15 West Kellogg Blvd.

Saint Paul, MN 55102

City of Saint Paul

Minutes - Final

Legislative Hearings

Marcia Moermond, Legislative Hearing Officer

Mai Vang, Hearing Coordinator

Joanna Zimny, Executive Assistant

legislativehearings@ci.stpaul.mn.us

651-266-8585

Tuesday, October 7, 2025

9:00 AM

Room 330 City Hall & Court House/Remote

9:00 a.m. Hearings (None)

Special Tax Assessments

10:00 a.m. Hearings

Special Tax Assessments

RLH TA 25-392

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 586

BURGESS STREET. (File No. VB2513, Assessment No. 25889) (Refer

to December 9, 2025 Legislative Hearing)

Bowie

Sponsors:

Referred to the City Council due back on 10/8/2025

RLH TA 25-260

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 1654

JUNO AVENUE. (File No. J2518R2, Assessment No. 2585669) (Amend

to delete)

Jost

Sponsors:

Delete the assessment.

Voicemail left at 10:07 am: this is Marcia Moermond from St. Paul City Council calling

Eric Carrera after following up the Public Works record and we simply cannot get the

hauler to respond, so I need to go and call this in your favor and recommend this

assessment is deleted. We will send you a follow up email in the event you don’t get

this Voicemail.

Referred to the City Council due back on 10/22/2025

SR 25-169

Review the Ratifying of the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for

property at 872 RONDO AVENUE. (File No. J2522R, Assessment No.

258555)

Bowie

Sponsors:

Rescheduled to November 18, 2025 at 10 am.

Laid Over to the Legislative Hearings due back on 11/18/2025

RLH TA 25-397

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 101

WINNIPEG AVENUE. (File No. J2513TW2, Assessment No. 258595)

Bowie

Sponsors:

Rescheduled to December 16, 2025 at 10 am.

Laid Over to the Legislative Hearings due back on 12/16/2025

Special Tax Assessments-ROLLS

RLH AR 25-94

Ratifying the assessment for Collection of Fire Certificate of Occupancy

fees billed during May 2 to June 5, 2025. (File No. CRT2601,

Assessment No. 268200)

Noecker

Sponsors:

Referred to the City Council due back on 1/14/2026

RLH AR 25-95

Ratifying the assessment for Excessive Use of Inspection or Abatement

services billed during March 25 to April 21, 2025. (File No. J2601E,

Assessment No. 268300)

Noecker

Sponsors:

Referred to the City Council due back on 1/14/2026

11:00 a.m. Hearings

Orders To Vacate - Code Enforcement

RLH VO 25-19

Appeal of Isaac Garland and Franchesca Vann-Wickstrom to a Notice of

Condemnation as Unfit for Human Habitation and Order to Vacate at 705

DAYTON AVENUE. (Public hearing continued to October 15, 2025)

Bowie

Sponsors:

Grant to January 9, 2026 for compliance with orders. Property referred back to Fire C

of O program.

Franchesca Vann Wickstrom, owner, appeared via phone

[Moermond gives background of appeals process]

Staff report by Supervisor Lisa Martin: this was issued to Theodore Vann who is listed

as the owner. A lot of issues not done after the hearing from last year. Compliance

date has passed. We gave a Vacate date of September 25 to have this in compliance.

We still have the outstanding issues remaining.

Vann Wickstrom: I apologize I’m not in person. Since I last saw you I was supposed to

go get the deed, I had the quit claim deed, I passed the inspections by Richard

Kedrowski. I’ve been in 3 car accidents since I last saw you. My family member came

around and stole my car. They still had my keys. I want to apologize again for not

being in person, I have all that information to prove to you. July 2024 after I saw you I

was hit by a car in my back. We were parked. I was in between the car and a curb.

That day was the same day the guy was coming to fix my windows. I lost my job. I was

on unemployment. [lists various health issues and hospital visits] Let me back up.

When I was supposed to get the other citations checked, I ended up in the hospital

and I emailed Mr. Kedrowski. I tried to call him, he didn’t respond.

I’ve been working on programs; they keep putting my on the waiting lists. I’ve been

proactive. I’ve called House Calls. I have had 3 dumpsters out from House Calls. We

hired some young teenage boys to help. We still need more dumpsters. February 1 we

were in a car accident on 94. A 16 year old hit us doing 70 mph. We did two 360

degree turns, hit into the cement median. [lists health issues with herself and

husband] I got a job September 11 working as a housing coordinator from home,

which was perfect. I’ve been going back and forth with the doctor after the first

accident, since what they did didn’t work. My husband hasn’t worked since July of

2024.

