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, February 27, 2024  
9:00 AM  
Room 330 City Hall & Court House/Remote  
9:00 a.m. Hearings  
Remove/Repair Orders  
RLH RR 23-63  
1
Ordering the rehabilitation or razing and removal of the structures at 195  
GOODRICH AVENUE within fifteen (15) days after the January 17, 2024,  
City Council Public Hearing.  
Noecker  
Sponsors:  
Continue CPH to March 20, 2024 (at request of purchaser). Grant 180 days pending  
updated work plan detailing supplies and labor provided by purchaser, updated proof of  
financing, updated affidavit, and posting of $5,000 PD.  
David Marks, purchaser, appeared  
Dennis Faust, owner, appeared  
Rebecca Marks appeared but did not speak  
Moermond: had a chance to glance through these items. This purchase agreement is  
great, the kind of contract we are looking for, simply the guarantee the title doesn’t  
transfer until the rehab is complete. The addendum more than covers that. I’m also  
curious about the sale price, but it does look like you’ll be fairly compensated for the  
building. We just have a couple other details to button up. For your part we have this  
purchase agreement in place with all the necessary signatures.  
Marks: they should be, yes.  
Moermond: that left me with 3 things, the first relates to the bids. The bids provided  
totaled $85,177, whereas the plan provided indicated the project would be $136,000. I  
could see there were some pieces of the plan not covered in the bids.  
Marks: carpeting, appliances, painting. Things we may be doing ourselves.  
Moermond: can you put together something that covers those supplies, and your labor.  
Of course we count sweat equity as part of this, but we need to put a rope around it.  
Whatever a fair wage to pay yourself would be. The cost of the carpet from a  
wholesaler. I would look for that to be split out. It looks like you did that for the tasks,  
but not the labor and supply costs. But you could perhaps in the spreadsheet. I want  
you to have credit for that and have it documented. It also tells me your labor isn’t  
something we need to have money set aside for, but we do for the capital costs.  
Marks: there’s a spreadsheet with total costs, totaling $136,000. I have amounts for  
carpeting and painting. Something in addition to that?  
Moermond: carpet removal, $500, that’s all labor plus disposal costs. You do have an  
estimate for three-fourths of the project.  
Marks: right, the significant items.  
Moermond: if you could split out things you are doing yourself or hiring a handyman for.  
When you go to pull the building permit Clint Zane is going to look for one building  
permit for the entire project. You have a contractor, but they won’t be doing some of  
those items. But that will be looked at as what the building inspector wants to see.  
They are non-building permit items.  
Marks: I do have a General Contractor I’m working with, who is putting together the  
plan who will be pulling the permit.  
Moermond: if you could connect up the $50,000 gap between costs and bids.  
Marks: anything I don’t have a specific contractor listed are the things I am doing. You  
want the costs that make up the difference?  
Moermond: yes, I do.  
Marks: I’ll send something over.  
Moermond: third item is the Performance Deposit.  
Marks: it is in progress. Should be within the next day or two.  
Moermond: great. The last thing is we have the e-trade account information. I want to  
be clear we’re looking for liquid assets. I know there’s cash in people’s investment  
accounts, but I didn’t see that. I need that money pulled out if it is your funding source.  
Not paying from the investment account.  
Marks: I can go out this afternoon and sell it and have the cash.  
Moermond: we’d be looking for ready cash to pay the bills. We haven’t historically  
accepted these types of accounts since they operate under different rules. I need to  
know you are ready to check to someone, which you wouldn’t do from this investment  
account. Whatever you have as a cash outlay on the project is what you would need.  
You have $85,000 in bids, and another $15,000 in cash for appliances, carpeting,  
painting.  
Marks: so I need to have $130,000 in the account?  
Moermond: not for sweat equity.  
Marks: I was planning on just pulling from those accounts each month.  
Moermond: that needs to happen before the Council vote.  
Marks: I need to have the amount up front in a liquid account. I’ll figure it out.  
