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  
Thursday, August 27, 2026  
9:00 AM  
Room 330 City Hall & Court House/Remote  
9:00 a.m. Hearings  
Special Tax Assessments  
Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 325 DAYTON  
AVENUE. (File No. CG26Q1B1, Assessment No. 260151)  
1
RLH TA 26-198  
Bowie  
Sponsors:  
Delete the assessment.  
No one appeared.  
Staff report by Jillian Barden: This property is a mixed-use building, and when the  
previous hauler (Aspen) sent over cart data for the transition to City hauling, they  
included cart data for this property. Aspen Confirmed they are servicing four large  
96-gallon Aspen branded carts. Staff recommends removing the assessment.  
Joanna Zimny: that makes sense. Recommend deletion.  
Referred to the City Council due back on 9/16/2026  
Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 961 SELBY  
AVENUE. (File No. CG26Q1B1, Assessment No. 260151)  
2
RLH TA 26-187  
Bowie  
Sponsors:  
Delete the $28.00 remaining, noting property owner has paid $85.19 of the $113.19.  
Richard Grigsby appeared via phone  
[Zimny gives background process]  
Staff report by Jillian Barden: Property owner experienced three consecutive missed  
collections but only reported two within the required timeframe for recollection. The  
February 26 miss was reported on Sunday, March 1. Due to high billing call volume,  
staff processed the report on March 3rd and successfully recollected the cart that  
same afternoon. The property owner was missed on March 5 but did not report it until  
after being missed again on March 12. A single report covering both dates was  
submitted on Friday, March 13, and staff collected the missed cart on Tuesday, March  
17. Staff does not recommend removal or reduction.  
Zimny: Does Public Works have any sort of policy about response time for submitted  
ticket like this and what is the general policy?  
Barden: When property owner made a report, we processed them in the order received  
and then we get the report and submit to the hauler, and the hauler has until the next  
business day to collect the cart.  
Zimny: So, in general a 24-hour response time policy from your business day from  
receiving the ticket which sounds like Public Works did do. Mr. Grigsby, why are you  
appealing?  
Grigsby: This happened before and continues to happen and I was unaware it was a  
situation to where the folks who collected the garbage prior to the city taken over and  
they had a different policy and when they missed so many times, they gave me a  
percentage off so I wasn’t unaware of it. It changed over and I told them they missed  
pick up so many times and I paid the bill, expecting a proration of the bill and I was  
told they would not do that and told me to appeal. So, I am appealing the $28.00 and  
felt like I shouldn’t have to pay that. If the trash was missed, I think that is fair to  
prorate even though I paid the bill and if divided up quarterly, it was like $83.  
Zimny: Ms. Barden, which bill was short paid by $28.00?  
Barden: It’s Quarter 1, the Jan to March.  
Zimny: I see that and our paperwork says $113.19, but the actual amount here is $28?  
Barden: He made partial payment.  
Zimny: what is the cost of a missed pick up?  
Barden: we have a monthly charge and if we divide it evenly, it’s like $8.71.  
Zimny: So theoretically, his math is correct, it’s roughly $28.13 times by 3. You did  
report a missed pickup on March 1 for the Feb 26?  
Grigsby: When I called, they said they had a hot line, and someone would get back.  
Thursday was my pickup day. When I came home, I would look into my trash and if  
missed, I would call up the city number and would leave a message. I don’t wait and  
would do it right away. Hopefully the truck would go onto the other block, and they  
would come back and pick up. If missed, I don’t want squirrels in my trash or wait  
until Wednesday, because the trash would smell so I would call back right away. There  
is no delay in my response, but a delay from the city.  
Zimny: the city switched to being in charge of hauling in April 2025? Did you have no  
missed pickup between April 2025 and March of 2026 or did you not lived there?  
Grigsby: I owned the house for 52 years. There hadn’t been consistence and she didn’t  
have records of who the previous hauler was. I usually call them 10-15 times a year  
Zimny: Just want to clarify if you knew the policy of the pickup since it’s been a year  
later.  
Grigsby: I paid my bill religiously. It was never a problem before, but with this whole  
bill, it has been a fiasco.  
Zimny: what I will ask, moving forward is that you understand the process, correct;  
and if you have a missed pickup, you let the city know right away; they will come and  
pick it up and you won’t be prorating any more bills.  
