Key votes on rent control, tenant protections, a public safety committee and other hot-button issues loom before the St. Paul City Council, but the first order of business will be to appoint an interim and potentially tie-breaking seventh member, a process that has proven to be unexpectedly contentious.

A divided city council voted 3-2 on Wednesday to recommend lobbyist and clean energy advocate Matt Privratsky for the newly vacant Ward 4 seat, following some pointed words between council members who said they were taken aback by the process. Their final vote on the five-month appointment will be held Friday.

The council received 20 applications to fill the temporary appointment and interviewed four finalists last week: artist and community organizer Sean Lim, art conservator and neighborhood advocate Lisa Clare Nelson, nonprofit consultant Melissa Martinez-Sones and Privratsky, who had previously served as a legislative aide in the Ward 4 office.

A general timeframe announced by the council’s director of operations on March 17 called for the council to vote on the interim appointment on March 26, and then swear in the appointee in early April.

Amendment

On Wednesday, Council President Rebecca Noecker was unexpectedly absent because of a family issue, leaving just five of seven members to vote on recommending an appointee by resolution. Council Member Saura Jost provided a written amendment intended to insert Privratsky’s name into the blank spaces on the draft resolution, with a final vote to be laid over to 3 p.m. on Friday.

Appearing taken aback, Council Vice President HwaJeong Kim — who acted as meeting chair in Noecker’s absence — called for a recess, left the table to confer with others, and then returned a few minutes later.

“I don’t feel that this would pass with Council President Noecker here,” Kim said, adding later: “This amendment is not the intended name to be inserted into the resolution on Friday.”

Kim motioned to hold off on inserting any name into the resolution language until Friday, but her request failed 3-2. Jost then read aloud her recommendation to add Privratsky, noting he had previously served as former Council President Mitra Jalali’s legislative aide and “he understands Ward 4, its current top issues, navigating them, and the work (required).”

‘What you’re doing is very inappropriate’

Expressing alarm, Council Member Nelsie Yang said she felt Jost was “taking advantage” of Noecker’s absence to push through an appointment that might not otherwise get approved.

“I’m very taken aback by your resolution,” Yang said. “There were previous conversations to figure out a proper date and time so everyone could be present. That was done … out of respect. This is a vote that will have impact citywide, and this is a colleague.”

“I really have no words,” Yang added. “What you’re doing is very inappropriate.”

Yang then added: “I’ll be really frank. You’re going to be out sometimes, too.”

Jost reminded her that the vote was not final, and the council can revisit the issue Friday.

Council Member Cheniqua Johnson said Jost’s recommendation was “the first amendment that I’ve seen with an actual name attached to the item,” and “this is a reflection of what this has been like internally.” She noted, however, that she was “working really hard to make sure that I’m operating not only in the best interest of our council, but our Ward 4 residents.”

The council then voted to support Jost’s amendment, with Anika Bowie, Johnson and Jost voting in favor and Kim and Yang opposed. The council will reconvene at 3 p.m. Friday to finalize the appointment.

The Ward 4 appointee will serve through the ranked-choice election on Aug. 12, which has already drawn multiple candidates. The winner of that election will serve through 2028.

Jalali announced in January her plans to vacate her seat and officially left city employment on March 8.

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