Also, CPS—I’m on my sixth CPS case because my family is trying to cite me against

this home. I’m working as hard as I can to repair this home. I’ve filled out grant money,

signed up for government money, all of that. In May I was finally evaluated from the

County so I qualify for PCA hours, 3.5 hours a day, 7 days a week, which Isaac is

going to do. I have proof of that, a budget a year, right now they’re giving me $21,000

for the remainder of the year. Next year it will be $30,000+. So I have income, I’m just

waiting on the County to deem me actually disabled.

Little by little. Some of the stuff has been done. The windows, uh, I am actually

looking into that. I just got on the Power On program, my niece and her spouse, same

thing that happened last time, they moved and transferred all the mail intentionally to

their house. They did the same thing again. I’ve been in and out of the ER, I just had

[medical procedure] September 3. I am working. I have the proof to show you. I even

had House Calls, when Mr. Kedrowski wrote me up for the mattresses in the yard, but

Lauren Lightner Ross emailed him and me and he never responded to that either. I’ve

been reaching out to communicate and let someone know I am trying my hardest. I

don’t want to lose this home. It has been in my family since the 1960’s. I didn’t expect

to become—my 21-year career as a nurse and CNA –is now over with because of my

injury. That’s why I’m not in person today. I’m not trying to give a sob story or anything

but it’s just been—life has been “life-ing”. I don’t even have my daughter; I’m trying to

get the house fixed so my daughter can come home because someone called CPS

and said it is a bad environment but I had already taken her back out to her aunt’s to

stay because I don’t want to be selfish. This isn’t an environment for her to live in. I

can tell you looking at this –the electrical stuff has all been taken care of. My uncle

will be doing the walls in the bathroom. He’s a certified electrician. He will be helping

with the windows. The plumbing in the basement has been fixed. The carpet on the

stairs I ripped up right away, that’s gone. What needs to be done is the windows, the

walls, the doors, and then my ceiling. And the porch. That is what I’m looking into all

night long trying to find an affordable—because I am not working right now—and

haven’t since May. I get a settlement; I have a lawyer. My husband settled months ago,

after our car was stolen in November, we didn’t get another car until January. We didn’t

even have that car for a whole week before we got into that accident on the freeway.

I’ve been in 3 car accidents. July 2024, February 1, 2025 and just another one in May

2025 when the guy hit us head on. I have the documentation so you can see

everything. Like I said, life has been “life-ing” and I’m trying my hardest. I am trying.

Moermond: can you tell me why you haven’t got the property in your name?

Vann Wickstrom: after I saw you guys, the day before Mother’s Day, I had the bag in

the car with the quit claim deed to the house, I had the paperwork from when I saw you

last, from my bankruptcy, on top of that my husband left his check money in there

($3,500). We see on the camera my nephew and his friend broke into my husband’s

car and stole his stuff. I had to start all over again to do that, get the papers signed. I

tried to give the County the copy I had, they told me they needed a wet signature.

When all of this happened my niece who wrote the quit claim deed in my name?

Doesn’t talk to any of us. I’ve tried to reach out for over a year. I also have paperwork

to turn in because they wouldn’t take a dry signature on a copy. I tried to call South

Carolina where she was based to see if they had a wet signature paper they and they

don’t. The only one who can help is the judge. I tried to reach out to Benjamin Linker, I

think, and have him talk to the judge for me months ago to see if he would do it for

me. I had to have a whole other court date scheduled. So, March 5 I was supposed to

get my paperwork renewed as special administrator, I was in the hospital. I talked to

Benjamin Linker about what I needed to do and what to turn in. My mobility is messed

up. I didn’t have health insurance; I lost it in February. Because I’m legally married is

why me and my daughter’s case had to all be as one through the County. I just got my

health insurance back in June. My niece doesn’t talk to me, so I have to wait for a

court date to talk to a judge. They will not accept a copy.

Moermond: have you petitioned the court?

Vann Wickstrom: I didn’t know I could do that.

Moermond: you can request time in front of the judge.

Vann Wickstrom: to be special administrator, yeah. I renewed that paperwork.

Moermond: what are you asking for today?

