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  
Thursday, July 10, 2025  
9:00 AM  
Room 330 City Hall & Court House/Remote  
9:00 a.m. Hearings  
Special Tax Assessments  
Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 291  
BATES AVENUE. (File No. CG2502A2-3, Assessment No. 250125)  
1
RLH TA 25-288  
Sponsors:  
Johnson  
Reduce assessment from $181.64 to $125.  
Sheilanda Bain, owner, appeared via phone  
[Moermond gives background of appeals process]  
Moermond: we have two assessments, Quarter 4 2024 and Quarter 1 2025  
Staff report by Jillian Barden: property owner purchased home October 1, 2024 and  
was unaware that garbage was automatically billed to the property. The property  
currently has a Quarter 3, 2024 assessment, which the property owner will dispute  
with the title company. The property owner is disputing the Quarter 4, 2024 charge of  
$181.64 and the Quarter 1, 2025 charge of $185.40. The property currently has two  
35-gallon carts. There is currently a hold for each unit at the property, starting on May  
21.The Quarter 4, 2024 and Quarter 1, 2025 notice of non-payment were addressed  
to the previous owner or current resident  
Bain: I purchased the start of October. It is a duplex I purchased with a plan of renting  
out but wasn’t able to do that quickly due to issues with furnace and HVAC. I haven’t  
been in the home nor had a renter. I wasn’t aware these services came with the  
home, I thought I had to sign up. I never utilized the services, I had no reason too. I’m  
just moving in and just restarted services in July and hoping to get a renter in by  
August. I paid $15,000 to fix the HVAC system and now the historical society is  
involved and holding up things. It’s just been a lot of hurdles. I haven’t had any  
reason to utilize the services. I guess I just don’t want to pay for something I wasn’t  
using. One less cost while I’m going through all this other stuff.  
Moermond: were you represented by a realtor in the transaction?  
Bain: I had my own realtor.  
Moermond: I gather the title company, seller, realtor, none explained the garbage  
hauling system and the tax implications?  
Bain: no.  
Moermond: that’s unfortunate. It looks like this was a Category 2 Vacant Building but  
you would have been able to occupy August 12, 2024 but for the HVAC issues. So  
out of the Vacant Building program before you purchased. The thing is, it isn’t a  
choice of whether or not any residential housing is in the garbage collection program.  
It is everyone. When I look at this the main thing I focus on is the notices went to the  
previous owner during your period of ownership. The responsibility of the program  
should have been explained to you. You did get mail addressed to occupant as well.  
Will you be living there?  
Bain: I will be, yes.  
Moermond: I can’t get rid of the whole bill, but I’d like to eliminate the late fees  
because I can see how there’d be some confusion on how things work and things  
being addressed to previous owner. I’ll treat it as if the bill was paid on time. In  
reviewing prior to the hearing, it looked like the charges were too high. So adjusted  
downward to $143.70 and $134 so down again removing the late fees $125 and  
$126, rounded. It isn’t everything you were looking for but it is something. That will be  
my recommendation to Council and as I stated you are more than welcome to testify  
further.  
Referred to the City Council due back on 7/23/2025  
Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 291  
BATES AVENUE. (File No. CG2503A2, Assessment No. 250117)  
2
RLH TA 25-315  
Sponsors:  
Johnson  
Reduce assessment from $188.40 to $126.  
Sheilanda Bain, owner, appeared via phone  
[Moermond gives background of appeals process]  
Moermond: we have two assessments, Quarter 4 2024 and Quarter 1 2025  
Staff report by Jillian Barden: property owner purchased home October 1, 2024 and  
was unaware that garbage was automatically billed to the property. The property  
currently has a Quarter 3, 2024 assessment, which the property owner will dispute  
with the title company. The property owner is disputing the Quarter 4, 2024 charge of  
$181.64 and the Quarter 1, 2025 charge of $185.40. The property currently has two  
35-gallon carts. There is currently a hold for each unit at the property, starting on May  
21.The Quarter 4, 2024 and Quarter 1, 2025 notice of non-payment were addressed  
to the previous owner or current resident  
Bain: I purchased the start of October. It is a duplex I purchased with a plan of renting  
out but wasn’t able to do that quickly due to issues with furnace and HVAC. I haven’t  
been in the home nor had a renter. I wasn’t aware these services came with the  
home, I thought I had to sign up. I never utilized the services, I had no reason too. I’m  
just moving in and just restarted services in July and hoping to get a renter in by  
August. I paid $15,000 to fix the HVAC system and now the historical society is  
involved and holding up things. It’s just been a lot of hurdles. I haven’t had any  
reason to utilize the services. I guess I just don’t want to pay for something I wasn’t  
using. One less cost while I’m going through all this other stuff.  
