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, September 13, 2022  
9:00 AM  
Room 330 City Hall & Court House/Remote  
9:00 a.m. Hearings  
Remove/Repair Orders  
RLH RR 22-22  
1
Ordering the rehabilitation or razing and removal of the structures at 1508  
COMO AVENUE within fifteen (15) days after the June 8, 2022, City  
Council Public Hearing. (Refers to June 28, 2022 Legislative Hearing)  
Jalali  
Sponsors:  
Layover to LH October 11, 2022 at 9 am for update on title status. Building only CCI  
application to be submitted by COB September 30, 2022.  
Christopher Boylan, interested party, appeared  
Moermond: you have a letter hear from your attorney indicating they are engaged to  
work on title issues for the property. Have they indicated any sort of timeline?  
Boylan: candidly, I have had difficulty getting returned calls. She explained at the start  
if she can find a descendent it is quick. She can get sign off from them, so I interpret  
this as good news. Seemed like we could get closure of title quickly so I can move to  
sell. I have e a realtor signed up with interested investors. I would like to think this  
could resolve quickly, but she’s causing me a lot of stress by not responding in a  
timely fashion. I’m paying her by the hour. I think if I switch attorneys I’m starting over  
and it may take longer. This is a large firm; I’m not sure what her deal is.  
Moermond: is she the attorney?  
Boylan: yes. She’s pretty senior which is maybe why this is taking longer.  
Moermond: seems like it is kind of at the skip tracing phase but now they’ve found a  
family member. More an investigatory phase.  
Boylan: the assistant seems like she’s on top of it. Maybe it is normal. I’m going to  
schedule a meeting when we’re done here to try and pin her down on how long this will  
take. I need closure on this. I just don’t know how to make it go any faster.  
Moermond: you will have an interest in a property that is 2 dimensional if this doesn’t  
go faster. We’re 3 months later, I do have that Performance Deposit and inspection  
which is great. But I have no prospects of seeing any kind of work plan, contract for  
partnership to develop, evidence of financing. I know you understand, so I want you to  
communicate that to your attorney that this isn’t just “boy it would be nice to figure it  
out”. The Council’s patience isn’t unlimited. What would you like today?  
Boylan: I know what I need to do with the attorney. It won’t be done. I need more time;  
I just don’t know how long that time is. Based upon her performance I’d say probably a  
month.  
Moermond: attorneys do this all the time. I will give you one more month. Your attorney  
needs to really perform. This is the first letter I even have from her.  
Boylan: you have a letter from her before.  
Moermond: oh I do. June 28th.  
Boylan: I think there was a built-in lag while she did this court thing to find the  
descendants. She told me in July it would take about six weeks. I’m not sure when she  
got that back.  
Moermond: and they found someone and it was a dead stop.  
Boylan: I’m pushing her as hard as I can. I have no clue if a month is reasonable.  
Moermond: every case is different. She thought it was resolvable in six weeks. This  
letter at the end of the six week says she’s found someone.  
Boylan: and I don’t know next steps. If it involves court, or just a signature.  
Moermond: one more month and we need a new progress report. I need a plan of  
action at that point; something to hang my hat on. October 11th hopefully we’ll be in a  
place where we’re much closer to clear title.  
Laid Over to the Legislative Hearings due back on 10/11/2022  
RLH RR 22-28  
2
Ordering the rehabilitation or razing and removal of the structures at 733  
FAIRVIEW AVENUE NORTH within fifteen (15) days after the June 22,  
2022, City Council Public Hearing. (Amend to grant 180 days)  
Jalali  
Sponsors:  
Grant 180 day to rehab.  
Stamate Skliris, owner, appeared  
Staff report by Supervisor Joe Yannarelly: a letter was sent August 28 referring the  
matter back to Legislative Hearing today. He was to submit evidence of financing, an  
affidavit, work plan, and maintain the property. No issues there.  
Moermond: and we have some new information submitted. I asked Mr. Bruhn to extend  
that Code Compliance from 2021. We’re operating off that expired code compliance. I  
have a statement of the bidders and their names. Not their specific bids. And then my  
question on financing, it looks like it is a checking account from which money was  
taken, it would have been deposited—wait, the 40k was deposited into checking. Got  
it. So we have money, affidavit, a plan.  
