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 28, 2025

9:00 AM

Room 330 City Hall & Court House/Remote

9:00 a.m. Hearings

Remove/Repair Orders

RLH RR 25-28

Ordering the rehabilitation or razing and removal of the structures at 430

DALE STREET NORTH within fifteen (15) days after the October 22,

2025, City Council Public Hearing. (Refer to October 28, 2025

Legislative Hearing)

Bowie

Sponsors:

Layover to LH Monday, November 10, 2025 at 9 am for further discussion (CPH Nov

19).

Amano Dube, board chair o/b/o Tawhid Islamic Center, appeared

Dr. Abdurahim Doyo, o/b/o Tawhid Islamic Center, appeared

Osman Hussein, o/b/o Tawhid Islamic Center, appeared

Omar Robe, o/b/o Tawhid Islamic Center, appeared

Anita Alexander, o/b/o Camphor Memorial United Methodist Church, appeared

Daniel Eshetu, neighbor, appeared

Moermond: we received communication yesterday from Mark Dooley, an attorney.

Dube: that is our attorney pursuing the case for the insurance because of vandalism

and fire. He was planning to come with us because the case was dropped by the

insurance company and we are waiting for trial planned in December. We are forced to

wait for that trial. We can’t do anything with that building, even though we have a plan

with London Group, a development group, to put together a future plan of that parcel.

We have 3 different designs, but in the middle of that the fire happened and we’re into

the litigation. Until that judgment is reached the lawyer advised us not to do anything.

We fenced around the perimeter and disposed of some trash. We’ve been doing

everything we can.

Moermond: no, you haven’t.

Dube: we’ve installed cameras, they get moved. We’ve been trying our best. The most

difficult part is this litigation that prevented us from doing anything. We hope this is

settled in judgment, maybe final decision in March.

Hoffman: no changes at the property. No Performance Deposit posted, and no

application for Code Compliance inspection.

Dube: I believe we did pay the $5,000—

Moermond: annual Vacant Building fee?

Dube: yes.

Moermond: that’s different.

Dube: he paid a couple weeks ago. I know he asked for payment immediately.

Moermond: I do see the taxes have been paid.

[Dube calls Director Mohammed Ambo by personal phone]

Dube: he didn’t know, he thought it was a $5,000 pending assessment.

Moermond: I do see you have Vacant Building fees due and owning, both last year

2023-2024 and now we’re looking at 2024-2025. You should know that right now the

Center has $10,800 in levied assessments that will go on your 2026 property taxes.

Those are special assessments that will go on your property tax statement if they

remain unpaid. There’s another $5,925 under consideration by Council and

forthcoming. That’s a lot of assessments. Included in that is the $5,082 for the annual

Vacant Building fee.

I look for a consistent handful of things to be done before I’d recommend the Council

gives time to rehab the property: Code Compliance Inspection Report; $5,000

Performance Deposit posted. I’m not seeing any of that which are the first steps that

need to be taken care of. I do see the pending and owning taxes were paid, but there

is another $16,000 coming down the way. And that doesn’t get to the point of fixing the

building. I understand you have drawings of what you want it to be.

Dube: yes, three different designs.

Moermond: once there is an inspection report, we need a sworn construction

statement/scope of work, they should have prices and a schedule attached to them.

The letter from this attorney reinforces my concern. You want the City to wait until

there’s an indefinite solution from the Court. That has no guarantee. What your

insurance company may be paying for is the loss of the building rather than the fixing

of the building. I don’t know what the opportunities are for you folks to do more now. It

sounds like there isn’t cash on hand, which isn’t uncommon with a nonprofit, but I need

a faster outcome on this. This would be the Council stopping everything for six

months, and then another six months before the work could even potentially be done.

That puts us a year out before we could even potentially have a solution. I am hearing

from the neighborhood it has been a hard situation from them. Mr. Hoffman stated the

City writes a lot of orders for maintenance and issues a lot of work orders completed

by the City. In a lot of cases the City has been your property manager. I’m looking at

assessments: boarding and securing, tall grass and weeds, graffiti removal, garbage

cleanup, multiple times in a one year period. Assessments coming forward because

the work wasn’t done by the Center. Those are things that certainly the check is going

to be forthcoming at some point but I’m not seeing good management up to this point.

Mr. Hoffman said the past month things have been in ok shape for what it is. The

history is not good for being on top of things.

Dube: if we pay the Performance Deposit now, and the Code Compliance application,

we are hopeful based on our conversation with the attorney yesterday, he’s pushing for

a faster settlement with the insurance. Probably March or December. As the board

chair, the community wants to revive that place. It is very historical. They don’t want to

sell or abandon it. They want to make it a better place than before by knocking down

everything down the road. But in the meantime we’ve been sending contractors to

completely clean the building and make it active until we raise enough money to do the

plan I was talking about. Ground plus units on top. That’s what we’re thinking down the

road. Within a year or two. We need support from the City and understand our financial

limitations. We want to keep that history as a religious place, community place. We

want to bring in multi-unit housing on top. Partly business and religious place on first

floor. That’s down the road. We are paying millions of dollars in debts. But with limited

resources and paying for the large facility we are at now, all of that is what is limiting us

now. We will know after that hearing if we can be ambitious as the next couple of

years, but the best thing to do is restore the building as is and restore heat and

electric and start using it until we can completely level it out. Whatever we can do with

limited resources, but we need time. Make it operational until we can do our plan.

