pages: CityCouncil/2015-11-04.pdf, 13
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CityCouncil | 2015-11-04 | 13 | 493 Councilmember Oddie stated that he likes the idea of landlords having to offer a lease and allowing only one rent increase per year; 8% feels like a good starting point; he likes the idea of an arbitrator, whether it be the RRAC or a City appointed person; he would like the City to require landlords to file rent increases with the City to track the data; proposed revisiting the ordinance in two years after reviewing the data; suggested exempting buildings of 4 units or less or landlords who live within 100 feet of rental units; stated that he likes the idea of an ombudsman; staff should come back with more on relocation assistance versus just cause; he feels landlords will just buy people out and re-rent units; he does not like the fact that landlords can buy out Alameda's middle class; the City needs to be more precise about the problem it is trying to solve; it might be helpful to refer to the San Jose Ordinance which includes a landlord having to sign a statement that the tenant is not being evicted to raise the rent; suggested the length of the notice to vacate should be extended when vacancy rates are lower; stated the City could go back to the 30 to 60 day time-period when the vacancy rate is higher; the City should consider privatizing some of the RRAC responsibilities; the moratorium should be on increases above 8%; he would like to see a moratorium on evicting tenants in order to increase rent; he would like the City to consider an elected body; staff should involve both landlords and tenants going forward; funding for affordable housing can be found in different ways, whether boomerang funds or other funds. Councilmember Daysog stated the problem he has heard about is out of town landlords have started charging excessive rent increases; the typical rent increases for mom and pop landlords is between 4 to 8%, if at all; RRAC data indicates 10% seems to be an excessive rent increase; the 65-day moratorium should be targeted at landlords seeking 15 to 25% rent increases; the increase should be cumulative within the past 12 months; provided an example; discussed the 10% threshold; stated that he would like staff to focus on relocation assistance tailored to a threshold, just cause eviction, and using boomerang funds to increase the supply of housing for moderate income and seniors; urged public input to establish a system of fair play with rules targeting unfair landlords. Mayor Spencer stated that she sees the matter as a regional issue; the excessive rent increases and no fault evictions have to be addressed; inquired whether the matter could go to the RRAC if the landlord wants a rent increase over 8%; further inquired whether RRAC decisions appealed to Council could be binding in all cases or if it would be subject to Costa Hawkins. The Assistant City Attorney responded drafting the ordinance to include a binding decision would be subject to Costa Hawkins; stated imposing rent control would require the City to have a procedure to allow landlords to demonstrate a need for an increase above the allowable percentage. Mayor Spencer stated landlords should have to go to the RRAC to explain why a rent increase over the allowable percentage is needed and the matter could be mediated by the RRAC; that she would be agreeable with shifting the burden of bringing cases to the Special Meeting Alameda City Council November 4, 2015 | CityCouncil/2015-11-04.pdf |