Minutes - Legislative Hearings

15 West Kellogg Blvd.

Saint Paul, MN 55102

City of Saint Paul

Minutes - Final

Legislative Hearings

Marcia Moermond, Chief Legislative Hearing Officer

Joanna Zimny, Deputy Legislative Hearing Officer

Mai Vang, Legislative Hearing Coordinator

legislativehearings@ci.stpaul.mn.us

651-266-8585

Tuesday, August 18, 2026

9:00 AM

Room 330 City Hall & Court House/Remote

10:00 a.m. Hearings

Special Tax Assessments

RLH TA 26-158

Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 777

OHIO STREET. (File No. J2602A, Assessment No. 268503)

Noecker

Sponsors:

Approve the assessment.

Voicemail left at 10:13 am: this is Marcia Moermond from St. Paul City Council calling

Jessica Klassen about your appealed special assessment for sewer work at 777 Ohio.

We’ll try you back in a few minutes.

Voicemail left at 10:18 am: this is Marcia Moermond from St. Paul City Council calling

Jessia Klassen again. This is our second try today to reach you to talk about this

assessment, and we tried 3 times on August 4th. I’m going to recommend approval of

this assessment and send this to Council on September 2nd.

Moermond: for the record, we are looking at a $6,868 assessment.

Staff report by Supervisor Lisa Martin: March 9 2026 we received a referral regarding

living conditions, illegal bedrooms, overcrowding, unsanitary, structural, electrical and

plumbing issues. Black mold. Sewage in basement. She couldn’t afford to fix

plumbing or flush toilet for weeks. Owner had significant medical We did an

inspection, got House Calls involved. She didn’t have money for sewer repairs and was

asking for help to remain in her home. House Calls did clean up the basement after

commercial utilities went out and flushed sewer, “worst paper jam they’d ever seen”.

After the repairs we got a Voicemail from a nephew, Adam Lynn on May 4th, saying it

had backed up again and asking us to take care of it, we advised we are not a

maintenance company. He said the owner had passed away and they wanted to sell it.

We said we wouldn’t be doing that. Both owners deceased, no longer owner occupied.

We also let House Calls know the property remained condemned. Not sure if it went to

Vacant Buildings. The work WAS done.

Moermond: someone called in about gross unsanitary do to sewer?

Martin: yes.

Moermond: and you found a person who was basically doing hospice in their own home

and using products that clogged the plumbing so badly the company said it was the

worst they have ever seen. The City did it as an abatement, and the cleanout of the

basement was done by Ramsey County’s public health program, so that isn’t being

assessed. We’ve tried 5 calls to reach the daughter, Jessica Klassen. Since we have

had no communication I’m going to recommend approval payable in 1 year. No

question from the paperwork I’ve seen that the work was done.

Referred to the City Council due back on 9/2/2026

11:00 a.m. Hearings

Orders To Vacate - Code Enforcement

RLH VO 26-31

Appeal of Brent Rekstad to a Notice of Condemnation as Unfit for

Human Habitation and Order to Vacate at 1083 BRADLEY STREET. (To

refer to August 18, 2026 Legislative Hearing)

Kim

Sponsors:

Layover to LH September 1, 2026 at 11 am as inspector indicates substantial progress

on cleanup.

No one appeared

Zimny: it sounds like Mr. Rekstad is making good progress Ms. Martin?

Supervisor Lisa Martin: yes, I was just there last week and he is slowly making

progress. He just received his garbage containers, I believed a total of 5, to continue

to clean up the home. All of the containers will be emptied on a weekly basis by the

City and I have an inspection tomorrow at 10:30 for progress update.

Zimny: great, we will continue this to September 1, 2026 at 11 am for another progress

update.

Laid Over to the Legislative Hearings due back on 9/1/2026

Making Finding on Nuisance Abatements

RLH SAO 26-76

Making finding on the appeal of Liam Magistad to a nuisance abatement

ordered for 1597 CHARLES AVENUE in Council File RLH SAO 26-61.

Coleman

Sponsors:

The nuisance is abated as related to wood/tree debris in boulevard.

Liam Magistad, owner, appeared via phone

[Zimny gives background of appeals process]

Zimny: we weren’t able to reach you at your original appeal, and you were given a

deadline of August 14 for tree (stump) removal from boulevard.

Magistad: I applied for a permit; I’ve been working with Jim Brown from the moment I

got the call on the 24th.

Zimny: you have a different deadline for the raised bed in the boulevard and restoring

groundcover. I have Supervisor Lisa Martin on the line who will give a staff report on

where things stand.

Martin: updated photos taken today, boulevard still missing ground cover, lots of tree

bark. Garbage. Not in compliance.