Yannarelly: I have expired permits for electrical and mechanical.  
Moermond: so you need new permits from the contractors in the work plan. So we’d  
expect them to file for the permits. Do you have bids to submit?  
Skliris: I have them from Mr. Rott, the general, and that’s the form that was submitted  
to me.  
Moermond: so this is the scope of work your general prepared, and he’s owning that. I  
can accept that. I think that’s acceptable. Mr. Yannarelly?  
Yannarelly: yes, and there is no problem at the property.  
Moermond: one last thing, the schedule he feels confident on?  
Skliris: yes, I know there’s cement that has to be poured, so the sooner the better.  
Moermond: great. This goes to Council Wednesday, so I will ask them to amend the  
resolution to grant 180 days to abate the nuisance condition. We’ll insert a follow up  
hearing six months from now to see if it was abated. You’ll get that resolution, a letter  
confirming today’s hearing and tomorrow at Council that will be the recommendation  
based on the strength of these materials. Permits could be pulled as soon as Friday.  
Referred to the City Council due back on 9/21/2022  
RLH RR 22-46  
3
Ordering the removal of the structures at 1600 SEVENTH STREET  
WEST within fifteen (15) days after the August 24, 2022, City Council  
Public Hearing. (To refer to December 13, 2022 Legislative Hearing)  
Noecker  
Sponsors:  
Layover to LH October 11, 2022 at 9 am for update on rehabilitation, demolition, and/or  
sale of the property pending CCI.  
Jacob Steen, attorney o/b/o Burger King Corporation, appeared  
Moermond: is the Performance Deposit posted and team inspection applied for?  
Steen: we did post the Performance Deposit and I have scheduled a Code  
Compliance inspection with Mr. Perucca on the 15th. I’ll be there on site myself. We’ve  
changed vendors for maintenance twice to find someone who can provide the level of  
service we require. Unfortunately I drove by this morning and it is a frequent site for  
dumping. We’ll light a fire on them and have engaged them 2 to 3 times a week. We’ve  
spoken with Mr. Magner on the clearing of individuals camping on the site. As of this  
morning they look to have vacated  
Moermond: I think they said it was their possessions not evidence of actual camping.  
There is public land the encampment was on so probably a pass through en route.  
Steen: and the drive through is relatively isolated so probably a good place for storing  
items. I have told my client the importance of that. The final disposition of the property  
depends on that Code Compliance Inspection outcome. I anticipate costs to be higher  
than staff estimates.  
Moermond: is a contractor joining you?  
Steen: Perucca said we could but they won’t discuss things, so he said not to. We  
need that full understanding from the City on the requirements. My ask now is to give  
us some additional time to get inside, we’ll continue to make sure we have people on  
site. This morning I saw it needs attention.  
Moermond: let’s discuss this again October 11 after your contractors have seen the  
inspection report, perhaps real estate appraisers.  
Steen: we do have some questions about title. I think there are some clouds, but  
nothing we can’t clear up.  
Moermond: has the site been maintained?  
Yannarelly: the last order was to remove tree debris and brush in the drive issued last  
week with a compliance of the 20th.  
Steen: we are updating the address, that was one of our weakest link. There was  
nothing on site this morning. We’ll make sure we coordinate with Mr. Yannarelly to  
make sure they stop going into the black hole.  
Moermond: I’m satisfied we’re moving forward the way we need to be. We’ll talk again  
in a month.  
Laid Over to the Legislative Hearings due back on 10/11/2022  
RLH RR 22-30  
4
Ordering the rehabilitation or razing and removal of the structures at 1006  
THIRD STREET EAST within fifteen (15) days after the June 22, 2022,  
City Council Public Hearing. (Amend to grant 180 days)  
Prince  
Sponsors:  
Grant 180 days pending approved financial statement and schedule.  
Jason Stockwell, owner, appeared  
Jerad Landon, JR’s Doors and More, general contractor  
Staff report by Supervisor Joe Yannarelly: performance deposit posted August 29.  
