[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6427754,"mediaKeyId","5889278-fc4b743fc58a1aa68f1dd0cb9e06d7d9","parentId",5889278,"title","St. Paul’s new ‘Poly’ permitting system launched; city officials cite faster workflows but historic data conversion and staffing remain challenges","audioSeconds",207,"startMs",1277000,"endMs",1484000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5889278-fc4b743fc58a1aa68f1dd0cb9e06d7d9&start=1277&end=1484","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5889278-fc4b743fc58a1aa68f1dd0cb9e06d7d9/thumbnail_1277000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6427754/St-Paul-City/Ramsey-County/Minnesota/St-Pauls-new-Poly-permitting-system-launched-city-officials-cite-faster-workflows-but-historic-data-conversion-and-staffing-remain-challenges","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6427754-f9acdb58f383a675e13e56716cd8c5ac/orig.mp4?Expires=1773564936&Signature=LVwnmwOM7PGWpFoHs~Wfo-yar8~s~VMFGiaVXPQ3DlT7NpaylFUC2CqRnVQ~mDPAaBP36dj846IBmD~xdhm6W7SUzgM46pVIQ75JEx8PT0B5Ylj8iJbmFe4fDlUGgPe2OfBTTWXMjRX2ZjMZA50esguyGsmyRmroBGXJmm8AEqrLDdJyr1FdtLEm427OyyhY7jMVXfOI~L9SJQ7Xj636XuAGH3uTPyg0oEivwe8C3siLE6be-Dooiwb7YeKsZ-398BD~dRp4JnpuIRlTBY~iVdHXsmrMyhZsebB5C2N7mcgBTw9stlEv7zNE84Mxu4JArb4EFHOT~ODo9Ipj-dnCfA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of St. Paul","date","2025-10-01T09:59:00Z","article","Angie Weasey, director of the Department of Safety and Inspections (DSI), told the St. Paul City Council Finance and Budget Committee on Oct. 24, 2025, that the city accelerated the rollout this year of a modern permitting and licensing system known as Poly to recover from a cyber incident and modernize decades‑old systems.

Weasey said the first week after the September 15 rollout handled “over 4,600 applications entered into Poly,” including 86 business licenses, 109 professional licenses, 46 plan submissions, and “almost $2,000,000 in payments” processed. “We replaced 25‑ and 35‑year‑old systems with a modern system,” she said.

That initial surge was part of an accelerated “minimally viable product” (MVP) deployment, in which about two‑thirds of the city’s roughly 570 business lines moved forward with critical documents and basic workflows. Weasey said Poly adds features the legacy platforms lacked: an inspector mobile app, real‑time cross‑department notifications for shared reviews, customer self‑service for historic records once data is migrated, address verification to reduce manual entry, and integrated email and workload dashboards for managers.

Why it matters: permitting and licensing backlogs affect business openings, construction timelines and public safety inspections. Council members said they need measurable performance goals so the public can see improvements. Council President Naker asked for specific responsiveness targets and for the department to report how Poly will change service‑level measurement.

Weasey acknowledged remaining work. The historic records are not fully converted; the team is mapping older records to new business‑line definitions and converting data that is not an “apples to apples” migration. She said the city is phasing in additional automations, online inspection scheduling tied to Outlook, and email confirmations as those components are tested.

On performance measurement, Weasey said Poly will provide managers with dashboards and service‑level agreement views and will allow load balancing among reviewers. She told the committee the department proposed an “attrition adjustment” in the 2026 budget to preserve staffing flexibility so DSI can collect operational data in 2026 and propose personnel adjustments in 2027 based on measured pinch points.

Council members pressed for concrete metrics. One member asked for targets such as response within 48 hours for inquiries and defined turnarounds for a completed plan application; another asked that the department make public the percentage of requests meeting those targets once the dashboards are live.

Weasey also said Poly includes a new electronic plan review product (Bluebeam) that many private‑sector customers use, replacing a less familiar system and aiming to speed collaboration with applicants.