Po: No, I will call right away.  
Zimny: REC delete, a one-time thing and call it a learning process. That $28 will  
disappear once voted by Council.  
Referred to the City Council due back on 9/16/2026  
Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 2099  
SUBURBAN AVENUE. (File No. CG26Q1B5, Assessment No. 260155)  
3
RLH TA 26-180  
Johnson  
Sponsors:  
Approve the assessment.  
Voicemail at 9:28 AM: Good morning, this is Joanna Zimny, calling from the City of  
Saint Paul, City Council about your garbage assessment appeal. We will handle  
another case and will give you a call back in a few minutes.  
Voicemail at 9:35 AM: Good morning, this is Joanna Zimny calling again from the City  
of St. Paul, City Council trying to call you about your appeal. We called you a couple  
times on August 13th and we weren’t able to reach you. We called you a couple more  
times today. My recommendation is going to be that the City Council approve the  
assessment based on the fact that it took 7 months to straighten this out with Public  
Works and they were working with you and we’re unable to get a response and under  
City ordinance 220.04A, it specifically says the default cart size is if no request was  
made is a medium cart. This has a Council public hearing of September 16th at 3:30  
pm which is your next step to contest further. Thank you.  
Referred to the City Council due back on 9/16/2026  
11:00 a.m. Hearings  
Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 915  
ELEANOR AVENUE. (File No. YW26Q1B1, Assessment No. 260501)  
Noecker  
4
RLH TA 26-207  
Sponsors:  
Delete the assessment.  
No one appeared.  
Staff report given by Jillian Barden: Property owner was charged for Yard Waste  
service but did not have a Yard Waste Cart. The property owner reports the previous  
hauler picked up the Yard Waste cart when the Hauler Transition happened. Staff  
confirmed with the hauler that there has not been a yard waste cart at the property.  
Staff recommends removing assessment.  
Joanna Zimny: No service. Make sense, recommend deletion of the assessment  
Referred to the City Council due back on 9/16/2026  
Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 1206  
5
RLH TA 26-199  
MINNEHAHA AVENUE EAST. (File No. CG26Q1B5, Assessment No. 260155)  
Johnson  
Sponsors:  
Reduce assessment from $339.57 to $113.19.  
No one appeared.  
Staff report given by Jillian Barden: Property owner was charged for three 64 gallon  
carts but there was only one 64 gallon cart at the property. The property owner has  
been paying for three 64 gallon carts since Quarter 3, 2025 due to an internal  
processing error. Staff recommends reducing Q1 2026 assessment to $113.19  
Zimny: And you spoke with David Vo and he is fine with this.  
Barden: Correct.  
Zimny: Rec reduction from $339.57 to $113.19.  
Referred to the City Council due back on 9/16/2026  
Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 686  
SHERBURNE AVENUE. (File No. CG26Q1B5, Assessment No. 260155)  
6
RLH TA 26-201  
Bowie  
Sponsors:  
Approve the assessment.  
Voicemail at 9:30 AM: Hello, this is Joanna Zimny calling from the St Paul City  
Council, calling about a couple of garbage appeals at 686 and 719 Sherburne Ave. I  
believe you talked to Jillian Barden at Public Works, but I would like to talk to you  
about these assessments pending. We will call you back in a few minutes and try you  
again.  
9:39 AM: Rose Geronimo, CAG Minnesota Fund, appeared via phone.  
[Legislative Hearing Officer, Joanna Zimny, gives background process]  
Staff report given by Jillian Barden: These are properties that are vacant buildings that  
were not utilizing our service in Quarter 1 2026 and were billed for service in Q1 2026.  
Staff placed an Unoccupied Dwelling Registration on the account to pause future  
billing. Staff recommend removing the assessments.  
Zimny: When did the UDRF get put in with Public Works?  
Barden: We have a start date of July 1, 2026.  
Zimny: Do you know when these went into the Vacant Building?  
Barden: 686 Sheburne was April 4, 2025 and 719 Sherburne was April 25, 2025.  
Zimny: What led you to appeal these two garbage bills?  
Geronimo: We saw the assessment fees for some garbage bills and since the  
properties were vacant, we contacted the city to see if these can be dismissed and no  
one is living there.  
