Saint Paul council amends resolution to name interim Ward 4 appointee, then lays item over to March 28 special meeting

The Saint Paul City Council on Wednesday approved an amendment inserting the name of a candidate for interim Ward 4 council member, then voted to lay the amended resolution over to a special meeting on March 28 at 3 p.m.

Council Member Julie Jost offered the amendment to the appointment resolution to insert the name of Matt Provatsky (name as supplied in the amendment) as the interim Ward 4 council member. The amendment passed 3-2 after a roll-call vote, with Council Members Johnson, Jost and Bowie voting yes and Council Members Yang and Vice President Kim voting no.

The amendment drew objections from Council Member Yang and others who said the process felt rushed while Council President Naker was absent on bereavement leave. Yang said she was “taken aback” by the timing and called the move “inappropriate” given prior conversations to set a special meeting that would allow all members to be present. Bowie likewise criticized the last-minute nature of the amendment but voted in favor of inserting the name, saying the candidate’s experience made them an appropriate interim option.

After the amendment passed, a separate motion to lay the resolution over was made and adopted by a 5-0 vote, sending the amended resolution to the specially noticed meeting on March 28 at 3 p.m. for final consideration. The council’s vice president noted that the amendment being debated now may differ from the name that is intended to appear at the special meeting and that further adjustments could be made at that meeting.

The council’s discussion and votes were procedural: the amendment itself changed the resolution’s text to name the candidate to be considered; the subsequent layover sets a date when the full council — including the excused Council President Naker — can act on the appointment. No final appointment was made on Wednesday.

Council members repeatedly framed the matter as a choice about process and representation for Ward 4 residents. Jost argued the candidate is “qualified, prepared, and a representative candidate” based on experience as a legislative aide in the ward; Yang and others said the timing undercut prior agreements about scheduling so every council member could participate.

The council did not take a final vote on the appointment on Wednesday; the item will return to the council at a March 28 special meeting for final action.