City Hall and Court House

15 West Kellogg Boulevard

Council Chambers - 3rd

Floor

City of Saint Paul

651-266-8560

Meeting Minutes - Action Only

City Council

Council President Amy Brendmoen

Councilmember Russel Balenger

Councilmember Mitra Jalali

Councilmember Rebecca Noecker

Councilmember Jane L. Prince

Councilmember Chris Tolbert

Councilmember Nelsie Yang

Wednesday, March 22, 2023

ROLL CALL

3:30 PM

Council Chambers - 3rd Floor

Meeting started at 3:31 PM

6 -

Present

Councilmember Amy Brendmoen, Councilmember Chris Tolbert,

Councilmember Rebecca Noecker, Councilmember Mitra Jalali,

Councilmember Nelsie Yang and Councilmember Russel Balenger

1 - Councilmember Jane L. Prince

Absent

COMMUNICATIONS & RECEIVE/FILE

Amending CDBG Project Budgets: funding for vacant building demolitions.

AO 23-33

AO 23-37

Received and Filed

Amending CDBG Project Budgets: Additional funding for North End

Community Center project.

Received and Filed

ROLL CALL

7 -

Present

Councilmember Amy Brendmoen, Councilmember Chris Tolbert,

Councilmember Rebecca Noecker, Councilmember Jane L. Prince,

Councilmember Mitra Jalali, Councilmember Nelsie Yang and

Councilmember Russel Balenger

CONSENT AGENDA

Items listed under the Consent Agenda will be enacted by one motion with no separate

discussion. If discussion on an item is desired, the item will be removed from the

Consent Agenda for separate consideration.

Approval of the Consent Agenda

Councilmember Yang moved approval.

Consent Agenda adopted

7 -

Yea:

Nay:

Councilmember Brendmoen, Councilmember Tolbert, Councilmember

Noecker, Councilmember Prince, Councilmember Jalali, Councilmember

Yang and Councilmember Balenger

Approving the City’s cost of providing Property Clean Up services during

January 3 to 13, 2023, and setting date of Legislative Hearing for April 18,

2023 and City Council public hearing for June 7, 2023 to consider and levy the

assessments against individual properties. (File No. J2317A, Assessment No.

238517)

RES 23-312

RES 23-313

RES 23-314

Adopted

Approving the City’s cost of providing Property Clean Up services during

January 18 to 31, 2023, and setting date of Legislative Hearing for April 18,

2023 and City Council public hearing for June 7, 2023 to consider and levy the

assessments against individual properties. (File No. J2318A, Assessment No.

238518)

Adopted

Approving the City’s cost of providing Equipment and Labor for Clean Up

services during October to November 2022, and setting date of Legislative

Hearing for April 18, 2023 and City Council public hearing for June 7, 2023 to

consider and levy the assessments against individual properties. (File No.

J2319A, Assessment No. 238519)

Adopted

Authorizing the Department of Parks and Recreation to apply for and if

awarded accept funds from the Minnesota Department of Employment and

Economic Development for Right Track, the City’s Youth Employment

Program in an amount of up to $850,000 a year for two years.

RES 23-395

RES 23-420

Adopted

Approving an ARPA loan in the amount of $2,070,000 for the Phalen Village

Senior Housing project located at 1180 and 1186 Prosperity Avenue,

authorizing the City to transfer $2,070,000 of American Rescue Plan funds

from the 30% AMI Deeply Affordable Housing account to a specific account for

the Phalen Village Senior Housing project, and approving execution of loan

documents, District 2, Ward 6.

Adopted

Granting approval to amend prior loan agreements entered into in connection

with outstanding water revenue obligations of the City relating to

improvements to the City’s municipal water utility system operated by Saint

Paul Regional Water Services; and authorizing City staff to take certain

actions with respect thereto.

RES 23-429

RES 23-433

Adopted

Approving the Mayor’s appointments of Lauren Dees-Erickson, Jon Kelly,

Alexandra Siclait, and Pang Yang as members on the Capital Improvement

Budget Committee.

Adopted

SUSPENSION ITEMS

Honoring Lee Ann LaBore and expressing gratitude for her outstanding

service, dedication and contributions to the community and the City of Saint

Paul.

RES 23-457

Councilmember Noecker read from the resolution and presented it to the honoree's

family.

Council President Brendmoen spoke in support.

Noecker moved approval.