Code Compliance inspection was completed August 16. No problems at the property.  
Moermond: the letter sent July 28?  
Yannarelly: past due real estate taxes, submit affidavit, financing, work plan and  
schedule, and continued maintenance.  
Moermond: so we are halfway there. We have the money with the Performance Deposit  
and the taxes under control, and the inspection report. So we’re at the point where we’re  
looking for the schedule, scope of work. Tell me about that and how you will be  
financing the work.  
Stockwell: we finally got the HVAC bid back this morning.  
Landon: all of the estimates are in.  
Stockwell: I have the affidavit and financing, hoping we can pull permits.  
Landon: we’re thinking around $150,000. No way of knowing until we remove drywall.  
Once we open that up we can get better assessment of final costs.  
Moermond: anything unusual in the bids you saw? Or was it as anticipated?  
Landon: as anticipated.  
Stockwell: expected for him, high for me. But that’s the market now.  
Moermond: tell me about the accountant’s statement you have. Does this include an  
account showing the money is there?  
Stockwell: it is just the affidavit.  
Moermond: we want both the documentation of the financing exists, a line of credit,  
account, and affidavit augments that to say we have the money and we promise we will  
use it exclusively for finishing the project. I’ve had people show me money and then  
buy 2 new houses and the money is gone. It isn’t enforceable but it is a big  
handshake on the record saying you’re going to do that.  
Stockwell: I can email that today.  
Moermond: yep, and as soon as we get that we will review them. I think that should do  
the trick. I’m going to invite you to have a seat, I’ll hear a case while those copies are  
made and we’ll review that paperwork. If everything is ok and we’re in agreement, we  
can green light the permits to happen before it goes to Council. If it doesn’t we’ll talk  
about what it needs to rectify that.  
[recess to review paperwork 9:35 am]  
Yannarelly: looks pretty comprehensive and I’m getting $144,000 in quotes.  
Stockwell: we’ve worked with all of them before. They all have the extra licensing for  
St. Paul.  
Moermond: let’s get that account statement and a calendar on the next six months  
look for getting the job done. Guideposts for what expectations can be so if we get to  
the six month mark we can look back at that and see how we need to adjust course.  
Jerad: is October 16 an accurate start date?  
Moermond: once we have the money and calendar, we can provide immediate  
feedback. I’ll run this by Mr. Magner and Mr. Yannarelly, so potentially pulling permits  
the end of the week.  
Stockwell: we’ll get that schedule to Joanna today.  
Moermond: and a reminder they have to be pulled in person for these types of property.  
Referred to the City Council due back on 9/28/2022  
RLH RR 22-24  
5
Ordering the rehabilitation or razing and removal of the structures at 1457  
THIRD STREET EAST within fifteen (15) days after the June 8, 2022,  
City Council Public Hearing. (Amend to grant 180 days)  
Prince  
Sponsors:  
Layover to LH September 27, 2022 at 9 am. PO to submit: 1) updated financing, 2)  
affidavit, 3) schedule and 4) electrical & building bids.  
Dale Savasten, nephew, appeared  
Carl Berger, owner, appeared  
Staff update by Supervisor Joe Yannarelly: submit evidence of financing, affidavit  
dedicating funds, work plan and schedule and continued maintenance which we have.  
Moermond: so the plans and the money. WE have the inspection report and taxes  
taken care of. Where are you at?  
Savasten: we have secured mechanical and plumbing bids; we are still waiting on  
electric. As of yesterday title is still held up in the County. They are saying it should be  
resolved today. Final electrical today and then we’ll have a scope of work and a  
timeline. If electrical comes in as it says, we’re planning on starting demo the 19th.  
Moermond: when you say demo? Building or interior?  
Savasten: interior.  
Moermond: so you will have a building contractor and bid coming forward?  
Savasten: yes.  
Moermond: this is all good. What are you estimating on cost?  
Savasten: we’re trying to keep it $100,000.  
Moermond: that’s a good goal. City’s guess was exceeding $50,000.  
