Report Prepared by: Janet German, Management Analyst, Fire Department
Title
SUBJECT: Discussion and Direction on a Proposed Ordinance to Establish a Rental Housing Maintenance and Inspection Program, and Authorization to Set a Public Hearing to Introduce the Ordinance on August 2, 2021
REPORT IN BRIEF
Discussion and direction on a proposed Housing Ordinance to establish a Rental Housing Maintenance and Inspection Program, and authorization to set a Public Hearing to Introduce the Ordinance on August 2, 2021.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion establishing a Rental Housing Maintenance and Inspection Program and setting a Public Hearing to introduce the Ordinance for August 2, 2021.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve as recommended by staff; or,
2. Approve, subject to modifications as conditioned by City Council; or,
3. Deny the request; or,
4. Refer back to staff for reconsideration of specific items; or,
5. Continue to a future City Council meeting.
AUTHORITY
California Health and Safety Code
California Civil Code
Merced Municipal Code, Title 8 - Health and Safety
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
The proposed Ordinance aligns with the City Council’s priority of maintaining and preserving existing rental housing stock and offering affordable housing to the citizens of Merced.
DISCUSSION
Background
The Merced City Council, local advocates, and community members have asserted that the maintenance and preservation of existing rental housing stock is key in serving the needs of our residents. Substandard and deteriorated housing has a negative effect upon the stability of our neighborhoods and is environmentally undesirable as well as detrimental to city residents.
• October, 2020
Council Member Matt Serratto requested that City Council consider establishing a City program to proactively address the rental units available within Merced.
• April, 2021
City Manager Stephanie Dietz presents a draft Housing Ordinance, exemplifying the City Council’s desire in establishing minimum standards for a rental housing maintenance and inspection program aimed at securing city-wide habitability and maintenance compliance of rental housing properties.
City Council requested that we present the current proposed ordinance and fee structure along with an alternative ordinance and fee structure at a future City Council meeting.
• July, 2021
At City Council’s request, we present the original draft ordinance and fee structure and an alternative draft ordinance and fee structure for your review.
The City Council requested consideration of exempting two categories of properties from the Proposed Housing Ordinance:
o Rental Housing Units located with a building of two (2) for fewer units
o Rental Housing Units located within a building of no more than three (3) units, one of which is occupied by the Owner.
The rental program is designed to inspect all residential rental properties within the City of Merced on a routine and comprehensive basis to assure the overall quality of the rental units meet the requirements of the California Health and Safety Code, California Civil Code, and the Merced Municipal Code. Therefore, after careful consideration of the request, we recommend adoption of the original draft ordinance without any amendment to exempted housing units.
Fees generated from this program are calculated to cover costs for staffing, supplies, and based on the number of properties to inspect with minimal to no impact to the general fund. The original and alternative fee schedule will be included in a slide presentation.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
The proposed program is fee based and when coupled with an effective enforcement program, has the potential to generate fees sufficient to offset programmatic costs. It is anticipated that after year two, we will begin to see positive effects (fewer complaints about substandard housing and a greater inventory of rental housing).
ATTACHMENTS
1. Draft Ordinance - Original
2. Draft Ordinance - Option