10-758Council File # 10-758
Green Sheet #�jJ�
CITY
Presented by
1 WHEREAS, adverse action was taken against the Cigazette/Tobacco license held by Piazza Market,
2 LLC d/b/a Piazza Market (License ID #20080001922) for the premises located at 512 Sneiling Avenue
3 North in Saint Paul by Notice of Violation dated June 18, 2010, alleging licensee sold tobacco products to
4 a minar on 3une 4, 2010, in violation of Minn. Stat. § 609.685 Subd. 1(a) and Saint Paul Legislative Code
5 § 324.07{c); and
6
7 WHEREAS, this was the licensee's second violation within one year, so per Saint Paul Legislative
8 Code § 32411(b) (1), the licensing office recommended a$400.00 matrix penalty; and
9
10 WHEREA5, licensee did respond to the Notice of Violation but then failed to send a letter
11 requesting a public hearing by the June 28, 2010 deadline; and
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WHEREAS, the Notice of Violation stated that if the licensee failed to pay the $40�.00 matrix
penalty or request a hearing by June 28, 2010, that the matter would be placed on the consent agenda to
impose the recommended penalty; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that Piazza Market, LLC d/b/a Piazza Market is hereby ordered to pay a matrix
penalty of $400.00 for the sale tobacco products to a minor on 3une 4, 2010, in violation of Minn. Stat.
§ 609.685 Subd. 1(a} and Saint Paul Legislative Code § 324.07 (c}. Payment of such penalty shall be
made within thirty days of the date of the adoption of this resolution.
Yeas Nays Absent Requested by Department of:
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Adopted by Council: Date y
Adoption Certified by Council ecretary
BY �//,�i� � ' d�
Approv b M or: ate ��7 ��p (�
By:
RESOLUTION
NT PAI� MINNESOTA �S'
Fo p ed by City ttom
B y' ��f.�C�— 1�1 k-
Form A�ro d yor for iss' n to Council
By:
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� Green Sheet Green Sheet Green Sheet Green Sheet Green Sheet Green Sheet �
DepartmentlOfficelCouncil: � Oate lnitiated:
: S � _ Dept. of Safety & Inspections ' 09 ��� Zo ��� Green Sheet NO: 3115784
Contact Person 8 Phone:
Rachel Tiemey
266-a�io
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ASSign
Number
For
Routing
OMer �
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2
3
4
5
'� Must Be on Council Agenda� by��e): �
� 27-JUL-10 C ��, �
I Doa Type: RESOLUTION ��
'� E-DocumentRequired: Y �
�; Document Contact: �ulie Kraus �
'� Contact Phone: 266-8776 i
7otal # of Signature Pages ,(Clip All Lacations for Signature)
Approval of the attached resolurion to take adverse acrion against the Cigazette/Tobacco license held by Piazza Mazekt, LLC d/b/a
Piuza Market (License ID#20080001922) for the premises located at 512 Snelling Avenue North in Saint Paul.
Recommendations: Approve (A) or Reject (R):
Planning Commission
CIB CammiBee
Civil Service Commission
Personal5ervice Contracts Must Answer the Foliowing questions:
1 Has this person/flrm ever worked under a contract for this department?
Yes No
2. Has this person/firm ever been a city employee?
Yes No
3. Does this person/firm possess a skiil not normafly possessed by any
current city employee?
Yes No
Explain aIl yes answers on separate sheet and attach to green sheet.
Initiating Problem, lssues, Opportunity (Who, What, When, Where, Why):
On June 4, 2010, a clerk in the licensee's establishment sold tobacco products to a minor in violation of Minn. Stat. Section 609.685
Subd. 1(a) and Saint Paul L,egislarive Code Section 324.07(c). After notification, licensee did not respond to the Notice of Violation.
Advantages If Approved:
Imposirion of $400.00 matrix penalty - 2nd violation within one year.
Disadvantages If Approved:
Disadvantages If Not Approved:
Totai Amount of
TranSacGOn:
Funding Saurce:
Fi nanci al lnformation:
(Explain)
CostlRevenue BUdgeted:
Activity Number:
July 9, 2010 1128 AM Page 1
10-758
sn�xr
PAUL
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AAAII
CITY OF SAINT PAUL
ChnstopherB. Golemaq Mayor
OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY
Gerald Hendnckson, CityAttomey
Gvil DiviSron
400 City HaII
Telephone: 657 266-87f0
15 West Kellogg 8(vd.
Facsimile: 651298-5619
Saint Paui, Mmnesota 53102
June 18, 2010
NOTICE OF VIOLATION
Amanuel Sahle
Piazza Market
512 Snelling Avenue North
St. Paul, MN 55104
RE: Cigarette/Tobacco license held by Piazza Market, LLC d/b/a Piazza Market for the premises ]ocated at
5] 2 Snelling Aveime North in Saint Paul
License ID #20080001922
Dear Amanuel Sahle:
The Department of Safety and Inspections (DSI) has recommended adverse action against the
CigarettelTobacco 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 June 4, 2Q10, a to6acco compliance Re-checkwas conducted at Piazza Market located at
512 Snelling Avenue North. A Tifteen year old female entered your store and asked to buy
cigarettes. She was not asked to show her identification which would have indicated she
was underage. Nevertheless, the clerk sold her a package of Newport cigarettes. Sale of
tobacco to an underage person is a violation of Minn. Stat. § 609.685 Subd. l(a) as well as
Saint Paul Legisiative Code § 324.07 (c).
