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Council approves settlement leading to revocation timeline for Maryland Tobacco cigarette license
Summary
The council approved a settlement agreement with Maryland Tobacco Inc. that includes conditions for the cigarette tobacco product shop license and provides for revocation if conditions are violated; a separate tobacco shop license portion is not affected.
The Saint Paul City Council on Jan. 22 approved resolution 25‑94 authorizing the Department of Safety and Inspections to enter into a settlement agreement with Ali Aparidi on behalf of Maryland Tobacco Inc., doing business as Maryland Tobacco.
City Attorney’s Office staff described a zoning and licensing history dating to January 2021, including an application to rezone 444 Maryland Avenue and a settlement reached in November that included conditions placed on the license. The settlement agreement was submitted to council as Exhibit 1, the staff memo said.
Under the settlement, the cigarette tobacco product shop license portion of the business is subject to revocation effective April 30 (the record states the cigarette/tobacco product shop license will be affected and a conditional period extends until 04/30/2025), and the city attorney’s representative said the agreement lists conditions the licensee must follow. The city attorney’s representative noted the store has two license types — a cigarette/tobacco product shop license (subject to this action) and a tobacco shop license for the portion of the store whose revenue is not 90% tobacco products — and the latter license will not be affected by this resolution.
Councilmember Kim moved approval, citing the settlement as a suitable way to limit city expense and staff time compared with pursuing an administrative law judge hearing. Kim said the location has had community impacts and that taking the item off consent allowed residents and Ward 5 to hear the discussion.
Council voted to approve the settlement and resolution; the record shows the resolution was adopted without recorded opposition.
Actions: Resolution 25‑94 authorizing DSI to enter into the settlement agreement with Maryland Tobacco Inc. was approved; staff noted that failure to comply with the settlement conditions will result in immediate revocation of the cigarette/tobacco product shop license.
