15 West Kellogg Blvd.

Saint Paul, MN 55102

City of Saint Paul

Minutes - Final

Legislative Hearings

Marcia Moermond, Legislative Hearing Officer

Mai Vang, Hearing Coordinator

Joanna Zimny, Executive Assistant

legislativehearings@ci.stpaul.mn.us

651-266-8585

Tuesday, February 24, 2026

9:00 AM

Room 330 City Hall & Court House/Remote

11:00 a.m. Hearings

Summary & Vehicle Abatement Orders

RLH SAO

26-16

Appeal of Victoria Pwo, on behalf of Nyar Pwo, to a Summary Abatement

Order at 399 BLAIR AVENUE.

Bowie

Sponsors:

Grant to April 1 for compliance with orders related to scrap metal, tow truck and all

miscellaneous debris that are "non-construction materials". Grant to May 1 for vehicles

to be removed or be properly licensed, operable, and have all vital parts. Grant to June

1 to have building permit pulled or construction materials removed. Grant to August 1

for brick patio installed or bricks removed.

Nyar Pwo, owner, appeared via phone

Staff update by Supervisor Kedrowski: this is follow up on the Summary Abatement

Order and Correction Notice. I met with Mr. Pwo at this house. Many items were

removed, there were still 5 cars and the tow truck. Still many items in the yard to

address including automotive parts. I took some photos for the file.

Moermond: what I’m seeing is the vehicle situation is much improved.

Kedrowski: yes.

Moermond: we still have some materials in the back like barrels, washing machine,

and then other things that are actual construction materials. A mixed bag of things and

construction materials?

Kedrowski: Mr. Pwo stated he had someone coming to take the rollback tow truck and

the scrap metal so that’s of less concern to me, but the other building materials,

storage barrels, plastic liquid tanks, other debris are of bigger concern to me.

Moermond: Mr. Pwo, the cars sound like they’re all on appropriate surface, they need

lights and doors and windows etc, and licensed and updated tabs. Is 8 weeks enough

to do that with those remaining vehicles? May 1?

Pwo: that would be really appreciated. If I still have anything concerning let me know

and I’ll do my best to get it gone.

Moermond: those barrels and that big plastic cube, are those holding liquids? Oil?

Pwo: there’s nothing in it, it is empty. I’ll put it back inside the garage.

Moermond: I don’t mind if there’s a barrel or water container, but it can’t be

accumulating water and harbor mosquitoes. That’s an awfully large cube for a water

container. Are you keeping that for some purpose?

Pwo: we collect rainwater.

Moermond: that can remain then. Setting aside building materials, we have the washer

and dyer can those go with the scrapmetal guy?

Pwo: yes.

Moermond: the hood of the car I assume is going.

Pwo: yes.

Moermond: you were talking about him wanting to finish his tax stuff, is that still the

case?

Pwo: yes.

Moermond: the tow truck, scrap metal putting in a date of April 1 because its just a bit

more than a month to coordinate that. So that’s May 1 for the cars to have plates and

tabs and all parts, April 1 for scrap metal and tow truck, miscellaneous debris (not

construction materials). You have a lot of construction materials but they are kind of

under that roof, which is good. I did notice the walls you were putting up appear to be

particle board and that isn’t an acceptable construction material for outdoor purposes.

I think you need a building permit on that. It doesn’t look sound. I think those need to

be done in compliance with the building code, but it does have to be done so it is

safe. How about a deadline to have a building permit pulled or the construction

materials gone by June 1.

Kedrowski: there are pallets of tiles and bricks by garage and a couple motorcycles

that need to be addressed.

Pwo: I’ll scrap them or put them in garage.

Moermond: so let’s go with the May 1 deadline. What’s the plan for the bricks?

Pwo: for patio work?

Moermond: let’s do an August 1 deadline for that. We’ll send a follow up letter with all

these deadlines as well.

Referred to the City Council due back on 3/11/2026

Making Finding on Nuisance Abatements

RLH SAO 26-17

Making finding on the appealed nuisance abatement ordered for 708

HAWTHORNE AVENUE EAST in Council File RLH SAO 26-8.

Yang

Sponsors:

The nuisance is not abated.

