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Good evening, we're going to begin.

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Good evening, welcome to novato city council meeting for tuesday, august 26, 2025.

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Please stand for the pledge of allegiance.

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I pledge allegiance to the flag of the united states of america, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under god, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

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>> mayor o'connor: thank you.

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Laura, if you would please call roll.

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>> clerk: councilmember jacobs?

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>> >> k.

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Jacobs: here.

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>> clerk: milberg?

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>> m.

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Milberg: present.

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>> mayor o'connor: councilmember farac?

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>> >> mayor >> >> mayor pro tem farac: present.

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>> clerk: mayor o' connor?

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>> mayor o'connor: present.

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>> clerk: and councilmember eklund is on zoom.

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>> p.

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Eklund: I'm here, healing from a fracture.

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>> clerk: is there anyone else in the room over 18?

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>> p.

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Eklund: there is no one over the age of 18.

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I do have an 8-year-old kitty.

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>> mayor o'connor: the city council met I closed session before the meeting.

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City attorney bell?

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>> the particulars are available upon request if that action is commenced.

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>> mayor o'connor: thank you.

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I would like to invite council to join me at the front of the room recognizing gosia woodfin for 17 years at the city of novato.

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Hi, gosia.

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You can stand here.

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We are celebrating the retirement of a very special person today.

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Gosia woodfin for hr 17 years of service.

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She started working september 9, 2008.

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She served as an engineer and project manager in the public works department, and worked on project development and construction management for almost 60 capital improvement projects with a total budget of over $42 million.

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Whereas most conconcerned with streets, transportation and drienage, and a bridge, if I'm not mistaken, very recently and few involve parks and facilities, made sure objectives were met and ensured compatibility with approved program principles

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goals and objectives.

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She has independently delivered challenging projects on time and within budget.

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Whereas she has an in-depth knowledge of the public bidding process, outsourcing has a successful history of attracting and selecting reputable consultants, not easy.

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Her attention to detail, identifying applying for grant funding and acting as staff liaison for the bicycle pedestrian advisory committee and street improvement oversight committee just to name a few things and whereas over the years gosia has

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always maintained a positive can-do attitude regardless of the situation and was always willing to put in the extra effort required to resolve any issue.

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And whereas gosia has lived in novato for over 25 years.

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Therefore be it resolved the city council of city of novato, on behalf of the residents of novato does here by offer its heart felt appreciation to gosia woodfin for her service to the novato community for the past 17 years and wish her all

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the best in her retirement.

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Please join me in congratulating and thanking her.

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Would you like to say a few words?

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>> as stated in the proclamation, I have lived here in novato for over 25 years.

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I love the city and the residents.

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I always felt grateful that I was able to serve my community.

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Working for over 17 years as an engineer for the city of novato, has been a privilege.

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Every time I drive, bike, or walk, I always bump into one of those 60 plus projects.

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And it just feels so good.

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I just, it just makes me proud.

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But before I go, I would really like to give a loud shout out to all my co-workers.

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It's been a great privilege working with each and every one of you.

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Thank you.

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>> thank you.

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[ applause ] >> congratulations, gosia.

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We'll miss you.

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>> mayor o'connor: before we move on to the next item on the agenda, we have translation services, on my right side of the room.

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If you require any assistance, they are here to help.

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The next item is approval of the final agenda.

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>> k.

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Jacobs: I make a motion we approve the final agenda.

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>> mayor pro tem farac: I second.

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>> mayor o'connor: if you would call the vote.

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>> clerk: eklund?

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>> p.

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Eklund: aye.

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>> clerk: jacobs?

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>> k.

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Jacobs: aye.

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>> clerk: milberg?

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>> m.

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Milberg: aye.

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>> clerk: mayor pro tem farac?

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>> >> mayor pro tem farac: aye.

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>> cerk: and mayor o' connor.

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>> mayor o'connor: aye.

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It passes.

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The next is for public comment for items that are not on the agenda and for items listed on the consent calendar.

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Unfortunately due to the large amount of requests to speak and expected amount of just cause ordinance workshop we will have to limit comments this evening to one and a half minutes per speaker.

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Please respect the time limit and limit any show of solidarity or support to silent gestures in order for the next speaker to have uninterrupted time to speak.

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Our first speaker is alan gump.

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>> [ off mic ] >> mayor o'connor: those are the numbers written in the top right hand corner, by any chance?

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>> yes.

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>> mayor o'connor: thank you.

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Okay, give me a minute.

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Jay, you don't have a number.

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You want to go first?

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Jay shefer?

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>> no.

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>> mayor o'connor: okay.

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No problem, guys.

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All right.

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So our first speaker this evening will be serena fisher.

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Does that work?

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Hello, serena, you are already here.

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>> thank you.

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Good evening.

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I just want to remind the council and the greater community that no public funds have ever been used to sustain marin valley mobile country club.

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Residents have paid for everything since 1997, including close to $18 million in loans, bonds and interest with the understanding the land would ultimately be ours in 2027.

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The $20 million offer the park acquisition board presented to the council in june is in a detail 120-plus page proposal focused on affordability, security and sustainability.

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Goals supposedly aligned with the city's publicly stated priorities.

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However, the city's response was an ultimatum for $26 million while keeping all our $7.5 million enterprise reserves as well as additional hidden conditions.

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Can you honestly say this is good faith negotiations?

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So much work went into putting that proposal for you for your consideration.

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This is certainly not a win-win that you have talked about.

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We are asking the city to change course.

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Stop the ultimatums, commit to fair transparent ad respectful negotiations.

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Residents are ready to forge a new path as a successful cooperative senior housing community.

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Let's build a solution together that protects affordable senior housing in perpetuity in novato and honors and respects the independence this community deserves.

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Thank you.

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>> mayor o'connor: thank you, serena.

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Our next speaker is david gray.

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Welcome, dvid.

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>> thank you.

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Thank you, city council for the opportunity to speak.

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And my name is david gray.

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I'm a resident of some nine years of the marin valley mobile country club.

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I'm also a member of the marin valley cooperative.

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I'm here to speak about the security of our predominantly low-income residents to not be priced out of their homes.

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The city leadership says that affordability, security and sustainability are priorities, yet uses an appraiser from a non-expert in mobilehome parks, based upon a for profit valuation model to reach a price tag of $26 million, plus other undisclosed

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terms.

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Our $20 million offer is based upon an appraisal by a mobilehome park expert using nonprofit valuation model is more than fair.

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It's financially responsible and is crafted with expert advice to provide affordability, security, sustainability in perpetuity insulated from the changing priorities of our current title holder.

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We residents of the mvcc call on the city to please reconsider the merits of our initial $20 million offer.

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Thank you for your time.

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>> mayor o'connor: thank you, david.

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Our next speaker is janeen bradley.

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Welcome, janeen.

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>> hi.

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Not that many pages, just one.

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When I looked over the agenda today and read the public comments you was taken with the scope of responsibilities for the city of novato, resident homeowners, representers, employees and even squaters rely on you for their representation to

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monitor, direct and regulate many our daily activities.

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Thank you.

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My observation is in the last 25 years or so the city of novato has gone from a doing business with a handshake, to a professionally regulated city with a capital c.

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That's a dramatic change and not without a number of growing pains.

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Some actions from the past still impact us today.

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Marin valley mobile country club has 313 households which 82% have paid membership to join our community nonprofit co-op seeking park self-ownership.

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How often do you find a community where 82% agree on anything, much less pay to agree on it?

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We rcognize we need to be responsible for our own future and not rely on a handshake agreement.

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We cannot rely on the city to keep our best interest as priority.

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Public officials change.

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We have done our homework, we enlisted professional guidance and legal counsel to make sure we are as successful as a self-owned community.

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I remind the council of the city's current strategic plan goal number one, living well together.

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Support facilities and design programs and service that's create a healthy, caring and interconnected community that is safe and secure.

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That's our goal too.

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Support our unity and commitments to self-ownership.

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Thank you.

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>> mayor o'connor: thank you very much, janeen.

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Our next speaker is susan hoff.

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And after susan will be judy monsom.

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Welcome susan.

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If you don't mind speaking in the microphone.

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>> first off, thank you so much, I so appreciate your hard work, your diligence.

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Novato is a great place to live, so thank you.

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Three small points for you.

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Did yu all know that 91% of our community qualifies as acutely low-income, extremely low income, very low income, plain vanilla low income.

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91%.

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That's before trying to reach for a $26 million dollar loan.

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Second point, in our little hood, in our valley, we have 124 households that cannot reach the 31% requirement for only paying their rent, 31%.

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They are paying way more of their income just to get by, before a $26 million loan.

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Last point, and I'm really proud of this one, since 1997 we have paid $18 million for the bond, for the loan, the interest.

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We have paid it like clockwork every month.

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We never missed a payment.

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I'm so proud of us.

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So my question for you all tonight, just to consider this little community, this 91% low-income community, is it reasonable to expect us to afford a $26 million dollar loan?

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I want you all to think on that one.

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And again, thank you for your hard work tonight.

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>> mayor o'connor: thank you very much, susan.

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Next speaker is judy monsum.

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Followed by gail atkinson.

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Welcome, julie.

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>> thank you.

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Julie manson, 7 club view drive marin valley mobile country club.

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The determination of the majority of marin valley residents to take charge of our own affordable, secure and sustainable future is so strong that we are consenting to pay for the park twice.

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Our original $20 million offer ensure that increases in rent would continue to follow the historical and minimal increases in cpi.

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Marin valley is poised for success in park ownership with experience and expertise from resident-owned communities u.s.a.

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And california community cooperative development.

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Plus our own abundant leadership and management skills and abilities.

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The city of novato claims to support affordable housing for seniors.

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On march 18, 2017, then mayor of novato denise athas wrote to the world health organization requesting membership for novato in the global network o age-friendly cities and communities.

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She wrote the city of novato recognizes the importance of encouraging and promoting age-friendly policies to dress changing demographics and enhance independent living for our older adults we are committed t a process of continue wall improvement

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in support of active and healthy aging and sustaining economic and social vitality.

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By contrast, today, city's counter demand of $26 million with hidden conditions puts hundreds of seniors at risk for housing insecurity.

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We are asking the city to be reasonable and fair so that our community will remain affordable.

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It's the right thing to do.

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>> mayor o'connor: thank you, julie.

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Our next speaker is gail atkinson, followed by sherry smith.

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Welcome, gail.

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>> good evening and thank you for the opportunity to speak to you in person.

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It is conceivable that when you were first elected to the novato city council, you did not know our park's history.

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That in 1998 the marin valley mobile country club residents formed the park acquisition corporation to purchase the land through financing through the novato financing authority.

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In 2012 the city became guarantor of our loans when the novato finance authority was dissolved and the n.f.a.

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Transferred the title to the city of novato.

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It is not correct to state that the city bought the park because that implies that the city paid for the property.

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And as you know, mill valley mobile country club rents have paid all the bond payments, upgrades, repairs.

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Our park's management company the hell sing group as well as additional management fees billed to us by the city of novato.

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We have been excellent stewards of the property and we have saved $4.4 million in the enterprise fund which is legally earmarked for future needs of our park.

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Justice will be truly served, in my opinion, when title ii, mill valley mobile country club is transferred to our park acquisition corporation when the fnal bond payment is made with no further funds to be paid to the city of novato.

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This is the requisite legal procedure for any bank guarantor or mortgage company when its customer loans are paid in full.

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Thank you.

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>> mayor o'connor: thank you very much, gail.

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Our next speaker sherry smith, followed by greg smith.

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Welcome, sherry.

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>> I'm sherry smith and I'm also a resident of the marin valley country club.

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My career was as a risk advisor in insurance, where my job was identifying dangerous large loss exposures for clients regarding the property.

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I have been quite taken a back at the extent of repairs and capital improvements that have been neglected in our park that create large potential loss exposures for the city.

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What's even more concerning is the city has allowed these to emerge while holding over $4.5 million dollars in reserves.

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Which was 100% collected from the residents' rents and designated exclusively to rectify these types of needs for the marin valley community.

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To date, the city has done absolutely nothing to ameliorate the potential risk exposures caused by these much-needed repairs and infrastructure improvements.

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In my opinion, as a risk advisor, what we are seeing here is a blatant disregard for the possibility of a large loss to the community whether structural or human.

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What is even more disconcerting is the city's blatant disregard for the residents' well-being.

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But now we are offering the city a simple way to be free from all these liability exposures.

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Turn the park over to its residents.

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We have developed our plans on how to address the various issues and the city can facilitate that by agreeing to hand over those reserve funds for us to address those various liability exposures.

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And make those much-needed capital improvements.

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Thank you.

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00:21:40,659 --> 00:21:42,695
>> mayor o'connor: thank you, sherry.

220
00:21:42,695 --> 00:21:51,570
Our next speaker is greg smith, followed by bill davis.

221
00:21:51,570 --> 00:21:52,571
Welcome, greg.

222
00:21:52,571 --> 00:21:59,345
>> thank you, thank you.

223
00:21:59,345 --> 00:22:02,982
My name is greg smith, I'm a resident of marin valley.

224
00:22:02,982 --> 00:22:22,670
I'm one of those that helped spend hundreds of hours putting together short-term and long-term plans to help us take ownership and self-manage marin valley.

225
00:22:22,670 --> 00:22:29,708
Incredibly detailed budgets, cash-flow plans, action plans, schedules for repairs and long delayed capital improvements.

226
00:22:29,708 --> 00:22:32,745
All driven by expert inputs.

227
00:22:32,745 --> 00:22:40,519
And once we wre drawn, truly feeling pepared to taking on our future.

228
00:22:40,519 --> 00:23:05,644
The work wasn't just about budgets or coming up with a price to quote to the city, we genuinely sought a win-win strategy that would benefit the city of novato, while also advancing our ability to protect our low-income senior residents.

229
00:23:05,644 --> 00:23:22,610
Proposal paid off the loan the city helped us atain years ago to eventually gain ownership and only used a portion of the millions of dollars held in reserves and then we said, we will give the city back the rest of the balance there.

230
00:23:22,610 --> 00:23:40,450
And then our residents would give the city $500,000 a year for 35 years, that the city could use unrestricted in any way they sought.

231
00:23:40,450 --> 00:23:49,788
And, unbelievably, we would only have to increase resident rents annually by the cpi, which is one of our most critical factors in keeping the park affordable.

232
00:23:49,788 --> 00:23:55,494
I was just so proud we accomplished all of our goals in the proposal.

233
00:23:55,494 --> 00:24:06,572
And our total $20 million offer came within 94% of that appraised vlue you heard about by the highly experienced mobilehome park appraiser.

234
00:24:06,572 --> 00:24:19,218
So I'm respectfully asking you, please reconsider our oiginal good-faith offer in all its detail.

235
00:24:19,218 --> 00:24:27,826
And demonstrate to our city's citizens your commitment to effectively caring for novato's low-income senior residents.

236
00:24:27,826 --> 00:24:28,600
Thank you.

237
00:24:28,600 --> 00:24:30,950
>> mayor o'connor: thank you very much, greg.

238
00:24:30,229 --> 00:24:39,638
Our next speaker is bill david, followed by alan gump.

239
00:24:39,638 --> 00:24:40,839
Welcome, bill.

240
00:24:40,839 --> 00:24:42,700
>> good evening, city council.

241
00:24:42,141 --> 00:24:43,509
I'm bill davis.

242
00:24:43,509 --> 00:24:49,815
I want to draw your attention to deferred maintenance at marin valley.

243
00:24:49,815 --> 00:25:00,425
The city has received and banked $4.6 million in capital reserves from the residents for maintenance and repairs.

244
00:25:00,425 --> 00:25:09,968
For many years the city has been informed of multiple situations and done little to essentially nothing.

245
00:25:09,968 --> 00:25:12,638
Labor costs are up.

246
00:25:12,638 --> 00:25:14,873
Materials are much more expensive.

247
00:25:14,873 --> 00:25:20,812
The net result is the cost of replacement for almost anything today has doubled.

248
00:25:20,812 --> 00:25:29,870
I think you could have done a better job, we would have done a better job.

249
00:25:29,870 --> 00:25:34,459
Funding for the fire safety was drastically reduced three years ago.

250
00:25:34,459 --> 00:25:38,630
We are now working very hard to catch up.

251
00:25:38,197 --> 00:25:44,603
This is aserious health and safety issue for vulnerable senior citizens.

252
00:25:44,603 --> 00:25:46,838
You could have done a better job.

253
00:25:46,838 --> 00:25:50,750
We would have done a better job.

254
00:25:50,275 --> 00:26:02,421
Deferred maintenance is no way to manage your property, your automobile or your health.

255
00:26:02,421 --> 00:26:12,598
It's not what a responsible person would do or a responsible landlord.

256
00:26:12,598 --> 00:26:14,733
We we will do a better job.

257
00:26:14,733 --> 00:26:16,340
So it's simple.

258
00:26:16,340 --> 00:26:18,937
The time has come.

259
00:26:18,937 --> 00:26:22,608
You have demonstrated you cannot properly manage marin valley.

260
00:26:22,608 --> 00:26:24,910
Let us very competent seniors do it.

261
00:26:24,910 --> 00:26:30,820
We can do a better job today and in the future.

262
00:26:30,182 --> 00:26:36,855
I'm talking about a win-win situation wth the offer in front of you, at this critical time.

263
00:26:36,855 --> 00:26:38,857
Take the $20 million.

264
00:26:38,857 --> 00:26:44,129
Everyone wins.

265
00:26:44,129 --> 00:26:45,731
Have the attorneys paper it up.

266
00:26:45,731 --> 00:26:47,966
And you can get back to city business.

267
00:26:47,966 --> 00:26:49,368
Thank you.

268
00:26:49,368 --> 00:26:51,770
>> mayor o'connor: thank you, bill.

269
00:26:51,770 --> 00:26:58,430
Our next speaker is alan gump, followed by jay shelfer.

270
00:26:58,243 --> 00:26:59,440
Welcome, alan.

271
00:26:59,144 --> 00:27:01,713
>> thank you.

272
00:27:01,713 --> 00:27:10,880
Good evening, I'm alan gump and live in marin valley.

273
00:27:10,188 --> 00:27:12,624
We submitted a detailed, thorough proposal I'm sure you have seen.

274
00:27:12,624 --> 00:27:20,832
What we got back from the city was a cordial demand for a full and unconditional sur render.

275
00:27:20,832 --> 00:27:22,968
Meet your price.

276
00:27:22,968 --> 00:27:31,877
Forfeit our reserves and then you will sit down with us and give us other conditions that we will have to pete before you sell the park to us.

277
00:27:31,877 --> 00:27:38,917
Is this the way you want to start a win-win good-faith set of negotiations?

278
00:27:38,917 --> 00:27:41,353
Because frankly, it felt more like a shake down.

279
00:27:41,353 --> 00:27:46,158
I hope I'm wrong.

280
00:27:46,158 --> 00:27:48,260
Sincerely, but I'll tell, we're watching.

281
00:27:48,260 --> 00:28:01,730
Now when it cmes to negotiations it's time to move beyond the post office and sit down at a real table in real chairs, eyeball to eyeball, arm pit to arm pit this and work this out.

282
00:28:01,730 --> 00:28:08,347
We are marin valley, this is not the gaza strip or donbas region.

283
00:28:08,347 --> 00:28:14,920
It can't be that hard for two party who's want to find a solution I know we can do it if the will had is there.

284
00:28:14,920 --> 00:28:17,989
Now let's talk a minute about status quo.

285
00:28:17,989 --> 00:28:22,940
Some people in our community think status quo is great.

286
00:28:22,940 --> 00:28:29,768
The city's doing a great job, you have jst heard from a few people here where we don't feel like this has been a happy dance.

287
00:28:29,768 --> 00:28:32,537
But the more important issue is security.

288
00:28:32,537 --> 00:28:36,740
We have no idea what the next city council will do when they step in here.

289
00:28:36,208 --> 00:28:42,481
They can look at us as the fatty calf ready for the market.

290
00:28:42,481 --> 00:28:47,786
Particularly if you are facing a serious fiscal crisis like you were two years ago.

291
00:28:47,786 --> 00:28:50,210
Now, we have the chops.

292
00:28:50,210 --> 00:29:08,807
We demonstrated we have the skills, the leadership and very importantly, the mandate of our community to run ourselves as an affordable senior housing community that meets all of your goals and that is guided by the strategic partnerships that

293
00:29:08,807 --> 00:29:10,800
we have with rock u.s.a.

294
00:29:10,375 --> 00:29:11,977
And cccd.

295
00:29:11,977 --> 00:29:14,713
There has never been a better time.

296
00:29:14,713 --> 00:29:16,915
This is a once in a generation opportunity.

297
00:29:16,915 --> 00:29:18,583
Let's seize it.

298
00:29:18,583 --> 00:29:23,488
I will say one thing in closing.

299
00:29:23,488 --> 00:29:27,957
Senior citizens are enthusiastic and highly motivated voters.

300
00:29:27,959 --> 00:29:28,126
So.

301
00:29:28,126 --> 00:29:29,561
This is a great opportunity.

302
00:29:29,561 --> 00:29:30,829
Motivate us.

303
00:29:30,829 --> 00:29:32,970
Thank you very much.

304
00:29:32,970 --> 00:29:38,870
>> mayor oconnor: thank you very much, alan.

305
00:29:38,870 --> 00:29:43,408
Our next speaker is jay schulfer followed by carol joy harris.

306
00:29:43,408 --> 00:29:45,343
Welcome, jay.

307
00:29:45,343 --> 00:29:49,470
>> hi, thank you for the opportunity to speak.

308
00:29:49,470 --> 00:29:54,419
I actually signed onto speak on g91 and I will reserve my comments until then.

309
00:29:54,419 --> 00:29:56,254
>> mayor o'connor: sorry, one more time?

310
00:29:56,254 --> 00:29:58,757
>> I want to speak on g-91.

311
00:29:58,757 --> 00:30:01,927
>> mayor o'connor: this is the consent calendar.

312
00:30:01,927 --> 00:30:03,428
That item is on consent calendar.

313
00:30:03,428 --> 00:30:08,967
If you comment on the consent calendar items this would be the time.

314
00:30:08,967 --> 00:30:21,713
>> okay, my comments are the pack and helsing group have been working very diligently with the architects and engineering group and we fully support g9 as it stands.

315
00:30:21,713 --> 00:30:22,470
>> mayor o'connor: perfect.

316
00:30:22,380 --> 00:30:25,750
Thank you.

317
00:30:25,750 --> 00:30:33,580
Our next speak certify carol joy harris, followed by robert belichick.

318
00:30:33,258 --> 00:30:34,659
Welcome, carol.

319
00:30:34,659 --> 00:30:44,836
>> thank you, this is about the clubhouse roof and hvac which is one of the deferred maintenance items that have been referred to.

320
00:30:44,836 --> 00:30:49,700
For years we have begged because our roof was in such bad condition.

321
00:30:49,140 --> 00:30:55,480
And you will see from the staff report that the original estimate was $350,000.

322
00:30:55,480 --> 00:30:58,416
Now it's up to almost $1 million.

323
00:30:58,416 --> 00:31:02,554
It was put in the budget years ago.

324
00:31:02,554 --> 00:31:05,724
But public works said, oh, sorry, we are short staffed.

325
00:31:05,724 --> 00:31:12,664
We just don't have time to oversee the project so it got put off and put off and put off.

326
00:31:12,664 --> 00:31:18,000
Now we are facing three times, almost three times the amount.

327
00:31:19,905 --> 00:31:20,380
Why?

328
00:31:20,380 --> 00:31:41,726
And I will just add that there was an architect several months ago, but no movement on it until there was a kpix story the other night that looked pretty good for marin valley and not so good for the city council and the next morning, somebody

329
00:31:41,726 --> 00:31:44,796
from public works came out.

330
00:31:44,796 --> 00:31:51,570
And said, oh, I didn't even know this was on the list.

331
00:31:51,570 --> 00:31:57,373
Suddenly, miraculously it's on the agenda for tonight.

332
00:31:58,760 --> 00:31:58,760
Coincidence.

333
00:31:58,209 --> 00:32:01,460
>> mayor o'connor: thank you, carol joy.

334
00:32:01,146 --> 00:32:12,991
Our next speaker is robert belichick followed by calvin ouellete.

335
00:32:12,991 --> 00:32:14,859
Welcome, robert.

336
00:32:14,859 --> 00:32:17,395
>> hello, hello, hello.

337
00:32:17,395 --> 00:32:25,700
I know a few people had three tours of amount homeless encampments.

338
00:32:25,203 --> 00:32:25,403
Mark, ms.

339
00:32:25,403 --> 00:32:26,905
Farac and pat eklund.

340
00:32:26,905 --> 00:32:34,913
I'm going to comment on what I have seen over my entire residency in hamilton, which is 20 years.

341
00:32:34,913 --> 00:32:40,752
Hard to believe, bayside and now in sunnycove for the past 14 years.

342
00:32:40,752 --> 00:32:48,927
I've got two dogs, three sometimes and I've walked the whole area around ammo hill skate park, all around.

343
00:32:48,927 --> 00:32:52,864
And I've looked at the encampments grow.

344
00:32:52,864 --> 00:33:12,751
And this morning, as I drove by on the way to the gym, susan, I haven't seen for a while, I saw a white car that is usually parked in the skate park parking lot, parked by a huge tent on the far south side of the rale road bridge, called the

345
00:33:12,751 --> 00:33:15,520
police right away.

346
00:33:15,520 --> 00:33:17,622
And they're driving across the grass to get over there.

347
00:33:17,622 --> 00:33:26,965
But what I want to talk about, since I've gone with three of you, in this period that I've been here about ten years three bodies have been found.

348
00:33:26,965 --> 00:33:37,842
I fund one myself about seven years ago laying on the road behind ammo hill.

349
00:33:37,842 --> 00:33:44,282
This past weekend, the police were down, I walked the downs along pacheco creek.

350
00:33:44,282 --> 00:33:48,190
The trestle bridge crossing the creek, blocked off and what happened?

351
00:33:48,119 --> 00:33:58,427
The next day I walked over and I looked at the trestles and the spray painted in on the wood rest in peace.

352
00:34:00,198 --> 00:34:00,331
Don.

353
00:34:00,331 --> 00:34:14,120
The other put out wash stands and port-o-potties and huge trash containers where people could put in their trash throwing it away.

354
00:34:14,120 --> 00:34:19,751
I've seen the fires, I've walked around the camps, I've been assaulted a couple of times.

355
00:34:19,751 --> 00:34:26,591
I've had people scream about the dogs, like you can't be here, I'm thinking I can't be here, but you can.

356
00:34:26,591 --> 00:34:28,860
That's personal.

357
00:34:28,860 --> 00:34:32,464
The first thing I've seen is the change in the wildlife.

358
00:34:32,464 --> 00:34:45,900
Because of all those people living in those vegetated areas all around, what is called the flat lands and the wetlands and the city has cleaned those up over the past 14 years.

359
00:34:45,143 --> 00:34:48,980
They go in and clean all the stuff over.

360
00:34:48,980 --> 00:34:51,716
Now are we getting the binford road spill over?

361
00:34:51,716 --> 00:34:57,856
>> mayor o'connor: sorry, robert, I'm afraid you're at time.

362
00:34:57,856 --> 00:35:07,565
>> my partner happens to manage pet foot express at hamilton and tierra linda, so h deals firsthand on what happens with the abuse of the businesses here.

363
00:35:07,565 --> 00:35:10,101
>> mayor o'connor: thanks, robert.

364
00:35:10,101 --> 00:35:13,938
Our next speaker is calvin ouellete followed by brian skinner.

365
00:35:13,938 --> 00:35:16,740
Welcome, calvin.

