2021-054 - Directing Further Study of the Additional Regulatory Framwork

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WHEREAS, the financial impacts of displacement include, but are not limited to, packing, moving, temporary housing, application for new housing, and storage costs, as well as lost wages and time due to taking time off work; and WHEREAS, landlords often require that prospective tenants pay the equivalent of three months' rent up front to secure a lease —generally representing the first and last month's rent, and a security deposit, the total of which can exceed $10,000 and can frequently reach $20,000 or greater; and WHEREAS, renter households are more likely to be low-income than the households of families who own their homes; and WHEREAS, a household is generally rent -burdened if it spends more than 30% of its gross income on housing costs, and according to the 2019 American Community Survey, 58.5% of all renter households in the City of Santa Ana are either moderately or severely rent burdened; and WHEREAS, renters in Santa Ana were protected from eviction for nonpayment of rent due to COVID-19 through September 30, 2020, by City Executive Order No. 10-2020 and remain similarly protected by state law but only through September 30, 2021; and WHEREAS, within the confines of existing state law, including the Costa -Hawkins Rental Housing Act and the Tenant Protection Act of 2019, the City of Santa Ana is presently taking steps to restrict rental increases and grounds for eviction in response to the above concerns; and WHEREAS, these protections are designed to exceed those offered by state law wherever permissible and also to apply to mobilehome owners, as the City is home to 29 mobilehome home parks containing 3,913 spaces, most of which are owned or inhabited by low-income or fixed -income seniors and families; and WHEREAS, the concerns identified above related to housing instability warrant the further study of additional framework and infrastructure to optimize the implementation of related measures, including without limitation the creation of a Rent Board or similar body. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Santa Ana as follows: Section 1. City staff is hereby directed to conduct further study of the additional regulatory framework and infrastructure necessary to implement residential rent stabilization, just cause eviction, and other protections for Santa Ana residents facing housing instability. Section 2. These measures are to include the creation and operation of a Rent Board or similar body, a rent registry, and the related costs thereof. Resolution No. 2021-054 Page 2 of 3