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<br />Page | 3 <br /> <br />recommendations will be discussed in greater detail at the October 24, 2016 joint study session <br />with Council. <br /> <br />ANALYSIS <br /> <br />Housing and Human Concern Committee Meetings <br />As noted above, the HHCC held two public meetings to hear from residents and other <br />stakeholders about their affordable housing concerns. The meetings were facilitated by <br />Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center (PCRC) and were well attended by property owners and <br />renters. Many residents expressed their concerns about recent rent increases that have priced <br />them out of Redwood City, or would force them to move soon. Several property owners <br />expressed their concerns over potential new regulations, and potential impact to their source of <br />income. The comments heard at the meetings were constructive, and provided great <br />background for the subsequent HHCC discussions. <br />As the HHCC, Council and staff have heard at other public meetings, among other renter <br />protection requests, there were many calls for rent control or rent stabilization policies, as well <br />as just-cause eviction policies. The desire for such policies is understandable, as residents are <br />searching for stability in housing prices. At the same time, there is great debate over the <br />effectiveness of rent stabilization policies over the long term. This is a discussion that is <br />currently being had throughout the Bay Area. Property owners, which include larger property <br />owners, as well as “mom and pop” property owners, have also expressed great concerns over <br />their property rights and sources of income. There are also legal constraints on rent control, <br />such as it not being able to be applied to housing constructed after 1995 due to state law. <br />Based on previous Council discussion and conflicting views expressed at these public meetings, <br />staff suggested the HHCC focus their recommendations on renter protections other than rent <br />control/stabilization at this time, as alternative policies are more likely to be adopted, less likely <br />to be legally challenged, and can impact the lives of residents more quickly. There are <br />individual HHCC members who have expressed their support of rent stabilization policies based <br />on concerns expressed at the public meetings. <br />Housing and Human Concern Committee Recommendations <br />The following is a high level summary of the HHCC recommendations. Individual HHCC <br />members will provide greater details at the joint study session: <br />Rent Increase Moratorium. The HHCC is recommending that there be a rent increase <br />moratorium in order to protect the residents most vulnerable to displacement. The <br />details of this proposal would need to be worked out, and go through legal review. <br />However, the HHCC is recommending that this policy could be applied over the short <br />term, and would cap rent increases to certain percentages over the moratorium period. <br />The HHCC is recommending a 7-10% cap. <br />Minimum Lease Terms. Currently, like most cities, the minimum lease term in <br />Redwood City is 30 days. There have been reports that this has resulted in property <br />8.A. - Page 14