10-17CITY
Presented by
1 WHEREA , adverse action was taken against the Cigazette/Tobacco license held by Piazza Mazket,
2 LLC d/b/a Piazza rket (License ID#20080001922) for the premises located at 512 Snelling Avenue
3 North in Saint Paul, Notice of Violation dated November 25, 2009, alleging that on November 13,
4 2009, a clerk at the lice ee's establishment sold tobacco products to a minor in violation of Minn. Stat.
5§609.685 and Saint Paul gislative Code §324.07; and
6
7 WHEREAS, per Saint aui L,egislative Code §324.11 (b) (1), the licensing office recommended a
8 $200.00 matrix penalty; and
9
10 WHEREAS, licensee did no espc
11 or request a hearing; and
12
13 WHEREAS, the Notice of Violati
14 penalty or request a hearing by December
15 to impose the recommended penalty; now
16
to the Notice of Violation to pay the $200.00 matrix penalty
stated that if the licensee failed to pay the $200.00 matrvc
2009, that the matter would be placed on the consent agenda
�refore, be it
17 RESOLVED, that Piazza Market, LLC /a Piazza Market is hereby ordered to pay a matrix
18 penalty of $200.00 for the sale of tobacco product to a minor on November 13, 2009 in violation of Minn.
19 Stat. §609.685 and Saint Paul I,egislative Code §32 07. Payment of such penalty shall be made within
20 thirty days of the date of the adoption of this resolutio .
Yeas Nays Absent
B ostrom
Carter
Harris
Helgen
Lanhy
Stark
Thune
Adopted by Council: Date
Adoption Certified by Council Secretary
By:
Approved by Mayor: Date
By:
WITHDRAWN 1/06/10 CouncilFile# 10-1�
Green Sheet # � r J �]
RESOLUTION
= SAWT PASJL, MINNESOTA °�
by Departr�n[ of:
�
Form Approved,by City
By:
Form
By:
Council
�0-17
Green Sheet Green Sheet Green Sheet Green Sheet Green Sheet Green heet
i DepartmentlOfficelCounciL• ' Date initiated:
�, S � _Dept.ofSafety8lnspec[ions �»aEC2009 ; Green Sheet NO: 3092377
�
� Contact Person & Phone:
� Virpinia D. Palmer
266-8710
;� Must Be on Council/� enda a(Date� �
06JAN-10 � y �u 1
', Doc. Type: RESOLUTION
E-Document Requfred: Y
Document Contact:
Contact Phone:
�► °
i 1
Assign � 2
Number ! 3
For ;
Routing j 4
Order i, 5
��
Total # of Sig Pages _(Clip All L ocat i o n s f or Signature)
Action Requested:
Approval of the attached resolution to take adverse action against the Cigazette/Tobacw license held by Piazza Mazket, LLC d/b/a
Piazza Mazket (License ID#20080001922) for the premises located at 512 Snelling Avenue Nor[h in Saint Paul.
Recommendations: Approve (A) or Reject (R):
Planning Commission
CIB Committee
Civil Service Commission
Personal Service Contrads Must Answer the Following Questions:
t. Has this persoNfirm ever worked under a contrect for this department?
Yes No
2. Has this persoNfirtn ever been a city employee�
Yes No
3. Does this personffirm possess a skill not normally possessed by any
current city employee?
Yes No
Expiain all yes answers on separate sheet and attach to green sheet.
Initiating Problem, Issues, Opportunity (Who, What, When, Where, Why):
On November 13, 2009, the licensee sold tobacco products [o a minor in violation of Minn. Stat. Section 609.685 and Saint Paul
Legislative Code SecHon 324.07. After notification licensee did not respond to the Notice of Violation.
AdvanWges If Approved:
Imposition of $200.00 mahix penalry.