Armando McCoy, occupant, appeared via phone

Called Eisenhart at 12:11 pm and unable to leave Voicemail as mailbox was full.

Moermond: the Council gave to February 21 to remove the sofa chairs and recliner.

This goes in front of the Council next Wednesday. Right now, my report is it isn’t done

and they should authorize the City crew to clean it up, with a corresponding cost. I

suggest you deal with it before then.

Referred to the City Council due back on 3/4/2026

RLH SAO 26-11

Second Making finding on the appealed nuisance abatement ordered for

1079 WESTERN AVENUE NORTH in Council File RLH SAO 25-71.

Kim

Sponsors:

The nuisances are not abated. Note: bench and card table can remain.

Negil Neely, owner, appeared

Moermond: today we’re following up on the Summary Abatement Order. This is round 2

dealing with the Council extension they granted and sorting through that.

Staff update by Supervisor Kedrowski: November 12 a Summary Abatement Order

was written for some items to be removed and disposed of in the yard and front porch.

Appeal was filed and we’ve been discussing schedule for removal of the items.

Moermond: and I have new photos dated yesterday. No tires in the photos.

Kedrowski: the tires have been removed, but pallets in the back yard and front porch

furniture and household items still there as well.

Neely: the last hearing I attended the Councilmember stated their aid would reach out

to me. They talked to me one time and said they didn’t have any information on it and

no one called me back. I’ve contacted the company on the pallets who did finally

respond and acknowledge but no one has called me. Right now, I’m ready to say come

get the pallets because I can’t get rid of them.

Moermond: twin cities refuse wouldn’t take them?

Neely: I don’t know who they are.

Moermond: they’re not the only one, but this is the one I’m familiar with. You can bring

just about anything there.

Neely: anything except food grade pallets.

Moermond: I think it is most things. It is worth checking with them. Maybe they would

need to be broken down.

Neely: would it be fair and reasonable to put them on my curb and wait to see what

happens with them. If someone comes and pick them up. Or is that a problem too?

Moermond: it is a problem doing that. I’d suggest prying them apart

[Neely given info on St. Paul Tool Library and phone number for Twin Cities Refuse]

Neely: can I argue about the table you want me to get rid of?

Kedrowski: we aren’t worried about the table.

Moermond: we talked about that and said it could stay.

Neely: the inspector yesterday said I needed to have it gone.

Moermond: no, that part of your appeal was granted.

Kedrowski: what is the pile of stuff under the mailbox on the south side of the porch?

Neely: I have a skull on my porch. There’s a number of things.

Moermond: there’s this dresser—

Neely: it isn’t a dresser, it’s a bench.

Moermond: it’s a very large, rectangular bench.

Neely: yes, it lifts and I store my gardening stuff there.

Moermond: in the spring can you paint it?

[Kedrowski shows photos]

Neely: oh, that’s a speaker box. Subwoofer.

Moermond: the subwoofer goes.

Kedrowski: the stuff draws attention.

Neely: I don’t have a garage. I pay $300 a month to store my mom’s stuff in a storage

unit. She’s happy knowing where it is. She just turned 81 last week.

Moermond: I didn’t know if she definitely moved and wasn’t turning back again. I know

things are tricky with senior.

Neely: I pay $300 a month for her happiness. I don’t have room for a lot of my own

things. When I acquired the speaker box and the one next to it, they were in my

vehicle that I’d taken out to put a new system in. I will find a place to move them soon.

They weigh a lot.

Moermond: this goes to Council Public Hearing next week. Inspectors will go out on

Monday. On the 4th I’ll say to Council it is or isn’t taken care of. If it isn’t the City crew

will be authorized to finish the work.

Neely: what do I have to have done by Monday?

Moermond: Mr. Kedrowski just listed them. The miscellaneous things on the front

porch. We have the pallets. I’m going to follow up with the Ward 5 office, it is

unfortunate they didn’t follow up with you. I’ll check and see what is going on. In the

meantime you have the tool library and twin cities refuse or other places like that.

Referred to the City Council due back on 3/4/2026

1:30 p.m. Hearings

Orders To Vacate - Fire Certificate of Occupancy

RLH VO 26-13

Appeal of Janice Ruchie, Occupant, to a Fire Inspection Report, which

includes condemnation, at 1877 GRAND AVENUE, APARTMENT 1.