Dr. Abdurahim Doyo: as Oman sad, this place is very important to the community. We

started growing our community place, but things happened last year, that didn’t allow

us to do anything with that building. We are struggling with insurance. Still going to

court and waiting for the settlement. We are going to try our best to use it to invest in

our community.

Osman Hussein: I agree with what they said. I wanted to say thank you.

Moermond: I’m not feeling great about these circumstances, you can tell by the way

I’m talking about it. The path forward may look different than what you are looking for. I

think there’s a distinct possibility that the building is going to be demolished by the

City. That would take you from here to an insurance conversation about recouping

costs for your loss and the ability to apply that towards redevelopment of the site. That

could look like your future plans. I do know the parcel is worth something, it is an

asset you hold. I do want to hold this so your attorney can be present, so we will talk

again before this goes to Council.

Daniel Eshetu: over the last 2 months I’ve been doing a project on a home in the area

and spending a lot of time there. I saw a young boy cutting the overgrown grass. From

my perspective someone cutting the grass shows intent to maintain. They aren’t

abandoning it or they wouldn’t take the effort to cut the very overgrown grass. I just

wanted to say something on their behalf as a member of the community showing they

are trying to keep it for the longevity.

Anita Alexander: in addition to what I said last month, I’m listening to the thoughts and

plans and it is disappointing because we were hoping we didn’t go into the winter with

our property and the repercussions of things not being maintained. The snow removal

and everything else. We’d really like to see that if they aren’t meeting the requirements

we’d at least like the building to come down so it isn’t a continued eyesore for the

neighborhood. I have worked closely with the City and send in orders all the time,

personally I’d like to be done doing that. I’d like our crews to take care of our own

church and surrounding area and not have to be concerned because that building IS

part of our community. We’re not going to look terrible, but it also allows the unhoused

to do damage to both their building and ours. We get broken windows and graffiti and

we believe its because of the overall view of the area.

Moermond: let me clarify, you have work crews addressing your grounds. Does your

crew also take care of the neighbor? You call things in?

Alexander: I use the written format to submit things. Our work crews mainly do trash

and feces pickup. We pick it up on our property border, but if it’s over here there we do

that too. It gets old.

Moermond: you’re all people in good faith, and I do appreciate that. To answer Ms.

Alexander’s question of timing. If the Council issues the order to remove. They say

within 15 days, and in those 15 days they’d look for you to pull a demolition permit by a

licensed contractor, then the City gives a limited length of time to do the work. If that

isn’t done, the City will take over and put this out for bid. So, two weeks from

November 19 takes us to the week of December 5th, it would go to bid for 2 weeks.

Hoffman: typically, yes, right now I need extra approvals for that so it may be a little

longer.

Moermond: so, let’s say early to mid-January, then you pick the contractor based on

the bid they put in and past experiences with them. Once the City hires the contractor

they do a hazardous materials assessment and cut the utilities. Depending on those

findings, the demolition puts us Mid-February.

Hoffman: correct.

Moermond: if it happens in the winter do you want the pavement dug up then?

Hoffman: we may issue a partial payment for work done, but the contract isn’t satisfied

and fully paid until it is back to a vacant lot planted with grass, curb cuts removed. No

asphalt.

Moermond: so realistically into March. Almost all of that applies to you doing the demo

on your own as well. The only difference would be the bid time. I think it would be a

chance if we talked to Mr. Dooley in this setting and hear more about his perspective.

You’ve heard I have concerns. I want to be above-board about those. Delaying work on

this is kicking the can down the road and creates an ongoing nuisance if the present

looks like the past. I’ll put this on my calendar for Monday, November 10th and

hopefully your attorney can be present. Otherwise, this has a Council Public Hearing

November 19th.

Laid Over to the Legislative Hearings due back on 11/10/2025

RLH RR 25-30

Ordering the razing and removal of the structures at 499 SNELLING

AVENUE NORTH within fifteen (15) days after the November 5, 2025,

City Council Public Hearing.

Coleman

Sponsors:

Remove within 15 days, no option to repair.

Isaac Alie, interested party o/b/o The Keghouse 1607 Team, appeared

Daniel Eshetu, interested party o/b/o The Keghouse 1607 Team, appeared

Moermond: where we left things last time was having this today for the purpose of

reviewing any plans that were forthcoming, seeing if a Performance Deposit was

posted, a Code Compliance Inspection applied for, property being maintained? All of

those things to consider.

