--- title: Minutes - Final --- 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 ## 9:00 AM ## Room 330 City Hall & Court House/Remote Tuesday, June 9, 2026 9:00 a.m. Hearings ## Remove/Repair Orders ## RLH RR 26-21 Ordering the rehabilitation or razing and removal of the structures at 799 UNIVERSITY AVENUE WEST within fifteen (15) days after the February 18, 2026 City Council Public Hearing. (Refer back to September 15, ## 2026 Legislative Hearing) ## Sponsors: ## Bowie Refer back to LH September 15, 2026 at 9 am to review work plan / scope of work as updated financing was submitted. Coung Pham, owner, appeared Blaine Kirchert, owner & contractor, appeared Pham: we are out there throwing the junk out. Hoping to start the demo next week, see what can be reused. The architect will be out after that. I’m looking for another architect, but I did pay this one I submitted. Staff update by Supervisor James Hoffman: no complaints, no issues to report. Moermond: I saw basically the architect scope of work. It cost $5,500 to develop this scope of work. I’d really like more detail about the different phases. This is at a grand level. When you estimate pulling a building permit, so on. Pham: I want to do it as fast as I can. I have funds for the demo. Once I get a better idea of the cost, then I can see if I use my own funds or take a loan from the bank. I need 3 bids for the architect. Moermond: we have the Performance Deposit, the property is in your name. All great. You have started with an architect. I think they could prepare your code analysis and based on that initiate permits. Pham: I need a permit to demo the inside. Once that is done the architect will walk through and see what we can get done. I can’t do that until it is gutted and that’s completed. That will take three weeks, and in the meantime I’ll get a couple architects in to do bids. Then I can submit plans to you. Page 1 ## City of Saint Paul June 9, 2026Legislative HearingsMinutes - Final Moermond: I can ask Department of Safety and Inspections issue an interior demo permit, which is separate from the building permit. But you don’t yet have a grant of time to do the rehab yet. I don’t want you spending good money after bad. I think you’re in this, but it isn’t the same as the grant of time to do all of the work. Hoffman: Robert Humphrey knows what is going on, he knows it doesn’t need a Code Compliance Inspection. Since it is commercial it needs a whole code analysis anyway. Moermond: we have planning pieces, and code analysis approved before building permit issued. Attaching contractors to those actions. I need to see you have the money lined up to do the project. I would like any information refreshed once you have a final amount for the rehab. When I have those plans and evidence of financing, I’m happy to recommend the Council give you time to do the work. I’ll ask the Council to refer it back to Legislative Hearing in 90 days, at which point I want to see the bids. The Department of Safety and Inspections will be reviewing the code analysis, but I want to know its going. That brings us to September 15th on the strength of posting the Performance Deposit and you have title in your hands, you are sending in updated financing, all things we were looking for. A good faith effort to get us where we want to be. 90 days to give plans to develop, which seems reasonable given the fire. Referred to the City Council due back on 6/24/2026 ## RLH RR 26-122 Ordering the rehabilitation or razing and removal of the structures at 594-596 REANEY AVENUE within fifteen (15) days after the July 15, 2026, City Council Public Hearing. ## Sponsors: ## Yang Layover to LH July 14, 2026 at 9 am to review work plan, schedule, financing (CPH July 15). Jay Mitchell, contractor, appeared Staff report by Supervisor James Hoffman: The building is a two story, wood frame, duplex on a lot of 6,098 square feet. The property was referred to Vacant Buildings with files opened on August 6, 2009. The current property owner is Quality Residences LLC, per Amanda and Ramsey County Property records. On March 11, 2026, 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 March 18, 2026, with a compliance date of April 17, 2026. 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 $127,800 on the building. Real estate taxes are current. The vacant building registration fees were paid by assessment on September 3, 2024. As of June 8, 2026, a Code Compliance Inspection has been paid for but not conducted. As of June 8, 2026, the $5,000 performance deposit has not been posted. There have been eleven Summary Page 2 ## City of Saint Paul June 9, 2026Legislative HearingsMinutes - Final Abatement Notices since 2009. There have been eight work orders issued for: ## Garbage/rubbish, Boarding/securing, Tall grass/weeds and Snow/ice. Code Enforcement Officers estimate the cost to repair this structure exceeds $100,000. The estimated cost to demolish exceeds $35,000. Moermond: first thing I notice is it