366
00:35:16,174 --> 00:35:17,275
>> good evening, mr.

367
00:35:17,275 --> 00:35:21,412
Mayor and council.

368
00:35:21,412 --> 00:35:30,889
I live about 100 yards from the skate park area in newport development.

369
00:35:30,889 --> 00:35:33,892
My request tonight is very simple.

370
00:35:33,892 --> 00:35:50,740
I am requesting that the council direct the chief of police to enforce section 1720 of the novato code of ordinances at the skate park.

371
00:35:50,341 --> 00:35:54,512
Approximately 20 years ago I came to one of these meetings.

372
00:35:54,512 --> 00:36:00,952
And we had a problem just to the west of my house on newport landing.

373
00:36:00,952 --> 00:36:09,260
Redneck guys in their four-wheel drive pickup trucks were doing doughnuts and side shows out there.

374
00:36:09,260 --> 00:36:14,732
Of all the councilmembers it was pat eklund who picked up the ball.

375
00:36:14,732 --> 00:36:17,335
And she met with the army.

376
00:36:17,335 --> 00:36:29,848
The army brought in all those big boulders and all that traffic control stuff, as well as helped with the gate.

377
00:36:29,848 --> 00:36:37,322
I am eternally indebted to councilmember eklund for her actions.

378
00:36:37,322 --> 00:36:46,970
I ask that tonight, you councilmembers also pick up that ball and let's deal with the problems at the skate park.

379
00:36:46,231 --> 00:36:51,703
And I do ask you have this section 1720.

380
00:36:51,703 --> 00:36:58,877
And if you're not going to enforce it, why even have it?

381
00:36:58,877 --> 00:37:09,954
So, novato code of ordinances is built on all the reasons that the people will tell you why this is a bad situation.

382
00:37:09,954 --> 00:37:14,926
I appreciate your attention and thank you again councilmember eklund.

383
00:37:14,926 --> 00:37:18,463
>> mayor o'connor: thank you very much, calvin.

384
00:37:18,463 --> 00:37:24,350
Our next speaker I brian skinner, followed by john hansen.

385
00:37:24,235 --> 00:37:29,974
Welcome, brian.

386
00:37:29,974 --> 00:37:32,110
>> homeless encampments have long existed in hamilton.

387
00:37:32,110 --> 00:37:36,247
I'm here today to discuss the recent negative changes in circumstances.

388
00:37:36,247 --> 00:37:44,956
In april a group of tents first appeared near the skate park, this is separate from the existing encampment further back from the road and marsh.

389
00:37:44,956 --> 00:37:53,364
Instead they set up in a new location with a new lne of sight of the skate park and only grown ever since.

390
00:37:53,364 --> 00:38:01,906
Only 60 residents have shown support and shared their personal experiences which I have submitted to the council but I would like to read just a few.

391
00:38:01,906 --> 00:38:12,583
We decided with all the cd activities seen in the skate parking lot unfortunately we won't be allowing te kids to use that.

392
00:38:12,583 --> 00:38:16,354
A homeless woman was lifting her top and asking the boys to touch her.

393
00:38:16,354 --> 00:38:21,793
I called the police and was told it's not a crime to be homeless.

394
00:38:21,793 --> 00:38:27,699
I told them indecent exposure is a crime, they investigated and removed her but she is back.

395
00:38:27,699 --> 00:38:35,730
Now unlike other sites in novato, like lee garner park, there's been no action regarding the situation in the skate park.

396
00:38:35,239 --> 00:38:37,976
Instead the opposite.

397
00:38:37,976 --> 00:38:44,782
People appear to be displaced to this location which is closer to the homes.

398
00:38:44,782 --> 00:38:47,418
It has more tall, dry vegetation, fire risk.

399
00:38:47,418 --> 00:38:51,890
It's usafe location for people to reside.

400
00:38:51,222 --> 00:38:55,626
We request immediate action on the encampments within the line of sight of the skate park.

401
00:38:55,626 --> 00:39:00,665
Again these are all new as of april.

402
00:39:00,665 --> 00:39:03,735
They have the greatest impact on our community.

403
00:39:03,735 --> 00:39:06,437
Those in attendance if you support this request, please raise your hands.

404
00:39:06,437 --> 00:39:07,500
Thank you.

405
00:39:07,500 --> 00:39:10,800
>> mayor o'connor: thank you very much, brian.

406
00:39:10,141 --> 00:39:17,448
Our next speaker is john hansen, followed by stan, my apologies, lapin?

407
00:39:17,448 --> 00:39:19,517
Good evening, john.

408
00:39:19,517 --> 00:39:23,870
>> good evening, mayor o' connor and the council of the city of novato.

409
00:39:23,870 --> 00:39:26,240
I wanted to speak to item g9.

410
00:39:26,240 --> 00:39:32,330
And I just want to express my gratitude for actually getting around to this, finally.

411
00:39:32,330 --> 00:39:35,333
It's been years in the making.

412
00:39:35,333 --> 00:39:40,438
And hopefully, we can get this thing done before the winter storms come in.

413
00:39:40,438 --> 00:39:49,800
I wanted to let you know that we have some assistance in that respect.

414
00:39:49,180 --> 00:39:56,320
And that the pacific northern oscillation is working with the la nina southern oscillation.

415
00:39:56,320 --> 00:40:06,640
And what that means for the bay area weather is that the winter storms are going to be delayed this year.

416
00:40:06,640 --> 00:40:09,767
So that gives us plenty of opportunity, I think, to finish this job.

417
00:40:09,767 --> 00:40:20,278
I can't, I don't think you will allow me to get out there with my roofing hammer to help on this, but at least I can let you know that the weather is on our side.

418
00:40:20,278 --> 00:40:28,520
So thank you very much for getting along with this project and hopefully w can get it done this winter, before the rains.

419
00:40:28,520 --> 00:40:33,858
The other part of the forecast for the rains is when they do come, they are going to be nasty.

420
00:40:33,858 --> 00:40:42,533
They are going to be nasty, short, squally kinds of storms, the kind that the clubhouse doesn't do very well with.

421
00:40:42,533 --> 00:40:44,502
So let's get this job done.

422
00:40:44,502 --> 00:40:46,300
Let's do whatever we can to get it done.

423
00:40:46,300 --> 00:40:47,400
Thank you very much.

424
00:40:47,105 --> 00:40:51,642
>> mayor o'connor: thank you very much, john.

425
00:40:51,642 --> 00:40:57,648
Our next speaker is stan lapin followed by margaret siegfried.

426
00:40:57,648 --> 00:40:58,850
Welcome, stan.

427
00:40:58,850 --> 00:41:00,785
>> good evening.

428
00:41:00,785 --> 00:41:06,657
As some you know I've been here over a variety of years talking about the problem with the homeless.

429
00:41:06,657 --> 00:41:14,565
We have had the pleasure of taking pat eklund on a tour, which I remember wasen light epping, if you remember, pat.

430
00:41:14,565 --> 00:41:14,832
>> p.

431
00:41:14,832 --> 00:41:17,235
Eklund: absolutely.

432
00:41:17,235 --> 00:41:25,610
>> I'm also speaking about the problem that's now ensued since lee garner was shut down.

433
00:41:25,610 --> 00:41:33,951
I dn't know whether the city moved these residents or it was another effort, it was controversial, I don't know.

434
00:41:33,951 --> 00:41:39,957
It ended up being about six people, six tents and now it's the entire fringe.

435
00:41:39,957 --> 00:41:50,902
It's united states ping residents at real risk, particularly children, because of the nature of the people and how they are disregarding our residents.

436
00:41:50,902 --> 00:41:53,371
In diction to that, there's also clearly fire safety.

437
00:41:53,371 --> 00:41:55,720
We have seen that enough.

438
00:41:55,720 --> 00:42:07,485
And I've seen it out my back door.

439
00:42:07,485 --> 00:42:10,755
And also impacting businesses.

440
00:42:10,755 --> 00:42:19,397
I've talked to gary satin who is a great guy from tapiyaki.

441
00:42:19,397 --> 00:42:22,934
He said it's been a real problem since he's been here.

442
00:42:22,934 --> 00:42:30,508
I'm sure if I went to every merchant they would all stand up and come here if they knew we were organizing.

443
00:42:30,508 --> 00:42:37,315
We are trying to come here in a very civil way and a constructive way.

444
00:42:37,315 --> 00:42:39,917
Now is the time, we have to take action.

445
00:42:39,917 --> 00:42:47,291
We have been kicking this down way too long and it's just going to get worse.

446
00:42:47,291 --> 00:42:56,670
The other thing, eric lucan, this isn't just a city problem, this is a county problem.

447
00:42:56,200 --> 00:43:04,909
The county has to accept responsibility financially and not have the situation where homeless in southern marin find themselves not there and over here.

448
00:43:04,909 --> 00:43:08,913
I've talked to the police and they tell me that happens.

449
00:43:08,913 --> 00:43:11,480
We can't allow that to happen.

450
00:43:11,480 --> 00:43:19,900
This is a county problem that has to be solved and novato can take the lead and we have a great financial opportunity to help us in southern novato.

451
00:43:19,257 --> 00:43:19,924
Thank you.

452
00:43:19,924 --> 00:43:23,861
>> mayor o'connor: thank you very much, stan.

453
00:43:23,861 --> 00:43:29,367
Our next speaker is margaret siegfried followed by joan.

454
00:43:29,367 --> 00:43:29,767
Welcome, margaret.

455
00:43:29,767 --> 00:43:33,904
>> thank you.

456
00:43:33,904 --> 00:43:39,443
[singing] in '97 when the city got the loan...

457
00:43:39,443 --> 00:43:44,615
We were promised when the loan was paid the park would be our own.

458
00:43:44,615 --> 00:43:47,451
>> in marin valley.

459
00:43:47,451 --> 00:43:56,270
>> so if your promise you would keep, we could finally get some sleep and once again feel safe and happy in our home.

460
00:43:56,270 --> 00:43:58,362
>> in marin valley.

461
00:43:58,362 --> 00:44:02,300
>> talking about marin valley.

462
00:44:02,300 --> 00:44:02,867
?

463
00:44:02,867 --> 00:44:07,838
Talking aout marin valley, in novato ?

464
00:44:07,838 --> 00:44:08,390
?

465
00:44:08,390 --> 00:44:09,573
Talking about marin valley ?

466
00:44:09,573 --> 00:44:09,774
?

467
00:44:09,774 --> 00:44:11,509
That's our home ?

468
00:44:11,509 --> 00:44:11,676
?

469
00:44:11,676 --> 00:44:15,790
That's our home ?

470
00:44:15,212 --> 00:44:15,413
?

471
00:44:15,413 --> 00:44:19,650
That's our home ?

472
00:44:19,650 --> 00:44:19,850
?

473
00:44:19,850 --> 00:44:24,355
That's our home ?

474
00:44:24,355 --> 00:44:34,980
Thank you.

475
00:44:34,980 --> 00:44:38,669
>> mayor o'connor: very well sung and you put in a lot of practice.

476
00:44:38,669 --> 00:44:45,409
Our next speaker is joan.

477
00:44:45,409 --> 00:44:49,547
And joan, I apologize that you have to follow margaret tonight.

478
00:44:49,547 --> 00:44:52,116
>> good evening, council.

479
00:44:52,116 --> 00:45:03,894
Like some of my other neighbors, I am here because I want to express my concerns about the urgent need for the city to address homeless encampments near the skate park in hamilton.

480
00:45:03,894 --> 00:45:19,310
There's been a long standing problem with people camping in the wooded area behind the skate park and now in recent months a new ever growing camp by the skate park has formed.

481
00:45:19,310 --> 00:45:28,619
These two areas are not set up for camping and put both housed and unhoused residents at risk of fire, health and safety.

482
00:45:28,619 --> 00:45:44,201
There's already been several large fires in the area and it seems illogical that the city is asking people to move vegetation five feet away from their homes for fire risk and yet at the same time is not sufficiently addressing serious fire

483
00:45:44,201 --> 00:45:46,337
risks these encampments pose.

484
00:45:46,337 --> 00:45:54,345
For example, just this morn a car was parked by the camp having driven about a block across highly flammable tall grass.

485
00:45:54,345 --> 00:45:57,648
This happens on a regular basis.

486
00:45:57,648 --> 00:46:02,486
The new safe team doesn't appear to be making any attributable difference.

487
00:46:02,486 --> 00:46:06,657
We don't have months and years to address this dangerous situation.

488
00:46:06,657 --> 00:46:14,980
If a large fire occurs campers could be trapped in their tents and several hundred adjacent homes could be engulfed.

489
00:46:14,980 --> 00:46:18,335
The city could be held liable for allowing this situation to continue.

490
00:46:18,335 --> 00:46:29,280
When residents have contacted the city to express concerns there's ben no communication other than email saying the city appreciates hearing from you and is aware of the situation.

491
00:46:29,280 --> 00:46:36,530
The city went through a great deal of effort to pass this new ordinance against camping on public property.

492
00:46:36,530 --> 00:46:37,688
So why isn't it being enforced?

493
00:46:37,688 --> 00:46:51,135
The city needs t treat the situation as an urgent safety risk that it is, and put in place a plan to move the campers to a safe area before there is a tragedy.

494
00:46:51,135 --> 00:46:52,200
Thank yu so much.

495
00:46:52,102 --> 00:46:58,509
>> mayor o'connor: thank you, joan.

496
00:46:58,509 --> 00:47:10,921
Our final speaker is bryce armbruster.

497
00:47:10,921 --> 00:47:14,758
Welcome, bryce.

498
00:47:14,758 --> 00:47:16,393
>> sorry, give me a second.

499
00:47:16,393 --> 00:47:20,731
>> mayor o'connor: take your time.

500
00:47:20,731 --> 00:47:29,607
>> sorry I don't have a jingle, I'm here to talk about the homeless encampment everyone has referenced.

501
00:47:29,607 --> 00:47:36,780
I'm in shock and awe some of the stories that some of my neighbors had shared earlier.

502
00:47:36,780 --> 00:47:44,588
We moved to hamilton early 2020 right as the pandemic was kicking off as a safe place for our kids.

503
00:47:44,588 --> 00:47:51,896
I'm absolutely appalled what's happened there over the last several mnths, really just a uncontrollable group.

504
00:47:51,896 --> 00:47:53,731
It's from the outside.

505
00:47:53,731 --> 00:48:01,710
I think we've all seen what has happened in san francisco, I don't think any of us want that to happen to our community.

506
00:48:01,205 --> 00:48:08,512
I'm urging the city council and mayor to take immediate steps to rectify that.

507
00:48:08,512 --> 00:48:12,449
I've personally seen drunken people, pursued by police.

508
00:48:12,449 --> 00:48:24,862
I've seen someone at night running that another runner has confirmed we have seen multiple tiements either high on some sort of meth drug, I don't know, or schizophrenic.

509
00:48:24,862 --> 00:48:27,531
We have seen cars driving back there.

510
00:48:27,531 --> 00:48:30,670
Unbelievable amounts of trash.

511
00:48:30,670 --> 00:48:36,440
A neighbor who hazardous had their child verbally assaulted and followed.

512
00:48:36,440 --> 00:48:45,282
I had no idea that a body was found back there, I found that unbelievable that none us know about this.

513
00:48:45,282 --> 00:48:51,210
I just shocked by what's happening and here mostly sadness and regret in addition to shock.

514
00:48:51,155 --> 00:48:52,220
Thank you.

515
00:48:52,122 --> 00:48:55,292
>> mayor o'connor: thank you, bryce.

516
00:48:55,292 --> 00:48:58,796
That concludes in-person public comment for this item.

517
00:48:58,796 --> 00:49:02,320
We will go to zoom for public comment if you would like to speak.

518
00:49:02,132 --> 00:49:04,735
>> clerk: there are no raised hands on zoom.

519
00:49:04,735 --> 00:49:07,371
>> mayor o'connor: okay, that concludes public comment.

520
00:49:07,371 --> 00:49:08,720
We will move to the consent calendar.

521
00:49:08,505 --> 00:49:11,809
>> mayor pro tem farac: I will make a motion to approve the consent calendar.

522
00:49:11,809 --> 00:49:12,276
>> p.

523
00:49:12,276 --> 00:49:13,844
Eklund: I will second the motion.

524
00:49:13,844 --> 00:49:15,579
>> mayor o'connor: thank you, laura.

525
00:49:15,579 --> 00:49:16,880
Would you call the vote.

526
00:49:16,880 --> 00:49:22,386
>> clerk: can I clarify that includes the revised attachment for item g8, attachment 2?

527
00:49:22,386 --> 00:49:23,621
>> mayor o'connor: yes.

528
00:49:23,621 --> 00:49:24,321
>> clerk: thank you, eklund?

529
00:49:24,321 --> 00:49:24,521
>> p.

530
00:49:24,521 --> 00:49:26,900
Eklund: aye.

531
00:49:26,190 --> 00:49:26,790
>> clerk: jacobs?

532
00:49:26,790 --> 00:49:27,570
>> k.

533
00:49:27,570 --> 00:49:27,591
Jacobs: aye.

534
00:49:27,591 --> 00:49:28,993
>> clerk: milberg?

535
00:49:28,993 --> 00:49:29,259
>> m.

536
00:49:29,259 --> 00:49:30,828
Milberg: aye.

537
00:49:30,828 --> 00:49:31,929
>> clerk: mayor pro tem farac?

538
00:49:31,929 --> 00:49:33,330
>> mayor pro tem farac: aye.

539
00:49:33,330 --> 00:49:34,310
>> clerk: and mayor o' connor.

540
00:49:34,310 --> 00:49:38,200
>> mayor o'connor: aye.

541
00:49:38,200 --> 00:49:40,704
That passes 5-0.

542
00:49:40,704 --> 00:49:50,314
We are going to take a brief recess in a moment but for the translators in the room, if you wouldn't mind sharing what I'm about to say, I would appreciate it.

543
00:49:50,314 --> 00:49:55,285
I'm sorry, folks if you are leaving the room, if you could leave silently.

544
00:49:55,285 --> 00:49:57,921
That would be great.

545
00:49:57,921 --> 00:50:12,236
Laura is going to bring a microphone so you can share.

546
00:50:12,236 --> 00:50:26,884
The next item on the agenda is to receive a presentation, conduct a study session and consider providing direction to staff to inform the preparation of a local just cause tenant protections ordinance as a follow-up to the direction already

547
00:50:26,884 --> 00:50:36,600
provided by the city council on may 20th, 2025.

548
00:50:36,160 --> 00:50:40,397
>> interpreter: [ translating in spanish ] >> mayor o'connor: thank you.

549
00:50:40,397 --> 00:50:41,932
We have translation services available.

550
00:50:41,932 --> 00:50:49,730
If you would like to take advantage of them, please come and introduce yourself tolt team outside the room.

551
00:50:49,173 --> 00:51:00,617
We will begin a 10-minute recess and begin at 7:00 o' clock.

552
00:51:00,617 --> 00:51:04,855
>> interpreter: [ translating in spanish ] >> mayor o'connor: thank you.

553
00:51:04,855 --> 00:51:11,280
And we are in recess until 7:00 p.m.

554
00:51:11,280 --> 00:51:24,271
>> interpreter: [ translating in spanish ] [ recess until 7:00 p.m.

555
01:02:49,559 --> 01:02:51,394
] >> mayor o'connor: okay, thank you.

556
01:02:51,394 --> 01:02:53,960
We are going to reconvene.

557
01:02:53,229 --> 01:03:06,342
The next item on our aenda is receive a presentation, conduct a study session and consider providing direction to staff to inform the preparation of a local just cause tenant protections ordinance as a follow-up to the direction already provided

558
01:03:06,342 --> 01:03:09,679
by city council on may 20th, 2025.

559
01:03:09,679 --> 01:03:21,891
Before I hand this oer to staff, I just want to remind everybody if you need translation services, they are available on the right hand side of the room.

560
01:03:21,891 --> 01:03:23,927
I actually don't see them.

561
01:03:23,927 --> 01:03:26,763
Oh, hi.

562
01:03:26,763 --> 01:03:30,934
>> [ off mic ] >> mayor o'connor: oh, no problem.

563
01:03:30,934 --> 01:03:54,424
I'll wait for you.

564
01:03:54,424 --> 01:04:12,173
Thank you.

565
01:04:12,675 --> 01:04:12,876
Ready?

566
01:04:12,876 --> 01:04:20,650
There's one anouncement I would like you to share, please.

567
01:04:20,650 --> 01:04:31,528
I'll just wait a moment.

568
01:04:31,528 --> 01:04:35,598
If you don't mind sharing the following, please.

569
01:04:35,598 --> 01:04:39,903
The conversation this evening isn't about adopting an ordinance or making a change.

570
01:04:39,903 --> 01:04:52,315
It's a conversation which is designed to help us shape the ordinance that we are going to adopt in novato.

571
01:04:52,315 --> 01:04:54,384
Thank you.

572
01:04:54,384 --> 01:04:58,655
I'm pausing because the translator in the room is communicating with people in spanish.

573
01:04:58,655 --> 01:05:09,532
As a follow-up to the conversation this evening, what will happen is a draft ordinance will come back to council, which will ultimately have the opportunity for public input as well.

574
01:05:09,532 --> 01:05:13,937
Today isn't about adopting an ordinance or making a change.

575
01:05:13,937 --> 01:05:23,613
It's about helping staff make an informed choice in terms of drafting the next ordinance to be considered.

576
01:05:23,613 --> 01:05:25,648
Thank you very much.

577
01:05:25,648 --> 01:05:30,453
With that I'm going to call on clare hartman the community development director to present the item.

578
01:05:30,453 --> 01:05:31,387
Welcome, clare.

579
01:05:31,387 --> 01:05:34,900
>> thank you.

580
01:05:34,190 --> 01:05:37,427
So this slide covers what we are going to talk about tonight.

581
01:05:37,427 --> 01:05:44,434
And thank you for the introduction this is a study session, not an action item.

582
01:05:44,434 --> 01:05:52,875
First we will go over the background of just cause and tenant protection and how it relates to city policy and state law.

583
01:05:52,875 --> 01:06:00,830
We will talk about key provisions or key elements that would be in a just cause ordinance.

584
01:06:00,830 --> 01:06:13,730
And then we will also go over the public outreach that related to the key provisions and that I larned along my journey in terms of what I heard from the community in community workshops.

585
01:06:13,730 --> 01:06:29,345
An then lastly, we will wrap up with the key policy questions that I would like to ask the council before we go back and draft a draft ordinance for consideration.

586
01:06:29,345 --> 01:06:37,286
So, what brought us here tonight with this topic is our city's housing element.

587
01:06:37,286 --> 01:06:40,590
This is a long-range plan, over eight years.

588
01:06:40,590 --> 01:06:46,262
Specific to housing programs in the city.

589
01:06:46,262 --> 01:06:50,900
It covers production, preservation and protection of housing.

590
01:06:50,900 --> 01:06:56,572
It was adopted in may of 2024.

591
01:06:56,572 --> 01:07:03,746
But we have actually been working on it since 2023, we are in the second year implementing it's programs.

592
01:07:03,746 --> 01:07:13,821
If you want to follow along our progress, you can go to the city's website.

593
01:07:14,724 --> 01:07:14,857
Novato.com/housingelement.

594
01:07:14,857 --> 01:07:25,702
And one of the initiatives in our program was to do an educational and engagement effort that w participated with the county.

595
01:07:25,702 --> 01:07:32,675
So it was a cunty-wide effort called "rooted in marin".

596
01:07:32,675 --> 01:07:37,800
And the culmination of that effort was presented to the council on may 13th.

597
01:07:37,213 --> 01:07:45,788
And we followed up that session with a study session on anti displacement and tenant protections at the cuncil, the very next meeting.

598
01:07:45,788 --> 01:08:03,973
It was at that meeting on may 20th that staff received direction to go ahead and get a start on the exploration into a just cause ordinance, a local ordinance for novato.

599
01:08:03,973 --> 01:08:11,914
So the city's housing element addresses tenant protections in goal #5.

600
01:08:11,914 --> 01:08:17,530
Several goals but goal #5 addresses tenant protections.

601
01:08:17,530 --> 01:08:31,634
Policy 5.4 covers tenant protections, as it says here, citis will stay up-to-date on statewide tenant protections but also educate tenants and educate landlords on their respective rights.

602
01:08:31,634 --> 01:08:33,402
Program 5.I is more specific.

603
01:08:33,402 --> 01:08:37,306
This is your action item.

604
01:08:37,306 --> 01:08:43,279
And the title is called expand just cause eviction protections to all tenants.

605
01:08:43,279 --> 01:08:50,190
But when you look at the text of the housing element it's a little broader than that title.

606
01:08:50,153 --> 01:08:55,910
It's to consider a local just cause ordinance.

607
01:08:55,910 --> 01:08:58,728
It does have areas of exploration in it.

608
01:08:58,728 --> 01:09:06,680
It wants us to explore notice of termination that would be provided to the city.

609
01:09:06,202 --> 01:09:21,551
The item wants us t explore outreach and also to evaluate but to retain grounds for eviction where it matches at-fault and state protections.

610
01:09:21,551 --> 01:09:25,488
So te exercise or the action item is exactly what we are doing.

611
01:09:25,488 --> 01:09:35,640
We are exploring this topic for consideration of a just cause local ordinance.

612
01:09:35,640 --> 01:09:42,605
Doesn't guarantee we will adopt one but we are exercising this action item by even doing what we are doing tonight.

613
01:09:42,605 --> 01:09:51,881
Doing our outreach, doing our understanding of it and deciding if this is something we want to do.

614
01:09:51,881 --> 01:09:59,956
This slide summarizes what we learned in rooted in marin in terms o policy idea that's came out of that.

615
01:09:59,956 --> 01:10:02,859
One of them was just cause evictions.

616
01:10:02,859 --> 01:10:05,270
We looked at case studies for that.

617
01:10:05,270 --> 01:10:09,532
That was already in our housing element, as I just mentioned.

618
01:10:09,532 --> 01:10:35,391
But what we also learned is some other ideas that the city could explore, but what rally piqued the council's interest at the time was relocation assistance and right of return.

619
01:10:35,391 --> 01:10:47,837
So they weren't already in our housing element but because of our experience in the city and because of what we learned in marin that became of interest.

620
01:10:47,837 --> 01:10:53,743
So when I embarked on this, outreach we included those principles.

621
01:10:53,743 --> 01:11:01,384
This slide summarizes state laws at a very high level that relate to just cause ordinances.

622
01:11:01,384 --> 01:11:10,626
You may hear speakers reference this first state law, it's called the ten apt protect act of 2019.

623
01:11:10,626 --> 01:11:17,667
We've also referred to it as ab1482 and we also sometimes call it tpa.

624
01:11:17,667 --> 01:11:20,369
So forgive us with the acronyms and multiple names.

625
01:11:20,369 --> 01:11:22,705
But we are talking about the same law.

626
01:11:22,705 --> 01:11:29,679
So this is state law that sets minimum statewide standards for rent control and for just cause.

627
01:11:29,679 --> 01:11:39,488
So we're looking at state law, how it relates to the just cause and local jurisdictions may adopt their own local just cause ordinances.

628
01:11:39,488 --> 01:11:44,961
But there are parameters that if you do, there's certain findings that the council will have to make.

629
01:11:44,961 --> 01:11:51,000
To be able to do that, and I'll talk about that in a couple of slides.

630
01:11:51,000 --> 01:12:05,982
In addition to the tenant protection act is the ellis act and that one speaks to the right of landlords to leave the rental market and gives procedures and directions for how somebody can pull out of the rental market and take full use of their

631
01:12:05,982 --> 01:12:11,487
property again.

632
01:12:11,487 --> 01:12:16,726
So in summary these are the considerations we put into this effort.

