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  
Monday, May 22, 2023  
9:00 AM  
Room 330 City Hall & Court House/Remote  
9:00 a.m. Hearings  
Remove/Repair Orders  
RLH RR 23-8  
1
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. (Refer to June 13, 2023 Legislative Hearing)  
Brendmoen  
Sponsors:  
Refer back to June 13, 2023 for further discussion with potential purchaser.  
Heidi Hovis, attorney o/b/o MN Department of Housing, appeared  
Moermond: I heard as of Friday that you have a buyer?  
Hovis: I know they were given notice, both from your office and the State. I’m not sure  
whether they will be here or not.  
Moermond: where are you folks at?  
Hovis: we have a new purchase agreement signed, that happened on the 15th. That is  
with Intact Properties, a man named Edwardo Rikprashad.. They are fully aware of the  
nature of the property. A copy of the February 14 Code Compliance Inspection Report  
is part of the purchase agreement. The specific requirements in this process is also  
incorporated into that purchase agreement. Those five things we’ve talked about. It is  
my understanding they have some experience doing rehab work. We have had  
extensive conversations with them as to what a Category 3 property rehab looks like.  
As far as the State is concerned we do think they are in a good financial position to  
move forward.  
Moermond: what was the name of the purchaser again?  
Hovis: Intact Properties, LLC.  
Moermond: I understand our office heard from a different person, and they were moving  
towards demolition?  
Mai Vang: I have a different name; I don’t know if he is part of that LLC?  
Hovis: I know that Cole Fundakowski, who was included on your emails—  
Mai Vang: he is the one I talked too. But I didn’t ask for his LLC. He just said he was  
going to potentially buy it and would attend the hearing. We have been copying him on  
those emails to you.  
Hovis: I can look into that. The purchase agreement is with Intact Properties.  
Moermond: do you have an email address for him?  
Hovis: I do, and I can provide that to Joanna after the hearing?  
Mai Vang: she is out today; you can send it to me.  
Hovis: I will send that out so you have that information correct. I did have my team  
contact their realtor to talk to them on Friday when we got notice. I personally didn’t  
speak with them.  
Moermond: when you spoke with Mr. Rikprashad his intention was to move forward with  
rehabilitation?  
Hovis: I don’t know the answer to that. I can find it out. My understanding from my  
team is that they were interested in doing rehab. I was surprised to hear about the  
demolition, but I’m getting second-hand information. That would obviously greatly  
impact the work plan, scope of work, etcetera.  
Moermond: and whether or not they have the same issues with utility cuts as your  
previous potential purchaser. Given that today’s hearing was rescheduled from  
tomorrow backwards to today, and we may have two separate entities in  
correspondence. All the same, let’s give this to June 13th and send a letter to all  
interested parties about expectations for both rehabilitation and demolition. Then  
everyone has the same understanding. When is your closing scheduled for?  
Hovis: I didn’t see a date. I need to confirm with my team.  
Moermond: this first went to Council March 27th, so we’re coming up on 3 months.  
Hovis: when that first purchaser fell through, unfortunately we needed to restart a little  
bit. Thankfully the realtor has been communicating with folks coming in on the front  
end.  
Referred to the City Council due back on 5/24/2023  
RLH RR 20-22  
2
Ordering the rehabilitation or razing and removal of the structures at 678  
SNELLING AVENUE NORTH within fifteen (15) days after the May 27,  
2020 City Council public hearing. (To refer to March 28, 2023  
Legislative Hearing)  
Jalali  
Sponsors:  
Layover to Legislative Hearing June 13, 2023. Property owner to submit a scope of  
work, including bids, and financing by close of business June 9, 2023.  
No one appeared  
Moermond: this is going to be laid over from today, May 22, June 13 or 27th. Have we  
heard from them about which date is preferable?  
Mai Vang: they sent in a one-page update. They responded but they haven’t said.  
Moermond: let’s go with June 13th then. We do have a new document, an update dated  
May 18th, indicating the design work review is to be completed by mid-June, at which  
time they will be ready for subcontractor bids. They also indicate the last piece of  
funding, the State bond decision, is anticipated by May 22, which is today. June 13th I  
would like to see a sworn construction statement, scope of work, a document like that  
demonstrating how they are approaching this 4.2-million-dollar project. That needs to  
include bids. I would also need to see the documentation of the loan commitments in  
place to execute the rehabilitation. Financing to execute that work plan.  