Jost

Sponsors:

Grant to April 3, 2026 for apartment to be vacated or in compliance with orders.

Wade Piper, Interfaith Action, appeared

Janice Ruchie, occupant, appeared

Moermond: we left things off trying to stabilize this and make it as safe as possible.

Mr. Demarest was going to go out and talk with you.

Staff update by Supervisor Demarest: February 23 I went and reinspected. I did find

items stored in the hallway outside the unit. I did find 3-foot pathways into rooms as

you requested. Bathroom doesn’t appear to be completely usable especially the

shower area. Still heavy contents and fly infestation. The two outstanding items would

be content reduced by 75% and fly infestation needs immediate attention.

Moermond: when Department of Safety and Inspection calls out flies, what kind?

Demarest: they looked like fruit flies.

Ruchie: fly things come crawling up the bathtub. I kill them.

Moermond: would you be looking for a statement from an exterminator?

Demarest: with any type of infestation, orders are sent to the property owner and Code

only calls for control so as long as proactive measures are taken we can’t call for total

extermination. Proactive control. Those are usually met with a reply from property

owner with a recent invoice from pest control, that usually gets them into compliance.

If this is something she wants to self control she could try the vinegar water with the

saran wrap over it to catch them.

Piper: yeah we can do it.

Moermond: so that’s under control. We normally if you said 75% reduction but what we

have is from 75% down to zero.

Piper: April 1 would be great. But ASAP. We have an agreement with the landlord that

as soon we are able to find a spot he will let her out of the lease.

Moermond: I would like the extension to cover you until you find that new place, with

some buffer. Why don’t we aim for April 1. How is content reduction going?

Ruchie: I’m getting boxes in and putting things in. Some are in the hallway. The

landlord is ok with me using that space. I’ve got a tour of a property tomorrow down the

block. I want to get out too. I think the whole basement is having issues and Aaron

wants to work on things down there.

Piper: I went over on Friday and we made progress. There’s a lot more floor space. We

got rid of some excess furniture. I took some books to donate to the library at the

shelter. We’re working on it. I threw away six chairs from the bedroom.

Moermond: what’s going on with the bathroom?

Demarest: that’s what I saw, stuff piled in the tub. Do you have access to the

facilities?

Ruchie: because of the bugs, I don’t use it. I take sponge baths. [talks about history]

Moermond: so moving will hopefully decrease your stress by moving out of that lower

level. I’m going to say April 3, which means if you are still there then there will be an

inspection and you’ll have to have brought the volume down by at least 50%. If you

aren’t moved out. Make sure you’re leaving room in the hallways for people to get

through.

Demarest: I have April 3 10 am on my calendar for a site reinspection. If you’re moved

out, call me right away. I’ll stop by and let Ms. Moermond know.

Referred to the City Council due back on 3/11/2026

RLH VO 26-12

Appeal of Nikolla Erindi, on behalf of Elton Mykerezi, to a Fire Inspection

Correction Notice, which includes condemnation, at 104 DALE STREET

NORTH.

Bowie

Sponsors:

Deny the appeal noting the appellant withdrew the appeal and original deadline stands.

Moermond: we receive communication from the appellant, and the appeal has been

withdrawn so I’ll recommend denial so it is clear the same deadlines are in place,

unless Department of Safety and Inspections feels compelled to change them.

Referred to the City Council due back on 3/11/2026

2:00 p.m. Hearings

Fire Certificates of Occupancy

RLH FCO 26-20

Appeal of Kali Terry to a Fire Inspection Report at 392 EDMUND

AVENUE.

Bowie

Sponsors:

Layover to LH March 3, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. for further discussion after 3/2 reinspection.

Kali Terry, owner, appeared via phone

[Moermond gives background of appeals process]

Staff report by Supervisor Keith Demarest: this is a 2.5 story residential property.

