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  
651-266-8585  
Tuesday, July 16, 2024  
9:00 AM  
Room 330 City Hall & Court House/Remote  
9:00 a.m. Hearings  
Special Tax Assessments  
Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 927  
DESOTO STREET. (File No. J2418A, Assessment No. 2488522)  
(Refer to July 16, 2024 Legislative Hearing)  
1
RLH TA 24-217  
Sponsors:  
Kim  
Reduce assessment from $6,734 to $3,387 and make payable over 5 years.  
Tasha Fierro, daughter of occupant, appeared via phone  
Moermond: when we last talked we talked about how I was going to do some more  
homework on the numbers because we knew at least parts of that bill were doubled.  
Wanted to sort how much was like that and how much I could reduce based on that.  
What I’ve concluded is the whole thing is a double bill, so I’m going to ask the Council  
to cut this in half, down to $3,387. I know that’s not great, but I’ll also ask them to  
make it payable over 5 years.  
Fierro: that’s fine. I told my mom about it. I think she pretty much agrees. It is still a lot  
and she doesn’t work so once the house is in her name it will be tight. That’s the  
biggest thing. Is there any way to get it lowered so she’s not struggling? They already  
struggle with getting food.  
Moermond: Joe Yannarelly from Code Enforcement is here; he has a comment.  
Yannarelly: I just noticed there’s an outstanding work order now to remove  
appliances, furniture, and debris from the boulevard. With the appliances that can be  
expensive.  
Fierro: there’s people coming out to slowly get it for free for us. They’re doing it in  
increments. We’ve removed most of it.  
Moermond: does the inspector know this?  
Fierro: I don’t think the inspector knows.  
Moermond: the inspector didn’t know you made other arrangements and needed  
more time so the inspector wrote a work order to the cleanup company to pick things  
up. It is about either stopping the work order or moving the stuff to a garage. Who  
should she call this morning?  
Yannarelly: I think it is Andrew McCullough  
Fierro: I can let my mom know. I can call him and let him know I can pick it up in the  
next week or so.  
Yannarelly: it is very possible they could be there any time. No guarantees if you get  
ahold of him that the crew isn’t already out there. If nothing is there when the crew  
gets there no harm, no foul.  
Fierro: understood.  
Moermond: so you have the heads up it has been work ordered. We have this  
assessment reduced by half payable over 5 years. You probably have a House Calls  
brochure, but is your mom on a senior or CADI waiver?  
Fierro: I don’t think so.  
Moermond: I think she may benefit from those services. That can be Meals on  
Wheels to rides and a number of services that may help her. I think she talked to  
House Calls about a dumpster, but they may be able to help with that paperwork.  
That may help with some of the really tough spots.  
Referred to the City Council due back on 8/7/2024  
Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 1841  
DAYTON AVENUE. (File No. J2420R, Assessment No. 248524)  
2
RLH TA 24-268  
Sponsors:  
Jalali  
Approve the assessment.  
Rachel Frazin, owner, appeared via phone  
[Moermond gives background of appeals process]  
Staff report by Supervisor Joe Yannarelly: this was a Summary Abatement Order to  
remove a desk from the rear issued January 22, 2024. Compliance date of January  
29. Rechecked February 1, and then rechecked again February 5. Found it was still  
in noncompliance which was done February 9th. Total proposed assessment of  
$278.  
Moermond: why are you appealing?  
Frazin: I don’t want to have to pay this. I’ve written this down, I’m going to make this  
as fast as I can. I’m a 73 year old widow hoping to be able to continue to live in my  
120 year old Victorian house. I have a sentimental attachment to it because I raised  
my children here. I lost my daughter to suicide in 2009 and my husband to cancer at  
home in 2020. It needed work when we bought it for $181,000 in 1995 and I put my  
taste and sweat equity into this place so I could stay in it until my old, old age. I am  
73, so maybe 90’s. I’m pretty healthy otherwise.  
Regarding the problematic desk. I hired two men to move furniture around the house  
late last fall to create an office for myself and clean it out. It is a big old house. I had  
one old desk I didn’t need and I asked them to take it to the alley next to my fence so  
someone might bring it home. People scavenge my alley regularly. The first snow  
flew and no one came. I think I saw the notice to move it in January, but honestly I  
don’t remember. I did get a friend of my late husband to move it to the apron, that  
probably occurred about February 5th. I can’t give you a date. This friend owns a  
home nearby and really knows his stuff about St. Paul. Evidently he thought it was  
okay to move it to the apron. We both thought it was legal to have on my property,  
not in the alley. Which is where you can see it in the photos. Next to the fence, next  
to the garage. I still hoped someone would pick it up. I couldn’t put it into my garage  
because it was full with 2 cars. I need to be able to get in and out easily in the winter.  
I’ve had my Hyundai stolen twice off the street in front of my house and I used the  
insurance payout the second time to buy a 2010 Prius whose catalytic converter was  
stolen a month later because the precious metals in a hybrid are worth a lot to  
criminals who evidently come from Minneapolis and comb the neighborhoods.  
Therefore, I have to park in my garage. I have a pickup in there I keep plugged in,  
otherwise I’ve already lost a couple batteries over the last 5 years. I only use it 6  
months of the year. I attach it to a camper where I go out in nature to maintain my  
equanimity and my mental health.  
