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Directing the Department of Safety and Inspections to proceed with adverse action and the imposition of a $1,000 matrix penalty against Wizards Auto Repair LLC d/b/a Wizards Auto Repair (License ID #20240000998) for the premises located at 985 Randolph Avenue. (Licensee will speak to Council on their own behalf)
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WHEREAS, the Auto Repair Garage & Second Hand Dealer-Motor Vehicle Parts license (License ID #20240000998) (“License”) is held by Wizards Auto Repair LLC d/b/a Wizards Auto Repair, owned by Mohamed Mohamed (“Licensee”), for the premises located at 985 Randolph Avenue in Saint Paul (“Licensed Premises”); and
WHEREAS, on February 28, 2025, and April 30, 2025, the Department of Safety and Inspections (“Department”) sent an inspector to the Licensed Premises, where the inspector identified violations of the license conditions; and
WHEREAS, on May 14, 2025, the City Attorney’s Office notified the Licensee of the violations and the Department’s request to impose a $500 matrix penalty (Exhibit #1); and
WHEREAS, on June 17, 2025, the Licensee admitted to the violations and paid the $500 matrix penalty (Exhibit #2); and
WHEREAS, the Licensee was notified in a letter from the City Attorney’s Office dated January 12, 2026, titled Notice of Violation and Request for Imposition of $1,000 Matrix Penalty (“Notice”) (Exhibit #3), that the Department recommended a $1,000 matrix penalty for violations of the license conditions; and
WHEREAS, the Notice explained that on November 12, 2025, after receiving a complaint, the Department sent an inspector to the Licensed Premises to conduct an inspection, during which the inspector observed vehicle repair service and vehicle maneuvering violations, which are violations of Saint Paul Legislative Code §§ 63.308(a), 65.705, 423.01. The following license conditions were also violated:
• License Condition 2: All repair work shall be conducted inside of an enclosed building.
• License Condition 6: All customer and employee vehicles must be parked in accordance with the approved site plan on file with DSI. The number of vehicles on the property shall not exceed what is shown on the approved plan.
• License Condition 8: There shall be no exterior storage of vehicle parts, tires, oil or any other similar materials associated with the business. Trash will be stored in a covered dumpster. Storage of vehicle fluids, batteries, etc. shall be in accordance with the Ramsey County Hazardous Waste regulations.
• License Condition 9: The storage of vehicles for the purpose of salvaging parts if expressly forbidden. All vehicles parked outdoors must appear to be completely assembled with no major body parts missing. Vehicle salvage is not permitted.
• License Condition 11: Auto body repair and/or auto body spray painting is not permitted.
WHEREAS, on December 1, 2025, the inspector mailed a Correction Notice and copies of the License Group Conditions and Property Plan (Exhibit #4) to the Licensee, notifying him that all violations discovered during the inspection must be fully corrected on or before December 12, 2025; and
WHEREAS, on December 15, 2025, the inspector returned to the Licensed Premises for a reinspection and identified that the violations had not been remedied. The Department received more complaints after the reinspection, and the inspector visited the Licensed Premises again on December 22, 2025. During the two reinspections, the inspector identified additional violations of the following license conditions:
• License Condition 1: Parking spaces and maneuvering lanes shall be subject to the conditions in sections 63.305 and 63.308. The existing fence shall be replaced and maintained in a professional state of maintenance or repair.
• License Condition 12: Customer vehicles may not be parked longer than ten (10) days on the premises.
• License Condition 14: Provide maneuvering space on the property to allow vehicles entering and exiting the site to proceed forward. Backing from the street or on to the street is prohibited.
• License Condition 15: Licensee must comply with all federal, state, and local laws.
WHEREAS, on January 6, 2026, a complaint was emailed to the Department’s Deputy Director, stating that vehicle repair work was taking place on the Licensed Premises, outside of an enclosed building, and in the middle of the night. The email included video evidence to support the allegation; and
WHEREAS, Saint Paul Legislative Code § 310.03(m)(1)(1) identifies the presumptive penalty for this violation as a $1,000 matrix penalty; and
WHEREAS, the Department recommends the imposition of the presumptive $1,000 matrix penalty; and
WHEREAS, on January 22, 2026, the Licensee confirmed with the City Attorney’s Office via email that he admitted to the facts of the violation as stated in the Notice and requested a Council Hearing to request an alternate penalty (Exhibit #5); and
WHEREAS, in accordance with the Licensee’s request, the City Attorney’s Office placed this matter on the agenda for the City Council meeting on Wednesday, February 25, 2026; and
WHEREAS, on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, the Licensee and the City Attorney's Office appeared and addressed the City Council regarding this proposed penalty; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Auto Repair Garage & Second Hand Dealer-Motor Vehicle Parts license (License ID #20240000998) held by Wizards Auto Repair LLC d/b/a Wizards Auto Repair for the premises located at 985 Randolph Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55102, is hereby required to pay the $1,000 matrix penalty for violations of Saint Paul Legislative Code §§ 63.308(a), 65.705, 423.01, consistent with Saint Paul Legislative Code § 310.03.