Supervisor James Hoffman: I haven’t seen a Code Compliance Inspection or

Performance Deposit posted. Not much change on the outside, but some new graffiti

I’ve sent a work order for.

Moermond: we took a lot of testimony last time. We’re adding your perspective on top

of that record.

Alie: this is the first time for us and for me. We’re Keghouse about trying to establish

communication between a couple of you guys. We started as a little event place when

we went to Hamline University with people of the community. Creating a space to

gather. After we graduated we have tried doing different things in our life. We live in the

neighborhood on Van Buren Avenue. We know the neighborhood like the back of our

hand. We know everyone. We need this space more than ever. We don’t see just

tearing the building down as fixing the issue. Dispersing the unhoused. It just

separates the people.

We’ve been looking at the building for a while but we never really knew how to go

about it. We’re new and trying to establish ourselves. Then we saw the newsletter

about making decisions whether to demolish it. We couldn’t figure out why the owners

weren’t doing anything with it. We thought it was time to establish ourselves and try

and get this building. Since September 25 until now we’ve been researching day and

night, trying to figure out who owns it. It was an LLC with and did some more digging.

Finally connected with CVS who owns the building. They don’t want to use the building

and still have the lease with the ownership group. They want to sell the lease and the

building and ownership which is like Tressler Mall something, LLC group. They still

have the lease until January 2030 but they want out and sell the lease and building and

the ownership group is ok with that idea.

Moermond: who do you think the owner is?

Alie: Tressler—I can get you the name.

Moermond: no, it just isn’t who we have.

Alie: yep we found out from Seth, a representative of CVS, that’s a shell company. We

kept trying to figure out who owns it and they don’t make it easy to do. The LLC is

owned by another LLC and another LLC and finally we found out the holding group that

owns all these LLCs. We’re talking to them to try and put in a bid. We’re meeting with

them tomorrow. Based on what they told us, at least this Seth guy, 3 other people have

put in bids for the building. We are also trying to not rush into things. We’re very

young. I went to Hamline for exercise science, working out. We believe in the idea we

want to do. Daniel will touch more on that. It could be very helpful for the City. We

believe we don’t need a rich entity to fix us, we believe the people who live there can

help one another and fix ourselves. We really need that. Seeing the McDonald’s that

used to be there. That’s where we used to go, now the loon bird is standing there.

Seeing the community torn to shreds. We’re here to ask for a shot and a chance.

We’ve done our research and know a lot of people want to tear it down but we are

asking for a shot from our family, our people, you guys. Daniel can speak more on

what we can do for the community.

Eshetu: the neighborhood is being torn to shreds in an initiative to push people out.

This building is mission critical to our vision to get the foot traffic from Allianz field to

boost revenue and support community in ways we haven’t seen before. A big vision of

ours is DJ school. We have a lot of connections with DJs from our previous venture.

Isaac made connections at a bar he worked at and knows almost every DJ in

Minnesota. With those connections we’re able to teach the youth how to do this. We’ve

seen how vital for a venue it is for DJs to come boost the atmosphere. It would be

unique and something we don’t see everywhere to help encourage the youth to see a

vision for their future. That’s the DJ school aspect and that’s our vision and tying the

community in with what we want to do.

We’re at the financing piece which is why we haven’t put together a letter of how we will

rehabilitate. We started about a month ago on sorting the paperwork. Last Tuesday we

had a meeting last week with a brokerage company in Minneapolis who told us

everything we had to do to put a bid on the building. Before we did that we had to get

our proof of income together. We’ve been curating connections the last four or five

years. Isaac and I we always had the vision of doing something big and people to

support those ideas. We’ve been meeting people with businesses and nurturing those

connections and now we are at the point we need to use those connections to do what

we want to. They wanted the letters of financial proof in on Friday. We wanted to safely

talk to our investors, not just jump in. We want to make sure it works flawlessly, so we

weren’t able to do that by the meeting. We weren’t able to post the $5,000

Performance Deposit.

Moermond: and they may not accept it as you don’t have ownership position in the

building. They would look for that first.

Eshetu: given that, we were hoping you’d be able to not put a ruling on this case right

away to give us an opportunity to talk to our investors, get ownership in our name. We

are actively working on that with our investor. Then we’d know after we placed our offer

whether we were in contention for this property or not.

Moermond: the biggest deal right now is you don’t have control of the property. No

ownership position. Because of that you aren’t able to put together a plan, get

inspections, do anything meaningful. I understand you have to show proof of income to

get interest in the building. I’ve heard nothing from any owner. Without that, I can’t, in

good faith, recommend to the Council they give time for these plans to mature.