My husband managed all the typically male responsibilities regarding the property,  
the garage, the upkeep of the autos, weeds, snow shoveling, garbage hauling. I  
myself am a diminutive woman. I cannot lift more than 6 or 7 lbs. I have a hip  
replacement planned for November. I have back arthritis. I can’t lift. I have no family  
in the state. The closest family I have is Paris, France and a brother in Chicago who  
doesn’t come here.  
I have an adult son who is 36 years old. In 2021 he left graduate school six weeks  
before completing his degree in occupational therapy, returned home suicidally  
depressed, with a $50,000 school loan. He rarely leaves his bedroom. I have to  
manage the taxes, bills, all household responsibilities while trying to get him  
psychological help. He’s been through 4 therapists over 2.5 years. He has a  
psychiatrist and doesn’t respond to drugs. In winter 2023-2024 my life was full to  
bursting. I was a working half-timer practitioner at a geriatric practice in St. Paul in  
addition to planning a philanthropic effort to Nepal where I bring health care teams. I  
brought one in April for the whole month. I met the clinicians. I raised thousands to  
pay for medications and new dental equipment and I arranged logistics in the rural  
area where we provide care in Nepal. I did all that January through March. Then in  
March I got Covid for the first time. I’m fully vaccinated, fully masked like a  
madwoman for the first four years. I lowered my guard in my job and I probably got it  
from a colleague. I was sick for 3 weeks despite taking Paxlovid. I continued working  
most days and doing all the work so I could leave for Nepal on March 29, which I did.  
We saw 900 patients and I covered---everything is my responsibility. My son is  
dependent upon me financially and every other way. We are considering whether to  
apply for SSD we’re trying not to do that so he doesn’t just become disabled for the  
rest of his life. That is my story. Very ironically, when you took that desk I was so  
grateful because I thought someone finally took it. I was so happy until I got your  
letter recently.  
I don’t see all the letters you send me. I think I saw the January one and that’s why  
my friend moved it. It is hard for me to remember everything because I have so many  
balls in the air. Everyone who knows me know I do a ton of things. I don’t sit around  
watching TV. I don’t read books except studying medicine to keep my license. That’s  
my life and I want to live in the City and I understand St. Paul has a strict code, and I  
love it. Believe me. I think coding is really important and if you don’t code bad things  
happen. I feel bad that this happened to me. I’m done with my part.  
Moermond: a lot to unpack there. You shared a lot of personal and private medical  
information and I would like to ask you, would you mind if we abbreviated that? I don’t  
know we need to share that in the public record, unless you feel like it lends to your  
argument. I wanted to flag that for you.  
Frazin: I understand that. I’ve written a memoir about my daughter’s suicide, okay. I’m  
a proponent of talking about death and despair. That is my specialty. I am passionate  
about it. I tell anyone, anywhere. My kids grew up in St. Paul. They went to St. Paul  
public schools. They had a wonderful upbringing. My husband was highly empathic.  
He was an Irish poet. Known in town. Wonderful man. We had a happy family to the  
extent our family can be happy. But we had kids. They were bullied, they had other  
issues and biological vulnerability.  
I want anyone to know my story. I want everyone at the City level to know what is  
like. I’m interested in everybody. Not just myself. That’s my job, my personal  
mandate, to try and make the world a better place. I’m not alone. There’s a lot of  
“me’s” out there.  
Moermond: understood. We come down to the order itself and what it says. It does  
say to please remove and properly dispose of the desk in the rear. It goes from the  
alley around the corner to the driveway apron. It is still in the back and present,  
though not in the same position. The question is whether that is compliance. You had  
a friend tell you yes, but I don’t hear you talked to the inspector about it. The order  
itself does say, if it isn’t complaint it will be removed and there will be a charge.  
Frazin: I didn’t see it. I never saw that piece of snail mail, sorry. I am not lying. You  
have to understand how busy my life is. Some things come in, that’s all I can say  
about it. If someone says they’re going to assess me, I promise you then it is worth it  
to knock on my neighbor’s door to bother them. They’re all busy with kids or really old  
like I am. My son could do it with someone else, he has chronic pain in his back and  
forearm so can’t by himself with a dolly. I know myself. I am so economical. I can’t  
live my life and do the things I do unless I do it economically. I’m always frugal. A  
child of depression era parents. Had I seen that am I 100% that I would have done it.  
Is it my responsibility to see it? Or course, but I didn’t. Hard lesson learned. There’s a  
confluence of things here. My husband took care of all this and I’m so busy. Then I  
have a disabled son. I do all the grocery shopping. The one thing he will do is recycle  
and bring the garbage out.  
Moermond: here’s the thing. You’re not reading your mail and the City ending up  
removing it amounts to the cost of the removal being not a private responsibility on  
your private property but rather a public responsibility where the balance of taxpayers  
pick up the cost. Is your not opening the mail a fair thing to saddle them with?  
Frazin: I understand that. And I do open the mail. I just missed it. I don’t know how. I  
was so busy, I was sick with Covid. I was really sick for 3 weeks starting February 12.  
Then I was busy with work before that. Nepal I had a doctor drop out. It was a lot of  
stuff. You just have to understand how busy I am. I don’t think its ethical to dump it on  
taxpayers, of course not. But I made a mistake. I’m human.  
Moermond: yeah, me too. Every day. I am a busy person, as are a lot of us.  
Frazin: how old are you? Are you as old as I am? Do you have as many medical,  
physical—I’m just physically not able to do some things.  
