pages: CityCouncil/2019-07-02.pdf, 8
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CityCouncil | 2019-07-02 | 8 | evictions will occur if banking is allowed; banking should only be allowed by mutual agreement, but 5% in addition to CPI is too much; expressed opposition to pass- through; expressed concern about the rent registry; stated caution needs to be taken related to tenant privacy; expressed support for 65% of CPI; stated the range on caps should be discussed. Vice Mayor Knox White stated policy is about desired outcomes; Council has been asked to stabilize rent for all Alameda renters; outlined an article from UC Berkeley Haas School of Business; stated it is time to listen to the immediate needs; policy should incentivize behavior with regard to banking; banking incentivizes landlords to lower rents now; if banking is taken away, landlords will raise rents to the maximum rent possible; a maximum amount that can be banked should be discussed; expressed support for the rent registry; stated more data should be collected, including rent being collected; expressed support for removing reporting the number of tenants per unit and other personal information; stated direction to staff can include keeping the greatest amount of data confidential and to consider confidentiality a key component in data collection; expressed support for collecting data on single family homes; stated the CIP pass-through process should be continued; pass-through is important when below CPI; pass-through will allow for climate and seismic mandated improvements; expressed support for staff recommendations. Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft stated that she desires to achieve balance and fairness which includes considering the needs of tenants and landlords; pitting one group against the other is counter-productive; renters needs decent landlords and landlords need good tenants; landlords feel under attack; all landlords should not be judged by the most egregious; expressed support for habitable rental units; stated 65% of the CPI is too low; expressed support for considering a percentage above 65%; landlords need the ability to keep units habitable; mechanisms should be in place to help keep landlords accountable; expressed concern for banking in relation to tenants receiving fixed incomes; inquired about a tenant incurring large medical expenses and receiving subsequent rent increases in the following years. Vice Mayor Knox White responded the decision is up to the landlord; stated landlords should be willing to reduce and not raise rents for year one in a banking scenario; a cap on the amount of banking can be implemented; if a pathway is not created for landlords to want to give lower rents than allowed, they will ask for the maximum increase; many landlords are compassionate. Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft inquired whether a cap would come before the petitioning process. The Community Development Director responded the idea of banking is if the full maximum allowable rent increase is refrained from, the ability to bank the amount not taken is able to be passed along in a future year or years; stated the ordinance proposed is capped at 5% plus the annual general adjustment as the maximum annual amount for pass-through; it is possible that a tenant could not afford the combination of the two sets of rent increases; there is flexibility; the ordinance would reflect Regular Meeting Alameda City Council July 2, 2019 7 | CityCouncil/2019-07-02.pdf |