This is the second violation within one year for the sale of tobacco products to an underage person; therefore,
per Saint Pa�l Legislative Code § 324.11 (b) (I ), the licensing office wi11 recommend a$400.00 matrix penaity.
At this time, you have three options on how to proceed:
You can pay the $400.00 matrix penalry. If this is your choice, you will need to the send payment to
the Deparhnent of Safety and Inspections at 375 Jackson Street, Ste. 220, St. Paul, Minnesota 55101-
1806 no later than Monday, June 28, 2010. InPormation should be directed to the attention of
Christine Rozek. A self-addressed envelope is enclosed for your convenience. Payment of the
$400.00 matrix penalty will be considered a waiver of the hearing to which you are entitled.
Affirmative Action Equal Opportunity Employer
10-758
Piazza Market
June 18, 2010
Page 2
Z. If you wish to admit the facts bnt contest the penalty, you may have a public hearing before the Saint
Paul City Council. You wil] need to send me a letter with a statement admitting the facts and
requesting a public hearing. We wi]I need to receive your letter no laterthan Monday, June 28, 2010.
The matter will then be scheduled before the CiTy Council for apublic hearing to determine whetherto
impose the $40�.Q0 matrix penalty. You will have an opportunity to appear before the Council and
make a statement on your own behalf.
3. Ifyou dispute the above facts, you can request a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge. At that
hearfng both you and the City wil] be able to appeaz and present wimesses, evidence and cross-
examine each other's witnesses. The St. Paul City Council wil] ultimately decide the case. If this is
your choice, please advise me no later than Monday, June 28, 2010, and I will take the necessary
steps to schedule the administrative hearing.
If you have not contacted me by that date, I will assume that you do not contest t6e imposition
of the $400.00 matrix penalty. In that case, the matter will be placed on the City Council Consent
Agenda Sor approval of the recommended penalty.
Please be advised that the clerk who was identified as having made the sale on tUis date is also being
chazged an administrative penalty pursuant to Minn. Stat. §461.12, subd. 3. This is a sepazate action from this
license matter.
If you have questions about these options, please feel free to contact me at 266-8710.
Sincerely,
� �-c9��Q. �.��,�,� s �1=--
Rachel Tiemey
Assistant City Attorney
cc: Christine Rozek, Deputy Director of DSI
Amanuel Sahle, 1865 — 47`�' Street East, Inver Grove Heights, MN 55077
Miclaael Jon Olson, Exec. Director, Hamline Midway Coalition, 1564 Lafond Avenue,
St. Paul, MN 55 1 04-1 832
Affirmative Action Equal Opportunity Employer
STATE OF MIlVNESOT ^ �
� ss.
COUNTY OF RAMSEY )
AFFIDAVIT OF Sh�. VICE BY U.S. MAiL
Julie Kraus being first duly swom, deposes and says that on the 1�� day of
June, she served the attached NOTICE OF VIOLATION by placing a true and correct copy
thereof in an envelope addressed as follows:
Amanuel Sahle
Piazza Mazket
512 Snelling Avenue North
St. Paul, MN 55104
Amanuel Sahle
1865 — 47�' Street East
Inver Grove Heights, MN 55077
Michael Jon Olson, Exec. Director
Hamline Midway Coalition
1564 Lafond Avenue,
St. Paul, MN 55104-1832
ia�ss
(which is the last known address of said person) depositing the same, with postage prepaid, in the
United SYates mail at St. Paul, Minnesota.
1�-- �
Juh Kraus
Subscribed and sworn to before me
this J$`� day of June, 2010
���_��
"No ar� y nubiio
�� SSARD
1 NYC�AMISSNOf �
IXPIRES JAN. 31, 2015
10-758
CI'I'1' OF SAJNT PAUL
Chrislophrr B. Colemart, Mayor
DEPAR'IMENT OF SAFETY AND 7NSPECTIONS
Sab Kvssier, Direttor
375 J¢ckaon Sirenl, Suve 220
Saint P¢ul, Minnesom 5�701-1806
Telephane: 651-2b6-9090
Fa¢im i1e: 651-26�9124
Web: wwwstpauLgov/dre
Tobacco Compliaace Check Purchase Form
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2009 RECHECK #20080001922
Piazza Market
512 Snelling Avenue North
Saint Paul, MN SS1Q4
Business Type:
�Convenience OConvenience! Gas ❑Gas
�Dmg Store / Pham�acy
❑Tobacco / Smoke Shop
❑Supermarket / Grocery [�eneral Mercbant �Liquor Store / Bar Restaurant �Other (pnvate club, bowhng, ecc.)
