County Proposition A - Port Authority Commissioners

On November 5, voters in St. Louis County will decide on Proposition A, a proposed amendment to the St. Louis County Charter. This amendment addresses how vacancies on the Port Authority Board of Commissioners are filled. If passed, Proposition A would formally shift the authority to nominate board members from the county executive to the county councilmembers.

About this series…

This is Article #8 in a series covering the NINE constitutional amendments and propositions that will be included on our November ballot. These articles are published throughout October and are designed to help explain each ballot measure (beyond the short language we normally see). I will NOT be offering opinions on candidates for office – you're on your own for that ;-)

My website and email list present the "newest" articles first, so this series will likely appear to you in reverse order. If you want to start from the beginning – start with Article #1 and follow the links to read the articles in order.

Read Article #1

St. Louis County Proposition A – November 5 Ballot

On November 5, voters in St. Louis County will decide on Proposition A, a proposed amendment to the St. Louis County Charter. This amendment addresses how vacancies on the Port Authority Board of Commissioners are filled. If passed, Proposition A would formally shift the authority to nominate board members from the county executive to the county councilmembers.

Ballot Language

Shall Section 2.190 of the Charter of St. Louis County be amended to require vacancies on the St. Louis County Port Authority Board of Commissioners be filled in the following manner:

• The Port Authority Board of Commissioners shall be comprised of seven members with each member residing in a different council district than all other members;
• The councilmember representing the council district in which a vacancy occurs on the Port Authority Board of Commissioners shall nominate a person residing in their respective district to serve as a member of the Port Authority Board of Commissioners;
• And, such nominee shall serve upon approval of the nomination by a majority of the county council.

Proposed Charter Amendment (new text underlined)

Section 2.190.

1. In addition to all other powers and duties vested in or required of the council under the provisions of this charter, the council shall have power, by order or resolution, to do the following:

1. Correct errors in assessment records and tax records and compromise taxes as provided by law;
2. Subpoena witnesses and order the production of books and papers relating to any subject matter within its jurisdiction. The council may call upon the appropriate officer to execute its process and to arrest any person refusing to obey such subpoena or order. Each day a person shall refuse to obey such subpoena or order shall be a separate offense;
3. Exercise and perform any and all other powers of a non-legislative nature which it may possess and any and all other duties which it may need to or be required to perform by the constitution, laws and this charter;
4. Notwithstanding any provision contained in section 3.050.1 of this charter, fill vacancies on the Port Authority Board of Commissioners (“the board”) in the following manner: the councilmember representing the council district in which a vacancy on the board occurs shall nominate a person residing in their respective district to serve as a member of the board, and such appointee shall only serve upon approval of the nomination by a majority of the county council. The board shall be comprised of seven members with each member residing in a different council district than all other members.

What Does Proposition A Do?

If passed, Proposition A would modify the charter to reflect the process outlined in a 2018 county ordinance:

• The Port Authority Board will consist of seven members, each from a different council district.
• The councilmember from the district with a vacancy will nominate a resident from their district to fill the role.
• The nominee must be approved by a majority of the county council.

This started with a 2018 Ordinance

The roots of Proposition A date back to a 2018 ordinance passed by the St. Louis County Council. This ordinance allowed county councilmembers to nominate residents from their districts to fill vacancies on the Port Authority Board of Commissioners. Their stated goal was to ensure geographic diversity and local representation on the board.

However, the ordinance conflicted with the St. Louis County Charter, which gives the county executive the authority to make such appointments. This conflict led to the Council's 2024 proposal of Proposition A to amend the charter and resolve the issue.

Arguments For Proposition A:

Supporters of Proposition A believe that the amendment will enhance local representation and create a more balanced approach to economic development across all parts of St. Louis County. Specifically, they argue:

• Equal Representation: Proposition A ensures that each of the seven council districts has a voice on the Port Authority Board of Commissioners. Currently, the county executive appoints board members, potentially leading to uneven geographic representation. The proposed system allows councilmembers, who are more familiar with their districts, to nominate residents who can advocate for local economic development needs.
• Local Input on Economic Development: By giving councilmembers the authority to nominate residents from their own districts, the amendment ensures that appointees have a stronger understanding of their district’s unique economic challenges and opportunities. Supporters argue that this could result in more tailored solutions to boost development in underserved or underrepresented areas.
• Resolving an Existing Conflict: The 2018 ordinance created a process where councilmembers nominated Port Authority Board members, but it conflicted with the St. Louis County Charter, which granted the county executive appointment powers. Proposition A would formally resolve this conflict by amending the charter, bringing clarity and consistency to the nomination process.

Arguments Against Proposition A:

Opponents of Proposition A, including County Executive Sam Page, argue that the amendment could lead to fragmentation in how St. Louis County approaches economic development. Key concerns include:

• Fragmented Economic Strategy: Sam Page and other opponents argue that Proposition A could create seven different development policies, with each councilmember focusing on their district’s interests rather than pursuing a unified, county-wide economic strategy. This could weaken the county’s ability to implement large-scale, cohesive development projects that benefit the entire region.
• Potential for Political Influence: Some opponents are concerned that the new nomination process could lead to increased political influence over appointments. They argue that councilmembers might nominate individuals based on political considerations rather than qualifications, undermining the effectiveness of the Port Authority Board in its role to make objective economic decisions.
• Diluting County Executive Authority: Opponents also point out that Proposition A removes the county executive’s power to appoint members to the Port Authority Board, which they argue is a critical function of the executive branch. They believe that maintaining appointment power with the executive ensures a more centralized and strategic vision for economic growth in the county.

Learn More

For more details, you can review the following resources:

• Vote411 - St. Louis County Proposition A Ballot Information
• Full text of Ordinance No. 29,059 Placing this on the Ballot
• St. Louis County Port Authority
• St. Louis County Charter

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