ORDINANCE NO. 50

ROYALTON FAIR HOUSING PRACTICES

 Section 1.     STATEMENT OF POLICY: FAIR HOUSING
(a) It is the policy of the City of Royalton to promote and comply fully with the provisions of the Federal Fair Housing Act, also known as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, as well as the provisions of the Minnesota Human Rights Act as they relate to the sale, rental, or leasing of real estate within the boundaries of that City.
(b) The City of Royalton has determined that it is in the best interests of its citizens to expressly provide in its own Ordinance those provisions of law which provide for protection of rights in obtaining, by purchase or rental, adequate housing without fear of unlawful discrimination. The provisions for these rights in the Ordinance, and their enforcement and protection, is done with the intention of supplementing and amplifying, and not in any way reducing or restricting, the rights already provided under existing State and Federal law.

Section 2.     ADOPTION OF MINNESOTA FAIR HOUSING STANDARDS
(a) Except as may otherwise be qualified or expressly modified by these provisions, Minnesota Statutes Section 363A.09 and Section 363A.10,or most recently adopted version, one copy of which is on file in the office of the City Clerk of the city of Royalton Minnesota, is hereby adopted as the Fair Housing Standards Ordinances of the City of Royalton Minnesota. Any act defined as discrimination or discriminatory, within the meaning of those provisions, that occurs in the City of Royalton will be a violation of this ordinance.

Section 3.    PENALTIES
(a)  Any discriminatory act occurring in the City of Royalton in violation of the provisions of this ordinance shall be a misdemeanor, punishable by fine of up to 90 days and $700 for each occurrence.
(b) Nothing in these provisions shall in any way limit or restrict any person aggrieved by a discriminatory act governed by the provisions of this ordinance from seeking such additional remedies as may be available and provided under either applicable State or Federal law.

Section 4.   ENFORCEMENT
(a)  All criminal charges brought under these provisions shall be by a sworn, written complaint.
(b) In all instances in which an allegation of a violation of this Title is brought to the attention of the City, the City may, in its discretion, investigate the matter utilizing its own staff and personnel, or defer the matter to the personnel of the State of Minnesota where an investigation is to occur under the relevant fair housing provisions of the Minnesota Human Rights Act. In any case in which State personnel are utilized for purposes of investigation of any alleged violation of the relevant provisions of the Minnesota Human Rights Act, those personnel shall have full authority to charge and prosecute violations of the City's Fair Housing Code on behalf of the City of Royalton in addition to any other remedies and penalties a may be available to them under State law.

THIS ORDINANCE SHALL SUPERSEDE AND REPEAL ALL PRIOR AND CONSISTENT ORDINANCES. THIS ORDINANCE SHALL BE EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE AND PUBLICATION REQUIRED BY LAW.

DATED: 10-21-08
CLERK: Carol Madsen
MAYOR: Andrea Lauer