Laid Over to the Legislative Hearings due back on 6/13/2023  
RLH RR 23-22  
3
Ordering the rehabilitation or razing and removal of the structures at 326  
CHARLES AVENUE within fifteen (15) days after the June 28, 2023, City  
Council Public Hearing.  
Balenger  
Sponsors:  
Layover to Legislative Hearing on July 11, 2023.  
Moermond: this was noticed for tomorrow, May 23, and I made a request to the  
Department of Safety & Inspections to re-notice this since I am unavailable tomorrow.  
We will do that first hearing on July 11th.  
Laid Over to the Legislative Hearings due back on 7/11/2023  
10:00 a.m. Hearings  
Making Finding on Substantial Nuisance Abatements  
RLH RR 23-18  
4
Fourth Making finding on the appealed substantial abatement ordered for  
318 EDMUND AVENUE in Council File RLH RR 21-11. (Public hearing  
closed and laid over from April 26, 2023)  
Balenger  
Sponsors:  
Layover to Legislative Hearing June 13, 2023 for update on permit status. (Public  
Hearing June 21, 2023)  
Aychoeun Tea, mother of owner, appeared  
Oudam Tun Tea, owner, appeared  
Moermond: we haven’t met before. Your mother has been participating. The City  
Council wanted you participating because of how serious it has become money-wise.  
The original grant of time to do the rehab was august 4, 2021, but that was after the  
City Council had given four months for plans to be put together. They gave six months  
to do the work in August. The work wasn’t done in the six months and at that juncture,  
since it wasn’t done, the Council required another $5,000 be put on the table. So,  
$10,000 in Performance Deposit is in play right now. There has been a failure to  
perform, so that $10,000 is definitely at risk. Legally, the City could knock down the  
house at this point. They could take the $10,000 and knock it down. There are a  
couple of places in between there and we need to figure out how you are going to do  
this. For all intents and purposes there was a vote of no confidence in your ability to  
complete the work since it has been a couple of years without sufficient progress.  
When bids have been shown, money shown, it turns out different contractors are doing  
the project for a different amount of money. The money set aside wasn’t sufficient. It  
has been problematic.  
Right now, the recommendation I had in front of the City Council most recently was to  
take the $10,000 and knock down the house. I’ve had it with working on this with no  
progress.  
Oudam Tun Tea: one of the reasons was I was sick and didn’t work at all. I want to  
take out a loan so I can fix the house. Now we just have the trim left.  
Moermond: you haven’t had inspections recently.  
Oudam Tun Tea: she called the inspectors and they didn’t come.  
Moermond: we have five permits—  
Oudam Tun Tea: everything is done, we just need trim.  
Moermond: I hear you saying those words but I don’t see trades inspectors out at the  
property confirming that is the case  
Oudam Tun Tea: can you get the inspector out?  
Moermond: you get the inspectors out. Your mom is not new to this game. She has  
rehabbed properties in this condition before.  
Oudam Tun Tea: I did it myself last year, but I got sick again give months ago.  
Moermond: I appreciate that, and your mom has been acting on your behalf.  
Oudam Tun Tea: I got Covid, I was way out of it.  
Moermond: since we’ve been doing this in April of 2021 it has been long enough to  
take into account illnesses, especially because your mom has been working on your  
behalf.  
Oudam Tun Tea: yeah. I was sick 3 years ago, my girlfriend passed away, I stopped  
working and was just trying to get by. I feel better, came back last year and worked on  
it, and now we’re almost done.  
Moermond: we were just looking and going through each of the permits pulled on the  
property to see where they are at. We have an air conditioning permit pulled by Comfort  
Makers Mechanical. There has been no inspection on that.  
We have a gas line to a furnace, dyer, and stove. The rough in was approved, it still  
needs to be finaled.  
The duct work for the dryer vent and bathroom gas vents there was a rough-in  
inspection in November but no one has followed up to final it.  
Oudam Tun Tea: I want the inspector to do the final now.  
Moermond: why hasn’t that happened yet?  
Oudam Tun Tea: because I told you, I was sick last year.  
Moermond: but your mom could have called them.  
Oudam Tun Tea: she did, they don’t call her back.  
Moermond: bullsh*t.  
Oudam Tun Tea: I don’t know, I’m serious. I was sick. I just started feeling better two  
weeks ago. My truck went out, my tranny went out—  
Moermond: I understand, but they have gone out and done the rough-in inspections.  
