HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-16-2017 MinutesCouncil Minutes
City Hall, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo
Thursday, February 16, 2017
Special Meeting of the City Council
CALL TO ORDER
A Special Meeting of the San Luis Obispo City Council was called to order on Thursday,
February, 16, 2017 at 6:08 p.m. in the Veterans Hall, located at 801 Grand Ave, San Luis
Obispo, California, by Mayor Harmon.
ROLL CALL
Council Members
Present: Council Members Carlyn Christianson, Aaron Gomez, Andy Pease, Vice Mayor
Dan Rivoire, and Mayor Heidi Harmon.
Council Members
Absent: None
City Staff
Present: Christine Dietrick, City Attorney; Derek Johnson, Assistant City Manager; and
Carrie Gallagher, City Clerk; were present at Roll Call. Other staff members
presented reports or responded to questions as indicated in the minutes.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Council Member Andy Pease led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Welcome, Introductions, Workshop Format Mayor & Council, Facilitators
Mayor Harmon and Council Members spoke individually, welcoming members of the
community.
Brief History of Rental Housing Inspection Program and Current Data Staff
Community Development Director Michael Codron outlined the history of the neighborhood
wellness program with use of a PowerPoint presentation.
Community Engagement on Issue Identification and Proposed Solutions Public
Samson Blackwell, Cal Poly Human Resources, led engagement activities, inviting members of
the public to share actionable proposals to Council.
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TMRHIP Issues as Identified by the Community:
Legality of escalation
Tenant relations
Unfair financial impact
Invasion of privacy
Inefficient use of time and financial resources
Tenant displacement
Inconsistency in the interpretation by staff
Overreach of code enforcement
Decreased affordable housing
Proposals to Correct Identified Issues of the RHIP:
Complete repeal
Free self -certification program via safety list provided by City at time business license is issued
Complaint -driven system - pending repeal
Focus on critical issues and implement controls to minimize exposures
Multi -pronged approach
Narrowed enforcement limiting inspection focus to historically high code violations
Provide tenants with rights and responsibilities with signed checklist annually
Deregulation to include incentive based program
Community to share fees with landlord
Presentation of Group Representatives to Council:
Jeanne Kinney, suggested competitive housing stock to include legalized tiny houses and city
fines for improvements.
Duane (No last name provided), requested repeal of RHIP with no alternative and return to
standard code enforcement.
Graham Updegrove, supports a two-step process to include repeal of RHIP and implement
revamped complaint -driven process to include standardized staff response time, tenant advocacy
program, and an amnesty program addressing unpermitted construction.
Eric Veium, suggested repeal of RHIP and annual distribution of educational mailers to tenants,
including a health and safety checklist.
Garrett (No last name provided), supports repeal of the RHIP and implementation of an incentive
program.
Nicki Anderson, acknowledged code enforcement costs, suggested an equal Cal Poly coalition
with City, educational resources for tenants and RHIP repeal.
Cynthia Bosche, supports a RHIP repeal and replacement with a comprehensive education
program for tenants and property owners, a voluntary safe housing certification program to
include the cost of new program in annual business license fee, in addition to a City created
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safety checklist.
Mike Neland, suggested self -certification with safety checklist.
Individual Public Comment
Public Comments:
Paul Rys, San Luis Obispo, suggested Council better communicate tenant rights.
Public
Nick Andre, San Luis Obispo, believes the current program is making the issue worse and
requested complete repeal, supportive of a complaint -driven replacement program.
Andrew Brown, expressed appreciation to Council, requesting tenant resources be readily
available.
Julia Pierce, expressed quality of life concerns.
Mike Baumberger, San Luis Obispo, supports repeal, noting spike in complaints following the
hiring of two new code enforcement officers.
Rick Rengel, San Luis Obispo, encouraged Council to direct staff to reconsider zoning code
regulations.
Gary Linney, San Luis Obispo, opposed to repeal of RHIP, urged Council to consider protection
of tenant's rights.
Steve Hicks, San Luis Obispo, does not support repeal, requested code enforcement officer
education to increase compliance.
Brett Strickland, spoke regarding over -inclusion, suggested the end user will pay the price.
Kathie Walker, San Luis Obispo, spoke in support of repeal; suggested inspections go beyond
health and safety code.
Christina Pierce, suggested issue was created by local cost of living and City's unwillingness to
consider infill projects.
Stuart Jenkins, spoke in support of repeal and replacement.
End of Public Comments ---
Discuss Next Steps
Council
Council discussion ensued, directing staff to return with an ordinance repealing the existing
ordinance
ACTION: MOTION BY VICE -MAYOR RIVOIRE, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER
PEASE, CARRIED 5-0 to suspend new mandatory inspections, to conclude existing code
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compliance cases under the program.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned to the next Regular City Council Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday,
February 21, 2017 at 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., in the Council Chamber, 990 Palm Street, San
Luis Obispo, California.
Carrie Gallagher
City Clerk
APPROVED BY COUNCIL: 04/04/2017