Savasten: we’re estimating close to $100,000.  
Moermond: was the title behind because it is taking a while to process that? I know  
they don’t do title work if there are taxes owing.  
Savasten: they had to reexamine the title. That’s what they sent as of yesterday. She  
thought she’d have it done yesterday but we haven’t seen anything. So as far as we  
know everything is clear on the title.  
Moermond: as you talk to contractors and think about how you proceed with winter  
coming on. AS your own general what are you thinking you’ll do for managing the next  
six months.  
Savasten: our goal is to be done before the first of the year. The retaining wall might  
be spring. That would be worst case.  
Moermond: how substantial is that wall?  
Savasten: it is bad. Engineering. Every contractor is saying next summer.  
Moermond: I’m not surprised to hear that.  
Yannarelly: that’s what we’re hearing on everything.  
Savasten: we found a couple of contractors that have a gap in work so we’re trying to  
work within their timelines.  
Moermond: I’ll lay this over 2 weeks, September 27. If you have your materials in  
before then and we can see the balance of the items and schedule and the affidavit  
and financing before then, as with the previous case I’d be happy to review and get this  
green-lighted so permits can be pulled sooner than later. We need that schedule.  
Financing.  
Berger: I brought that to you prior.  
Moermond: this last went to Council June 8th, so we’re several months down the line.  
We just want a more current number and then the affidavit. You submitted good  
documentation so I don’t have concerns there really. Just proof you didn’t go buy six  
timeshares.  
Laid Over to the Legislative Hearings due back on 9/27/2022  
RLH RR 22-53  
6
Ordering the rehabilitation or razing and removal of the structures at 39  
HILLTOP LANE within fifteen (15) days after the October 12, 2022, City  
Council Public Hearing. (Grant 180 days)  
Tolbert  
Sponsors:  
Remove within 15 days with no option to repair.  
(After 9/13 hearing PO paid for CCI and posted PD, so it was referred to 9/27 at 9 am -  
JZ)  
No one appeared  
Moermond: we have no contact information for the owner and no one is here. I know  
there was correspondence with the ward 3 office on this.  
Staff report by Supervisor Joe Yannarelly: the building is a one-story, wood frame,  
single-family dwelling with an attached one-stall garage on a lot of 9,148 square feet.  
According to our files, it has been a vacant building since October 15, 2013. The  
current property owner is Leslee G Mogol, per Amanda and Ramsey County Property  
records. On June 16, 2022, 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 June 27, 2022, with  
a compliance date of July 27, 2022. 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 $168,600 on the land and $267,500 on the  
building. Real estate taxes for the first half of 2022 have not been paid. Total amount  
due is $4,579.30, which includes penalty and interest. The vacant building registration  
fees were paid by assessment on November 1, 2021.As of September 12, 2022, a  
Code Compliance Inspection has not been done. As of September 12, 2022, the  
$5,000 performance deposit has not been posted. There have been two summary  
abatement orders since 2013. There have been two work orders issued for  
Garbage/rubbish and Boarding/securing. Code Enforcement Officers estimate the cost  
to repair this structure exceeds $100,000. The estimated cost to demolish exceeds  
$40,000 (interior is in a gross-unsanitary condition; hoarding situation). That can be  
expensive.  
Moermond: I hear it has been a registered Vacant Building for 9 years. The taxes  
haven’t been paid. The Code Compliance Inspection wasn’t’ applied for. No  
Performance Deposit. These are all indicators of abandonment of the property.  
However, we do have relatively good exterior maintenance being done. It is a mixed  
bag. I know it has been a problem for the neighborhood. I’m thinking the property  
value may not have been examined lately given the structure’s conditions. If it has  
been hoarded. Condemned September 25, 2013. Owner occupied and lack of water  
service. It probably has been hoarded since at least 2013.  
Yannarelly: likely a lot of mold and a lot of vermin. It is an extremely nice part of town.  
Moermond: having no one representing the property, I’m going to recommend it is  
removed within 15 days with no option to repair.  