The idea they are being called to go out and choosing to not go? I don’t believe this. I  
have been told so many stories. Here we are. It has to be done. You are saying all  
there is left is trim work. I’m seeing all these permits not being done, and without them  
being signed off there isn’t only trim work.  
Oudam Tun Tea: last year I was sick, I couldn’t get to my property.  
Moermond: we need that power of attorney; can I see that? [power of attorney is  
reviewed] This looks like a photocopy, not the original?  
Oudam Tun Tea: my mother has the original.  
Moermond: that’s fine, this Power of Attorney grants Ms. Tea, Oudam Tun Tea 318  
Edmund Avenue---but I think you actually live in St. Cloud now?  
Oudam Tun Tea: I stay here with my friends. The transmission went out on my truck,  
and I’m sick too. I thought I have Covid, I had no energy, I was resting a lot. Last year  
I was working on the property.  
Moermond: you appointed Aychoeun Tea to act in your place for the purpose of  
purpose of handling “all my papers and legal documents and repairment of property”.  
This takes effect March 20, 2023 and continues until terminated in writing or October  
30, 2024. We do have it signed with a Notary.  
Back to where we are at City Council. They were looking for forfeiting $5,000 of the  
$10,000 and requiring that $5,000 be replaced. You lose $5,000 and have to put  
$5,000 more in. Requires an outside third party to manage completion of the project  
and that a new plan from them needs to be put forward with deadlines. Requires that  
you, Mr. Tea, sign the third-party contract and refers the matter back to hearing  
tomorrow, but we are doing it today.  
Aychoeun Tea: I’m asking you not take the $5,000 because I’m almost done. I did call  
the inspectors to come, the only one coming is plumbing. Whether you believe it or  
not, I did call and left messages, two or three times. I can show you in my phone.  
Moermond: when did you call them?  
Aychoeun Tea: I’d have to check.  
Moermond: what time?  
Aychoeun Tea: last week I called. Two weeks ago. He came to inspect---  
Moermond: who is “he”?  
Aychoeun Tea: the building inspector. Randy. They came but not final.  
Moermond: that’s right.  
Aychoeun Tea: I called for final and he didn’t show up. I called between 7 and 9  
o’clock. Two or three times. I called every week for final. The paper he did for me he  
said, “I need the paper from you for him to fill, he didn’t know what to do and he  
refused to do anything about paper for me.”  
Moermond: who are you talking about?  
Aychoeun Tea: the heating contractor. I cannot call the heating contractor, he said he  
called and left a message. I had to wait for him to tell me what time the inspector was  
coming.  
Moermond: which contractor are you talking about? Comfort Makers? Or General  
Heating and Air?  
Aychoeun Tea: uh, the guy I called, I don’t know who the inspector—  
Moermond: these are people you have hired. Which contractor called the inspector?  
Aychoeun Tea I don’t have the paper with me.  
Moermond: why not? You didn’t come prepared for today’s hearing?  
Aychoeun Tea: yeah, but I didn’t think I needed his number. He’s the one who called.  
Moermond: who called? The contractor or you?  
Aychoeun Tea: the contractor. I’m sorry I said me, but it was the contractor.  
Moermond: yeah, you did say you called.  
Aychoeun Tea: I’m sorry. The contractor called for heating.  
Moermond: so, the contractor who called was Comfort Makers Mechanical. Is that what  
you are telling me?  
Aychoeun Tea: yes.  
Moermond: and it looks like they have two permits out there. One is for air conditioning  
and one for a new gas line. The gas lines have been inspected and approved. They  
also have a permit pulled on the venting. That was inspected for a rough-in and  
approved. If you have your work done on those, then they can be finaled and the  
inspector needs to come out. You are saying General Heating called for an inspection  
and no one is calling them back?  
Aychoeun Tea: yes, that’s what he said.  
Moermond: that is what your contractor told you? They aren’t getting calls back at all.  
Aychoeun Tea: I said I needed to come in for this meeting today. They don’t call me  
back or anything.  
Moermond: the general contractor isn’t calling you back?  
Aychoeun Tea: yes.  
Moermond: have you paid the general contractor?  
Aychoeun Tea: in full.  
Moermond: so, Comfort Makers got a call from you saying “please call the inspector.”  
They are telling you “we did call the inspector; we haven’t heard back.”  
Aychoeun Tea: yes.  
Moermond: Ms. Vang, can you check to see who the inspector is? Since they were out  
there March 23, I’m pretty sure they’ve been willing to go out.  
