Title
Adopting the report of Ramsey County Elections finding that the petition for an initiative to create Chapter 34A of the Legislative Code pertaining to Tenant Right to Repair is sufficient.
Body
WHEREAS, Saint Paul City Charter Section 8.01 states that “[t]he people shall have the right to … propose ordinances… by a process known as … initiative”; and
WHEREAS, a petition seeking an initiative to create Chapter 34A of the Saint Paul Legislative Code to establish an ordinance to allow tenants to make required repairs to their building after written notice to the landlord and deduct an amount not exceeding $500 or one-half month’s rent to pay for the repair was filed with the Office of the City Clerk on June 10, 2026 (the “Petition”); and
WHEREAS, City Charter Chapter 8 requires a petition for an initiative to be signed by registered voters equal in number to eight (8) percent of those who voted for the office of mayor in the last preceding city election; and
WHEREAS, the last preceding city election was held November 4, 2025; and
WHEREAS, there were 66,769 first choice votes cast for Mayor in the 2025 election, meaning that the required number of signatures for the Petition is 5,342; and
WHEREAS, a petition seeing such an amendment of the Saint Paul City Code regarding when elections are held was filed with the Office of the City Clerk on June 10, 2026; and
WHEREAS, the petition was found to be insufficient to satisfy the minimum signature requirements under City Charter, Section 8.02; and
WHEREAS, the petitioner submitted additional signatures with the Office of the City Clerk on July 20, 2026; and
WHEREAS, the original Petition contained 5,048 verified signatures and the supplemental Petition contained 392 signatures; and
WHEREAS, the Ramsey County Elections Deputy Director, who supervises elections on behalf of the City, has reported to the Council that Petition signatures have been checked for compliance with the requirements of Cha...
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