Title
Denying a request for a Stay of Demolition for the property located at 676 Wells Avenue.
Body
WHEREAS, pursuant to Council Resolution # RLH RR 13-40, the Saint Paul City Council declared the property at 676 Wells Avenue, Saint Paul, to be a nuisance building on March 5, 2014, and granted the owners 180 days to abate the nuisance; and
WHEREAS, on October 24, 2014, the Department of Safety and Inspections notified the owners that the property had not been abated and that the City intended to enforce the resolution authorizing demolition of the property; and
WHEREAS, on December 3, 2014, the City Council heard and denied an appeal to the October 24, 2014 notice [Council Resolution 14-16] which ordered homeowners to remove their property from the home; and
WHEREAS, property owners filed a Motion for a Temporary Injunction in Ramsey County District Court to prevent the property from being demolished; and
WHEREAS, the Ramsey County District Court denied the motion for lack of jurisdiction, and further found that time for appeal of the demolition order had passed; and
WHEREAS, the owner has filed a writ of certiorari challenging Council Resolution 14-16, and requested a stay of the demolition of the property pending the outcome of the appeal; and
WHEREAS, the Council has determined that the property was declared a nuisance subject to abatement and gave the homeowner ample time to correct the deficiencies, but that upon reinspection of the property the nuisance condition had not been abated; and
WHEREAS, the Council finds that there is no security which can be posted, nor conditions which can be imposed to protect the City's interests in demolition of the property. This determination is based upon the following facts: the property remains a nuisance, the deficiencies have not been corrected, the homeowners continue to attempt to occupy the property despite notices to vacate, and there has been documented drug activity at the property during the period since the property was declared a nuisance; and
WHEREAS, the only remaining issue on appeal is the resolution ordering homeowner to remove their property; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Saint Paul City Council hereby denies the request for a stay of demolition of 676 Wells Avenue, Saint Paul, Minnesota.