633
01:12:16,726 --> 01:12:21,497
We looked at our own housing element as it was written and adopted.

634
01:12:21,497 --> 01:12:27,136
We expanded that exploration to include relocation assistance and right of rirn.

635
01:12:27,136 --> 01:12:27,269
Return.

636
01:12:27,269 --> 01:12:39,810
And we are always mindful of what is in state law and isn't in state law and what are the parameters upon which we would adopt a local ordinance, in compliance with state law.

637
01:12:39,810 --> 01:12:42,551
We held some public workshops.

638
01:12:42,551 --> 01:12:52,328
There wasn't a lot of time since our last study session on anti-displacement, but we have been very active the last couple of months putting this together.

639
01:12:52,328 --> 01:13:03,773
So tonight I'm going to bring back the results of that.

640
01:13:03,773 --> 01:13:23,292
Other considerations to keep in mind we try to land or benchmark or ceate a foundation upon which we could draft some key provisions of an ordinance and which we would set sail into the public workshops to start set up what this might look like.

641
01:13:23,292 --> 01:13:27,960
We created a foundation that we would set it in context of our local area.

642
01:13:27,196 --> 01:13:35,400
So we looked to the city of petaluma, the city of san rafael and county of marin.

643
01:13:35,104 --> 01:13:43,412
But we also looked statewide and we wre looking at best practices and how we fit in with those best practices.

644
01:13:43,412 --> 01:13:52,521
We also looked to craft the framework of an ordinance that doesn't rely on a lot of staff.

645
01:13:52,521 --> 01:14:04,300
In fact, we set this draft framework up that it would not require fees or a full program or a request for staffing.

646
01:14:04,300 --> 01:14:15,377
That I would set the provisions for protections of all stakeholders, the city, landlords and renters.

647
01:14:15,377 --> 01:14:20,816
But that enforcement would be through the courts, through civil action.

648
01:14:20,816 --> 01:14:23,786
We are here as an educator.

649
01:14:23,786 --> 01:14:36,265
We can set up websites and faq's and help with interpretations but not as an active, staffed enforcement center.

650
01:14:36,265 --> 01:14:43,572
And really we were focusing as the council directed on no-fault evictions.

651
01:14:43,572 --> 01:14:53,480
Specifically, what happens when a building gts so bad that it's red tagged and deemed unsafe as the city recently experienced.

652
01:14:53,480 --> 01:15:14,670
Or when landlords are updating their property and making remodels and it's those circumstances where it's such a substantial remodel you actually can't stay in the building while it's being done.

653
01:15:14,670 --> 01:15:19,708
So this is the framework of an ordinance but we don't have a draft ordinance for you to review.

654
01:15:19,708 --> 01:15:23,120
So I will talk about this framework at a high level.

655
01:15:23,112 --> 01:15:27,820
But these are the components that you might see in one.

656
01:15:27,249 --> 01:15:29,652
Purpose and applicability.

657
01:15:29,652 --> 01:15:34,957
This is where we talk about what is subject to the ordinance and what isn't.

658
01:15:34,957 --> 01:15:45,634
So it's very clear, a lot of discussion about exemptions.

659
01:15:45,634 --> 01:15:53,342
Clarity on at-fault justifications, versus no-fault justifications.

660
01:15:53,342 --> 01:15:55,778
Notices, what's required for notices.

661
01:15:55,778 --> 01:15:59,515
And then we want to cover relocation assistance.

662
01:15:59,515 --> 01:16:03,520
We looked at temporary, we looked at permanent.

663
01:16:03,152 --> 01:16:08,900
And then we understood there might be some alternatives to that.

664
01:16:08,190 --> 01:16:13,920
And then another add or provision would be right of return.

665
01:16:13,762 --> 01:16:29,345
And in conclusion, just whether the remedies when it doesn't work out or there's discrepancies o disagreements, how are those managed, handled and enforced?

666
01:16:29,345 --> 01:16:33,649
Okay, so let's talk about applicability.

667
01:16:33,649 --> 01:16:53,200
So I talked about how the tenant protections act is really the crux of just cause state wise but we have the ability as a jurisdiction, and not all jurisdictions choose to do so, but we have the ability and it's in our housing element to consider

668
01:16:53,200 --> 01:16:56,572
adopting a local ordinance.

669
01:16:56,572 --> 01:17:05,681
If you adopt a local ordinance, it supersedes the tenant protections act.

670
01:17:05,681 --> 01:17:10,653
It becomes the provisions that regulate this relationship between landlord and tenants.

671
01:17:10,653 --> 01:17:13,550
There are special findings you have to make.

672
01:17:13,550 --> 01:17:21,664
It does need to be more protective of tenants.

673
01:17:21,664 --> 01:17:30,500
But the finding is that of the council, so it's how you define being more protective of tenants.

674
01:17:30,105 --> 01:17:46,722
So it's layered work, because you may have entertained elements where it increases applicability and other elements that provides exemptions that are strategically a fit for this city.

675
01:17:46,722 --> 01:17:51,600
And that's the complexity of these ordinances.

676
01:17:51,600 --> 01:18:03,720
In general, in terms of our proposal that we vetted with the community, we were tying to be quite clear on what the additional protections for tenants would be.

677
01:18:03,172 --> 01:18:11,680
And the next slides go into those details with more specificity.

678
01:18:11,680 --> 01:18:23,580
But the idea is to have these rules apply to more tenants and more homes than the state law requires.

679
01:18:23,580 --> 01:18:33,969
To add language requirements and noticing requirements that would be more expansive than what the state law requires.

680
01:18:33,969 --> 01:18:37,306
To allow provisions like relocation assistance and right of return.

681
01:18:37,306 --> 01:18:40,642
Way more than what the state law would require.

682
01:18:40,642 --> 01:18:46,615
So those would be clear expansions.

683
01:18:46,615 --> 01:18:49,840
And then in addition, there's a balancing act.

684
01:18:49,218 --> 01:19:03,799
You are trying to thread the needles of incentivizing people to invest in properties, to offer up their additional units for rentals, so providing provisions in here that support property owners.

685
01:19:03,799 --> 01:19:17,346
So in terms of those areas, we would like to making sure that the ordinance supports their rights to honor rental agreements.

686
01:19:17,346 --> 01:19:29,570
Would this have the provisions that support property owners to exercise their rights to address, particularly at-fault evictions?

687
01:19:29,570 --> 01:19:37,320
And so, what we vetted with the community was keeping all 11 at-fault causes for eviction.

688
01:19:37,320 --> 01:19:42,738
And ill talk about how that went.

689
01:19:42,738 --> 01:19:50,780
Supporting the right to rent their property for temporary tenancies and supporting their right to withdraw from the housing market.

690
01:19:50,780 --> 01:19:57,850
So we took this framework to a community and received quite a lot of feedback.

691
01:19:57,219 --> 01:20:05,360
So I love to see that we have so much participation again tonight.

692
01:20:05,360 --> 01:20:09,264
This is a dense slide and I'm not going to go overall of this.

693
01:20:09,264 --> 01:20:21,376
But the point of this slide, this summarizes all the exemptions that aren't in the protected area of the state law for tenants.

694
01:20:21,376 --> 01:20:27,449
And I'll just highlight a couple that we think are pretty significant exemptions.

695
01:20:27,449 --> 01:20:35,524
So one is tenants that have been in place for less than 12 months.

696
01:20:35,524 --> 01:20:40,562
In fact, that increases if you have additional adult tenants added.

697
01:20:40,562 --> 01:20:42,297
Now it's up to 24 months.

698
01:20:42,297 --> 01:20:50,672
So if you are a tenant less than that, you are not protected by the state law.

699
01:20:50,672 --> 01:20:53,542
Another one is with new housing.

700
01:20:53,542 --> 01:20:57,790
New housing is exempt from the tpa.

701
01:20:57,790 --> 01:21:04,686
One of the exemptions is housing that's been issued a certificate of occupancy in the last 15 years.

702
01:21:04,686 --> 01:21:13,428
And novato has seen its share of rental housing.

703
01:21:13,428 --> 01:21:16,640
Another exemption is deed-restricted affordable housing.

704
01:21:16,640 --> 01:21:26,508
So we looked at areas where, where could we tighten it up to make it more protective to ten ants?

705
01:21:26,508 --> 01:21:32,800
Because that's the exercise, is looking for ways to expand protections and even in applicability.

706
01:21:32,214 --> 01:21:36,510
So what we vetted with the community are these.

707
01:21:36,510 --> 01:21:53,902
One is to reduce it so all tenants, based on, even tenants that are in leases that are less than 12 months would qualify to be protected by a local ordinance.

708
01:21:53,902 --> 01:21:59,740
Include the housing that is newer, within 15 years.

709
01:21:59,241 --> 01:22:02,844
Include affordable housing and include government-owned or operated units.

710
01:22:02,844 --> 01:22:04,846
And include units that are illegal.

711
01:22:04,846 --> 01:22:10,586
So have that not be an exemption from being protected.

712
01:22:10,586 --> 01:22:36,311
And then in balance, again, trying to thread the needle here, look for exemptions for your mom and pop small operators and what we vetted with the community was an exemption for owners with three or fewer units within the city limits.

713
01:22:36,311 --> 01:22:42,684
This would not include commercial operators or property management company.

714
01:22:42,684 --> 01:22:49,910
Even if it's part of an l.l.c., that's not who we are looking to exempt.

715
01:22:49,191 --> 01:22:57,366
We are looking to exempt essentially individuals and your mom and pop operators.

716
01:22:57,366 --> 01:23:09,111
And that is a exemption that is shared with county of marin, and san rafael and petaluma.

717
01:23:09,111 --> 01:23:21,560
Some nuances to the secific language around that, but the three or fewer is common across the three.

718
01:23:21,560 --> 01:23:33,702
Another exemption because the city is really trying to incentivize accessory dreling units and junior accessory dwelling units.

719
01:23:33,702 --> 01:23:40,709
We just spept the last two years removing all the obstacles we could, so in that spirit, we added that to the list.

720
01:23:40,709 --> 01:23:44,479
And some jurisdictions have done this as well for the same reason.

721
01:23:44,479 --> 01:23:54,560
This one is not as consistent across the platform.

722
01:23:54,156 --> 01:23:58,600
So now geting into the causes and noticing.

723
01:23:58,160 --> 01:24:10,439
So no eviction is allowed without just cause and I would stay the course, we wll clarify what at-fault and no-fault means and also more about the noticing.

724
01:24:10,439 --> 01:24:20,382
So currently the state law, there's 11 reasons that a landlord can event a tenant.

725
01:24:20,382 --> 01:24:22,751
And these are all the eleven.

726
01:24:22,751 --> 01:24:25,200
I won't go through all of them.

727
01:24:25,120 --> 01:24:29,570
The number one you hear about is behind in rent.

728
01:24:29,570 --> 01:24:30,920
That's a justifiable reason.

729
01:24:30,225 --> 01:24:33,950
It's a common reason.

730
01:24:33,295 --> 01:24:37,265
There's other ones that have nuances to them.

731
01:24:37,265 --> 01:24:56,852
And some communities nearby, so including the county marin, and city of san rfael have shrunk that down and that's been their effort to give more protections to ten ants.

732
01:24:56,852 --> 01:25:01,957
So by shrinking them down they are no longer basis for eviction.

733
01:25:01,957 --> 01:25:06,461
They shrunk the 11 down to these five and then added a sixth one.

734
01:25:06,461 --> 01:25:21,900
And this is the one where related to, if there is domestic violence on the property associated with either the landlord or the tenant or the tenant to another tenant.

735
01:25:21,176 --> 01:25:26,148
Keeping in mind we are looking to our neighbors and being in context.

736
01:25:26,148 --> 01:25:30,285
Petaluma kept all 11.

737
01:25:30,285 --> 01:25:42,831
And we didn't see direction on our housing element to reduce and we didn't receive that yet from the council, so what we vetted with the community is to keep all 11.

738
01:25:42,831 --> 01:25:46,670
In terms of no-fault, there's several categories here.

739
01:25:46,201 --> 01:25:49,337
One, we talked about withdrawal from the rental market.

740
01:25:49,337 --> 01:25:51,720
What happens, what's the process?

741
01:25:51,239 --> 01:25:53,842
Where are the protections when that happens?

742
01:25:53,842 --> 01:26:00,182
Or when the owner or their family member wants to move back in?

743
01:26:00,182 --> 01:26:04,252
Setting up that scenario.

744
01:26:04,252 --> 01:26:14,462
And then there's others that could be temporary or could lead into permanent but vacations due to government action.

745
01:26:14,462 --> 01:26:22,270
So like a red tag, the building is deemed unsafe, whether the from natural occurrence or neglect.

746
01:26:22,270 --> 01:26:29,511
That spectrum.

747
01:26:29,511 --> 01:26:34,820
But being deemed unsafe where something needs to be done before people can stay in the building.

748
01:26:34,182 --> 01:26:40,555
The last category here is vacation due to demolition.

749
01:26:40,555 --> 01:26:49,531
But probably much more commonly is a temporary vacation of the unit due to a substantial remodel.

750
01:26:49,531 --> 01:26:58,440
Sometimes there's no water and they have to redo the etirety of the plumbing system to make it safe.

751
01:26:58,440 --> 01:27:20,762
And they just temporarily need to move out of the unit or it could be very substantial where it could take several months to retrofit a building due to excessive interior or ex tore -- exterior damage.

752
01:27:20,762 --> 01:27:23,465
This side is about the noticing around no-fault.

753
01:27:23,465 --> 01:27:31,473
So one of the things we would look to add in a local ordinance would be a notice of tenant rights.

754
01:27:31,473 --> 01:27:41,650
This would be required at lease signing, lease renewal, increase in rent, any change in terms o the lease is an opportunity to notify a tenant about their rights.

755
01:27:41,650 --> 01:27:46,388
We also think that would be an expansion of tenant protection.

756
01:27:46,388 --> 01:27:57,499
One thing that would be new and what I heard a lot about through our community workshops is to have these really important documents to be in english and spanish, period.

757
01:27:57,499 --> 01:28:06,700
And then if the lease was in a different language to have this notice of tenant rights in that language.

758
01:28:06,107 --> 01:28:09,477
But at a minimum english and spanish.

759
01:28:09,477 --> 01:28:15,283
This was a very sought after one and we learned a lot about that.

760
01:28:15,283 --> 01:28:27,395
In terms of notice of termination, I wasn't here when we wrote the housing element, but that was very specific in our housing element, action item.

761
01:28:27,395 --> 01:28:33,902
Wanted t add that when there was a notice of termination, a copy would be provided to the city.

762
01:28:33,902 --> 01:28:38,740
And I think it was a way to track evictions for the city.

763
01:28:38,740 --> 01:28:46,514
And so that was added into our framework.

764
01:28:46,514 --> 01:28:52,387
And then, english and spanish, always.

765
01:28:52,387 --> 01:28:59,928
Okay, this slide shows how we would further expand noticing when it is around substantial renovation projects.

766
01:28:59,928 --> 01:29:09,871
And this is because there needs to be a lot of accountability when a landlord comes in and does a renovation.

767
01:29:09,871 --> 01:29:20,482
You might have heard the term renoviction.

768
01:29:20,482 --> 01:29:32,327
We want to be careful that it's a legitimate renovation that's needed if you are going to be evicting or pushing out even temporarily a tenant.

769
01:29:32,327 --> 01:29:36,564
So we took care to expand the noticing for the situation.

770
01:29:36,564 --> 01:29:47,876
So it can't just be a proposed building renovation, it needs to be a real legit one with a building permit that's issued and you're ready to go.

771
01:29:47,876 --> 01:29:50,780
You have a construction schedule.

772
01:29:50,211 --> 01:29:53,248
And you provide that information to the tenant.

773
01:29:53,248 --> 01:29:58,353
And if it's approved as part of a framework of the ordinance.

774
01:29:58,353 --> 01:30:02,230
If there are relocation assistance offered to provide information about that.

775
01:30:02,230 --> 01:30:07,328
And really important if there's opportunity for right of return.

776
01:30:07,328 --> 01:30:34,589
Again, whether it's a day, two weeks, two months or two years, whatever the information is about right of return.

777
01:30:34,589 --> 01:30:48,470
This slide is a comparison what the state allows for relocation assistance currently, and where we would expand it locally.

778
01:30:48,470 --> 01:31:04,486
So where the state law comes in for a current requirement is a landlord can withdraw from the market, or can move in or do a substantial renovation.

779
01:31:04,486 --> 01:31:10,558
What they have to do is provide one month's rent or they can waive the final month's rent.

780
01:31:10,558 --> 01:31:20,568
That's state law.

781
01:31:20,568 --> 01:31:22,337
That's for those situations.

782
01:31:22,337 --> 01:31:28,343
For a government action or a red tag, deeming the building unsafe, immediate displacement.

783
01:31:28,343 --> 01:31:37,485
There's a health and safety code section that talks about dangerous buildings and immediate displacement.

784
01:31:37,485 --> 01:31:54,536
And that provides two month's of hud fair market rent and utility service departments and it actually provides a very specific timeline, within ten days.

785
01:31:54,536 --> 01:31:58,306
So that is state law for no-fault.

786
01:31:58,306 --> 01:32:12,921
Where we would potentially expand, and this is probably the most robust area of expansion to do a local ordinance for, is to really address substantial renovation and relocation assistance.

787
01:32:12,921 --> 01:32:23,331
So what we vetted with the community is that for a substantial renovation, the tenant would have options.

788
01:32:23,331 --> 01:32:32,740
And this is one thing to think about is do you want a menu that is tenant-oriented where the tenant has to decide what options they go in?

789
01:32:32,740 --> 01:32:46,888
Or do you want it to be more prescribed where it's more objective or runs a certain predictable way is one way to do it.

790
01:32:46,888 --> 01:32:52,994
The basic options are do they continue to pay rent or do they suspend rent during the renovation?

791
01:32:52,994 --> 01:32:56,831
Those are things to think about and I will talk about scenarios.

792
01:32:56,831 --> 01:33:01,569
Also there could be opportunities, especially a larger property manager.

793
01:33:01,569 --> 01:33:14,582
They may have other units they need to do a remodel in the kitchen area and you are out for, I don't know, a couple weeks or a month and you can stay at their comparable unit.

794
01:33:14,582 --> 01:33:24,459
Comparable in our framework would be nothing smaller, so if you had a one bedroom you got a one bedroom comparable unit.

795
01:33:24,459 --> 01:33:27,996
It could be bigger, it just can't be smaller.

796
01:33:27,996 --> 01:33:30,331
And there's alternatives out there.

797
01:33:30,331 --> 01:33:32,330
You could buy the tenant out.

798
01:33:32,330 --> 01:33:35,970
You could have some sort of alternative agreement.

799
01:33:35,970 --> 01:33:38,773
And there's stipulations for that.

800
01:33:38,773 --> 01:33:56,524
For a red tag, you would have all those options and in addition you would get that health and safety code two months of fair market rent plus utility service deposit.

801
01:33:56,524 --> 01:34:10,505
I will run through these scenarios, it looks as complicated as it felt but I will do my best to explain it.

802
01:34:10,505 --> 01:34:15,810
I will go through options a-d at a high level.

803
01:34:15,810 --> 01:34:18,379
Mostly I will take your questions later.

804
01:34:18,379 --> 01:34:24,686
So option a is you continue to pay rent and you just need a per diem.

805
01:34:24,686 --> 01:34:38,533
That is probably perfectly normal scenario if it's very short-term and you can stay at a local hotel while they do the renovation so you are getting a per diem and we vetted these amounts.

806
01:34:38,533 --> 01:34:44,906
Things we learned in this last year about how much it costs to stay at a hotel in this area.

807
01:34:44,906 --> 01:34:48,276
People have pets so you might have to board them.

808
01:34:48,276 --> 01:34:55,550
Not all hotels take them, things like that.

809
01:34:55,550 --> 01:35:03,424
Again, for substantial remodel, this culd add up if you were at a hotel for a while.

810
01:35:03,424 --> 01:35:08,963
So, as part of this framework we sggested there be a cap.

811
01:35:08,963 --> 01:35:14,569
Because again we are balancing predictability for the landlord as well.

812
01:35:14,569 --> 01:35:22,343
So we proposed a maximum cap of three times the fair market rent.

813
01:35:22,343 --> 01:35:25,413
Option b is really just a different version of a.

814
01:35:25,413 --> 01:35:39,694
Where you don't pay the rent while the renovation is going on and if you pay less than the fair market rent, you get what we call a rent differential.

815
01:35:39,694 --> 01:35:41,863
You get the difference.

816
01:35:41,863 --> 01:35:46,000
You would eventually even out with both of those scenarios.

817
01:35:46,000 --> 01:35:53,875
If they maxed out they would have the same cap, three months of fair market rent.

818
01:35:53,875 --> 01:35:58,613
For red tag you would get this and you would get the health and safety code.

819
01:35:58,613 --> 01:36:18,299
So potentially if you are red tagged, and you maxed out for your temporary relocation assistance at three months yu would get three months fair market rent and you would get two months fair market rent through the health and safety code.

820
01:36:18,299 --> 01:36:23,370
So that's five months of fair market rent.

821
01:36:23,370 --> 01:36:32,713
So if it's $3,000 for fair market rent, that's $15,000.

822
01:36:32,713 --> 01:36:42,690
And the reason I even do this scenario to that extent is one of the tings we heard about is alameda county, they have a fixed rate.

823
01:36:42,690 --> 01:36:45,590
They just pay you out $15,000.

824
01:36:45,193 --> 01:36:56,304
This scenario would get you there as well, in terms of its maxed out, so.

825
01:36:56,304 --> 01:37:00,508
Okay, these other options, these are more on the landlord side.

826
01:37:00,508 --> 01:37:06,747
So again, this framework has some options for the tenant based on whether they want to continue paying rent or not.

827
01:37:06,747 --> 01:37:11,486
The other options are more, I would say in the favor of the l.a.p.d.

828
01:37:11,486 --> 01:37:11,619
Lord.

829
01:37:11,619 --> 01:37:15,560
-- landlord, so again, trying to provide a menu here.

830
01:37:15,223 --> 01:37:26,300
Again, if a landlord has a comparable unit, and again, similar size or at least same size or bigger, then you could move your tenant over.

831
01:37:26,300 --> 01:37:30,400
They don't pay any extra, they can just move into that other.

832
01:37:30,400 --> 01:37:35,576
And in our framework we would suggest there be some moving costs.

833
01:37:35,576 --> 01:37:41,382
Depending on how extensive that time is.

834
01:37:41,382 --> 01:37:45,419
Option d is buy out options.

835
01:37:45,419 --> 01:37:49,824
With these alternative agreements more legal contracts a lot to decide, it's unique, it's special.

836
01:37:49,824 --> 01:37:59,133
So it would be really important to put in timeframes that give a tenant time to go get advice.

837
01:37:59,133 --> 01:38:05,673
Most tenants don't come equipped with their own lawyer so they may have to check out legal aid of marin to get advice.

838
01:38:05,673 --> 01:38:07,575
It might take time.

839
01:38:07,575 --> 01:38:15,383
So oe provision is to give them the time to make that decision and even to give them a cooling-off period.

840
01:38:15,383 --> 01:38:34,402
So after they sign something and then they get advice that says you should probably rethink that, that's a common provision.

841
01:38:34,402 --> 01:38:37,710
Then we get to permanent no-fault evictions.

842
01:38:37,204 --> 01:38:53,120
Let's say we know it's just a substantial remodel or it's going to take years or they are demolishing the building or it's permanent because they are moving in and withdrawing from the market.

843
01:38:53,120 --> 01:38:55,590
Again, we set it at three month's rent.

844
01:38:55,590 --> 01:39:00,628
So that would be an expansion of state law.

845
01:39:00,628 --> 01:39:08,803
And we like the idea of an objective standard for how you define fair market rent.

846
01:39:08,803 --> 01:39:12,607
And so we would use hud's standard because everybody can look that up.

847
01:39:12,607 --> 01:39:16,711
That's not something we would make up in an office.

848
01:39:16,711 --> 01:39:28,220
You go to the state's website, they do the math for our area and identify and everybody would know that in advance or at the time you needed it.

849
01:39:28,155 --> 01:39:31,826
Okay, now moving onto our last provision here for tenant rights.

850
01:39:31,826 --> 01:39:34,929
That's right of return.

851
01:39:34,929 --> 01:39:43,304
So this slide compares what you currently get with state law and where we could head with a local ordinance.

852
01:39:43,304 --> 01:39:55,449
With this, the state law only provides a right of return if there's failure of certain circumstances for the landlords.

853
01:39:55,449 --> 01:39:58,520
Where we would head is just by right.

854
01:39:58,185 --> 01:40:02,590
Just to offer them the first right of refusal to come back.

855
01:40:02,590 --> 01:40:12,700
So if it got fixed it could come back, whether it's after a day, a week, or maybe even up to sx months or two years.

856
01:40:12,700 --> 01:40:18,500
So we would put that into the policy and that's what we vetted with the community.

857
01:40:18,139 --> 01:40:24,845
And you have to give some notice and opportunity for them to consider that.

858
01:40:24,845 --> 01:40:28,949
Most policies had 30 days to consider that.

859
01:40:28,949 --> 01:40:39,727
And then on the flip side of the framework we would look at prohibitions and enforcement and remedies.

860
01:40:39,727 --> 01:40:53,674
One of the things we heard in the focus groups is where is the sort of accountability of landlords, sort of the registry to know they are legit landlords and they are aware of these provisions?

861
01:40:53,674 --> 01:40:57,780
So there was mention of maintaining a business license if you rent a room.

862
01:40:57,211 --> 01:41:06,420
But I have learned since the workshops is that we do require a business license for people who rent rooms.

863
01:41:06,420 --> 01:41:11,959
And business licenses out of our finance code section, not the housing section.

864
01:41:11,959 --> 01:41:16,697
So business licenses is to track and to collect revenue.

865
01:41:16,697 --> 01:41:33,781
But for landlords, if it's three or fewer, you do need to get the license but there's an exemption you can qualify for so you are not taxed or not paying for that license.

866
01:41:33,781 --> 01:41:39,190
And then, obviously, the provisions would include lots of protections you would expect.

867
01:41:39,120 --> 01:41:42,890
No retaliation for complaining or filing complaints against the landlord.

868
01:41:42,890 --> 01:41:46,894
You have the right to enjoy quiet use of your property.

869
01:41:46,894 --> 01:41:54,135
Things that protect the use.

870
01:41:54,135 --> 01:42:09,450
Okay, for enforcement and remedies, again, we focused on an ordinance that kept it light on the city administration side and really just set the rules and the foundation and give everybody teeth.

871
01:42:09,450 --> 01:42:23,970
So these rules are for all stakeholders whether you are a landlord, this is what we adhere to, so you have all the causes for eviction to have local and state protections on.

872
01:42:23,970 --> 01:42:28,569
If you are a tenant, obviously I just went over quite a few expanded protections for you.

873
01:42:28,569 --> 01:42:36,443
And then if you are the city, you have the right and authority but not the duty to enforce.

874
01:42:36,443 --> 01:42:40,648
So at times we stand up as a city and we get involved.

875
01:42:40,648 --> 01:42:45,953
But we don't have to, we can do that when we think it's the right time to do that.

876
01:42:45,953 --> 01:42:58,766
And we will use the same provisions in ordinance and everybody would have three year statute of limitations.

877
01:42:58,766 --> 01:43:05,773
So I held a series of workshops, the last, I don't know, 30-45 days.

878
01:43:05,773 --> 01:43:08,750
They were all public workshops, anybody could come.

879
01:43:08,142 --> 01:43:13,881
I did some zoom and some in-person.