Adopted

7 -

Yea:

Councilmember Brendmoen, Councilmember Tolbert, Councilmember

Noecker, Councilmember Prince, Councilmember Jalali, Councilmember

Yang and Councilmember Balenger

Nay:

Authorizing the City to enter into a professional services agreement with

Mythics, Inc. to provide professional consulting services for the

implementation of a new enterprise asset management system.

RES 23-435

Councilmember Noecker moved approval.

Adopted

7 -

Yea:

Councilmember Brendmoen, Councilmember Tolbert, Councilmember

Noecker, Councilmember Prince, Councilmember Jalali, Councilmember

Yang and Councilmember Balenger

Nay:

FOR DISCUSSION

Authorizing the City to grant a Temporary Revocable License on behalf of the

Police Department (SPPD) for lease of 235 Maryland Avenue East, Saint

Paul, MN with Shindler/West Finance Partners for canine training.

RES 23-331

Commander Jeremy Ellison, St Paul Police Canine Unit, made himself available for

questions.

Councilmember Yang asked about the cost.

Ellison stated that there was no cost.

Yang appreciated the training being done farther away from community members and

asked about the state of the building.

Ellison stated they would be just using the building as-is.

Councilmember Jalali confirmed details of the building and asked about other costs.

Ellison spoke to the costs of canine training.

Councilmember Balenger asked about the breeds of dogs.

Ellison spoke to the breeds of dogs.

Council President Brendmoen spoke in support.

Jalali spoke in support.

Councilmember Tolbert moved approval.

Adopted

7 -

Yea:

Nay:

Councilmember Brendmoen, Councilmember Tolbert, Councilmember

Noecker, Councilmember Prince, Councilmember Jalali, Councilmember

Yang and Councilmember Balenger

2023 Early Learning Legislative Advisory Committee Report.

Kristenza Nelson and Quentin Wathum-Ocama gave a joint staff report.

Council President Brendmoen thanked the presenters.

SR 23-52

Councilmember Prince asked about the recommendations of the committee.

Nelson and Wathum-Ocama went through the recommendations.

Prince spoke to funding potentially coming from the state.

Councilmember Tolbert thanked the presenters and asked about building on to current

programs.

Nelson and Wathum-Ocama talked about committee discussion surrounding current

programs.

Councilmember Noecker spoke to the intention to create a new funding stream or

current programs, not new programs.

Councilmember Jalali spoke to future work on creating the funding stream.

Councilmember Yang expressed support for the work of the committee.

Noecker thanked committee members for their work and spoke in support.

Prince agreed with Noecker's comments.

Received and Filed

ORDINANCES

An ordinance is a city law enacted by the City Council. It is read at three separate

council meetings and becomes effective after passage by the Council and 30 days

after publication in the Saint Paul Pioneer Press. Public hearings on ordinances are

generally held at the first reading.

First Reading

Amending Chapter 63 and Chapter 69 of the Legislative Code pertaining to

Stormwater Run-Off and Wetlands.

Ord 23-16

Ord 23-17

Council President Brendmoen stated that the staff report would take place at the

following meeting.

Laid over to April 5, 2023 for Second Reading

Amending Chapter 52 of the Legislative Code pertaining to storm water runoff

management and incorporating by reference the regulatory standards and

guidelines of the Saint Paul Stormwater Management Design Standards

manual.

Council President Brendmoen stated that the staff report would take place at the

following meeting.

Laid over to April 5, 2023 for Second Reading

PUBLIC HEARINGS

Live testimony is limited to two minutes for each person. See below for optional ways

to testify.

Granting the application of 1598 Carroll LLC to rezone the property at 1598

Carroll Avenue from T2 traditional neighborhood to I1 light industrial and

amending Chapter 60 of the Legislative Code pertaining to the zoning map.

Ord 23-13

Councilmember Prince asked about reasons for the rezoning and environmental

safety.

Dave Birkemeier, President of Cooperative Plating, and Ed Wakefield, Senior

Technical Engineer, addressed Prince's questions.

Councilmember Jalali asked about environmental safety.

Birkmier and Wakefield addressed Jalali's question.

Jalali moved to close the public hearing.

Laid over to April 5, 2023 for Final Adoption

7 -

Yea:

Nay:

Councilmember Brendmoen, Councilmember Tolbert, Councilmember

Noecker, Councilmember Prince, Councilmember Jalali, Councilmember

Yang and Councilmember Balenger

Granting the application of Rosenblum Family Limited Partnership to rezone

the property at 271 Snelling Avenue North from IT transitional industrial to I1

light industrial and amending Chapter 60 of the Legislative Code pertaining to

the zoning map.