has been a Vacant Building for 17 years. Code Compliance was applied for yesterday, so 2 or 3 weeks out. Should be done before the Council Public Hearing. Could we email Clint Zane and ask to expedite it? Hoffman: ok. Mitchell: it is one of many properties he owns. He’s owned it 8 or 9 years. It is on his radar now. I did put in for the Performance Deposit and hope to have it today or tomorrow and I’ll submit it. Moermond: that sounds great. You’ve done a walk through? Thoughts in terms of what needs to be done? Mitchell: we’ll be reding everything start to finish. Down to studs and back from there. Moermond: is it going to continue to be a duplex? Mitchell: yes. He’d love to get an ADU too. Moermond: it is a big parcel. Looks like they’ve been 11 Summary Abatement Orders in 17 years isn’t even one a year. And I’d imagine most of those happened after it was originally made a Vacant Building. Mitchell: now it has been turned over to me, I will be managing it personally. Checking grass, broken windows, squatters, things like that. Moermond: do you think this is one you can start right away? When would you start? Mitchell: we’re closing one up now. Hopefully within 30 days from July. Moermond: so September 1 let’s say. How long a job is it? Mitchell: realistically, probably 9 months. Moermond: so we’ll have to revisit at the 180 day mark and you’ll be looking for additional time. If you are at the 50% mark that Performance Deposit will be continued. No new one required. That would be your first goal. [discussion of Vacant Building fees and billing after cyber attack July 2025] Moermond: it seems realistic to have a conversation with you July 14, before the Council Public Hearing July 15. You’ll have the Code Compliance and can develop things. If you have the evidence of financing and Code Compliance Inspection in hand, no question I’d ask for more time to develop the other things. We’ll talk the 14th. If things are together you’ll get the time on the 15th, if not we’ll figure out next steps to pull things together. Referred to the City Council due back on 7/15/2026 Page 3 ## City of Saint Paul June 9, 2026Legislative HearingsMinutes - Final ## Making Finding on Nuisance Abatements 3 ## RLH RR 26-11 Making finding on the appealed substantial abatement ordered for 1079 ARKWRIGHT STREET in Council File RLH RR 25-31. (Amend to grant additional 180 days) ## Sponsors: ## Kim Grant additional 180 days and continue original $5,000 PD (additional $5,000 posted as required). Moermond: the conditions were in place we needed an updated work plan, financing, and additional Performance Deposit to recommend another 180 days. That all happened, so when this goes to Council tomorrow my recommendation will be to grant an additional 180 days and continue original Performance Deposit. Referred to the City Council due back on 6/10/2026 10:00 a.m. Hearings ## Special Tax Assessments ## RLH AR 26-434 Ratifying the assessment for Demolition of Vacant, Nuisance and/or Hazardous Structure from the month of March 2026. (File No. J2606C, ## Assessment No. 262005) ## Sponsors: ## Noecker Referred to the City Council due back on 7/15/2026 11:00 a.m. Hearings ## Making Finding on Nuisance Abatements 5 ## RLH SAO 26-37 Second Making finding on the appealed nuisance abatement ordered for 1478 AMES AVENUE in Council File RLH SAO 26-32. (Public hearing continued to June 10, 2026) ## Sponsors: ## Yang The nuisance is not abated. No one appeared Tried calling 11:36 am: unable to leave a message; voicemail box not set up. Moermond: findings are the same as last week when we talked to him, the nuisance is not abated. Referred to the City Council due back on 6/10/2026 Page 4 ## City of Saint Paul June 9, 2026Legislative HearingsMinutes - Final 6 ## RLH SAO 26-45 Making finding on the appeal of Emmett Owens, Jr., to the nuisance abatement ordered for 233 BATES AVENUE in Council File RLH SAO 26-28. ## Sponsors: ## Johnson The nuisance is not abated. Voicemail left at 11:38 am: this is Marcia Moermond from St. Paul City Council calling to update on the conditions on the property form the orders. We were just checking in after last week’s hearing. Things appear to be largely the same. My recommendation will remain the same. Again, the Council Public Hearing is tomorrow afternoon. Referred to the City Council due back on 6/10/2026 7 ## RLH SAO 25-81 Making finding on the appealed nuisance abatement ordered for 239 BATES AVENUE in Council File RLH SAO 25-60. ## Sponsors: ## Johnson The nuisance is not abated. Voicemail left at 11:38 am: this is Marcia Moermond from St. Paul City Council calling to update on the conditions on the property form the orders. We were just checking in after last week’s hearing. Things appear to be largely the same. My recommendation will remain the same. Again, the Council Public Hearing is tomorrow afternoon. Referred to the City Council due back on 6/10/2026 8 ## RLH SAO 26-41 Second Making finding on the appealed nuisance abatement