Aychoeun Tea: heating has been done for a long time.  
Moermond: there will be different ones for warm air and mechanical, we’ll have to  
check them both.  
Mai Vang: Laurent Wickland, Chris Wiskur and Randy Klossner.  
Moermond: plumbing is finaled. Mr. Tea it says here you pulled the electrical permit, is  
that so?  
Oudam Tun Tea: I don’t even know anything about that.  
Moermond: it looks like there was an inspection, a rough-in. Are you done? Corrections  
were required.  
Oudam Tun Tea: yes.  
Moermond: did you call for a final inspection?  
Aychoeun Tea: I did call.  
Oudam Tun Tea: the last four or five months I was really sick.  
Moermond: sure, I understand.  
Aychoeun Tea: I did call the electrical inspector. He needs to final.  
Moermond: so, all three of these guys just aren’t returning anybody’s phone calls?  
Aychoeun Tea: yes, that’s true. I asked for the final, I told him it was important to  
come before seeing you. I showed the heating guy my paper too.  
Moermond: so, the heating company made those calls on your behalf. Is that also true  
of the mechanical permit pulled by Comfort Makers? And the warm air pulled by  
General Heating? Comfort Makers say they called. Did you call about the warm air, or  
ask them to call?  
Aychoeun Tea: I asked them to call. They said I couldn’t call.  
Moermond: when you point to your son, do you mean it has to be your son that called?  
Or the contractor?  
Aychoeun Tea: the contractor.  
Moermond: you didn’t make the calls, you talked to your contractors and they’re saying  
they made the calls.  
Aychoeun Tea: yes, they made the calls. The heating company has been done a long  
time, three or fourth months. I asked them why they took so long to final; I need to  
final for Ms. Moermond. I showed them the red on the letter, I told them I’m in trouble. I  
asked them to please help me finish. He said, “they don’t call me back, what can I  
do?”  
Moermond: Mr. Yannarelly, I’m thinking if we called each of these inspectors they  
would have good records of who has called them.  
Yannarelly: I would imagine so. We spoke with Clint Zane earlier today; he did not  
indicate he had been called.  
Moermond: I deal with so many cases, dozens and dozens, and you alone have these  
kinds of problems. I struggle with what you are telling me.  
Aychoeun Tea: what I am telling you is true. I am not lying. I want to take care of this  
business.  
Moermond: you start out by telling me that YOU called and then never called YOU  
back, and then you tell me that your contractors told you that they called.  
Aychoeun Tea: I am sorry, I made a mistake. I called heating, and they told me that I  
couldn’t call, only they could. Electric I did call. Plumbing I called. Only plumbing  
came. Electric came, but said I had some corrections. Then when he came to final he  
said “oh it is ok” but there were some things left, to hook up. First time he said pass.  
That was four or five months ago. Now he said he found more that needs to be  
corrected.  
Moermond: who is “he” and for which permit?  
Aychoeun Tea: electric.  
Moermond: Randy Klossner is the electrical inspector. We’re talking about your son  
having done the work, one permit was pulled to reestablish electric service at the  
house and the other permit was for the actual repairs that needed to happen to the  
electrical system in the building. Were you the one to reestablish service to the  
house?  
Oudam Tun Tea: in the house.  
Moermond: you are doing the interior things; you aren’t doing the main powerline into  
the house.  
Oudam Tun Tea: I am a contractor—  
Aychoeun Tea no, Oudam. She’s talking about outside. The electric company came to  
put in the new meter. The inside, my son has been working on. Right now, I keep  
calling the inspector, last week, this week, for him to come to final. He did come to  
final but he had corrections. We did those and called again but in 2 weeks he hasn’t  
called me back.  
[break is taken to call electric inspector]  
Moermond: during the break we reached out to the three inspectors responsible for  
inspecting the permits that have not been finaled. The first inspector we left a  
message for, Randy Klossner, to find out where he was at with doing inspections. I  
understand we have a rough-in with corrections as of May 2, and Mr. Tea, Ms. Tea, you  
indicate those corrections have been made? It is ready for inspection?  
Aychoeun Tea: yes.  
Moermond: so, you will be reaching out when to get that inspection? Today? Tomorrow  
morning between 7 and 9?  
Aychoeun Tea: yes.  
Moermond: do you have a lock box on the house now?  
Aychoeun Tea: no.  
Moermond: you’ll do that today.  