Vann Wickstrom: if you can give me a time, a little more time. I’m at your leisure I just

need to finish calling these programs to help me, or I’ll call my lawyer to see if I can

get an advance to get these windows fixed. My uncle can fix everything else. He could

do the windows but I don’t have the funding. He works at Ace Frattalone’s on Grand.

He can give me a discount on cutting glass but he can’t put it in. This is 12 windows.

Moermond: we talked a lot about what has been going on the last year and a half or

so. We started this conversation May 7, a year and a half out and we’ve talked 3 times

before we sent to Council and the deadline was September 1, 2024. We’re a year past

the original deadline. Ms. Martin, no enforcement in a year?

Martin: we’ve tried to gain entry to see unsuccessfully and there are no permits. Plus,

the cyber-attack.

Moermond: that explains the last few months, but not the preceding 10 months.

Vann Wickstrom: the electrical maintenance says to secure the outlet box in the

laundry. That was fixed. Remove defective fixture over kitchen sink or he said I could

replace the light, I did that. Repair all fixtures throughout the house. Last year, they

came and fixed all the bulbs and gave me new bulbs and changed the thermostat for

the furnace. It was a program that did it. The electrical is all done. Then some wires

hanging out at the top of the stairs—

Moermond: it appears you are saying you have done these things but an inspector

hasn’t been able to get in to check and no permits were pulled for the work. That does

need to be sorted out. I want to get this done, I’m also thinking this isn’t an

owner-occupied house and really does belong in the Fire Certificate of Occupancy

program. You’re going to have to have a Responsible Party then, and that is someone

who is acting on behalf of the owner. We don’t have a clear owner. You have to get that

straightened out. It has been more than a year and it hasn’t happened. I appreciate you

trying to deal with it now and again but I can’t call it owner occupied anymore. I

understood last time we spoke you were working hard on it but it doesn’t make sense

anymore.

Vann Wickstrom: yes ma’am. When was our court date last? After I saw you, it was

the day before mother’s day they came and stole all of that—my gun permit, the

money, everything, it was in a bag. My original keys were in there and that’s how they

came back month’s later and stole my car. I have police reports for that. I know what

you’re saying, it has been more than enough time. I should have been more proactive.

Me being sick really isn’t an excuse, but I checked out. In the will the house WAS

given to me and the will got filed. I am---this is owner occupied. She willed the house to

me.

Moermond: I don’t see that. I see a disputed title and that you need to get it through

probate and get your name attached to the property. I’m not going to look at anything

except for literally what Ramsey County recorder’s office has as the owner. I’ll

recommend the Council gives you an extension through January 9, 2026. That’s when

you have to have these things taken care of. I’ll also ask this is referred back to the

Fire Certificate of Occupancy program. Get that title straightened out right away. You

may need an attorney, or a legally Responsible Party—which, the owner is dead---not

sure you’d manage that. Talk to an attorney is the best advice I can give.

Referred to the City Council due back on 10/8/2025

Summary & Vehicle Abatement Orders

RLH SAO 25-56

Appeal of Seth Richardson to a Summary Abatement Order at 2350

BAYLESS PLACE.

Coleman

Sponsors:

Layover to LH November 18, 2025 at 11 am for further discussion.

Seth Richardson, owner, appeared

Pat Thompson, neighbor and Board member of St Anthony Park Community Council

(SAPCC), appeared

Stephen Mastey, landscape architect and former resident of 2350 Bayless Place,

appeared

Reyd Jordan, environmental committee of St. Anthony Park, appeared

Bill Delanis, neighbor, appeared

[Moermond gives background of appeals process]

Moermond: I have looked through all the materials you submitted. There is a lot here,

so highlighting anything you want but we don’t need to go through page by page.

Richardson: I did make a slide show; can I show it?

Moermond: I do have it printed here and did review it. What exactly did you want to

draw my attention to particularly in it?

Richardson: the most important part is I’ve solely maintained this rain garden for the

last 3 years. I have now entered into a grant agreement with Capital Region Watershed

District (CRWD) but prior to that I maintained it myself with my own labor and money. I

purchased in 2022. I believe the rain garden itself was constructed in 2021 in terms of

the new design. I was speaking in someone in Public Works Streets and it sounds

like curb was changed around 2017, but I don’t have an exact date on that. September

4 got this citation from Richard Kedrowski. It mentioned no plants higher than 18”

within 30-foot radius of the intersection.

