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<br /> <br /> <br />2 <br /> <br /> <br />INTRODUCTION <br /> <br />Effective November 18, 2022, the Santa Ana City Council (“City Council”) adopted the Rent <br />Stabilization and Just Cause Eviction Ordinance (“Ordinance”). The Ordinance provides for the <br />administration and enforcement of renter protections for Santa Ana renters by establishing a <br />rental housing board and a rental registry program. The Ordinance also includes petitions for <br />tenants and landlords, voluntary mediation services, and various other administrative <br />components. The Ordinance adheres to the Long-Term Implementation Plan adopted by City <br />Council on September 6, 2022. In compliance with the Ordinance and the Long-Term <br />Implementation Plan, City staff and RSG, Inc. have developed this Work Plan describing the <br />administrative structure necessary to support the delivery of efficient and effective program <br />services to landlords and tenants. <br /> <br />The City currently administers the Ordinance through a consultant, RSG, Inc. and partial staff time <br />from a Housing Programs Analyst, Housing Division Manager, and Assistant City Attorney. Before <br />adopting a rental registry fee, a W ork Plan detailing and itemizing exactly how the Ordinance will <br />be administered (e.g., how the fees will be used) needs to be established. In our research of <br />sample jurisdictions throughout the State of California, the following general services were <br />provided as best practices to effectively implement rent stabilization and just cause eviction <br />ordinances: <br /> Annual Registration – Process registration fees for the rental registry, maintain rental <br />registry, and send annual notices of maximum allowable rent increases. <br /> Compliance – Process notices of violations and complaints, send notices of <br />noncompliance to landlords, and pursue compliance activities as necessary for <br />noncompliant properties. <br /> Evictions/Termination of Tenancy – Review notices of eviction/termination of tenancy to <br />ensure compliance with the JCEO. <br /> Hearings and Appeals – Process hearings for appeals to rent amounts and petitions. This <br />includes communicating with the tenants and landlords involved, collecting supporting <br />documentation, coordinating with the Rental Housing Board, and writing letters of <br />determination. <br /> Housing Counseling/Mediation – Provide tenant and landlord housing counseling and <br />mediation services. <br /> Petitions – Receive, review, and analyze data to provide decisions on petitions, subject to <br />appeal. <br /> Public Information – Provide customer service to inquiring tenants and landlords and <br />conduct on-going community outreach and education. <br /> Rental Housing Board Administration – Facilitate regular meetings and complete <br />administrative tasks related to the Rental Housing Board. <br /> <br />Considering all these best practices, this W ork Plan has been prepared and provided to Revenue <br />& Cost Specialists, LLC to conduct a fee study to determine the rental registry fee. A detailed <br />budget to match the Work Plan will also be included in the process to develop a rental registry <br />fee. Under Section 50076 of the California Government Code, fees charged for any service or <br />Page 63 of 130