I can say that the way you are talking about what you want to do with the business is

really inspiring and the kind of activity the City likes to see. I can recommend that you

talk with our Planning and Economic Development department and see if there’s seed

money to refer you too. I can see you are serious, a vision, have partners. In this case

I don’t see the property freeing itself up for you to work on. Maybe in the future, post

demolition, you could buy the parcel as you get your money together. I don’t have a

way to tell them to wait for plans to mature. I’m going to continue my recommendation

to Council. As I indicated in the previous hearing, it would be for the demolition of this

building. If you want to present your idea to the Council they may or may not be

persuaded. That would be your next stop.

Referred to the City Council due back on 11/5/2025

RLH RR 25-32

Ordering the rehabilitation or razing and removal of the structures at 693

COOK AVENUE EAST within fifteen (15) days after the December 3,

2025, City Council Public Hearing.

Yang

Sponsors:

Remove within 15 days with no option to repair.

No one appeared

Moermond: we don’t have anyone in to testify.

Staff report by Supervisor James Hoffman: The building is a two story, wood frame,

single-family dwelling with a detached two-stall garage on a lot of 5,009 square feet.

The property was condemned by Code Enforcement on May 1, 2023, and was referred

to Vacant Buildings with files opened on May 23, 2023.

The current property owner is Phillip and Arlene Johnson, per AMANDA and Ramsey

County Property records.

On July 23, 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 August 25, 2025, with a compliance

date of September 25, 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 $25,000 on the land and $138,200 on the building. Real

estate taxes for 2023, 2024 and 2025 are delinquent in the amount of $7,969.50, which

includes penalty and interest. The property is scheduled for tax forfeiture on July 31,

2027.

The vacant building registration fees are now due and owing. As of October 27, 2025,

a Code Compliance Inspection has not been done. As of October 27, 2025, the $5,000

performance deposit has not been posted. There have been sixteen Summary

Abatement Notices since 2023. There have been eleven work orders issued for:

Garbage/rubbish, Boarding/securing and Tall grass/weeds. Code Enforcement Officers

estimate the cost to repair this structure exceeds $100,000. The estimated cost to

demolish exceeds $30,000.

Moermond: we heard from Arlene Johnson’s health care manager and she said holding

this house as an asset is making it difficult for her to access the funds she needs for

healthcare. I think she’s misunderstanding that when it is demolished it doesn’t

become someone else’s problem, Arelene still retains that parcel. I don’t know what

condition Ms. Johnson is, I do know Mr. Philip Johnson is deceased and won’t be

helping. I can only recommend this is removed within 15 days.

Referred to the City Council due back on 12/3/2025

11:00 a.m. Hearings

Correction Orders

RLH CO 25-13

Appeal of Robert Lankfard to a Correction Order at 613 VIRGINIA

STREET.

Bowie

Sponsors:

Grant to November 24, 2025 for compliance (refreshing class 5 with clean boundaries).

Robert Lankfard, owner, appeared

[Moermond gives background of appeals process]

Staff report by Supervisor Lisa Martin: October 13, 2025 we issued a correction notice

to discontinue parking on an unapproved surface until it has an approved site plan.

Discontinue. He has a nice garage, a nice space next to eh garage, there is class 5

there but there may be an extension into the backyard. With snow emergencies and

parking emergencies getting a place next to the garage probably isn’t going to be an

issue, and it has been there for quite some time.

Lankfard: I’ve been parking in those areas for 20 some years. I had a fire in 2006, and

most of my backyard was class 5 including the area I park with my boat and trailer.

When I built the garage it took up a lot of the area so I didn’t think there was a

problem with still parking there. I did move my one boat out of the front, instead of the

street, but I put it in my garage. What triggered this is because the alley there is a lot

of illegal parking and cars all over the place. I keep my stuff neat, it has been that way

for decades. I do agree with Inspector Kedrowski, who first talked to me about it, I was

getting ready to put a slab in. What triggered this is I had some rebar and he was

doing inspection and told me I can’t do that. I never saw this Vang person at all.

Moermond: you mentioned a fire.

Lankfard: it was around the same time as Hurricane Katrina, so it took a long time for

our house to get done because all the contractors went south. That’s also when we

built the garage.

Moermond: your entire back yard was gravel, then you had the fire in 2006, and built a

new garage at that time. So the gravel in the backyard went away but-for the area

beside the garage. So, it was preexisting.

Lankfard: yes.

Martin: looking at the photos from 2011 the entire backyard is grass. Moving forward it

looks 2018 it was still grass. The only concern we have with this parking situation is

the side-yard set back and that’s probably why Kedrowski mentioned the site-plan

review before he pours cement. That’s a lot of money to spend if it has to be pulled

back out.

Lankfard: and I don’t want the concrete there. I just need some place to park.

Moermond: but you didn’t access photos from 2006 or before?

Martin: 2016 it shows grass in the backyard and beside garage looks like just dirt. It

looks like it has been a parking space for quite some time.

Lankfard: the part in discussion now was never grass.

Moermond: I’m going to take this as pre-existing because it was there. If it is

preexisting class-5 gravel the main thing is maintaining what is already there. Right

now, it looks more dirt than gravel again, so I’m going to look for you to maintain and

clean that up. I think the set back is 3 feet, so you’re going to want to put in some sort

of border or barrier between the gravel and the 3 foot area. We know gravel migrates.