Zimny: this deadline for compliance was only the tree removal.

Magistad: I had some logs, I think I am in compliance. I think my best bet is to put in

a raised bed. People dump mountains of trash, they walk across it all the time so I

can’t grow grass either.

Zimny: it looks like you did remove the logs and pots.

Magistad: yes, I did that before the city Council meeting. Now I’m getting permits for

the raised beds, and working on ground cover.

Martin: from the photos you can see garbage and tree bark. Where the logs were

removed there’s a ton of bark; you can do planting.

Magistad: I can’t, unless I can fence it off. I’m thinking about dropping a bunch of

mulch there.

Martin: that sounds like a great plan.

Zimny: the nuisance is abated as related to the first deadline.

Referred to the City Council due back on 8/26/2026

RLH SAO 26-75

Making finding on the appeal of Jane Foster to a nuisance abatement

ordered for 1312 SCHEFFER AVENUE in Council File RLH SAO 26-54.

Jost

Sponsors:

The nuisance is not abated.

Voicemail left at 11:22 AM – This is Joanna Zimny calling from St. Paul City Council

Calling Jane Forster to follow up on your appealed summary abatement order at 1312

Scheffer with a deadline of August 14. I will try calling you again in a few minutes.

Voicemail left at 11:30 am – This is Joanna Zimny calling from St. Paul City Council

trying to reach you about your property at 1312 Scheffer. The report i have is that the

nuisance hasn't been abated. That will be reported to the City Council next week at

which time the Department of Safety & Inspections will be authorized to abate the

nuisance. We will send a follow up email to confirm this.

Referred to the City Council due back on 8/26/2026

Summary & Vehicle Abatement Orders

RLH SAO

26-77

Appeal of Barbara Clark to a Summary Abatement Order at 1552

CANFIELD AVENUE.

Coleman

Sponsors:

Grant appeal related to outside storage of plastic (rain) barrels and PVC piping for drip

irrigation on condition that pvc is neatly stored on rack AND all remaining items from

SAO are removed or properly stored inside by September 18th, 2026 (this includes but

is not limited to: OSB, boards, all construction materials, plastic totes, coolers, etc).

Outdoor patio furniture, umbrella, kiddie pool (emptied), ladder & wheelbarrow may

remain).

Tried calling at 11:27 AM: unable to reach Barbara Clark. Ms. Zimny was unable to

leave a message due to mailbox being full.

Tried again at 11:33 AM: Property owner, Barbara Clark, appeared via phone.

[Joanna Zimny gives background process]

Staff report by Supervisor Lisa Martin: A summary abatement order was issued on

August 3, 2026 to remove and properly dispose of cardboard, any furniture, rubber

mats, any type of scrap, including metal, plastic bucket, a battery, emptying water out

of the kiddie pool, some plastic barrel from the entire property, also the rear yard, the

side of the garage and rear of the garage near the alley. The compliance date was

August 10, 2026.

Zimny: Ms. Clark, I do see we have updated photos and it looks like you addressed

some of the items and I saw your statement and did review that but tell me more about

what is going on here.

Clark: I am really not sure, but I got this and is your inspector not understanding what

a rain barrel looks like. I have a thousand dollars’ worth of PVC pipes for an irrigation

system which was organized at the time the notice was sent. They didn’t take the

lumber I bought from Menards or the rolling cart for the PVC pipes as scrap wood.

There wasn’t that much on there. I don’t know who called and why and I have my idea,

but it seems this makes it sound like a junk yard and it’s not. I went through all the

stuff on my list. I don’t know what furniture he is talking about. The only thing was a

table I used to cut the wood, 15 pieces, and I disposed of those and the side table.

Zimny: I am going to touch on a few specific items and have Ms. Martin speaks to

what the concerns are and what city code requires and what things can be properly

stored outside. Ms. Martin, can you touch on rain barrel. My understanding is they

need to have covers and be active.

Martin: The photos from the inspector, there were white plastic bins, a lot of 5-gallon

buckets, none of them have covers on them. They need to be covered to keep from

mosquitoes and stagnant water so you can’t have that outside. What can be stored

outside is your outdoor furniture, your swing set, lawn mower; otherwise, anything else

such as scrape wood and PVC piping need to be stored in the garage and not in the

yard.

Zimny: Ms. Clark, thoughts on that.

Clark: I was unaware that PVC pipes cannot be stored outside.

Zimny: I would consider that as construction materials and cannot be stored outside

unless they are being active use. Do you have plans to install your drip irrigation.

Clark: I do, but I suffered from a medical condition. This spring I tried to get it out and

get it organized but physically couldn’t get it to go this summer. I am not back to work

full-time. That is why I built a cart, get it all nice and neat for next year and hopefully

then I could do that work. I made a mess and need to get it organized.

