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  
Friday, November 18, 2022  
9:00 AM  
Room 330 City Hall & Court House  
9:00 a.m. Hearings  
Orders To Vacate - Fire Certificate of Occupancy  
RLH VO 22-33  
1
Appeal of Tiffany Lee to a Correction Notice-ReInspection Complaint  
(which includes vacate order) at 955 ALBEMARLE STREET.  
Balenger  
Sponsors:  
Deny the appeal, noting is now in compliance  
Tiffany Lee, tenant, appeared  
Leanna Shaff, DSI Fire Inspection Supervisor  
Moermond: There was a three day lay over so that we could figure out viable  
alternatives between getting back to the house and getting the vacate order lifted, or  
hopefully getting into the new address. Ms. Shaff, do you have some inspection  
results?  
Shaff: On 955 Albemarle, I received an email from property manager Carolyn Brown  
yesterday afternoon. She stated that it was all cleaned up. Inspector Toeller met  
Carolyn and Ms. Lee at the property. It wasn’t quite done but they were able to finish it  
pretty quickly. There were some puddles on the floor from the cleaning. We lifted the  
condemnation.  
Moermond: So, it’s cleaned and sanitized, and the drain coverage replaced?  
Shaff: I understand that the drain coverage is in place.  
Moermond: But that isn’t enough to condemn?  
Shaff: Correct, I told Ms. Lee and everybody they can stay at the house.  
Lee: I have some concerns still.  
Moermond: Let’s talk about some of those first. We have the immediate hazard taken  
care of, but you will be moving in a few weeks to the new place. You have a lot of  
possessions that are “soft” that absorbed in the smell. You will have some deep  
cleaning issues. Can you tell me a little bit about that, and if you had a conversation  
with Lauren about getting some assistance from the Saint Paul Foundation?  
Lee: I talked to her after Tuesday’s hearing. We did the paperwork and she said she  
would get back to me in 2-3 days. Lauren mentioned that before she can issue the  
money, she has to see a money order for the difference, which is $575. I told her I can  
do that. I know I am going to be moving out of the house, but the place is still  
rentable. There is an issue with the pipe. It is cracked. One of the workers put a  
camara down there and saw the crack. He said it’s not the city’s, problem but more of  
the owner’s problem.  
Moermond: Do you happen to have the company name?  
Lee: There were so many companies coming in and out. I wouldn’t know what to tell  
you. They mentioned there was a crack in the main line and the cost to repair it would  
be around $10,000. They also mentioned that if the pipe is not replaced then every  
month you will be having the same problem.  
Moermond: When a pipe is cracked, it is almost never caused by the user of the  
home. The fact that things age it is not a particular person’s fault. Pipes need a  
periodic replacement because after several decades of use. There are some kinds of  
fixes that would be less than $10,000. There are programs that can help homeowners  
with these situations. I don’t know if you need to be a homeowner or home occupant to  
qualify for some of the City’s programs, but they will help finance the replacement of  
the sewer line between the city line and the house. We can send Carolyn Brown some  
information in fixing the sewer line. Tell me about more about the other issues.  
Lee: I have not heard back from my new landlord. My Section 8 has not gotten back to  
me. The 1st of December is around the corner.  
Moermond: What are you looking to hear from your Section 8 worker?  
Lee: When can I be moving or when is the other reinspection going to happen. I called  
her last Friday, and she has not reached out. I also reached out to the new landlord if  
it was possible for me to move in early, but she has not called me back.  
Shaff: Do you know where the offices of Quality Residences are located? You should  
stop by.  
Lee: Yes, however, Kelly is usually not in and everybody else doesn’t seem to know  
too much.  
Shaff: What else can we do?  
Moermond: We have a couple numbers, but it’s Friday. Next week is Thanksgiving  
week and people are out of town. We have your phone number, and we can call PHA  
and see if they can get an inspector out there sooner. We have the same experience  
getting a hold of your worker. The other people we try to reach were out of the office  
earlier last week. We can make a couple calls and see if we can get some response. I  
am glad things are working out with Lauren. Do you have access to organizations that  
can help you replace some of the items, that need replacement?  
Lee: No.  
Moermond: This is the brochure for House Calls, which is the program Lauren runs. It  
has a list of organizations that can help you. This may be of assistance to you. You  
should give them a call.  
Shaff: I am a bit more worried on the stuff that can’t get clean. Have mice have not  
gotten inside the boxes?  
Lee: They have been climbing on top of them.  
Moermond: There is a page in here about clothing and furniture. I know Bridging Inc  
can help with this. Ask Lauren for the referral. She can help you with that.  
Moermond: The other thing I would say is contact the VLN (Volunteer Lawyer Network).  
There is a number in here for Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services. I am  
guessing you talked to them. Your household income is likely just above poverty line,  
but they partner with the VLN which don’t charge. They are attorneys that do work  
pro-bono and they may be available to provide some assistance in recouping some of  
your loss. This would mean that you would need some documentation.  
Lee: I have the documents.  
Moermond: Do you have any other thoughts, Ms. Shaff?  
Shaff: No. Lauren is a great contact.  
Moermond: Lauren works with people with different situations. She works with different  
companies that help with organizing and cleaning. Maybe that type of company can  
help you with your moving.  
Shaff: I would lean on Lauren.  
Moermond: I will see if I can reach out to PHA and see what they say.  
Shaff: You have my number.  
Referred to the City Council due back on 12/7/2022