Moermond: those are the things I am looking for, and the last question is when do you  
want to start swinging hammers?  
Marks: as soon as we can.  
Moermond: as soon as you get the revised plan, Performance Deposit, and cash on  
hand. One we get those in and approved, we can greenlight permits even before it hits  
Council. We can put this on the Council agenda next Wednesday so you get all the  
yes’s at once. I am so happy you guys have pulled this together.  
[long discussion about Vacant Building fees, program, and pending assessments with  
both City and County]  
Faust: I would have to pay $23,000?  
Moermond: out of the closing of the sale.  
Referred to the City Council due back on 3/6/2024  
2
RLH RR 23-56  
Ordering the rehabilitation or razing and removal of the structures at 1058  
JESSIE STREET within fifteen (15) days after the December 8, 2023,  
City Council Public Hearing. (Amend to remove within 15 days)  
Brendmoen  
Sponsors:  
Remove within 15 days with no option to repair.  
Tried calling Colleen Pollock at 9:52 am – Voicemail full; unable to leave message.  
Tried calling Colleen Pollock at 10:06 am – Voicemail full; unable to leave message.  
Moermond: we’ve tried two times to reach Ms. Pollock, the owner, to talk about what  
needs to be done to rehab the property. Those steps were included in the most recent  
letter sent to both her and her attorney. That went out in December. I’m going to  
recommend, since none of the conditions were met and we heard from the attorney  
that he was let go, lacking anyone testifying or an ability to leave a Voicemail for the  
appellant, I will recommend the Council order it removed within 15 days with no option  
for its rehabilitation.  
Referred to the City Council due back on 3/13/2024  
10:00 a.m. Hearings  
Making Finding on Nuisance Abatements  
3
RLH RR 24-6  
Third Making finding on the appealed substantial abatement ordered for  
939 CHARLES AVENUE in Council File RLH RR 23-37.  
Bowie  
Sponsors:  
Grant additional 180 days pending posting of additional $5,000 PD and approved work  
plan for completing project by no later than COB Friday March 8, 2024. If CC  
Certificate is not issued or items completed by March 13, forfeit $2,500 of original PD.  
Lorie Miller, owner, appeared via phone  
Staff update by Supervisor Matt Dornfeld: it is my understanding that Inspector Zane  
indicates it is 90% code compliant.  
Moermond: tell me about finishing the project. What’s the plan?  
Miller: I really feel like its higher than that. We were just putting in the carpets, which  
was the last big thing to do. Windows and exterior, doors, garage doors, flooring,  
painting, electrical and fixtures are all in. There are just a few touch ups left. One sink  
the plumbing inspector is coming to look at again next week. A couple reports, air duct  
cleaning, ORSAT test. HVAC is coming out for a couple small things to sign off on.  
What we have left are the attic hatch, making sure its properly insulated. Pretty small  
items.  
Moermond: I’m going to be really candid. When the Council gave you its initial grant of  
time, and then followed up six months later, you were 75% done. On my  
recommendation they continued your $5,000 Performance Deposit. You got another six  
months, that brought you to 80%. Now we’re a year and a half in and you are 90%  
done. At this rate you won’t be done for another year. I hear what you are saying, but  
looking at those statistics, I’m ready to recommend it is forfeited or you have to post  
an additional Performance Deposit. Your few things haven’t happened expeditiously in  
the last year. Money is typically the best way to inspire action. I need to see this done  
quickly or another $5,000 on the table. I need a plan for getting out of this. I feel like  
I’m not asking them to take away money, but we need some consequences. I’ll need  
that additional $5,000 Performance Deposit by March 13 and an updated work plan,  
OR all your sign offs by then and you’re out of it. One or the other, or I’ll recommend  
the current $5,000 forfeits $2,500. Pick a path and follow through.  
Referred to the City Council due back on 3/13/2024  
RLH RR 24-8  
4
Second Making finding on the appealed substantial abatement ordered  
for 733 FAIRVIEW AVENUE NORTH in Council File RLH RR 23-11.  
