Item 07 - Housing Division Quarterly Report

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Housing Division Quarterly Report May 2, 2023 Page 5 3 3 9 8 enforcement of renter protections for Santa Ana residents by establishing a rental housing board and a rental registry program. The amended Ordinance also includes additional petitions for tenants and landlords, voluntary mediation services, and other enhancements. The City has prepared user-friendly information on the Ordinance for both tenants and landlords on the City’s webpage, including a detailed summary of changes to the Ordinance and answers to Frequently Asked Questions in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese. Over the next several months, staff will be conducting outreach and education for tenants and landlords on the amended Ordinance. Tenants and landlords are encouraged to sign up to receive the latest updates. Program Updates: The City of Santa Ana continues to work with RSG, Inc. on the long-term implementation of the Rent Stabilization and Just Cause Eviction Ordinance. The Rent Stabilization Program has met many critical milestones over the course of Q3. On January 3, 2023, the City entered into an agreement with Revenue and Cost Specialists (RCS) to conduct a comprehensive fee study to determine appropriate program fees to recover all program costs associated with services provided under the City’s Rent Stabilization and Just Cause Eviction Ordinance. In Q3, staff worked with RCS to finalize the fee study and the rental registry fee that will be recommended to the City Council as a part of the FY 2023-24 Miscellaneous Fee Schedule. On February 7, 2023, City Council authorized the City Manager to enter into an agreement with 3Di, Inc. to implement, operate, and maintain a rental registry portal that supports the City’s Rent Stabilization and Just Cause Eviction Ordinance. In Q3, staff worked with the consultant on a weekly basis to begin configuring the portal where property owners will register rental units, update rental unit information, update tenancy information, submit notices, and pay the City’s rental registry fee. Staff also began working with the Finance and Management Services Agency to ensure the City will be able to collect, allocate, process, and utilize rental registry fees for the administration of the Ordinance. In addition to the progress made towards the long-term implementation of the Rent Stabilization Program, staff has continued to serve the community in the following ways throughout Q3: •Created three new infographics: Eviction Process Infographic, Just Cause Eviction Infographic, and Rent Stabilization Infographic. •Reviewed and made continuous improvements to the layout, content, and forms on the Renter Protections webpage for easier access and understanding. •Fielded calls and emails from the public and provided information, referrals, and education to renters and property owners on the City’s Rent Stabilization and Just Cause Eviction Ordinance. •Collected notices from landlords to monitor for compliance of the Ordinance.