Railroad ties or something to keep it from migrating to the neighbor’s and across your

yard. Make it obvious it has that 3 foot set back.

Lankfard: I do have a fence on that side. It is a wood privacy fence.

Moermond: that does make me feel better about migrating gravel as well. I’m going to

say keep that 3 foot separation if for no other reason than keeping an inspector from

bugging you again. I’m convinced it was a preexisting condition. Let’s not have it be

longer than the garage, have it match the length of the garage.

Lankfard: that’s how it is. I was talking about the spot in the yard where I have the

gate.

Moermond: I’m looking at a picture with a trailer. What do you think a deadline that

would work for you is? Thanksgiving?

Lankfard: I can have it done by then.

Moermond: that’s probably simplest. I will say if you change it out at all you will have to

go to asphalt or concrete or some other type of surface. The alley is paved, and they

make those decisions based on that.

Referred to the City Council due back on 11/12/2025

Summary & Vehicle Abatement Orders

RLH SAO 25-62

Appeal of Deborah Ruberto to a Summary Abatement Order and Vehicle

Abatement Order at 235 BATES AVENUE.

Johnson

Sponsors:

Grant to January 1, 2026 for compliance with items related to weight lifting and

punching bag(s), and grant to November 24, 2025 for balance of the orders; also grant

to November 24, 2025 for compliance with the Vehicle Abatement Order.

Deborah Ruberto, owner, appeared via phone

[Moermond gives background of appeals process]

Staff report by Supervisor Lisa Martin: October 10, 2025 a Summary Abatement Order

was issued to all the property owners on that strip to remove 10 to please remove and

dispose of the boats, contents, broken temporary structure, furniture, appliance,

refuse and debris from the property by October 17 as well as a boat and trailer,

Cadillac and Bonneville in a Vehicle Abatement Order.

Moermond: you wrote these don’t belong to you.

Ruberto: I don’t drive. I don’t own a boat. The City let the owner before I moved in pour

concrete in our community property. Install a giant car shed. The only thing I have is a

rain bucket by my garage door. That’s all that’s mine in the entire backyard.

Moermond: let’s walk through the implication. You’re getting this order as you are part

of the same complex since it is a condo set up. Even though they belong to someone

else in the condo, everyone gets the same orders since it’s the same property. If Mr.

Owens doesn’t take care of his property there will be a bill if the City does it, that bill

would be divided by units and you’d get the responsibility for 1/5th of the bill. He

should owe money to you if that happens, and you could go after him on it, but

because it is a condo that is shared area. That stinks for you and I get that.

Ruberto: if it’s a shared area why did the City allow him to pour concrete or put up a

permanent shed?

Moermond: I don’t have permits in front of me to know what’s going on. I just don’t

know. Because it is there doesn’t mean he pulled a permit to do it. We see a fair bit of

that.

Ruberto: I know, because the next door neighbor went to court to fight it and they let

him keep it.

Moermond: I don’t know what happened there, but I can tell you what the City does

doesn’t change your condo agreement.

Ruberto: why does he have to move the vehicles? They’ve been there for 25 years. I

don’t understand that part.

Martin: vehicles all need to be operational, have current tabs, be parked on an

approved surface, the boat trailer has flat tires. That applies to all vehicles.

Moermond: the trailer itself is missing vital parts, on an unapproved surface, and has

flat tires. The Cadillac is on an unapproved surface, and the Bonneville is lacking

current tabs, appears inoperable, and is also on an unapproved surface. That needs to

be taken care of or the City will tow them. The simplest thing for everyone involved is

to take care of it yourself.

Ruberto: we fought for years and then went to court because we’d finally had it with the

City not helping. And then there’s a picture with the front of my house. What’s up with

that? I have 3 grandchildren living with me.

Moermond: I’m not seeing an issue with the kid’s toys. They’re plastic, the City wouldn’t

ask for those things to be removed.

Martin: no, it is just a photo showing the conditions and there is no issue at the front of

her property. It is all pretty much in the back with the vehicles.

Ruberto: ok, that’s the part that confused me. I’ll go talk to Emmett again, but I’m

telling you he is going to fight it. There was a lady who dealt with him for about 20

years, he does what he wants and gets away with it. The car shed can stay? I’m trying

to figure out exactly what has to be done. He’s had a metal one there for 20 years.

Moermond: the orders say the temporary structure has to go. When I reviewed the

photographs with staff, and we talked about this with Emmett, it was obvious that the

temporary structure was missing parts. They were laying on the ground. It can only be

there temporarily, not a permanent garage.

Ruberto: oh, so the one in fairly good condition has to be removed also? There’s one

directly behind my house that is tan that has to be removed?

Moermond: yes. We have a tarp over hanging it. He could get a regular shed but what

he has now looks to be a temporary building. They aren’t meant to be up forever.

