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to sell or to circulate, post or cause to be printed, circulated, or posted, any limitation, specification,
<br />or discrimination as to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, status with
<br />regard to public assistance, disability, sexual orientation, or familial status; and
<br />WHEREAS, in 2019, the Minnesota Legislature passed a law authorizing property owners
<br />to individually discharge or renounce discriminatory covenants by recording a discharge form in
<br />the county property records; and
<br />WHEREAS, the use and approval of restrictive covenants to prohibit non -white and non-
<br />Christian persons from living in Arden Hills is key example of systemic racism in practice, as,
<br />white residents, at the time, expected Council members, legislators, developers, and real estate
<br />agents to empower or not interfere with efforts to maintain an all -white community, and the effects
<br />are still visible today; and
<br />WHEREAS, discriminatory covenants promoted and established residential racial
<br />segregation, which historically and currently has impacted property ownership, accumulation of
<br />generational wealth, property transfers, mortgage eligibility, rental eligibility, property values,
<br />property tax base, internet access, access to quality education, and more. Discriminatory covenants
<br />fortified systemic racism and compounded economic divestment in specific communities within
<br />Hennepin County; and
<br />WHEREAS, discriminatory covenants created demographic patterns that remain in place
<br />today. Due in part to this historical practice, the population of the City of Arden Hills is less racially
<br />diverse than the populations of Ramsey County and the state of Minnesota; and
<br />WHEREAS, in 2021, the Just Deeds project was launched to provide educational
<br />opportunities for Minnesota communities the racist history of discriminatory covenants and to
<br />provide free legal and titles services to help residents find discriminatory covenants and
<br />acknowledge this practice through discharge of the covenants; and
<br />WHEREAS, the City of Arden Hills desires to participate in this project in collaboration
<br />with its residents.
<br />NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED be it resolved by the City Council of the City
<br />of Arden Hills, Minnesota:
<br />1. The City of Arden Hills, recognizes the lasting harm that Discriminatory
<br />Covenants —and the racial, religious, and other discriminatory practices that they
<br />represent —cause to society in general and to the individuals who are adversely
<br />affected by racial, religious, and other discrimination through the presence of
<br />discriminatory covenants in the public land records.
<br />2. The City of Arden Hills renounces and condemns the past use of discriminatory
<br />covenants and prohibits discriminatory covenants from being used in Arden Hills
<br />in the future. The City of Arden Hills commits to exploring and acknowledging its
<br />history as it relates to the imposition of discriminatory covenants in Arden Hills
<br />and its role in sanctioning or approving such practices.
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