Who We Are

DSI seeks to continuously improve coordination, efficiencies, and customer service through our eight sections:

  • Animal Services
  • Communications
  • Construction Services
  • Customer Services
  • Fire Safety
  • Licensing and Skyway system management
  • Property Code Enforcement
  • Zoning and Site Plan Review

Vision

To be the leader in creating the safest, healthiest, most livable, and vibrant city for all.

Mission

To preserve and improve the quality of life in Saint Paul by protecting and promoting public health and safety for all.

Values

  • Serve all customers with respect and dignity. 

  • Exemplify public service. 

  • Embrace the diversity of our city by valuing different viewpoints, expertise, and cultures. 

  • Act with integrity and professionalism in all interactions with our customers and communities. 

Director

Portrait of Ia Xiong

Ia Xiong

Ia is a seasoned public-sector leader with more than 25 years of experience overseeing complex transportation, infrastructure, regulatory, and operational systems across local and regional government. In her most recent role within the City of Rochester, she grew Transit and Parking into a standalone department, establishing key policies, performance standards, and customer service practices to ensure the successful operation of the department. 

Ia holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Marquette University and has been a licensed professional engineer in Minnesota since 2000. She has completed extensive leadership and management training focused on organizational leadership, project delivery, and team development. Most of all, she is committed to supporting a strong, service-oriented department grounded in safety, transparency, operational excellence, and responsive service for Saint Paul residents and businesses. 

Deputy Directors

David Hoban
Dan Niziolek

DSI’s Commitment to Equity

DSI is committed to continually analyzing city services and programs to identify the potential for race-based disparities then seeking solutions to address any disparities. This includes engaging the community for input and collaboration, as well as striving to make our workforce reflect the demographics of our city. 

Some of our initiatives are listed here:

  • DSI has engaged the community in three equity impact assessments:  Reviewing the Fire Inspections Certificate of Occupancy program, Code Enforcement abatement notices, and business license applications process. The department strives to analyze one program per year. You may read the equity impact reports related to each of these efforts here:
  • DSI created an equity analysis framework to apply an equity lens when making decisions or reviewing existing processes and policies related to city programs. View or download a PDF of the framework here.
  • DSI collects Sewer Availability Charges (SAC) on behalf of the Metropolitan Council. These charges cover the sanitary sewer usage a new business or building generates, which DSI collects and then transfers to the Metropolitan Council after a building permit is issued. Our department offers research services to every customer who receives a SAC determination from the Metropolitan Council. This service ensures that new businesses only pay those charges for which they are actually responsible. The department estimates this service provides more than $300,000 in cost savings to new Saint Paul businesses each year. 
  • Of available DSI dollars in 2020, $669,848.49, $338,694.78 or 51 percent was spent on city CERT program vendors (Central Certification program, a small business program recognized by the city and Ramsey County); of that $205,403.73 was spent on Women Business Enterprises ( 60.65 percent).
  • The department moved from 10.9 percent people of color represented in its workforce in 2014 to 21.4 percent in 2021. DSI’s goal is 48 percent.  We moved from 11 percent women our department’s workforce to 33 percent in 2021. DSI’s goal is 51 percent.

Habitat for Humanity

Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity logo

Under former DSI Director Ricardo Cervantes’ leadership, the department coordinated the city’s volunteer efforts with Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, engaging city departments, the Office of the Mayor, and City Council in helping to build a “Saint Paul for all.”

Each year approximately:

  • 110 city staff participate
  • 16 departments are represented
  • 825 hours are invested as staff use a day of their personal vacation time

Saint Paul has built 338 houses in neighborhoods throughout the city since 1985. To learn more about Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity’s projects building, repairing, and selling homes with affordable mortgages visit the Twin Cities Habitat website.