Disadvantages If Approved:
DisadvanYages If Not Approved:
Total Amount of
Transaction:
Funding Source:
Financial Information:
(Explain)
December 17, 2009 11:13 AM
CostlRevenue Budgeted:
Activity Number:
Page 1
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10-17
OFFICE OF TF� CI'I'Y ATTORNEY
John I. Choq Ciry Anomey
SAtNT
PAUL CITY OF SAINT PALTL CivdDivuion
� ChristopherB.Coleman,Mayor 400CiryHal[ Telepiwne�651266-8710
ISWestXelloggBlvd. Facsomik:651298-Sb19
AAAA Saint PauG Minnesom 55702
November 25, 2009
NOTICE OF VIOLATION
Amanuel Sahle
Piazza Mazket
512 Snelling Avenue North
St. Paul, MN 55104
RE: Cigarette/Tobacco license held by Piazza Mazket, LLC d/b/a Piazza Mazket for the
premises located at 512 Snelling Avenue North in Saint Paul
License ID #20080001922
Dear Amanuel Sahle:
The Department of Safety and Inspections (DSI) has recommended adverse action
against the Cigarette/Tobacco license held by Piazza Market, LLC d/b/a Piazza Mazket for the
premises located at 512 Snelling Avenue North in Saint Paul. The basis for the recommendation
is as follows:
On November 13, 2009, based on a compliant, a tobacco compliance
check was conducted at Piazza Market located at 512 Snelling Avenue
North. A seventeen year old male entered and asked to buy cigarettes. He
was not asked to show his identification, which would have indicated he
was underage. Nevertheless, the clerk sold him a package of Marlboro
Light cigarettes.
Sale of tobacco to an underage person is a violation of Minn. Stat.
§609.685 and Saint Paul Legislative Code §324.07.
This is your first violation for the sale of cigarettes to an underage person, therefore, per
Saint Pau] I.egislative Code §324.11 (b) (1) the licensing office will recommend a$200.00
matrix penalty.
Affirmative Action Equal Opportunity Employer
io-i�
Piazza Mazket
November 25, 2Q09
Page 2
At this time you have three options on how to proceed:
You can pay the recommended $200.00 matrix penalty. If this is your choice, you
should make payment directly to the Department of Safety and Inspections, at 375
Jackson Street, Ste. 220, St. Paul, Minnesota 55101-1806 no later than Monday,
December 7, 2009. Information should be directed to the attention of Christine
Rozek. A self-addressed envelope is enclosed for your convenience. Payment of the
$200.00 matrix penalty will be considered to be a waiver of the heazing to which you
aze entitled.
2. If you wish to admit the facts but contest the penalty, you may have a public hearing
before the Saint Paul City Council, you will need to send me a letter with a statement
admitting the facts and requesting a public hearing. We will need to receive your letter by
Monday, December 7, 2009. The matter will then be scheduled before the City Council
for a public heazing to determine whether to impose the $200.00 matrix penalty. You
will have an opportunity to appear before the Council and make a statement on your own
behalf.
3. If you dispute the above facts, you may request a heazing before an Administrative Law
Judge. At that hearing both you and the City will be able to appear and present
witnesses, evidence and cross-examine the other's witnesses. The St. Paul City Council
will ultimately decide the case. If this is your choice, please ]et me know by Monday,
December 7, 2009, and I will take the necessazy steps to schedule the administrative
hearing.
If I have not heard from you by that date, d will assume that you do not contest the
imposition of the $200.00 matrix penalty. In that case, the matter will be placed on the City
Council Consent Agenda for approval of the recommended penalty.
Please be advised that the clerk who was identified as having made the sale on this date is
also being charged a$50.00 administrative penalty pursuant to Minn. Stat. §461.12, subd. 3.
This is a sepazate action from this license matter.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at (651) 266-8710.
Sincerely,
�! �
Virginia Palmer
Assistant City Attorney
P��„ ����
cc: Christine Rozek, Deputy Director of DSI
Amanue] Sahle, 1865-47` Street East, Inver Grove Heights, MN 55077
Jun-Li Wang, Community Organizer, Hamline Midway Coalition
1564 Lafond Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55104-1832
Affirmative Action Equal Opportunity Employer
STATE OF MINNESOT ' '
� SS.
COUNTY OF RAMSEY )
io-i�
AFFIDAVIT OF SE__ JICE BY U.S. MAIL
Julie Kraus, being first duly sworn, deposes and says that on the � day of
November, she served the attached NOTICE OF VIOLATION by placing a true and correct
copy thereof in an envelope addressed as follows:
Amanuel Sahle
Piazza Market
512 Snelling Avenue North
St. Paul, MN 55104
Amanuel Sahle
1865-47�` Street East
Inver Grove Heights, MN 55077
Jun-Li Wang, Community Organizer
Hamline Midway Coalition
1564 L,afond Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55104-1832
(which is tt�e last known address of said person) depositing the same, with postage prepaid, in the
United States mail at St. Paul, Minnesota.