Moermond: were you represented by a realtor in the transaction?  
Bain: I had my own realtor.  
Moermond: I gather the title company, seller, realtor, none explained the garbage  
hauling system and the tax implications?  
Bain: no.  
Moermond: that’s unfortunate. It looks like this was a Category 2 Vacant Building but  
you would have been able to occupy August 12, 2024 but for the HVAC issues. So  
out of the Vacant Building program before you purchased. The thing is, it isn’t a  
choice of whether or not any residential housing is in the garbage collection program.  
It is everyone. When I look at this the main thing I focus on is the notices went to the  
previous owner during your period of ownership. The responsibility of the program  
should have been explained to you. You did get mail addressed to occupant as well.  
Will you be living there?  
Bain: I will be, yes.  
Moermond: I can’t get rid of the whole bill, but I’d like to eliminate the late fees  
because I can see how there’d be some confusion on how things work and things  
being addressed to previous owner. I’ll treat it as if the bill was paid on time. In  
reviewing prior to the hearing, it looked like the charges were too high. So adjusted  
downward to $143.70 and $134 so down again removing the late fees $125 and  
$126, rounded. It isn’t everything you were looking for but it is something. That will be  
my recommendation to Council and as I stated you are more than welcome to testify  
further.  
Referred to the City Council due back on 8/13/2025  
Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 1076  
CUMBERLAND STREET (File No. CG2503A1, Assessment No.  
250116)  
3
RLH TA 25-273  
Sponsors:  
Kim  
Approve the assessment (noting it has already been paid).  
No one appeared  
Staff report by Jillian Barden: they paid the amount on May 15th.  
Moermond: so they agreed with the assessment noting it has already been paid.  
Referred to the City Council due back on 8/13/2025  
Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 2261  
SARGENT AVENUE. (File No. CG2503A1, Assessment No. 250116)  
4
RLH TA 25-309  
Sponsors:  
Privratsky  
Delete the assessment.  
No one appeared  
Staff report by Jillian Barden: there was a billing error where the property owner was  
billed for 2 carts after requesting a cart switch. Property owner called customer  
service and was told there would be a $227.08 credit on account. Months later the  
property owner received an invoice from Republic that they had an unpaid balance  
for the amount credit back: $227.08  
Moermond: so Republic is footing the bill due to administrative mistake. Recommend  
deletion of the assessment.  
Referred to the City Council due back on 8/13/2025  
10:00 a.m. Hearings  
Special Tax Assessments  
Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 1753  
AMES PLACE. (File No. CG2503A2, Assessment No. 250117)  
5
RLH TA 25-286  
Sponsors:  
Yang  
Reduce assessment from $286.17 to $134.31.  
No one appeared  
Staff report by Jillian Barden: Waste Management sent the property owner an invoice  
in January and they attempted payment but it was never processed. Waste  
Management sent a Quarter 1 invoice for $286.17 because they added Quarter 4 to  
the Quarter 1 invoice, so staff recommends reducing assessment $134.31, which is  
the rate of the 96 gallon cart at the property in Quarter 4, 2024.  
Moermond: that’s because the contract forbids sending forward an old bill to a future  
bill. Should have been sent to assessment.  
Barden: exactly.  
Moermond: so recommend that reduction to $134.31.  
Referred to the City Council due back on 8/13/2025  
Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 1822  
CHELTON AVENUE. (File No. CG2502A2-1, Assessment No.  
250123)  
6
RLH TA 25-287  
Sponsors:  
Privratsky  
Approve the assessment.  
No one appeared  
Moermond: this one was kind of messy and confusing behind the scenes. Title  
company was involved. Funds escrowed. What’s the update?  
Staff report by Jillian Barden: I talked to title company who said they will be paying  
the full assessed amount.  
Moermond: recommend approval of assessment.  
Referred to the City Council due back on 7/23/2025  
Special Tax Assessments-ROLLS  
Ratifying the assessment for the City’s cost of providing Collection of  
Delinquent Garbage Bills for services during January to March 2025.  
7
RLH AR 25-61  
(File No.CG2503A1, Assessment No.250116)  
Sponsors:  
Noecker  
Referred to the City Council due back on 8/13/2025  
Ratifying the assessment for the City’s cost of providing Collection of  
Delinquent Garbage Bills for services during January to March 2025.  
(File No.CG2503A2, Assessment No.250117)  
8
RLH AR 25-62  
Sponsors:  
Noecker  
Referred to the City Council due back on 8/13/2025