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Page 4 of 15 <br />City of Redwood City 1017 Middlefield Road, Redwood City, CA. 94063 Tel: 650-780-7000 www.redwoodcity.org <br />The idea for an anti-harassment policy was raised because some Redwood City tenants reported <br />experiencing harassment, intimidation, retaliation, and threats of evictions from landlords and property <br />managers. The right to return idea was raised by tenants to provide additional protections for tenancy <br />terminations related to substantial remodels. Because these ideas had not been fully researched, <br />discussed with all community stakeholders, or vetted from a legal or financial perspective, they were not <br />included as recommendations in the ADS. The City Council instead directed staff to conduct additional <br />research, including legal analysis and community outreach on the additional ideas related to anti- <br />harassment policies and right to return. <br />ADS Timeline and Outreach Summary <br />Since ADS adoption, there have been multiple opportunities in which staff has provided updates and the <br />City Council has provided input on the ADS implementation process and the right to return. <br />On January 10, 2022, the City Council held a study session on the proposed ADS <br />recommendations. <br />On June 27, 2022, the City Council adopted the ADS and directed staff to conduct further research <br />and outreach on the right to return and anti-harassment policy ideas. <br />Between Fall 2022 and Summer 2023, staff and the HHCC Tenant Protections Subcommittee (Ad <br />Hoc) conducted research, held a series of community meetings, and issued a community survey <br />to further explore the right to return and anti-harassment policy ideas. <br />On August 28, 2023, staff presented findings from the research and outreach, and City Council <br />gave direction to: <br />1) Monitor pending housing legislation; <br />2) Identify a partner to provide tenant and landlord assistance and services in order to <br />address potential harassment issues, as several existing state laws already provide <br />harassment protections. This direction sought to provide tenants and landlords with <br />direct services to address potential harassment issues instead of creating more policy; <br />3) Further investigate right to return provisions; and <br />4) Proceed with the Tenant Protection Ordinance amendments. <br />In December 2023: A citizen-sponsored rent control and just cause ballot initiative was submitted <br />to the City. <br />In May 2024, the City Council directed staff to pause all tenant protection and mobile home <br />activities until the ballot initiative process was determined and to return to the Council in winter <br />2025 with an update. At this same time, the City entered into an agreement with Project Sentinel <br />to provide tenant and landlord mediation and counseling services. <br />On July 1, 2024, the Project Sentinel Tenant and Landlord Counseling Services Project launched. <br />The annual report for the first year of the program can be found here. <br />9.A. - Page 4 of 84 <br />109