�.
Ju ' Kraus
Subscribed and sworn to before me
this �S'` of November, 2009
i � >
� �(iL't�-� av �lir�r-U Cw12e �
Notary Public
� ,,.. q Susan Marie Jsn :�ch-Wamer
�`b �
i�AY CC?R9�Ai5SION
' EXi'iR�S 3ASe.3i, 2012
10-17
MINNESOTA STATUTES 2009 609.685
609.685 SALE OF TOBACCO TO CHILDREN.
Subdivision 1. Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following terms shall have
the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this section.
(a) "Tobacco" means ci�arettes; ci�ars; cheroots; stogies; perique; granulated, plug cut,
crimp cut. ready rubbed, and other smoking tobacco; snuff: snuff flour, cavendish; plug and
twist tobacco; fine cut and other chewivg tobaccos; shorts; refuse scraps, clippings, cuttings and
sweepings of tobacco; and other kinds and forms of tobacco, prepared in such manner as to be
suitable for chewing or smoking in a pipe or other tobacco-related devices.
(b) "Tobacco-related devices" means cigarette papers or pipes for smoking.
Subd. 1 a. Penalty to se1L (a) Whoever sells tobacco to a person under the age of 18 years is
guilty of a misdemeanor for the first violation. Whoever violates this subdivision a subsequent time
within five years of a previous conviction under this subdivision is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.
(b) ]t is an affirmative defense to a charge under this subdivision if the defendant proves by a
preponderance of the evidence that the defendant reasonably and in good faith relied on proof of
ape as described in section 340A.503, subdivision 6.
Subd. 2. Other offenses. (a) Whoever furnishes tobacco or tobacco-related devices to a
person under the age of 18 years is gui]ty of a misdemeanor for the first violation. Whoever
violates this paragraph a subsequent time is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.
(b) A person under the aae of 18 years who purchases or attempts to purchase tobacco or
tobacco-related devices and who uses a driver's license, permit. Minnesota identification card, or
any type of false identification to misrepresent the person's age, is guilty of a misdemeanor.
Subd. 3. Periy misdemeanor. Except as otherwise provided in subdivision 2, whoever
possesses, smokes, chews, or othe�tivise ingests, purchases, or attempts to purchase tobacco or
tobacco related devices and is under the age of 18 years is guilty of a petty misdemeanor.
Subd. 4. Effect on local ordinances. Nothing in subdivisions 1 to 3 shall supersede or
preclude the continuation or adoption of any local ordinance which provides for more stringent
regulation of the subject matter in subdivisions 1 to 3.
Subd. 5. Exceptions. (a) Notwithstandin� subdivision 2, an Indian may furnish tobacco to an
Indian under the age of 18 years if the tobacco is furnished as part of a traditional Indian spiritual
or cultural ceremony. For purposes of this paragraph, an Indian is a person who is a member of
an Indian tribe as defined in section 260.755, subdivision 12.
Copyright J 2009 b) the Revisor of Statutes. Slate of Minnesota All Righ�s Reserved.
10-17
2 MINNESOTA STATUTES 2009 609.685
(b) T6e penalties in this section do not apply to a person under the age of 18 years who
purchases or attemptsto purchase tobacco ortobacco-related devices while underthe direct
supervision of a responsible adult for training, education, research, ar enforcement purposes.
Subd. 6. Seizure of false identification. A retailer may seize a form of identification listed
in section 340A.503, subdivision 6, if the retailer has reasonable grounds to believe that the
fom� of identification has been altered or falsified or is being used to violate any law. A retailer
that seizes a form of identification as authorized under this subdivision shall deliver it to a law
enforcement agency within 24 hours of seizing it.
