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, June 3, 2025

9:00 AM

Room 330 City Hall & Court House/Remote

9:00 a.m. Hearings

RLH TA 25-262

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 1724,

1748 AND 1760 CASE AVENUE. (File No. J2521R, Assessment No.

258549)

Yang

Sponsors:

Reduce assessment from $1,857 to $1,609.

Referred to the City Council due back on 7/16/2025

RLH TA 25-256

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 941

FREMONT AVENUE. (File No. J2521R, Assessment No. 258549)

Johnson

Sponsors:

Approve and make payable over 5 years.

Referred to the City Council due back on 7/16/2025

RLH TA 25-253

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 1814

JAMES AVENUE. (File No. J2521R, Assessment No. 258549)

Jost

Sponsors:

Continue CPH to January 7, 2026 and if no same or similar violations reduce

assessment from $298 to $149 otherwise approve in full.

Referred to the City Council due back on 7/16/2025

RLH TA 25-259

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 617

STRYKER AVENUE. (File No. J2521R, Assessment No. 258549)

Noecker

Sponsors:

Delete the assessment.

Referred to the City Council due back on 7/16/2025

10:00 a.m. Hearings

Special Tax Assessments

RLH TA 25-248

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 1470

DALE STREET NORTH. (File No. 2504T, Assessment No. 259004)

Kim

Sponsors:

Approve and make payable over 5 years.

Voicemail left at 10:05 am: this is Marcia Moermond from St. Paul City Council trying

to reach Elton Mykerezi about an appealed tax assessment for tree removal at 1470

North Dale. We couldn't reach you a couple weeks ago, we will try you again and

hopefully connect.

Voicemail left at 10:17 am: this is Marcia Moermond again from St. Paul City Council

calling about your appealed assessment for tree removal at 1470 North Dale. We've

tried a few times without success. This is $3,909.48 and I'm going to ask the Council

to make this payable over 5 years. If you are looking for a different outcome, that is

fine, reach back to us to discuss. We'll send a follow up email.

Referred to the City Council due back on 6/18/2025

RLH TA 25-247

RLH TA 25-251

RLH TA 25-261

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 588

FOREST STREET. (File No. 2503T, Assessment No. 259002)

Johnson

Sponsors:

Approve the assessment and make payable over 5 years.

Referred to the City Council due back on 6/18/2025

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 1845

CARROLL AVENUE. (File No. J2510E, Assessment No. 258311)

Privratsky

Sponsors:

Approve the assessment.

Referred to the City Council due back on 7/16/2025

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 104 IVY

AVENUE WEST. (File No. J2510E, Assessment No. 258311)

Kim

Sponsors:

Layover to June 17, 2025 (unable to reach PO).

Tried again 10:12 am: call dropped.

Laid Over to the Legislative Hearings due back on 6/17/2025

RLH TA 25-260

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 1654

JUNO AVENUE. (File No. J2518R, Assessment No. 258534) (Refer to

August 5, 2025 Legislative Hearing)

Jost

Sponsors:

Refer back to LH August 5, 2025 at 10 am. Recommendation forthcoming pending

hauler notes re: PO contact.

mins pending

Referred to the City Council due back on 6/4/2025

RLH TA 25-255

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 2451

UNIVERSITY AVENUE WEST. (File No. J2508P, Assessment No.

258407)

Privratsky

Sponsors:

Delete the assessment (waiver on file).

Referred to the City Council due back on 7/16/2025

RLH TA 25-257

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 2516

WABASH AVENUE. (File No. J2508P, Assessment No. 258407)

Privratsky

Sponsors:

Delete the assessment (waiver on file).

Referred to the City Council due back on 7/16/2025

Special Tax Assessments Rolls

RLH AR 25-52

RLH AR 25-53

RLH AR 25-54

RLH AR 25-55

Ratifying the assessment for Rubbish and Garbage Clean Up services

during March 10 to 28, 2025. (File No. J2521R, Assessment No.

258549)

Noecker

Sponsors:

Referred to the City Council due back on 7/16/2025

Ratifying the assessment for Collection of Fire Certificate of Occupancy

fees billed during January 31 to February 28, 2025. (File No. CRT2509,

Assessment No. 258208)

Noecker

Sponsors:

Referred to the City Council due back on 7/16/2025

Ratifying the assessment for Excessive Use of Inspection or Abatement

service billed during November 22 to December 20, 2024. (File No.