Aychoeun Tea: yes.  
Moermond: and you’ll give Mr. Klossner the lock box combination so he can do that  
inspection and get in? I don’t want to see any problem at all with inspectors having  
access to the house. If you’re telling me you are there, you better be there. “Be there”  
as in having things complete.  
Aychoeun Tea: this is the heating inspector?  
Moermond: electrical. Next one we called was Chris Wiskur, the warm-air inspector  
who was last there in November. You were saying General Heating and air told you they  
tried to call him and get him to do an inspection and he was unresponsive. I don’t find  
that credible, but you should call him first thing in the morning and get him to inspect.  
He will also need that same lock box combination.  
We just spoke with Laurent Wickland. He indicated he checks his voicemail every  
single day and calls people back and schedules inspections quickly. You have your  
rough-in approval on one. Is the air conditioning ready for inspection?  
Aychoeun Tea: the heating he told me he was already done.  
Moermond: the inspector said your rough-in was approved but you don’t have a final.  
Aychoeun Tea: I think everything was done and he already turned the heat.  
Moermond: you need a final on the permit, you need to call him. Don’t argue with me  
about this. The air conditioning, all the computer shows was a permit was pulled. It  
doesn’t say any inspection at all has occurred. Is that being installed? Is it ready for  
inspection?  
Aychoeun Tea: he already installed it.  
Moermond: it is ready for inspection. [phone numbers given for all inspectors] It  
sounds like Chris Wiskur and Laurent Wickland do their inspections together, so they  
would have let each other know, had they received a call. If all you have left is the trim  
work and these inspections are finaled, then we’re done. If we’re not done by June 13th  
when I see you next, you’ve lost $5,000. That is all there is to it. It is gone. You will  
lose the next $5,000 if you aren’t done two weeks after that. No joke. Gone. I imagine  
you have other things you want to spend that money on. Let’s do this, or you start  
losing lots of money. The cost of not finishing the work is higher than any costs a  
contractor will charge you right now. If it costs you $500 more, pay it. Losing $5,000 is  
a lot more. You’ll never get that money back. Call the inspectors, then when you are  
done you call Clint Zane, your building inspector. I don’t see a third party here to take  
over the project. We talked about that. It didn’t happen. Presumably you think you can  
finish before it goes back to City Council. If it doesn’t you’ve lost $10,000. Not just  
$5,000.  
Aychoeun Tea: I need to finish the garage too.  
Moermond: ask Clint Zane what the expectation is on his part.  
Aychoeun Tea: thank you so much.  
Laid Over to the Legislative Hearings due back on 6/13/2023  
5
RLH RR 23-25  
Second Making finding on the appealed substantial abatement ordered  
for 975 HUDSON ROAD in Council File RLH RR 22-60.  
Prince  
Sponsors:  
Refer back to June 13, 2023 Legislative Hearing.  
No one appeared  
Moermond: we were already having trouble scheduling the owner and owner’s attorney,  
Mr. Derek Thooft, and he was unable to make tomorrow’s date of May 23, and he was  
also unable to make today. We’re going to lay this over to Legislative Hearing June 13,  
2023. I note specifically that no one has contacted Clint Zane to do an inspection and  
come up with a percentage complete, without that percentage I can only assume it is  
zero and vulnerable to losing their entire $5,000 Performance Deposit. We can  
reiterate that in the letter going out. The Council Public Hearing is June 7, so it needs  
to be sent back to Legislative Hearing on June 13.  
Referred to the City Council due back on 6/7/2023  
6
RLH RR 23-24  
First Making finding on the appealed substantial abatement ordered for  
694 SHERBURNE AVENUE in Council File RLH RR 22-19.  
Balenger  
Sponsors:  
If no Certificate of Code Compliance by June 7, 2023 continue to July 12 Public  
Hearing.  
Tia Lee, owner, appeared  
Mai Vang interpreted  
Moermond: my job is to look back the last six months and see how far we have gotten,  
and what still needs to be done to finish the project.  
Staff update by Supervisor Joe Yannarelly: according to Building Inspector Clint Zane  
the property is about 80% complete, and the maintenance at the property has not been  
an issue.  
Moermond: the importance of the 80% number is that the Performance Deposit can be  
continued, no danger of losing that $5,000. I’m wondering how long do you think it will  
take to finish? Are you using the same contractors? Do you have enough money to  
finish the project?  
Lee: has electric passed inspection?  