Jalali  
Sponsors:  
Layover to LH March 12, 2024 at 10 am for further discussion after February 27  
meeting with Building Official.  
Moermond: we are laying this matter over for 2 weeks to March 12, the owner is  
meeting with the Building Official later in the day today. Wanting to have the benefit of  
the results of that conversation before pursuing this further.  
Laid Over to the Legislative Hearings due back on 3/12/2024  
5
RLH RR 24-4  
Second Making finding on the appealed substantial abatement ordered  
for 346 SHERBURNE AVENUE in Council File RLH RR 23-38.  
Bowie  
Sponsors:  
Grant additional 180 days and continue original $5,000 PD pending approval of an  
updated schedule and proof of financing and posting of additional $5,000 PD by COB  
March 6, 2024.  
Russ Waletski, owner, appeared via phone  
Staff update by Supervisor Matt Dornfeld: Mr. Zane recently inspected and documents  
it is now 60% code compliant. No recent nuisance problems at the property.  
Moermond: Mr. Waletski, tell me about the path forward.  
Waletski: the retaining wall was replaced, not just repaired. Electrical is roughed in.  
Heat is on. Ductwork inspected. Drywall is in and being taped today or tomorrow. Back  
steps to put on and capstone on the retaining wall. Windows being custom made by  
Menards for the upstairs. Four small windows. Once the taping is done in a week and  
half we can paint and put flooring and cabinetry in. Get electric finalized. Do those  
back steps. We’d be about done. Mr. Zane did ask me to shim the ship’s ladder to the  
basement to level it out. Small project. It is cosmetic minus the steps and small  
windows upstairs.  
Moermond: I wanted a general sense of where you are at, which I have. Six months ago  
you should have been done according to your first work plan. At that point I  
recommended continuing your original $5,000 Performance Deposit. At the one-year  
mark if you aren’t done it is subject to forfeiture and an additional Performance Deposit  
can be required. Work plans one and two didn’t get the job done. I need an updated  
work plan, any new bids or outstanding balances, updated financing to complete, and  
an additional $5,000 Performance Deposit posted. I’d like to sweeten the pot to help  
incentivize you to get it done.  
Waletski: when do you want that by?  
Moermond: this was to go to the Council February 21, but since we didn’t have  
inspection. March 13 Council Public Hearing, so plans and schedule by next  
Wednesday. Any new bids. Evidence of money and affidavit if needed. And the  
additional Performance Deposit.  
Waletski: understood.  
Referred to the City Council due back on 3/13/2024  
6
RLH RR 24-11  
Making finding on the appealed substantial abatement ordered for 401  
ROSE AVENUE EAST in Council File RLH RR 23-40.  
Kim  
Sponsors:  
Grant additional 180 days and continue original $5,000 PD pending approval of updated  
financing and schedule for completing the project.  
Jay Mitchell, o/b/o Quality Residences, appeared  
Staff update by Supervisor Matt Dornfeld: Inspector Zane has indicated we are at 50%  
code compliant. Looks like Mr. Mitchell is doing a fine job maintaining 401 Rose.  
Consistent notes saying vacant and secure and lot orderly.  
Moermond: that’s always a good sign. You made 50% by the skin of your teeth. Your  
Performance Deposit is continued for another six months. If not, it is subject to  
forfeiture. Staff told me that two weeks ago it was a surprise to hear about this hearing  
and how far you should be. You got a lot done; you passed the first threshold. Kudos  
to you, good job. Next we have to figure out where we go from here. Typically, I ask for  
an updated plan, financing, bids, those types of things. We need a new meaningful  
schedule moving forward from where we are at. Quality Residences has a large  
account, it shouldn’t be a problem. The next Council Public Hearing is scheduled for  
March 13. Can you have that updated paperwork to us in a week or so?  
Mitchell: no problem.  