J2510E, Assessment No. 258311)

Noecker

Sponsors:

Referred to the City Council due back on 7/16/2025

Ratifying the assessment for Graffiti Removal service during October 21

to February 4, 2025. (File No. J2508P, Assessment No. 258407)

Noecker

Sponsors:

Referred to the City Council due back on 7/16/2025

11:00 a.m. Hearings

Making Finding on Nuisance Abatements

RLH SAO

25-26

Making finding on the appealed nuisance abatement ordered for 145

LAWSON AVENUE EAST in Council File RLH SAO 25-23.

Bowie

Sponsors:

The nuisance is abated and the matter resolved.

Referred to the City Council due back on 6/11/2025

RLH SAO 25-21

Fourth Making finding on the appealed of JoAnn Lorvig Tsoumanis to a

nuisance abatement ordered for 1400 CHARLES AVENUE in Council

File RLH SAO 25-2. (Legislative Hearing June 3, 2025)

Jalali

Sponsors:

The nuisance is not abated.

JoAnn Lorvig Tsoumanis, owner, appeared via phone

Staff update by Supervisor Lisa Martin: we still have a large amount of exterior storage.

Loose block. Metal fence sections. Miscellaneous debris throughout the entire yard.

Two trailers full of scrap wood on the street. We have rubber floor tiles on the

boulevard. Some other items leaning up against the house. Definitely not completed as

far as we are concerned.

Moermond: and the inspector took photos today to show that?

Martin: correct.

Lorvig Tsoumanis: I am working on it. I am ill. I am old. I have to work because I’m

broke. I have gotten the wood out of the yard. I’ve got some other stuff out of the yard.

No, I am not done. I have tried. It rained for a week and a half.

Moermond: the Council originally looked at this in February and this was given

staggered deadlines so you would be able to accomplish it. The May and June

deadline you missed. We did put these deadlines with you being part of the

conversation. You knew the expectations. I’m going to report back to the Council that

the conditions haven’t been cleaned up---

Lorvig Tsoumanis: they are in progress! I have made good progress! I have not NOT

done anything. I understand I didn’t meet the deadlines, but I am not NOT trying. I am

a 62 year old handicapped woman that’s broke.

Moermond: and running a business out of your house.

Lorvig Tsoumanis: I’m trying to get everything under control but it doesn’t happen

overnight. It doesn’t happen in 3 months. I’ve tried really hard to work with you and if

you want to send a crew and bill me $5,000 I’m not paying it. Just keep the bill. I can

only do what I can do. I’m sorry. I don’t know what else to do.

Moermond: the Council Public Hearing is tomorrow at 3:30 and what I would suggest is

if you want a different outcome you need to come talk to the Council about it. That

information was also in your email from last Wednesday.

Lorvig Tsoumanis: I can’t take off from work to do that. I can’t be every place. In

another couple weeks to a month it will be done. I’m making progress. I have places

rented for it to go. I am one person.

Moermond: I’m going to recommend the Council find the conditions have not been

taken care of and a crew should be authorized to clean it up. If you want a different

outcome please talk to the City Council.

Lorvig Tsoumanis: you’re not even trying to work with me. I’m not NOT making

progress. I’m not working against you. I haven’t left things stagnant. I’m doing the best

I can do. What am I supposed to do? I don’t have unlimited resources to hire. I am

handicapped. I have to work. I am old. I don’t have the resources to hire. Even if I have

my own guys do it I have to pay them. Then I’m not making money to pay other bills.

Moermond: you made choices. That’s up to you. If you want a different outcome you

need to ask the Council for that and whether that is worth your time and money is also

up to you. I think you’ve been given a fair chance to deal with this.

Lorvig Tsoumanis: you guys just don’t care. You don’t care. You don’t care if someone

is trying. There is a difference between those who don’t try and those who do. And

those who care. And you don’t care if somebody cares.

Moermond: I didn’t say that. I’ve been working with you for months.

Lorvig Tsoumanis: that’s your attitude now. No recognition that I’ve made progress. The

wood is out of the yard. So yes, it is on my trailers, but it is out of the yard and the

trailers are moving today.

Moermond: you can talk to the Council, I’m not changing my recommendation.

Lorvig Tsoumanis: yeah I know. Yep. Bye.

Referred to the City Council due back on 6/4/2025

1:00 p.m. Hearings

Vacant Building Registrations

RLH VBR 25-26

Appeal of Brett Johnson, tenant, to a Vacant Building Registration

Requirement at 1514 CARROLL AVENUE.

Bowie

Sponsors:

Layover to LH June 10, 2025 at 1 pm (unable to reach PO).

Tried calling at 1:13 PM: voicemailbox full, unable to leave message.

Voicemail left at 1;30 PM: this is Marcia Moermond from St. Paul City Council calling

you about your appeal for 1514 Carroll. We tried you a bit ago and were unable to leave

a message. We’ll try again in a few minutes.

