REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Adoption of Emergency Ordinance of the City of Sunnyvale to Temporarily Suspend Evictions for Nonpayment of Rent by Residential Tenants Impacted by the COVID-19 Emergency Effective From July 1, 2021 Through September 30, 2021
Report
BACKGROUND
On March 12, 2020, in response to the spread of COVID-19, the Sunnyvale City Manager declared a local emergency, which was ratified by the City Council on March 17, 2020. On March 20, 2020, Governor Newsom issued Executive Order N-33-20 which included a 'Stay-at-Home' Order by the State Health Officer to protect the public health from COVID-19.
Many Sunnyvale residents suffered unemployment and a loss of income as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and related public health orders. On March 31, 2020, the City Council adopted an emergency ordinance (Ordinance No. 3157-20) and introduced a regular ordinance, which was adopted on April 7, 2020 (Ordinance No. 3158-20), enacting a moratorium on evictions for non-payment of rent by residential tenants impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The City's eviction moratorium was subsequently superseded by state law. On September 1, 2020, the COVID-19 Tenant Relief Act (AB 3088) was adopted, prohibiting evictions for non-payment of rent of tenants facing financial hardship because of COVID-19 for the time period of March 1, 2020 to August 31, 2020. From September 31, 2020 onward through January 31, 2021, such tenants could not be evicted as long as they paid at least 25% of the rent due during that period. On January 29, 2021, Governor Newsom signed SB 91, the Statewide Eviction Moratorium, which extended the tenant protections in AB 3088 through June 30, 2021. The SB 91 eviction protections for residential tenants, as well as federal protections against evictions, are set to expire on June 30, 2021.
In addition to eviction protections, SB 91 also established a State Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP). Under ERAP, eligible renters can apply for ...
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