Ruberto: ok. I will try talking to the neighbors, but we’ll be in for a fight with Emmett.

Moermond: I’m so sorry you’re in the position.

Ruberto: the City allows him to do stuff that was fought for years and now we’re paying

for it even though it was fought in court. I’m not getting that.

Moermond: I don’t have access to those records so I can’t speak on that, but the

condo association stuff is kind of cooked into the law that way.

Ruberto: I’ll talk to him. How long does he have to get this done? I know he appealed

too.

Moermond: we said January 21 to deal with the weights and boxing things, but

everything else done by November 24.

Ruberto: I’m writing that down. Oh, he has to remove all his gym stuff too?

Moermond: yes.

Ruberto: Oh, ok.

Moermond: we will send a letter telling you this and also send you a copy of the letter

he got so you know what it says. Both of these will be on the November 12th Council

agenda. You both can speak to the Council at that time if you choose to.

Referred to the City Council due back on 11/12/2025

RLH SAO 25-61

Appeal of Johnny E Howard Sr to a Summary Abatement Order at 633

VAN BUREN AVENUE.

Bowie

Sponsors:

Grant to December 12, 2025 for compliance.

Johnny Howard, owner, appeared

[Moermond gives background of appeals process]

Staff report by Supervisor Lisa Martin: orders issued October 9th, 2025 to remove and

properly dispose of some tires, scrap wood, plastic barrel, metal barrel and

miscellaneous garbage and debris from the entire property, especially the rear.. Metro

mosquito control number given to remove the tires at no cost. Issued by Inspector

Vang. Compliance date of October 16.

Howard: they’re new tires, on rims on class 5, top of a tarp, sitting in the corner. I don’t

understand the issue. There are no mosquitos.

Moermond: are you going to use them?

Howard: yes.

Moermond: store them inside until you use them. You can’t have tires on the outside.

Shed. Garage. It is clear you can’t store tires outside.

Howard: I asked Mr. Vang to send me that. That’s really in there? That they can’t be on

a surface like that? All those tires stacked up as high as a house I see sitting there?

There’s a problem with mine?

Moermond: yeah. Clean no on that. Then it is about timing, which we will come back

too. I would not want to have the City take those tires away, they can’t be stored

indefinitely on the exterior regardless of how you have them stored. Moving on to the

scrap wood and construction materials. What is the plan there?

Howard: it isn’t on the ground. Did they send you the pictures?

Moermond: yes.

Howard: they’re not big black ugly rusted barrels. They match my flower pots.

Martin: they’re 55-gallon drums.

Moermond: is there anything in them?

Howard: they’re just painted.

Moermond: so empty.

Howard: and I have my decking off the ground.

Moermond: well, that is a requirement for storage of fire wood, but construction

materials no.

Howard: it is elevated.

Moermond: it is, but it is construction materials. What is the plan with those?

Howard: it is decking. We were replacing boards on the deck a bit at a time.

Moermond: is there a time when you’ll be done?

Howard: [no answer to the question] Are the barrels all right in my yard?

Moermond: I’m inclined to say they can stay.

Howard: the wood is up, behind the barrel, stacked neatly, tightly with a strap around

them.

Moermond: and I will say that storage of construction materials on the exterior of the

property is not ok in the code, the same way tires isn’t. I am looking for a way and

timeline for this to be dealt with so I can craft something that makes sense for your

situation. I’m not trying to make your life more difficult. If you told me that next spring

you are replacing the deck then, no problem, that makes sense. But in terms of

periodically using them when they need to be replaced, this isn’t the place to keep

them forever.

Howard: I hear what you are saying. Tell me about the debris. There is a stair tread

and ten 2x4’s. I ride around the City and it is hard to imagine even being here looking

at those pictures and looking at the rest of the City. It is 2 x 4’s and there’s garbage all

over the City. The stair tread is 12 feet. It says other miscellaneous debris. Can you

show me in the pictures?

Moermond: they may be talking about the stair treads. Honestly looking at this I can’t

see what the inspector was referencing for the debris.

Howard: I walk around---I really like grass. I want to see those pictures.

Martin: there’s a black tarp under the tires. By the chair there’s scrap wood.

[inspector photos shown on screen]

Moermond: I’m not seeing debris per se.

Martin: if they take the tires and leave the tarp—we don’t list out every single item

outside. Miscellaneous debris—no exterior storage.

Howard: it says especially from the rear of the property.

Moermond: is that a cover-all statement?

Martin: yes.

Moermond: in the back specifically, we have the tarp. Nothing from the front.

Department of Safety & Inspections uses the phrase as a “catch all”. Is that a

single-car garage?

Howard: yes. I don’t think I could have it any neater. The wood in the back is treated

lumber. The brick thing is a block. There are no loose bricks. What about the chair?

Moermond: that’s an exterior chair, it is fine.

Martin: it is a double garage.