Ord 23-15

Councilmember Jalali moved to close the public hearing.

Laid over to April 5, 2023 for Final Adoption

7 -

Yea:

Councilmember Brendmoen, Councilmember Tolbert, Councilmember

Noecker, Councilmember Prince, Councilmember Jalali, Councilmember

Yang and Councilmember Balenger

Nay:

Approving the application of El Burrito Mercado for two sound level variances

in order to present live music for Fiesta Mexicana Fridays and Saturdays for

Musica en mi Barrio Summer Music Series en La Placita beginning Friday,

May 5 through Saturday, September 16, 2023 at the El Burrito LaPlacita Patio

space at 175 Cesar Chavez Street.

RES PH 23-53

Councilmember Noecker moved approval.

Adopted

7 -

Yea:

Councilmember Brendmoen, Councilmember Tolbert, Councilmember

Noecker, Councilmember Prince, Councilmember Jalali, Councilmember

Yang and Councilmember Balenger

Nay:

Approving the application of Macalester College Program Board for a sound

level variance in order to present amplified sound on Saturday, April 15, 2023

at 1600 Grand Ave- Macalester College.

RES PH 23-55

Fleury Clark Girimana, Coordinator of Student Organizations & Engagement at

Macalester College, gave a staff report.

Councilmember Tolbert moved approval.

Adopted

7 -

Yea:

Nay:

Councilmember Brendmoen, Councilmember Tolbert, Councilmember

Noecker, Councilmember Prince, Councilmember Jalali, Councilmember

Yang and Councilmember Balenger

Approving the application of Pancreatic Cancer Action Network c/o Event360,

Inc for a sound level variance in order to present amplified sound on April 28,

2023 and April 29, 2023 at 200 Dr Justus Ohage Blvd - Harriet Island Regional

Park.

RES PH 23-56

Councilmember Noecker moved approval.

Adopted

7 -

Yea:

Councilmember Brendmoen, Councilmember Tolbert, Councilmember

Noecker, Councilmember Prince, Councilmember Jalali, Councilmember

Yang and Councilmember Balenger

Nay:

Amending the financing and spending plans in the Fire Department in the

amount of $2,300 for a grant received from the Saint Paul Area Chamber of

Commerce for health and wellness equipment for the firefighters at Fire

Station 6.

RES PH 23-64

Councilmember Balenger moved approval.

Adopted

7 -

Yea:

Nay:

Councilmember Brendmoen, Councilmember Tolbert, Councilmember

Noecker, Councilmember Prince, Councilmember Jalali, Councilmember

Yang and Councilmember Balenger

Amending the financing and spending plans in the Fire Department in the

amount of $2,300 for a grant received from the Saint Paul Area Chamber of

Commerce for health and wellness equipment for the firefighters at Fire

Station 18.

RES PH 23-65

Councilmember Yang moved approval.

Adopted

7 -

Yea:

Councilmember Brendmoen, Councilmember Tolbert, Councilmember

Noecker, Councilmember Prince, Councilmember Jalali, Councilmember

Yang and Councilmember Balenger

Nay:

LEGISLATIVE HEARING DISCUSSION ITEM

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 686 EDMUND

RLH TA 23-76

AVENUE. (File No. VB2305, Assessment No. 238804) (Legislative Hearing on

March 21, 2023)

Public hearing closed and laid over for four weeks to give time for Ward 1 office to

provide assistance.

Also in attendance: Somdy Kong, property owner and appellant

Marcia Moermond, Legislative Hearing Officer: This is an appeal for a vacant building

registration fee from October 2022 - October 2023. You originally heard an appeal for

this property when it went into the vacant building program in November 2020. At that

time, you granted a 3-month waiver on the fee but denied the appeal, as it had been

condemned and found vacant as well. In this case, if the permits were filed for

rehabilitating the property by the time of this hearing, I would recommend that the

assessment be cut in half. The appellant was notified of the need to have a code

compliance inspection and get permits filed back in 2020 when this was originally in

front of you. During yesterday's hearing, the appellant stated that he had applied for a

code compliance inspection last month and received it last week. Therefore, he would

not have received finals on the permits. The appellant seemed under the

misapprehension that simply applying for the permits would result in my

recommendation to halve the fee. That was not ever on the table from my perspective.