Department of Safety and Inspections received 2 separate referrals for this property on

February 9, 2026 with complaints about mold, dangerous wiring, leaking roof, heating

issues. The area inspector sent access orders to the owner on February 20th to gain

access to do an inspection. Over the last couple weeks that inspector has tried to stop

by the property a couple of times to contact tenants and he advised me he was

contacting by the property owner after being seen on camera and being upset the

inspector went to the property. That inspector was acting under my orders and is

required to follow up on complaints.

Terry: this is a duplex. Both units are unoccupied and vacant. I’m hesitant to use the

word “tenant” because there was a never a lease agreement. I took over December

23rd. I told the tenant to sign a lease to live there legally. She informed me she was

moving out and needed time to get her stuff out. I gave her until the end of January. I

guess she needed more time. She had other people living there. I needed to change

the locks since she wasn’t living there and others were. That’s when these reports were

made, meritless and “ungrounded” complaints about mold. The tenant lived there over

a year and a half without paying rent to the previous owner. I politely told the “tenant”

she needs to pay or sign a lease and that’s when the reports were filed. The house was

more than habitable when she lived there over the last decade. If there is mold it is

beyond my detection.

Moermond: tell me about your plan.

Terry: now the units have been turned over with updated cosmetics throughout, new

paint, flooring, carpet, appliances. We didn’t run into any signs of mold or leaky roof.

Our dollars would have been diverted to those issues instead of cosmetic upgrades.

Moermond: you’ve got them listed for rent?

Terry: yeah, it is ready to go.

Moermond: one of the orders was to allow access. I think that’s a simple thing,

especially if you just got the whole thing tidied up.

Terry: yeah, we’ve already done that.

Moermond: you have a provisional I’m thinking. You’d need that Fire Certificate of

Occupancy inspection anyway.

Terry: I see. I have problem with that as long as it isn’t triggered from this meritless

complaint from a tenant who no longer lives there. That’s the reason for the appeal.

That’s the reason for the inspection. It already had a Certificate of Occupancy on file.

Moermond: I know you’re labeling it as unfounded and meritless, but we also get ones

that are. I understand where you are coming from with a tenant but that’s under State

law. Even squatters have rights. The spite thing sure does happen. I don’t know your

Fire Certificate of Occupancy is up to date.

Demarest: it would be reinspected December 2026.

Moermond: so this is timely. I’m comfortable on signing off on this and saying you’re

getting this inspection but I think the timing is golden as an owner to get someone in.

Terry: I agree. No issues with that. I would like to note this is for 2026 Certificate of

Occupancy standard procedure.

Moermond: you’re saying it isn’t founded. I don’t know if it is or not. I need eyes on to

say it isn’t founded. Sounds like there’s nothing to find. I can continue this until after

your inspection so we can put it on the record that that complaint was unfounded, as

confirmed by an inspection. We’ll do the rest of your Certificate of Occupancy

inspection at the

Demarest: would next Monday the 2nd at 11 am work?

Terry: that works.

Laid Over to the Legislative Hearings due back on 3/3/2026

RLH FCO 26-19

Appeal of Chris Schwartz, to a Correction Notice-1st Notice at 1112

KINGSFORD STREET.

Yang

Sponsors:

Layover to LH March 10th, 2026 at 2 pm for further discussion.

Chris Schwartz, occupant, appeared via phone

[Moermond gives background of appeals process]

Staff report by Supervisor Keith Demarest: 1112 Kingsford Street is a single-family

residential property. Our department received a referral for this property on February 3,

2026. Information in the referral explained that the property owner of record is

deceased, and the interior of the property was found to be gross and unsanitary. With

the property no longer owner occupied, this requires the need for a Certificate of

Occupancy for the property. Orders were sent to both the owner of record and

“occupant” of the property on February 6, 2026 explaining that a certificate of

occupancy is required for the property. During my investigation into this property, I did

find an obituary for Judith Ann Schwartz as having passed on April 21, 2023. Owner

Judith Ann Schwartz is owner according to Ramsey County property records.

Delinquent tax balance going back to 2023. July 31st 2027 forfeiture.

Per St. Paul Regional Water Services: there is water service to the property. Name

under Judith Schwartz. Behind on payments. Last payment was made in December

2024. $2,013.64 behind in water payments. Water usage shows roughly 6-7 people

living in the home. Last few quarters of billing show roughly the same amount. June

2025 usage was much lower. Fall 2025 had 45 units of use about 6-7 people in the

home. Per Xcel gas and electric both turned on. Christopher Schwartz is the payee.