History: 1963 c 753 a�7 1 s 609.685; 1981 c 218 s 1,2; 1986 c 3.52 s d; 1989 c 290 art 3
s 33,34; 1992 c 588 s 1; 1993 c 224 arl 9 s 44,45; 1994 c 636 art 2 s-14; 1999 c 139 art 4 s
2. 2000 c 472 s 5-9
Copynght z� 2009 by ihe Recisor of Sta[ulas. State of Minnesota. All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 324. Tobacco
Sec, 324.07. Sales prohibited.
1Q�g'� 1 of 1
(a) No person shall sell a cigarette outside its original packaging containing health warnings
satisfying the requirements of federal law. No cigarettes shall be sold in packages of fewer than
twenty (20) cigarettes.
(b) No person shali seli or dispense cigarette paper or cigarette wrappers from a vending
machine or a motor vehicle. No person shall sell or dispense tobacco from a motor vehicle.
(c) No person shall activate the remote control or provide tokens for a tobacco vending
machine or sell tobacco to anyone under the age of eighteen (18).
(d) Any violation of this chapter shalf subject the licensee to provisions of section 310 and
section 324.10 of the Saint Paui Legislative Code.
(Code 1956, § 336.07; Ord. No. 17714, § 1, 2-20-90; C.F. No. 94-341, § 7, 4-13-94; C.F. No. 97-314, §
1, 4-20-97; C.F. No. 06-872, § 1, 10-11-06)
http://libraryl.municode.com/4472/DocView/1 006 1/1/3 1 8/3 3 1?hilite=324; 10/8/2009
Chapter 324. Tobacco
Sec. 324.11. Presumptive penalties.
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Page 1 of 2
(a) Purpose. The purpose of this section is to establish a standard by which the city council
determines the amount of fines, length of license suspensions and the propriety of revocations.
These penalties are presumed to be appropriate for every case; however, the council may
deviate therefrom in an individual case where the council finds and determines that there exist
substantial and compelling reasons which make it appropriate to do so. When deviating from
these standards, the council shall provide written reasons that specify why the penalty selected
was more appropriate.
(b) Presumptive penalties for violations. Adverse penalties for violations or convictions shall
be presumed as follows:
TABLE INSET:
Type of Appearance
Violation
1st 2nd 3rd 4th
(1) Sale of tobacco to a $200.00 $400.00 30-day Revocation
minor fine fine suspension
(c) Fines payable without hearing. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 310.05(I), a
licensee who would be making a first or second appearance before the council may elect to pay
the fine to the department of safety and inspections without a council hearing, unless the notice
of violation has indicated that a hearing is required because of circumstances which may
warrant deviation from the presumptive fine amount. Payment of the recommended fine will be
considered to be a waiver of the hearing to which the licensee is entitled, and will be considered
an "appearance" for the purpose of determining presumptive penalties for subsequent
violations.
(d) Computation of time.
(1) If a licensee violates this chapter and the violation occurs within twelve (12)
calendar months after the first appearance of the same licensee for a violation under this
chapter, the current appearance shall be treated as a second appearance for the
purpose of determining the presumptive penalty.
(2) If a licensee has appeared before the council on two (2) previous occasions for
violations of this chapter, and if said licensee again appears before the council for a
violation of this chapter, and if the current violation occurs within eighteen (18) calendar
months of the violation that gave rise to the first appearance before the council, then the
current appearance shall be treated as a third appearance for the purpose of
determining presumptive penalty.
(3) If a licensee has appeared before the council on three (3) previous occasions, each
for violations of this chapter, and if said licensee again appears before the council for a
violation of this chapter, and if the current violation occurred within twenty-four (24)
calendar months of the violation that gave rise to the first appearance, then the current
appearance shall be treated as a fourth appearance for the purpose of determining the
presumptive penalty.
(4) Any appearance not covered by subsections (1), (2) or (3) above shall be treated as
a first appearance. In case of multiple violations in any appearance, the date to be used
to measure whether twelve (12), eighteen (18), or twenty-four (24) months have elapsed
shall be the date of the violation last in time at the first appearance, and the date of the
violation first in time at any subsequent appearance.
Chapter 324. Tobacco
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Page 2 of 2
(Ord. No. 17733, § 3, 5-8-90; C.F. No. 94-341, § 11, 4-13-94; C.F. No. 97-314, § 1, 4-20-97; C.F. No.
02-898, § 1, 11-6-02; C.F. No. 07-149, § 82, 3-28-07)