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, October 14, 2025  
9:00 AM  
Room 330 City Hall & Court House/Remote  
9:00 a.m. Hearings  
Remove/Repair Orders  
RLH RR 25-31  
1
Ordering the rehabilitation or razing and removal of the structures at 1079  
ARKWRIGHT STREET within fifteen (15) days after the November 19,  
2025, City Council Public Hearing.  
Kim  
Sponsors:  
Layover to LH (Monday) November 10, 2025 at 9 am for further discussion.  
Glen Beske, owner, appeared  
[Moermond gives background of appeals process]  
Staff report by Supervisor James Hoffman: The building is a two story, eight-unit, brick  
apartment building on a lot of 9,627 square feet. The Fire Certificate of Occupancy  
was revoked on July 25, 2021, due to a fire and the property was referred to Vacant  
Buildings with files opened on July 27, 2021. The current property owner is Glen  
Beske, per Amanda and Ramsey County Property records.  
On June 11, 2025, an inspection of the building was conducted, a list of deficiencies  
which constitute a nuisance condition was developed and photographs were taken. An  
Order to Abate a Nuisance Building was posted on July 9, 2025, with a compliance  
date of August 8, 2025. As of this date, the property remains in a condition which  
comprises a nuisance as defined by the legislative code. Taxation has placed an  
estimated market value of $180,000 on the land and $341,500 on the building.  
Real estate taxes are current. The vacant building registration fees are now due and  
owing. An application for a Team Inspection was received on August 7, 2025, but has  
not yet been done. On August 7, 2025, the $5,000 performance deposit was posted.  
There have been ten Summary Abatement Notices since 2021. There was one work  
order issued for boarding/securing. Code Enforcement Officers estimate the cost to  
repair this structure exceeds $200,000. The estimated cost to demolish exceeds  
$60,000.  
Moermond: apartment building with a large fire 4 years ago. No rehab since that time.  
Hoffman: a fence was placed around the property. Some boardings.  
Moermond: the team inspection was applied for in August. Here we are 2 months later.  
I know there’s been an impact on Department of Safety & Inspections with the  
cyber-attack. Is that what caused the delay?  
Hoffman: I believe so, yes. I can’t speak for Clint as to their plan for these, I just get  
updates as they provide them.  
Moermond: the process started with Department of Safety & Inspections in July with  
the order to abate, then September when the Public Hearing notice. The application  
was done in between those, which is good. Mr. Beske we have both Fannie Mae and  
you showing up as owner?  
Beske: right, Wells Fargo. I did pay the $5,400 Vacant Building fee July 27th.  
Moermond: that’s probably due to the same cyber incident.  
Beske: did original permits get deleted too?  
Hoffman: they expire after a year anyway. Right now, we don’t have a record.  
Beske: that’s part of my problem, I don’t know where he left off. I know building,  
permit, electrical permits were pulled.  
Moermond: let’s talk about the computer system first. We have 30 years of electronic  
records; you aren’t alone in this.  
Hoffman: all of our legacy programs we’d use to research and put notes in, all of that  
data is stuck in limbo and we cannot access it. We are in the process of rolling out a  
new program where they are working on trying to backdate some of the legacy info into  
the new one. It will help; it will just take some time. As far as previous permits were  
concerned, that was well over a year ago. You have 180 days to start, and another 180  
days if nothing happens they are automatically closed.  
Moermond: the new team inspection report will delineate those things that need to be  
done. So, wherever your contractors left will be considered during that walkthrough.  
That gets you from where you’re at now to the finish line. That will help and what you’d  
want to bring to a new contractor.  
Beske: I was looking forward to that.  
Moermond: tell me what’s been happening for the last 4 years.  
Beske: I got some money from the insurance company. St. Paul fire was great, but it  
took over a week for insurance to get the adjuster out. It was during Covid. I cleaned  
out the tenant’s stuff they’d left behind. They said we couldn’t do anything until our  
inspector comes out. that took 2.5 months. I’d lined up a contractor, that turned into 3  
months before he even did demo. The one side was still pretty good, along with the  
third floor. It was a fire in the laundry room, so it was mainly smoke damage. He gutted  
that whole half of the building. Then all of a sudden the whole other side gets gutted.  
He filed a lien on the property January 2025. Ramsey County sent me a thing finally  
saying I had a clean title after we settled. End of April I was touching base—he  
reframed all the outside walls. There’s still 2x4’s sitting unused. I don’t know if it ever  
got inspected.  
