03-16-2021 HRA Agenda Packet 7800 Golden Valley Road I Golden Valley,MN 55427 CltJ of
763-593-80121 TTY 763-593-3968 1 763-593-8109(tax) I www.goldenvalleymn.gov golden,,,,,, ,Housing & Redevelopmentsva
Authority March 16, 2021-6:30 pm
Meeting Held Virtually
REGULAR MEETING AGENDA
This meeting will be held via Webex in accordance with the local emergency declaration made by
the City under Minn. Stat. § 12.37. The public may monitor this meeting by watching on Comcast
cable channel 16, by streaming on CCXmedia.org, or by calling 1-415-655-0001 and entering the
meeting code 133 749 1542. The public may participate in this meeting during public comment
sections, including the public forum beginning at 6:20 pm, by calling 763-593-8060. Additional
information about monitoring electronic meetings is available on the City website. For technical
assistance, please contact the City at 763-593-8007 or webexsupport@goldenvalleymn.gov. If
you incur costs to call into the meeting, you may submit the costs to the City for reimbursement
consideration.
1. Call to Order
A. Roll Call Pages
B. Election of Officers 2
C. Introduction of New Housing/Economic Development Manager
2. Approval of Agenda
3. Consent Agenda
Approval of Consent Agenda - All items listed under this heading are considered to be routine
and will be enacted by one motion. There will be no discussion of these items unless a
Commission Member so requests in which event the item will be removed from the general
order of business and considered in its normal sequence on the agenda.
A. Approval of Minutes:
1. HRA Work Session — February 9, 2021 3
B. Receive and File Previous Quarter's Financial Reports 4-5
C. Approve HRA Resolution No. 21-01 Condemning the Use of Discriminatory Covenants, 6-10
Discharging Discriminatory Covenants on HRA Property, and Supporting Participation in
the Just Deeds Coalition
4. Public Hearing
5. Old Business
6. New Business
7. Adjournment
This document is available in alternate formats upon a 72-hour request. Please call
763-593-8006 (TTY: 763-593-3968)to make a request. Examples of alternate formats
may include large print, electronic, Braille,audiocassette, etc.
14
7 SUMMARY
Housing and Redevelopment Authority
763-593-8006 / 763-593-8109 (fax)
Golden Valley HRA Meeting
March 16, 2021
Agenda Item
1. B. Election of Officers
Prepared By
Marc Nevinski, Physical Development Director
Summary
The Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) bylaws provide for the election of two officers to the
HRA, Chairperson and Vice Chairperson. The bylaws state these positions are to be elected for a one-
yearterm.
Listed below is the history of HRA Chair and Vice Chair appointments:
2012 - Chair Pentel, Vice Chair Scanlon
2013 - Chair PenteI. Vice Chair Scanlon
2014- Chair Schmidgall, Vice Chair Snope
2015 - Chair Schmidgall, Vice Chair Fonnest
2016 - Chair Schmidgall, Vice Chair Clausen
2017 - Chair Snope, Vice Chair Clausen
2018 - Chair Clausen, Vice Chair Rosenquist
2019 - Chair Fonnest, Vice Chair Rosenquist
2020- Chair Fonnest, Vice Chair Rosenquist
2021— (Suggested) Chair Maurice Harris, Vice Chair
Financial Or Budget Considerations
None
Recommended Action
Motion to approve a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson for 2021.
Supporting Documents
None
7800 Golden Valley Road I Golden Valley,MN 55427 CltJ of
763-593-80121 TTY 763-593-3968 1 763-593-8109(fax) I www.goldenvalleymn.gov golden,,,,,
Housing & Redevelopment y
va
Authority February 9, 2021—6:30 pm
In light of the recently declared COVID-19 health pandemic, the Mayor of the City of Golden Valley
declared a local emergency under Minnesota Statute, section 12.37. In accordance with that
declaration, beginning on March 16, 2020, all meetings of the Housing & Redevelopment
Authority held during the emergency were conducted by telephone or other electronic means.
The City used WebEx to conduct this meeting electronically. Members of the public were able to
monitor the meetings by watching it on Comcast cable channel 16, by streaming it on
CCXmedia.org, and by dialing in to the public call-in line. The public was able to participate in this
meeting during public comment sections, including the public forum, by dialing in to the public
call-in line.
WORK SESSION MINUTES
Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 8:29 pm by Housing and Redevelopment Authority Chair
Fonnest.
Roll Call
Commissioners present: Chair Larry Fonnest, Commissioners Maurice Harris, Shep Harris, Gillian
Rosenquist and Kimberly Sanberg
Staff present: HRA Director Cruikshank, HRA Attorney Cisneros, Finance Director Sue
Virnig, and City Clerk Theresa Schyma
1. Overview of the City's Tax Increment Financing (TIF)
Finance Director Virnig presented a review of the City's four active tax increment districts and
provided information on their purpose when created and their current status. As the City looks
to future development, it needs to review how some development projects came about. The
four active tax increment districts are North Wirth 3, Highway 55 West, Cornerstone Creek, and
Winnetka-Medicine Lake Road Redevelopment District.
