06-974City of St. Paul
RESOLUTION RATIF'YING ASSESSMENT
AMENDED 10/18/2006
COUNCIL FILE NO. Q -
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By ' ��
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Eile No. SEE BELOW
Assessment No. SEE�BELOW
Voting
Ward In the matter of the assessment of benefits, cost and expenses for
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J0603E2 (8256) Summary abatement for the excessive consumption of inspection
services for property code violations on 934 Hampden billed during the time period
from 3anuary 30, 2006 to April 9, 2006.
LAID OVER BY COUNCIL ON 9-20-06 TO 10-18-06
A public hearing having been had upon the assessment for the above
improvement, and said assessment having been further considered by the Council, and
having been considered finally satisfactory, therefore, be it
RESOL�7ED, That the said assessment be and the same is hereby in all respects
ratified.
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the said assessment be and it is hereby determined to
be �h,� ,,,,o �i �+�i,mo„+�
deleted
Yeas Nays Absent
Benanav �
Bostrom �
Harris �/
Helgen �
Lantry �/
Montgomery �
Thune s�
/ U
Adopted by CounciL• Date � ��Jj/�
Adoption Certified by Council Secretary
BY = /A� .t�si>�
Approved a�A�� e ` L3'C7�
By:
� Green Sheet i
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PW — �bL'eworkc
Contad Person & Phone:
Juan Oritz
266-8864
Must Be on Council Aaeni
Doc. Type: 07HER (DOESNT FfiANY CA
E-0ocumentRequired: Y
Document ContaM: IGm Robi�on
Confact Phone: 266-8856
Sheet Green Sheet Green Sheet Green Sheet Green Sheet �
�0"I� l� / �- �� 0��9�� f - LI�
'10-OCT-06
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Assign
Number
For
Routing
Order
Tofal # of SignaW re Pages _(Clip All Locations for Signature)
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Green Sheet NO: 3033469 ���
Depar6nent SentToPerson Inih�
0 lic Wor Juan �a
1 ouocil Ma Eri n
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At Council's request on 9-20-06 this item was laid over to 10-18-06, summary abatement for the excessive consump6on of inspection
services for property code violarions on 934 Hampden billed during the time period from January 30, 2006 to April 9, 2006. File N�
J0603E2
Recommendations: Appro�e (A) or R
Planning Commission
CIB Committee
Citil Service Commission
1. Has this persoNfirtn e�er wurked under a contract for this deparlment?
Yes No
2. Has this persor✓Timi e�er been a city employee?
Yes No
3. Does this persoNfirtn possess a skill nM nortnaily possessed by any
cument city empioyee?
Yes No
Explain all yes answers on separate sheet and attach to green sheet
Initiating Problem, lssues, Opportunity (Who, What, When, Wher¢, Why):
Property owners or renters create a health hazard at various times fluoughout the Ciry of Saint Paul when their property is not kept up.
The City is required by City code to clean up the property and chazge the property owner for tt�e cost of the clean up.
Advanqges HApproved:
Cost recovery programs to recover expenses for summary abatements, grass cutting, towing of abandoned vehicles, demolitions,
gazbage hauling and boardings-up.
DisadvantaneslfApproved: ri� ;���%�'i` -,. '
None �'��� �
_ ��� � � �
Disadvantages If Not Approved:
If Council does not approve these charges, general fund would be required to pay the assessment.
��Transaetion: 95
Funding Source:
CosURevenue Budgeted:
Activity Number.
Financial h�foTmation:
(Expiain) � Properry owner wil] be norified of the public hearing and chazges.
Ocfober 10, 2006 1:22 PM Page 1
City of St. Paul
Real Estate Division
Dept. of Technology & Management Serv.COUNCIL FILE NO.�����sf —
�-
REPORT OF COMPLETION OF ASSESSNIENT File No. SEE BELOW
Assessment No. SEE BELOW
Voting
Ward In the matter of the assessment of benefits, cost and expenses for
J0603E2 (8256) Summary abatement for the excessive consumption of inspection
services for property code violations on 934 Hampden billed during the time period
from January 30, 2006 to April 9, 2006.
T•n3D OVER BY COUNCIL ON 9-20-06 TO 10-18-06
To the Council of the City of St. Paul
The Valuation and Assessment Engineer hereby reports to the Council the
following as a statement of the expenditures necessarily incurred for and in
connection with the making of the above improvement, viz:
Total costs $75.00
Parks Admin Fee $
Charge-Code Enforcement $
Real Estate Service Charge $20.00
TOTAL EXPENDITURES
Charge To
Net Assessment
$95.00
$95.00
Said Valuation and Assessment Engineer further reports that he has assessed and
levied the total amount as above ascertained, to-wit: the sum of $95.00 upon each
and every lot, part or parcel of land deemed benefitted by the said improvement, and
in the case of each lot, part or parcel of land in accordance with the benefits
conferred thereon; that the said assessment has been completed, and that hereto
attached, identified by the signature of the said Valuation and Assessment Engineer,
and made a part hereof, is the said assessment as completed by him, and which is
herewith submitted to the Council for such action thereon as ay be considered
proper. .�'�� s;.�
Dated l0 60 �
on AnQP Assessment Enaineer
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September 19, 2006 Legislative Hearing
305 Bur�ess (J0608A)
No one appeazed; Ms. Moermond recommended approving the assessment.
