20 h. The hearing officer may continue the hearing and request additional information

21 from the code official or the recipient of the administrative citation prior to

22 issuing a written decision.


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 Schweitzer
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1 i. After considering all of the testimony and evidence submitted at the hearing, the

2 hearing officer shall issue a written decision to uphold or cancel the

3 administrative citation and shall list in the decision the reasons for that decision.

4 The decision of the hearing officer shall be considered the final decision.

5 j. If the hearing officer determines that the administrative citation should be upheld,

6 the hearing officer shall set forth in the decision a payment schedule for the fine.

7 k. If the hearing officer determines that the administrative citation should be

8 canceled and the fine was deposited with the city, then the city shall promptly

9 refund the amount of the deposited fine, together with interest at the average rate

10 earned on the city's portfolio for the period of time that the fine amount was held

11 by the city.

12 l. The recipient of the administrative citation shall be served with a copy of the

13 hearing officer's written decision.

14 SECTION SEVEN. Enforcement

15 A. Enforcement of this Ordinance shall be the joint responsibility of the Forestry Division,

16 the Health Department, Street Department, Building Division, and the Police Department.

17 The Forestry Division or Health Department may however, refer properties subject to this

18 ordinance to the Building Division if they believe the building may also have building

19 code violations.

20 B. This ordinance should not be construed in any way as in contravention of the duties and

21 powers of the Forestry Commissioner relative to the abatement of any matter which may




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 Schweitzer
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1 constitute a nuisance, and shall not negate or preclude the availability of any other

2 remedies for violation of any other City of St. Louis Ordinance that might be applicable.

3 SECTION EIGHT. Severability

4 If any term, condition, or provision of this Ordinance shall, to any extent, be held to be invalid or

5 unenforceable, the remainder hereof shall be valid in all other respects and continue to be

6 effective and each and every remaining provision hereof shall be valid and shall be enforced to

7 the fullest extent permitted by law, it being the intent of the Board of Aldermen that it would

8 have enacted this Ordinance without the invalid or unenforceable provisions. In the event of a

9 further subsequent change in applicable law that renders valid a provision of the Ordinance that

10 was previously held to be invalid or unenforceable, said provision shall thereupon be restored to

11 its full effect, be capable of enforcement without further action by the City, and shall thereafter

12 again be binding.




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 Schweitzer
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