Moermond: I’ll recommend that the Performance Deposit is continued.  
Referred to the City Council due back on 3/13/2024  
11:00 a.m. Hearings  
Correction Orders  
RLH CO 24-2  
7
Appeal of Michael Diesslin to a Correction Order at 337 BATES  
AVENUE.  
Johnson  
Sponsors:  
Moermond: Department of Safety & Inspections is withdrawing the order. In reviewing  
the historic record, the Council adopted Resolution 98-775 in which the hearing officer  
recommended that the gravel parking didn’t constitute a nuisance issue. Note the order  
was written as a nuisance not a zoning violation.  
Withdrawn  
Making Finding on Nuisance Abatements  
RLH SAO 24-16  
8
Making finding on the appealed nuisance abatement ordered for 1472  
SHERBURNE AVENUE in Council File RLH SAO 24-8. (March 5, 2024  
Legislative Hearing)  
Jalali  
Sponsors:  
Layover to LH March 5, 2024 at 11 am (unable to reach PO). CPH 3/6  
Voicemail left at 11:15 am: this is Marcia Moermond from St. Paul City Council calling  
you following up on your case at 1472 Sherburne. Our first follow up on a deadline was  
today. I have photos on the record. We’ll try you back in a little bit.  
Voicemail left at 11:28 am: this is Marcia Moermond from St. Paul City Council trying  
to reach you again about 1472 Sherburne and whether or not the deadline was met. It  
appears from the photos from the inspector today that you are not in compliance, this  
is scheduled for Council Public Hearing next Wednesday. We’ll try and reach you next  
Tuesday and have a conversation then hopefully. If the work isn’t done I’ll recommend  
the Council find the nuisance isn’t abated and they will authorize the Department of  
Safety & Inspections to do the cleanup.  
Referred to the City Council due back on 3/6/2024  
RLH SAO 24-11  
9
Making finding on the appealed nuisance abatement ordered for 29  
ACKER STREET WEST in Council File RLH SAO 24-3.  
Bowie  
Sponsors:  
The nuisance is not abated; authorize the Department to take action to abate the  
nuisance after March 4, 2024.  
Jacob Lucas, owner, appeared via phone  
Moermond: we had three properties and are down to two. Ms. Martin will update the  
record.  
Staff update by Supervisor Lisa Martin: 760 Sylvan is cleared. The only one left really  
is 29 Acker, there is still a lot of items to be removed. A tarp, some buckets.  
Lucas: those buckets have rocks for my basement. Should I just pour them on the  
ground?  
Moermond: what’s the rule around buckets Ms. Martin?  
Martin: we ask people to store them in the garage, not outside. Especially with no  
covers. We also have fence parts.  
Moermond: the vehicles in the drive?  
Martin: they’re all on the street.  
Moermond: perfect, so a few buckets and a fence section, and something under a  
blue tarp.  
Martin: and some scrap wood.  
Lucas: can my lawn mower stay outside?  
Moermond: yep.  
Lucas: the little playhouse?  
Moermond: yep.  
Lucas: the beams alongside my garage? Two 16” metal beams. It is neatly underneath  
a tarp.  
Martin: normally that should be in the garage. We don’t allow exterior storage of  
construction materials.  
Lucas: I left the fence down so they could look in and see it is cleaned up. I can put  
them back up.  
Moermond: this goes to Council Public Hearing tomorrow. We have it so close. The  
Council will adopt the resolution unless you testify and they decide something different.  
If they go with the deadline previously established, the Department of Safety &  
Inspections would be authorized to go and do a cleanup. They have two options, they  
could send and inspector out to make a finding about doing a work order, or they could  
give more time and write a bill for Excessive Consumption of code enforcement  
services. That is cheaper than the cost of a cleanup. That is up to them in the field.  
The Mayor won’t sign for a couple of days, so I’d guess they probably wouldn’t come  
out until Monday. That’s how that works. Any questions?  