Moermond: we’ll figure that out.  
Beske: the only part in the lower level that wasn’t finished framing is because the  
Water Department was doing their lead-based line replacement.  
[Moermond walks through the requirements needed to rehab: financing, bids,  
schedule, property maintained  
Moermond: it does look to me like you have been taking care of things. I think I need  
to make a call to the Department of Safety & Inspections and the inspector who  
coordinates the team inspections and see if we can’t expedite this inspection due to its  
Category 3 status. Your Council Public Hearing is November 19th. I don’t think we’ll  
have things done by then given the City can’t respond in a timely fashion.  
I’d like to talk to you November 10th. I fully expect November 19th at the Council  
Public Hearing I’ll be asking them to send this back to Legislative Hearings to work  
through the plan. You’ve already taken the first 2 steps I look for, which is posting the  
bond and ordered the Code Compliance Inspection Report. You have a good track  
record right now. Hopefully you’ll have an inspection report by then you can take to  
contractors.  
Laid Over to the Legislative Hearings due back on 11/10/2025  
Making Finding on Nuisance Abatements  
RLH RR 25-29  
2
Third Making finding on the appealed substantial abatement ordered for  
594 BRUNSON AVENUE in Council File RLH RR 25-8.  
Noecker  
Sponsors:  
Layover to LH (Monday) November 10, 2025 at 10 am for abatement status.  
Moermond: there is a new development and documents attached to the record.  
Hoffman: September 10, 2025 there was a substantial fire that the St. Paul Fire  
Department and Department of Safety & Inspections managers deemed the structure  
needed to be razed immediately. That was done and the contractor needed the waiting  
period to do the hazardous materials clean up which is currently underway.  
Moermond: this was a fire that started int eh kitchen, but they don’t know what  
because it was such a badly damaged building throughout they couldn’t go in because  
it was so unsafe.  
Hoffman: based on the report, yes  
Moermond: the building is mostly down, but the demo site itself is still a nuisance as  
the demo isn’t complete.  
Hoffman: the permit should be closed and final site work done next week.  
Moermond: I’ll continue this to November 10th and we should have a clean  
recommendation at that time.  
Laid Over to the Legislative Hearings due back on 11/10/2025  
10:00 a.m. Hearings  
Special Tax Assessments  
RLH TA 25-371  
3
Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 360  
KENNARD STREET. (File No. J2512B, Assessment No. 258112) (To  
refer to October 14, 2025 Legislative Hearing)  
Johnson  
Sponsors:  
Layover to LH January 13, 2026 at 10 am.  
Laid Over to the Legislative Hearings due back on 1/13/2026  
Special Tax Assessments-ROLLS  
4
5
RLH AR 25-96  
Ratifying the assessment for Collection of Vacant Building Registration  
fees billed during July 31, 2024 to April 22, 2025. (File No. VB2601,  
Assessment No. 268900)  
Noecker  
Sponsors:  
Referred to the City Council due back on 1/14/2026  
RLH AR 25-97  
Ratifying the assessment for Securing and/or Emergency Boarding  
services during May 2025 (File No. J2601B, Assessment No. 268100)  
Noecker  
Sponsors:  
Referred to the City Council due back on 1/14/2026  
11:00 a.m. Hearings  
Correction Orders  
6
RLH CO 25-9  
Appeal of Parker Hoen to a Correction Notice at 1635 MONTREAL  
AVENUE. (Refer back to October 14, 2024 Legislative Hearing)  
Jost  
Sponsors:  
Grant the appeal.  
Parker Hoen, owner, appeared  
Moermond: I did pull someone from Public Works from their work to get some answers  
this morning.  
Staff update by Supervisor Lisa Martin: we did send a revised correction notice  
September 25 under 43.03. I did take photos this morning, it hadn’t rained until  
recently. There is drainage and erosion coming out. Dirt buildup on the sidewalk. I  
didn’t see anything on the front sidewalk, but depending on how much rain there is it  
could go on the front.  
Moermond: I’m struggling with where you’re seeing the dirt on the sidewalk. Is it the  
second photo?  