The department said a mix of short‑term staffing (about 80 people assisted during the Poly backlog week) and ongoing conversion work remain, and the committee asked DSI to return with metrics and an update on historic data migration. For now, DSI described the rollout as functional with significant follow‑up work required to restore full historic functionality and to measure the system’s impact on turnaround times.

Looking ahead, Weasey asked the council to treat 2026 as an assessment period: collect data, identify recurring pinch points and then request targeted personnel or process changes in the 2027 budget.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","St. Paul - Oct 01, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Director Angie Weasey told the Finance and Budget Committee that the city accelerated rollout of a modern permitting platform called Poly, processing thousands of backlog records in its first week and enabling new inspector mobile tools and cross-department reviews. Council members pressed for measurable service targets and flagged remaining work: ","taxTitle","St. Paul City, Ramsey County, Minnesota","taxId",5776,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6427747,"Council members press DSI over communication, timeline and funding for tenant protections implementation",589,554000,1143000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5889278-fc4b743fc58a1aa68f1dd0cb9e06d7d9&start=554&end=1143","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5889278-fc4b743fc58a1aa68f1dd0cb9e06d7d9/thumbnail_554000.jpg","/articles/6427747/St-Paul-City/Ramsey-County/Minnesota/Council-members-press-DSI-over-communication-timeline-and-funding-for-tenant-protections-implementation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6427747-ee57e88b2d61c90e54d5b244b2032fac/orig.mp4?Expires=1773564936&Signature=FEKbtHP8Av04vi-szLR-QGBYXNQUpf9wrnP61GSmJSNqJZFePsw1EH5K0j53qSzyfz3KA4mmPbL5ChTx5d3tvDd3-MapybMZ2m5BCcG71WtpP62k9qIospUVLgBs-bTBahacgbtP1cHLH9NeQF0z-x57f-7rA94GZ~WpxtauJyr3cYKXCewRMa6b0nCbbYlL3FdrZwRzDoxPZfRuOEeDt9Y3Skoaig0uhiRL8VMwhS92S4SOTGsmhFIfxzJPYlxavEixtjNyrS12rL4y45ZZHnOr4ZLGWRZt0vZiP2nXLdtnRsWlqpbI1JCQJE-Plr3RLXMT~H9JmHNPw3y95HiaDw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Council members on the St. Paul Finance and Budget Committee on Oct. 24, 2025 questioned Department of Safety and Inspections Director Angie Weasey about delays and limited communication in implementing tenant protections the council previously approved.

Chair Johnson, who also serves as HRA chair, said the council’s office made repeated requests for meetings and memos beginning in July and has not received clear timelines or requisition documents from DSI. “I really want to be transparent about that because this work has a start date of May 2026,” Johnson said on the record, adding the council’s HRA office is ready to release funds but needs clearer coordination.

Weasey said the ordinance changes “to add tenant protections” are ready and that she had spoken with the deputy city attorney; she recommended coordinating with the city attorney and council staff when the council wants to move the administrative code changes forward. Weasey also said parts of the tenant‑protections work rely on non‑general fund resources and that the department needs an accounting unit to submit requisitions.

Why it matters: the tenant protections ordinance creates new administrative duties for DSI and requires staff time, intake processes, multimedia outreach and website integration. Council members said those tasks must be coordinated with the Office of Financial Empowerment (OFE) and the HRA because the program includes education and tenant/landlord communications already developed in earlier phases.

Clarifying details recorded in the meeting: DSI identified an estimated $380,000 in personnel, equipment and services tied to initial implementation (DSI said the figure was projected in 2024 and includes costs such as mailings and translation). Weasey said staff position audit forms are under review with HR before requisitions can be posted. She added that some content and trackers exist from prior OFE work but need additional bandwidth to be operational and integrated with Poly.

Council members requested a clearer timeline, a copy of the requisition when available and regular check‑ins with council offices and OFE. The budget chair said she will prioritize follow‑up and asked DSI to provide the requested materials in a timely manner.