Moermond: electric and plumbing are both finaled. Mechanical and Warm Air have  
been inspected but not finaled.  
Lee: I have a correction on the vent. I thought my contractor already called about that,  
but obviously it looks like they haven’t. It is done.  
Moermond: are the building items done?  
Lee: building items are done according to Clint, he came last Thursday and said there  
was nothing left.  
Moermond: Mr. Lee, do you have contact information for the warm air and mechanical  
inspectors to call to come out and inspect?  
Lee: yes.  
Moermond: let’s get those scheduled.  
Lee: my subcontractor needs to do some flashing on a vent, that’s all he needed to do.  
I thought the contractor had called, but obviously he didn’t.  
Moermond: you are close to the finish line on this. It is scheduled to go to Council on  
June 7. If you don’t have your Code Compliance certificate, I’ll just ask them to  
continue the matter one month so they can close out the file, hopefully. That would be  
July 12.  
[Mai Vang clarifies which permits aren’t finaled for Mr. Lee and gives contact  
information]  
Moermond: now that you are almost complete, what are you planning to do with the  
duplex? Are you going to be a landlord, or are you going to sell? What are your plans?  
Lee: my daughters.  
Moermond: as soon as you get that certificate your daughters can start moving in.  
Also, to get your Performance Deposit back you contact Robert Humphrey to return  
the funds.  
Referred to the City Council due back on 6/7/2023  
11:00 a.m. Hearings  
Summary & Vehicle Abatement Orders  
RLH SAO 23-20  
7
Appeal of Hope D. Glaser to a Summary Abatement Order at 711  
BEDFORD STREET.  
Noecker  
Sponsors:  
Layover to LH June 6, 2023 for discussion of inspector findings.  
Hope Glaser, owner, appeared via phone  
[Moermond gives background of appeals process]  
Glaser: when Willie Williams showed up my grandchildren had just put front steps in  
because they were no longer good. He complained about that because there were  
boxes there.  
Moermond: I need you to pause, we’ll get to that in a moment. You can absolutely talk  
about that; we just need to get that staff report on the record. Also, for the record, you  
wrote on your appeal that you have a power of attorney for Richard Glaser who is  
co-owner on the property. What is your relationship to him?  
Glaser: I am his wife and caregiver.  
Staff report by Supervisor Lisa Martin: May 3, 2023 we sent a Summary Abatement  
Order to the owner and occupant at the property to remove and dispose of the  
accumulation of ladders, construction materials, landscaping materials, yard waste,  
cat litter boxes, furniture, shelves, and other miscellaneous debris from the rear yard,  
front porch, and front of property. Compliance date of May 10, 2023. It looks like there  
is a lot of excessive storage issues. I’m not sure if the interior is the same. There are  
photos on the file. There are lots of cats roaming around the property, there was cat  
food and litter boxes out there. They have spoken to Inspector Williams, who stated  
they started cleaning up the front porch and that was looking good, but they needed  
more time for the rear yard, which is why they appealed.  
Moermond: Ms. Glaser, thank you for waiting. Tell me about your situation and why you  
are appealing?  
Glaser: I did tell Mr. Williams that I had pneumonia. I did show up at court to fill in the  
appeal, although I didn’t feel well. I had a mask on. Second, I told them my husband  
has been very sick, I have documentation of his surgeries, I have back and forth from  
the hospital. My grandchildren come after work, and that’s what happened when they  
came to finish the steps after they were no longer safe. The boxes on the porch the  
mailman put them out for the cats in the winter. I had nothing to do with that. I told him  
I am not the kind of person who is unkind animals. There are two storage sheds that  
have been cleaned and will be used. This is a slow process because I have to depend  
on my grandchildren to help. That’s been the whole program. I put a lot of work into  
caring for my husband. I stopped working in March to take care of him, but  
unfortunately I couldn’t clean any of those things. The people that brought the boxes  
on the side of the house, Kathy from the tennis court is going to come pick them up.  
I’m doing it little by little. It isn’t going to be a fast process, but they have removed a  
lot of debris. I’m telling you what can be done and what will be done. My property has  
never looked like this. I am sorry, but the last year and a half I haven’t been able to  
attend to it. My husband was always the one who did it and now he can’t. I have to  
depend on my grandchildren.  
