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Attachment B <br />'It <br />,-iREN HILLS <br />MEMORANDUM <br />DATE: March 20, 2023 <br />TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers <br />FROM: Dave Perrault, City Administrator <br />SUBJECT: Removal of Deed Restrictions <br />Budgeted Amount: Actual Amount: Funding Source: <br />N/A N/A N/A <br />For Council Consideration <br />Council should consider providing direction on engaging with Just Deeds and providing residents <br />the option to remove racial covenants from their home deeds. <br />Background <br />Council recently directed Staff to look at working with Just Deeds to assist residents with removing <br />racial covenants on their home deeds. Through the first half of the 201h century, it was not <br />uncommon for home builders, real estate, agents, and even units of government to have racial <br />covenants included in deeds to homes that precluded non -white ownership and rentals. While federal <br />and state law prohibit the enforcement of such covenants today, some may still exist in the original <br />deed language. Across Ramsey County, and including Arden Hills, there are deeds that still include <br />these covenants. Ramsey County has partnered with the organization Just Deeds, <br />https:Hjustdeeds.org/ to provide residents with a simple, no cost way to remove these covenants from <br />their deeds. Other cities, such as, Shoreview, Falcon Heights, and Roseville have partnered with Just <br />Deeds. There is no cost to the City, but the City would need to pass a resolution of support, and also <br />help market and promote the service to its residents. From there, residents would work directly with <br />Just Deeds on removing any racial covenants from their deeds. Residents interested in seeing if their <br />property has a racial covenant can visit the U of M's mapping prejudice webpage, <br />https:Hmgppingprejudice.umn.edu/, which is working to identify properties with covenants. <br />Assuming Council wants this to move forward, Council should give direction on whether or not it <br />would like a formal presentation from Just Deeds at a Council meeting or simply pass the resolution <br />on consent and move forward. <br />Budget Impact <br />No known budget impacts at this time <br />Attachment <br />11D <br />Page 1 of 1 <br />