Martin: 5 photos sent, the first was from afar, the next is showing the drainage coming  
off the retaining wall pointing towards the front, but it would go into the two-sidewalk  
area due to the hill. The third photo shows the fence with retaining wall on the side of  
property and shows the dirt across the sidewalk. Then a close up of the dirt. Then the  
last was just another view showing the path all the way through from Rome to Montreal  
along the fence line.  
Moermond: I think we cannot determine at this point if there’s erosion. I will  
recommend the appeal is granted and Department of Safety & Inspections revisit the  
situation by April 1, 2025. With respect to the erosion coming off the hill by the fence  
and leaving dirt in the walkway, it isn’t significant but it does appear something is  
happening there. I would try to figure out a way to stabilize those soils. I don’t think it  
was clear which area we were looking at. If there are things you want to do before April  
1 to stabilize those things then you can.  
Referred to the City Council due back on 11/12/2025  
2:00 p.m. Hearings  
Fire Certificates of Occupancy  
7
RLH FCO  
25-61  
Appeal of Abdalla Tobasi to a Fire Fire Inspection Report at 933  
MINNEHAHA AVENUE WEST.  
Bowie  
Sponsors:  
Grant to January 1, 2026 for compliance.  
Abdalla Tobasi, owner, appeared via phone  
Moermond: following up on your two properties and the call box situation. Wanted to  
walk through some of Supervisor Imbertson’s findings. I wanted the exact fire code  
language and some of their experience in St. Paul. Mr. Imbertson has done some  
follow up, let’s get that report.  
Staff update by Supervisor Mitch Imbertson: in the follow up weeks we’re finding as far  
as we can tell we have been enforcing this consistently at other locations and requiring  
call box or phone under the same code provided on your report. Another option for  
compliance would be to discontinue the after-hours dispensing. But if it continues  
during hours when store isn’t open we couldn’t find any reason for exception. Single  
purpose call boxes that have a single button and connected to a cell dialer or phone  
line calling to 911 directly. No intermediate monitoring service needed. That’s what  
we’ve found other stations use. That would meet that communication requirement.  
Tobasi: I couldn’t find someone to do this for me. For 30 years I haven’t had a  
problem, I’ve done everything you asked of me. I’d be glad to hire them to get this  
done but I don’t know who to find. That’s why I was trying to find information from the  
MN Service Station Association.  
Moermond: you shared that in the last hearing. We did have the Fire Supervisor identify  
a few locations with this. I’m really going to say, I don’t think this is something we  
should be granting an exception for. There are alternatives. I’m going to ask the  
Council to give you an extension to January 1, 2026 for compliance, which means  
installing that phone or other alternative, or a proposal that accomplishes the same  
thing, an alternative means of compliance, or you could stop pumping after-hours.  
Referred to the City Council due back on 11/12/2025  
8
RLH FCO  
25-60  
Appeal of Abdalla Tobasi to a Fire Fire Inspection Report at 809 SELBY  
AVENUE (806 SELBY AVENUE).  
Bowie  
Sponsors:  
Grant to January 1, 2026 for compliance.  
Abdalla Tobasi, owner, appeared via phone  
Moermond: following up on your two properties and the call box situation. Wanted to  
walk through some of Supervisor Imbertson’s findings. I wanted the exact fire code  
language and some of their experience in St. Paul. Mr. Imbertson has done some  
follow up, let’s get that report.  
Staff update by Supervisor Mitch Imbertson: in the follow up weeks we’re finding as far  
as we can tell we have been enforcing this consistently at other locations and requiring  
call box or phone under the same code provided on your report. Another option for  
compliance would be to discontinue the after-hours dispensing. But if it continues  
during hours when store isn’t open we couldn’t find any reason for exception. Single  
purpose call boxes that have a single button and connected to a cell dialer or phone  
line calling to 911 directly. No intermediate monitoring service needed. That’s what  
we’ve found other stations use. That would meet that communication requirement.  
Tobasi: I couldn’t find someone to do this for me. For 30 years I haven’t had a  
problem, I’ve done everything you asked of me. I’d be glad to hire them to get this  
done but I don’t know who to find. That’s why I was trying to find information from the  
MN Service Station Association.  
Moermond: you shared that in the last hearing. We did have the Fire Supervisor identify  
a few locations with this. I’m really going to say, I don’t think this is something we  
should be granting an exception for. There are alternatives. I’m going to ask the  
Council to give you an extension to January 1, 2026 for compliance, which means  
installing that phone or other alternative, or a proposal that accomplishes the same  
thing, an alternative means of compliance, or you could stop pumping after-hours.  
