REPORT TO PLANNING COMMISSION
SUBJECT
Title
Forward a Recommendation to the City Council to Introduce an Ordinance to Add Chapter 19.71 of Title 19 of the Sunnyvale Municipal Code Creating a Residential Tenant Protections Programs (Study Issue)
Report
BACKGROUND
On October 12, 2020, City Council approved the Housing Strategy (RTC No. 20-0809), which resulted from a cumulation of many workshops, outreach meetings and several public hearings. The Housing Strategy identified areas for improvement to current programs as well as new programs to consider for Sunnyvale's growing population and housing needs. Two items from the Housing Strategy that emerged as Tier 1 and 2 items were a relocation assistance requirement for no-fault just cause evictions and a right to lease requirement for landlords to offer tenants a longer-term lease rather than just month-to-month tenancy. The right to lease component of this Ordinance was also a 2019 City Council Study Issue (CDD 18-0710). City staff realized an opportunity to combine both projects into one and named it Tenant Protections. If approved, the resulting Ordinance will become part of Sunnyvale's Municipal Code.
The Housing and Human Services Commission (HHSC), Planning Commission and City Council were all scheduled to hear this item in the fall of 2022 but due to the complexity of the Ordinance, all hearings were continued to a date uncertain. Staff did hold a meeting with HHSC on September 21, 2022, to request feedback on conceptual ideas for an ordinance. The Commission provided feedback, which is summarized in the meeting minutes as Attachment 2 to this report.
During their March 22, 2023 meeting, the Housing and Human Services Commission considered the draft Ordinance. The Commission voted 6-0 (one commissioner absent) to recommend the Ordinance to City Council, with a modification to retain the state law provision for relocation assistance equal to one month of rent, which is distinguishable from the staff reco...
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