The work session was adjourned at 8:45 pm.
Larry Fonnest, Chair
ATTEST:
Theresa Schyma, City Clerk
14
7 SUMMARY
Housing and Redevelopment Authority
763-593-8006 / 763-593-8109 (fax)
Golden Valley HRA Meeting
March 16, 2021
Agenda Item
3. B. Reimbursement of City Expenditures
Prepared By
Sue Virnig, Finance Director
Summary
As of March 11, 2021 the HRA has the following expenditures:
Ck# City Check Register Amount
153233 Cornerstone Creek— Pay Go Note 26,301.50
153209 Associated Bank—Pay Go Note 16,137.47
TRANS City of Golden Valley 493,856.75
153249 Golden Villas, LLC-Pay Go Note 169,957.50
$706,253.22
HRA Expenditures: Amount
9250 North Wirth #3 16,137.47
9300 Highway 55 West 302,463.75
9302 Cornerstone Creek 26,301.50
9400 Winnetka/Medicine Lake Road 361,350.50
$706,253.22
Financial Or Budget Considerations
Expenditures are shown on financials. All checks written are reported on the City check registers.
Recommended Action
Motion to receive and file financial reports.
Supporting Documents
0 HRA Funds (1 pages)
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Housing and Redevelopment Authority
763-593-8006 / 763-593-8109 (fax)
Golden Valley HRA Meeting
March 16, 2021
Agenda Item
3. C. HRA Resolution No. 21-01 Supporting Participation in Just Deeds Coalition
Prepared By
Maria Cisneros, HRA Attorney
Summary
When the City of Golden Valley was developed, developers, realtors, property owners, and the City
relied on discriminatory covenants to control the demographic makeup of its residents and property
owners. These covenants were contained in property deeds, development agreements, and planning
approvals and prohibited Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) and Jewish Minnesotans
from owning or occupying certain properties in the City of Golden Valley. Mapping Prejudice created a
map of the covenants in Golden Valley. The map is available on the Just Deeds website.
In 2019, the Minnesota Legislature passed a law to allow property owners to renounce discriminatory
covenants on their properties. In response, the Golden Valley Human Rights Commission requested
that the City Council approve an amendment to their 2019 work plan to add the topic of discriminatory
covenants. In the spring of 2020, the City launched the Just Deeds project. Since then, City staff has
worked with Mapping Prejudice, the Minnesota Association of City Attorneys, Edina Realty Title, and
the Minneapolis Association of Realtors to found the Just Deeds Coalition. Several other cities,
including Robbinsdale, Crystal, New Hope, Minnetonka, and Minneapolis have also joined the coalition.
The Coalition is actively working to educate Minnesotans about historically racist practices; the
deliberate damage they have caused communities of color and other traditionally marginalized groups
of people; and how these systems directly benefited white persons. Additionally, the Coalition aims to
take an active role in the identification of discriminatory systems and devote resources toward creating
equity for all persons.
Discriminatory covenants in Golden Valley created long-lasting consequences and a legacy of inequity
between white persons and BIPOC persons. Discriminatory Covenants promoted and established
residential racial segregation, which historically and currently has impacted property ownership,
accumulation of wealth, property transfers, mortgage eligibility, rental eligibility, property values,
property tax base, education, transportation, medical care, home ownership, access to
environmentally healthy spaces, and more. Data shows that homes that were racially covenanted are
still predominantly owned by white people and are worth approximately 15% more today than non-
HRA Regular Meeting Executive Summary 2
City of Golden Valley
March 16, 2021
covenanted properties. Additionally, the City of Golden Valley has less racial diversity than surrounding
cities.