Lucas: if the stuff is gone by Monday I should be ok?  
Moermond: yes.  
Lucas: ok, that works.  
Referred to the City Council due back on 2/28/2024  
RLH SAO 24-13  
11  
Making finding on the appealed nuisance abatement ordered for 760  
SYLVAN STREET in Council File RLH SAO 24-3.  
Bowie  
Sponsors:  
The nuisance is abated and the matter resolved.  
Jacob Lucas, owner, appeared via phone  
Moermond: we had three properties and are down to two. Ms. Martin will update the  
record.  
Staff update by Supervisor Lisa Martin: 760 Sylvan is cleared. The only one left really  
is 29 Acker, there is still a lot of items to be removed. A tarp, some buckets.  
Lucas: those buckets have rocks for my basement. Should I just pour them on the  
ground?  
Moermond: what’s the rule around buckets Ms. Martin?  
Martin: we ask people to store them in the garage, not outside. Especially with no  
covers. We also have fence parts.  
Moermond: the vehicles in the drive?  
Martin: they’re all on the street.  
Moermond: perfect, so a few buckets and a fence section, and something under a  
blue tarp.  
Martin: and some scrap wood.  
Lucas: can my lawn mower stay outside?  
Moermond: yep.  
Lucas: the little playhouse?  
Moermond: yep.  
Lucas: the beams alongside my garage? Two 16” metal beams. It is neatly underneath  
a tarp.  
Martin: normally that should be in the garage. We don’t allow exterior storage of  
construction materials.  
Lucas: I left the fence down so they could look in and see it is cleaned up. I can put  
them back up.  
Moermond: this goes to Council Public Hearing tomorrow. We have it so close. The  
Council will adopt the resolution unless you testify and they decide something different.  
If they go with the deadline previously established, the Department of Safety &  
Inspections would be authorized to go and do a cleanup. They have two options, they  
could send and inspector out to make a finding about doing a work order, or they could  
give more time and write a bill for Excessive Consumption of code enforcement  
services. That is cheaper than the cost of a cleanup. That is up to them in the field.  
The Mayor won’t sign for a couple of days, so I’d guess they probably wouldn’t come  
out until Monday. That’s how that works. Any questions?  
Lucas: if the stuff is gone by Monday I should be ok?  
Moermond: yes.  
Lucas: ok, that works.  
Referred to the City Council due back on 2/28/2024  
1:00 p.m. Hearings  
Vacant Building Registrations  
RLH VBR 24-13  
12  
Appeal of Roger and Lana Cheatham to a Vacant Building Registration  
Notice at 1769 SAINT ANTHONY AVENUE.  
Jalali  
Sponsors:  
Layover to LH March 12, 2024 at 1 pm to discuss findings of Monday, March 11  
inspection at 10:30 am.  
Roger Cheatham, owner, appeared via phone  
[Moermond gives background of appeals process]  
Staff report by Supervisor Leanna Shaff: this is a four-unit apartment building. Ongoing  
Fire Certificate of Occupancy for years. We probably haven’t been inside for at least 4  
years. We’ve had some major exterior issues, including the stucco that is ready to fall  
off the building. The property owner states all of the units on 1/25/24 to Imbertson that  
all units are now unoccupied and with the issues going on for so long, Supervisor  
Imbertson referred it to the Vacant Building program. He says windows are in disrepair,  
roof damage, and the stucco issues, and it has been going on for years.  
Moermond: and it is all unoccupied?  
Shaff: yes, according to the property owner.  
Moermond: and all the orders are exterior. When was the last interior inspection?  
Shaff: probably 2019.  
Staff report by Supervisor Matt Dornfeld: was made a Category 2 Vacant Building by  
Hoffman per that revocation referral. January 29 inspector Hoffman did note the  
property appeared occupied, but February 8 and February 22, 2024 he changed and  
feels that it appears vacant.  
Moermond: why are you appealing?  