880
01:43:13,881 --> 01:43:26,894
I did target and promote to certain representative groups because I really wanted to dive deeper into their perspective so we had a workshop promoted to landlords, realtors and property owners.

881
01:43:26,894 --> 01:43:29,263
Tenant advocacy organizations.

882
01:43:29,263 --> 01:43:43,844
We did a special meeting that we wanted to do in person and in spanish, we have a lot of spanish monolingual tenants in our community.

883
01:43:43,844 --> 01:43:49,160
And the recent romar apartment residents were interested in having that meeting, that conversation.

884
01:43:49,160 --> 01:43:52,253
So we held it entirely in spanish.

885
01:43:52,253 --> 01:43:55,256
The translator was for me.

886
01:43:55,256 --> 01:43:58,250
So I could understand everything.

887
01:43:58,250 --> 01:44:01,629
But we workshoped with them.

888
01:44:01,629 --> 01:44:07,601
And not just displace but all the tenants of that neighborhood.

889
01:44:07,601 --> 01:44:11,380
We met with the league of women voters.

890
01:44:11,380 --> 01:44:16,644
We also met with the city's housing and homeless committee to get their feedback.

891
01:44:16,644 --> 01:44:21,515
I tried to integrate the feedback that we received through my presentation.

892
01:44:21,515 --> 01:44:29,823
I know we have had a number of letters that have been submitted since the agenda posted.

893
01:44:29,823 --> 01:44:39,333
I'm happy to go through those in more detail if you have questions or comments about that.

894
01:44:39,333 --> 01:44:43,871
But here is the slide to give us a compass for tonight's study session.

895
01:44:43,871 --> 01:44:46,473
Key plicy questions.

896
01:44:46,473 --> 01:44:51,946
The first question, this is your decision, this is your discretion to have a local ordinance or not.

897
01:44:51,946 --> 01:44:58,180
And if you do, there's some findings we have to make.

898
01:44:58,118 --> 01:45:04,792
And then there's a public process to adopt that.

899
01:45:04,792 --> 01:45:09,330
In terms of provisions, we are really looking for direction on exemptions.

900
01:45:09,330 --> 01:45:16,300
We are looking for whether you want us to include all the at-fault.

901
01:45:16,300 --> 01:45:21,442
Or if you want to pull back like county of marin and san rafael.

902
01:45:21,442 --> 01:45:29,917
And then we are looking for feedback on what we are proposing for temporary relocation assistance.

903
01:45:29,917 --> 01:45:32,419
And permanent relocation assistance.

904
01:45:32,419 --> 01:45:37,291
Because that is definitely a change locally.

905
01:45:37,291 --> 01:45:47,634
And then any comments or direction on right of return, as we have suggested.

906
01:45:47,634 --> 01:45:52,773
So we will hold the study session tonight.

907
01:45:52,773 --> 01:45:55,576
And we will receive your direction, we hope.

908
01:45:55,576 --> 01:45:59,880
And if we receive the direction to go draft an ordinance, w will certainly go do that.

909
01:45:59,880 --> 01:46:01,548
It's a draft.

910
01:46:01,548 --> 01:46:08,220
But we need to get more specific than these high levels.

911
01:46:08,220 --> 01:46:16,697
Everyone will wnt to know the details of every word in this ordinance so we will go ahead and vet that with the community and bring all that back to you for a decision.

912
01:46:16,697 --> 01:46:18,632
And that's it.

913
01:46:18,632 --> 01:46:19,633
That concludes my presentation.

914
01:46:19,633 --> 01:46:21,935
>> mayor o'connor: thank you very much, clare.

915
01:46:21,935 --> 01:46:22,690
Okay.

916
01:46:22,690 --> 01:46:25,906
We will bring it back to council for questions.

917
01:46:25,906 --> 01:46:32,279
So just in terms of format, the way we will be handling this is council will ask questions only at this time.

918
01:46:32,279 --> 01:46:38,485
After cuncil questions we will move onto public comment and we will bring it back to council for further discussion and for direction.

919
01:46:38,485 --> 01:46:44,625
So if you have any questions in relation to the conversation, please use the raise-hand button.

920
01:46:44,625 --> 01:46:46,493
First is councilmember jacobs.

921
01:46:46,493 --> 01:46:46,760
>> k.

922
01:46:46,760 --> 01:46:47,961
Jacobs: thank you.

923
01:46:47,961 --> 01:46:49,396
Thanks for your presentation.

924
01:46:49,396 --> 01:46:50,640
That's quite a bit of work.

925
01:46:50,640 --> 01:46:54,468
Thank you.

926
01:46:54,468 --> 01:47:12,786
So one, first question is, withdrawal from the market, for the owner move-in, does that only include rent and no utilities or would that include rent and utilities?

927
01:47:12,786 --> 01:47:14,988
>> I might be able to jump in.

928
01:47:14,988 --> 01:47:17,825
Are we talking aout the red tag relocation?

929
01:47:17,825 --> 01:47:18,425
>> k.

930
01:47:18,425 --> 01:47:23,464
Jacobs: no, withdrawal from market for the owner to move in.

931
01:47:23,464 --> 01:47:25,499
>> go ahead, clare.

932
01:47:25,499 --> 01:47:29,236
>> on slide 19 we talk about that.

933
01:47:29,236 --> 01:47:33,340
It only says month's rent, at least in terms of my slide.

934
01:47:33,340 --> 01:47:40,447
>> the state law provides for a utility payment for red tag and your local ordinance can provide for additional things.

935
01:47:40,447 --> 01:47:52,590
If you were to adopt an ordinance you could include what you are referring to as a utility payment or some other compassion of what was on the slide.

936
01:47:52,590 --> 01:47:53,260
>> k.

937
01:47:53,260 --> 01:48:02,736
Jacobs: okay, expand the relocation assistance for permanent no-fault evictions.

938
01:48:02,736 --> 01:48:09,900
We are talking about substantial renovation exceeding a certain number of days, talking about options for that.

939
01:48:09,900 --> 01:48:19,820
Option a, pay the rent and receive temporary assistance per day, $250 per tenant household, $50 per occupant for meals.

940
01:48:19,820 --> 01:48:23,560
$50 for a cat, $50 for a dog.

941
01:48:23,157 --> 01:48:31,298
Are we thinking about a limit on number of occupants, number of dogs, number of cats?

942
01:48:31,298 --> 01:48:37,905
Those are per day, correct?

943
01:48:37,905 --> 01:48:42,643
>> slide 21 covers option a.

944
01:48:42,643 --> 01:48:45,780
And that's the option where the tenant pays rent.

945
01:48:45,780 --> 01:48:45,780
>> k.

946
01:48:45,245 --> 01:48:48,315
Jacobs: right.

947
01:48:48,315 --> 01:48:54,388
>> but gets a per diem, intended really, yes.

948
01:48:54,388 --> 01:48:57,624
Per tenant household.

949
01:48:57,624 --> 01:49:02,290
The $250 per tenant household is for whose on the lease.

950
01:49:02,290 --> 01:49:02,296
>> k.

951
01:49:02,296 --> 01:49:03,997
Jacobs: okay.

952
01:49:03,997 --> 01:49:07,601
So we limit it based on number of people on the lease?

953
01:49:07,601 --> 01:49:10,300
>> well, that's how we vetted it with the community.

954
01:49:10,300 --> 01:49:14,975
But again, this is where we would get feedback if you want to get to that level.

955
01:49:14,975 --> 01:49:15,409
>> k.

956
01:49:15,409 --> 01:49:19,313
Jacobs: right and limited to number of dogs, number of cats?

957
01:49:19,313 --> 01:49:21,348
>> yeah, $50 a dog, $30 a cat.

958
01:49:21,348 --> 01:49:21,615
>> k.

959
01:49:21,615 --> 01:49:23,500
Jacobs: per day?

960
01:49:23,500 --> 01:49:27,200
>> yeah, because we are trying to match local lodging and pet boarding.

961
01:49:27,200 --> 01:49:27,287
>> k.

962
01:49:27,287 --> 01:49:36,930
Jacobs: okay.

963
01:49:36,930 --> 01:49:42,402
Okay, suspend the rent, receive -- sorry.

964
01:49:42,402 --> 01:49:52,879
Page 12, going bckwards here a little bit, sorry.

965
01:49:52,879 --> 01:50:00,921
New local exemptions you have temporary tenancies for leases less than 12 months where the owner will reoccupy the unit.

966
01:50:00,921 --> 01:50:16,670
So basically you are saying they could rent out the unit for less than 12 months if the owner's going to reoccupy it, do we have any time of limit how long the owner has to stay in that unit.

967
01:50:16,670 --> 01:50:28,715
Meaning can they rent it out for 11 months, can they move in for two months, turn around and rent it for another 11 months and get that local exemption?

968
01:50:28,715 --> 01:50:30,500
Something to bring up.

969
01:50:30,500 --> 01:50:32,252
>> that's a good question.

970
01:50:32,252 --> 01:50:35,956
You could see how complicated this gets really quickly.

971
01:50:35,956 --> 01:50:36,490
>> k.

972
01:50:36,490 --> 01:50:39,260
Jacobs: that's why I wanted to bring it up.

973
01:50:39,260 --> 01:50:51,405
>> at a high level this exemption would allow somebody, you know, they are going to go over to a different state to work, when they come back they want to be able to use their home.

974
01:50:51,405 --> 01:50:55,750
That's what we were thinking with this, but yeah, it could get complicated.

975
01:50:55,175 --> 01:50:55,609
>> k.

976
01:50:55,609 --> 01:50:56,760
Jacobs: thanks, that's it for now.

977
01:50:56,743 --> 01:50:56,877
Thanks.

978
01:50:56,877 --> 01:50:58,845
>> mayor o'connor: thank you very much.

979
01:50:58,845 --> 01:50:59,413
Mayor pro tem farac.

980
01:50:59,413 --> 01:51:01,982
>> mayor pro tem farac: thank you for the presentation.

981
01:51:01,982 --> 01:51:15,529
I wanted to clarify, so the three or more uits, is that for the local ordinance that we would, or is that state?

982
01:51:15,529 --> 01:51:18,465
>> yeah, that would be local only.

983
01:51:18,465 --> 01:51:29,943
That exemption shows up in county of marin, san rafael and petaluma and fits with our business license threshold and multi-family inspection program threshold.

984
01:51:29,943 --> 01:51:30,770
That's why we picked it.

985
01:51:30,444 --> 01:51:44,825
>> mayor pro tem farac: if I live in a house but I have three rental units, or would that count as four?

986
01:51:44,825 --> 01:51:50,630
>> I think the intention is, yeah, your fourth is not included because you aren't renting it.

987
01:51:50,130 --> 01:51:53,400
I believe that's the case.

988
01:51:53,400 --> 01:51:57,838
>> can yu ask that question one more time just so I make sure.

989
01:51:57,838 --> 01:52:02,909
>> mayor pro tem farac: yeah, so the three or more units, how is that calculated?

990
01:52:02,909 --> 01:52:11,885
So if I live in a house, and then my fellow councilmembers are my rnters, is that a total of four?

991
01:52:11,885 --> 01:52:15,489
Or would that be considered three?

992
01:52:15,489 --> 01:52:20,994
>> if they are separate dwelling units, jst the fact you are all living I one unit wouldn't be enough.

993
01:52:20,994 --> 01:52:26,990
You have to think about a duplex or possibly having an a.d.u.

994
01:52:26,990 --> 01:52:32,639
Or one of the other "dwelling units" allowed under state law in order to reach the three.

995
01:52:32,639 --> 01:52:35,475
There's two ways of thinking about this.

996
01:52:35,475 --> 01:52:38,745
There's what state law exempts from this process, that's a separate question.

997
01:52:38,745 --> 01:52:45,850
But what you put in your ordinance could be as you choose for what the exception is.

998
01:52:45,850 --> 01:52:50,490
So some local jurisdictions would say has to be three units on the same parcel.

999
01:52:50,490 --> 01:52:53,794
Some would say three units anywhere in the jurisdiction.

1000
01:52:53,794 --> 01:53:00,660
If you owned three single family homes you would be triggered by the ordinance for all those rentals.

1001
01:53:00,660 --> 01:53:01,802
It really depends how you want to frame that issue.

1002
01:53:01,802 --> 01:53:07,441
>> mayor pro tem farac: and what's your recommendation today?

1003
01:53:07,441 --> 01:53:19,520
>> what we vetted with the community was, if you are renting three rental units in the city, in the city limits.

1004
01:53:19,520 --> 01:53:23,890
Distinct units, not three people.

1005
01:53:23,190 --> 01:53:24,791
But three distinct units in the city.

1006
01:53:24,791 --> 01:53:31,465
>> mayor pro tem farac: so, someone owns two duplexes that would be considered four units?

1007
01:53:31,465 --> 01:53:33,865
>> correct.

1008
01:53:35,869 --> 01:53:36,200
Yes.

1009
01:53:36,200 --> 01:53:56,220
>> mayor pro tem farac: and then as far as the renovations, for showing the building permits and stuff like that, is the city going to be tracking that and approving that process, or overseeing it?

1010
01:53:56,220 --> 01:54:01,940
>> the city would do its job in processing building permits.

1011
01:54:01,194 --> 01:54:06,320
But it is per ordinance, the landlord's job to provide this notification to their tenants.

1012
01:54:06,320 --> 01:54:21,781
>> mayor pro tem farac: and then, do you think it would be beneficial t put in like a notice, like you need to let them know 30 days before you are going to give them the building permits?

1013
01:54:21,781 --> 01:54:23,830
Or that sort of timeframe?

1014
01:54:23,149 --> 01:54:31,391
I don't know, I know you mentioned timeframe in here, just to be more proactive with the communication?

1015
01:54:31,391 --> 01:54:38,640
>> there should be, I don't have a proposal here, we didn't get to that level of detail but the noticing should have a time line.

1016
01:54:38,365 --> 01:54:41,670
>> mayor pro tem farac: okay.

1017
01:54:41,670 --> 01:54:48,800
And you keep mentioning like mom and pop operators.

1018
01:54:48,174 --> 01:54:54,814
Would you define that as three or two units and less?

1019
01:54:54,814 --> 01:54:57,617
>> that would be our definition to decide.

1020
01:54:57,617 --> 01:55:04,900
I think what I meant by mom and pop, it's not a commercial property manager or company.

1021
01:55:04,391 --> 01:55:08,862
>> mayor pro tem farac: okay.

1022
01:55:08,862 --> 01:55:21,608
And then as far as just like enforcement and things like that, is that the renter's responsibility to flag that and then find resources?

1023
01:55:21,608 --> 01:55:29,983
And what are we doing to kind of support both renters and landlords in this new process?

1024
01:55:29,983 --> 01:55:32,852
>> yeah, that's a great question.

1025
01:55:32,852 --> 01:55:40,393
This ordinance would rely on the resources available to them outside of the city.

1026
01:55:40,393 --> 01:55:50,971
And the tenants do have access to legal aid of marin or other resources like that.

1027
01:55:50,971 --> 01:55:57,744
Landlords, the ones that wouldn't be except, the larger companies often have resources to represent themselves.

1028
01:55:57,744 --> 01:56:04,170
That's another reason why we have exempted mom and pop.

1029
01:56:04,117 --> 01:56:11,910
But if you included mom and pop, I'm not sure where they go for discounted legal advice.

1030
01:56:11,191 --> 01:56:12,692
>> councilmember?

1031
01:56:12,692 --> 01:56:15,862
If I could add a little bit more on that process too.

1032
01:56:15,862 --> 01:56:24,371
Under current state law for the tenant protection act there's a long statute, we summarized it here but it includes just cause.

1033
01:56:24,371 --> 01:56:31,111
That's the only reason a tenant can be evicted and it has to fall under one of those specific statutory basis.

1034
01:56:31,111 --> 01:56:44,824
So for example, under your current situation in novato, if a landlord were to try to evict and it wasn't based on this it would be a defense in court for an unlawful detainer action.

1035
01:56:44,824 --> 01:56:55,835
If you were to adopt an ordinance it would be the same thing, so you would have these local just cause as you define them, the same process would apply.

1036
01:56:55,835 --> 01:56:56,936
Landlords would need to follow them.

1037
01:56:56,936 --> 01:57:02,809
>> mayor pro tem farac: that would include if I want to move into the unit or redo it?

1038
01:57:02,809 --> 01:57:08,810
>> yes, the ellis act would continue to apply, the community development director referenced.

1039
01:57:08,810 --> 01:57:10,917
But there are other additional protections you could put into your ordinance, yes.

1040
01:57:10,917 --> 01:57:24,297
>> mayor pro tem farac: and do you think that would deter landlords not to renovate their properties at all?

1041
01:57:24,297 --> 01:57:42,582
Like if the kitchen is in really bad shape but then they have to pay for their renter to go stay there, I might be like, oh, well, I don't have that week's pay, so you are going to just deal with it.

1042
01:57:42,582 --> 01:57:44,751
I just want high living standards.

1043
01:57:44,751 --> 01:57:51,825
>> I think it's certainly true the ordinance will create some incentives and some disincentives, yes.

1044
01:57:51,825 --> 01:57:57,797
>> mayor pro tem farac: ultimately I want to hold that landlord accountable and protect the people.

1045
01:57:57,797 --> 01:58:12,946
But then I also don't want people that own a property to, you know, in trying to offer a good space, them to be at a huge disadvantage either.

1046
01:58:12,946 --> 01:58:16,282
So I'm trying to think about it from both sides.

1047
01:58:16,282 --> 01:58:25,558
>> I think as city attorney mentioned there's going to be disadvantages, or incentives and disincentives.

1048
01:58:25,558 --> 01:58:32,832
One thing I can think of, because that's a real concern, disincentivize remodels along the way.

1049
01:58:32,832 --> 01:58:38,605
But the worst case scenario is the government takes action and has red tagged your building.

1050
01:58:38,605 --> 01:58:47,480
Now you are talking potentially five month's rent and under distressing circumstances for all involved.

1051
01:58:47,480 --> 01:59:05,265
So the idea is conduct your inspections, have a program, noticing and encourage however we can for them to do the improvements along the way so it doesn't get so bad that a tenant absolutely has to leave a unit to make a repair.

1052
01:59:05,265 --> 01:59:15,675
>> mayor pro tem farac: what if a tenant like floods the property or is negligent?

1053
01:59:15,675 --> 01:59:19,379
Or maybe they just accidentally flood it.

1054
01:59:19,379 --> 01:59:28,788
And would the landlord be liable to pay because they have to temporarily, I guess, evict them to redo the house?

1055
01:59:28,788 --> 01:59:29,989
>> yeah, that's a great question.

1056
01:59:29,989 --> 01:59:38,898
I have seen a lot of local ordinances include a provision if it's the fault of the tenant they don't have to pay relocation.

1057
01:59:38,898 --> 01:59:39,999
>> mayor pro tem farac: okay, thank you.

1058
01:59:39,999 --> 01:59:42,101
>> mayor o'connor: thank you.

1059
01:59:42,101 --> 01:59:44,671
Councilmember eklund, do you have any questions?

1060
01:59:44,671 --> 01:59:45,171
>> p.

1061
01:59:45,171 --> 01:59:48,700
Eklund: yeah, my hand has been up for a while.

1062
01:59:48,700 --> 01:59:51,770
So I have questions almost on every page.

1063
01:59:51,211 --> 01:59:58,585
I'm concerned about the process that we are using tonight.

1064
01:59:58,585 --> 02:00:06,993
Because there's a lot more issues than what is identified on the slides.

1065
02:00:06,993 --> 02:00:21,841
And the staff has only really looked, according to page 5, really focusing on three of the issues that are listed in there as possible areas where we might want to have some discussion about.

1066
02:00:21,841 --> 02:00:27,714
I could go through and ask my questions on every single page, plus others.

1067
02:00:27,714 --> 02:00:33,887
But I really think that there are some larger issues I think that we really need to talk about.

1068
02:00:33,887 --> 02:00:43,763
And I think first and foremost there's some other information that we should have before we actually ask any more question, in my opinion.

1069
02:00:43,763 --> 02:00:51,804
And I think we need to hear from the community action marin, as well as other speakers as well.

1070
02:00:51,804 --> 02:01:01,247
Because a lot of their issues and suggestions there are not even in the staff report.

1071
02:01:01,247 --> 02:01:22,802
So plus also too, abag has developed a, and was published in april of 2025, a guidance to cities on preventing displacement from sub standard conditions and associated code enforcement activitis.

1072
02:01:22,802 --> 02:01:26,720
Which is also something staff should also consider too.

1073
02:01:26,720 --> 02:01:32,779
So mayor, I'm not sure how you want to do it, I can start going through my questions on each of the slides.

1074
02:01:32,779 --> 02:01:44,457
But I really think that, you know, since it's 8:00 and we haven't even heard from the public, I'm really concerned about the way this is being handled.

1075
02:01:44,457 --> 02:01:46,993
>> mayor o'connor: sure I can speak to that.

1076
02:01:46,993 --> 02:01:53,320
My thought is what we are doing right now is just a starting point for high-level questions.

1077
02:01:53,320 --> 02:01:56,369
Tonight is just the first of what I expect to be several.

1078
02:01:56,369 --> 02:02:06,813
If there are any pressing questions right now, if you have a significant amount I would encourage you to do separate because you will get -- >> p.

1079
02:02:06,813 --> 02:02:08,715
Eklund: I'm not going to do it separately.

1080
02:02:08,715 --> 02:02:13,987
>> mayor o'connor: okay, if there's anything you would like to ask tonight, ask right now.

1081
02:02:13,987 --> 02:02:22,962
Then we will g to public comment, provide direction as a council but tts going to come back to us for further conversation and review.

1082
02:02:22,962 --> 02:02:23,730
>> p.

1083
02:02:23,730 --> 02:02:37,810
Eklund: I think we need a working environment, like on a saturday where some of the people that don't hve to work, that do have to work during the week can actually participate in that kind of an event.

1084
02:02:37,810 --> 02:02:47,987
Especially folks that are subject to the issues that we are discussing here.

1085
02:02:47,987 --> 02:03:00,733
And as a preliminary point I wanted to comment, when I was drawn into care for my mom, I had to hire caregivers.

1086
02:03:00,733 --> 02:03:25,240
And one of the things that I quickly learned in marin county is that a lot of folks that do not make a lot of money are living in apartments, for an example, two-bedroom apartments there's at least six adults if not additional kids because they

1087
02:03:25,240 --> 02:03:27,527
can't afford the rent.

1088
02:03:27,527 --> 02:03:34,967
So I think there's a lot of issues I think we need to add to this list that's not here.

1089
02:03:34,967 --> 02:03:41,674
For example, on page 5, I think we need to have -- >> mayor o'connor: councilmember, I apologize.

1090
02:03:41,674 --> 02:03:45,311
We will get to direction after public comment.

1091
02:03:45,311 --> 02:03:45,578
>> p.

1092
02:03:45,578 --> 02:03:47,914
Eklund: I know that.

1093
02:03:47,914 --> 02:04:05,980
My question to staff, why isn't rent stabilization, rental assistance, tenant's right to counsel landlord and taent dispute resolution and remediation, to me, romar court just opened up my eyes in novato and I don't want to see something like

1094
02:04:05,765 --> 02:04:07,330
that happening again.

1095
02:04:07,100 --> 02:04:09,535
A rental registry.

1096
02:04:09,535 --> 02:04:19,450
There's a lot of situations, why can't we discuss some of those issues as well?

1097
02:04:19,450 --> 02:04:39,650
And I don't know why, well, I believe that one of the reasons that staff didn't highlight that as something they were proposing to include in this was because of the amount of resources it might take to implement such an ordinance.

1098
02:04:39,650 --> 02:04:44,303
Given what we are talking about it's important for us to have this discussion.

1099
02:04:44,303 --> 02:05:04,757
Can staff just answer why aren't we dealing with some of these other issues like rental assistance, rent stabilization, or like with romar court, expanding, I mean, I could go down the list here.

1100
02:05:04,757 --> 02:05:20,339
Expanding the time when landlords need to pay for their tenants for other venues while their apartment is being renovated.

1101
02:05:20,339 --> 02:05:24,744
There's a list of issues that I think are really important for us to have that discussion.

1102
02:05:24,744 --> 02:05:27,790
Why isn't that on the list for us to discuss?

1103
02:05:27,180 --> 02:05:32,418
On the staff report?

1104
02:05:32,418 --> 02:05:34,587
>> thank you for the question.

1105
02:05:34,587 --> 02:05:40,826
Yeah, there's a number of other topics that we aren't discussing tonight, I agree.

1106
02:05:40,826 --> 02:05:57,877
But the focus of tonight is as council directed on may 20th, and again the core of what we are doing tonight is addressing one of our housing element action items, which was specific to just cause.

1107
02:05:57,877 --> 02:06:06,953
But the add from may 20th was to, while we are looking at just cause to add relocation and right of return.

1108
02:06:06,953 --> 02:06:09,121
We have other housing element programs.

1109
02:06:09,121 --> 02:06:13,250
They are going to take us much longer to get to them.

1110
02:06:13,250 --> 02:06:23,569
And some o them aren't on this list, the city's housing element doesn't include rent registry, a look at rent control or stabilization.

1111
02:06:23,569 --> 02:06:27,373
Those would have to be implemented by the council and set direction for.

1112
02:06:27,373 --> 02:06:31,544
But that's not in our current work plan or housing element.

1113
02:06:31,544 --> 02:06:32,110
>> p.

1114
02:06:32,110 --> 02:06:50,496
Eklund: right but since we are discussing this, I think it's important for us to include all this and providing direction to staff so that you will know that's something we want to do and where it fits in is your responsibility.

1115
02:06:50,496 --> 02:06:57,403
Because if we don't identify them as part of this, it could get lost very easily.

1116
02:06:57,403 --> 02:07:01,700
>> I want to provide a brief comment to you.

1117
02:07:01,140 --> 02:07:08,800
Some recent code enforcement matters are currently going through the process and b appealed and some might reach the council here.

1118
02:07:08,214 --> 02:07:13,190
Out of respect for that process I would recommend you focus on this ordinance and not any specific case.

1119
02:07:13,190 --> 02:07:13,286
>> p.

1120
02:07:13,286 --> 02:07:15,688
Eklund: gotcha.

1121
02:07:15,688 --> 02:07:18,791
>> mayor o'connor: thank you.

1122
02:07:18,791 --> 02:07:20,920
Councilmember milberg?

1123
02:07:20,192 --> 02:07:20,459
>> m.

1124
02:07:20,459 --> 02:07:22,280
Milberg: thank you, mayor.

1125
02:07:22,161 --> 02:07:23,696
Thank you so much, clare.

1126
02:07:23,696 --> 02:07:26,650
This is really a lot of work.

1127
02:07:26,650 --> 02:07:29,302
And moving in the direction I like to see.

1128
02:07:29,302 --> 02:07:37,510
I just have a couple quick questions, the option d on page 22, the buy-out options.

1129
02:07:37,510 --> 02:07:49,789
Can you explain to me better, what that entails and has that ever actually been done?

1130
02:07:49,789 --> 02:07:52,825
>> I will be honest, I don't know much about that.

1131
02:07:52,825 --> 02:07:57,596
I don't think I's the most regular option that's executed.

1132
02:07:57,596 --> 02:08:04,937
But I understand that it's a form of alternative resolution.

1133
02:08:04,937 --> 02:08:19,418
Perhaps for example, it's mutually negotiated that instead of doing the temporary that might lead up to the cap at permanent, just for predictability, mutually agreed parting of ways, if you will.

1134
02:08:19,418 --> 02:08:22,210
And that would be why you would use that.

1135
02:08:22,210 --> 02:08:25,570
But it would only be because it's mutually agreeable.

1136
02:08:25,157 --> 02:08:25,424
>> m.

