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Approving the Legislative Hearing Officer's recommendation for the application submitted by The University Club of St Paul (License ID# 43940), d/b/a The Commodore, for a Class B Entertainment license and to modify existing license conditions to permit the establishment to provide entertainment events to their customers for a business with the following existing licenses: Liquor On Sale - 181-290 Seats and Liquor On Sale - Sunday license.
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WHEREAS, The University Club of St Paul (License ID# 43940), d/b/a The Commodore, located at 79 Western Avenue N, has applied for Class N licenses for a Class B Entertainment license and to modify existing license conditions to permit the establishment to provide entertainment events to their customers for a business with the following existing licenses: Liquor On Sale - 181-290 Seats and Liquor On Sale - Sunday license; and
WHEREAS, the applicant notified the Summit-University Planning Council prior to submitting their application; and
WHEREAS, a notification regarding the license application was sent from the Department of Safety and Inspections to the affected neighborhood for the period of July 18, 2025, to August 2, 2025; and
WHEREAS, during the notification period, objections were received which triggered the hearing and a hearing was held on August 14, 2025; and
WHEREAS, the objections was related to parking, traffic, noise, lighting, and nuisance activity; and
WHEREAS, during the hearing, the applicant admitted to multiple license condition violations; and
WHEREAS, The Department of Safety and Inspections (DSI) conducted an investigation in November 2025 into the violations following a referral which substantiated ongoing compliance concerns raised by neighbor accounts; and DSI recommended Condition 14 is further supported by these concerns and serves as an appropriate response to the violations identified during the November 5, 2025 inspection; and
WHEREAS, DSI further advised the Saint Paul City Attorney’s Office that it would seek no monetary penalty for the violations identified in November 2025, but would instead seek the addition of proposed Condition 14 as the appropriate corrective action, and further determined that resolving both the Entertainment (Class B) license application and the violations identified during the November 2025 inspection in a single proceeding would provide a more efficient and expeditious resolution; and
WHEREAS, in response to the concerns raised, the licensee has agreed to work with the city to comply with the necessary requirements to minimize nuisance activities that would disturb the surrounding residential neighborhood; and
WHEREAS, after conducting the hearing and considering the testimony and evidence presented, the Legislative Hearing Officer recommends approval of the application submitted by The University Club of St Paul (License ID #43940), d/b/a The Commodore, for a Class B Entertainment license to permit entertainment events for customers in conjunction with its existing Liquor On Sale - 181-290 Seats and Liquor On Sale - Sunday licenses, subject to the following modified conditions:
1. The licensee shall be responsible for compliance by all renters and users of the licensed and contiguous premises.
2. Install storm windows to reduce the penetration of noise on windows facing Holly Avenue and install locking mechanisms to insure that these windows cannot be opened during events with music or other entertainment within six months.
3. Install drapery capable of absorbing sound, reducing sound penetration and preventing strobe light penetration on windows facing Holly Avenue within six months.
4. The south (Holly Avenue) door will be secured and emergency egress hardware with a Crash Bar and sounding device installed to insure ensure that this door is used as an emergency exit only. This condition must be met immediately.
5. All loading and unloading will be done through the service entrance located on the north side of the building. Blocking of driveways and exits by vehicles will be prohibited and unattended vehicles will not be allowed to remain in the fire lane.
6. A qualified security guard will be on the premises before, during, and after the scheduled time of the event in order to deterprevent excessive noise, illegal parking, public drunkennessnuisance behavior or violations of rules for use of the property. One security guard will be on duty for events less than 100 persons and two security guards or one guard in direct communication with staff for events over 100 persons. All security guards shall be in direct communication with staff during events. One security guard shall be on duty for events less than 100 persons and two security guards shall be on duty for events of 100 persons or more.
7. Entertainment will end at 12:00 midnight.
8. There will be full compliance with City ordinances including the noise ordinance and those regulating the consumption of alcohol outside of the building.
9. A phone line will be maintained to allow residents to contact Commodore staff directly during all events.
10. A smoking area will be designated that is agreeable to the residents association. Smoking in and around other entrances and/or exits will be prohibited.
11. The property and ground will be cleaned up by the morning following any event.
12. Appropriate signage will Signage shall be installed near all exits that state, “This is a residential area, please respect the neighborhood when leaving.”to assist in enforcement of City ordinances, license restrictions and rules regarding use of the property.
13. A listing of upcoming events will be posted in an appropriate physical location and online. A weekly update is suggestedThe list of upcoming events shall be kept up to date.
14. Entertainment provided shall be in full compliance with an approved Department of Safety and Inspections (DSI) sound management plan. The sound management plan shall encompass all steps and actions that shall be implemented by the Licensee and employees to prevent violations of the City of Saint Paul noise ordinances. These steps and actions shall be recommended by a sound assessment conducted by a competent (DSI-approved) individual(s). The sound assessment shall include, but is not limited to, how sound from anticipated entertainment impacts adjacent outdoor spaces as well as areas within the building but outside of the licensed premises. The Licensee may appeal to the City Council for its review of DSI’s review and recommendation of the sound management plan. While seeking approval of the sound management plan, the Licensee may allow entertainment provided by persons renting the licensed premises for family and similar social events up until the sound management plan is approved or August 1, 2026, whichever occurs first. Upon approval of the plan or beginning on August 1, 2026, all entertainment within the licensed premises must comply with an approved sound management plan.
15. Entertainment will be provided by persons renting the licensed premises for wedding, anniversary, retirement, or similar family and/or social function(s).
16. The licensee shall fully comply with and be subject to the requirements of section 411.04(b)(5), (6), (7).
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Saint Paul hereby approves this license application with the aforementioned agreed-upon conditions and finds that the license conditions are reasonable, and the application is in order and there are no grounds to deny the approval of the licenses.
The conditions affidavit was signed and submitted on May 11, 2026.