Agenda Packet_2023-05-16 - Laserfiche WebLink

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INTRODUCTION Effective November 18, 2022, the Santa Ana City Council ("City Council") adopted the Rent Stabilization and Just Cause Eviction Ordinance ("Ordinance"). The Ordinance provides for the administration and enforcement of renter protections for Santa Ana renters by establishing a rental housing board and a rental registry program. The Ordinance also includes petitions for tenants and landlords, voluntary mediation services, and various other administrative components. The Ordinance adheres to the Long -Term Implementation Plan adopted by City Council on September 6, 2022. In compliance with the Ordinance and the Long -Term Implementation Plan, City staff and RSG, Inc. have developed this Work Plan describing the administrative structure necessary to support the delivery of efficient and effective program services to landlords and tenants. The City currently administers the Ordinance through a consultant, RSG, Inc. and partial staff time from a Housing Programs Analyst, Housing Division Manager, and Assistant City Attorney. Before adopting a rental registry fee, a Work Plan detailing and itemizing exactly how the Ordinance will be administered (e.g., how the fees will be used) needs to be established. In our research of sample jurisdictions throughout the State of California, the following general services were provided as best practices to effectively implement rent stabilization and just cause eviction ordinances: • Annual Registration — Process registration fees for the rental registry, maintain rental registry, and send annual notices of maximum allowable rent increases. • Compliance — Process notices of violations and complaints, send notices of noncompliance to landlords, and pursue compliance activities as necessary for noncompliant properties. • Evictions/Termination of Tenancy — Review notices of eviction/termination of tenancy to ensure compliance with the JCEO. • Hearings and Appeals — Process hearings for appeals to rent amounts and petitions. This includes communicating with the tenants and landlords involved, collecting supporting documentation, coordinating with the Rental Housing Board, and writing letters of determination. • Housing Counseling/Mediation — Provide tenant and landlord housing counseling and mediation services. • Petitions — Receive, review, and analyze data to provide decisions on petitions, subject to appeal. • Public Information — Provide customer service to inquiring tenants and landlords and conduct on -going community outreach and education. • Rental Housing Board Administration — Facilitate regular meetings and complete administrative tasks related to the Rental Housing Board. Considering all these best practices, this Work Plan has been prepared and provided to Revenue & Cost Specialists, LLC to conduct a fee study to determine the rental registry fee. A detailed budget to match the Work Plan will also be included in the process to develop a rental registry fee. Under Section 50076 of the California Government Code, fees charged for any service or 2 City Council Page 63 ofg3067 5/16/2023