Moermond: I’m not discussing that.  
Frazin: I don’t want to argue. You have your mandate and—  
Moermond: I need to have a reason that passes muster to say this shouldn’t be paid  
for by the property owner. I can look at a few different things. Notice, did it get done,  
correct costs. Those types of things. I can’t do that based on employment, age, family  
situation.  
Frazin: diablity? I called District 13 to find out—someone in the office suggested  
that—getting help for seniors. In rural areas it is a lot---is there a program I could  
have called to get help?  
Moermond: we can sent you a brochure from House Calls. There may be some  
services. The District Council was a good call to make. The City doesn’t run those  
volunteer programs. We can give you that information. I have to say I am struck with  
the fact that a phone call to the garbage hauler would have got it gone for free.  
Frazin: let me tell you something. I actually looked on the website. I just looked again,  
because I did look. Waste Management does not have a phone number to call. I  
needed to call because I had some other things. My friend told me about this. I  
couldn’t do it. It is all online. I couldn’t find a number on the website and I really  
needed a phone number to talk to them about picking up some lighter weight items. I  
have 10 boxes of drugs from a gold mine in Alaska that donated all these medical  
supplies, many of which I couldn’t use. They’re still littering my house. I’m still  
managing all this, all toward the good. I did my best. That’s all I can. I was sick with  
Covid. I had so many mitigating factors.  
Moermond: you said you were sick with Covid after the order.  
Frazin: February 12.  
Moermond: the cleanup was done February 9.  
Frazin: I was so busy. I was sick then. I never saw the---I’m sorry if my story isn’t  
compelling. I’m not sure what to say. I have no words.  
Moermond: we’d like you to get services to help. I have sympathy for that position.  
There’s shoveling, different things. We’d like you to get in touch with services.  
Frazin: I don’t lift things and I can avoid chronic pain, but lifting things isn’t a good  
thing. Same thing for my son. I’m highly functional—  
Moermond: sounds like it, you’re doing a ton.  
Frazin: except that I missed that. I also tell the truth; I don’t believe in lying. Ethics are  
my everything, honestly. That’s why I thought maybe the City will catch me a break  
because the true story I told you is compelling. It would be compelling to me, anyway.  
This is a City, I’m not a City official. You have a set of different exigencies than I do  
working in the health care sector. I get that. There’s a lot of stuff I don’t know and  
frankly it doesn’t matter what I know because it is your domain, not mine. I get it. I do.  
I should respect that.  
Moermond: we’ll send that to you, hopefully there will be some chore service  
information. The District Council is a good contact for that as well.  
Frazin: I can call them again. For clarity’s sake. I was listening, but the process?  
Moermond: I make a recommendation to the Council on the assessment. It is just a  
recommendation. You are welcome to testify in writing, over the phone or in person.  
Any of those are fine. That would be a way for you to present your perspective  
directly to Council.  
Frazin: I would love to get up in front of Council. I’m a speaker. I speak about the  
challenges of 21st century life, which I think are really problematic.  
Moermond: one thing you should know, you have the information on testifying before  
Council in the same notice that told you about today’s hearing, you’ll have two  
minutes to talk to them.  
Frazin; I’m sorry but I think I recycled that letter since I memorized and put into my  
calendar this meeting. I don’t have it now, I thought I was done. What was in the  
letter, I’ll put it in my computer.  
Moermond: it is simpler if we just email it to you.  
Frazin: love it, love emails.  
Referred to the City Council due back on 8/7/2024  
Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 978  
HYACINTH AVENUE EAST. (File No. J2420R, Assessment No.  
248524)  
3
Sponsors:  
Yang  
Layover to LH July 30, 2024 at 9 am for further discussion. Staff to speak to Inspector  
about contact with PO/contractor.  
Kou Cha, owner, appeared via phone  
[Moermond gives background of appeals process]  
Staff report by Supervisor Joe Yannarelly: a Summary Abatement Order was issued  
January 19 to remove of the Bagster and contents from the yard. Compliance date of  
January 26, rechecked the 26th and the work was done February 1 for a total  
assessment of $278.  
Moermond: the summary sheet says the work was done January 29 and the photos  
weren’t loaded until February 1?  
Yannarelly: yes.  
Cha: I’d like a lower amount. The contractor we paid to do the bathroom renovation  
ended up behind, that’s why it wasn’t picked up. We had scheduled a pickup for the  
27th. They came out the day the pickup with Waste Management was scheduled. I  
discussed it with them and they said it would be cheaper to have them pickup and we  
should cancel the Waste Management pickup. I’m not quite sure whether timing is off  
and I’m looking for a lesser amount due. Waste Management quoted me $192.  
Moermond: I’m not familiar with workers on the scene providing that kind of  
information. This is a new contractor but it doesn’t sound accurate.  
Cha: I did reach out to Andrew, I left him a couple voicemail. He’d talked to the  
foreman doing the pickup, not sure that conversation, he was on my cell phone. They  
would pickup or they could drop the Bagster back off and go with Waste  
Management but the foreman recommended it would be cheaper to have the City do  
it. I said we’ll wait for the assessment and then pay it, but I didn’t realize it would be  
$100 more. If I’d known I would have had Waste Management pick up that same  
afternoon. He was on my phone talking to the inspector about the best course of  
action.  