Zimny: I am familiar with CAG Minnesota Fund, and I do know as a general rule, you  
do this as a business and should know how the garbage rules work in the St. Paul by  
now. Any comments on that?  
Geronimo: Actually, it’s bank owned property.  
Zimny: Are you rehabbing? I did happen to see both properties are listed for sale. I  
am guessing you found these p pending assessments when doing title search?  
Geronimo: this was given to the staff person, the real estate agent and then we saw  
the assessments.  
Zimny: I have talked with Lisa many times and I believe she knows the process and  
doing the business in St Paul for quite a few years now. I know Ms. Barden had  
recommended deletion of these vacant buildings, but we don’t generally do that unless  
the property owner dies or not, so I am going to approve these assessments. Council  
public hearing date for both of them is Sept 16. We can send follow up information. If  
Ms. Proechel has any questions, she may reached out to us. I don’t believe any policy  
reason this would be deleted.  
Geronimo: What quarter is this, Quarter 1?  
Zimny: January of 2026.  
Geronimo: Ok.  
Referred to the City Council due back on 9/16/2026  
Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 719  
SHERBURNE AVENUE. (File No. CG26Q1B5, Assessment No. 260155)  
7
RLH TA 26-200  
Bowie  
Sponsors:  
Approve the assessment.  
Voicemail at 9:30 AM: Hello, this is Joanna Zimny calling from the St Paul City  
Council, calling about a couple of garbage appeals at 686 and 719 Sherburne Ave. I  
believe you talked to Jillian Barden at Public Works, but I would like to talk to you  
about these assessments pending. We will call you back in a few minutes and try you  
again.  
9:39 AM: Rose Geronimo, CAG Minnesota Fund, appeared via phone.  
[Legislative Hearing Officer, Joanna Zimny, gives background process]  
Staff report given by Jillian Barden: These are properties that are vacant buildings that  
were not utilizing our service in Quarter 1 2026 and were billed for service in Q1 2026.  
Staff placed an Unoccupied Dwelling Registration on the account to pause future  
billing. Staff recommend removing the assessments.  
Zimny: When did the UDRF get put in with Public Works?  
Barden: We have a start date of July 1, 2026.  
Zimny: Do you know when these went into the Vacant Building?  
Barden: 686 Sheburne was April 4, 2025 and 719 Sherburne was April 25, 2025.  
Zimny: What led you to appeal these two garbage bills?  
Geronimo: We saw the assessment fees for some garbage bills and since the  
properties were vacant, we contacted the city to see if these can be dismissed and no  
one is living there.  
Zimny: I am familiar with CAG Minnesota Fund, and I do know as a general rule, you  
do this as a business and should know how the garbage rules work in the St. Paul by  
now. Any comments on that?  
Geronimo: Actually, it’s bank owned property.  
Zimny: Are you rehabbing? I did happen to see both properties are listed for sale. I  
am guessing you found these p pending assessments when doing title search?  
Geronimo: this was given to the staff person, the real estate agent and then we saw  
the assessments.  
Zimny: I have talked with Lisa many times and I believe she knows the process and  
doing the business in St Paul for quite a few years now. I know Ms. Barden had  
recommended deletion of these vacant buildings, but we don’t generally do that unless  
the property owner dies or not, so I am going to approve these assessments. Council  
public hearing date for both of them is Sept 16. We can send follow up information. If  
Ms. Proechel has any questions, she may reached out to us. I don’t believe any policy  
reason this would be deleted.  
Geronimo: What quarter is this, Quarter 1?  
Zimny: January of 2026.  
Geronimo: Ok.  
Referred to the City Council due back on 9/16/2026  
Ratifying the Appealed Special Tax Assessment for property at 1018 VAN  
BUREN AVENUE. (File No. YW26Q1B1, Assessment No. 260501)  
8
RLH TA 26-206  
Bowie  
Sponsors:  
Delete the assessment.  
No one appeared.  
Staff report given by Jillian Barden: This property owner passed away prior to using  
service. The Saint Paul Yard Waste season for 2026 runs from April 13 to November  
13, however the property owner passed away on April 23, 2026. The property owner did  
not have an opportunity to use subscription service. Staff recommends removing the  
assessment.  
Zimny: REC deletion. This is in alignment with our policy in the past when people  
passed away.  
Referred to the City Council due back on 9/16/2026