The Port Authority of the City of Saint Paul (“SPPA”) complies with federal civil rights laws and is committed to providing its programs and services without discrimination in accordance with:

  • Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin (including language).
  • Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibits discrimination based on disability.
  • Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, which prohibits discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities.
  • Age Discrimination Act of 1975, which prohibits discrimination based on age.
  • U.S. Department of Homeland Security regulation 6 C.F.R. Part 19, which prohibits discrimination based on religion in social service programs.

A complaint may be filed by any individual who believes they have been subjected to discrimination based on race, color, national origin (including language), disability, age, sex, or religion.

Notice to Program Beneficiaries

SPPA is committed to ensuring that all individuals have equal access to our programs and services. If you believe you have been discriminated against in violation of federal law, you have the right to file a complaint. Please refer to the information below to understand how to submit your complaint:

  1. Bases for prohibited discrimination include race, color, national origin (including language), disability, age, sex, or religion.
  2. If you believe you have experienced discrimination, you may file a written complaint by mail with: Director of Business Administration, 400 Wabasha Street N, Suite 240, Saint Paul, MN 55102. Complaints must be filed within 180 days from the date of the alleged discrimination.
  3. You may file a civil rights complaint directly with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL).

    Email: [email protected] (fastest method to submit your complaint)
    Fax: 202-401-4708
    U.S. Mail:
    U.S. Department of Homeland Security
    Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
    Compliance Branch, Mail Stop #0190
    Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., SE
    Washington, D.C. 20528

    You may also File a Complaint directly through us here:
File a Complaint
  1. We are committed to making the complaints process accessible to everyone. If you need assistance, we will provide complaint forms in alternative formats and languages upon request.

Accepting and Responding to Complaints

SPPA is committed to promptly and thoroughly addressing all complaints of alleged discrimination. The following outlines the procedures for accepting and responding to complaints filed by program beneficiaries:

  1. The individual designated to manage and oversee the complaint process is Director of Business Administration, 400 Wabasha Street N, Suite 240, Saint Paul, MN 55102. This employee will ensure all complaints are properly handled in accordance with our policies and procedures.
  2. Upon receipt of a complaint, SPPA will provide written acknowledgement within 10 days to confirm the complaint has been received. The acknowledgement will include confirmation of receipt of the complaint, an outline of the next steps in the investigation process and contact information for the designated employee responsible for managing the complaint process.
  3. Upon receipt of a complaint, SPPA will determine the appropriate course of action for investigating and resolving the issue.
    1. In some cases, SPPA may conduct an internal investigation. This process includes gathering evidence, interviewing relevant parties, and reviewing applicable policies and laws to determine if discrimination occurred.
    2. If the situation requires, the complaint may be referred to an appropriate external agency for investigation, such as a local or state human rights commission or the appropriate federal agency.
    3. SPPA aims to complete the investigation or refer the complaint to an external agency in a timely manner in accordance with applicable law. SPPA will inform the complainant of the expected timeline for resolution and any relevant updates.

Referring Complaints

In some cases, we may refer a discrimination complaint to another agency or organization for further investigation and resolution. If your complaint is referred, we will take the following steps:

  1. We will assess whether the complaint should be handled by an external agency, such as a local, state, or federal human rights commission or the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
  2. If appropriate, we will forward your complaint to the relevant agency, providing them with the details necessary to conduct their investigation.
  3. We will inform you of the referral, including the name of the agency to which your complaint has been sent and the contact information for the agency handling the investigation.
  4. You will be notified in writing within 10 days of the referral, with the details of the agency responsible for investigating your complaint.
  5. We will provide contact information for the external agency, so you can follow up on the progress of the investigation if needed.
  6. We will maintain communication with you throughout the referral process to ensure that you are informed of any updates or resolutions.

Dual Filings

If you have filed your complaint with another agency in addition to our organization, it is important to inform us so that we can avoid duplicative investigations. This helps ensure an efficient process and prevents unnecessary delays.

We ask that you notify us if your complaint has been filed with another agency. This includes any other governmental, regulatory, or advocacy organizations. Please provide the name of the agency, the contact person, and any case or reference numbers associated with the other filing.

Upon being notified of a dual filing, we will reach out to the other agency handling your complaint to coordinate efforts and avoid redundancy. We will work collaboratively with the other agency to ensure that your complaint is being handled appropriately, and we will keep you informed of any necessary steps or actions taken by both organizations. You will be updated on any developments or findings resulting from the coordination between the agencies.