Moermond: I don’t think it is radius.

Richardson: that’s just what it said. 30 feet of the corner. When I looked at the

ordinance I believe it did say “radii” but I could be mistaken.

Moermond: let’s keep going.

Richardson: even if that’s not considered, if it is the other interpretation that is 36”.

Moermond: I’m familiar.

Richardson: I’ve talked to a couple of City officials who have been a little miffed at why

the citation happened, just because it is a well-maintained garden. I’m not perfect by

any stretch of the imagination, but hopefully the supporters here and comments from

the neighborhood will show I do my best. I did find it interesting the reason that

Kedrowski said he was out wasn’t because of any site-line issues, it was because of

my Park Bugle signs.

I sit on the board of the Park Bugle and it seems odd to get a complaint about it,

considering how many signs I see in the boulevards everywhere. That said, I should

have known the ordinance, I apologize. My bad.

I’d like you to grant a variance for this rain garden. The intersection there, you all read

the code, seems to me to be designed for 90-degree intersections, traditional

intersections. I don’t know if that was the intent in 2015 when it was passed or not--

Moermond: the right-of-way code has been existence as long as the City.

Richardson: cool. I don’t know if the 90 degrees—has it always been a case of---

Moermond: no, 90 degrees is for a traditional “T” intersection, but it isn’t an accident

we have places called 7 Corners. I think that is *A* question we should be addressing.

Richardson: that’s mostly what I am asking here. I understand that because of

different street designs it is impossible for City code to address every intersection. If

special circumstances should arise, that’s where I’m asking for some consideration

here.

On another level, I was looking through the City’s climate action resilience plan which

pushes the residents take it upon themselves to do things like this and better their

neighborhood, which is what I’m trying to do with this rain garden and what I think

Steven (former owner and designer) was trying to do. Again, hopefully the community

comments I provided show this is something the South St. Anthony community thinks

is important and believes in.

Those would be my main points. I think I included an overhead of the intersection

itself. It is not a 90-degree intersection, and really the part where the rain garden

is—when I was talking to someone from Traffic Engineering—it is kind of hybrid in a

way. I get by letter of the law it is probably an intersection since there’s a stop sign

and streets cross but the way it was designed was to slow traffic down going down

Bayless Place coming off of 280 and they used to zoom onto Raymond. It is sort of

this hybrid traffic calming / skewed intersection deal. I guess I don’t know exactly how

it would be defined, based on the citation I got I guess it would be an intersection.

Moermond: I’m going to pause for a moment. A “citation” is something criminal or

administrative which results in a fine. A violation of the code and we’re going to write a

tag and you end up in court. What you have in front of you is an actual order to

address something, a nuisance abatement order, and were you not to address the

nuisance there is no criminal piece of it. What it would be is the City would go and

abate the nuisance as it has defined it and charge you for that. I just wanted it clear

that we aren’t talking about a crime here.

Richardson: sorry, yes, I’m aware of that as well. The intersection isn’t a traditional

90-degree angle. Hopefully the photos and video I provided show there really aren’t the

same sight-line issues—I don’t think there are any, really. The video you can see a car

turning from Cromwell onto the street making its entire way. I took that video from the

stop sign where, in theory, the sight-line issues would be. You can see everything as it

is coming. I don’t think engineering did a sight-triangle study when they did the corner.

I was talking to Barb Mundahl yesterday who said they didn’t. The fact that this isn’t 90

degrees, the photo evidence shows what the intersection looks like. The fact this does

mean a lot to the community, I am hoping for a variance. I can go into the Climate plan

as well but I think that’s laid out pretty well in the document I provided.

Moermond: my perception of the corner/bump out is it is about 135-degree angle. Is it

a corner? I think it is. That brings us to what we do with that. How this fits into the

actual right-of-way is an open question for me. I have access to plat maps but they

were redone when the street was redesigned so I’d need an updated view and right now

we’re paused at the City for getting that because of the cyber-incident. I recognize

there should be more information involved in this conversation.

I see a difference in the site-line issues if I look at the bump out in the curve versus a

straight line. Pre and post traffic calming measure. I’m more concerned about the sight

line for the bump out than the balance of the right-of-way. I’m working through that and

how I fit those 2 issues together.