Moermond: there is a program called the House Calls program, and they may be able  
to help you out in terms of clearing out some of these items, especially if there are  
things in the house that are too much. Too much storage in the house. They can  
provide assistance in clearing things out. Sometimes when we see people with a lot of  
things outside, it does mean there is a lot inside as well. There is help for that, and if  
you income-qualify, it is free. I suspect you may since you are now a fulltime caregiver.  
Glaser: my husband is totally dependent on me. The house is totally cleared, because  
when a person is blind everything has to stay the same. Everything has been removed.  
The inside of the house is not a problem!  
Moermond: I’m so glad yours isn’t a situation like that. Still, there are housekeeping  
and other types of services that may help you in addition to the help you get from your  
grandchildren. Would you be amenable in talking to them?  
Glaser: I am going to be truthful; I am not in that area right now because I am dealing  
with another possible surgery for my husband. The kids are doing what they can and  
they have removed three truckloads from the back. I had talked to Mr. Williams. Five  
truckloads from the back. I talked to him about the ladders. They will stay there. The  
neighbor is going to borrow it. I am not getting rid of them, or the rest of the fence that  
makes it a privacy area. We spend most of our days outside. My husband needs the  
Vitamin D3. He told me he wasn’t going to worry about that, he was talking about the  
piles of old wood. That is being removed. The trees will have to wait until I can go to  
the yard waste site. I did explain this to him. He said he wasn’t worried about that.  
Normally that is not the way my yard looks. Yes, I am heartbroken that it has gotten  
like that. I chose to make that choice and I am standing by it. If there is a problem,  
you can take and put me in jail. I will not stop taking care of him.  
Moermond: we aren’t there at all. I’m trying to help. What I am thinking---  
Glaser: if I sound frustrated it is because I am.  
Moermond: I understand. You’ve done some work already, which is fabulous. I am  
hearing you have a plan for moving forward to get the work finished, some longer term.  
Maybe if we got an updated set of orders that show how much you’ve done and then we  
can figure out a schedule for other things. Maybe your grandkids have said they can  
have some done by July 1, and others can’t be done until October. Getting a sense of  
how you want to approach it. Then we can agree that is a schedule we can work with.  
Is that something you are amenable to?  
Glaser: right now, I don’t really care. Just do what you need to do. Things are being  
done. They’re being taken care of. They’re being taken to the trash. As far as I am  
concerned the children have done a tremendous amount of work. I am dependent on  
them.  
Moermond: of course.  
Glaser: I store things that need to be stored that I haven’t had the time to store.  
Moermond: right.  
Glaser: the things that need to be removed are being removed. I can’t ask them more  
than that.  
Moermond: I understand. Let’s give a chance for things to progress and I will ask Ms.  
Martin, can you have your inspector go visit June 5 and we can talk about it June 6?  
Maybe enough is done the orders can go away and we can not bother the Glasers  
anymore at all. Is that something you can do?  
Martin: absolutely.  
Moermond: so, we will sit on this for 2 weeks, and maybe we can be done with this  
entirely and not be a bother anymore.  
Glaser: I do need Mr. Williams to call me so I can be sure my husband’s appointments  
and Mr. William’s can be accommodated. The day he came I was in the hospital. My  
son that lives here is an adult, but he has mental illness. I need someone to be here.  
Moermond: he can call and make an appointment with you so you can look at your  
calendar.  
Glaser: that would be wonderful.  
Martin: I will have Mr. Williams bring a House Calls pamphlet when he visits.  
Moermond: you have a lot on your plate, we want to have all the services you can to  
help you.  
Glaser: I want you to know I’ve been around a long time and I know what I have on my  
plate and know what I am taking on. What I didn’t do was make sure the backyard was  
taken care of. Now I am.  
Moermond: I understand.  
Laid Over to the Legislative Hearings due back on 6/6/2023  
Making Finding on Nuisance Abatements  
8
RLH TA 23-226  
Making finding on the appealed nuisance abatement ordered for 1042  
LAWSON AVENUE EAST in Council File RLH SAO 23-18.  
Yang  
Sponsors:  
Nuisance not abated and Department is authorize to proceed with demolition of the  
garage on Friday, May 26, 2023.  
Moermond: the deadline for removal of the building was last week, May 17th. The  
building was not removed at that time. The Department of Safety & Inspections is  
authorized to remove it. My understanding is this morning we received a message from  
the owner that he has hired a contractor to do the removal this Wednesday. The City’s  
crew is going to be deployed on Friday to remove anything, if necessary. This goes in  
front of City Council June 7 with a final outcome.  