Moermond: I don’t have that information about that conversation with the inspector,  
Andrew McCullough, it sounds like the foreman didn’t know what he was talking  
about because the City attaches a service charge. He wasn’t understanding the  
process I guess. I’ll lay this over a couple of weeks so we can get the ducks in a row.  
I hear what you are saying but I want to make sure my records are accurate. July  
30th we will call you back and let you know how things stand. We can also email if it  
is simpler.  
Laid Over to the Legislative Hearings due back on 7/30/2024  
Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 1137  
KINGSFORD STREET. (File No. VB2408A, Assessment No. 248824)  
4
RLH TA 24-262  
Sponsors:  
Yang  
Reduce assessment from $2,616 to $1,308.  
Cecilia Giron, owner, appeared via phone  
[Moermond gives background of appeals process]  
Staff report by Supervisor Joe Yannarelly: this is for the Vacant Building covering  
December 2023 through December 2024. It was removed from the Vacant Building  
program as of June as permits were done from the Fire and closed. In the program  
half of the year. Total proposed assessment of $2,616.  
Moermond: tell me why you’re appealing.  
Giron: we didn’t know we would have to pay one each year. Also, the work was done  
and the property has been closed and has a new owner. I was hoping to have it  
prorated if possible.  
Moermond: I’m happy to look at that. I can’t make it go away entirely. These are billed  
yearly on the anniversary date; it is about 7 months out of the 12. That brings us to  
$1,308, half. $2616 to $1308.  
Giron: that’s fair.  
Referred to the City Council due back on 8/7/2024  
Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 330  
MAGNOLIA AVENUE EAST (334 MAGNOLIA AVENUE EAST). (File  
No. J2422R, Assessment No. 248527)  
5
RLH TA 24-261  
Sponsors:  
Kim  
Delete the assessment.  
Jesse Murphy, property manager for Healing Homes, LLC, appeared via phone  
Staff report by Supervisor Joe Yannarelly: this was a Summary Abatement Order to  
remove of tire, tree debris and other miscellaneous debris from rear of the property.  
Compliance date of February 12, rechecked February 12 and work was done  
February 18 for a total assessment of $429.  
Moermond: I was struggling with this one. The original orders talk about tires and  
trees and from the Summary Abatement Order photo I can see the garbage  
containers are piled with open lids and the tire and a box of items. The recheck photo  
a week later shows the lids are flat and I don’t see any tires. I see cardboard, a tv,  
and then when the crew shows up I see a whole different pile of stuff. There was  
quite a bit of items when the crew came out, no question, but doesn’t look like it is the  
same items the orders were written out.  
Yannarelly: agreed.  
Moermond: what got cleaned up seems to not be in the original orders, you do seem  
to have a chronic problem which you are probably aware of. Keep an eye out but for  
this assessment I will recommend deletion.  
Referred to the City Council due back on 8/28/2024  
Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 972  
ORANGE AVENUE EAST. (File No. J2420R, Assessment No.  
248524)  
6
RLH TA 24-250  
Sponsors:  
Yang  
Approve the assessment.  
Elliott Petersen, owner, appeared via phone  
[Moermond gives background of appeals process]  
Staff report by Supervisor Joe Yannarelly: a Summary Abatement Order was issued  
January 22 to remove scrap metal and shelving from rear of property. Compliance  
date of January 29. Rechecked January 29 and crew did the abatement on January  
31 for a total assessment of $394.  
Petersen: the reason I am appealing is because when we bought the house  
mid-November. There was a lot of trash left behind. I was taking trips to the dump. In  
that process I would leave it in the yard, I didn’t know I wasn’t supposed to at that  
time. I’d been doing it for a while. I had my first child January 2 and that threw a  
wrench in everything. I wasn’t notified it was in noncompliance, however I found them  
since then. I didn’t get them because of the craziness in my life at that time.  
Something happened. I didn’t know it wasn’t supposed to be there. I wasn’t leaving it  
there indefinitely; I had wanted to scrap the aluminum. I wasn’t aware, truly, that we  
weren’t following rules. Later in February we got another one and I did receive that  
and remedy the situation. That’s my story. Initially when I appealed I was appealing  
on the grounds I never got notified, but I did find, just very, very, late. Effectively I’m  
asking if we can reduce the fee to something lower.  
Moermond: was the work done by the City? Yes. Did you get notice of the violation  
and have a chance to address it? It sounds like there was but life was kind of crazy  
then. Is that fair?  
Petersen: it is, I’m a contractor and when I go into a multifamily place where lead is  
present I have to put a notice on the door.  
Moermond: that is federal law.  
Petersen: right, if there was a notice on the door I would have noticed it. I was there  
twice a week removing junk. I don’t know all the branches of government and how  
you notify, but if you were required the way I am I would have seen it.  
Moermond: St. Paul legislative code says you have to be notified to the address of  
record with the owner of record with Ramsey County taxation. It was sent to  
Occupant and owner of record as well as possibly the previous owner. Three places.  
I get people see notices on the door. You did take care of the next one, great. There  
are some large items that were removed.  
Petersen: can we bring it to $300 even? Dump fees can’t be that high. I get sending  
someone out. I understand a mistake was made. I’m just asking for a more  
reasonable price.  
Moermond: we have a private contractor charging $232 and a $162 service charge.  
The contractor has already been paid the $232. The service charge covers  
everything from managing the contractor, through the real estate office, the City  
attorney’s office, mailing notices out. Several steps being recouped.  
Petersen: the service charge can’t get waived if I pay the contractor’s fee?  