Richardson: the other big point I do want to make is if the current code is enforced it

would mean the end of the rain garden. Trying to mitigate would be monumental due to

the way native flora spreads. I understand you have considerations, safety to consider,

but personally I don’t think—I haven’t heard of any traffic incidents there. Cars park

there and people drive past there all the time.

Moermond: the law is intended to get ahead of the accident, not chase it.

Richardson: I understand, of course. I do think I can speak for the community at least

to some degree that it really does provide character, helps with mental health and

hoping the City will take that into account in how they proceed.

Moermond: and just a quick note, you did reach out to the Councilmember in the 4th

ward and expressed some chagrin she wouldn’t engage with you.

Richardson: of course.

Moermond: you know that she cannot. That would be ex parte communication and she

wouldn’t be able to vote on the matter. She’d have to recuse herself by engaging.

Richardson: I’m aware of that.

Moermond: well, you emailed so I just want it on the record to make it clear, she would

have to NOT vote on it because she had received information from you. Just so you

understand where that is coming from and I have made a record of it. You have people

with you today, who would you like to speak first?

Pat Thompson: I’m here in two different ways. Board member of St Anthony Park

community Council (SAPCC) and also co-chair of the Transportation Committee. I am

going to first speak officially as a Board member. I think this was sent through the

official channel now, and also to Department of Safety & Inspections, so our executive

committee meets on Thursday night this week so we didn’t have time to do that so this

hasn’t been approved by our executive committee, it came from our environment

committee, which RJ behind me is a member of.

SAPCC is writing to support Seth Richardson who is working to bring the curb cut rain

garden there into compliance with City requirements. We respectfully request the City

waive the current “fine” (which was our understanding at the time) and allow additional

time for the property owner and community volunteers to complete necessary

maintenance. This request follows a motion passed by the Environment Committee.

The plantings in this rain garden include native perennials selected for stormwater

management and pollinator habitat. Trimming these to below 18” at this point in the

season would damage plantings and undermine the garden’s function. Neighborhood

volunteers are organizing a timeline to trim, replant and replace species as needed

when conditions are more suitable. We also understand that CRWD monitors curb cut

rain gardens and can provide guidance and we are happy to coordinate with them and

City staff. SAPCC supports the neighbor’s good faith efforts to meet the City’s

standards while preserving the garden’s long-term ecological function. We respectfully

ask any “fines” be set aside and a short extension be granted so the garden can be

maintained properly and brought into full compliance. Thank you for your consideration

and continued partnership.

This obviously doesn’t address the 18” vs. 36” question. I will now speak on my own

behalf. I personally disagree with the Community Council’s 18” thing. In this location it

is clearly officially an intersection, but because of the way it was built out in that

redesign—I think it was earlier than 2017. I’ve been on the Transportation committee

since 2013 when Raymond was rebuilt. I have gone through the area many times and

never thought of it as an intersection, as a person driving a car, it doesn’t feel like one.

The garden has an extreme traffic calming effect. It is 35 feet deep at the point, and

25 feet deep at the edges. So even if you had to replace the plants at the front edge of

it, typical boulevards in the City are only 6’ deep plus a 5’ sidewalk. A property owner

could have a 6’ tall plant at the edge of their property and that would be 11’ back.

Moermond: the closest I could think was there is a section of Jefferson with an

extraordinarily wide boulevard area and this struck me as similar.

Thompson: and of course there’s parts of the City with no boulevard and just a 5’

sidewalk. They could have a 6’ plant there at 5’ back. The idea that even if you

replaced the plants at the 5’ edge of this, potentially, from my point of view as a driver

the thing that is the most visually obstructing is the sign the City has there with the

yellow stripes that is taller than all the plants. It is likely there for the plows. That’s my

opinion as a transportation committee member for 12 years.

Moermond: you said you were speaking---

Thompson: me, as myself, as a person who has been on a transportation committee in

a district Council, not representing them. Just a normal graphic designer citizen of the

City. That is how I perceive this. I’ve also been gardening for decades including native

plants I have a lot of sympathy with this. It really does have a traffic calming effect in

the area. That area is so different for the folks who live there than it did before. You

were talking about the previous plat—yeah, they could see really well and they went

REALLY fast through it too.

Moermond: I didn’t say that. I said I don’t have a current plat map with the right-of-way.

Thompson: I though you said something about before there being a wider space?

Moermond: what I was saying was the right-of-way and the way it fits with the parcels

would have been redrawn as part of the project and the plat map I have doesn’t show

that.