Howard: yeah, it is. After I took the wood out of the garage. I apparently moved it after

you took your pictures. So, what do you want me to do? I really don’t feel good being

here.

Moermond: no, no one does.

Howard: its just dumb things. I’m not trying to throw anyone else’s property under there,

but those barrels—I don’t see the need for them to move. I don’t know. What are we

doing here? [mumbles] It don’t feel right.

Moermond: one of the things you touched on earlier was how you see garbage around

the City and you’re thinking this isn’t the same, and I agree. There’s complaint based

inspection for both the garbage, garbage bags, and the construction materials and

tires. I have a ton of appeals related to orders and also a ton of assessments for

property clean ups on garbage in yard. That’s a ton of what the City does in that regard.

I do know there’s plenty there and a limited number of inspectors and we just deal with

the calls that come in.

Howard: the stair treads on the ground, and the construction material wasn’t even in the

picture so, wasn’t in the yard either. In my pictures it was more wood, not yours.

Moermond: the thing is you are looking to be able to keep the tires outside as well as

what?

Howard: it is neat as heck. The stair tread, I’m hoping I can return it since it hasn’t

been cut. The other stuff I just….I don’t know.

Moermond: is there a reason you can’t store it in your garage?

Howard: I just don’t.

Moermond: you don’t like it in there.

Howard: yeah, I mean. What about on the inside of my yard, the same materials? Is

that illegal too?

Moermond: it isn’t inside a building and that’s the rule.

Howard: if I have a piece of metal and put it between the two rims, would that be alright

then?

Moermond: no.

Howard: that’s what a trailer is. Two tires—

Moermond: connected to a trailer, in use as tires.

Howard: and that’s alright.

Moermond: They aren’t being stored as tires. Same as tires on a car, which get written

up if they’re flat typically. The code says it shall be unlawful to accumulate and store

building materials, lumber, boxes, cartons, portable storage containers, intermodal

storage containers, or other containers. Machinery, scrap metal, junk, raw materials, or

fabricated goods. Tires are covered in chapter 45, the nuisance code. This is the

property maintenance code. This seems like a doable project. If you are going to put

them to use I’m happy to give plenty of time to do that. At the same time, the same

code applies to everyone, including me. You’ve been in this business Mr. Howard, I

think you know how it works. I think you’ve cleaned these properties up at some point.

It is the end of October. I think it’s reasonable to expect these would be put to use or

removed—and put to use means if the board is for the deck, then the board is one the

deck—

Howard: I didn’t get written up for those so. I’m going to move the tires. I’ll take the

stair things back to Menards today. Those aren’t garbage on the ground so..

Moermond: and we just talked about that.

Howard: everything on that order will be done.

Moermond: I’ll push this to December 12th.

Howard: you want the tires moved by December 12th?

Moermond: tires, scrap wood addressed by then. We’ll send that forward to Council

and you can testify to them if you want a different outcome, that’s what that’s there for.

Howard: I should move the stuff and then come to Council and then complain?

Moermond: no, I’m trying to give you a long deadline. We’ll put this in front of Council

November 12th. They can vote on the deadline I’m recommending to you, or the order

itself. It is their discretion on how they handle it. The next stop is Council on the 12th,

with a deadline way in December. Staff will drive by after that deadline to see if it is

taken care of. Again, the Council could look at it differently than I do. I can only call it

by the code and we need a time certain to have things done. Hopefully a couple of

months does the trick. I’m sorry, I know that isn’t what you’re looking for.

Howard: I think it should be revisited, even the wording. I’ll come on the 12th.

Referred to the City Council due back on 11/12/2025

Orders to Vacate Code Enforcement

RLH VO 25-21

Appeal of Dennis D. Grahs to a Notice of Condemnation As Unfit for

Human Habitation & Order to Vacate at 555 SMITH AVENUE SOUTH.

Noecker

Sponsors:

Layover to LH November 18, 2025 at 11 am to discuss work plan and deadlines for

compliance. PO to submit workplan by no later than November 14, 2025. Reinspection

November 12, 2025 at 10 am.

Dennis Grahs, owner, appeared

[Moermond gives background of appeals process]

Staff report by Supervisor Lisa Martin: October 16, 2025 there was a notice of

condemnation and order to vacate for October 22. Currently 36 items on the

condemnation order issued by Inspector Kedrowski. I’ve reached out to Ramsey

County to see about services. He started taking care of things already, a lot of the first

floor. We’d like to see we can get a dumpster. We’ll put a plan together for deadlines

depending on funding and assistance from the County. He may need to get rid of some

things.

I personally served this condemnation because we had to board up the front of the

house. I believe that’s why the mail carrier didn’t bring this notification to him in a

timely manner. That is another reason for asking for a bit of an extension. When I was

there he had started cleaning things, I haven’t been out since. He’s assured me he’s

continued to do a lot of the cleaning. It was a fire hazard and cluttered and filled with a

lot of recycling. Missing walls, holes in floors. I’m not sure many of the appliances even

work in the home. Missing handrails. Upstairs is boarded. We couldn’t get up there.