Service consumption high at 1,860 units.

Schwartz: the notice sent here only refers to it being a rental property. It isn’t. We’re in

the process of taking over from my parents passed away. Me and my brother live here.

It isn’t a rental property, it never has been. I requested verification of a complaint, I’ve

received nothing.

Moermond: what do you mean by “verification of a complaint”.

Schwartz: notify of where this came from and what right do they have to come demand

an inspection? The statute they’re using here, section 40---

Moermond: the ordinance states that “non-owner occupied dwellings requiring a

Certificate of Occupancy”

Schwartz: every one of my neighbors is required to have one too?

Moermond: non-owner occupied--that often means a rental. That isn’t always the case.

If the owner isn’t living there then it does qualify as a Fire Certificate of Occupancy

property.

Schwartz: no but—it’s changing hands to a family member. Why would that be

required?

Moermond: it could be changing hands to anyone, church, friend, if it isn’t occupied by

the owner then it is subject to the Fire Certificate of Occupancy program.

Schwartz: so you’re telling me that every single property that isn’t a rental in the last 10

years has had to go through that? No. Only 3 have them in my neighborhood and

they’re all rental properties.

Moermond: that isn’t at all what I said. What I said was non owner occupied. You are

representing yourself as the owner but your name isn’t on the title or the taxes,

therefore I cannot consider you a legal owner. The next question I ask is what steps

have you taken to address that. Have you started probate? Contacted an attorney.

Schwartz: we do have an attorney but it was put into a trust and that’s all were doing

right now.

Moermond: the trust isn’t in ownership of the property though. They aren’t the owner.

Ramsey County won’t accept a trust as owner until the taxes are brought current. So

you’d need to go through probate, then pay the taxes, then file the deed.

Schwartz: that’s what we’re doing.

Moermond: I need an end game. I’ve seen people sit on this for years.

Schwartz: that gives them a right to go on a fishing expedition? January 5 they took

property off the boulevard – bench by my fence they took, all kinds of things that

weren’t on the work order written 2 months earlier that we already satisfied. They’re

trying to use whatever they can to get in here.

Moermond: all that is in front of me is the Certificate of Occupancy appeal.

Schwartz: I gave that to you as part of the appeal because I believe it is connected.

Moermond: I don’t have anything else.

Schwartz: incorrect, when I paid the $25 fee I included the paperwork to cease and

desist on the City to stop harassing us. You had no right to take my property on

January 6. Now theyr’e coming a month later trying to use a hand grenace to get

whatever they want. This is wrong. You’re violating my rights.

Moermond: I can see in written materials you’ve discussed that but quite literally I only

have the one thing on the appeal today.

Schwartz: I don’t understand why you wouldn’t because I included it when I filled out

the application.

Moermond: sir, I get that you mentioned and discussed it in your correspondence.

Schwartz: yeah, and the City has been served with notice on this too. They used a two

month order that we had met. They came with an unverified work order and took

property. They had no right to do that. Now they’re coming after me with this.

Moermond: I don’t have that in front of me.

Schwartz: I presented that paperwork with the paperwork for this meeting. That’s not

my problem you don’t have it. That’s something you guys need to discuss.

Moermond: sir, I think we may be talking past one another. You have provided

documents you created discussing those things. I have a narrow focus I can discuss,

orders the City has issued that have been appealed in a timely manner. This Fire

Certificate of Occupancy appeal was timely. You have mentioned these other things

and made data request of them, but they aren’t on point for this unless you want to tell

me more.

Schwartz: this is connected to that! How can you say that!? That’s ridiculous! You

won’t listen to the whole story.

Moermond: I can listen, but I can’t take action on it. It is background information. I’m

happy to hear it but I can’t un-ring the bell for those circumstances.

Schwartz: the City has bypassed all the requests for body camera footage, legal

authority to take property off my boulevard, legal authority for this. This is just

harassment, plain and simple.

Moermond: the question for me hearing that is have you filed a data practices request?