Thompson: I thought someone said---well, anyway, it was a much wider space. They

built this out to change that. People drove through much faster than they do now. They

don’t stop and say, “oh my god I can’t see”, they just drive much more people should

drive on City streets.

Richardson: about the fine I described it as. The way it was described to me is that I

would be assessed the $450. Am I misunderstanding that?

Moermond: no, you are not. The assessment is for labor and so on, it is in no way a

fine, it is a recovery of costs.

Richardson: my apologies for referring to it as a fine, I guess in practice it sort of is,

but it is not, I understand.

Moermond: it does imply punitive rather than addressing the nuisance conditions.

Thompson: what about administrative costs on top of that? I’ve paid one for another

thing.

Moermond: it is recovering part of the costs that are administrative in nature.

Stephen Mastey: I am a landscape architect and former resident of 2350 Bayless

Place. In 2006 I did the concept plan that redesigned the street that matches the

current configuration thanks to the Raymond Avenue project and our Councilmember

Russ Stark for funding that. I’m a licensed landscape architect that signed off and

prepared the drawings for the space and worked hand in hand with the City traffic

engineering department to not only redesign the street but also design what we have

currently in that public space in front of Bill and Susie and Seth and Lisa’s and Kevin

and Martha’s house. I have all the history behind everything so I’d love to provide any

input if I could as it relates.

The fact we have parking along the whole side of that street speaks to the fact there is

not sight-distance-triangle required for this—which is quite frankly, a straightaway with

a little traffic calming bump to create the 90-degree angle as it intersects.

Moermond: there’s parking on the angle?

Mastey: yes, the whole thing, both sides. If there was a traffic sight triangle like there

typically would be on any 90-degree intersection there’s either 30’ or 50’ setback where

you can have parking. So, this can be heavily parked which is great with the church

across the street. The fact it is intended to have parking, embracing the entire curb in

front speaks to the fact there is no sight triangle required. Seth had a chance to talk to

Barb yesterday, the traffic engineer who helped work on the project, and she spoke to

that they didn’t create one for this because one isn’t required. I think there’s a

miscommunication. I spoke with Richard when Seth let me know he got this notice.

This isn’t your typical intersection, it is flat, as Pat pointed out. It used to be a straight

road, and way back when there was a really bad accident in front of the church, people

were going the wrong way right by the community center, when it was a two way, I think

there was a fatal accident probably 25 years ago. When Father Paul was there. Or

maybe John.

It was originally designed for horse and buggy as Horace Cleveland decided back in

the 1880’s. At that point we didn’t have these issues, but the people were using it as a

race track. The City has done many things to make this part of the neighborhood safer

and they’ve all been wonderfully received and accepted. My overarching thing—it

doesn’t matter what the plantings are there—that’s irrelevant. The point is there is no

sight distance triangle restrictions as they relate to this intersection, at least as it

relates to this side. The other side is a point and does have some restrictions.

Because this is really a straight street with a bit of a bump, and there is parking

allowed on the whole bump, that’s the main point of all of this. We shouldn’t have a 30

or 50’ or whatever Richard was suggesting he has in the Code book, but the whole

point of having this conversation is saying we need clarification. We got clarification

from Barb yesterday, the traffic engineer. I, as a licensed professional, that had been

involved with this project for the last 25 years, can also testify that because of the

parking and the way this is designed, this issue related to vegetation presented to Seth

is not an issue and should be rescinded.

Thompson: the 36”—

Mastey: it doesn’t even matter, there’s no---

Moermond: actually, it does. It is what the law says. 36” for boulevards, maximum,

except 18” within 10 feet of driveways and corners. That is what we’re talking about.

The reduction from the allowable 36” down to 18”.

Mastey: the law also says boulevard and this isn’t a boulevard. It is basically park

space, so it is treated a bit differently than it does boulevard, which is considered

something 8 to 10 feet wide.

Moermond: this is not a parkway.

Mastey: I know that.

Moermond: it is a public right-of-way.

Mastey: yep.

Moermond: as such, we use the parlance “boulevard” but we are talking about public

right-of-way and it is in the public right-of-way code. I take your meaning, and you think

it shouldn’t apply at all?