Moermond: no.  
Petersen: ok.  
Moermond: I’ll assume it won’t be helpful to have it divided over time unless we hear  
differently from you.  
Referred to the City Council due back on 8/7/2024  
Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 749  
SIMS AVENUE. (File No. J2420R, Assessment No. 248524)  
7
Sponsors:  
Yang  
Layover to LH July 30, 2024 at 9 am (unable to reach PO).  
Voicemail left at 10:37: this is Marcia Moermond from St. Paul City Council calling  
you about your appealed tax assessment for 749 Sims. We’ll try reaching back in a  
little bit.  
Voicemail left at 10:59 am: this is Marcia Moermond from St. Paul City Council trying  
to reach you again about your assessment for 749 Sims. Sorry we couldn’t connect  
this am. We will call you again July 30th between 9 and 11.  
Laid Over to the Legislative Hearings due back on 7/30/2024  
Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 298  
UNIVERSITY AVENUE WEST. (File No. J2422R, Assessment No.  
248527)  
8
Sponsors:  
Bowie  
Layover to LH August 20, 2024 for further discussion. Staff to speak to Ward office.  
Christopher Ott, owner, appeared via phone  
Ott: all the photos you sent are on Metro Transit’s property, not mine.  
Moermond: you’re diving right in. [Moermond gives background of appeals process]  
Staff report by Supervisor Joe Yannarelly: a Summary Abatement Order was issued  
to remove trash bags, tired and litter from the property near the garbage bins.  
Compliance date February 12, reinspected February 12. Work was done February 28  
for a total assessment of $434.  
Moermond: I’m getting you have a problem with Metro Transit?  
Ott: not as a whole. They’ve been a wonderful neighbor. History on the building is  
someone bought the building, which I was part of. I bought the other half from the  
owner when he got sick with my family. Notifications before went to Zimmerman, and  
before I could get them in Wabasha I’ve chased vehicles for illegal dumping. We  
moved our cans to the other side of parking lot. We currently have a meeting to put  
up a fence and gate around my property line. I’ve been ahold of Metro Rail with Jim  
who is in charge with sites for Metro Transit. They did the yard cleanup and cut the  
brush; they had a dumpster bag dropped there for later pickup when these photos  
were taken. I notified Metro Transit saying it needs to be addressed. Had called the  
inspector. We’d just got our Fire Certificate of Occupancy reissued. I’ve been on top  
of this. I’ve been jumped in the alley. One of the people who jumped me went to his  
house and stole his vehicle. We located the vehicle and still couldn’t get the police to  
show up. Unless I can get someone to enforce the illegal dumping in the alley and the  
tent City, we just took possession of the building officially 2 months ago. Now we  
have ownership and I need the City’s help to deal with this. I don’t feel safe behind  
my building, that’s a problem. That wasn’t the case when we started this project.  
Thursday I have a fence company coming to put up a security fence to separate my  
lot from the alley. I’m doing everything I can to fix this problem and draw a line. I have  
cameras in the alley. I’ve towed vehicles. I really feel singled out when I am doing  
everything I can to better the community. It isn’t for lack of trying to keep the area  
clean. It isn’t my property and isn’t my mess. I’ve relocated my dumpster, and I have  
another one being delivered. The City came through and started throwing their tires in  
the dumpster.  
Moermond: what City trucks were these? Do you have more information on that?  
Ott: it was a City road crew threw tires in the back of the truck from the alley and then  
backed up and threw them into my dumpster. From the neighbor’s house they are  
picking up from and billing for. I had the dumpster removed. I have a $1,200 a week  
dumpster overload for illegal dumping. I am furious. I’m ready to call an attorney and  
pull cameras, but I want to do this properly.  
Moermond: there’s obviously a lot going on here and I want to know more about  
Metro Transit/Metro Rail.  
Ott: they are awesome neighbors. They don’t deserve me throwing them under the  
bus either. It is a problem in the neighborhood. That was their mess, their garbage. I  
called the bank president while he was on vacation in Florida. When I redid that  
building 8 years ago, Metro Transit let me park my lift in their lot so I could  
re-tuckpoint the building. When they lost sight of me on their camera system, they  
came to check if I was okay at 2 in the morning. They have been a phenomenal  
neighbor. Unless we can deal with the dumping problem in that alley. I cased a car--  
-it ended up being a stolen U-Haul truck—dumping stuff in the alley. I chased them  
threw the City and we got them on camera. I chased them all the way down Shepard  
Road. I’m doing everything I possibly can.  
Moermond: I wouldn’t do that. Often times they have stolen weapons as well. They’re  
unpredictable and armed.  
Ott: I have families living upstairs. I have a responsibility to have a safe building for  
them.  
Moermond: which is great. It seems like we have a problem with the whole alley, that  
is clear. What I think we need to do is involve the ward office. You’re taking some  
good steps but the Councilmember can bring people together to deal with this.  
Ott: I am for that 100%. I need help and I’m asking for it.  
Moermond: let’s talk again August 20th to round out this conversation.  
Ott: I am an open book I just want these issues addressed. It is draining.  
Laid Over to the Legislative Hearings due back on 8/20/2024  
10:00 a.m. Hearings  
Special Tax Assessments  
Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 1411  
SHERBURNE AVENUE. (File No. J2409E, Assessment No. 248312)  
(Legislative Hearing on July 16, 2024)  
9
Sponsors:  
Jalali  
Approve the assessment and make payable over 2 years.  
