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Directing the Department of Safety and Inspections to revoke the Liquor On Sale – 100 Seats or Less, Entertainment (A), Liquor On Sale Sunday, and Gambling Location license against Taste of Rondo LLC d/b/a Taste of Rondo Restaurant (License ID #20190000107) for the premises located at 976 Rondo Avenue.
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WHEREAS, on October 16, 2024, Licensee was served with a Notice of Violation and Request for Imposition of a $500 Matrix Penalty and License Suspension (Exhibit #2) for violations of several sections of the Saint Paul Legislative Code, including sections 310.02(2)(a)(1) and 409.05(a)-(b). Licensee was given a deadline of October 28, 2024, to respond and pay the $500 matrix penalty; and
WHEREAS, on December 11, 2024, RES 24-1786 (Exhibit #3) was passed by Council for the approval of the $500 matrix penalty and license suspension; and
WHEREAS, on January 16, 2025, the Department of Safety and Inspections (“Department”) mailed a letter (Exhibit #1) to Licensee advising them to pay the $500 matrix penalty by February 14, 2025, but Licensee failed to do so; and
WHEREAS, on March 26, 2025, RES 25-473 (Exhibit #4) was passed by Council approving suspension of the license; and
WHEREAS, on May 21, 2025, a Notice of Violation and Request for Revocation of License (“Notice”) (Exhibit #5) was sent to the Licensee in which the Department provided notice to the Licensee of its intent to move forward with adverse action and revoke the license until Licensee renewed their license, paid the fee to renew the license, and submitted the supporting documents required, consistent with Saint Paul Legislative Code § 310.03; and
WHEREAS, Licensee was given a deadline of June 2, 2025, to respond to the Notice; and
WHEREAS, on June 2, 2025, the City Attorney’s Office received an email from Ms. Kasara Carter explaining that her husband (the Licensee) passed away on January 2, 2025; and
WHEREAS, on July 3 and July 22, 2025, the Department’s Licensing Manager, Eric Hudak, reached out to Ms. Kasara Carter via email (Exhibit #6) and asked her if she wanted to either:
1.) cancel the license that is currently issued to Licensee, or
2.) renew the currently suspended license, and
was given a deadline of July 31, 2025, to respond with her selection; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Kasara Carter has not responded to the Licensing Manager’s emails to date; and
WHEREAS, the Department has not received the $500 matrix penalty, the renewal fee for the license, or the required supporting documents to date; and
WHEREAS, the Notice laid out the basis for adverse action and the Legislative Code sections upon which the Department relied, which are as follows:
Saint Paul Legislative Code § 310.01 defines ”adverse action” as:
“the revocation or suspension of a license, the imposition of conditions upon a license, the denial of an application for the grant, issuance or renewal of a license, the imposition of a fine, the assessment of the costs of a contested hearing, and any other disciplinary or unfavorable action taken with respect to a license, licensee, or applicant for a license. Adverse action includes any of the foregoing directed at one (1) or more licenses held by a licensee at any location in the city. Adverse action also includes disapproval of licenses issued by the state under statutory provisions which permit the governing body to disapprove the issuance of the license.”
Saint Paul Legislative Code § 310.04(b) states:
“Basis for action. Such adverse action may be based on one (1) or more of the following reasons, which are in addition to any other reason specifically provided by law or in these chapters.”
Saint Paul Legislative Code § 310.03(m)(1) provides for a presumptive $500 matrix penalty for a first-time violation of a provision of the legislative code relating to the licensed activity.
Saint Paul Legislative Code § 310.02(2)(a)(1) states:
“Form. All applicants for a Class N License issued pursuant to these chapters will make both original and renewal applications to the director on such forms as are provided by the department. Such applications will not be received by the director until the director deems the application meets the substantially complete criteria. Subsequently, issuance of a license cannot occur until insurance policies, bonds, deposits, sureties, and indemnifications or certificates required by these chapters, together with the certification required in paragraph 2 below are received and approved.”
Saint Paul Legislative Code § 310.02(2)(e)(3) states:
“Revocation or suspension. If the director determines that the application for renewal does not meet all of the requirements of law or that there exist grounds for revocation or suspension of a Class N License, the director must follow the hearing procedures as outlined in Saint Paul Legislative Code Section 310.03.”
Saint Paul Legislative Code §§ 310.03(a), 310.03(m)(1)(8) (Exhibit #7) provides for a presumptive penalty of revocation for a second violation of a failure to pay license fees.
Saint Paul Legislative Code § 409.05 states:
“Term. All licenses for the sale of intoxicating liquor are be for a term of one (1) year from the date of the issuance or renewal, except as provided herein. The date shall be determined by the inspector and entered upon the license.”
(b) “License fees, on-sale; semiannual installments. The fees required for licenses is be established by ordinance as specified in section 310.01 of the Legislative Code. Said sum must be paid in two (2) equal amounts, the first to be paid before the license is issued or renewed, the second payment to be made within six (6) months from the date of issuance or renewal.”
Saint Paul Legislative Code § 409.06(j)(1) states:
“An on-sale license renewal may be denied for any licensee who is delinquent in any payment or contribution to a health and welfare trust or pension trust.”
WHEREAS, the Notice was sent to Licensee on May 21, 2025, providing that Licensee respond by June 2, 2025, in order to contest or consent to the proposed adverse action; and
WHEREAS, the renewal fee and supporting documents were never received by the City or the Department on or after June 2, 2025, and Ms. Kasara Carter never responded to the Department’s attempts to reach out to her, therefore, the City Attorney’s Office and the Department have decided to move forward with a revocation of the license; and
WHEREAS, Licensee has failed to pay the renewal fee and submit the supporting documents, the Department recommends a revocation of the Liquor On Sale – 100 Seats or Less, Entertainment (A), Liquor On Sale Sunday, and Gambling Location license based on violations of Saint Paul Legislative Code sections 310.01, 310.02(2)(a)(1), 310.02(2)(e)(3), 310.03(a), 310.03(m)(1)(8), 310.03(m)(2)(10), 310.04(b), 409.05(a)-(b), and 409.06(j)(1); now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, the Liquor On Sale – 100 Seats or Less, Entertainment (A), Liquor On Sale Sunday, and Gambling Location license held by Taste of Rondo LLC d/b/a Taste of Rondo Restaurant, (License ID #20190000107) for the premises located at 976 Rondo Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55104, is hereby revoked for violations of the Saint Paul Legislative Code sections 310.01, 310.02(2)(a)(1), 310.02(2)(e)(3), 310.03(a), 310.03(m)(1)(8), 310.03(m)(2)(10), 310.04(b), 409.05(a)-(b), and 409.06(j)(1).