Cheatham: I have been occupying one of the units for over 10 years. The upstairs is in  
excellent conditions. My grandson will be living in one. I tried to tell Mr. Imbertson this.  
The day I got this letter I started getting calls from people interested in it. I’m  
concerned about break ins. I’m here now working on it. My situation has been in flux  
since before the pandemic. My wife Lana has been in a nursing home for a year. Not in  
a nursing home, she had surgery a year ago in January and it caused seizures and the  
only place the hospital could send her was in Stillwater. I spent most of March until  
November going back and forth dealing with that. The nursing home in Stillwater kept  
giving her food that poisoned her. She’s allergic to onions. She lost a lot of weight.  
Finally, there was an opening locally and I got her a room there, but because she’s on  
worker’s comp they are refusing to pay so she’s run up a bill of over $20,000. We have  
a hearing next week on that. If she can’t stay there she needs a place with a bedroom  
on the first floor. I’m preparing to move her in downstairs. There is no stucco falling off  
the building. That’s like saying the sky is falling. The roof doesn’t leak. There are  
some window problems. The building is 112 years old. My plan was to refinance it and  
put in new windows and anew furnace so each apartment can have its own thermostat.  
Other than that, I’m not really sure. Mr. Imbertson never inspected it with me. If he  
called me and asked me I’d be happy. He only called to tell me that he was going to  
yank my chain.  
Moermond: I see letters telling you about inspections, and follow up letters indicating  
you didn’t show, and giving another inspection time. This seems to have been  
happening a lot over the years. Why haven’t you let inspectors inside the building?  
Cheatham: why can’t they give me a call and tell me when they are coming?  
Moermond: they send letters.  
Cheatham: I have so much mail piled up because of this worker’s comp stuff the last  
year. We have to have this all figured out before next week. We’re talking about  
$50,000 bills that they haven’t paid.  
Moermond: and I don’t need to create a public record here about your wife’s worker’s  
compensation claim.  
Cheatham: I’m just responding to your question.  
Moermond: the envelope isn’t saying it is coming from workers comp or the State, it  
says it is coming from Fire Inspections at Department of Safety & Inspections. This  
isn’t a new thing, it’s a pattern for many years. What will it take to get an inspector  
inside so you aren’t staring down the barrel of a vacate order and being unable to move  
in your wife and grandson.  
Cheatham: I tried to go over this with Imbertson and the first thing he brought up was  
the driveway. For years and years. There’s no issue with it. No one believes me and  
takes it off the list.  
Moermond: I have a list dated February 25, 2024 and I don’t see a driveway item on  
that list. Why can’t we get inspectors inside the building? That would help get you out  
of this mess.  
Cheatham: just call me on the phone.  
Moermond: no, no. No one is chasing you down by telephone. We can set an  
appointment now or you open your mail and you are responsible for being there. You  
have a $2,500 Vacant Building fee that it took to get your attention. I don’t want to see  
it go this way, but I also don’t want it to have to get to the level where it takes a lot of  
money.  
Shaff: Supervisor Imbertson could be there Friday at 1 pm—  
Cheatham: I have this big deal coming up on March 5. Can we please do this after  
then?  
Shaff: March 6 at 10 am then.  
Cheatham: not March 6. These meeting with workers comp often get delayed. It will  
have to be March 10 or later.  
Moermond: I mean, come on. Talk about getting jerked around by workers comp. This  
isn’t great either.  
Cheatham: its all government people to me.  
Moermond: March 10th is a Sunday. What is available the week of Monday the 11th?  
Shaff: 10:30 am on Monday March 11.  
Moermond: you’ll see Mr. Imbertson at that time on that day. We’ll have another  
hearing on March 12 to discuss the results of that inspection. Do not pay the Vacant  
Building fee in the meantime. I do wish you well, I hope things go smoothly.  