Authorities and legal steps discussed included DSI’s administrative code (referred to in the meeting as Chapter 13), repeal of a conflicting Chapter 54 provision, and references to another chapter cited in the presentation. Weasey told the committee the department was prepared to bring the Chapter 13 changes forward when council direction and coordination with the city attorney’s office were in place.

The committee did not take a formal vote on implementation funding during the session; council members and DSI agreed to follow up with timelines and documentation before the end of the year.","HRA chair and several council members said they have not received timely updates from DSI on implementing tenant protections passed by ordinance, and asked about a $380,000 requisition and account setup needed before work can begin.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6427732,"Council members question shift of HEART team funding to opioid settlement dollars; administration says phased approach planned",329,2477000,2806000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5889278-fc4b743fc58a1aa68f1dd0cb9e06d7d9&start=2477&end=2806","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5889278-fc4b743fc58a1aa68f1dd0cb9e06d7d9/thumbnail_2477000.jpg","/articles/6427732/St-Paul-City/Ramsey-County/Minnesota/Council-members-question-shift-of-HEART-team-funding-to-opioid-settlement-dollars-administration-says-phased-approach-planned","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6427732-124d52a32a7bd054dcd0027f12aa3891/orig.mp4?Expires=1773564936&Signature=maiSLjwjbk6nFBP1es5VEsPtcKgpKzdsGehttW~2JazoKejR2iKKlPlGDRit-aohiUEj9XovHs-zmwIRv9ghvh~8OVUmMeUiHEGeOgtsisuRTLGFt0vCC22gJ4AbU4Ue7L7gBkODRpLo5jXZ1EUvpeD8dCVvv~~c4PQZUnXN-u3oOCselIrvvXzIWi~HBRElufnJdsqugmSgVGV3O97IUsDk619iJCIpoRVFtNmSFh9Mve62HY5v43qPsFrUhmSZHvhyvhKvIGDChR-qiz9yhWZuCmm8J23KQVtAVw8Mx9Ok7O4O~Ook2WDugdqNxL6uH1gvhdUIwWBprj6HkL3nDA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several council members told the Finance and Budget Committee they were concerned about shifting ongoing homelessness and outreach work for the HEART team from the general fund to opioid settlement dollars.

Council President Acre and other members asked why the administration proposed using opioid settlement funds to support HEART instead of covering the cost in the general fund or coordinating more with Ramsey County. The concern, members said, is that opioid settlement dollars are typically one‑time or limited‑term funds and should be prioritized for treatment and prevention.

Director Angie Weasey said the HEART work is tightly connected to public health and the opioid crisis; she described using settlement dollars for HEART as a way to preserve existing service levels in a tight general fund year. “Utilizing opioid settlement dollars is, in my opinion, a wise decision,” Weasey said, adding that the administration has tried to be conservative in planning for any future transition back to the general fund.

Deputy officials told the committee the opioid settlement funding will come in over multiple years and that the city intends to “ramp up” services with an explicit plan to phase off settlement support so that costs can return to the general fund without a sudden cliff. The settlement funds discussed in the meeting were described as part of a larger special fund (referred to in the presentation as Fund 211) that holds multiple accounting units, including opioid settlement accounting.

Why it matters: HEART delivers outreach and unsheltered response work the council views as an important public‑safety and human‑services function. Council members said they want a clearer joint plan with Ramsey County and a public accounting of how much settlement money the city expects in 2026 and how the funds will be allocated.