Joanne Hodgeman, owner, appeared via phone  
Moermond: the way we left things last time was I was looking for the vehicle to be  
moved or removed and we could talk about working on the assessment. I see the  
vehicle was certainly there June 26, but I do have Lisa Martin, Supervisor in Code,  
here.  
Hodgeman: it hasn’t been moved. I’ve scheduled for it to be picked up and be junked.  
I can’t move it myself; it must have sat for too long. I couldn’t even get it to start. I’m  
scheduling to have it picked up by Junkers, they are supposed to come later this  
week.  
Moermond: it said in the notice it should be taken care of July 3rd, but I’d like an  
update first.  
Staff update by Supervisor Lisa Martin: the original order was November 9, 2023.  
Since our last hearing we reissued a Vehicle Abatement Order including all the  
windows missing, flat tires, and expired tabs which we did with a compliance date of  
July 3. It is still on the property, has more broken windows as of this morning. We  
would suggest it be towed.  
Moermond: an order with a date of July 3. What kind of timing with being removed by  
department.  
Martin: it could be this week; it could be next. If it is still there it will be charged to the  
property.  
Moermond: can they give until the end of this week to have the Junkers pick it up?  
Martin: yes.  
Moermond: so you have a few days to deal with it. In the meantime, talking about the  
assessments in front of me. I’m going to recommend approval. I was looking for it to  
be resolved in order to look at this. It hasn’t been resolved yet. I can make it payable  
over 2 years. This has been a longstanding problem  
Hodgeman: ok.  
Referred to the City Council due back on 7/17/2024  
Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 195  
EDMUND AVENUE. (File No. J2423R, Assessment No. 248529)  
10  
RLH TA 24-265  
Sponsors:  
Bowie  
Delete the assessment.  
Chandra Lalta, owner, appeared via phone  
[Moermond gives background of appeals process]  
Staff report by Supervisor Lisa Martin: March 4, 2024 a Summary Abatement Order  
was issued to remove tables, mattresses, couches and miscellaneous debris by  
March 11. They still found items on reinspected. The crew did the work for a total  
assessment of $464. There is a history at this property.  
Moermond: Ms Lalta, why are you appealing?  
Lalta: we did get the order and we took care of that stuff. Unfortunately on the 11th  
we had folks dump stuff. We were never notified of the new items. Some of the items  
belong to 175 Charles. The photo with the couch in front of the building, Riverfront  
owns it from Marion to Rice Street. The couch looks like it belongs to us but it really  
belongs to Rivertown. I talked to them about this stuff. The yellow can photo, our can  
is green in color. I don’t know if the inspector is co-mingling our garbage with theirs.  
Moermond: I see that photo and had a similar thought when I was reviewing this. I  
agree the order was written for something different than what the crew removed. The  
first items were taken care of, another set of items cropped up in the meantime. So  
there are some issues with staying on top of things, March 4 would be move out at  
start of the month related. I want to create an incentive but I recognize this is not the  
same. If we could get this tackled so there aren’t change of lease cycle problems. I’ll  
delete it this time, but I’ll view future assessments with a more critical eye.  
Lalta: sounds reasonable. I would also ask the inspector to make a note of which  
property. It is not so much our tenants, we don’t have a lot of turnover, but we have a  
lot of dumping. We have three pickups a week with our garbage company. We get  
charged extra for these items, so we appreciate the grace in this case.  
Referred to the City Council due back on 8/28/2024  
Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 185  
MARIA AVENUE. (File No. J2423R, Assessment No. 248529)  
11  
RLH TA 24-256  
Sponsors:  
Johnson  
Approve the assessment.  
Andrew Koetz, owner, appeared via phone  
[Moermond gives background of appeals process]  
Staff report by Supervisor Lisa Martin: February 14, 2024 we issued a Summary  
Abatement Order to dispose trailer full of chairs, wood & miscellaneous debris from  
property. Compliance date of February 21. Rechecked March 5 and March 18 the  
work crew did go out and remove the items from the trailer. Very minor history at the  
property.  
Koetz: I didn’t have the cash to run the items to the dump at the time. I was planning  
on getting it emptied as soon as possible. I was trying to take care of my mother at  
the same time. That took precedent over the trailer at the time.  
Moermond: did you reach out to the inspector at all?  
Koetz: I did. I stopped down at the office and told them accordingly.  
Moermond: did you just talk to the desk? Talk to an inspector? How did that go.  
Koetz: I talked to the desk and they had an inspector come down and I advised them  
of the same.  
Martin: inspector Westenhofer did give an extension, a month before the work crew  
went out.  
Moermond: so a month extension isn’t bad. I see a trailer that got cleaned out and  
want to charge you for removal. You got an extension. Help me with more on why the  
City should look at decreasing this?  
Koetz: because at the time I was taking care of my mother and I was trying to take  
care of other things and juggle things. Back in March, the day the crew arrived, a  
couple days later my front yard was torn out for the main waste line.  
Moermond: timing is close. The cleanup was done March 18th and the photos you  
shared were taken March 20th, the sewer permit was pulled March 19th.  
Koetz: yes. And I was going to get the trailer taken care of that Friday.  
Moermond: they beat you to the punch. I understand being busy and taking care of a  
relative, at the same time if I asked households throughout the City what they’re  
dealing with at any point in time it ranges from unemployment, disability, sick kids, so  
many things that can be going on. If I recommend this is deleted the cost gets  
pushed to other taxpayers in the City. Why is your case such that other properties  
should be covering it. I don’t hear the City made a mistake.  