1137
02:08:25,424 --> 02:08:27,993
Milberg: okay.

1138
02:08:27,993 --> 02:08:46,946
My other question really is around, I guess I'm still a bit curious, the emails and feedback we got from certain of our partners was talking about stopping or suggesting that we don't go beyond state, we don't deviate, to my knowledge, we don't

1139
02:08:46,946 --> 02:08:47,913
deviate from state.

1140
02:08:47,913 --> 02:08:52,618
When we are deciding to do the three or under, sorry, three or more, right?

1141
02:08:52,618 --> 02:08:54,653
>> uh-huh.

1142
02:08:54,653 --> 02:08:55,870
>> m.

1143
02:08:55,554 --> 02:08:57,790
Mlberg: I guess I'm still curious.

1144
02:08:57,790 --> 02:09:19,440
If the state is saying, you know, you don't have to do that, it's for single residents and a.d.u.'s, do you think that your comment about the mom and pops being a smaller subset of that, we can still take advantage of what I believe are community

1145
02:09:19,211 --> 02:09:23,816
partners are asking for us in expanding this protection?

1146
02:09:23,816 --> 02:09:34,860
I guess I'm still confused, it just seems we are a little off from what they are recommending but I'm not 100% clear I'm understanding that bt maybe we will hear about it in public comment.

1147
02:09:34,860 --> 02:09:38,931
>> that is true, you will hear about it tonight from them.

1148
02:09:38,931 --> 02:09:45,671
But in summary, we do need to make a finding that the local ordinance is more protective.

1149
02:09:45,671 --> 02:09:50,976
So I was trying to show that it's semi complex to do that.

1150
02:09:50,976 --> 02:09:53,946
Because you are doing it comprehensively.

1151
02:09:53,946 --> 02:09:56,782
Clearly we have added right of return, relocation assistance.

1152
02:09:56,782 --> 02:09:59,840
Those are clear.

1153
02:09:59,218 --> 02:10:03,589
But in terms of applicability that's where it gets more nuanced.

1154
02:10:03,589 --> 02:10:07,760
So some will go u and some will go down.

1155
02:10:07,760 --> 02:10:11,597
And it's semi-qualitative because I don't have the statistics.

1156
02:10:11,597 --> 02:10:15,501
It's not an exact science.

1157
02:10:15,501 --> 02:10:20,606
But cumulatively and qualitatively you are looking to expand t more tenants and more units.

1158
02:10:20,606 --> 02:10:23,750
And staff feels like this framework would.

1159
02:10:23,175 --> 02:10:26,780
But we can have points of disagreement.

1160
02:10:26,178 --> 02:10:31,650
>> I would just add to that too, councilmember, there are currently a lot of exemptions in state law.

1161
02:10:31,650 --> 02:10:38,424
One of them for example is any house that's beenish shooed a certificate of occupancy in the last 15 years.

1162
02:10:38,424 --> 02:10:51,237
So all new construction the last 15 years is exempt fom the state laws currently, not being proposed or discussed propoised by staff.

1163
02:10:51,237 --> 02:10:58,911
So when you are thinking about finding you would eventually need to make about something more protective.

1164
02:10:58,911 --> 02:11:07,853
If you are expanding protections to all homes including the ones in the last 15 years would you still need to make a finding that is more protective.

1165
02:11:07,853 --> 02:11:11,957
Ultimately though would he would have to track those finding and look at the data.

1166
02:11:11,957 --> 02:11:12,691
>> m.

1167
02:11:12,691 --> 02:11:19,465
Milberg: that's what I understand, in order to be more protective than state law.

1168
02:11:19,465 --> 02:11:26,572
Because I was also think if I read what their concerns were, my question was only seeking the ab1482 exemptions.

1169
02:11:26,572 --> 02:11:29,441
That's what I kind of read from their work.

1170
02:11:29,441 --> 02:11:31,911
So I guess, I'm fine with were we are at right now.

1171
02:11:31,911 --> 02:11:35,281
I know there's going to be a lot more discussion.

1172
02:11:35,281 --> 02:11:39,552
And I really do appreciate the complexity and all your work on this.

1173
02:11:39,552 --> 02:11:42,555
Thank you so much.

1174
02:11:42,555 --> 02:11:44,623
>> mayor o'connor: thank you councilmember.

1175
02:11:44,623 --> 02:11:51,597
Most of my questions were asked already, I just have one that didn't come up.

1176
02:11:51,597 --> 02:11:58,300
Deed restricted affordable units I believe either excepted or proposed to be exempted.

1177
02:11:58,103 --> 02:12:01,440
Is there any reason or logic behind offering the exemption.

1178
02:12:01,440 --> 02:12:06,780
In my opinion it looks like they should have equal protection under the law.

1179
02:12:06,780 --> 02:12:12,451
I'm just wndering if they are exempted for some reason I'm not aware of.

1180
02:12:12,451 --> 02:12:27,700
>> well state law currently exempts affordable housing deed-restricted units so the proposal locally would be to remove exemptions.

1181
02:12:27,700 --> 02:12:31,236
>> mayor o'connor: that concludes councilmember questions.

1182
02:12:31,236 --> 02:12:36,800
We will take a five-minute recess and then when we restart we will take public comment.

1183
02:12:36,800 --> 02:12:42,881
If you do wish t speak, please fill ot a yellow card and hand it to city clerk, laura on my left.

1184
02:12:42,881 --> 02:12:47,753
So we are going to take a brief recess and we will reconvene at 8:18.

1185
02:12:47,753 --> 02:12:53,359
Thank you.

1186
02:12:53,359 --> 02:12:57,459
[ recess until 8:18 p.m.

1187
02:19:44,569 --> 02:19:46,400
] >> mayor o'connor: thank you.

1188
02:19:46,171 --> 02:19:49,141
Please be seated.

1189
02:19:49,141 --> 02:19:49,307
Okay.

1190
02:19:49,307 --> 02:19:52,611
Thank you, we are going to move onto public comment on this item.

1191
02:19:52,611 --> 02:20:00,585
If you would like to speak please fill out a yellow card and hnd it to our city clerk, laura.

1192
02:20:00,585 --> 02:20:03,880
All speakers have three minutes.

1193
02:20:03,880 --> 02:20:13,310
Our first speaker this evening is aracelli florian.

1194
02:20:13,310 --> 02:20:31,516
>> [ speaking spanish ] >> mayor o'connor: welcome, aracelli.

1195
02:20:31,516 --> 02:21:13,358
>> [ speaking spanish ] >> good afternoon, my name is aracelli floria.

1196
02:21:13,358 --> 02:21:16,328
I'm here to talk about my apartment.

1197
02:21:16,328 --> 02:21:24,302
I ask my landlord to fix the roof, or the ceiling of my bathroom that is falling off.

1198
02:21:24,302 --> 02:21:25,937
I have little kids.

1199
02:21:25,937 --> 02:21:32,944
In the day I ask him and he said that he will come to fix the roof, or the ceiling, I'm sorry.

1200
02:21:32,944 --> 02:21:44,456
He didn't come.

1201
02:21:44,456 --> 02:22:10,810
>> [ speaking spanish ] >> interpreter: I have a three-year-old girl, two month old baby and my three-year-old girl was in the bathroom when the ceiling started falling off.

1202
02:22:10,215 --> 02:22:42,470
>> [ speaking spanish ] >> interpreter: my husband went to complain about the repair that they did prior.

1203
02:22:42,470 --> 02:22:52,324
And the owner notified my husband that the person that he hired he had a license for 25 years and they were professionals.

1204
02:22:52,324 --> 02:23:01,633
But how could that be if the ceiling was falling off?

1205
02:23:01,633 --> 02:23:32,630
>> [ speaking spanish ] >> interpreter: also, at the entrance of our apartment, part of the wall had a big hole and they didn't fix it.

1206
02:23:32,630 --> 02:23:34,132
Also we are infestated of cucaraches.

1207
02:23:34,132 --> 02:23:35,660
That's all.

1208
02:23:35,166 --> 02:23:36,101
>> thank you very much.

1209
02:23:36,101 --> 02:23:40,338
>> mayor o'connor: thank you very much.

1210
02:23:40,338 --> 02:23:51,850
Our next speaker is charlotte ganela.

1211
02:23:51,850 --> 02:23:55,487
Welcome, charlotte.

1212
02:23:55,487 --> 02:24:00,925
>> hello, thank you, and hola, mi amo charlotte ganela.

1213
02:24:00,925 --> 02:24:08,600
I'm the director of case management and housing at north marin community services.

1214
02:24:08,600 --> 02:24:14,472
I thank the opportunity to speak today on behalf of romar and my staff and the community at large.

1215
02:24:14,472 --> 02:24:20,111
I'm here tonight to ask that you strengthen not weaken novato's proposed just cause ordinance.

1216
02:24:20,111 --> 02:24:27,419
My team and I were on the front lines of the ramar court displacement dry sis.

1217
02:24:27,419 --> 02:24:32,657
We thank clare for rallying the troops and engaging the community-based organizations.

1218
02:24:32,657 --> 02:24:36,328
All around novato and marin.

1219
02:24:36,328 --> 02:24:45,236
These tenants were given just five days notice to relocate, they left pets.

1220
02:24:45,236 --> 02:24:48,340
Their stuffed animals, their whole life.

1221
02:24:48,340 --> 02:24:58,830
While we are celebrated for housing 42 of the 44 tenants cost that my department and other residents is continuing to be felt.

1222
02:24:58,216 --> 02:25:10,428
We expanded our entire rental assistance budget for the year, we burned out our staff and for those 42, another 100 became homeless and we are told that's our job to step up.

1223
02:25:10,428 --> 02:25:20,638
And it is our job to help but to shift to one sub population when we are already full is something we cannot take on again as an organization.

1224
02:25:20,638 --> 02:25:27,712
We ask you to please protect us better policies and protections so we do not need to come in.

1225
02:25:27,712 --> 02:25:35,190
And protect these people from losing their schools, their house, and a place to sleep.

1226
02:25:35,190 --> 02:25:41,826
Where ramar court is not an anomaly, I heard today that this isn't going to happen again.

1227
02:25:41,826 --> 02:25:44,662
There's four other units on that property that will go down.

1228
02:25:44,662 --> 02:25:51,403
We see this every day in our offices, these tenants see this every day, this is not an anomaly.

1229
02:25:51,403 --> 02:25:55,974
I implore you to please consider the goodance and humanity of our community thank you.

1230
02:25:55,974 --> 02:25:59,944
>> mayor o'connor: thank you very much.

1231
02:25:59,944 --> 02:26:01,646
Our next speaker is kira shaner.

1232
02:26:01,646 --> 02:26:02,800
Welcome, kira.

1233
02:26:02,180 --> 02:26:03,748
>> thank you.

1234
02:26:03,748 --> 02:26:12,891
I was hoping to speak after a few more tenants had a chance to speak because their stories are shocking if you vanlt heard them before.

1235
02:26:12,891 --> 02:26:14,292
-- haven't heard them before.

1236
02:26:14,292 --> 02:26:20,640
But iwill take the opportunity instead to say my piece and you can let their stories fill in.

1237
02:26:20,165 --> 02:26:22,634
My name is kira.

1238
02:26:22,634 --> 02:26:25,870
I work here in novato.

1239
02:26:25,870 --> 02:26:31,509
Several of my friends and co-workers work, obviously they work in novato but they rent here.

1240
02:26:31,509 --> 02:26:40,118
Many more of them do not rent in novato, instead they commute from petaluma.

1241
02:26:40,118 --> 02:26:50,280
Santa rosa, richmond and even hercules due to the high cost and rents of living in marin.

1242
02:26:50,280 --> 02:27:03,875
I myself have the supreme luxury of living at my parents' house and that's how I've been able to stay in this county and even save some of my own earnings and build my wealth here.

1243
02:27:03,875 --> 02:27:17,522
I recently had the opportunity to listen to the stories of all the latino tenants and families who have been deeply affected by the negligent landlord practices at the romar court apartments.

1244
02:27:17,522 --> 02:27:20,580
And many more tenants around marin.

1245
02:27:20,291 --> 02:27:23,862
Experiences that tey relayed tell the story a system failure.

1246
02:27:23,862 --> 02:27:36,374
I saw photos as well and understand that these families and individuals have been dealing with conditions truly hazardous to their health.

1247
02:27:36,374 --> 02:27:43,615
Such as mold, rats, cockroaches, plumbing issues, apparently the roof walls falling apart.

1248
02:27:43,615 --> 02:27:58,329
Fire safety issues and serious structural issues for years all while majority of their wages in their rent and as pointed out many are sharing apartments so not everybody will be represented on the lease that needs help.

1249
02:27:58,329 --> 02:28:03,501
I'm grateful to the city for opening up this study session for this just cause ordinance.

1250
02:28:03,501 --> 02:28:18,616
At the same time I urge all decision makers to make sure that we construct and enact an ordinance that offers real protection and reflects real life situation that's so many vulnerable renters find themselves in.

1251
02:28:18,616 --> 02:28:26,724
Please ensure this ordinance includes protections for all renters, including sub-tenants in some way.

1252
02:28:26,724 --> 02:28:38,360
All tenants should be empower today report health and safety hazards and landlord negligence and endangerment.

1253
02:28:38,169 --> 02:28:54,919
This could only be truly achieved by including displaced tenant right of return in tis ordinance, that will deter landlords from using building neglect and misuse of red tag situations, renovations for their financial gain.

1254
02:28:54,919 --> 02:29:10,268
All tenants including sub letters need significantly higher relocation payments and it's very hard to relocate entire families on short notice in marin as happens with red tag, where tenants have just five days to leave.

1255
02:29:10,268 --> 02:29:15,940
These payments should be available until a suitable new living space is found.

1256
02:29:15,940 --> 02:29:21,846
Must also reelect additional costs of moving, which include lost wages, lengthened xha

1257
02:29:21,846 --> 02:29:28,519
costs of moving, which include lost wages, lengthened xha*up commute times, new tolls and travel fares, long term storage rent.

1258
02:29:28,519 --> 02:29:32,857
>> mayor o'connor: thank you, kira.

1259
02:29:32,857 --> 02:29:37,950
Our next speaker is jason saris.

1260
02:29:37,950 --> 02:29:39,831
>> thank you.

1261
02:29:39,831 --> 02:29:47,605
>> mayor o'connor: welcome, jason.

1262
02:29:47,605 --> 02:29:49,574
>> hi, y'all.

1263
02:29:49,574 --> 02:29:51,542
Good evening, mayor and councilmembers.

1264
02:29:51,542 --> 02:30:00,785
I'm here as a housing and homeless advocate, someone who experienced homeless for 12 years and deeply concerned about the proposed ordinance.

1265
02:30:00,785 --> 02:30:09,594
This proposal to remove just cause protections for tenants in smaller buildings would strip hundreds of renters of basic protections against ash tari eviction.

1266
02:30:09,594 --> 02:30:12,830
That's unacceptable.

1267
02:30:12,830 --> 02:30:19,300
Your 2023 housing element promised to consider expanding just cause protections, not narrowing them.

1268
02:30:19,300 --> 02:30:26,144
Walking back on that commitment betrays families who depend on stable housing to live and work in this community.

1269
02:30:26,144 --> 02:30:31,783
Every renter deserves protection, stability and dignity in their homes.

1270
02:30:31,783 --> 02:30:35,953
The experience of tenants at romar court shows why this ordinance fails.

1271
02:30:35,953 --> 02:30:40,992
They were red tagged and given only five days to leave.

1272
02:30:40,992 --> 02:30:48,900
Short-term relocation support lasted six weeks and they were forced into couches over crowded units or out of the county all together.

1273
02:30:48,900 --> 02:30:50,680
Some still lack stable housing today.

1274
02:30:50,234 --> 02:30:53,370
What does that tell you?

1275
02:30:53,370 --> 02:30:55,840
Tells you that short-term capped relocation payments are not enough.

1276
02:30:55,840 --> 02:31:02,800
It tells you five days notice and one or two months of support won't cut it in today's rental market.

1277
02:31:02,213 --> 02:31:10,855
If we want a just system tenants must be allowed to kep their tenancy and return to their homes at the same rent once repairs are made.

1278
02:31:10,855 --> 02:31:19,197
That's the only way to prevent red tagging from becoming a back door to permanent displacement.

1279
02:31:19,197 --> 02:31:26,404
Furthermore high rlocation payments and right to return also act as a deterrent.

1280
02:31:26,404 --> 02:31:35,847
They discourage landlords from neglecting their properties or using remodels as a loophole to raise rents and displace.

1281
02:31:35,847 --> 02:31:42,860
Low income tenants at romar the landlord ignored repair requests for years while increasing rents.

1282
02:31:42,253 --> 02:31:45,656
That can't become the status quo for the city of novato.

1283
02:31:45,656 --> 02:31:51,929
As someone who was homeless for 12 years I know wat it's like to fall through the cracks.

1284
02:31:51,929 --> 02:32:00,671
Weakening tenant protections will only feed the growing number of people on the streets, remember you have band camping, it's illegal to camp.

1285
02:32:00,671 --> 02:32:04,842
That's the kind of thing I want to see as a formerly homeless person.

1286
02:32:04,842 --> 02:32:08,846
I hope it's the last thing you want to see too.

1287
02:32:08,846 --> 02:32:21,920
Don't gut protections, honor your own housing element commitments to potect vulnerable renters, make relocation assistance real, extend the time and increase the support.

1288
02:32:21,225 --> 02:32:25,496
Add a strong enforceable right to return for red tags.

1289
02:32:25,496 --> 02:32:28,566
And major renovations.

1290
02:32:28,566 --> 02:32:31,350
Hold landlords accountable when they neglect their properties.

1291
02:32:31,202 --> 02:32:33,871
Please do the right thing.

1292
02:32:33,871 --> 02:32:35,940
People's lives, homes and futures are on the line.

1293
02:32:35,940 --> 02:32:37,408
Thank you for your time.

1294
02:32:37,408 --> 02:32:42,480
>> mayor o'connor: thank you very much, jason.

1295
02:32:42,480 --> 02:32:54,392
Our next speaker is aaron hawken.

1296
02:32:54,392 --> 02:32:59,300
Welcome, erin.

1297
02:32:59,300 --> 02:33:02,934
>> thank you, I'm the vice president of xhupity action marin.

1298
02:33:02,934 --> 02:33:15,513
Our aency is the largest nonprofit provider of human services in marin county and we see firsthand the real life effects that marin's housing crisis has on families across our community.

1299
02:33:15,513 --> 02:33:19,350
Community action marin stands in support for justice for the ten apt.

1300
02:33:19,350 --> 02:33:27,458
We apreciate council's attention to the case and efforts city staff have taken in partnership with many community agencies as residents.

1301
02:33:27,458 --> 02:33:32,797
To address the hardships created for tenants due to landlord negligence.

1302
02:33:32,797 --> 02:33:39,537
The bottom line is that protection, tenant protections are about basic fairness.

1303
02:33:39,537 --> 02:33:43,975
All novato tenants deserve safe, habitable and fair housing.

1304
02:33:43,975 --> 02:33:50,470
Housing stability is foundational for children's healthy development and educational success.

1305
02:33:50,147 --> 02:33:58,689
It supports family well-being and economic growth and it's essential for a vibrant community and we all benefit from it.

1306
02:33:58,689 --> 02:34:04,610
As you move forward with this ordinance we urge your action on the following.

1307
02:34:04,610 --> 02:34:06,564
One, strengthen local protections beyond state law.

1308
02:34:06,564 --> 02:34:17,675
State law did not protect the residents of romar court and novato residents are face further displacement risks.

1309
02:34:17,675 --> 02:34:27,451
There are five oher buildings on the romar property with same landlord facing significant habitability issues.

1310
02:34:27,451 --> 02:34:37,595
Without changes to protect tenants it's just a matter of time before novato experiences another displacement.

1311
02:34:37,595 --> 02:34:41,980
Two, ensure meaningful and realistic relocation protections.

1312
02:34:41,232 --> 02:34:49,874
Given marin's extreme tight rental market and high cost of housing, finding a new rental unit is difficult under the best of circumstances.

1313
02:34:49,874 --> 02:35:04,588
Tenants who are displaced deserve adequate time and compensation to find new housing, extending the timeframes and relocation reimbursement maybesing it's more realistic for displaced familis to find new homes and resettle their lives.

1314
02:35:04,588 --> 02:35:18,469
Three, protect tenants in red tag displacement in situations where tenants are displaced due to red tag, they sould be given the right to return and pay the same rent they paid before the displacement.

1315
02:35:18,469 --> 02:35:32,516
And finally ensure protections for all tenants regardless of what type of unit, all tenants deserve the basic fairness that basic protections provide.

1316
02:35:32,516 --> 02:35:39,156
Extending exemptions beyond state law will remove existing just cause potections for thousands of novato tenants.

1317
02:35:39,156 --> 02:35:50,670
Novato has an opportunity to take the lessons learned from the romar court and from the leadership of these tenants here that they have shown.

1318
02:35:50,670 --> 02:35:56,374
We can prevent this from happening to others in our community >> mayor o'connor: thank you.

1319
02:35:56,374 --> 02:35:58,876
Next speaker is lucy hollingsworth.

1320
02:35:58,876 --> 02:36:00,277
Welcome, lucy.

1321
02:36:00,277 --> 02:36:06,500
>> good evening.

1322
02:36:06,500 --> 02:36:10,870
I'm lucy hollingsworth, director of policy for legal aid of marin.

1323
02:36:10,870 --> 02:36:12,890
We appreciate the city's, is this?

1324
02:36:12,890 --> 02:36:13,900
Echoing?

1325
02:36:13,900 --> 02:36:14,258
Should I turn it off?

1326
02:36:14,258 --> 02:36:15,920
>> mayor o'connor: you can turn it off.

1327
02:36:15,359 --> 02:36:17,862
>> sorry.

1328
02:36:17,862 --> 02:36:33,778
We appreciate the city's initial response to romar court, your willingness to consider long term tenant protections but some policies before you today would not strengthen protections, it would weaken them by rolling back rights under california

1329
02:36:33,778 --> 02:36:42,787
law, violate commitments made in novato's housing element and leave tenants in substandard housing with no real protections from permanent displacement.

1330
02:36:42,787 --> 02:36:46,957
There's a lot of information missing in the presentation.

1331
02:36:46,957 --> 02:36:53,300
One of the most troubling provisions is the expanded exemptions.

1332
02:36:53,164 --> 02:36:56,300
This would strip protections from hundreds of novato renters.

1333
02:36:56,300 --> 02:36:59,470
Many of them low-income.

1334
02:36:59,470 --> 02:37:06,377
We cannot resolve displacement by rolling back rights.

1335
02:37:06,377 --> 02:37:15,119
The city's housing eement committed t expand just cause protections and maintains at the very least ab1482 exemptions.

1336
02:37:15,119 --> 02:37:18,189
Passing an ordinance with increased exemptions undermines that commitment.

1337
02:37:18,189 --> 02:37:21,920
Enforcement is another problem.

1338
02:37:21,258 --> 02:37:37,842
With no database of rental ownership, tenants and a.d.u.'s and duplexes and triplexes cannot know whether their home is protected until they are already in eviction court but by then it's too late to put on a meaningful defense.

1339
02:37:37,842 --> 02:37:42,213
Finally relocation assistance must reflect the reality of our housing market.

1340
02:37:42,213 --> 02:37:49,530
Families cannot secure safe housing on one or two months on a capped pay out.

1341
02:37:49,530 --> 02:38:00,640
Tenants displaced by red tags or sub san shall remodels must have the right to return once repairs are complete so temporary dsplacement doesn't become a permanent eviction.

1342
02:38:00,640 --> 02:38:08,439
I want to quickly respond to the suggestion that petaluma and marin county represent best practices.

1343
02:38:08,439 --> 02:38:17,781
First off marin county ordinance was passed in 2018, the tenant protection act hadn't even been written yet.

1344
02:38:17,781 --> 02:38:24,755
As a attorney that defends evictions,the fact they have a three unit or less exemption has been highly problematic for tenants.

1345
02:38:24,755 --> 02:38:29,727
Petaluma I was also involved in the passage of their ordinance.

1346
02:38:29,727 --> 02:38:45,709
And I have to sy that the three units or less was inserted at the last minute and tenants and tenant advocate felt betrayed because there was no time to discuss that.

1347
02:38:45,709 --> 02:38:55,520
They had no opportunity to provide their concerns with expanding exemptions.

1348
02:38:55,152 --> 02:39:12,360
If the direction to staff is cap relocation at two to three months, and/or ending the right to return, ex papeding the number of exempted units, then it would probably be better at this point to do nothing at all.

1349
02:39:12,360 --> 02:39:13,837
The tenants in novato would be losing way too much.

1350
02:39:13,837 --> 02:39:16,373
Thank you.

1351
02:39:16,373 --> 02:39:23,447
>> mayor o'connor: thank you.

1352
02:39:23,447 --> 02:39:25,820
Our next speaker is regina viannucci-russ.

1353
02:39:25,820 --> 02:39:27,284
Good evening, regina.

1354
02:39:27,284 --> 02:39:30,621
>> good evening, yeah, lucy is a little hard act to follow.

1355
02:39:30,621 --> 02:39:47,771
I'm going to just keep it light and say I have two concerns, the exemption for under three, I don't know how a tenant knows that if there's no rental registry and I'm heartened to hear maybe council will bring that up as a pry oater.

1356
02:39:47,771 --> 02:39:47,871
Priority.

1357
02:39:47,871 --> 02:39:53,244
I think a rental registry is important, that will allow tenants to have access to that information.

1358
02:39:53,244 --> 02:40:12,863
And I want to point out that the cap on temporary assistance, being limited to the permanent amount, you reach that in under a month.

1359
02:40:12,863 --> 02:40:24,675
If you do the math, a two bedroom, the example was $3,200 a month for hud two-bedroom, three months is $9,600.

1360
02:40:24,675 --> 02:40:30,547
And if you divide that by $400 which is $250 plus three tenants in that unit.

1361
02:40:30,547 --> 02:40:32,716
It's 24 days.

1362
02:40:32,716 --> 02:40:37,988
I don't want temporary vacation for renovations to become a permanent eviction.

1363
02:40:37,988 --> 02:40:42,926
>> mayor o'connor: thank you, regina.

1364
02:40:42,926 --> 02:40:59,410
Our next speaker is bambi kleis.

1365
02:40:59,410 --> 02:41:00,678
>> mayor, good evening, council.

1366
02:41:00,678 --> 02:41:02,460
Thank you for the opportunity to speak tonight.

1367
02:41:02,112 --> 02:41:07,840
I apologize.

1368
02:41:07,151 --> 02:41:14,992
I wanted to make sure you all are listening tonight, I do appreciate the opportunity to be heard.

1369
02:41:14,992 --> 02:41:19,630
Romar court are 63 years old, those apartments there.

1370
02:41:19,630 --> 02:41:23,334
Shouldn't we have an every 25-year checkup in place or something?

1371
02:41:23,334 --> 02:41:40,840
As a homeless union representative I am compelled to say to the council it is your duty to take rasonable measures to ensure the basic safety of your residents by making and enforcing and keeping stringent policies and fines to the homeowners

1372
02:41:40,840 --> 02:41:42,753
and builders, et cetera.

1373
02:41:42,753 --> 02:41:50,527
The city has ordinance against homelessness, yet by not taking serious action on this you are adding to the number of outdoor community members.

1374
02:41:50,527 --> 02:41:53,897
Lastly, at night when you cannot sleep, count your blessings instead of sheep.

1375
02:41:53,897 --> 02:41:54,598
Thank you.

1376
02:41:54,598 --> 02:41:57,534
>> mayor o'connor: thank you very much, bambi.