It seems like there was a miscommunication. I am recommending that it be made

payable over 5 years. This is the 3rd vacant building fee. It seems like it might be a

good time to make connections with organizations to rehabilitate the property. The

code compliance inspection is square one. The fee is $2,616. It precedes the recent

fee increases that you adopted.

Kong: During the 3 month extension, I did take time to clean up the property. I did pay

that fee. For this year, I am saying that I don't want to pay the fee. I asked what I could

do in early February to not have to pay the fee. I am short on funds at this time. She

gave me a month to apply for the permit and get guys to inspect the property, and then

she would halve the fee. I said I could do that. I did it and paid that fee. I talked to her

yesterday and told her I did my portion. I didn't know how long the inspection people

would take. If she knew that she should have given me more time. Yesterday she told

me I would have to pay full, but I did my part. I have no control over inspections

coming to property. No she wants to pay, but I am short on funds. If you're going to tell

me one thing, that I did, why would you tell me that at the beginning? I did my part and

am waiting for them to see what they are going to do to me. If I could get everything

solved I would do it now.

Council President Brendmoen: Do you live in St. Paul?

Kong: Yes.

Brendmoen: So the building is vacant and you do not have a certificate of occupancy,

so no one can live in there?

Kong: Correct.

Brendmoen: Do you have anything else to add?

Kong: I don't have anything else to add.

Councilmember Balenger: It sounds like they're not hearing each other. I would like to

give him an opportunity to..the Ward 1 office is willing to help you with that fee or get

you some help. Maybe we just put this off for 3 weeks while we do that.

Brendmoen: We don't have a meeting next week. Would 2 weeks work?

Balenger: How about a month?

Brendmoen: One month, and the question is whether to charge the vacant building fee

at the old price.

Balenger: Yes.

Brendmoen: If we lay it over for a month would that switch to the new price?

Moermond: No. I would say that the next steps are getting some contractors in to get

bids and get an idea of cost and asking about financing. I would be clear that those

are the next steps regardless of how you move forward with the fee, which is right now

at the 6 out of 12 month juncture.

Brendmoen: Just making sure we didn't accidentally bump up the fee.

Balenger moved to close the public hearing and lay over for 4 weeks.

Public hearing closed and laid over to April 19, 2023

7 -

Yea:

Nay:

Councilmember Brendmoen, Councilmember Tolbert, Councilmember

Noecker, Councilmember Prince, Councilmember Jalali, Councilmember

Yang and Councilmember Balenger

LEGISLATIVE HEARING CONSENT AGENDA

Items listed under the Consent Agenda will receive a combined public hearing and be

enacted by one motion with no separate discussion. Items may be removed from the

Consent Agenda for a separate public hearing and discussion if desired.

Approval of the Consent Agenda

Councilmember Noecker moved approval.

Legislative Hearing Consent Agenda adopted as amended

7 -

Yea:

Councilmember Brendmoen, Councilmember Tolbert, Councilmember

Noecker, Councilmember Prince, Councilmember Jalali, Councilmember

Yang and Councilmember Balenger

Nay:

Appeal of Blai Vang, JB Vang Management LLC, to a Vacant Building

Registration Notice at 1015 BANDANA BOULEVARD WEST.

Adopted

Deleting the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 1621

BIRMINGHAM STREET. (File No. J2305E, Assessment No. 238304)

Adopted

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 586

BURGESS STREET. (File No. J2305E, Assessment No. 238304)

Adopted

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 528 COMO

AVENUE. (File No. 2304T, Assessment No. 239003)

Adopted

Making finding on the appealed substantial abatement ordered for 781 COOK

AVENUE EAST in Council File RLH RR 22-33.

Adopted as amended (granted 60 additional days)

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 199 DUKE

STREET. (File No. J2308A, Assessment No. 238507) (To refer back to

August 15 Legislative Hearing, 2023; Public hearing continued to October 4,

2023)

Referred to August 15, 2023 Legislative Hearing

Amending Council File RLH FCO 23-5, adopted January 25, 2023, to grant

Greg Lehman an additional extension for property at 839 FOURTH STREET

EAST.