Zimny: From the photos, you do have some PVC stored on the cart you built. Are there

some on the ground and some leaning up by the house.

Clark: I moved some leaning against the house onto the cart and now organizing them

by length so they can be placed on the cart.

Zimny: If they are stored next to your garage, the PVC doesn’t give me heartburn and

can be stored outside for the remainder of the year as long as everything is neat and

properly stored. Ms. Martin, do you have any comments.

Martin: Sounds like a construction project that is not going to be happening until next

year and we don’t allow any construction materials to be stored outside in the yard.

Clark: it’s not construction materials; it’s dripping irrigation for garden.

Martin: If not in use, cannot be stored outside.

Zimny: Is there room in garage to store? Do you want to make other comments about

your yard besides the dripping irrigation. The outdoor furniture, kiddie pool, as long as

it’s emptied, which you did, and umbrella is fine.

Clark: Over winter, I may be able to, and all rain barrels are now closed and have

covers. Those are out in the yard and not hooked up because they are part of the

irrigation system for the garden and everything has to be removed at the community

garden every fall and has to come back.

Zimny: So, this is not for your yard?

Clark: It’s not a construction project, but it’s an irrigation system which connects to the

rain barrels and water the garden that way.

Zimny: So, this goes to a community garden and not onto your property. I don’t like

those barrels outside. I know in your appeal you said a couple of weeks. I will allow

the drip irrigation outside through winter as long as neatly stored on your cart next to

garage but everything else disposed of or stored in garage by September 4th.

Clark: the rain barrels are not illegal, and I can have them out.

Zimny: They are not being used as rain barrels right now.

Martin: I don’t have a problem with the rain barrels. It’s the PVC piping.

Clark: They are not scrap metal poles. The only one out there is for the removable

fence between the property line and got partially removed between my neighbor’s fence

installation.

Zimny: If the rain barrels are covered and Ms. Martin doesn’t see an issue with them, I

will grant to Sept 4th for the rest of the yard and if cleaned, will recommend the drip

irrigation stored outside properly.

Clark: the crates and scrap wood are in the garage; the lumber is gone which I built a

rack. I have patio furniture which is ok. scrap metal and poles, do you know what that

is. The poles will still be outside.

Zimny: The photos this morning there are still some coolers, those need to be put

somewhere.

Po: I am cleaning out my garage, so I am going to pull stuff out and I pull stuff out of

the side yard. Can I have my wheelbarrow out.

Zimny: Yes

Martin: There are some fence sections that need to be installed or stored in garage.

Clark: the white like plastic fence

Martin: the wood stuff

Zimny: some wood fences as well as across from the white fencing

Clark: Those are trellis for cucumbers and leaning for the moment but not using for

them this year. Also, pieces of wood or hoops for tomatoes.

Zimny: Thoughts on garden equipment not being actively used?

Martin: You have the trellis leaning on the neighbor’s fence that needs to be moved.

Exterior storage is an issue at the property and should be stored in garage.

JZ: REC Everything all construction materials, fencing, gardening, pots – grant to

September 4. If rest of yard is in compliance, will grant the appeal on the drip irrigation

as long as neatly stored next to the garage on the storage rack you built. If yard not in

compliance, drip irrigation will need to be in garage or be gone. PH On Sept 2.

Clark: can we push the Sept 4 date out. I am trying to clear the garage out. But I can’t

be out in the heat due to medical reasons.

Zimny: I will consider your medical condition and the heat. Grant to Sept 18 instead.

Call the inspector for things you need clarification.

Referred to the City Council due back on 9/2/2026

RLH SAO 26-78

Appeal of Mary Roach to a Summary Abatement Order at 1045

CHARLES AVENUE.

Bowie

Sponsors:

Layover to LH August 25, 2026 at 11 am (rescheduled per PO's request).

Laid Over to the Legislative Hearings due back on 8/25/2026

2:00 p.m. Hearings

Fire Certificates of Occupancy

RLH FCO

26-71

Appeal of Greg Heck, Montrose Pl LLC, to a Fire Certificate of

Occupancy Correction Notice at 221 MONTROSE PLACE.

Coleman

Sponsors:

Grant the appeal.

Greg Heck, owner, appeared via phone

[Moermond gives background of appeals process]

Staff report by Supervisor Keith Demarest: this is an 11 unit apartment complex built

in 1922. This started in February 17, 2026 based on a complaint about water leaks in

roof and roof being unsound. February 18 Inspector Harrington responded, wrote orders

about ceiling and fire extinguisher servicing. April 4 there was a reinspection calling out

again the leaks and fire extinguishers. May 28, 2026 another complaint received about

pipe burst in basement, black mold, and leak on top floor. Another complaint the

same day saying roof leaks and building smells like sewer. May 29th another

complaint regarding leak in common areas, said repair person just put up new

sheetrock to cover up leak. June 3 another complaint. June 10th another complaint.