Mastey: I didn’t say that. I say that this doesn’t neatly fit under the definition of a

boulevard, nor does it neatly fit under any definition. That’s why we’re here to talk about

this unique situation that is a reaction to an unsafe situation that we’ve been working

on the last 25 years with the City in a very productive and successful manner. I’d hate

to have something that is actually working be put in a box, when it doesn’t neatly fit in

a box. That’s the conversation we had with Richard. We know he has a job to do and

he’s raising his hand this is a 30’ sight triangle on an intersection. Well, this isn’t a

difficult intersection. Doesn’t fit into that norm. It is good we’re having this conversation

so we can provide clarification and/or guidance moving forward on what is applicable.

The fact there is parking on the whole thing takes some of those restrictions and

throws them out the door.

We specifically have a bluestone edge around the back of this that wasn’t required to

give extra clearance for people to get out of their vehicles and for parking. The

vegetation right now is the highest it has ever been and once it goes dormant it will be

cut back as part of the management plan to 0”. We have sandy soil; the vegetation is

an anomaly this year so we do want to take that into consideration.

Richardson: particularly the months of March through August were quite high in terms

of precipitation. I was looking through DNR data and seeing January and February were

low on the list, but year to date we are above average for precipitation. I found that

fascinating. This is easily the tallest and most lush the rain garden has been since I

got here.

Mastey: we have this on a plan that we might do a burn if conditions are appropriate.

We tried last year and it didn’t time out so we did a full mow and removal. We don’t

want to cut it back now because it was a very expensive investment, so we want it to

go dormant so we can cut it back down to 0”. Next year probably won’t be as wet, it is

typically 1/2 or 2/3 of what we saw this year. It was designed to keep the height

restrictions but we can’t control mother nature and this year was really, really, really wet

so vegetation was more lush and taller than we are used to. As soon as we’re in the off

season, I’ll be working with Seth and Lisa and the neighbors to hopefully do the burn.

The edge is thatched with daffodils that come up, once they’re done in April/May they

go dormant and the natives take over for the rest of the year.

Reyd Jordon: I’m part of the environmental committee of St. Anthony Park. Most of my

points have already been made. Unfortunately, the biodiversity and climate crisis have

no real estate in any of our law books. I just want to reiterate the support the

environmental committee has for projects like this which provide a multitude of

benefits, not only for humans but many other organisms. Like Stephen says, there are

management options that can make it look tamer in the eyes of traffic going by, but it

does have a traffic calming effect. We’re all very staunch supporters of projects like

this.

Bill Delanis DVM: I am Seth’s neighbor. It is my driveway that goes past the rain

garden. It actually has a calming effect on me. I slow down as I’m pulling out. I can’t

speak to the plants; my background is in animal care. This rain garden is outstanding

piece of habitat and if you talk to biologists they will tell you the biggest threat wildlife

face is habitat and this little piece of rain garden provides some City habitat for the

little creatures that need it. The bees. The songbirds. We’re losing a billion songbirds

a year. Provides nesting area for turkey and ducks. Many butterflies. I understand the

concerns about traffic safety, but this seems excessive to me.

Moermond: anyone else?

Richardson: I moved here 3 years ago, and I’ve lived in all sorts of large cities. Reno,

DC, Cleveland and I’ve never lived anywhere quite like the Twin Cities that really

integrates the environment into daily life. I like to think that taking care of this rain

garden is my way of contributing to that effort. So many people from visit me from out

of town and comment not just on the rain garden, but the way it is throughout the Twin

Cities. I’m hoping we can come to some sort of conclusion that keeps it part of our

daily life and neighborhood.

Moermond: I do really appreciate the neighbors coming out, your expertise, that depth

of knowledge is great. The right-of-way serves two purposes really. One that we

focused on today was sight lines and driving. The one we didn’t really talk about is

right-of-way for public foot traffic. The ability for foot traffic to pass through the area

and available to all. That public component is what we need to define at a high policy

level, and access to what exactly. I appreciate Barb Mundahl spoke with you, she isn’t

a right-of-way engineer, however. She also hasn’t submitted any written opinion to us. I

spoke to her boss about the situation. What I’d like to do is on our own have her

provide some information. I think the City enforcement perspective which takes City

code and applies it outward, and the perspective of the actual right-of-way team at

Public Works, outside of engineering. That MN statue does also have some definitions

of native plantings that may be of benefit. That is typically for private property, but it

may give us some insight. I would also like to have a clean idea of what is going on

with the lay of the right-of-way. It seems there is a solution between the orders as

written and what you’re looking for. I don’t know what that looks like exactly. It is

notable to me we have the parking situation on the street which is unusual.

