St. Paul administrative citations on ballot: full question, backers, and how it would work
Ordinance Ord 25-2, on the St. Paul ballot, would amend the city charter to authorize administrative citations, and city leaders — including Mayor Carter, Rep. Kaohly Her, all seven council members, the Charter Commission and a broad coalition of labor, faith and community groups — have urged residents to vote “yes.” The charter change itself sets no fine amounts or covered violations (those would be adopted later through separate ordinances after public hearings for roughly 15 enforcement areas such as animal control, neglected construction, landlord code/rent issues, illegal sewer discharges and employer wage/sick‑time violations); critics warn fines could become a “tax on the poor” or a revenue source, the measure was put on the ballot after a petition by former City Hall employee Peter Butler, and some mayoral candidates (Yan Chen, Mike Hilborn) say they will vote no while Kaohly Her supports it.
📌 Key Facts
- The Twin Cities published the full ballot question language for Ordinance Ord 25-2, which would amend Charter Chapter 6.03 to authorize the city to issue administrative citations.
- The charter change itself would not set specific fines or enumerate covered violations; any fine 'ladders' or covered offenses would be created later through separate ordinances subject to individual public hearings.
- City officials have identified 15 potential enforcement areas for administrative citations, including animal-control violations, neglected construction sites, landlord building-code and rent-compliance issues, illegal storm/sanitary sewer discharges, and employer violations of minimum wage or sick/safe-time rules.
- A broad coalition is backing the measure, including Mayor Melvin Carter, Rep. Kaohly Her, all seven St. Paul council members, the Charter Commission, labor and faith groups (ISAIAH, SEIU Healthcare MN, St. Paul Regional Labor Federation, AFSCME Council 5, Unidos St. Paul, Faith in Minnesota, TakeAction Minnesota), Housing Justice Center, Sustain St. Paul, and local DFL groups.
- The proposal has a history of failed attempts in 2018 and 2021; former Council Member Jane Prince expressed concerns about the approach, and a petition by former City Hall employee Peter Butler forced the question onto the ballot.
- Recorded candidate positions include mayoral candidates Yan Chen and Mike Hilborn saying they will vote 'no,' while Rep. Kaohly Her supports the amendment.
- Critics warn administrative fines could become a 'tax on the poor' and be used to generate city revenue by citing homeowners for minor property issues.
📰 Sources (2)
- Publishes full ballot question language for Ordinance Ord 25-2 amending Charter Chapter 6.03 to authorize administrative citations.
- Lists broad coalition backing the measure (Mayor Carter, Rep. Kaohly Her, all seven council members, Charter Commission, ISAIAH, SEIU Healthcare MN, St. Paul Regional Labor Federation, AFSCME Council 5, Unidos St. Paul, Faith in Minnesota, TakeAction Minnesota, Housing Justice Center, Sustain St. Paul, local DFL groups).
- Notes opposition and history: prior attempts in 2018 and 2021 lacked sufficient support; former Council Member Jane Prince’s concerns; petition by former City Hall employee Peter Butler forced the question onto the ballot.
- Details that the charter change itself sets no fine amounts or covered violations; any fine 'ladders' would come later via separate ordinances with individual public hearings.
- Identifies 15 enforcement areas city officials are eyeing, including animal‑control violations, neglected construction sites, landlord building‑code/rent control compliance, illegal storm/sanitary sewer discharges, and employer violations of minimum wage or sick/safe time rules.
- Records candidate positions: mayoral candidates Yan Chen and Mike Hilborn say they will vote 'no'; Kaohly Her supports the amendment.
- Summarizes critics’ concerns that fines could become a 'tax on the poor' and be used to pad city finances by citing homeowners for minor property issues.