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A single-family rental property on Robert Street is at risk of eviction due to code violations. Other City Council business included zoning and code changes, a branding update, LTS expansion, and more.
1064 Robert Rental License Review
Council reviewed the rental license of a single-family rented home at 1064 Robert Street. The property has a history of license issues and in the past year has had 13 police calls and eight code violations. Staff is recommended a provisional license with a number of conditions to address the issues.
- Issues: The main issues are the code violations, which include litter, inoperable vehicles, and failure to clear sidewalks of snow. Council Member Doug Fromm said he drove by the house that day and saw multiple issues, from overflowing trash to broken screens. Council Member Pat Armon described watching someone in a wheelchair have to go into Robert Street to get around the unshoveled sidewalk.
- Response: The owner, Khue Dang, appeared in person, along with her son via video call to help translate. Dang seemed to blame her tenant for the issues and didn’t have clear answers when the Council asked why the problems continued.
- Solution: With several members leaning toward denying the rental license entirely, Council unanimously voted to table the review to the next meeting. Denying the rental license would effectively evict the tenant, and Council wanted to notify the tenant of the potential action and give Dang a chance to make progress.
Expiring Conditional Use Permits
Council unanimously approved the first reading of a new ordinance to expire conditional use permits (CUPs):
- What: A CUP is required for a number of uses that might need special review. This often gives the city more authority to guide what goes where, for example if there are too many auto parts stores or if the city wants to limit drive thrus.
- Why: CUPs currently “run with the land,” which means once approved, they are tied to the property, regardless of the current use. So if a business gets a CUP, then goes out of business, and a new business comes in wanting to operate on the existing CUP, they can do so without any city approval. This change would require the new business to get a new CUP.
- Change: The proposed ordinance would expire CUPs if the use is discontinued for one year, as well as a few other cases.
Other Items on the Agenda
- Branding & engagement update: During Open Council Work Session (OCWS), staff gave an update on branding and engagement efforts, including character development, Explore West St. Paul Days events, and community activities. The update focused on unveiling new characters known as WiSPs that will be slowly rolled out to help build character, interest, and engagement. They’re quirky and fun, part of a new push to make city communication more interesting.
- Zoning: During the OCWS, Council discussed a number of changes to the zoning code. Mostly it’s housekeeping and making it more accessible, but staff was seeking a number of changes, including relaxing rules around used merchandise stores and medical/dental use. These will come forward at a future meeting for official approval.
- Expansion: Council unanimously approved a 2,600-square-foot expansion to one of the LTS buildings (formerly Tapemark). It’s a relatively minor project and was approved unanimously by the Planning Commission with no comment during the public hearing.
- Fixed: Council adopted St. Paul Regional Water’s policies and rules, something that was required in a 2001 agreement but never actually done.
- New staff: The city’s new communications and engagement coordinator, Cole McKinney, introduced himself. With experience with the City of Minneapolis, the Vikings, and the Timberwolves, McKinney is already bringing new energy to the city’s communication efforts, particularly on social media.
Engage
- Watch: City Council and OCWS meetings are archived online. You can also watch a video recap from Council Members Robyn Gulley and John Justen.
- Learn more: Guide to West St. Paul City Council.
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