ordered for 399 BLAIR AVENUE in Council File RLH SAO 26-16. (Public Hearing continued to June 24, 2026; Legislative Hearing on June 23, 2026) ## Sponsors: ## Bowie Continue CPH to June 24, 2026. LH June 23rd for update on nuisance conditions. Nyar Pwo, owner, appeared via phone Mitch Hadler, attorney and friend, appeared via phone Moermond: today we’re reviewing the file to see if any updated in the recommendation should be made before tomorrow’s Council Public Hearing. The requirement in the resolution gave a April 1, May 1 deadline for vehicles, and June 1 to have building permit pilled or construction materials removed, and August 1 for the brick patio installed or bricks removed. So all the other items aside from the bricks should be done today. I know we pushed the deadline on the other items as sort of an information extension. Staff update by Supervisor Lisa Martin :we met with the owner and walked through the backyard. Less vehicles than there were, those are in compliance. New vehicles on the property, one does appear inoperable, but we couldn’t verify. There was a permit application, but it wasn’t issued. It needed more information and to be resubmitted. The area behind the garage the owner refused access to. Moermond: so vehicles in compliance. Permit application was denied when it was made, so the construction materials aside from bricks should be removed. Another Page 5 ## City of Saint Paul June 9, 2026Legislative HearingsMinutes - Final storage area, but it wasn’t confirmed because access was denied. Hadler: we’re working on a drawing for the application and that’s expensive. We’re working towards moving forward with the permit process. The issue was with the drawing. Moermond: this expectation has been in place for quite a long time. The building materials need to find a different home, and once you get the permit Hadler: the building materials are contained, either wrapped or in a shed. Moermond: I have photos from this morning Ms. Martin, but I don’t see construction materials. What was the observation? Martin: wood stacked onto the shed, the unapproved shed, and OSB is completely exposed. Then behind the house by the back door there are a bunch, plus the hidden area behind the garage we didn’t have access to. In the past it has been storage. Hadler: there are sheds there, those aren’t illegal. They’re the right size. Materials anywhere are covered. They aren’t exposed. They’re in the garage or covered up. Not exposed. They’re allowed to be covered up. It is a big lot. Everyone has stuff in their yards and next to their garages. Nothing out of the ordinary here. The materials are neatly in place and the structure hasn’t gone forward because we’re waiting on that permit. This isn’t illegal. It is a private residential property. Moermond: and I’m not going to re-hear that. Council already made a finding. I’m here to make a finding on the building materials. I don’t have in the photos building materials stored outside, though I will note tarps are not protection. Martin: a lot of wood isn’t covered, it is just attached to the shed. And there’s just a covered area. Moermond: so that area just because it is exposed to the weather. I’m thinking that those boards and lumber should be stored on the inside of the shed structure. I did hear the comment about the exterior walls weren’t of proper material, but that isn’t in front of me right now. I’ll take no action at all on the addition materials are done with. If that can be moved inside the shed so it is covered then I can live with it as being abated. I don’t want it covered up. I want it moved from the outside in. The goal is to put it to use right now, or be properly stored. Put it away, and when you get your permit and take action then they’re in use and it is a different situation. Pwo: can we get a month? Moermond: no. Hadler: three weeks? Moermond: no, the deadline has come and gone. Hadler: alright, 2 weeks then. Moermond: at the hearing tomorrow I’ll ask them to continue it two weeks, to June 24th. I’ll make a finding then on whether it is complete on June 23. Page 6 ## City of Saint Paul June 9, 2026Legislative HearingsMinutes - Final Referred to the City Council due back on 6/10/2026 9 ## RLH SAO 26-27 Second Making finding on the appealed nuisance abatement ordered for 1377 MINNEHAHA AVENUE EAST in Council File RLH SAO 26-19. (Public hearing continued to June 10, 2026) ## Sponsors: ## Johnson The nuisance is abated and matter resolved pending removal of trailer contents from property. Voicemail left at 12:11 pm: Hi Mary, this is Marcia Moermond from St. Paul City Council checking in on where things are at. Fantastic progress. Just the one trailer of items to be taken care of. 95% done, aside from the trailer, hoping that can be gone by the weekend. A crew won’t come out until next week if that isn’t done. Give us a call if something comes up and that doesn’t work. Referred to the City Council due back on 6/10/2026 Page 7 ## City of Saint Paul