Laid Over to the Legislative Hearings due back on 3/12/2024  
13  
RLH VBR  
24-12  
Appeal of Jennifer Melendez to a Vacant Building Registration Notice at  
743 WILSON AVENUE.  
Johnson  
Sponsors:  
Grant the appeal and release the property from the VB program.  
Jennifer Melendez, daughter of owner, appeared via phone  
[Moermond gives background of appeals process]  
Staff report by Supervisor Matt Dornfeld: this was made a Category 2 Vacant Building  
January 25, 2024. Code Enforcement received a neighborhood complaint November  
20, 2023 about overgrown lawn, broken glass all over, and porch falling down. Code  
Enforcement did go out and confirm those findings and confirmed with the Water  
Department there had been no usage for 3+ years. They sat on it for a bit before  
sending it to the Vacant Building Department as a Category 2 Vacant Building.  
Moermond: when you say, ‘they sat on it’, you mean Code Enforcement did, not the  
Water Department.  
Dornfeld: that is correct.  
Moermond: I’m sorry to hear about your mother Ms. Melendez. What is going on?  
Melendez: I called the guy and he told me to do this. I’m not really wanting to do this. It  
isn’t vacant. I am there off and on. There is no broken glass there. If there is, it is  
outside the fence. We have garbage that people placed on the boulevard. It isn’t ours.  
The porch is not falling down.  
Moermond: tell me whether this property is in probate, or if there is an estate  
representative?  
Melendez: it is going to probate.  
Moermond: has an estate representative been appointed yet?  
Melendez: no.  
Moermond: do you have a hearing?  
Melendez: no, we don’t have anything going on yet.  
Moermond: and I’m gathering your mother wasn’t there for the last 3 years?  
Melendez: she was there off and on.  
Moermond: no usage of water.  
Melendez: she used bottled water.  
Moermond: what about showering and flushing toilets?  
Melendez: yeah, that too.  
Moermond: they said no water. So no one has been sleeping there at night for years is  
what I’m gathering.  
Melendez: no, we are sleeping there.  
Moermond: I’m struggling with that. If she wasn’t there and we don’t have water use and  
no estate rep what I have in my head is I don’t know she was there, I don’t know if for  
sure you are there, I don’t know that its legal you are there, or someone else making  
decisions about the property. There needs to be someone with responsibility. That we  
don’t have now. I’m struggling to believe that someone is living there with no water use.  
Melendez: I come and go.  
Moermond: that’s not living there. I come and go visiting my neighbor. It seems like  
what may be happening is you are visiting and checking in and getting the mail. I’m ok  
with that, I really am. But I need all cards on the table.  
The taxes have been paid. Did your mom have a mortgage?  
Melendez: no, it was paid off.  
Moermond: that all makes it easier to transfer title in probate.  
Melendez: I am paying all the bills right now.  
Moermond: what is the long-range plan with the property?  
Melendez: we’re trying to clean it up and sell it. We have to go through probate first. It  
is just my brother and I as heirs.  
Moermond: if it is occupied by someone who isn’t the owner it needs to have an  
inspection to make sure that is ok. What I am looking at now is a house that doesn’t  
have any code violations that are particularly serious. Just some exterior nuisance  
conditions, not house conditions.  
Dornfeld: that is correct.  
Moermond: that’s to your benefit too. I’m going to recommend you are out of the  
Vacant Building program because you have no significant code violations and you  
haven’t had an empty house for 365 days. While I can ague I think you have, I don’t  
think it has been documented as such until now. You have a year to sort this out  
before it comes up again.  
Referred to the City Council due back on 3/13/2024  
SR 24-6  
14  
Reviewing request of Owner, Alex Delendik, to a Vacant Building  
Registration Notice at 827 AGATE STREET.  
Bowie  
Sponsors:  
Release the property from the VB program and grant to May 1, 2024 for compliance  
with AC repair and exterior items (including grading), and to April 15, 2024 for balance  
of the orders, pending updated bids and schedule explaining the cost vs. scope of  
work in more detail and proof of financing sufficient to complete the rehab. (CPH 3/13)  
Alex Delendik, Homestead Road, appeared via phone  
Moermond: we’ve reviewed your plans, just a couple items to touch on. I’m ok with the  
deadlines you provided of April 1 and May 1.  