934 Ham_pden Avenue (70603E)
Mr. Steven Van Houten appeared.
Page 8
0�-�
Mr. Betz reported that Orders were issued on July 23, 2004 to repair siding, pealing paint,
missing aluminum fascia, scrap and paint boards on the north and south sides of the garage and
paint the primary structure with a compliance date of September 13, 2004.
Mr. Van Houten stated that he is trying to find out how he can stop the re-issuing of these
Excessive Consumption charges. He hasn't been able to comply because he is restoring this
property, which has been a long process. Now, they are down to bare underlayment on the
structure. They keep finding more and more problems. He doesn't understand why the City is
not aclaiowledging that progress is being made. Initially, they did the garage work; they got rid
of the aluminum on the house; they re-did the soffit and started on the siding; they also put in
new windows. He is trying to see how he can get this re-inspection thing shut-off; talking with
the inspectors doesn't seem to get it done. And, it doesn't seem that the inspectors on this side
talk with the building people at all.
Ms. Moermond stated that this is a complicated issue. All she has in front of her is a$50.00 tax
assessment, but there are outstanding Orders and there are a bunch of permits pulled at this time.
She asked that a meeting be set-up with a representative from NHPI, a representative from
Building and figure out a plan with firm deadlines for the clean-up of this properry. Ms
Moermond asked Mr. Betz who the key inspector is for this property. Mr. Betz stated that it is
Ed Smith. Mr. Van Houten stated that Mr. Steve Toensing was the Building Inspector he was
working with. So, Ms. Moermond asked Ms. Birkholz to set-up a meeting with Ed Smith, Steve
Toensing, Mr. Van Houten and herself for 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, September 26, 2006. Mr. Van
Houten said that Steve Toensing had said they are making good progress.
Ms. Moermond stated that if a Work Plan can be worked out next Tuesday, September 26, 2006,
she will delete the assessment.
15 East Jessamine (70603E)
No one appeared; Ms. Moermond recommended approving the assessment.
537 Mount Curve
Resolution ordering the owner to remove or repair the building(s) at 537 Mt. Curve
Boulevard. Tf the owner fails to comply with the resolufion, Neighborhood Housing and
Property Improvement (NAPn is ordered to remove the building. (Laid over from
September 5.)
Olo• t1�
MINUT`ES OF THE LEGISLATIVE HEARING
ORDERS TO REMOVE/REPAIR, CONDEMNATIONS, ABATEMENT ASSESSMENTS,
ABATEMENT ORDERS, RENTAL REVOCATION CERTIFICATES
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Room 330 Ciry Hall, 15 Kellogg Boulevard West
Mazcia Moermond, Legislative Hearing Officer
The hearing was called to order at 130 p.m.
Staff Present: Paula Seeley, Neighborhood Housing and Properry Improvement (NHPI); David
Palm, City Attorney's Office;
Appeal of Steven Van Houten for an E%cessive Consumption charge at 934 Hamnden
Avenue. (Rescheduled from 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, September 19, 2006.)
Ms. Moermond stated that at the last hearing, they had talked about a tas assessment for
Excessive Consumption of Code Enforcement Services. She understood from the Ward office
(Jay Benenav and Jane Prince) as well, that perhaps there had been some miscommunicarion to
Mr. Van Houten from Building officials versus Code Enforcement officials. There is this tax
assessment and perhaps some to be forthcoming. Mr. Van Houten added that now he has a Court
Order, related to the same thing. Ms. Moermond noted that this criminal citation changes her
idea about working something out through discussion. Mr. Palm has agreed that if a workable
plan can be developed to get this fixed, there's a possibility the plan could be brought into court
as a settlement for the criminal citation. In other words, Mr. Van Houten might be able to
accomplish two (2) goals today if he is willing to commit to getting some of this work done in a
particular time frame. The Ward office has worked with both the Building officiai and the Code
Enforcement official, and they will support Mr. Palm and Ms. Moermond's recommendation
from this hearing, sight unseen. The Building officials have decided not to own this anymore;
iYs now in the hands of Code Enforcement. Both the City Council and the District Council have
received numerous complaints about the condirion of the property.
Ms. Moermond has seen photographs and also the reports. She asked Mr. Van Houten about his
plans. Mr. Houten responded that it has been an on-going problem. The first building permit he
received was in 2004. They (he and his wife) had a lot of problems with the aluminum fascia
that was deteriorating. They took off a front porch that was falling apart. The property was in
bad shape when they bought it, and they kept finding more and more problems. The worst thing
was that when they took off some siding to fix a window problem, they found some rim joist
issues. Apparently, some previous owner had poured sidewalk above the level of the foundation.