Koetz: the other thing is I never got notice they were going to have a crew come and  
remove it. It would have only cost me $60.  
Moermond: the original notice, the one you talked to the Department about, says the  
things would be removed. That was your notice about it. Were you looking for  
another one?  
Koetz: possibly, yes.  
Moermond: they typically don’t reissue things. The balance I have to do is the one I  
described and the key parts are: did you get notice? Did the work get done? Was that  
the cost? I understand you could have done it more cheaply, which I’m sure is the  
case. I’m going to have to recommend approval of this assessment. You can  
definitely testify to the Council differently.  
Koetz: I’d like to point out that the items in the trailer are no different than anything  
else you’d see around the City, if you want to compare apples to apples.  
Martin: it is a complaint-based system, so you can call 651-266-8989 if you’d like to  
report anything.  
Referred to the City Council due back on 8/28/2024  
Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 1255  
THOMAS AVENUE. (File No. J2423R, Assessment No. 248529)  
12  
RLH TA 24-270  
Sponsors:  
Jalali  
Delete the assessment.  
Voicemail left at 11:47 am: this is Marcia Moermond from St. Paul City Council calling  
you about your appealed tax assessment for 1255 Thomas. In reviewing the photos  
we have on record, I’m going to recommend this assessment is deleted. I don’t see  
the City didn’t remove it, but the photos from when the crew showed up don’t exist.  
Referred to the City Council due back on 8/28/2024  
Special Tax Assessments-Rolls  
Ratifying the assessments for Property Clean Up services during  
January 10, 2024 at 927 DESOTO STREET. (File No. J2418A,  
Assessment No. 248522) (Refer to July 16, 2024 Legislative Hearing)  
13  
14  
15  
RLH AR 24-42  
RLH AR 24-55  
RLH AR 24-56  
Sponsors:  
Jalali  
Referred to the City Council due back on 8/7/2024  
Ratifying the assessment for Rubbish & Garbage Clean Up services  
February 28 to March 14, 2024. (File No. J2422R, Assessment No.  
248527)  
Sponsors:  
Jalali  
Referred to the City Council due back on 8/28/2024  
Ratifying the assessment for Rubbish & Garbage Clean Up services  
March 15 to 26, 2024. (File No. J2423R, Assessment No. 248529)  
Sponsors:  
Jalali  
Referred to the City Council due back on 8/28/2024  
11:00 a.m. Hearings  
Summary & Vehicle Abatement Orders  
RLH SAO 24-34 Appeal of Gonzalo R. Sanchez to a Summary Abatement Order at  
1040 BUSH AVENUE.  
16  
Sponsors:  
Yang  
Layover to LH July 30, 2024 at 11 am for further discussion. Staff to put together  
work plan.  
Gonzolo Sanchez, owner, appeared via phone  
Moermond: I think we’re at a place where we need to put together a plan based on  
yesterday’s finding.  
I have a new letter from Clint Zane, do you have that?  
Sanchez: not yet.  
Moermond: he has some notes about what he thinks needs to be done. What I was  
wondering is do you want to put together a plan or are you looking for us to give you  
deadlines?  
Sanchez: you can send me deadlines and I can try to do them, but I just had surgery  
so if it is possible to get an extension to take care of it. I’ve been working with my  
friends, I’ve talked to Clint. He’s a very reasonable person.  
Moermond: do you have help? Or are you living there on your own?  
Sanchez: I have someone helping right now.  
Moermond: is that Paulino Ortega?  
Sanchez: yes.  
Moermond: what I think I will do is talk with Ms. Martin and Mr. Kedrowski and Mr.  
Zane and see if we can’t put together something to respond to. I’m going to focus on  
the hazards first. Those will have a shorter deadline, and we’ll work our way out to  
the less hazardous items.  
Sanchez: I appreciate it.  
Moermond: we’ll get this out in two weeks, and be able to have it in your hands. We  
know the electrical stuff that has been done without a permit is not good. That needs  
to come down. We can get more specifics on that. That is a hazard. I was going to  
have the electrical inspector review it. I’ll get that put together and we can talk about it  
and respond to it. Stay on top of the electrical and removing the dog feces. Those  
things can happen now.  
Laid Over to the Legislative Hearings due back on 7/30/2024  
Making Finding on Nuisance Abatements  
RLH SAO 24-31 Making finding on the appealed nuisance abatement ordered for 408  
HAZELWOOD STREET in Council File RLH SAO 24-27.  
17  
Sponsors:  
Johnson  
The nuisance is abated and the matter resolved.  
Moermond: Ms. Martin your findings?  
Martin: they did add the class 5 for the driveway, there is grass between driveway  
and house. We’re calling it good.  
Moermond: so nuisance is abated and the matter resolved.  
Referred to the City Council due back on 7/24/2024  
RLH SAO 24-44 Second Making finding on the appealed nuisance abatement ordered  
for 1472 SHERBURNE AVENUE in Council File RLH SAO 24-38.  
18  
Sponsors:  
Jalali  
The nuisance is not abated. Authorize the Department to take action to abate.  
Moermond: the finding is they are not in compliance with the order. The  
recommendation is not in compliance and we’ll send a letter telling them that and tell  
them the Council Public Hearing date. Unless it is resolved the recommendation is  
the Council order the nuisance abated.  