RLH FCO 23-21

RLH RR 23-7

Adopted

Ordering the rehabilitation or razing and removal of the structures at 901

FULLER AVENUE within fifteen (15) days after the March 22, 2023, City

Council Public Hearing. (To refer back to April 11, 2023 Legislative Hearing)

Referred to April 11, 2023 Legislative Hearing

Ordering the rehabilitation or razing and removal of the structures at 1082

LOEB STREET within fifteen (15) days after the March 22, 2023, City Council

Public Hearing. (To refer back to March 28, 2023 Legislative Hearing)

RLH RR 23-8

Referred to March 28, 2023 Legislative Hearing

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 1547 MARION

STREET. (File No. CRT2304, Assessment No. 238203)

RLH TA 23-52

RLH TA 23-42

RLH TA 23-45

Adopted

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 905

MARYLAND AVENUE EAST. (File No. J2310A2, Assessment No. 238527)

Amended and referred to April 4, 2023 Legislative Hearing

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 619

MENDOTA STREET. (File No. VB2305, Assessment No. 238804)

Adopted

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 619

MENDOTA STREET. (File No. J2303B1, Assessment No. 238108)

RLH TA 23-46

Adopted

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 820 OCEAN

STREET. (File No. CRT2304, Assessment No. 238203)

RLH TA 23-43

RLH TA 23-62

Adopted

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 848

PLEASANT AVENUE (aka 842 PLEASANT AVENUE). (File No. CRT2304,

Assessment No. 238203)

Adopted

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 1181 ROSS

AVENUE. (File No. J2305E, Assessment No. 238304)

Adopted

Appeal of Mohsen Aghamirzai to a Vacant Building Registration Requirement

at 834 SEVENTH STREET WEST.

Adopted

Deleting the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 368/370

SNELLING AVENUE SOUTH. (File No. J2303P, Assessment No. 238402)

Adopted

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 800

SNELLING AVENUE SOUTH (AKA 750 SNELLING AVENUE SOUTH). (File

No. CRT2304, Assessment No. 238203)

Adopted

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 120 STEVENS

STREET WEST. (File No. J2305E, Assessment No. 238304) (Legislative

Hearing on March 21, 2023)

Public hearing continued to April 19, 2023

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 779 THOMAS

AVENUE. (File No. J2304E3, Assessment No. 238310) (Public hearing

continued to April 19, 2023)

Public hearing continued to April 19, 2023

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 779 THOMAS

AVENUE. (File No. J2305E, Assessment No. 238304) (Public Hearing

continued to April 19, 2023)

Public hearing continued to April 19, 2023

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 708

WESTERN AVENUE NORTH. (File No. J2305B, Assessment No. 238104)

(Legislative Hearing March 21, 2023)

Adopted as amended (assessment ratified)

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 820

WESTERN AVENUE NORTH. (File No. J2305E, Assessment No. 238304)

(Legislative Hearing on March 21, 2023; Public Hearing continued to April 19,

2023)

Amended and public hearing continued to April 19, 2023

Ratifying the assessments for Collection of Vacant Building Registration fees

billed during July 11 to September 19, 2022. (File No. VB2305, Assessment

No. 238804)

RLH AR 23-14

Adopted

Ratifying the assessments for Securing and/or Emergency Boarding during

October 2022. (File No. J2305B, Assessment No. 238104)

RLH AR 23-15

RLH AR 23-16

Adopted

Ratifying the assessments for Collection of Fire Certificate of Occupancy fees

billed during July 28 to September 23, 2022. (File No. CRT2304, Assessment

No. 238203)

Adopted

Ratifying the assessments for Excessive Use of Inspection or Abatement

services billed during August 22 to September 21, 2022. (File No. J2305E,

Assessment No. 238304)

RLH AR 23-17

RLH AR 23-18

Adopted

Ratifying the assessments for Graffiti Removal during September 29 to

City Council meetings are open for in person attendance, but the public may also

comment on public hearing items in writing or via voicemail. Any comments and

materials submitted by 12:00 pm of the day before the meeting will be attached to the

public record and available for review by the City Council. Comments may be

submitted as follows:

The public may comment on public hearing items in writing or via voicemail. Any

comments and materials submitted by 12:00 pm of the day before the meeting will be

attached to the public record and available for review by the City Council. Comments

may be submitted as follows:

Written public comment on public hearing items can be submitted to

Contact-Council@ci.stpaul.mn.us, CouncilHearing@ci.stpaul.mn.us, or by voicemail at

651-266-6805. Live testimony will be taken in person in the Council Chambers, and by

telephone by registering to speak by noon on the day before the meeting. The

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https://forms.office.com/g/TD3xN7WHy5.

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