Laid Over to the Legislative Hearings due back on 9/27/2022  
RLH RR 22-54  
7
Ordering the rehabilitation or razing and removal of the structures at 342  
THOMAS AVENUE within fifteen (15) days after the October 12, 2022,  
City Council Public Hearing. (Legislative Hearing October 11, 2022)  
Balenger  
Sponsors:  
Layover to LH September 27, 2022 at 9 am (PO contacted DSI after hearing).  
No one appeared  
Moermond: we have no one here and no one has contacted us to be called in.  
Staff report by Supervisor Joe Yannarelly: The building is a two-story, wood frame,  
single-family dwelling with a detached two-stall garage on a lot of 6,534 square feet.  
According to our files, it has been a vacant building since August 22, 2019. The  
current property owner is Manuel Crespo, per Amanda and Ramsey County Property  
records. On June 17, 2022, 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 June 27, 2022, with  
a compliance date of July 27, 2022. 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 $20,000 on the land and $120,900 on the  
building. Real estate taxes for the first half of 2022 have not been paid. Total amount  
due is $2,903.99 which includes penalty and interest. Taxes for the second half of  
2022 are due on October 17, 2022 in the amount of $2,640.00. The vacant building  
registration fees are due in owing in the amount of $2,459. A Code Compliance  
Inspection was done on December 26, 2019 and has since expired. As of September  
12, 2022, the $5,000 performance deposit has not been posted. There have been  
three Summary Abatement notices since 2019. No work orders have been issued.  
Code Enforcement Officers estimate the cost to repair this structure exceeds  
$100,000. The estimated cost to demolish exceeds $40,000. We sent a Summary  
Abatement Order this morning as well as an NCC order. It may be illegally occupied.  
Moermond: has the Department taken measures to deal with the illegal occupation?  
Yannarelly: we don’t know for sure. According to Inspector Dornfeld he had contact  
with the person and believed it to be illegally occupied from time to time. A neighbor  
called in and said there was drug paraphernalia and it was broken into. We had it  
secured at that time, May of 2022.  
Moermond: No one is here to speak on behalf of the property. With the unpaid taxes  
and lack of action since 2019, again it is puzzling because there are no work orders  
issued, but they aren’t taking steps to fix the building or show up here.  
Yannarelly: the retaining wall needs help, the front of the building needs siding. It looks  
like someone was working on it at times.  
Moermond: so I’ll recommend the Council order it removed within 15 days with no  
option to rehab.  
Laid Over to the Legislative Hearings due back on 9/27/2022  
10:00 a.m. Hearings  
Making Finding on Nuisance Abatements  
RLH RR 22-50  
8
First Making finding on the appealed substantial abatement ordered for  
288 AVON STREET NORTH in Council File RLH RR 22-16.  
Balenger  
Sponsors:  
Grant additional 90 days pending updated schedule. Continue PD.  
Joe Steinmaus, owner, appeared via phone  
Moermond: calling about 288 Avon Street N. We’re at the 6 month mark and need to  
make a finding about where you are at. Mr. Yannarelly is here. We heard from Nathan  
Bruhn he estimates you’re at the 60% mark.  
Steinmaus: I thought about 65%.  
Moermond: you’re passed the 50% mark, which means I can recommend the  
Performance Deposit is continued and no additional money needs to be posted.  
Steinmaus: we added a garage and patio, driveway. I sent pictures to Mai yesterday.  
Hoping to list it for $465,000. Sheetrockers are ready to go after a couple more  
sign-offs.  
Moermond: do you have a schedule you can update since the first is expired?  
Steinmaus: 60 more days it will be done and on the market.  
Moermond: just clock that out for me what will happen in sixty days. I’d prefer going 90  
or 120 in case you have something unexpected.  
Steinmaus: 90 is fine we just want it listed before it gets cold. I’ll get you that  
schedule.  
Moermond: we’ll send this to Council in a couple weeks, with the benefit of the updated  
schedule, I’ll recommend an additional 90 days to complete.  
Referred to the City Council due back on 9/28/2022  
RLH RR 22-51  
9
Second Making finding on the appealed substantial abatement ordered  
for 655 JESSAMINE AVENUE EAST in Council File RLH RR 22-5.  
