Agda Pkt 2026.07.07 Special Council Meeting

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REDWOOD CITY FAIR AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING ORDINANCE Economic & Planning Systems, Inc. 21 Tenant Protection Impacts by about 11 - 12 percent after ordinance eliminating RUBS was adopted.18 The analysis also notes that COVID-19 and uncertainty regarding the timing of the transition away from RUBS complicate attribution, so the findings should be interpreted as suggestive rather than conclusive proof. However, the San Jose experience provides a relevant local example of how removing tenant utility cost signals in master-metered buildings may increase consumption and shift costs to property owners. As illustrated in Table 10, the potential cost exposure to landlords is material. Data from the Housing Authority of the County of San Mateo’s Utility Allowance Schedule 2026 suggests that water, trash, and gas or electric can represent approximately $200 to $330 per unit per month across studio to five-bedroom multifamily units, depending on unit size and building systems (excluding gas and electric which are often separately metered). This data is consistent with estimates from property owners / landlords who noted that eliminating RUBS would result in a 10 percent reduction in operating revenues19, before accounting for impacts on tenant consumption patterns. Table 10. Summary of Typical Monthly Utility Costs As illustrated in Table 11, the pre-1995 buildings will be most impacted since landlords cannot pass on the increase in utility costs until the unit is vacated or until the property owner seeks and is granted an upward adjustment in rent through the petition process. This impact will be exacerbated because the proposed Ordinance requires that rents be rolled back to 2025 levels. It is worth noting this provision is unlikely to affect deed restricted affordable housing because these units generally do not utilize RUBS. 18 San Jose Ordinance Prohibiting RUBS: Impact on Water Consumption (PDF) 19 CoStar reports Market Rent/Unit of $2,520 for Redwood City for pre-1995 units for which the elimination of RUBS is applicable 0 BR 1 BR 2 BR 3 BR 4 BR 5 BR Sewer [1]$82 $82 $82 $82 $82 $82 Water $80 $82 $108 $139 $174 $209 Trash $39 $39 $39 $39 $39 $39 Total [2]$201 $203 $229 $260 $295 $330 [2] Totals exclude gas and electric because these are often seperately metered [1] Sewer rates are published separately by the City as a per unit cost for multifamily units, and not listed in the Housing Authority of the County of San Mateo utility allowance schedule Fee Amount by # of bedroomsUtility Category 8.A. - Page 80 of 168 90