In a move that could fundamentally alter the governance structure of St. Louis, Alderwoman Daniela Velázquez has proposed a major change that would transfer many of the executive powers currently held by the city's mayor to a new, appointed city administrator role. According to a report by 5 On Your Side, Velázquez insists this proposal is not a critique of current Mayor Tishaura Jones but is aimed to make city government more efficient by having a professional trained in government operations oversee day-to-day matters.
The proposed shift in power would require approval from the rest of the Board of Aldermen and, ultimately, from voters, with the earliest possible referendum to not happen before August of next year. Velázquez is on a mission to directly and effectively address St. Louis' long-standing challenges, as she explained to 5 On Your Side: "You're talking about challenges that started 10, 20, 30 years ago and solutions that might fully take 10, 20, 30 years to have a different outcome." A spokesperson for Mayor Tishaura Jones commented on the bill, saying, "We weren't made aware of this bill until after it was filed, and we got the actual text of the bill after that. As such, we haven't had time to review, but it's clear from a quick glance that it would have major implications for the City of St. Louis."
Alderwoman Velázquez's proposal would see the mayor retain the role of political and policy leader, while a city administrator, hired by the mayor with Board of Aldermen approval, would manage city departments and oversee appointments. As mentioned in a piece by St. Louis Public Radio, if the board passes this change, it could go to a public vote in 2026, with the new Office of City Administration potentially beginning its work in 2029. However, Board President Megan Green has voiced time constraints as a potential obstacle to the proposal's advancement in the current legislative session.
The initiative emerges amidst considerations by the St. Louis County Council to empower council members with the authority to remove department heads, a tangential issue instigating further debate on political responsibility and organizational efficiency in local governance. Amidst the unfolding discussions, St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that Alderwoman Velázquez maintains her proposal does "not do with the current administration," and is rather "a long-term look at ways to make St. Louis be more successful."