Committee members requested: a detailed 2026 opioid settlement revenue estimate, a breakdown of planned 2026 allocations, and a timeline for how the administration plans to gradually return HEART costs to the general fund if settlement dollars decline. The administration agreed to follow up with those details and to consider scheduling a dedicated briefing on opioid settlement funding.","Several council members cautioned against using one‑time opioid settlement funds for ongoing HEART team operations. City officials said settlement dollars will be disbursed over multiple years and that the administration plans a phased approach to avoid a sharp funding cliff.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6427725,"DSI reports hiring gains but persistent vacancies; council asks for clearer staffing breakdowns and timelines",4063,424000,4487000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5889278-fc4b743fc58a1aa68f1dd0cb9e06d7d9&start=424&end=4487","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5889278-fc4b743fc58a1aa68f1dd0cb9e06d7d9/thumbnail_424000.jpg","/articles/6427725/St-Paul-City/Ramsey-County/Minnesota/DSI-reports-hiring-gains-but-persistent-vacancies-council-asks-for-clearer-staffing-breakdowns-and-timelines","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6427725-186249ed741bc1edb014d9d8e5c05b4f/orig.mp4?Expires=1773564936&Signature=Ve5hMlRoksyyCxhUYUZvwZwKD4TTYyESKXv84zMB4KwstwdiC7k5nttNF~6eb3ZmuyuzQYumOEMk97tIrc14VvMaWvbZ~QVEKAW0msJT50VWUbikH~MCoRl2pXI-PbEf1GSferXyq5eZ3BtXZbmCpcOmhN4Kf-49~VxyKdPlE3pmnHvPSbLxZMdHvcViB57XGIOJyWXbw8CcHYRxTnd~Krh0uSASgSP8tRs9o64BlmGhEf5S5Am34BBd34BnoXZj2AE~OB9uoDj4Z-zsMRYudTecQjPpAh-Ft3l~3qZ6n~oyR66HFudRc~V8n21CGh9489-AvrQTnnvQhnimNIj4AA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Angie Weasey, director of the Department of Safety and Inspections, told the Finance and Budget Committee that DSI has made significant hiring efforts in 2025 but continues to operate with several unfilled positions that affect service delivery.

Weasey said DSI hired 19 people to fill vacancies in 2025 and employed 17 temporary staff for retiree backfills, long‑term leaves, summer season support and special projects such as Poly. “We’ve hired 19 people to fill vacancies that were in DSI,” she said.

Several council members pressed for a clearer breakdown of FTEs by function. Weasey presented a high‑level split that she described as roughly 50/50 between housing‑focused and economic‑development‑focused staff, and she highlighted several hard‑to‑fill roles: a structural engineer recruitment that produced a candidate who accepted another position, a principal city planner position that required multiple interview rounds for site‑specific, complex projects (United Village, Highland Bridge, Riverview), and a part‑time (half‑FTE) role that proved difficult to staff. DSI also reported that some inspector positions were filled from current eligible lists, and that remaining inspector hires will require reposting or promotion lists.

On previously approved positions tied to a new energy compliance fee, Weasey said DSI will not hire those staff until the fee implementation proceeds. “Without the implementation of the new fee, we have not gone forward with the new hires,” she said.

Why it matters: staffing levels affect permitting turnaround, inspections, licensing and the department’s ability to implement new programs. Committee members and the budget chair requested a detailed FTE breakdown, per‑line staffing counts and timelines for when requisitions will be submitted to HR.

DSI said some positions were delayed by the city’s accelerated Poly rollout and by the cyber incident response; the department asked for patience as it completes conversion work and as HR processes requisitions. Committee members offered support for recruitment assistance and workforce development partnerships to build a pipeline for hard‑to‑fill roles.

The department did not present formal hires or layoffs during the meeting; members asked DSI to follow up with more detailed FTE tables and with timelines for outstanding requisitions.","Director Angie Weasey told the committee DSI hired 19 permanent staff and 17 temporary workers in 2025, but several specialized vacancies remain. The department said some hires tied to a fee implementation have been paused until the fee is enacted; council members asked for a detailed FTE breakdown by function.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

St. Paul’s new ‘Poly’ permitting system launched; city officials cite faster workflows but historic data conversion and staffing remain challenges

Council members press DSI over communication, timeline and funding for tenant protections implementation

Council members question shift of HEART team funding to opioid settlement dollars; administration says phased approach planned

DSI reports hiring gains but persistent vacancies; council asks for clearer staffing breakdowns and timelines