Voicemail left at 1:36 pm: this is Marcia Moermond from St. Paul City Council calling

Brett Johnson. We’vet ried twice to get ahold of you. I will lay this over for 1 week and

try to reach you then to resolve your appeal. We’ll send a confirmation email to you.

Laid Over to the Legislative Hearings due back on 6/10/2025

1:30 p.m. Hearings

Orders To Vacate - Fire Certificate of Occupancy

2:00 p.m. Hearings

Fire Certificates of Occupancy

RLH FCO 25-35

Appeal of Ronald Staeheli to a Fire Inspection Correction Notice at 358

ARBOR STREET.

Noecker

Sponsors:

Layover to LH June 10, 2025 at 2 pm. Recommendation forthcoming pending further

submissions from PO.

Ron Staeheli, owner, appeared via phone

[Moermond gives background of appeals process]

Staff report by Supervisor Mitch Imbertson: this is a duplex in our Fire Certificate of

Occupancy program determined to need a Fire Certificate of Occupancy per a previous

appeal. After that was determined, it has been in the program and due for renewal.

Appointment letter sent April 23 to schedule that inspection. Not met at that

inspection, report showing some exterior items, and no access to inside of property.

Unless we have new information we are still seeing the property requires Fire Certificate

of Occupancy and need access to the building and repairs to the exterior items.

Staeheli: four times prior to the appointment I called Frank, letting him know Vicki

moved out and Diane moved from upstairs to downstairs and therefore doesn’t’ need a

Certificate of Occupancy. I got a call saying I didn’t show up. He finally called me back

after I appealed saying “I don’t know what was wrong with my voicemail.” His Voicemail

currently says he is out until February 3. Something he wasn’t dealing with well, clearly.

I included with my mail 2 pieces of mail Diane received there. I can provide voting

information, copy of her driver’s license, just got a title there I just got a copy of. I

know there was some conflict because of the downstairs tenant got something in her

head, she’s rather tenacious in her lying to the City about it. There’s no evidence to the

contrary. Diane lives there. She doesn’t spend all her time there, but doesn’t spend all

her time anywhere. DMV has her there. SOS has her there. She votes there. She lives

there. It is not a Certificate of Occupancy building, and there’s no evidence to

contradict that. I have a real problem with the copper on the chimney then all of a

sudden the gas appliances were spilling carbon monoxide. As soon as we took it back

off we don’t have that problem anymore. We just put a rain cap on as a compromise. I

also have a problem with an extension cord, we like to sit outside with lights in the

summer. The code doesn’t say no extension cords, it is extension cords used for

permanent wiring. This is temporary lighting. That meets code. The entre section is

moot because it isn’t a Certificate of Occupancy property.

Moermond: do you have anything that may be different to submit since we last spoke

December 2023.

Staeheli: she has a new driver’s license.

Moermond: you’re welcome to submit that. When we last spoke Vicki Christenson was

on her way out at that time. That would have been downstairs. You’re saying Ms.

Staeheli moved downstairs then?

Staeheli: yes.

Moermond: what I’m interested in is anything new and different. When a report was

prepared January 2, 2025 they listed the occupant as Linda O'Brien and upper as Mary

Kay Brennan. I’m not clear about who Linda O’Brien is.

Staeheli: I think that may be a roommate or maybe Diane is getting mail for her. I can

check with Diane.

Moermond: she would have been present if Fire Squad 2 was writing it up.

Staeheli: that’s the carbon monoxide thing from putting the cap on the chimney. I think

Diane was in Florida at the time.

Moermond: there was a lot going on that day, they have a list including a red tagged

appliance.

Staeheli: yeah, whatever. I blame half of it on the chimney cap. There was no heat

because they turned off the gas. Maybe it was just the boiler. I can’t remember.

Moermond: I’m interested in anything new since Council made its decision in

December 2023. Any different or additional information would be the critical piece.

Right now, I have this Fire Department statement. I should note the photocopy you

provided of an Xcel bill envelope and one from OFS, both of those are undated so it is

hard to tell when they’re from. The invoice should have dates if you open the envelope.

That would be additional information which would be good.

Your main argument regarding the violations is you don’t think you should be subject

because it is owner occupied?

Staeheli: yes. The garage---some time ago someone tried to finish the eaves and they

didn’t do a good job. I can work with the inspector on that. There isn’t much on there.

I’ll send you some stuff and look for your response.

Moermond: I’ll review it net Tuesday, do you want a call then?

Staeheli: no, I’ll get an email?

Moermond: yes, with my recommendation.

Laid Over to the Legislative Hearings due back on 6/10/2025

3:00 p.m. Hearings

Other - Water Appeals