1377
02:41:57,534 --> 02:42:00,871
>> and we should have a translator for everybody up here tonight.

1378
02:42:00,871 --> 02:42:02,373
Just sayin'.

1379
02:42:02,373 --> 02:42:12,950
>> mayor o'connor: our next speaker is ethan stroll.

1380
02:42:12,950 --> 02:42:14,585
Welcome, ethan.

1381
02:42:14,585 --> 02:42:23,861
>> good evening, my name is ethan stroll, I work as a housing policy advocate at legal aid of marin.

1382
02:42:23,861 --> 02:42:27,765
I'm here to support a strong just cause law in novato.

1383
02:42:27,765 --> 02:42:35,806
What comprises a strong just cause ordinance,number one everyone currently covered by just cause ordinance continues to be covered.

1384
02:42:35,806 --> 02:42:40,944
Or nobody should lose protections due to your actions with this ordinance.

1385
02:42:40,944 --> 02:42:44,481
If you exempted owners who own three units or less, this would happen.

1386
02:42:44,481 --> 02:42:54,792
If you make an exemption based on ownership, I love trying to figure out who owns what but this would be incredibly difficult to determine who is covered and who is not covered.

1387
02:42:54,792 --> 02:43:04,340
It wuld look like our office at legal aid of marin having to serve extra discovery requests, trying to understand what this owner looks like.

1388
02:43:04,340 --> 02:43:09,473
Which we do not have the capacity to do.

1389
02:43:09,473 --> 02:43:18,810
Number two, when you are evicted for no fault of your open you have the ability to stay I novato, that's the goal.

1390
02:43:18,248 --> 02:43:23,720
This means higher relocation payments that cover the real cost of displacement.

1391
02:43:23,720 --> 02:43:26,723
Finding new housing is incredibly difficult in novato.

1392
02:43:26,723 --> 02:43:31,762
And all the tenants wearing white shirts know this so well.

1393
02:43:31,762 --> 02:43:43,540
Daily relocation payments should last for a long time, much longer than romar court tenants had in their hotel.

1394
02:43:43,540 --> 02:43:47,878
They should last until the owner makes repairs and the tenant can return.

1395
02:43:47,878 --> 02:43:58,922
This is predictability, this is the incentive for landlords to make the repairs rather than appeal a decision to red tag.

1396
02:43:58,922 --> 02:44:01,925
Number three, a right to return.

1397
02:44:01,925 --> 02:44:18,750
Let's say an owner of romar court follows through on their building permits and they renovate the other buildings, this is called, under current law this would be called a reno-viction.

1398
02:44:18,750 --> 02:44:21,478
This has happened across marin.

1399
02:44:21,478 --> 02:44:32,990
To prevent this tenants deserve a right to return under the same tenancy with the same or similar rent hving received relocation assistance up until their return.

1400
02:44:32,990 --> 02:44:41,980
I know want to incentivize investment in novato's housing stock and for repairs to happen but renovation is not the right incentive.

1401
02:44:41,198 --> 02:44:45,969
You have heard fom many tenants who have been demanding repairs for years.

1402
02:44:45,969 --> 02:44:50,541
Well, you will have heard, I was also assuming I would go after.

1403
02:44:50,541 --> 02:44:55,679
These tenants deeply understand their owner will only make repairs if they are forced to make repairs.

1404
02:44:55,679 --> 02:45:01,585
And you all understand this from dealing with the owner at romar court.

1405
02:45:01,585 --> 02:45:14,932
Please make the incentive making code enforcement super easy ad accessible for these tenants and strongly enforcing these building codes, not renoviction.

1406
02:45:14,932 --> 02:45:21,905
I want to say w as a public community are beginning to truly grasp what novato renters truly face.

1407
02:45:21,905 --> 02:45:33,450
Just afew years ago in the city's housing element it was written that "generally property owners are motivated to keep housing in good condition."

1408
02:45:33,450 --> 02:45:37,321
but we have learned quite clearly this is not the case for many tenants.

1409
02:45:37,321 --> 02:45:43,860
So I look forward to working with you to ensure novato tenants live in safe, dignified housing.

1410
02:45:43,860 --> 02:45:44,695
Thank you.

1411
02:45:44,695 --> 02:45:49,633
>> mayor o'connor: thank you, ethan.

1412
02:45:49,633 --> 02:46:12,356
Our next speaker is norma laura.

1413
02:46:12,356 --> 02:47:49,419
>> [ speaking spanish ] >> interpreter: good evening, my name is norma, I'm here to talk to you and ask you to pass this act, the new ordinance.

1414
02:47:49,419 --> 02:47:51,521
I live in novato.

1415
02:47:51,521 --> 02:48:02,766
I am a resident of novato, I'm here to support all these people that are here and to let you know we pay rent.

1416
02:48:02,766 --> 02:48:09,239
We pay rent on time.

1417
02:48:09,239 --> 02:48:27,324
We want to live in a safe environment in a nice place where if we need renovations, if we need anything that the landlords, they will repair our homes.

1418
02:48:27,324 --> 02:48:37,367
I'm here just to support everybody who lives in novato or in my county.

1419
02:48:37,367 --> 02:48:44,400
I come to represent the voices, the father voices and I'm here to support everybody.

1420
02:48:44,174 --> 02:48:44,875
Thank you.

1421
02:48:44,875 --> 02:48:50,247
>> mayor o'connor: thank you very much.

1422
02:48:50,247 --> 02:48:52,682
Our next speaker is lillian lazaro?

1423
02:48:52,682 --> 02:48:53,350
>> interpreter: lillian?

1424
02:48:53,350 --> 02:48:55,285
>> mayor o'connor: okay.

1425
02:48:55,285 --> 02:49:03,527
Our next speaker is amarantha silva.

1426
02:49:03,527 --> 02:49:05,395
>> the name again?

1427
02:49:05,395 --> 02:49:08,431
>> mayor o'connor: she is right behind you.

1428
02:49:08,431 --> 02:49:08,565
Welcome.

1429
02:49:08,565 --> 02:49:13,804
>> can you hear me.

1430
02:49:13,804 --> 02:49:16,573
My name is amarantha silver, I'm going to read it.

1431
02:49:16,573 --> 02:49:22,779
I will get emotional.

1432
02:49:22,779 --> 02:49:27,617
I'm the community organizer for -- voices marin.

1433
02:49:27,617 --> 02:49:33,790
We believe the people closest to the problem are also the ones closest to the solution.

1434
02:49:33,790 --> 02:49:43,990
That's why we joined legal aid marin community services and community action marin to support the families displaced from romar court.

1435
02:49:43,200 --> 02:49:56,790
We didn't do this work just because we believe housing is a human right, we did it because it reflects our values, that's why we helped them to get organized and help them to be here and move this far.

1436
02:49:56,179 --> 02:49:57,647
I live in the city.

1437
02:49:57,647 --> 02:50:01,451
I'm a resident of novato.

1438
02:50:01,451 --> 02:50:05,889
I cannot sleep knowing my neighbors were forced out of their homes.

1439
02:50:05,889 --> 02:50:09,292
Living in fear and unsafe conditions.

1440
02:50:09,292 --> 02:50:17,100
While helping the families from romar and those still living there I was honestly surprised that the city had not taken stronger actions.

1441
02:50:17,100 --> 02:50:20,503
Knowing how bad the conditions were there.

1442
02:50:20,503 --> 02:50:31,581
Romar is just one example of what happens when landlords don't take care of their properties and when tenants are too scared to complain because they don't want to lose their homes.

1443
02:50:31,581 --> 02:50:38,421
We are glad that the city is looking at tenant protections but we have to be honest.

1444
02:50:38,421 --> 02:50:46,796
The just cause ordinance as written right now will not protect the romar court tenants or others under the same situations.

1445
02:50:46,796 --> 02:50:50,800
That's why we are asking for stronger ordinance with three key changes.

1446
02:50:50,800 --> 02:51:01,811
Clear right to return, so if tenants are forced to leave for repairs or red tags they can come back at the same rent.

1447
02:51:01,811 --> 02:51:11,870
Real accountability for the landlords, tey must be consequence when landlords are allowed unsafe and unlivable conditions of housing.

1448
02:51:11,254 --> 02:51:13,560
Higher relocation payments for affected families.

1449
02:51:13,560 --> 02:51:18,128
They need the real support to move and find new housing, not just the minimum.

1450
02:51:18,128 --> 02:51:24,340
This is a critical moment.

1451
02:51:24,200 --> 02:51:39,983
Between romar court, the west marin affected families, the fires in san rafael, it's clear, we need to do more to protect our community from displacement and unsafe homes and yu can be the first ones to take the step forward.

1452
02:51:39,983 --> 02:51:43,553
Not just for novato but for the county and be an example.

1453
02:51:43,553 --> 02:51:48,491
So I ask again, will you protect the tenants or protect the landlords?

1454
02:51:48,491 --> 02:51:53,630
The choice is yours.

1455
02:51:53,630 --> 02:51:59,402
We thank the councilmembers who took already the time t meet with me and the tenants and other organizations.

1456
02:51:59,402 --> 02:52:06,343
Now we will ask you just to keep working with them and pass an ordinance that truly depends novato families.

1457
02:52:06,343 --> 02:52:08,945
We need to work together.

1458
02:52:08,945 --> 02:52:10,513
Please reject the current version.

1459
02:52:10,513 --> 02:52:12,615
We need to do more work on this.

1460
02:52:12,615 --> 02:52:14,417
We need to protect the families in novato.

1461
02:52:14,417 --> 02:52:16,386
And all the tenants.

1462
02:52:16,386 --> 02:52:17,754
And help us to build real protections.

1463
02:52:17,754 --> 02:52:20,623
Thank you.

1464
02:52:20,623 --> 02:52:25,762
>> mayor o'connor: thank you, amarantha.

1465
02:52:25,762 --> 02:53:02,732
Our next speaker is darlene ruiz.

1466
02:53:02,732 --> 02:53:33,290
>> [ speaking spanish ] >> interpreter: good evening to the council and all of you here with us.

1467
02:53:33,129 --> 02:53:35,765
My name is darlene ruiz.

1468
02:53:35,765 --> 02:53:40,503
You live in san rafael at the el canal.

1469
02:53:40,503 --> 02:53:53,950
I'm here to support all the tenants in roman court.

1470
02:53:53,950 --> 02:54:24,247
>> [ speaking spanish ] >> interpreter: novato requires a new act of living in just cause.

1471
02:54:24,247 --> 02:54:42,980
And to be aligned to the state law and to cover and to protect everybody.

1472
02:54:42,980 --> 02:54:44,968
The tenants from romar court could have fair housing, thank you.

1473
02:54:44,968 --> 02:54:54,430
>> mayor o'connor: thank you very much.

1474
02:54:54,430 --> 02:55:08,892
Our next speaker is antonio gramello.

1475
02:55:08,892 --> 02:55:13,763
>> [ speaking spanish ] >> interpreter: good evening,er one.

1476
02:55:13,763 --> 02:55:19,469
Thank you for being with us and supporting us with this problem.

1477
02:55:19,469 --> 02:55:25,441
Around 21 years ago I immigrated to the u.s.

1478
02:55:25,441 --> 02:55:29,279
And I felt god gave me this city to live in.

1479
02:55:29,279 --> 02:55:31,915
I have already gone through one recession.

1480
02:55:31,915 --> 02:55:37,320
The pandemic.

1481
02:55:37,320 --> 02:55:41,891
And some people say that it's expensive to live here in marin.

1482
02:55:41,891 --> 02:55:54,504
But I want to say that it is a privilege to live here in marin.

1483
02:55:54,504 --> 02:56:04,113
I don't know how this has been happening after living in three different addresses in 21 years.

1484
02:56:04,113 --> 02:56:09,850
Green oak, hamilton field is the same.

1485
02:56:09,252 --> 02:56:12,789
Ignacio fields park.

1486
02:56:12,789 --> 02:56:14,824
And roman court.

1487
02:56:14,824 --> 02:56:20,463
And I continue living there to this day.

1488
02:56:20,463 --> 02:56:32,342
But I have seen what has happened to my friends that have been living building #12.

1489
02:56:32,342 --> 02:56:32,442
Gracias.

1490
02:56:32,442 --> 02:56:37,580
I don't know what happened.

1491
02:56:37,580 --> 02:56:45,210
With the authorities that supposedly should protect these kinds of situations.

1492
02:56:45,210 --> 02:56:53,960
Because te problem of roman court is not of six months ago.

1493
02:56:53,263 --> 02:56:58,968
This began five years ago.

1494
02:56:58,968 --> 02:57:03,273
And I can't find the problem of the tenants.

1495
02:57:03,273 --> 02:57:22,580
Maybe the problem was not to raise their voice beforehand, maybe.

1496
02:57:22,580 --> 02:57:30,660
I believe there are authorities that see the problems before they become our problems.

1497
02:57:30,166 --> 02:57:32,969
Not to go that far I was seeing the ordinances.

1498
02:57:32,969 --> 02:57:38,541
I have a red tag for one year now, before all of them.

1499
02:57:38,541 --> 02:57:44,130
And they still have not made any repairs.

1500
02:57:44,130 --> 02:58:12,975
So I would like t ask you all if it's possible to check all of the properties that are being rented out in the whole city of novato with people that are specialized to do these inspections.

1501
02:58:12,975 --> 02:58:22,485
Because when the city comes to check the problems outside of the complex buildings but they don't go inside to check.

1502
02:58:22,485 --> 02:58:34,697
If they can do an inspection outside every year, and another inside the units, I think that we can resolve these problems.

1503
02:58:34,697 --> 02:58:39,469
Because as I said, it's a privilege to live here.

1504
02:58:39,469 --> 02:58:55,170
And to have a privilege to live here, I think we need to be enough sufficiently strong and capable.

1505
02:58:55,118 --> 02:59:07,864
To continue the way we have been lving, not as what happened in roman court.

1506
02:59:07,864 --> 02:59:16,339
The problem cntinues being there, but I don't know who I need to speak to, or who I need to go to to resolve these problems.

1507
02:59:16,339 --> 02:59:20,910
As I said before, this is the city.

1508
02:59:20,910 --> 02:59:25,515
That god gided me to live here in the u.s.

1509
02:59:25,515 --> 02:59:33,589
And I'm happy with everything.

1510
02:59:33,589 --> 02:59:41,397
The only thing I feel is sadness because of the people that were evicted without a just cause.

1511
02:59:41,397 --> 02:59:46,936
Thank you for your time for listening and I appreciate you.

1512
02:59:46,936 --> 02:59:53,609
>> mayor o'connor: thank you very much, antonio.

1513
02:59:53,609 --> 03:00:03,719
Our next speaker is vilma monzo.

1514
03:00:03,719 --> 03:00:07,657
Welcome, vilma.

1515
03:00:07,657 --> 03:00:35,318
>> [ speaking spanish ] >> interpreter: good afternoon, my name is vima monson, I'm a single mother that lives with my daughter joslyn, she is 10 years old.

1516
03:00:35,318 --> 03:00:53,402
I'm a member of the group of the affected tenants in romar park and I want to appreciate and thank you for this space to share our experiences.

1517
03:00:53,402 --> 03:01:11,587
>> [ speaking spanish ] >> interpreter: today I am here to ask you to help us find a worthy home that is stable and accessible for me and my daughter.

1518
03:01:11,587 --> 03:01:39,248
We do not deserve to stay outside of these solutions.

1519
03:01:39,248 --> 03:02:04,840
>> [ speaking spanish ] >> interpreter: we were living in apartments in romar court for nine years.

1520
03:02:04,840 --> 03:02:08,511
There my daughter was raised and we formed a home there.

1521
03:02:08,511 --> 03:02:21,570
I always paid my rent on time and it almost reached $3,000 every month.

1522
03:02:21,157 --> 03:02:26,429
And I always took care of the apartment as if it were my own.

1523
03:02:26,429 --> 03:02:38,140
In fact, many times I repaired or fixed my home, or my rented home with my own money because the building had many problems.

1524
03:02:38,140 --> 03:02:57,560
Problems with the filtration of the water, mold, the lack of maintenance and even so, I did what was possible to live in a worthy home that was safe for us both.

1525
03:02:57,560 --> 03:03:29,291
>> [ speaking spanish ] >> interpreter: unfortunately, after receiving the red tag, our lives changed completely.

1526
03:03:29,291 --> 03:03:35,310
From one day to the other, we had to eict our own safe space.

1527
03:03:35,131 --> 03:03:54,817
And even though I was on top of keeping everything safe that was important, I want to remind you that was a decision that you all made and it was not because I was not paying on time o because I was not taking care of the unit.

1528
03:03:54,817 --> 03:03:59,655
And I had a home there.

1529
03:03:59,655 --> 03:04:47,937
>> [ speaking spanish ] >> iterpreter: since then, we have confronted many difficulties.

1530
03:04:47,937 --> 03:04:58,470
As a single mother now I do not qualify for a new apartment now that the requirements of income, I cannot meet.

1531
03:04:58,180 --> 03:05:13,662
They asked that I demonstrate enough income that is way higher than what one person can make to prove, even though I was paying the rent for so many years on time.

1532
03:05:13,662 --> 03:05:25,740
That's why I feel sad, frustrated, decepted.

1533
03:05:25,241 --> 03:05:35,618
With this process we had a home and you took it because of a decision to take us out because of security or safety reasons but now we don't have our own space.

1534
03:05:35,618 --> 03:06:16,559
>> [ speaking spanish ] >> interpreter: while we were staying at the hotel, it was a momentary help for us.

1535
03:06:16,559 --> 03:06:23,332
But it was not sufficient.

1536
03:06:23,332 --> 03:06:29,672
After that I had to g rent a room that is not an ideal space to raise my daughter.

1537
03:06:29,672 --> 03:06:31,730
We have no privacy.

1538
03:06:31,730 --> 03:06:43,519
We have to send a lot of our time outside of that house because we don't want to be a burden to the person that is renting a room for us.

1539
03:06:43,519 --> 03:07:23,559
And now I have to rent a storage unit to keep all of my belongings which has generated emotional chaos and economic burden in our lives.

1540
03:07:23,559 --> 03:07:56,859
>> [ speaking spanish ] >> interpreter: while some our old neighbors have been able to relocate, we have not had that same luck.

1541
03:07:56,859 --> 03:07:59,695
That's why I'm here to ask for your support.

1542
03:07:59,695 --> 03:08:07,200
My daughter and I need a new home.

1543
03:08:07,200 --> 03:08:20,316
We need this process to really meet with our needs of all the affected families, especially single mothers like I am.

1544
03:08:20,316 --> 03:08:26,588
We need to improve the protections for the tenants I cases of red tags.

1545
03:08:26,588 --> 03:08:48,770
And we also need to be guaranteed a worthy home that can support us financially to cover the expenses generated and to have flexible requirements so that we can move into a stable home.

1546
03:08:48,770 --> 03:09:23,879
>> [ speaking spanish ] >> interpreter: so what will be the steps that you all will take to demonstrate to us that we can restore a new home for us?

1547
03:09:23,879 --> 03:09:29,585
What will work with me to find a new solution?

1548
03:09:29,585 --> 03:09:31,754
To meet our necessities, our needs?

1549
03:09:31,754 --> 03:09:44,767
Which will be the processes that will be implemented so that in our future, this situation will not be repeated for other families?

1550
03:09:44,767 --> 03:10:23,605
>> [ speaking spanish ] >> interpreter: so I don't want privileges, I only want justice.

1551
03:10:23,605 --> 03:10:36,485
I want to return to romar court or to a worthy home in better conditions where my daughter and I can feel secure again.

1552
03:10:36,485 --> 03:10:42,958
And to heal and to continue building our happy life.

1553
03:10:42,958 --> 03:10:48,363
We are not asking for a donation.

1554
03:10:48,363 --> 03:10:54,136
We are demanding dignity.

1555
03:10:54,136 --> 03:11:00,380
Because no one should lose their home for doing the right thing.

1556
03:11:00,309 --> 03:11:08,917
>> [ speaking spanish ] >> interpreter: thank you so much for taking the time for listening to me and we are waiting for answers.

1557
03:11:08,917 --> 03:11:14,857
>> mayor o'connor: thank you, vilna.

1558
03:11:14,857 --> 03:11:22,531
Our next speaker is jesus portillo.

1559
03:11:22,531 --> 03:11:30,839
Welcome, jesus.

1560
03:11:30,839 --> 03:11:40,616
>> [ speaking spanish ] >> interpreter: my name is jesus portillo-rivera.

1561
03:11:40,616 --> 03:11:56,980
I used t live in romar court for 15 years.

1562
03:11:56,980 --> 03:12:06,642
On a wednesday night, early wednesday they arrived and they left the red tag.

1563
03:12:06,642 --> 03:12:10,746
They gave us five days to vacate.

1564
03:12:10,746 --> 03:12:21,323
I'm talking wednesday, thursday and friday, working days.

1565
03:12:21,323 --> 03:12:41,900
Saturday to sunday we don't work so we have to leave by sunday midnight.

1566
03:12:41,900 --> 03:12:43,345
Not only me, but my neighbors.

1567
03:12:43,345 --> 03:13:00,280
You know, all of us we have to leave only with a couple of suitcases and we have to leave all of our belongings behind.

1568
03:13:00,280 --> 03:13:09,238
So then we went to a hotel for three weeks.

1569
03:13:09,238 --> 03:13:12,740
Only with one suitcase.

1570
03:13:12,740 --> 03:13:16,780
Our belongings were on the street.

1571
03:13:16,178 --> 03:13:20,482
The only thing we want you to do is to help us.

1572
03:13:20,482 --> 03:13:21,850
That's all, thank you very much.

1573
03:13:21,850 --> 03:13:24,253
>> mayor o'connor: thank you.

1574
03:13:24,253 --> 03:13:35,464
Our next speaker is joslyn ordonez.

1575
03:13:35,464 --> 03:13:46,375
Hi joslyn.

1576
03:13:46,375 --> 03:14:01,957
>> [ speaking spanish ] >> interpreter: hi, my name is joslyn, I'm ten years old.

1577
03:14:01,957 --> 03:14:07,396
I'm ten years old and I have my mom and my mom is a single mom.

1578
03:14:07,396 --> 03:14:21,276
My father left us when I was five years old.

1579
03:14:21,276 --> 03:14:47,200
I'm very grateful that you are supporting us and that you are listening to us.

1580
03:14:47,135 --> 03:15:17,299
When I saw the red tag, I thought my mom was kidding me and I didn't really believe that we have to leave our home.

1581
03:15:17,299 --> 03:15:22,700
We left with a couple of suitcases and a few boxes.

1582
03:15:22,170 --> 03:15:24,740
The rest we have to store that in the garage.

1583
03:15:24,740 --> 03:15:38,860
That's all we had.

1584
03:15:38,153 --> 03:15:42,724
I couldn't take with me everything that I wanted to.

1585
03:15:42,724 --> 03:15:59,908
I couldn't take my toys, my books, everything that I had.

1586
03:15:59,908 --> 03:16:04,946
I planted a little tree, so I had that little tree for so many years.

1587
03:16:04,946 --> 03:16:14,856
I had to say goodbye to my tree.

1588
03:16:14,856 --> 03:16:25,567
I believe that tree is going to grow big and strong.

1589
03:16:25,567 --> 03:16:47,355
And all those years that the tree will live with remember me.

1590
03:16:47,355 --> 03:16:55,363
I want to thank each of you to be here in hearing us.

1591
03:16:55,363 --> 03:17:08,243
I know that sometimes things happen to us but it's hard to just leave our home.

1592
03:17:08,243 --> 03:17:34,269
To have to leave my how's it was so sad.

1593
03:17:34,269 --> 03:17:38,507
We just don't have so much money to pay our rent.

1594
03:17:38,507 --> 03:17:55,891
But also, you know, my mom lost her job.

1595
03:17:55,891 --> 03:17:58,994
And a nice lady gave my mom a job.

1596
03:17:58,994 --> 03:18:01,863
She des house cleaning.

1597
03:18:01,863 --> 03:18:32,761
So she makes enough money to pay one room.

1598
03:18:32,761 --> 03:18:35,897
We are only in one room, small room.

1599
03:18:35,897 --> 03:18:40,569
We can only use the kitchen, the bathroom and we go back to our bedroom.

1600
03:18:40,569 --> 03:18:44,839
It's small.

1601
03:18:44,839 --> 03:18:47,976
And so I can't play, I can't do whatever I want.

1602
03:18:47,976 --> 03:18:52,470
I don't have all my toys.

1603
03:18:52,147 --> 03:18:58,587
So I just spend time with my mom.

1604
03:18:58,587 --> 03:18:59,854
And have a good evening.

1605
03:18:59,854 --> 03:19:09,300
Thank you very much.

1606
03:19:09,300 --> 03:19:12,233
>> mayor o'connor: thank you.

1607
03:19:12,233 --> 03:19:23,878
Our next speaker is veronica hernandez.

1608
03:19:23,878 --> 03:19:26,980
>> interpreter: duarte?

1609
03:19:28,383 --> 03:19:28,516
Hernandez.

1610
03:19:28,516 --> 03:19:45,300
>> [ speaking spanish ] I'm just going to read it in spanish because she couldn't be here.

1611
03:19:45,300 --> 03:19:57,379
I'm just going to start by saying she couldn't be here because as some of you know, she just got diagnosed wth cancer, stage ii, so she asked me to read it.

1612
03:19:57,379 --> 03:20:07,789
I will try to do my best.

1613
03:20:07,789 --> 03:24:47,402
[ reading comment in spanish ] >> interpreter: good evening, my name is veronica hernandez, I am a member of the group of the affected tenants in romar court.

1614
03:24:47,402 --> 03:24:54,809
I live there for seven years in the apartments of romar court in novato, with my family, two children and my sister-in-law.

1615
03:24:54,809 --> 03:25:07,880
I am here to tell my story but I am also here to raise my voice for all of the families just like mine that have been displaced unjustly with no home.

1616
03:25:07,880 --> 03:25:11,893
What happened to us was no accident or a misunderstanding.

1617
03:25:11,893 --> 03:25:17,799
It was a result of failing system to protect the most vulnerable.

1618
03:25:17,799 --> 03:25:23,204
What happened in romar court was devastating.

1619
03:25:23,204 --> 03:25:41,122
One day without a previous warning, we received an order to relocate, to leave our home and they only gave us five days to pack up our things, pack up our lives and leave.

1620
03:25:41,122 --> 03:25:53,340
Five days to leave behind years of our, of everything we did, to leave our community, our roots.

1621
03:25:53,134 --> 03:26:05,680
We left having a contract to rent a valid home to being without a home, and what's worse, without a worthy option of where to go.

1622
03:26:05,680 --> 03:26:18,793
That was a moment in where we came to understand that being renters in this country many times is living in constant insecurity.

1623
03:26:18,793 --> 03:26:29,700
Even if we pay our rent on time and we do every one of the requirements and our responsibilities.

1624
03:26:29,700 --> 03:26:39,781
We lived there for years I deplorable conditions, humidity, mold, roaches, rats, a lack of basic maintenance.

1625
03:26:39,781 --> 03:26:41,315
We made the reports.

1626
03:26:41,315 --> 03:26:44,850
We asked for help.

1627
03:26:44,218 --> 03:26:54,328
And instead of giving us solutions, what we received was a letter to relocate, to leave our home.

1628
03:26:54,328 --> 03:27:07,800
And so the message was clear when the conditions become impossible, instead of repairing or fixing, simply get rid of the people.

1629
03:27:07,141 --> 03:27:17,510
As a mother, I felt a mixture of sadness, frustration, and a profound disillusion.

1630
03:27:17,510 --> 03:27:19,870
My children were raised there.