Referred to the City Council due back on 11/5/2025  
9
RLH FCO  
25-64  
Appeal of Todd Knudten to a Fire Certificate of Occupancy Correction  
Notice at 1205 HOMER STREET.  
Jost  
Sponsors:  
Grant to January 19, 2026 for compliance.  
Todd Knudten, owner, appeared via phone  
[Moermond gives background of appeals process]  
Staff report by Supervisor Mitch Imbertson: this is a commercial gas station with a fire  
inspection in July. Report was issued and we cited 2 items, first is to repair damaged  
pumps 3 and 4 to service. The second was related to unsupervised fuel dispensing.  
We are looking for a sign with the working as listed in report giving emergency  
instructions in case of spill or fire and requirement for an emergency call box.  
Historically this would have been a pay phone at most locations.  
Knudten: this has been in operation since the 1950’s and has been a self-service store  
since the 1970’s, dispensing fuel for 24 hours a day for about 20 years now. I’m  
wondering what the reasoning is for 20 years after this has been happening,  
unsupervised overnights, I’m wondering why a phone with a direct line to 911 is  
necessary in today’s world when cell phones are had by just about everyone. When this  
law was written I imagine it was prior to cell phones since it mentions coin operated  
phones. There’s another part that indicates there needs to be posted telephone  
numbers for owner, operator and Fire Department. It seems ridiculous to have to have  
my name and number by this call box. Another concern would be false alarms if it  
goes directly to 911. How are the false alarms going to be handled? Currently if I have  
false alarms on my burglar alarm they start to charge me. I’m wondering what code  
says about that. I’m also wondering where is this in operation in St. Paul? Talking with  
my vendors I’m getting a deer in the headlight reaction; they don’t know of any stores  
with this.  
There is a kill switch for a spill at the store. That’s labeled on the front of the building  
that turns the pumps off. I don’t see a reason for a phone box in 2025. Just seems like  
an expense I’d incur for little or no benefit to the community.  
Moermond: Mr. Imbertson, this seems to be where a particular section of code wasn’t  
enforced or was missed by previous inspectors. I’ve certainly read the City Attorney’s  
insight that just because it was missed in the past doesn’t mean it isn’t a present  
violation. What’s the Department say?  
Imbertson: I don’t know an exact explanation in this case. It is possible it was missed  
in the past, but we don’t track information on which stations are 24 hours or not and  
staffed and if they allow after hours dispensing, unless they were proactively asking us.  
It could have very easily been inspected and received incorrect information or been  
under the impression it was staffed, or it was true at the time it was inspected and  
changed later. It also could have had a phone on site that is no longer there. We see  
that frequently.  
As far as excessive alarms, I don’t want to speak for the police, I assume they’d  
handle it the same as any other sort of prank phone call system. It isn’t connected to  
the alarm system.  
Knudten: it isn’t considered a nuisance to the Police Department?  
Moermond: it is more important that it is available. It certainly wouldn’t be the first 911  
hang up having to be investigated. Going back to the kill switch. That is important and  
it is its own thing under the fire code. We’re just down to the notion someone should be  
able to pick up phone or similar device to be able to get through to 911 to handle an  
emergency. It is presuming that not all people have cell phones. I heard you say your  
vendors aren’t familiar with this?  
Knudten: yes.  
Moermond: Mr. Imbertson has looked into this, as we’ve been going more of these. In  
the locations we’ve found we have been enforcing it consistently in any case we’re  
aware of this. Circumstances could be different in each case, so I don’t know  
specifics, but we’ve been consistent as far as we’ve been aware. We’ve seen various  
means of compliance, from a standard phone to a single button call box connected to  
a cell dialer or phone line that dials straight out to 911.  
Knudten: there are stores in St. Paul with these?  
Imbertson: yes.  
Moermond: we can get you some information. Let’s give you until mid-January for  
compliance. There are 3 ways to comply as I see it: which means installing that phone  
or other alternative, or a proposal that accomplishes the same thing, an alternative  
means of compliance, or you could stop pumping after-hours. Let’s say January 19th,  
2026. You can certainly ask for a different outcome from the Council. For me, it is too  
unfortunate to let go and it is unfortunate it wasn’t called out earlier.  
Referred to the City Council due back on 11/12/2025