Date: �� � � � / l(/ Time: � . - �� a.m / p.m
y � 2
1VQVj DD YY i �, � v
Was purc ase attempted? If NO, check reason: {�
�Yes (]No ODoes not sell tobacco �Unsatisfactory/unsafe conditions j� ?} ,
❑Outofbusiness ❑Othez '
�After business ho�as
�Not applicable �� J �� l� �+
Buyer fr V i� Age Sex AduLt L!i'_�:J Did adutt or / a(�c ' e�r view transaction?
Use 3 initials IS � �Femalje Use 3 initials Yes or /No J
16 ��e` �
17
as e made? Was age ask Was ID requested? Was ID shown?
Yes or No Yes or o Yes or No Yes or �
Type of purchase: Typ�e f product: Amount spenr $ I I lJl. fo IJ I
Self Service "C;igarettes V`� �Lv✓ ��
Clezk assisted Smokeless
_Vending macbine - Unlocked _Cigars
Location of machine _Other (cigazette papers, lighter,
_Vending machi.ne - Locked
Location of maclvne
Clerk Information: []Female �NZale Approffimate Age:
❑Under 18 Actual age if lmown
❑ I S and Over
10-758
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Aate of Birth
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Driver's License # or State I. D.#:
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10-758
MINNESOTA STATUTES 2QQ9 609.685
609.685 SALE OF TOBACCO TO CHILDREN.
Subdivision ]. Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following terms shall have
the meanings respectivel;< ascribed to them in this section.
(a) "Tobacco" means cigarettes; cigars; 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 chewing tobaccos; shorts; refuse scraps, c]ippings, cuttings and
sweepings of tobacco; and other kinds and forms of tobacco, prepared in such manner as to be
suitable for cl�ewing 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 mider 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) It is an affirmative defense to a charge under this subdivision if tlie defendant proves by a
preponderance of the evidence that the defendant reasonabiy and in good faith relied on proof of
age as described in sectiai 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 guilty 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 age 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 identificatiou to misrepresevt the person's age, is guilty of a misdemeanor.
Subd. 3. Petty misdemeanor. Except as otherwise provided in subdivision 2, whoever
possesses smokes, chews, or otherwise ingests. purchases, or attempts to purchase tobacco or
tobacco related devices and is under tl�e age of l 8 years is guilry of a petty misdemeanar.
Subd. 4. EfFect on local ordinances. Nothing in subdivisions 1 to 3 s1�a11 supersede or
preclude the continuation or adoption of any ]ocal ordinance which provides for more stringent
regulation of the subjecf mattea' in subdivisions 1 to 3.
Subd. 5. Exceptions. (a) Notwithstanding subdivision 2, an ]ndian may furnish tobacco to an
Indian under the age of 18 years if tl�e tobacco is furnished as part of a traditional Indian spiritual
ar culturai ceremony. For purposes of this paragraph, an Indian is a person who is a member of
an ]ndian tribe as defined in section 260.755, subdivision ]2.
Copyri=hl � 2009 b� the Revisor of Siatutes, State of Mmnesola All Riphts Rcsen�ed
io-�ss
2 MINNESOTA STATUTES 2009 609.685
(b) The penalties in this section do not app]y to a person under the age of 18 years who
purchases or attempts to purchase tobacco ortobacco-related devices while underthe direct
supervision of a responsible adult for traininL, education. research, or enforcement purposes.
Subd. 6. Seizure of false identification. A retailer may seize a form of identificaCion listed
in section 340A.503, subdivision 6, if the retailer has reasonable grounds to believe that the
fonn of iden6fication has been altered or falsified or is being used to vi�late any law. A retailer
that seizes a form of identification as authorized under this subdi�rision shall deliver it to a law
enforcement agency within 24 hours of seizing it.
History: 1963 c 753 ar�r 1 s 609 685, 1981 c 218 s 1,2, 1986 c 3i2 s a, 1989 c 290 art 3
s 33,3-t, 1992 c 588 s 1; 1993 c 224 ar� 9 s 44,45; 1994 c b36 arf 2 s d4, 7999 c 139 ar•t -1 s
2, 2000 c 472 s 5-9
Co}�>i�gltt t�; 2p09 6� the Re�isor of Statutes State of Minnewla Atl Rigtits Reser�ed
10-758
Chapter 324. Tobacco
Sec. 324.11. Presumptive penafties.
Page ] of 2
(a) Purpose. The purpose of this section is to establish a standard by which the city council
determines the arriount of fines, length of license suspensions and the propriety of revocations.
These penafties are presumed to be appropriate for every case; however, the counai may
deviate therefrom in an individual case where the council finds and determines that there exist
substantiai and compeliing 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) Piesumptive pena/ties 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 (icensee is entitled, and will be considered
an "appearance" for the purpose of determining presumptive penalties for subsequent
v+olations.
(d) Computationoftime.
(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 councii 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 (1&), 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 a�y subsequent appearance.