Yang  
Sponsors:  
Grant additional 180 days pending updated schedule. Continue 10k PD.  
John Ray, owner, appeared via phone  
Wendy Ray, property manager, appeared via phone  
Moermond: we’re following up on 655 East Jessamine.  
Staff update by Supervisor Joe Yannarelly: email from Inspector Bruhn indicates 75%  
complete. There have been no finaled permits yet. It has been maintained.  
Moermond: so we’re at 75%, last time we spoke we were at 15%. So there has been a  
fair bit of progress. How is it going Mr. Ray?  
Ray: it looks pretty nice. We had a City water problem. Nathan found a leak in the  
meter that belongs to the City. They said it was fine, and then when they turned  
everything on it leaked inside. They’re supposed to be replacing it today, or yesterday.  
Moermond: so it was supposed to get replaced yesterday but didn’t?  
Ray: they were supposed to do it 4 months ago. Nathan was going to call and tell them  
they had to. My niece said they showed up yesterday.  
Moermond: I’m glad to hear that. Tell me, I have a schedule having you being done,  
but you aren’t. I typically ask for a fresh schedule to get past the finish line. Is that  
something you can put together?  
Ray: I can have my contractor do that. Now that water is done, everything is roughed  
in. The house is pretty much completed inside.  
Moermond: we’ll look for that updated work plan. How long will they need to develop  
that?  
Ray: he is saying by the end of October. It is so close to being done. Nathan spotted  
another foundation problem, so they had to fix that.  
Wendy Ray: they replaced the meter yesterday. There was loose gate valve they’re  
fixing this week. Then the City will shut off the water, replace that valve, and turn it  
back on. Nathan found a rotting board on the front porch, so they have someone  
coming out to replace that. After that we can work on some of the moisture in the  
basement. Once that is done we’re basically done.  
Moermond: if you contractor could put together a simple statement and schedule of  
what they need to finish, that’s all I need. You gave a nice verbal summary; I just need  
it in writing. You have $10,000 Performance Deposit posted; I will recommend that is  
continued. I’m hearing you’ll be done sooner versus later. I can give up to 180 days. It  
doesn’t mean to have to use it.  
Ray: I want it done.  
Moermond: I understand. I want to make sure you have the time you need, plus.  
Ray: 180 days would be great; we won’t need it hopefully.  
Referred to the City Council due back on 9/28/2022  
Repurchase Application  
RLH OA 22-7  
10  
Making recommendation to Ramsey County on the application of Alexis  
Abreu Rivero for repurchase of tax forfeited property at 923  
WESTMINSTER STREET.  
Brendmoen  
Sponsors:  
Recommend allowing for repurchase.  
Supervisor Joe Yannarelly: the only thing that caught Mr. Magner's eye was it was a  
rental property.  
Moermond: they are saying occupied single family? So an occupied single family  
rental?  
Yannarelly: that’s what Manager Magner is saying. Fair amount of police calls. They  
say it was a change of ownership, Magner says likely a Contract for Deed, that’s why  
they were late. He didn’t see any reason not to approve from the Code Enforcement  
angle.  
Moermond: looking at the 5 year call log from the police, it doesn’t look terrible when  
broken down by year. Looks like maybe a family with some problems renting there.  
The Fire Certificate of Occupancy inspection history indicates a class 3 Rental  
property. It was most recently inspected April 28, 2022. So very current inspection.  
Because it is class C it is scheduled for reinspection next year. That seems consistent  
with not spending money on taxes, not spending money on basic maintenance. But it  
isn’t condemned or revoked. Let’s recommend the Ramsey County Board of  
Commissioners allows for repurchase.  
Referred to the City Council due back on 9/21/2022  
11:00 a.m. Hearings  
Summary & Vehicle Abatement Orders  
RLH SAO 22-40  
11  
Making finding on the appealed nuisance abatement ordered for 769  
HAGUE AVENUE in Council File RLH SAO 22-29.  
Layover to November 15, 2022 (additional extension given by LHO).  
Laid Over to the Legislative Hearings due back on 11/15/2022