Martin: panels aren’t installed, they’re leaning. There is wood all over.  
Referred to the City Council due back on 7/24/2024  
Correction Orders  
Appeal of Lesley Anizor to a Correction Notice at 692 WILSON  
AVENUE.  
19  
Sponsors:  
Johnson  
Layover to LH August 13, 2024 at 11 am for further discussion. PO to reach out to  
House Calls. Staff to look into implementation of City code re: cargo containers on  
residential property.  
Lesley Anizor, owner, appeared  
Moermond: do we need to call in your attorney?  
Anizor: I think I can handle it.  
[appeals process heard in previous appeals]  
Staff report by Supervisor Lisa Martin: June 27, 2024 we sent a Correction Notice  
regarding stored material. To remove the storage cargo container from the property.  
Under Legislative Code 34.08 we don’t allow stored materials to accumulate or be  
stored building materials, lumber, boxes, cartons, portable storage containers,  
intermodular cargo containers or other containers. There was one on the property  
here. The compliance date was for July18, 2024.  
Anizor: when did that law go into effect?  
Moermond: certainly a long time.  
Anizor: I’ve been there 40 years, the storage container has been there for 25.  
Moermond: so no one has called in before.  
Anizor: it has never been an issue. I previously had an issue with one of your Code  
Enforcement people because I had cars in my driveway and they said the driveway  
wasn’t ok. It was class 5 and grandfathered in. The space between my fence and  
house wasn’t large enough for a garage with the appropriate setbacks. I said if I  
bought I storage container, he said yes. This was 25 years ago. It was placed there in  
1999. The only time I received any notice was for some graffiti. I painted it. It has  
been maintained, except the last couple years because I’ve been in the hospital and  
transitional care. I just got back home. Then the Goldline tore up 3 sides of my house  
and I can’t be around the dust. I had to go stay with my son. Then I get this. I  
understand the car and the trailer. The Goldline people told me to put it there  
because they needed access to 3 parts of my house. I moved the car, fine. To move  
that storage container would cost $3,000. I own it. I don’t have that kind of money. I  
live on $943. My taxes have gone up. My insurance has gone up. I don’t have the  
money to move it. I’ve put out feelers if someone wanted it for free but they’d have to  
move it.  
I am renovating my house to make it handicap accessible. This house was built in  
1903 so things need to be changed. I have to remove stuff, I raised 7 kids there. I’ll  
be an empty nester and won’t need all that space and will get rid of stuff. I need that  
container. I am in a wheelchair. You guys gave me 200 more feet of sidewalk to  
shovel and more corner to mow. I can’t bring a lawnmower from downstairs. I need  
the storage. I don’t understand why it can’t be grandfathered in.  
Moermond: I am not sure who told you what about a storage container being  
acceptable. It is a complaint-based system. I see this come up 3 or 4 times a year. It  
is a clean call in terms of City code, no storage containers on residential properties.  
Your lawyer didn’t look up the code?  
Anizor: you can call him.  
Moermond: you said you didn’t want him called. I’ll ask the City Clerk to provide that  
information. It has been law the whole time I have been doing this, but to be fair we  
can look into that. I recognize it won’t be cheap. I recognize it is being treated like a  
garage. I get the Gold Line stuff. It isn’t a City project. It is a regional project. Pointing  
fingers, I get it.  
Anizor: they still have my whole yard torn up. And just because I live in the City I’m  
told I’m responsible for the area. You’re expecting a 74-year-old lady in a wheelchair  
to take care of things in the yard. Like I told Andrew I need time, I just got back home.  
My back yard looks like a jungle.  
[Anizor given a House Calls brochure]  
Martin: you have a number of issues; I know Andrew said he would work with you.  
Call House Calls, see what you qualify for. He didn’t issue orders on the grass or  
overhanging vegetation. I’m glad you are here to talk about this.  
Moermond: if you reach out to House Calls they may be able to work you. I’m not  
sure if you have a senior waiver or CADI waiver. They may have ideas about  
assistance for modifying a house. They know those sorts of things. It is a good  
resource.  
Martin: and it is a HPC district. That takes time too, plus permits.  
Anizor: I dealt with that with my roof. Short of charging her with harassment, she kept  
after me week after week. It was February and March, no one could do the work  
safely. I’ve worked with you guys. If there’s been a complaint I worked with you. But I  
don’t have $3,000 and that was the cheapest, and doesn’t include any place to take it  
to. I feel targeted. My neighbors, you assess me for my car and trailer but they have  
five vehicles and 3 are parked in the yard. No one says anything to them.  
Moermond: and I don’t know if there were orders there or not.  
Anizor: I want to know who made the complaint. I don’t know but if you are a Safety  
inspector and you are coming to look at my house, and you see next door is in  
violation—  
Moermond: do you know they don’t have orders?  
Anizor: yes, because he came to talk to me. I’m wiling to work with you. I don’t have  
any more resources. I used my 401k when I got hit by the car the cover the roof. I  
need time.  
Moermond: I’m going to check into the Code. Sounds like you worked with Inspector  
McCullough. I’d like you to reach out to House Calls. If they can get you more  
resources it means you can do other things with your money. Check into that. Let’s  
talk again August 13. If we don’t see you we’ll assume you want a phone call.  
Laid Over to the Legislative Hearings due back on 8/13/2024