Title
Directing the City Clerk to notify the County Auditor to place an initiative regarding whether to adopt the proposed Residential Rent Stabilization ordinance on the November 2, 2021 ballot and approving the title and language for that ballot question.
Body
WHEREAS, Saint Paul City Charter Section 8.01 states that “[t]he people shall have the right to … propose ordinance… by a process known as … initiative”; and
WHEREAS, a petition seeking such an initiative to adopt Chapter 193A of the Saint Paul Legislative Code which is a Rent Stabilization ordinance was filed with the Office of the City Clerk on June 22, 2021 (the “Petition”); and
WHEREAS, the City Council found that the petition was sufficient to satisfy the minimum signature requirements under the City Charter; and
WHEREAS, Minnesota Statutes § 205.16 requires that the City Clerk provide to the County Auditor written notice of a ballot question at least 74 days before the election, which in this case is on or before August 20, 2021; and
WHEREAS, the written notice must include the title and language for the ballot question; and
WHEREAS, the City Attorney has approved the title of the ballot question and has drafted language of the ballot question; now therefore be it
RESOLVED, that the City Clerk is directed to notify the County Auditor to place an initiative on whether the City of Saint Paul should adopt the proposed Residential Rent Stabilization Ordinance on the November 2, 2021 ballot; and be it further;
RESOLVED, that the City Council adopts the title and the language of the ballot question as follows:
Title: Whether to adopt a Residential Rent Stabilization Ordinance.
Question Language: Question Language: Should the City adopt the proposed Ordinance limiting rent increases? The Ordinance limits residential rent increases to no more than 3% in a 12-month period, regardless of whether there is a change of occupancy. The Ordinance also directs the City to create a process for landlords ...
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