Schwartz: I have and also served notices that I expected certain things and what

Department of Safety and Inspections did was forward that to data practices when it

was a complaint against them. For coming here January 5th. Within a few days of that

they ignored it and then come up with this. They were at my property over 100 times

last year. This is getting ridiculous. My neighbor’s have a parking lot in their front

yards. They’re harassing me and I’m tired of this.

Moermond: rolling us back to where we were before on an attorney and probate and

getting name on the deed changed—

Schwartz: we’re in the process of doing that.

Moermond: I don’t have any information supporting that claim and could really use that

if I’m going to give you an answer other than denial of your appeal. I need evidence.

Schwartz: I don’t have the lawyer’s name right this second, but there is a lawyer that’s

been contacted and we are in process of taking care of it.

Moermond: I won’t interview the lawyer; I need to see documents. Estate filings.

Probate court filings. Actual materials that demonstrate those things. Otherwise, I

have people living in a property with no responsible person in charge. I would love to

have better information on that situation and I don’t.

Schwartz: I would love to have been notified you needed it and I could have provided it.

Moermond: you can get that. We don’t have to close the book on this today. Happy to

look at other information and try and carve a pathway forward.

Schwartz: I’ve been fined so many times by the Department of Safety and Inspections

over the last two years it isn’t even funny. They give me a bill every month. It is

harassment. All of this needs to be listened to all together. All of the hundreds of

times they’ve been there. We met the requirements every time. Now they’re fishing

saying the owner isn’t occupying it. I’m transferring the title.

Moermond: it has been almost 3 years and it still isn’t transferred.

Schwartz: Great! Great! It has been a complicated process because of the trust. That

doesn’t mean you get to do whatever you want. I still have rights. Rights as a property

owner in this City and the State.

Moermond: you aren’t the first and you won’t be the last person in this position. What I

need to see is you are making steps towards being the legal owner before I can make

a recommendation to Council. Sounds like you have additional things I can look at.

Fantastic, that’s what I’m looking for. I need to see we are well on our way to getting

this transferred into your name. Right now I don’t have it which makes it non-owner

occupied and subject to this inspection. Let’s pull those things together to add to this

discussion.

Schwartz: how about the harassment. How about we look into and address that? Is

that something Council does. They are using whatever they can to get whatever they

want. It is ridiculous.

Moermond: I understand that’s what it feels like.

Schwartz: I will PROVE that’s what it is.

Moermond: if you’ve been experiencing this, you haven’t actually appealed anything

since we spoke last February.

Schwartz: the last time we talked you told me it didn’t “rise to their level” and the City

Council didn’t need to hear about it. What is the point of me arguing with you then? I’m

getting my a$$ kicked here.

Moermond: we talked about a tax assessment last time. We weren’t talking about you

appealing a particular order you received. You were appealing the cost of a cleanup.

Schwartz: I was appealing the monthly charges. This is ridiculous.

Moermond: there was an assessment for $716—

Schwartz: yeah for another time they are charging me for stuff on a TRAILER parked

in the STREET. You didn’t want to listen to any part of that. What was the point of

coming back to City Council?

Moermond: I don’t know what to tell you. You have to appeal the order, appeal the

assessment, we have to have a conversation---

Schwartz: great, so I’m supposed to come up with all this extra money for these

appeals when I’m still paying all these fines and crap. All you’re doing is demanding

more, more, more, more.

Moermond: appealing a tax assessment is free. Appeal of an order is $25. If you

wanted to talk about those charges you don’t have to pay for that.

Schwartz: great. Then let’s talk about the time the inspector fined me when there was

nothing out of compliance. We had met all of the requirements. This is 2 years of

harassment. That’s what you’re not looking at. Department of Safety and Inspections

has been using any ability they can to harass me.

Demarest: we’re looking at next steps, my reinspection is administrative. March 9

would be my next inspection. If there is some kind of proactive progress with Ramsey

County records that would intercede in the process here. We call it the 30/60/90 day

reinspection for these properties.

Moermond: except this is stayed until the appeal is resolved.

Moermond: let’s talk again March 10th and we can look at paperwork you’ve provided

and come up with next steps. If you could send that to my team, you’ll get a letter