Just getting to the front there’s not even full stairs, and a hole in the roof. That’s why

we had it boarded so no emergency responders would be injured.

Grahs: there are some issues with the 36 issues I have. All the floors in my house are

in place. The entire first floor is all finished maple or bamboo. Nothing wrong. The

live-load rating is 50 lbs/square foot because its heavy duty built. My washer and dryer

work. My bathroom on the first floor is fine just needs to be cleaned. The steps going

upstairs, the lumber is precut for the treads but will take time to install. The handrails

are stocked outside and were taken away by the City during a property cleanup.

I am my own cabinet maker, so if I don’t want doors on my cabinets I don’t need them.

The lower cabinets are not in place. The carcasses are in place. My oven went bad so

I had to remove the cabinets. These will cost me nothing to do. My pantry is 100

percent cleaned out. Ceilings are perfect. All the walls except for the dining room wall

which was going to have a large window. Unfortunately, as I got older I wasn’t able to

maintain the 12 hour a day work schedule. I’m in good health for my age. I am

addressing these things one by one. First is cleaning out all the debris. Getting that

out of the way. I’ve lived there for 40 years. It’s only gotten out of hand in the last 2

years. It started when the City switched to City-wide service. Prior to that I had a

four-yard dumpster in my yard with access to the alley. They took everything. After the

transition I no longer have space for a lot of the stuff I used to. That’s just a comment.

I’ve never had a fire. I was a licensed electrician in Missouri years ago. I have a

bazillion tools. I was a systems tech at 3M. I’m very likeable. None of that has bearing

on this case.

[recess]

Moermond: I was just reviewing the list to see what I thought needed immediate

attention and how they should be addressed and in what order. I see a large fire

hazard. The problems with the electrical wiring increase the risk. Layered on top of that

are the issues with the smoke and carbon detectors. You have a large fire load; it

burns long and hot. That is a problem. Taking that with the ability for you or

emergency responders to navigate that space. That’s a fact.

Grahs: I have had carbon monoxide detectors and smoke detectors functional since

they came out and hardwired backup smoke detector.

Moermond: it says you need them within 10 feet of sleeping areas.

Grahs: they’re within 6 feet of the bedroom door.

Moermond: the inspector will check that.

Martin: item 15 is actually fine, he does have an emergency escape window from his

bedroom. We boarded the front, but he still has two other doors he can get out.

Moermond: those are my initial thoughts.

Grahs: it is fine the way it is.

Moermond: it is written the orders so I’m not happy until it is confirmed.

Grahs: got it. They don’t know the whole picture I guess.

Moermond: well, they know the fire code. I cannot emphasize enough that getting this

cleaned out is important. I see people with a background like yours, hoarding and

bringing more things in, and very slow to get things out. You need to do some rapid

decision-making and that’s usually the hardest thing for someone in your

circumstance. You can’t get repairs done until you can get to the area that needs

repair. I’m willing to look at a two-week extension, but during that time I need a plan:

what order will you do things in, timing of repairs, what is the cost associated. What

supplies, the cost of a permit, labor. I know you’re going to work with Ms. Martin and

get some assistance. I need to see a realistic plan. I want to keep you in your house,

but I also want to keep you safe in your house.

Do you have family?

Grahs: an estranged daughter. My wife is dead. The closest relative is in Eau Claire,

WI. If this would have happened five years ago, I would have had six neighbors helping

me in a heartbeat. They’re all gone. Moved on. I have two friends I’ve had for 40 years;

we get together once a year. So no, no.

Moermond: so it is important to pull in outsiders from House Calls. As we get older it

gets harder and harder to find people to help with these things.

Grahs: somewhere on these there’s something that says there must be 30” of

clearance between water heater and surrounding objects?

Moermond: yes.

Grahs: when I had the plumbing inspector in my house, Dennis, he came over and

tested it and looked at the position of my water heater, right to my furnace, and said I

can understand why you did that because of the plumbing. These are fine points in

here that need further discussion. We’ll go down that road when we get to it, but there

are things that are worded in a way that’s confusing.

Moermond: does your electrical panel have clearance?

Grahs: yes.

Moermond: that’s written up as well.

Grahs: I don’t know why.

Moermond: that’s going to be one of the first places fire-fighters go to if you have a

fire. They will get the gas turned off and go to your electrical panel. Those two things

have be easy access.

Grahs: normally in a case like that they pull the outdoor meter.

Moermond: I want that panel cleared. Let’s get that plan. If you want to ask Ms. Martin

she’s a great resource.

Martin: if we could have Mr. Grahs continue to work on items 24 and 25. I’d like to

come over on Monday the 10th and we’ll walk through this list and come up with a plan

for Ms. Moermond’s approval.

Moermond: Monday the 10th is a hearing day because of Veteran’s day on Tuesday.