June 12 inspector Harrington reinspected and called out leaks in roof, and at this point

it is called out a permit is required for repairs. June 13 a return inspection was done

due to long-term noncompliance he called out possibly revoking the Certificate of

Occupancy, leaks and need for permit, and there are some emails between inspector

and owner regarding repairs done. August 6 appeal received.

Heck : I am only appealing the permit requirement. Wanted to clarify for the record.

The leak did occur in roof on second floor in February 2026. That’s winter, can’t fix the

roof then. What we did is cut out all the wet plaster so water wouldn’t extend anywhere

else. It was still leaking but it got colder again. I wanted to make sure the leak was

coming down to floor not spreading across the rest of the ceiling. I told the inspector I

wouldn’t be able to repair properly until spring. I fixed the roof in April. I left the ceiling

open to make sure the roof repair we made was proper and effective before closing

things up. I told the inspector I was going to leave it like that for a couple of months.

This mold thing---mold doesn’t grow in a day—we had the ceiling cut out immediately

once we found the leak. I’m not disregarding tenant concerns, but there are 2 sides to

every story. Ceiling still open when he came back out, I said yes, it will be closed. At

this point there was still no mention of a permit requirement. Inspector said he needed

something in writing from whoever did the repairs, what they did, how much it cost. It

was early June when I got that to him. The last time he was there it was closed up and

there was no further leaking, there hasn’t been since he fixed it, and then he brings up

he thinks I need a permit. I’m wondering why. I asked because I have other properties

and manage a few properties, we make roof repairs all the time and have never needed

a permit. My understanding is it is only needed if you put on an entirely new roof. That’s

why I’m appealing.

Mr. Demarest, did you show photos to the building inspector?

Demarest: yes, early August inspector Harrington reached out to building officials to

determine if a repair like this required a permit. Showed photos to them. He did receive

communication back from John Caldwell August 6 saying it did need a permit and also

the asphalt shingles and the transition needs to be verified that they can be used

together. Most of the time they can’t.

Moermond: basically it says that they need information on what was done for the

transition and verifying asphalt shingles can be used with what you did for the repair. Is

that a matter of checking specs on the two items and sharing that information?

Heck: I sent photos of the materials we used. The repair person has used it before

and said it was effective, and obviously it has been. The actual repair portion was 4x4’

but he said as long as we’re up here let’s do one end to another. He basically did the

length of the building on that side, probably a 2-3’ span across the roof. The actual

repair itself was only 4x4’. We tried to improve the situation by doing what we did.

Moermond: Mr. Demarest, was the determination about the permit—they showed up in

the June orders and then he talked to Caldwell in early August?

Demarest: yes, when getting close to the end of the inspection cycle in July he

reached out to the building officials mid-order. He reached out to the building officials

prior to the week a reinspection was due.

Moermond: leaving the roof issue aside, one of the call outs in the orders was access

to all areas of building. Have you received that?

Demarest: I don’t know that it is due for a complete reinspection.

Moermond: it is written in the orders.

Demarest: I can’t attest to why that is on there.

Heck: I’m just frustrated because I run a good building, I don’t understand how this

has grown into this.

Demarest: the building was a C grade due for reinspection February of 2025. I’m only

theorizing, but yes it came due for an entirely new inspection.

Heck: yes, we did that. He went through every apartment. It wasn’t Harrington, it was

the previous inspector who retired. It was Frank.

Moermond: Mr. Demarest can you look into the status of that so we address that in the

appeal? If you’re withdrawing because the full Certificate of Occupancy was already

done, then we can just update that. In terms of the roof, I’m telling you, I’m inclined to

agree with Mr. Heck. It wasn’t’ called out as needing a permit, and the repair was made

in good faith. I do think we’d be well served to have it confirmed that the materials work

together, but lacking the initial call out—I’m going to recommend the appeal is

granted. I think it should certainly be monitored and some follow up inspections. The

tenants certainly appear to have phones. Water leaks certainly are easy to spot. Mr.

Heck, we did have a case where the kitchen ceiling caved in after bathroom leak

above it, and instead of doing a repair they basically sheet-rocked it so there was

never any eyes on inside of it. I worry sometimes that things got covered up, but in this

situation I would say unless the building inspector wants to write it under the building

code, I’m looking at Legislative code and the requirement of the building permit should

have been in there much, much earlier. We’ll follow up on fire inspection access issue.

Heck: no questions, thank you.

Referred to the City Council due back on 9/2/2026