Referred to the City Council due back on 6/7/2023  
3:00 p.m. Hearings  
Other  
9
RLH OA 23-1  
Appeal of Rachael Rivard to a Denial of a Fence Variance at 530  
JENKS AVENUE.  
Brendmoen  
Sponsors:  
Deny the appeal.  
Rachael Rivard, owner, appeared  
Moermond: we talked a lot last time about the issues going on with the neighbor next  
door. I reached out to the police officers who work the Code Enforcement detail. I’m  
not sure if they have reached out to you. I know they looked into the situation and  
talked with some folks. I’m wondering where you are at in terms of the problems you  
have experiencing. I’d like to get a status report from you, I think this ultimately goes  
to the Ward office ultimately for the Councilmember’s people to push things forward.  
Tell me where things are at since we last spoke.  
Rivard: I have had probably 3 direct interactions with her. One on the day I returned.  
The police have been out twice since then. The instances themselves haven’t  
resolved, which I guess isn’t what we were anticipating. Officer Arntzen has been very  
helpful. He has come and gone over to her property and spoken with her, when he did  
that I asked him to take a look from her porch and see if he can understand why I  
would think having more height would be helpful to mitigate the interactions we are  
having. He did say he thought it would be helpful. She can see directly over the fence  
and another foot isn’t going to resolve that. He was supportive of the idea, which was  
helpful. I have been looking for options. He also has received many phone calls from  
her since he gave her his number. I am reporting back is that she is looping on the  
same issues. He said he’d be happy to share information with whoever needs it.  
I have spoken with other neighbors, and also got police records for her address and  
also calls about ours that she has made. One of the neighbors I hadn’t previously met  
told me that her roommate had been threatened by this woman with a knife. They call  
her Psycho Sue. She’s lived there 30 years. They know it is a real problem. She said  
she would be willing to share information. I spoke to two other neighbors who have had  
extreme interactions with her and they said they would also be willing to share  
information. As far as the fence, I went and had an estimate done. My initial thought is  
if I went with a fence, it was over $17,000. That was for a composite fence, knowing  
once the fence goes up she isn’t going to let me on the other side to maintain it. I  
know you encouraged me to have a professional install the fence. I have been inquiring  
with raw materials just to see if it makes a difference. I am capable of doing so.  
Moermond: I would make sure that your confident with the survey and I don’t have  
advice to say don’t do it. I would say if you are confident in the survey and know that  
you are going to be experiencing some pushback, then hiring an outside contractor  
would diminish the interaction you would potentially have. I totally understand the cost  
issues. Did you look into a potential modification of your porch landing to screen the  
view?  
Rivard: I didn’t follow up on that. What I heard from the inspector on the phone last  
time is it would be a lot of hoops to jump though.  
Moermond: I think he was to put all of those things out there, when a lot of those  
things wouldn’t even be triggered if you are further away from the property line. First  
thing would be measuring that.  
Rivard: so, we need to figure out the set back.  
Moermond: exactly. Different code kicks in if you are further away. I think he said 4  
feet as his guide. So, four feet and one inch rolls it back. That’s the way I heard it. He  
just didn’t want you to get your hopes up it was straightforward, since it would be more  
complicated. He was giving you the hard version. Do the measurement and let that  
govern where you go. Next thing, the Councilmember for this property is Amy  
Brendmoen.  
Engaging her Legislative Aide would be helpful. I think we could take a scan of what  
you brought today, I don’t think we need them in the Legislative Hearing record, but it  
would add to the knowledge the Ward office has in problem-solving this. I am in a  
space where I think doing the porch adjustment rather than the fence above 7 feet  
would be the way to go. The Councilmember may look at it differently. I’m going to  
recommend the 7 feet.  
Rivard: it isn’t possible. She stands on her porch and swears at me on a regular basis.  
Moermond: I don’t know what the sweet spot would be on this. 10 feet? 12? I don’t  
know that there is one with this particular individual and situation. The measures you  
can take to do something similar, I am landing on that screening idea. Cutting off the  
visibility where it happens.  
Rivard: she can see over the fence so the visibility is anywhere.  
Moermond: on the porch.  
Rivard: if I’m on the other side of the yard she can see right over it. Even a 7-foot fence  
gives her 100 percent visibility. Every time she walks by she says something, she  
swears.  
Moermond: I have put my recommendation on the record, so we are going to conclude  
this conversation.  
Referred to the City Council due back on 6/14/2023