They acquired the property in 1997, and have been working on it ever since. There were some
family problems that needed to deal with, as well. The main work on the building started in
2004. A required paint job turned into a nightmare. They couldn't get anyone to bid on the job
the way it needed to be done. It had been a shingled properiy and no one wanted to touch it
because it was such a big job, so they started it themselves. They kept fmding more and more
rotten places as they proceeded. They finally decided to take off the siding (tbree layers),
revealing a lot of window issues that had been covered up with aluminuxn. It was a bad cover-up
job and so everything underneath was rotting. Now, they are in the process of getting all the
historic windows to work. The house was built around 1901, and iYs had a hard life.
Unfortunately, iYs located in an area that is trying to go upscale. They have a mortgage with
some equity.
September 26, 2006 Minutes of the Legislative Hearing
�L.- q,
Page 2
Ms. Moermond noted the huge undertaking of this project and suggested that it was time to call
in professionals. Mr. Van Houten responded that they have done some of that, and iYs been a
nightmare. They have been hying to find a good contractor for the siding work. They'd like to
do James Hardy siding or something similar. Ms. Moermond asked if there was a garage or a
shed on the properly. Mr. Van Houten answered that there was a garage; it's filled with tools
and equipment. IYs too small for his vehicles. Ms. Moermond noted that when she looks at the
photographs, she sees many things outside that need to be stored properly; there are a lot of
buckets. Mr. Van Houten stated that the buckets are part of an on-going excavation which really
can't be seen on the photos. Because this properry is on an embanlanent, one can't get big
equipment near it; so, all of the excavating needs to be done by hand with buckets and
wheelbanows. Ms. Moermond suggested that the buckets can not stay outside when they are not
working on it. The yard needs to get cleaned-up and the construction materials need to be
properly stored when they're not in use. Mr. Van Houten explained that some of the buckets aze
there to catch water to keep it from going into the basement; and a lot of that water is used for
gardening. Ms. Moermond stated that the buckets have got to go. A system can be put into
place to capture water from the roof for gardening; a system thaYs code compliant.
Ms. Moermond said that the situation looks out of control to her. Mr. Van Houten needs to put
together a plan on how this is all going to get done. The City needs a commitment from him to
finish the project and clean-up the yard. From the photographs, Ms. Moermond sees white
plastic containers, scaffolding, scrap wood propped up against the house, wood products, etc.
Ms. Moermond asked Mr. Van Houten whether he works. He responded that he works as a
contract engineer. Sometimes, he's out of town for days; sometimes for weeks.
Ms. Moermond asked if there were deadlines on the Conection Orders for the different jobs.
Ms. Seeley replied that there were a few; Mr. Van Houten is past due on all the Orders on the
house. He was supposed to be in compliance back in 2004; then again, this past spring (2006).
The first Order that was sent out was in July 2004. Mr. Van Houten added that it was for
painting and soffit repair. Ms. Seeley noted that the last Order was sent out with a deadline of
June 2005.
Mr. Palm stated that he and Ms. Seeley were discussing this before the hearing and have come
up with some completion dates. The entire yard should be cleaned-up (spotless) by October 16,
2006; the siding and the roof done by the end of November, 2006. Mr. Van Houten noted that he
is waiting for three (3) windows from the Restoration Shop. Mr. Palm added that this yazd is the
worst he's seen and it needs to be cleaned-up. Mr. Van Houten said that he would like to be
done on those dates he had intended to be done before now. Both the installation work and the
front part of the house should be completed by the end of this weekend. Mr. Palm stated that if
the yard is not cleaned-up by the agreed upon date, then Ms. Seeley will have a City work crew
go out to clean it up, which will be very expensive ($225 per hour, plus administrative service
fees). Then, it will be brought into Court, where Mr. Van Houten will face additional fines / jail
time. A misdemeanor is punishable by ninety (90) days andior $1,000 fine.
Ms. Moermond suggested that there are places to go to apply for a loan, which in some cases, are
forgivable loans. Mr. Van Houten responded that since he is self-employed and doesn't haue
good enough credit, he's not a good candidate for a loan. Ms. Seeley pointed out that there are
grants available, up to $10,000, depending on a person's income.
Ms. Moermond asked about the difficulty of getting help to do the work. Mr. Van Houten stated
that he has had no problem with that. He said that he knows a couple of carpenters to call up
when he needs help and he can call a relative or two. Ae doesn't have a problem getting labor.
O(,P,-q��l
October 17, 2006 Minutes of the Legislative Hearing
934 Hamnden Avenue (J0603E1)
.,:_,
(Laid over from September 19 and September 26; according to minutes, this is an update from
staf�
Per Steve Manger, an update was unavailable as the inspector was not in the office on 10l17/06.
Ms. Moermond contacted the inspector on 10/18/06 who stated that over 50% of the work had
been completed and she had granted the owner an extension to Friday, Oct. 20. Ms. Moermond
recommended deleting the assessment.