St. Paul voters back administrative citations charter amendment; Yes leads 68–32 with 78 of 86 precincts reporting
Unofficial returns show St. Paul voters backing an administrative‑citations charter amendment — "Yes" leading 68% to 32% with 78 of 86 precincts reporting. The amendment would authorize the City Council to create civil‑fine penalties for ordinance violations (with specific fines and covered offenses to be set later after public hearings); supporters including Mayor Melvin Carter and Rep. Kaohly Her say it will help enforce everything from building codes to wage and sick‑time rules, while critics such as former councilmember Jane Prince warn fines could be overused or become a budget tool after prior charter attempts failed and a petition forced the measure onto the 2025 ballot.
📌 Key Facts
- The administrative‑citations charter amendment (Ord. 25‑2) was on the St. Paul ballot; the exact ballot language for the measure was published.
- Unofficial Election Night returns showed 'Yes' leading 68% to 32% with 78 of 86 precincts reporting.
- If adopted, the amendment would authorize civil‑fine authority (administrative citations) but would not set specific fines or list covered ordinances — those would be created later by the City Council through ordinance, with required public hearings.
- City departments identified about 15 enforcement areas under consideration for administrative citations (examples include animal control, construction‑site neglect, rent‑ and building‑code violations, sewer discharges, and wage/earned‑sick‑time rules).
- City HREEO officials intend to use administrative fines to enforce earned sick‑and‑safe time and combat wage theft by employers.
- Supporters and opponents were publicly named in coverage; Mayor Melvin Carter and Rep. Kaohly Her actively campaigned in support, and campaign chair Matt Privratsky said support was 'almost unanimous' once voters learned about administrative citations.
- Critics, including former Council Member Jane Prince, warned fines could be overused or turned into a revenue tool for the city; Prince says she was the lone 'no' vote that blocked unanimous council approvals in past years (2021 and 2023), and unanimous council approval would otherwise be required to amend the charter without a ballot question.
- The amendment reached the ballot after previous attempts failed in 2018 and 2021 and after a 2025 petition led by Peter Butler forced the public vote; reporting included concrete use‑case examples motivating the measure (e.g., the abandoned Midway CVS at University & Snelling, illegal downtown skyway closures, and pandemic‑era sick‑leave noncompliance).
📰 Sources (4)
St. Paul voters appear ready to embrace administrative citations
New information:
- Unofficial Election Night returns show 'Yes' leading 68% to 32% with 78 of 86 precincts reporting.
- Quote from campaign chair Matt Privratsky saying support was 'almost unanimous' once voters learned about administrative citations and noting many large cities already use them.
- States the measure would give the City Council authority to craft civil-fine structures across ordinance violations after prior charter-amendment attempts in 2018 and 2021 were blocked by the charter commission.
- Notes Peter Butler’s petition forced the measure onto the ballot after initial approval by the charter commission and council.
- Reiterates concerns from critics (e.g., former Council Member Jane Prince) that fines could become a budget tool or be overused for minor code issues.
The St. Paul ballot question that could matter a lot to landlords and employers
New information:
- Former Council Member Jane Prince says she was the lone 'no' vote that blocked unanimous council approvals in 2021 and 2023; unanimous council approval is required to amend the charter without a ballot question.
- Mayor Melvin Carter and Rep. Kaohly Her have campaigned together in support of the administrative‑citations measure.
- City HREEO officials want to use administrative fines to enforce earned sick and safe time and combat wage theft by employers.
- Article highlights concrete use‑case examples: the abandoned Midway CVS at University & Snelling, illegal downtown skyway closures, and pandemic-era sick leave noncompliance.
St. Paul: Administrative citations amendment is on the ballot. Here’s what you need to know.
New information:
- Exact ballot language for the administrative citations charter amendment (Ord 25-2) is provided.
- Clarifies that passage only authorizes civil‑fine authority; specific fines and covered ordinances would require future council action and public hearings.
- Adds comprehensive lists of supporters and named opponents, including specific mayoral candidates’ stances.
- Outlines 15 enforcement areas being considered by city departments (e.g., animal control, construction site neglect, rent control and building‑code violations, sewer discharges, wage/sick‑time rules).
- Notes prior failures to advance in 2018 and 2021 and the petition that forced a public vote in 2025.