St. Paul Mayor won’t sign eviction extension ordinance despite Council approval

Frey vetoes eviction extension in Minneapolis

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey vetoed the City Council's eviction extension ordinance, but is offering rental help instead. FOX 9's Rob Olson has more. 

ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - Despite unanimous approval from the St. Paul City Council, Mayor Kaohly Her has released a statement saying she won’t sign a newly-approved ordinance that would extend the timeline for a landlord to notify tenants before proceeding with evictions.

St. Paul eviction ordinance

What we know:

On Tuesday, Mayor Her informed the seven members of the city council that she won’t sign the ordinance that requires St. Paul landlords to give tenants 60 days notice before they file an eviction proceeding with the courts.

The mandate was approved 7-0 last week by the council and is veto-proof, so even without her signature, it could still take effect on May 14, and run through Dec. 31.

According to the city charter, the council has the power of "pocket approval" – which would result in the ordinance becoming law if a mayor neither approves or denies it within five business days, which is likely to be the case.

A full copy of her letter to residents can be found below:

What they're saying:

"I am concerned that this ordinance will produce the opposite result. Investing in emergency rental assistance and other proven housing assistance programs, as we have already done together, is the more responsible and sustainable path," St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her said in a statement. "It is also why I am working closely with the legislature to pass emergency rental assistance. I fear that often times at the City we are pulling the wrong lever at the wrong  level of government. This ordinance has many signs of repeating the same mistakes."

Kaohly Her sworn in as St. Paul mayor [FULL]

Kaohly Her was sworn in as St. Paul's new mayor Friday afternoon. 

Minneapolis eviction ordinance vetoed

Big picture view:

In March, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey announced he had vetoed a similar proposal, extending an eviction notice from 30 to 60 days, that would have stayed in effect until Aug. 31, 2026.

In turn, Frey said his office preferred to focus instead of efforts on rental assistance.