Financial or Budget Considerations
There is no a financial or budget consideration
Recommended Action
Motion to approve HRA Resolution No. 21-01, a Resolution Condemning the Use of Discriminatory
Covenants, Discharging Discriminatory Covenants on HRA-Owned Property, and Approving
Participation in the Just Deeds Coalition
Supporting Documents
• HRA Resolution No. 21-01 Condemning the Use of Discriminatory Covenants, Discharging
Discriminatory Covenants on HRA-Owned Property, and Approving Participation in the Just Deeds
Coalition (3 pages)
HRA RESOLUTION NO. 21-01
RESOLUTION CONDEMNING THE USE OF DISCRIMINATORY COVENANTS,
DISCHARGING DISCRIMINATORY COVENANTS ON HRA-OWNED PROPERTY,
AND APPROVING PARTICIPATION IN THE JUST DEEDS COALITION
WHEREAS, discriminatory covenants were tools used by real estate developers to prevent
BIPOC and non-Christian individuals from buying or occupying property in certain areas, and they were
common throughout the United States from the early 1900s to the 1960s; and
WHEREAS, the purpose of discriminatory covenants was to racially and religiously homogenize
communities by excluding BIPOC and non-Christian individuals from Golden Valley. These tools
segregated the metro area and built a hidden system of apartheid; and
WHEREAS, in 2016, the University of Minnesota founded Mapping Prejudice to expose the
racist practices that shaped the landscape of the metro area. Mapping Prejudice researched restrictive
covenants in Hennepin County and created the first-ever comprehensive map of racial covenants in an
American city. The project mapped 24,131 covenants in Hennepin County, including 1,604 covenants
in Golden Valley; and
WHEREAS, an example of a common covenant in Golden Valley declared that "No part of said
premises shall ever be used or occupied by or sold, conveyed, leased, rented or given to Negroes, or
Mongolians or Hebrews or any person or persons of the negro race, or Mongolian race or Hebrew race
or blood; and
WHEREAS, the discriminatory covenants in Golden Valley are concentrated along its borders
with Minneapolis and Robbinsdale, and in other desirable areas in the City, such as near downtown,
around parks and open spaces, and near the private golf course; and
WHEREAS, the Housing and Redevelopment Authority in and for the City of Golden Valley (the
"HRA") owns 17 parcels of land that contain a discriminatory covenant, including parcels located in
and around the Dahlberg Open Space near Highway 55 and Theodore Wirth Park; and
WHEREAS, Golden Valley City leaders knew about the use of discriminatory covenants and
sanctioned their use. For example, meeting minutes show that in 1938 the Planning Commission and
City Council required the developer of the West Tyrol Hills subdivision to impose discriminatory
covenants on all lots in the development as a condition of granting the required land use approvals;
and
WHEREAS, restrictive covenants are no longer enforceable. Legal efforts to eliminate
Discriminatory Covenants include Shelley v. Kraemer, 334 U.S. 1 (1948), in which the United States
Supreme Court prohibited courts from enforcing Discriminatory Covenants and the Minnesota
legislature in 1953 enacted statutes that prohibited new covenants, but existing covenants were still
legal in Minnesota until 1962; and
WHEREAS, as a result of these judicial and legislative actions, today, Minnesota law and federal
law prohibit discrimination in the sale or lease of housing based on race, color, creed, religion, national
origin, sex, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, disability, sexual orientation, or
familial status and those state and federal prohibitions extend to the refusal to sell or to circulate, post
or cause to be printed, circulated, or posted, any limitation, specification, or discrimination as to race,
color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, status with regard to public assistance,
disability, sexual orientation, or familial status; and
WHEREAS, in 2019, the Minnesota Legislature passed a law authorizing property owners to
individually discharge or renounce discriminatory covenants by recording a discharge form in the
county property records; and
WHEREAS, discriminatory covenants promoted and established residential racial segregation,
which historically and currently has impacted property ownership, accumulation of wealth, property
transfers, mortgage eligibility, rental eligibility, property values, property tax base, internet access, and
more. Discriminatory covenants fortified systemic racism and compounded economic divestment in
specific communities within Hennepin County; and
WHEREAS, discriminatory covenants benefitted White communities. For example, homes that
were racially covenanted are still predominantly owned by White people and are worth approximately
15% more today than non-covenanted properties; and
WHEREAS, discriminatory covenants created demographic patterns that remain in place today.
Due in part to this historical practice, the population of the City of Golden Valley is less racially diverse
than the populations of all of its neighboring communities and has a lower percentage of minority
owned businesses than many neighboring communities; and
WHEREAS, in 2019, the City Council directed the Human Rights Commission to begin work on
the Just Deeds Project, which connects residents to pro bono attorneys who can help remove
discriminatory covenants from property titles in Golden Valley; and
WHEREAS, on October 7, 2020 the Golden Valley City Council adopted Resolution No. 20-54
directing the City to participate in the work of the Just Deeds Coalition and, since that date the
coalition has:
• expanded to include five other cities, including Robbinsdale, Crystal, New Hope,
Minnetonka, and Minneapolis;
• launched a Just Deeds website (www.justdeeds.org) and social media platforms;
• expanded its reach to include realtors, attorneys, title professionals, individuals,
community volunteers, educational institutions, and other; and
• participated in numerous community and educational events about systemic racism in
housing; and
WHEREAS, the Golden Valley HRA recognizes the harm that Discriminatory Covenants—and
the racial, religious, and other discriminatory practices that they represent—cause to society in
general and to the individuals who are adversely affected by racial, religious, and other discrimination
through the presence of discriminatory covenants in the public land records.
BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Golden Valley that:
1. The Housing and Redevelopment Authority in and for the City of Golden Valley disavows and
condemns the past use of discriminatory covenants and prohibits discriminatory covenants
from being used in the future.
2. The HRA Attorney is directed to investigate and to identify any real property owned or leased
by the HRA that contains discriminatory covenants and to prepare and record an affidavit or
request an examiner's directive discharging such discriminatory covenants pursuant to
Minnesota Statute § 507.18, subd. 5.
3. HRA staff is directed to participate in the work of the Just Deeds Coalition to educate the
community about this and other historically discriminatory practices; to identify contemporary
discriminatory systems, policies, and practices; and to take action to dismantling racist systems,
practices, and policies in the City of Golden Valley to create equity for all.
Adopted by the City Council of Golden Valley, Minnesota this 16th day of March, 2021.
Maurice Harris, Chair
ATTEST:
Theresa J. Schyma, City Clerk