1631
03:27:19,187 --> 03:27:28,620
We had our own routines, our schools, our community.

1632
03:27:28,162 --> 03:27:33,670
And having us not live there any more marked us profoundly.

1633
03:27:33,201 --> 03:27:36,370
And it wasn't just us as a family.

1634
03:27:36,170 --> 03:27:43,478
There were so many other families, workers, latinas, children that lived the same experience.

1635
03:27:43,478 --> 03:27:59,600
I know that there are programs that can help and organizations and the city did what they could to support us but that was not enough.

1636
03:27:59,193 --> 03:28:15,720
What we needed were not just temporary patches but strong ordinances that are permanent that recognize our dignity and our humanity.

1637
03:28:15,343 --> 03:28:49,710
And that is why I am here to ask these three things, these three concrete things that should be included in whatever policy of protection that a renter needs in novato.

1638
03:28:49,710 --> 03:28:51,646
First indemnization fair and adequate.

1639
03:28:51,646 --> 03:28:58,686
What we were offered was not dmuf to cover the costs of moving, the deposits, the new rent, the trauma of instability.

1640
03:28:58,686 --> 03:29:06,360
We know that in the county o alameda the renters receive at least $15,000 to relocate.

1641
03:29:06,360 --> 03:29:13,834
In marin where the cost of living is even higher that quantity should be the minimum that we would receive.

1642
03:29:13,834 --> 03:29:17,838
So w request to know the true cost of being displaced in our community.

1643
03:29:17,838 --> 03:29:21,909
Second, the right to return.

1644
03:29:21,909 --> 03:29:34,956
If romar court would rehabilitate or be reconstructed, we should have the right to return and paying the same rent.

1645
03:29:34,956 --> 03:29:41,280
But not only the physical space, but a worthy home that is safe and clean.

1646
03:29:41,195 --> 03:29:47,680
Because it's not only about bricks, it's about our lives.

1647
03:29:47,168 --> 03:30:09,423
We want you to include a clause that guarantees that we can come back to our home without being discriminated with financial obstacles.

1648
03:30:09,423 --> 03:30:14,862
Thirdly, responsibility for negligent probably owners.

1649
03:30:14,862 --> 03:30:28,843
These property owners ignore the reports that allow these homes to become inhumane conditions.

1650
03:30:28,843 --> 03:30:36,517
And they should confront clear consequences.

1651
03:30:36,517 --> 03:30:49,563
It's not fair that they are allowed to operate without supervision, without being punished.

1652
03:30:49,563 --> 03:30:51,799
While families are suffering the consequences.

1653
03:30:51,799 --> 03:31:03,678
We need inspections to be more frequent, sanctions that are real, and a mechanism of follow-up with community participation.

1654
03:31:03,678 --> 03:31:09,830
I speak as a mother, as a worker, as a neighbor.

1655
03:31:09,830 --> 03:31:20,940
But also as an organizing woman with parent voices marin, in a movement of families that fight for justice and equity.

1656
03:31:20,227 --> 03:31:24,398
We don't want to continue being invisible.

1657
03:31:24,398 --> 03:31:26,670
We don't want empty promises, we want action.

1658
03:31:26,200 --> 03:31:30,710
We want dignity.

1659
03:31:30,710 --> 03:31:32,540
We want justice.

1660
03:31:32,540 --> 03:31:44,819
What happened to us in romar court was not jst being kicked out of our homes, it was a lack of stability, of mental health, of belonging.

1661
03:31:44,819 --> 03:31:49,924
And this should not have happened to anyone any more.

1662
03:31:49,924 --> 03:31:58,999
Thank you for your time and thank you for listening, not only to my words but also to my pain and our hopes.

1663
03:31:58,999 --> 03:32:21,689
Let's build together a community that does not kick out people but embraces people that they don't just excuse, but actually protects us.

1664
03:32:21,689 --> 03:32:22,423
And that's the end.

1665
03:32:22,423 --> 03:32:26,260
>> mayor o'connor: thank you.

1666
03:32:26,260 --> 03:32:30,970
Our next speaker is veronica duarte.

1667
03:32:30,297 --> 03:32:33,334
Welcome, veronica.

1668
03:32:33,334 --> 03:32:46,914
>> [ speaking spanish ] >> interpreter: good evening, my name is veronica duarte, I reside in novato.

1669
03:32:46,914 --> 03:32:50,518
I have five kids.

1670
03:32:50,518 --> 03:33:12,306
>> [ speaking spanish ] >> interpreter: I received a eviction notice, not from the same apartments they were talking about.

1671
03:33:12,306 --> 03:33:19,790
But that order was unjustice and they gave me five days, 60, I'm sorry, 60 days.

1672
03:33:19,180 --> 03:33:23,815
But it was unjust.

1673
03:33:46,707 --> 03:33:46,807
Why?

1674
03:33:46,807 --> 03:34:00,754
A hose of black water, wastewater was broken from my neighbor's house.

1675
03:34:00,754 --> 03:34:13,767
Instead of cleaning or repairing the pipe, the sewer, they just let it go in my backyard.

1676
03:34:13,767 --> 03:34:16,570
I was not notified.

1677
03:34:16,570 --> 03:34:22,576
When I came back from work.

1678
03:34:22,576 --> 03:34:27,248
My son asked, mommy, what is that?

1679
03:34:27,248 --> 03:34:34,210
You can't imagine what it was.

1680
03:34:34,121 --> 03:34:41,962
So therefore I knocked on the door up to the manager's door.

1681
03:34:41,962 --> 03:34:46,667
I call him by his name and I asked what is that?

1682
03:34:46,667 --> 03:34:52,206
In my garden?

1683
03:34:52,206 --> 03:34:59,246
And he responded, I'm sorry, I forgot to let you know.

1684
03:34:59,246 --> 03:35:06,954
So iasked, how am I going to go into my house with my kids?

1685
03:35:06,954 --> 03:35:12,593
He said, oh I will clean it tomorrow.

1686
03:35:12,593 --> 03:35:23,504
So the day went by and he didn't clean it.

1687
03:35:23,504 --> 03:35:30,770
So therefore, I wrote an email to the city of novato.

1688
03:35:30,770 --> 03:35:36,650
I send the pictures.

1689
03:35:36,650 --> 03:35:43,824
Including the translator helped me.

1690
03:35:43,824 --> 03:35:47,628
And he asked are those pictures real pictures?

1691
03:35:47,628 --> 03:35:58,973
I told him it's my yard, it's my garden.

1692
03:35:58,973 --> 03:36:11,850
He asked for the landlord's information, the address, the phone number.

1693
03:36:11,218 --> 03:36:19,660
They call him three days after I received the eviction notice.

1694
03:36:19,660 --> 03:36:22,396
So what happened?

1695
03:36:22,396 --> 03:36:27,868
So he said I have 60 days to move out.

1696
03:36:27,868 --> 03:36:34,575
And I asked, but why?

1697
03:36:34,575 --> 03:36:42,160
Your kids, you have a lot of kids in this unit.

1698
03:36:42,160 --> 03:36:49,560
And I have been living there for eight years.

1699
03:36:49,560 --> 03:36:57,640
He wanted to give me a new reason because I reported him to the city.

1700
03:36:57,640 --> 03:37:10,100
So I called legal aid of marin.

1701
03:37:10,100 --> 03:37:15,482
They gave me the support, but my kids they were very anxious.

1702
03:37:15,482 --> 03:37:27,461
They were asking, where are we going?

1703
03:37:27,461 --> 03:37:39,730
We cannot find a solution, it's not a two-day solution to find or to move with the renters, with the landlords.

1704
03:37:39,206 --> 03:37:42,910
Legal aid worked very hard.

1705
03:37:42,910 --> 03:37:45,446
We won the case.

1706
03:37:45,446 --> 03:37:55,422
I'm still living there.

1707
03:37:55,422 --> 03:38:01,762
So now when I need to fix something at home or something happens, I think about it.

1708
03:38:01,762 --> 03:38:11,605
I think if I should call to report it.

1709
03:38:11,605 --> 03:38:20,314
I know that the city, you guys, did all the work to call the landlord.

1710
03:38:20,314 --> 03:38:26,520
But he acted against me.

1711
03:38:26,520 --> 03:38:35,195
So that's why I'm here to support everybody here.

1712
03:38:35,195 --> 03:38:45,305
I know they gave me the notice for 60 days, they didn't have that opportunity.

1713
03:38:45,305 --> 03:38:55,616
But it was unjust that I was paying for my rent on time and they shouldn't have done that.

1714
03:38:55,616 --> 03:39:03,257
I'm a resident of novato.

1715
03:39:03,257 --> 03:39:10,264
I blong to voices of canal.

1716
03:39:10,264 --> 03:39:14,735
But I reside as you in novato.

1717
03:39:14,735 --> 03:39:28,415
And I want to be able to tell my kids that we have somebody and somebody who support us.

1718
03:39:28,415 --> 03:39:36,890
Novato needs an ordinance to protect the tenants.

1719
03:39:36,890 --> 03:39:37,658
Because there are causes that are not just.

1720
03:39:37,658 --> 03:39:38,559
Thank you very much.

1721
03:39:38,559 --> 03:39:42,996
>> mayor o'connor: thank you very much.

1722
03:39:42,996 --> 03:39:53,807
Our next speaker is diego salis.

1723
03:39:53,807 --> 03:39:55,800
Welcome, diego.

1724
03:39:55,800 --> 03:40:02,683
>> good evening.

1725
03:40:02,683 --> 03:40:13,360
[ speaking spanish ] >> interpreter: my name is diego.

1726
03:40:13,360 --> 03:40:17,631
I also was displaced from my home from romar court.

1727
03:40:17,631 --> 03:40:56,937
I would like to share some facts with you.

1728
03:40:56,937 --> 03:41:05,812
There is one building, but we were displaced like from 12 apartments.

1729
03:41:05,812 --> 03:41:11,885
So the total of 58 in that property.

1730
03:41:11,885 --> 03:41:18,492
We were 50 people displaced from our homes.

1731
03:41:18,492 --> 03:41:26,700
Many of us paid from $2700 to $3000 a month for rent, plus utilities.

1732
03:41:26,700 --> 03:41:29,569
Before the utilities were included in the rent.

1733
03:41:29,569 --> 03:41:34,700
Now we pay it additional.

1734
03:41:34,107 --> 03:41:41,810
For years they have increased our rent each year.

1735
03:41:41,181 --> 03:41:51,580
And our income doesn't give us enough to rent.

1736
03:41:51,580 --> 03:41:58,930
And now we have to stop rent to other people.

1737
03:41:58,365 --> 03:42:10,978
-- sub-rent to other people.

1738
03:42:10,978 --> 03:42:20,530
I'm going to tell you a little thing about the proprietorship.

1739
03:42:20,153 --> 03:42:30,630
The owner of the property technically is romar court apartments, l.l.c.

1740
03:42:30,330 --> 03:42:45,946
Nevertheless, romar court apartments, l.l.c., it's only a ghost business, shell company.

1741
03:42:45,946 --> 03:42:53,387
For this big business, landmark realty, l.l.c., landmark realty, ll.c.

1742
03:42:53,387 --> 03:43:22,883
States that they have been the owners for more than 70 buildings.

1743
03:43:22,883 --> 03:43:36,830
So for the total of 7,600 units in the whole country, landmark is the owner of 289 units in marin county.

1744
03:43:36,830 --> 03:43:45,672
If you check the website you will not find anything under the name of romar court apartments.

1745
03:43:45,672 --> 03:44:17,838
Neither in novato or marin.

1746
03:44:17,838 --> 03:44:21,708
So they do advertise it on the website, they do.

1747
03:44:21,708 --> 03:44:32,686
They say we are dedicated to offer the high standard in quality in all the aspects.

1748
03:44:32,686 --> 03:44:41,294
Our housing multi-family housing, we do give priority to detail.

1749
03:44:41,294 --> 03:44:58,643
With quality materials to assure to our residents to enjoy their space, secure, aesthetic, tractive.

1750
03:45:00,647 --> 03:45:00,780
-attractive.

1751
03:45:00,780 --> 03:45:32,379
Our compromise is with quality and we extend the service to the client with maintaining our properties.

1752
03:45:32,379 --> 03:45:57,837
I believe the difference in between us and what the people say their reality is what we are in fact the reality is what we are living right now.

1753
03:45:57,837 --> 03:46:03,610
So finally you are listening to the truth, our own condition.

1754
03:46:03,610 --> 03:46:22,529
And please, we beg you to listen to us to protect and to not let the owners of the proprietors to do this to us.

1755
03:46:22,529 --> 03:46:26,660
We need to be relocated and we want to be able to go back to our homes.

1756
03:46:26,533 --> 03:46:29,803
Thank you.

1757
03:46:29,803 --> 03:46:32,505
>> mayor o'connor: thank you.

1758
03:46:32,505 --> 03:46:38,440
Our next speaker is armando ordonez.

1759
03:46:38,440 --> 03:46:48,455
>> interpreter: armando?

1760
03:46:48,455 --> 03:46:53,827
>> mayor o'connor: welcome, armando.

1761
03:46:53,827 --> 03:47:08,241
>> [ speaking spanish ] >> interpreter: good evening, I'm armando ordonez, members of voices of marin.

1762
03:47:08,241 --> 03:47:26,660
I'm here because I'm here to support the members of romar court, tat happened to me a year ago.

1763
03:47:26,660 --> 03:47:29,950
I was by myself.

1764
03:47:29,162 --> 03:47:41,441
I was evicted by myself, so they threatened me to send me the police, to seize my bank account, things like that.

1765
03:47:41,441 --> 03:47:55,355
They only gave me ten days to leave the home.

1766
03:47:55,355 --> 03:48:09,769
I also requested help from the different organizations but I didn't have the paperwork to do so.

1767
03:48:09,769 --> 03:48:14,700
I have to borrow so much money from several friends.

1768
03:48:14,140 --> 03:48:32,258
So thanks to that I was able to relocate.

1769
03:48:32,258 --> 03:48:55,480
You could tell, you could say that $7,236 sounds a lot of money.

1770
03:48:55,148 --> 03:49:19,500
But that amount that's only what I spent on moving out, to move my stuff, to pay for the first and last month, just to move out.

1771
03:49:19,205 --> 03:49:27,460
Something very important, I'm begging you to do and work on the new ordinance.

1772
03:49:27,460 --> 03:49:35,422
Because I know you have the power.

1773
03:49:35,422 --> 03:49:49,569
I would like to be sitting in one of those chairs to be able to help other people.

1774
03:49:49,569 --> 03:50:09,689
I don't want to hear sad stories, I don't want to see the kids crying like I have witnessed, like the kids out here.

1775
03:50:09,689 --> 03:50:17,960
And even if we had so many ordinances, you know, the owner doesn't appear.

1776
03:50:17,960 --> 03:50:31,644
We are tied, our hands are tied.

1777
03:50:31,644 --> 03:50:51,831
But if you miss paying one or two months of your rent, they come like rats, you know, they want to take the christ out of my house.

1778
03:50:51,831 --> 03:51:06,579
Why can't they do that to us, and why can't we have our own rights with dignity?

1779
03:51:06,579 --> 03:51:09,616
It is so hard.

1780
03:51:09,616 --> 03:51:29,680
Do we have to get up through the end of this to be able to talk in front of you?

1781
03:51:29,680 --> 03:51:48,555
I also wonder if, or want to have ordinance for the landlords of the owners of the property to be able to pay us.

1782
03:51:48,555 --> 03:51:49,789
For the damage.

1783
03:51:49,789 --> 03:51:53,593
To pay for the damage.

1784
03:51:53,593 --> 03:52:01,134
But not only to pay to the tenants to move out.

1785
03:52:01,134 --> 03:52:14,470
Just also a penalty so they can be punished or they can feel it.

1786
03:52:14,113 --> 03:52:19,180
I will go around california to find the owners and I can't do that.

1787
03:52:19,180 --> 03:52:23,923
But iknow you could.

1788
03:52:23,923 --> 03:52:29,729
Because we work.

1789
03:52:29,729 --> 03:52:40,600
To pay our rent month by month and to have a good place for our kids.

1790
03:52:40,600 --> 03:53:05,965
And if we pay rent, it's to have a dignity house to be able to live in.

1791
03:53:05,965 --> 03:53:28,821
And if they are going to vacate people from their homes, have them build new ones so they can relocate the people that they evict without sending us to the streets.

1792
03:53:28,821 --> 03:53:31,491
This property was 12 apartments.

1793
03:53:31,491 --> 03:53:42,235
Nobody was prepared for that.

1794
03:53:42,235 --> 03:53:44,437
So we all have to work together.

1795
03:53:44,437 --> 03:53:47,730
We pay our taxes.

1796
03:53:47,730 --> 03:53:58,351
We have to work and be able to have justice.

1797
03:53:58,351 --> 03:54:11,631
I have so much to tell you but I know we have a short time.

1798
03:54:11,631 --> 03:54:27,460
I'm only asking you to execute your power because that property they can pay.

1799
03:54:27,146 --> 03:54:30,830
And thank you very much.

1800
03:54:30,249 --> 03:54:30,950
Unity makes the force.

1801
03:54:30,950 --> 03:54:31,718
Thank you.

1802
03:54:31,718 --> 03:54:37,356
>> mayor o'connor: thank you.

1803
03:54:37,356 --> 03:54:45,865
Our next speaker is karina velleman.

1804
03:54:45,865 --> 03:54:47,567
>> interpreter: who?

1805
03:54:47,567 --> 03:54:48,701
I think she left.

1806
03:54:48,701 --> 03:54:55,410
>> mayor o'connor: I will keep moving.

1807
03:54:55,141 --> 03:55:05,510
The next speaker is nelson solis.

1808
03:55:05,251 --> 03:55:08,488
Welcome, nelson.

1809
03:55:08,488 --> 03:55:16,280
>> [ speaking spanish ] >> interpreter: good evening, my name is nelson solis.

1810
03:55:16,280 --> 03:55:17,730
I am here for the second time.

1811
03:55:17,730 --> 03:55:22,340
I have already been here the first time.

1812
03:55:22,340 --> 03:55:27,473
To tell you my story when iwas living in romar court.

1813
03:55:27,473 --> 03:55:40,190
And I want to tell you that I continue being affected what happened in roman court.

1814
03:55:40,190 --> 03:55:52,565
And one of the cases that were more crazy, it's a very expensive place to live.

1815
03:55:52,565 --> 03:56:05,478
When I speak with other people, and that I live in novato, they ask me oh my god, the rent is really high, it's very expensive.

1816
03:56:05,478 --> 03:56:10,383
When I say yes, it's expensive, but it's safe.

1817
03:56:10,383 --> 03:56:14,654
There's no crime, there's none of that.

1818
03:56:14,654 --> 03:56:41,314
So what I'm trying to say is, when I was living in romar, I experimented many, no entrance from the property owners of romar towards their tenants.

1819
03:56:41,314 --> 03:56:47,987
And it's around four or five buildings in those areas.

1820
03:56:47,987 --> 03:56:54,600
But the most difficult thing was when we found out.

1821
03:56:54,600 --> 03:56:59,966
The red tag, about the red tag.

1822
03:56:59,966 --> 03:57:05,705
Because for me it was like the first time that I lived that experience.

1823
03:57:05,705 --> 03:57:13,246
Like for many of the people that are here, that was our first time.

1824
03:57:13,246 --> 03:57:16,315
And I feel that we didn't do anything wrong.

1825
03:57:16,315 --> 03:57:21,354
Like stop paying our rent for months.

1826
03:57:21,354 --> 03:57:29,929
For them to kick us out in five days.

1827
03:57:29,929 --> 03:57:34,634
And also there were organizations that came to us.

1828
03:57:34,634 --> 03:57:42,410
Trying to help us.

1829
03:57:42,141 --> 03:57:51,550
But it was little amount of families that were supported.

1830
03:57:51,550 --> 03:58:06,699
My family, with what my mom wrote in that letter that you heard earlier today, was very difficult for us because we were living six people there.

1831
03:58:06,699 --> 03:58:14,774
And the place where we were applying to only three people can live there.

1832
03:58:14,774 --> 03:58:18,511
So we had to separate our family.

1833
03:58:18,511 --> 03:58:28,721
So now we are living in very different locations.

1834
03:58:28,721 --> 03:58:51,644
So what I want just like we have suffered, or something that manner, that the owners of those places, that they be more fair.

1835
03:58:51,644 --> 03:58:57,450
And that they can see the damage that they have done to us.

1836
03:58:57,450 --> 03:59:04,957
Us all.

1837
03:59:04,957 --> 03:59:16,268
And I think that we came to you now because if we were to speak they would not listen to us.

1838
03:59:16,268 --> 03:59:38,457
And I think it would be 1,000 times better to remind novato not because we have the best transportation or because we have the best parks but because we have our, our city has the best place to live in the city of novato.

1839
03:59:38,457 --> 03:59:39,525
Thank you very much.

1840
03:59:39,525 --> 03:59:42,610
>> mayor o'connor: thank you very much.

1841
03:59:42,161 --> 03:59:53,720
Our next speaker is freddie lopez.

1842
03:59:53,272 --> 03:59:59,450
Welcome, freddie.

1843
03:59:59,145 --> 04:00:07,860
>> [ speaking spanish ] >> interpreter: good evening, everyone.

1844
04:00:07,186 --> 04:00:13,590
To the corporation, to the, I think everything has been said today.

1845
04:00:13,192 --> 04:00:18,731
It's been more than enough.

1846
04:00:18,731 --> 04:00:24,503
Everything that has been heard.

1847
04:00:24,503 --> 04:00:40,853
And we know in the position we are in and the position to be able to resolve these problems is now in your hands.

1848
04:00:40,853 --> 04:00:43,155
We as tenants, we are vulnerable.

1849
04:00:43,155 --> 04:00:49,228
Because I'm going to put myself as an example.

1850
04:00:49,228 --> 04:00:54,100
I only count with one job.

1851
04:00:54,100 --> 04:01:08,447
And when supposedly the income or the salary went up, also in my job, they cut off my hours.

1852
04:01:08,447 --> 04:01:18,457
So the minimum salary here in novato is $16.50.

1853
04:01:18,457 --> 04:01:39,478
And if I were to work 80 hours, I would not reach to gain or earn $3,000 in a month.

1854
04:01:39,478 --> 04:01:43,649
But the rent is very expensive.

1855
04:01:43,649 --> 04:01:50,550
The money is not enough.

1856
04:01:50,550 --> 04:01:56,829
To be able to pay the rent, I don't have enough.

1857
04:01:56,829 --> 04:02:00,533
With what I'm earning.

1858
04:02:00,533 --> 04:02:07,406
So I have to pay for the light, the electricity.

1859
04:02:07,406 --> 04:02:14,346
I need to feed myself.

1860
04:02:14,346 --> 04:02:20,520
I need to be able to have clothing.

1861
04:02:20,152 --> 04:02:28,494
And it is not possible to cover all of these expenses.

1862
04:02:28,494 --> 04:02:44,310
I believe that the city or the corporation, or the mayor should also take into consideration the regulation of rent because life is very hard.

1863
04:02:44,310 --> 04:02:49,815
Very difficult.

1864
04:02:49,815 --> 04:03:01,727
I am aware that you have the power and that you will do a good job.

1865
04:03:01,727 --> 04:03:07,990
Because before us I believe in god.

1866
04:03:07,199 --> 04:03:13,505
And god will illuminate you and your heart.

1867
04:03:13,505 --> 04:03:17,810
And you will make a good decision.

1868
04:03:17,810 --> 04:03:20,946
I wish yu a good night and thank you so much to assist us.

1869
04:03:20,946 --> 04:03:24,717
>> mayor o'connor: thank you very much.

1870
04:03:24,717 --> 04:03:42,668
And then our final in-person speaker this evening is aracelli zuniga.

1871
04:03:42,668 --> 04:03:44,703
Not seeing aracelli, that concludes in-person public comment.

1872
04:03:44,703 --> 04:03:51,477
We will go to zoom and if you want to make a public comment please use the raise-hand button.

1873
04:03:51,477 --> 04:04:03,389
>> clerk: yes, we do have raised hands on zoom.

1874
04:04:03,389 --> 04:04:07,826
The first is aaliyah gomez.

1875
04:04:07,826 --> 04:04:12,598
>> good evening, mayor o' connor and councilmembers.

1876
04:04:12,598 --> 04:04:19,805
My name is aaliyah and I'm on the government affairs of marin association of realtors.

1877
04:04:19,805 --> 04:04:29,114
We urge your concern for housing stability but we urge you recognizing that ab1482 already provides strong enforceable protections.

1878
04:04:29,114 --> 04:04:38,924
State law sets clear rules just cause after 12 months relocation assistance for no-fault evictions and rent caps that are keeping increases predictable.

1879
04:04:38,924 --> 04:04:44,630
These protections are in place today and they apply across california with consistency.

1880
04:04:44,630 --> 04:04:48,267
The proposed novato ordinance goes well beyond state law.

1881
04:04:48,267 --> 04:05:06,885
It would extend just cause to every unit including single family homes and small duplexes and add entirely new categories such as rd tagging, repair and rehabilitation.

1882
04:05:06,885 --> 04:05:11,900
That will trigger additional relocation obligations.

1883
04:05:11,190 --> 04:05:14,727
It will reduce housing stock.

1884
04:05:14,727 --> 04:05:22,134
We were concerned our august 18th letter notes that the draft would apply to properties with as few as three units.

1885
04:05:22,134 --> 04:05:38,350
That change pulled in small family landlords who are not corporate entities, they are individuals renting a part of their retirement plan or supplementing their household income, burdening them with complex rules and relocation liabilities risks

1886
04:05:38,350 --> 04:05:43,880
driving them out of the rental market all together.

1887
04:05:43,288 --> 04:05:48,260
Finally this proposal introduces new administrative costs and enforcement responsibilities.

1888
04:05:48,260 --> 04:05:50,596
That the staff report has not yet addressed.

1889
04:05:50,596 --> 04:05:53,980
Who will fund relocation payments?

1890
04:05:53,198 --> 04:05:57,690
How will the city ensure consistent enforcement.

1891
04:05:57,202 --> 04:06:03,108
These unanswered questions make it clear that novato is not ready to adopt such sweeping ordinance.

1892
04:06:03,108 --> 04:06:08,800
Instead we encourage you to build on what already works, ab1482.

1893
04:06:08,213 --> 04:06:14,420
Thank you for considering our perspective, thank you and have a good night.

1894
04:06:14,420 --> 04:06:17,890
>> clerk: next is victor gomez.

1895
04:06:17,189 --> 04:06:18,290
>> mayor o'connor: welcome, richard.

1896
04:06:18,290 --> 04:06:19,892
>> clerk: victor.

1897
04:06:19,892 --> 04:06:21,727
>> mayor o'connor: sorry, victor.

1898
04:06:21,727 --> 04:06:25,630
>> wonderful, thank you, mayor o' connor and councilmembers.

1899
04:06:25,164 --> 04:06:29,670
My name is victor gomez and I'm also with the marin association of realtors.

1900
04:06:29,201 --> 04:06:35,741
We are here really to urge you not to advance overreaching just cause ordinance.

1901
04:06:35,741 --> 04:06:41,814
First, state law is already working.

1902
04:06:41,814 --> 04:06:56,361
Ab1482, the tenant protection act strongly supported by governor gavin newsom requires just cause after 12 months, it caps annual increases and provides relocation assistance for no-fault terminations already.

1903
04:06:56,361 --> 04:07:03,836
It sets a balanced uniform framework statewide and exclusively allows enforcement today.

1904
04:07:03,836 --> 04:07:21,820
Attempts to expand the tenant protection act have failed and each year since the act was passed, sb436, ab1248 and another ambitious bill that attempted to lower the rent cap wasn't even given a hearing this year.

