Title
SUBJECT: Mayor Pro Tempore Serratto's Request to Discuss Eviction Concerns
REPORT IN BRIEF
Mayor Pro Tempore Serratto request to discuss the eviction concerns pursuant to City Council Administrative Policies and Procedures C-1.
RECOMMENDATION
Provide direction to staff to evaluate possible solutions to eviction concerns within the City of Merced.
Body
DISCUSSION
During the COVID-19 emergency, our community is facing several medical and economic challenges. One concern in particular that continues to be shared by some individuals within our community is the fear of eviction. To address this fear, the Governor of California and the Merced County Superior Court and Presiding Judge have taken several steps to protect families during these difficult times. Below is a timeline of events that outline the protections in place for residents of Merced County:
* 03/16/20 Governor Newsom issued Executive Order N-28-20 which waived the 30 day time limitation in Penal Code section 396(f) protecting tenants from eviction after an emergency declaration and suspended any state law that would preempt or otherwise prevent local governments from exercising their police power to limit residential and commercial evictions based on non-payment of rent arising from COVID-19.
* 03/18/20 HUD authorized the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) to put a 60 day moratorium on foreclosures and evictions for single-family homeowners who can't pay their mortgage due to COVID-19. Applies to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans, too.
* 03/20/20 Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye granted Merced Superior Court's requests including deeming March 23rd to April 17th holidays for computing filing time for civil matters and for criminal detention limitations. Also extends up the time limitations on criminal matters.
* 03/20/20 Presiding Judge Proietti ordered March 23 to April 17 deemed holidays and closed all courtrooms for judicial business with certain time-sensitive...
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