Delendik: the only challenge is permitting. I applied for the building permit, and it still  
hasn’t even been reviewed. I have a letter from Planning and they said six weeks to  
review.  
Moermond: I haven’t heard that before, typically it can be done online for items of this  
nature. We can do that.  
Delendik: the ones online are for basic items. This has engineering because of the  
foundation, so I can’t do that. I hope that won’t be the issue that interferes with the  
deadline. Everything else has been done and applied for and I’m working on.  
Moermond: I can definitely send then an email. I can almost move the deadline from  
April 1 to April 15. I’m not sure how much influence I have over this particular permit.  
April 15 and May 1. I’ll try to nudge things along.  
We aren’t going to revisit this again. We need to come up with something doable. I  
don’t want to get to the deadline day and you’re saying a month ago I didn’t get “x”.  
Delendik: I understand. I think April 15 is reasonable.  
Moermond: in reviewing the one-pager from Latitude 49, I noticed a couple of items  
have already had permits pulled. The plumbing permit was pulled and finaled, including  
the vent work. Items 2 and 3. The building permit that is pending your contractor said it  
was only a $1,000 job. That seems low. Is that really what it is? Cuz you are giving me  
a total bid for items 1 through 9 as $10,000. I’d think the supports in the basement is  
the big-ticket item. Is that what you mean to be communicating.  
Delendik: the engineer called for the additional framing wall to support the trusses. It is  
6 feet of 2x4 framing.  
Moermond: can you get me the bid? I can go with you that you’re spending $10,000 on  
this, and I’d think you’re spending a chuck of that on an engineer. I need a budget  
fleshed out better. I have $7,300 in float and $1,700 in permits. Is the balance of it for  
what?  
Delendik: there’s landscaping that’s not permitted. The grading.  
Moermond: right, and you have to pay the engineer. That’s cool too.  
Delendik: the engineer report was submitted with the building permit. The framing itself  
isn’t that expensive. The engineer just directs where it goes. The plumbing and building  
were the main one that needed permitting.  
Moermond: I look at these projects, whether its relatively simple or a large rehab. If I’m  
looking at a pile of bids I also look for a schedule and the money to pay the  
contractors. I assume the plumber is paid since the permit is finaled. That means I  
have $9,300 worth of work I need see.  
Delendik: proof of funds, I can send that.  
Moermond: and a receipt from anyone you’ve already paid works too. I just need  
documentation it is there so you aren’t stuck 3 weeks from now because you ran out of  
money.  
Delendik: I can do that. Not a problem.  
Moermond: can we get that back by March 5 and it will have a Council Public Hearing  
March 13 granting the extensions we’ve talked about and keeping you out of the  
Vacant Building program entirely.  
Received and Filed  
1:30 p.m. Hearings  
Orders To Vacate - Fire Certificate of Occupancy  
15  
RLH VO 24-6  
Appeal of Matt Hursh to a Notice of Condemnation-Unfit for Human  
Habitation-Order to Vacate at 264 LAFOND AVENUE.  
Bowie  
Sponsors:  
Grant to March 29, 2024 for items 2, 7, 9, 11, 16 - 18, and 20. Grant to April 26, 2024  
for compliance with 3, 5, 6, and 15. Grant to May 31, 2024 for compliance with items 8,  
13, 14, and 19 as outlined in work plan provided by PO.  
No one appeared  
Moermond: the work plan submitted to our office on February 22 is accepted, there  
was one follow up question about receipts or permit for the duct work and he does  
have a contractor. One deadline of March 29, one for April 26 & one May 31. These are  
divided by priority established in hearing and looks acceptable. Recommend the  
Council grant extensions as listed in the work plan.  
Referred to the City Council due back on 3/13/2024