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REDWOOD CITY FAIR AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING ORDINANCE <br /> <br />Economic & Planning Systems, Inc. 14 Tenant Protection Impacts <br />Tenant Safety Plans <br />The proposed Ordinance includes a rather uncommon provision that requires <br />landlords to prepare a tenant safety plan before commencing repairs or <br />renovations that require a building permit (except in an emergency where work is <br />required withing 48 hours). Tenant safety plans were one of the most frequently <br />cited operational concerns. Stakeholders questioned the level and detail and <br />documentation that would be required, the additional cost of preparation, level of <br />City review, whether appeals would delay work, and how the requirement would <br />apply to more urgent repairs that don’t qualify as an emergency.13 <br />Older buildings often require repairs that appear routine but trigger permits, <br />inspections, electrical upgrades, utility coordination, or tenant disruption. <br />Examples include replacing water heaters, furnaces, roofs, windows, plumbing, <br />electrical panels, or other building systems. Stakeholders noted that <br />decarbonization or electrification upgrades can turn a seemingly simple repair into <br />a much larger project requiring panel upgrades, PG&E coordination, and extended <br />timelines. Depending on how the tenant safety plan requirements apply, the <br />proposed Ordinance could increase the time and cost of routine repairs. <br />In addition to increased project administrative costs and potential delay, the <br />biggest concern reported by interviewees stems from the uncertainty around <br />implementation requirements. Given that tenant safety plans are rare (EPS was <br />unable to identify any other Bay Area city that requires this), an established track <br />record of policies and procedures for successful implementation does not <br />currently exist. <br />Table 6 provides a summary of potential impact from the tenant safety plan <br />requirements. That said, it is difficult to provide a definitive assessment of potential <br />impacts at this time since the rules and regulations for the proposed Ordinance <br />haven’t been established. <br /> <br />13 If the proposed Ordinance is approved, the City will need to issue rules and regulations that will govern the content, requirements <br />and procedures for completing a Tenant Safety Plan. <br />8.A. - Page 73 of 168 <br />83