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REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION Date: July 11, 2022 Item No.: 7.e Department Approval City Manager Approval Item Description:Consider a resolution condemning the use of discriminatory covenants, discharging discriminatory covenants on city-owned property, and approving participation in the Just Deeds Coalition 1 B ACKGROUND 2 On June 17, 2022Mapping Prejudice revealed the results of a multi-yearprocess of reviewing deeds 3 and mapping the location of discriminatory covenants (also referred to as racially restrictive 4 covenants) throughout Ramsey County. Using Mapping Prejudice’s data, Community Development 5 staff have mapped all Roseville properties encumbered with such covenants (see Attachment B). As 6 illustrated on the map, discriminatory covenants were used quite extensively throughout the City of 7 Roseville, with 289 properties identified as having such covenants. With the exception of some 8 parkland property, all covenants exist on land zoned Low Density Residential (LDR). In fact, 3.3% 9 of all LDR-zoned land is encumbered with a discriminatory covenant. The prevalence of these 10 covenants is a function of the government’s historical role wherebythe federal government required 11 them in order to secure FHA mortgage financing. In 1948, the US Supreme Court ruled that courts 12 were prohibited from enforcing discriminatory covenants, with the Minnesota legislature enacting 13 statutes in 1953 that prohibited new covenants, but existing covenants were still legal in Minnesota 14 until 1962. While unconstitutional, and no longer enforceable, their continued existence creates harm 15 and pain for Black, Indigenous and People of Color. Further, the use of discriminatory covenants has 16 created long-lasting inequities between White persons and Black, Indigenous and People of Color. An 17 example of a discriminatory covenant is as follows: 18 19“The said premises shall not be sold, mortgaged, leased or occupied by any personor persons 20 who are not members of the Caucasian race, but this shall not prevent the keeping of domestic 21 servants who are not members of the Caucasian race.” 22 23 Just Deeds is a project launched by the Golden Valley Human Rights Commission to provide free 24 legal assistance to homeowners who want to research and discharge discriminatory covenants from 25 their property titles. The City of Golden Valley has partnered with locallaw firms and title companies 26 to accomplish this work. Ramsey County has also committed to waiving recording fees for efforts 27 undertaken to discharge discriminatory covenants. 28 29 Just Deeds published a toolkit for City staff to use to take the steps needed to join the Just Deeds 30 coalition. Cities wishing to participate in Just Deeds must: 31 Commit to the Just Deeds mission statement in word and in action (see Attachment C) 32 Dedicate resources to support the Just Deeds mission, which could include: Page 1 of 2