Richardson: it is an unusual traffic calming area. When you say public access, do you

mean access to the sidewalk or access through the rain garden?

Moermond: it is a public right-of-way, which means the public has a right to pass

through it. They shouldn’t be impeded in walking through it. However, I’m trying to

balance literally walking through it with the other public access. Thinking, do they have

access to green space, enjoyment in a different kind of way. That’s where I’m coming

from. I see that balancing out, and do it see it reflected in this code? No. Is it in state

law? Yes. I want to look at that more. There’s also a difference in space at this

location if I look at the curve, we’re looking at about 135-degree angle. It is in between

that 90 degrees and a straight street, and is that an intersection under Code? I am

going to say yes, but what do we do with that information? Does it give us that level to

deviate from the written code. I’m balancing that too. When I think about the timing of

a conclusion, from your perspective I think it is about having a clean answer with

plenty of time to do garden planning. To be able to know what you want to do in the

event you need to replace plants selectively. I don’t know how this all fits together with

the cyber security incident, but I do want that mapping as part of the record. In terms

of the actual abatement of the nuisance condition, if we do say it needs to absolutely

be 18”, I would still give an extension through the end of year and we’d consider it

abated because it is winter. I don’t see this as being pertinent to this season, that’s

not reasonable in my estimation. I want to assure you that no one is going to come cut

it down. I’d like the district Council to clarify this is a nuisance abatement order, not a

criminal citation.

Laid Over to the Legislative Hearings due back on 11/18/2025

Making Finding on Nuisance Abatements

RLH SAO 25-57

Making finding on the appealed nuisance abatement ordered for 42

BAKER STREET WEST in Council File RLH SAO 25-53.

Noecker

Sponsors:

The nuisance(s) are not abated.

Voicemail left at 12:36 pm: This is Marcia Moermond trying to close out the file for 42

Baker St W. We’ll try back in a few minutes.

Tried calling again 12:43 pm: mailbox full.

Moermond: we were unable to reach him. I have photos taken September 22 showing

the property is still not in compliance, and recommend the Council make a finding the

nuisance has not been abated and authorize Department of Safety & Inspections to

take action after the Council Public Hearing next Wednesday.

Referred to the City Council due back on 10/15/2025

RLH SAO 25-54

Making finding on the appealed nuisance abatement ordered for 1593

MARGARET STREET in Council File RLH SAO 25-50.

Johnson

Sponsors:

The nuisance is not abated.

Katherine Weigelt, owner, appeared via phone

Moermond: we are checking up on the orders for abatement at your property. I have

Lisa Martin on the line. Today we’re making a finding about whether or not the nuisance

has been abated and if not the Council authorizing the Dept to take care of it.

Staff update by Supervisors Lisa Martin: we had an inspector out this morning. Some

of the boulevard plantings are at 28”, they should be less than 18”. We also have

overhanging vegetation onto the sidewalk and street. It isn’t abated.

Weigelt: we have some pickup to do this evening, we had issues with our dog and

taking them to the ER. I don’t believe we received anything in writing. As I understood

after the hearing last time said 36” and the removal would get us under 36”. I’m just

hearing 8” now.

Moermond: 18”.

Weigelt: I heard 36”.

Moermond: both are mentioned in your orders. Which I know can be confusing. [reads

code]

Weigelt: what was seen this morning is still part of our raking and bagging. I

understood we had through the 7th, which is tonight, and we need that time

unfortunately due to the unexpected emergency.

Moermond: I have October 1 as the deadline. Let me check the letter to you.

Weigelt: I never received a letter. I have the 7th on the calendar.

Moermond: it was sent August 15 via email to katieweigest@gmail.com.

Weigelt: ok. I will look through.

Zimny: I’ll forward it again.

Weigelt: in the hearing we discussed October 7 to get through the growing season.

Moermond: I hear that, our records all say October 1. We’ll get that letter to you now. It

would come from legislativehearings@ci.stpaul.mn.us. We didn’t get a bounce back

on it. That being said, this doesn’t go before Council until October 15. Next

Wednesday. We’ll just ask the inspector to do a drive by next Wednesday so you sort

of by default have an extension. That gives you a chance to wrap up on that, does that

sound ok?

Weigelt: that’s fair. Thank you for resending the email now, I have now received it.

Referred to the City Council due back on 10/15/2025