1905
04:07:21,820 --> 04:07:29,940
A clear message that our state and governor d not believe in these ideas like yours.

1906
04:07:29,940 --> 04:07:39,571
To severely impact rental housing, layering separate local regime risk confusions and costs without evidence of any improved outcomes.

1907
04:07:39,571 --> 04:07:54,860
Second the staff report contemplates expanding protections to essentially all units by adding new categories that trigger displacement obligations, dem nising, potentially with additional relocation payments and even rights of return.

1908
04:07:54,219 --> 04:08:01,426
Those are major policy changes with real fiscal and operational impacts that report has not quantified.

1909
04:08:01,426 --> 04:08:04,296
Before you proceed we want to know who will pay for this?

1910
04:08:04,296 --> 04:08:07,966
How is the city going to administer this new program?

1911
04:08:07,966 --> 04:08:09,868
Have you asked those questions to staff?

1912
04:08:09,868 --> 04:08:22,470
No, not once has any member of this council asked for a fiscal impact and how the city is actually going to pay for this and how you are going to pay for new staff to administer this new program.

1913
04:08:22,470 --> 04:08:31,757
Third, "er our association's letter notes that draft concept deviates from common tresholds by changing the typical exemption line used across california.

1914
04:08:31,757 --> 04:08:46,638
Moving from a more common four-unit threshold to three or more, that shift falls hardest on small mom and pop housing providers that are using that as a way to raise money in their retirement days.

1915
04:08:46,638 --> 04:08:55,514
If the goal is stability, squeezing small providers off the market will completely do the opposite and not work.

1916
04:08:55,514 --> 04:09:03,388
Fourth, marin already faces an extreme supply in housing.

1917
04:09:03,388 --> 04:09:09,161
Limited land, high costs, complex regulatory environment do not help.

1918
04:09:09,161 --> 04:09:11,463
Fifth, basic implementation questions remain unanswered.

1919
04:09:11,463 --> 04:09:18,337
What resources des the city have to provide both tenants and small landlords to navigate these new rules.

1920
04:09:18,337 --> 04:09:34,786
Our ask tonight is simple, either pause to conduct a fiscal analysis of this and how much you will pay on behalf of of the taxpayers of novato or refer any potential proposal to the voters and let the voters decide.

1921
04:09:34,786 --> 04:09:43,762
If we really do believe in democracy and that's what you stand for, then that's exactly what you would do no night.

1922
04:09:43,762 --> 04:09:57,275
We stand ready to collaborate on targeted data-driven solutions, education, mediation, rental assistance and safety net programs that protect den tants without shrinking the rental supply.

1923
04:09:57,275 --> 04:09:58,310
Thank you.

1924
04:09:58,310 --> 04:10:01,279
>> mayor o'connor: thank you very much.

1925
04:10:01,279 --> 04:10:02,748
Laura any other comments?

1926
04:10:02,748 --> 04:10:04,490
>> clerk: that concludes the comments on zoom.

1927
04:10:04,490 --> 04:10:05,350
>> mayor o'connor: thank you.

1928
04:10:05,350 --> 04:10:08,860
I will bring it back to council.

1929
04:10:08,860 --> 04:10:16,495
Tonight the goal is to provide staff with direction so they can begin work on refining an ordinance to bring back to council for further discussion.

1930
04:10:16,495 --> 04:10:20,980
If you would like to comment please use the raise hand button.

1931
04:10:20,198 --> 04:10:25,804
I will go to councilmember eklund first.

1932
04:10:25,804 --> 04:10:28,640
>> you are muted.

1933
04:10:28,640 --> 04:10:31,243
>> mayor o'connor: sorry, councilmember, you appear to be muted.

1934
04:10:31,243 --> 04:10:31,743
>> p.

1935
04:10:31,743 --> 04:10:34,379
Eklund: sorry, I was starting to talk already.

1936
04:10:34,379 --> 04:10:35,614
>> mayor o'connor: no problem.

1937
04:10:35,614 --> 04:10:36,581
>> p.

1938
04:10:36,581 --> 04:11:00,605
Eklund: so first of all, relative to the item, to me there's, we need to expand what we are intending to do here, in my opinion.

1939
04:11:00,605 --> 04:11:10,449
I think that we need to make sure that the landlords need to keep up with regular repairs on their property.

1940
04:11:10,449 --> 04:11:34,573
One of the things I tink we should explore is establishing an ordinance that requires landlords to, or for the city to inspect the apartments.

1941
04:11:34,573 --> 04:11:52,324
And then cite landlords if they are not keeping their apartments in good condition one that is livable, not with holes in walls and not with paint pealing.

1942
04:11:52,324 --> 04:11:54,559
Which probably has led in it.

1943
04:11:54,559 --> 04:12:00,766
And we need to do an inspection and program.

1944
04:12:00,766 --> 04:12:03,635
We need to explore this.

1945
04:12:03,635 --> 04:12:18,160
Landlords must allow the tenants back into the rental unit and I believe and should not increase the rent before any of the renovations.

1946
04:12:18,116 --> 04:12:33,965
And I think that part of the rules should establish what is the anticipated renovation period so that it's not going to be for more than six months or a year or whatever it is.

1947
04:12:33,965 --> 04:12:44,609
And actually, if there's more regular enforcement then we won't have this situation where we had in novato earlier.

1948
04:12:44,609 --> 04:12:49,281
I think we need to strengthen the relocation assistance.

1949
04:12:49,281 --> 04:13:10,569
So I believe that the ordinance, or the program should include that the landlords or owners of the property need to pay for the represent in other apartments and that the rent is paid until the work is completed in the apartment and then they

1950
04:13:10,569 --> 04:13:17,809
can allow their residents to go back into that apartment.

1951
04:13:17,809 --> 04:13:31,890
I believe that there should be a guaranteed displacement, either through a red tag or a substantial remodel.

1952
04:13:31,189 --> 04:13:47,500
And it should have the right to return, also the landlord needs to pay for the rent and the temporary location for as long as needed to allow the renter to be able to go back to the original location.

1953
04:13:47,105 --> 04:14:06,558
I think there should be no exemption for rental properties, this should also include a.d.u.'s, except I agree single family homes and owner-occupied duplexes as promised for in the california tenant protections act of 2019 would not be included.

1954
04:14:06,558 --> 04:14:21,439
There should be just cause eviction procedures that apply to all rental units with ab1482 exemptions.

1955
04:14:21,439 --> 04:14:31,816
Tenants should have the option to obviously notify the landlord when there are improvements that's needed.

1956
04:14:31,816 --> 04:14:41,359
The landlord should respond within a certain period of time to make those repairs.

1957
04:14:41,359 --> 04:14:52,300
I think that there are a lot of other things I would like to include in this.

1958
04:14:52,103 --> 04:15:00,110
The agenda item itself includes the different, I can't find that piece of paper.

1959
04:15:00,110 --> 04:15:12,691
Where it has the different sections of wat clare was talking about earlier.

1960
04:15:12,691 --> 04:15:17,228
But I think all the items listed there should be included, not just the ones marked in red.

1961
04:15:17,228 --> 04:15:30,875
I think we need to have more discussion about all of this.

1962
04:15:30,875 --> 04:15:33,311
I think this is just the beginning.

1963
04:15:33,311 --> 04:15:51,463
As I mentioned earlier, I don't think that we are being given enough time to really actually talk about some of these issues.

1964
04:15:51,463 --> 04:15:59,304
I think that we should have an opportunity to have an organized discussion about each of te issues that were raised.

1965
04:15:59,304 --> 04:16:24,859
This red tag issue, substantial remodel situation, you know, my heart just bled every time I heard one of the residents when they were told to leave and without any indication of when they were going to be coming back, or if they were coming

1966
04:16:27,665 --> 04:16:27,866
back.

1967
04:16:27,866 --> 04:16:35,774
People are just living day-to-day, issues, which I hard enough and then to have to deal with something like that on top of it, I think, is really unacceptable.

1968
04:16:35,774 --> 04:16:40,979
I think that kind of thing shouldn't happen.

1969
04:16:40,979 --> 04:16:49,754
But I think the property owner needs to pay for the relocation of the residents.

1970
04:16:49,754 --> 04:16:57,620
There's a lot of others in here that I think we need to have some discussion about.

1971
04:16:57,162 --> 04:17:07,439
I'm nt going to limit my suggestions to what I've said tonight due to the lateness of the hour since it is 10:17.

1972
04:17:07,439 --> 04:17:15,460
But I tink we need to have strong anti-displacement policies and protection for people that are renting.

1973
04:17:15,213 --> 04:17:17,348
That's just the beginning.

1974
04:17:17,348 --> 04:17:19,884
I think hopefully with a discussion we can have later on.

1975
04:17:19,884 --> 04:17:22,200
>> mayor o'connor: thank you very much, councilmember.

1976
04:17:22,153 --> 04:17:22,921
Mayor po tem farac?

1977
04:17:22,921 --> 04:17:24,789
>> mayor pro tem farac: thank you.

1978
04:17:24,789 --> 04:17:30,462
First, I want to thank all the public comment speakers in being here at this late hour.

1979
04:17:30,462 --> 04:17:35,660
I will be brief because we still have two more agenda items.

1980
04:17:35,166 --> 04:17:38,970
I think there's two issues here.

1981
04:17:38,970 --> 04:17:48,120
I think it's the preventive, proactiveness of addressing negligent landlords.

1982
04:17:48,120 --> 04:17:55,687
So I think developing policies that can prevent that so this situation doesn't happen.

1983
04:17:55,687 --> 04:18:08,700
And ten also, I think it's what we are currently looking at today and looking about, tenants rights and right to return and stuff like that.

1984
04:18:08,700 --> 04:18:13,370
So I would love to see a draft ordinance.

1985
04:18:13,370 --> 04:18:17,876
And then we can kind of start from there and really look at the details.

1986
04:18:17,876 --> 04:18:34,993
But I think a big element that is missing is the preventive piece of how to address these issues ahead of time, so then we're not giving red notices and people are thrown off.

1987
04:18:34,993 --> 04:18:50,542
I think, two quick ideas I had, one is having something on the website where tenants can complain and we go out and then if landlords don't fix the issue, they don't get charged rent.

1988
04:18:50,542 --> 04:18:52,430
So just something I was thinking, thanks.

1989
04:18:52,430 --> 04:18:53,511
>> mayor o'connor: thank you very much.

1990
04:18:53,511 --> 04:18:54,646
Councilmember milberg?

1991
04:18:54,646 --> 04:18:54,913
>> m.

1992
04:18:54,913 --> 04:18:57,415
Milberg: thank you, mayor.

1993
04:18:57,415 --> 04:18:59,584
Thank you all so much for being here tonight.

1994
04:18:59,584 --> 04:19:16,401
I have met with some of you prior and really appreciate all the honest feelings that you have, and more so, the reason why you are wanting to do this is to prevent it for other people to have it happen to them, which I think is really amazing.

1995
04:19:16,401 --> 04:19:26,770
This is not an easy issue.

1996
04:19:26,770 --> 04:19:40,240
As far as availability for additional ability for right of return clause to no-fault evictions I would definitely encouraged to try to look into that further.

1997
04:19:40,240 --> 04:19:48,499
It was interesting when you were talking, clare, about the basis for at-fault just cause terminations.

1998
04:19:48,499 --> 04:19:57,242
And the currently novato has all 11 versus the city of san rafael and the other has less.

1999
04:19:57,242 --> 04:20:10,788
And I think for me, I didn't hear anybody and maybe it's not really understood by the people who spoke tonight, you all that are afected but I'm curious, where do we want to go with that?

2000
04:20:10,788 --> 04:20:26,771
Because you know, I my opinion, we have to match the horrific nature of what you all are going through with trying to maintain a healthy business environment here.

2001
04:20:26,771 --> 04:20:36,800
So I think, for me, number one, if we could get a better handle on what the enormity of the issue is.

2002
04:20:36,800 --> 04:20:39,830
How many more potential romar courts are we going to be facing?

2003
04:20:39,150 --> 04:20:43,988
I don't have an answer for that myself and I don't know if anybody else on this council does.

2004
04:20:43,988 --> 04:20:52,330
But when I hear about the five days of having to pack up everything, it's heartbreaking.

2005
04:20:52,330 --> 04:21:04,942
But at the same time, at least my opinion was, to do something immediately given the circumstances and given the problems that existed.

2006
04:21:04,942 --> 04:21:16,200
Yes, it wasn't adequate time but it's not a reflection on the city's desire to do the right thing or the city's caring about you as our residents.

2007
04:21:16,200 --> 04:21:20,758
I want to make sure that's understood.

2008
04:21:20,758 --> 04:21:28,333
It was done, we dealt with it because we felt it was an emergent situation.

2009
04:21:28,333 --> 04:21:38,676
So for me, the rectification of this is to hold landlords more accountable, you should never have to feel you are living in a place with mold.

2010
04:21:38,676 --> 04:21:48,453
What we saw in the pictures of the architectural, the building being held up, it just wasn't safe for all of you.

2011
04:21:48,453 --> 04:21:59,530
Yet, the enormity of how many more romar courts are there is frightening for me personally.

2012
04:21:59,530 --> 04:22:02,667
There's a delicate balance in my mind that we have to fulfill.

2013
04:22:02,667 --> 04:22:07,438
We don't want to be totally an enemy of the real estate market here.

2014
04:22:07,438 --> 04:22:24,188
So for me, it's like doing the right thing, but also working with people that are trying to make a living that are doing the right thing and providing appropriate maintenance for their apartments that you have not experienced and for us to be

2015
04:22:24,188 --> 04:22:32,263
able to hold landmark and others similar to landmark accountable is really, for me, the way to move forward.

2016
04:22:32,263 --> 04:22:54,510
I think as far as, I guess I'm still a bit confused and maybe I will spend more time on this, clare, about relying on state law oly and I've heard from a few people, the impact that we would have as far as adopting a more stringent local ordinance

2017
04:22:54,152 --> 04:22:57,722
and what that would really mean.

2018
04:22:57,722 --> 04:23:03,940
Allowing exemptions for small operations, adu ad jdu's I think is worth exploring further, personally.

2019
04:23:03,194 --> 04:23:18,900
If the residents and te people that are supported here tonight don't feel like there's anything that should be taken away, or that's something that is so onerous that leaves a bad feeling, I'm probably in agreement we should leave that.

2020
04:23:18,900 --> 04:23:27,180
I think it's a good counter balance with the real estate, we aren't touching that because we believe all of those are justified.

2021
04:23:27,118 --> 04:23:44,902
As far as the ability, actually right to return, I think that has to definitely be part of what we do here, but as far as expanding temporary rlocation assistance, that is a tough one for me, and for us, I believe, because, you know, at the

2022
04:23:44,902 --> 04:23:50,410
time this happened I felt it was the right thing to do and we were able to provide it quickly.

2023
04:23:50,410 --> 04:23:55,120
But obviously in talking to all of you personally, I know it wasn't enough.

2024
04:23:55,112 --> 04:23:58,616
I'm just curious as to where that money would or should come from?

2025
04:23:58,616 --> 04:24:01,419
I don't know if it will come from the city.

2026
04:24:01,419 --> 04:24:23,641
I think it perhaps could be done from doing this more with the landlords and really holding them accountable but I want to point that out, I don't think it's a full solution there but it doesn't mean your situation doesn't require more attention

2027
04:24:23,641 --> 04:24:28,713
and more heart felt understanding what we could do going forward.

2028
04:24:28,713 --> 04:24:40,558
I respect you so greatly for coming out tonight and speaking your heart, it means a lot to me personally and I quilchena you didn't have to go through this and I will do everything in my power to make sure this doesn't happen again.

2029
04:24:40,558 --> 04:24:42,590
So thank you again for being here.

2030
04:24:42,590 --> 04:24:44,595
>> mayor o'connor: thank you, councilmember.

2031
04:24:44,595 --> 04:24:51,869
I agree practically with everything my colleagues have shared so I'm not going to repeat that.

2032
04:24:51,869 --> 04:24:56,700
I'm interested in reducing, sorry, I'm interested -- it's late.

2033
04:24:56,700 --> 04:24:59,777
I'm interested in reducing exemptions, not increasing them.

2034
04:24:59,777 --> 04:25:02,460
Good landlords can exempt themselves.

2035
04:25:02,146 --> 04:25:20,464
One topic that came up several times that would also tie into a potential registry concept that I would be interested in understanding more is is if there's possibility for automatic inspection process to ensure quality.

2036
04:25:20,464 --> 04:25:29,407
We have heard stories about low quality units and I would like to understand if there's a good program to develop to help identify with those.

2037
04:25:29,407 --> 04:25:35,680
I agree red tag and renovation should only result in temporary displacement.

2038
04:25:35,680 --> 04:25:38,749
Relocation assistance definitely needs to be improved.

2039
04:25:38,749 --> 04:25:41,852
The proposal you mentioned earlier, five months is a strong proposal.

2040
04:25:41,852 --> 04:25:43,821
I would be in support of something like that.

2041
04:25:43,821 --> 04:25:52,863
One thing I would like to talk about further is withdrawal from the market with appropriate notice and defined period.

2042
04:25:52,863 --> 04:26:10,810
I think there would be circumstances withdrawing a property off the market shouldn't require relocation assistance, if somebody is taking something off the market because they are taking care of a parent, I don't think they should have to pay

2043
04:26:10,147 --> 04:26:12,830
five months rent.

2044
04:26:12,216 --> 04:26:17,540
Just being mindful of circumstances like that, not create unnecessary hardships.

2045
04:26:17,154 --> 04:26:18,823
The right of return.

2046
04:26:18,823 --> 04:26:24,929
I would like it to be stronger to the current extent legally permissible.

2047
04:26:24,929 --> 04:26:29,660
And those are just kind of some of my thoughts.

2048
04:26:29,166 --> 04:26:33,700
I'm sure everyone else has additional thoughts.

2049
04:26:33,137 --> 04:26:42,113
I encourage if you have additional thoughts you can share with clare when she puts the draft together please share them with her in writing.

2050
04:26:42,113 --> 04:26:45,316
With that, have you received enough feedback to get started?

2051
04:26:45,316 --> 04:26:45,850
>> yes, I have.

2052
04:26:45,850 --> 04:26:47,284
Thank you.

2053
04:26:47,284 --> 04:26:50,488
>> mayor o'connor: okay, with that we will conclude the item.

2054
04:26:50,488 --> 04:26:52,857
It's after 10:00 p.m.

2055
04:26:52,857 --> 04:26:58,950
Council practice is to just do a post check to see if we have time to take the remaining two items?

2056
04:26:58,950 --> 04:27:00,970
I checked with staff.

2057
04:27:00,970 --> 04:27:03,670
Both will take about five minutes or less.

2058
04:27:03,167 --> 04:27:13,344
And one is time sensitive because it wll impact some pending construction projects clearing mvmcc.

2059
04:27:13,344 --> 04:27:14,110
>> p.

2060
04:27:14,110 --> 04:27:19,250
Eklund: I don't think we've done consent calendar either or council comments.

2061
04:27:19,250 --> 04:27:26,570
>> mayor o'connor: we did the consent calendar at beginning of the meeting but council comments have been pushed to the end.

2062
04:27:26,570 --> 04:27:30,528
If we could take j1 and j2 and not do council comments tonight.

2063
04:27:30,528 --> 04:27:32,290
Council reports.

2064
04:27:32,290 --> 04:27:37,368
Would that work for everybody?

2065
04:27:37,368 --> 04:28:00,424
>> [yes's] >> mayor o'connor: I will move to j1, adopt rsolution amending limited term retire to new appointment tim burke as interim pblic works director under government code section 2121 adjusting his salary pursuant to the sit yez's current

2066
04:28:00,424 --> 04:28:04,862
salary schedule and ratifying, with us is greg canfield.

2067
04:28:04,862 --> 04:28:24,140
>> good evening, tonight's request adopt resolution amending and ratifying the limited term retired annuitant appointment of tim burke as interim public works director under government code section 21221h.

2068
04:28:24,115 --> 04:28:24,482
Mr.

2069
04:28:24,482 --> 04:28:42,299
Burke was first appointmented in december 2024 to provide the recruitment of a permanent public works director, his original appointment anticipated ending on june 30th, 2025, or sooner if permanent hire was made, however to maintain continuity

2070
04:28:42,299 --> 04:28:48,405
of operations his service will extend beyond that date until the recruitment is completed.

2071
04:28:48,405 --> 04:28:52,309
It's important that this must comply with calpers requirements.

2072
04:28:52,309 --> 04:28:55,946
The appointment must be limited term to a vacant position.

2073
04:28:55,946 --> 04:29:01,719
The retiree must have the specialized skills needed to perform the work.

2074
04:29:01,719 --> 04:29:05,956
City must be actively recruiting for a replacement.

2075
04:29:05,956 --> 04:29:14,932
The retiree cannot work more than 960 hours in a fiscal year across all calpers employers.

2076
04:29:14,932 --> 04:29:27,745
The retiree cannot receive benefits or incentives beyond the hourly rate that complies with the adopted salary schedule.

2077
04:29:27,745 --> 04:29:34,840
His continued appointment meets all these requirements making his service comply apt with calpers rules.

2078
04:29:34,251 --> 04:29:37,540
Staff recommends adoption of the resolution amending and ratifying mr.

2079
04:29:37,521 --> 04:29:38,823
Burke's appointment.

2080
04:29:38,823 --> 04:29:41,292
That's it and I'm happy to take any questions might have.

2081
04:29:41,292 --> 04:29:44,280
>> mayor o'connor: thank you very much, greg.

2082
04:29:44,128 --> 04:29:46,263
If you have questions please use the raise hand button.

2083
04:29:46,263 --> 04:29:48,465
Not seeing any.

2084
04:29:48,465 --> 04:29:49,400
We will go to public comment.

2085
04:29:49,400 --> 04:29:51,335
Not seeing any.

2086
04:29:51,335 --> 04:29:54,738
Zoom, public comment if you would like to speak.

2087
04:29:54,738 --> 04:29:56,600
>> clerk: there's no raised hands.

2088
04:29:56,140 --> 04:30:00,778
>> mayor o'connor: thank you, closing pblic comment, bringing it back to council for motion and second.

2089
04:30:00,778 --> 04:30:01,450
>> p.

2090
04:30:01,450 --> 04:30:01,780
Eklund: I will move it.

2091
04:30:01,478 --> 04:30:03,914
>> mayor pro tem farac: I will second it.

2092
04:30:03,914 --> 04:30:08,352
>> clerk: I will say mark moved itment >> mayor o'connor: laura, if you would call the vote please.

2093
04:30:08,352 --> 04:30:08,986
>> clerk: eklund?

2094
04:30:08,986 --> 04:30:09,253
>> p.

2095
04:30:09,253 --> 04:30:11,822
Eklund: aye.

2096
04:30:11,822 --> 04:30:12,423
>> clerk: jacobs?

2097
04:30:12,423 --> 04:30:12,690
>> k.

2098
04:30:12,690 --> 04:30:13,900
Jacobs: aye.

2099
04:30:13,224 --> 04:30:14,658
>> milberg?

2100
04:30:14,658 --> 04:30:14,925
>> m.

2101
04:30:14,925 --> 04:30:16,600
Milberg: aye.

2102
04:30:16,600 --> 04:30:17,261
>> farac?

2103
04:30:17,261 --> 04:30:19,797
>> mayor pro tem farac: aye.

2104
04:30:19,797 --> 04:30:20,640
>> clerk: and mayor o' connor.

2105
04:30:20,531 --> 04:30:27,238
>> mayor o'connor: aye.

2106
04:30:27,238 --> 04:30:38,382
Final item is j2, considering possibilitily take action to designate a voting representative and up to two at gnat voting representatives for the league of california cities.

2107
04:30:38,382 --> 04:30:38,515
Laura?

2108
04:30:38,515 --> 04:30:48,359
>> clerk: thank you, mayor this is to select a voting delegate and alternate for the annual league of california cities conference.

2109
04:30:48,359 --> 04:30:51,395
This year councilmember milberg and jacobs will be in attendance.

2110
04:30:51,395 --> 04:30:54,565
With that I will turn it over to council for discussion.

2111
04:30:54,565 --> 04:30:55,299
>> p.

2112
04:30:55,299 --> 04:30:59,937
Eklund: I will move jacobs be the voting delegate and milberg is the alternate.

2113
04:30:59,937 --> 04:31:05,309
>> mayor pro tem farac: I'll second that.

2114
04:31:05,309 --> 04:31:06,710
Do you want to do public comment?

2115
04:31:06,710 --> 04:31:10,800
>> mayor o'connor: use the raise hand button if you have any questions.

2116
04:31:10,214 --> 04:31:12,820
No questions.

2117
04:31:12,182 --> 04:31:13,417
Mr.

2118
04:31:13,417 --> 04:31:13,550
Jacobs?

2119
04:31:13,550 --> 04:31:14,151
>> k.

2120
04:31:14,151 --> 04:31:17,421
Jacobs: my understanding is voting will be on friday?

2121
04:31:17,421 --> 04:31:29,600
And I will be leaving early on friday.

2122
04:31:29,600 --> 04:31:32,670
I can be te primary but I will not be here on friday.

2123
04:31:32,670 --> 04:31:41,111
>> mayor o'connor: that's fine.

2124
04:31:41,111 --> 04:31:42,713
Any other questions?

2125
04:31:42,713 --> 04:31:45,149
I will go to public comment, any public comment?

2126
04:31:45,149 --> 04:31:46,784
No?

2127
04:31:46,784 --> 04:31:46,917
Zoom?

2128
04:31:46,917 --> 04:31:47,985
>> clerk: no raised hands.

2129
04:31:47,985 --> 04:31:50,754
>> mayor o'connor: bringing it back to council.

2130
04:31:50,754 --> 04:31:56,560
We have a motion and second, jacobs as primary with councilmember milberg as the alternate.

2131
04:31:56,560 --> 04:31:58,696
Laura, I you would call the vote?

2132
04:31:58,696 --> 04:31:59,430
>> clerk: councilmember eklund?

2133
04:31:59,430 --> 04:31:59,697
>> p.

2134
04:31:59,697 --> 04:32:01,365
Eklund: aye.

2135
04:32:01,365 --> 04:32:01,966
>> clerk: jacobs?

2136
04:32:01,966 --> 04:32:02,990
>> k.

2137
04:32:02,232 --> 04:32:02,866
Jacobs: aye.

2138
04:32:02,866 --> 04:32:03,467
>> clerk: milberg?

2139
04:32:03,467 --> 04:32:03,734
>> m.

2140
04:32:03,734 --> 04:32:04,902
Milberg: aye.

2141
04:32:04,902 --> 04:32:05,690
>> clerk: farac?

2142
04:32:05,602 --> 04:32:07,400
>> mayor pro tem farac: aye.

2143
04:32:07,104 --> 04:32:07,738
>> clerk: mayor o' connor?

2144
04:32:07,738 --> 04:32:10,441
>> mayor o'connor: aye.

2145
04:32:10,441 --> 04:32:18,248
Move to adjournment, the next meeting is september 9th, 2025, does council have anyone they would like to adjourn in memory of?

2146
04:32:18,248 --> 04:32:27,558
I do have one person I want to close in memory of, diane thompson.

2147
04:32:27,558 --> 04:32:33,897
Diane moved to the bejia neighborhood in 1986 and quickly became a valuable member of the community.

2148
04:32:33,897 --> 04:32:40,400
Over the years built up a large group of friends.

2149
04:32:40,104 --> 04:32:47,440
She was responsible for the newsletter and neighborhood tefl directory.

2150
04:32:47,440 --> 04:32:53,000
Diane was a main stain I bahia over the years and she will be sorely