HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-16-2014 SS1 Priest3COUNCIL MEETING:
ITEM NO.:
Christian, Kevin
From: Marx, Jan
Sent: Monday, December 15, 2014 3:02 PM
To: Donnie Priest
Cc: Mejia, Anthony DEC 15
Subject: RE: Rental Inspection Program
Thank you for your message. I am including our city clerk in this response, so your email is posted on the city website as
agenda correspondence.
Best,
Jan Marx
Mayor
X
Office of the City Council
990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 -3249
E jmarx @slocity.org
T 805.781.7120
slocity.org
From: Donnie Priest [donniepriest @hotmail.com]
Sent: Monday, December 15, 2014 1:31 PM
To: Marx, Jan
Subject: RE: Rental Inspection Program
DEC 15 2014
Jan,
Thanks for the reply. I appreciate all you do for the city. I found the report online, and read it. I still think it is
a special tax. I should also point out that from your report, the 13146.2 provision states:
(b) A city, county, or district which inspects a structure
pursuant to subdivision (a) may charge and collect a fee for the
inspection from the owner of the structure in an amount, as
determined by the city, county, or district, sufficient to pay its
costs of that inspection.
However, you are not charging the specific owner for the individual inspection, but instead,
charging generally. Thus, for the years that no inspection is provided, a person pays for nothing that this person
received. Thus, since this exceeds the direct individual costs involved, this is a tax and not a fee. Since this is a
specific program, it is a special tax and not a general tax, in my humble opinion.
Hopefully your city attorney and Councilman Ashbaugh, who I believe is a lawyer, can figure this out.
Thank you again. The housing conditions really need to be addressed. Years ago, we had a house down the
street that the neighbors called "the crack house" because it had a sofa on the roof. This house has subsequently
been sold and the new owner really did a lot to improve it. I have tried to balance keeping the rental prices
affordable, the neighbors, and my own pocketbook when evaluating everything with my rental house. I likely
don't charge enough rent, but this also limits many of the associated issues with rents that are not proportional to
the income and cashflow of the residents that the city has... still, renters are quite different than
homeowners. That beings said, they have just as many rights to live and be treated fairly.
Thank you again,
Donnie
From: imarxgslocity.org
To: donniepriestghotmail.com
CC: amejia(2slocity.org
Subject: RE: Rental Inspection Program
Date: Mon, 15 Dec 2014 14:52:00 +0000
Thank you for your message. I am including our city clerk in this response so your email can be posted on the city
website as agenda correspondence.
Jan Marx
Mayor
Office of the City Council
990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 -3249
E jmarx @slocity.org
T 805.781.7120
slocity.org
From: Donnie Priest [donniepriest @hotmail.com]
Sent: Sunday, December 14, 2014 4:54 PM
To: Marx, Jan; Rivoire, Dan; Christianson, Carlyn; Carpenter, Dan; Ashbaugh, John
Subject: Rental Inspection Program
Dear Council members,
I read in the T -T that the council is considering a rental house home inspection program. Assuming that what
the article said is correct, I am concerned about the fees charged. The fee appears to me to be a special tax, and
thus, is subject to certain requirements based upon state law. I am voicing my concern with regard to
this fee /special tax being considered upon rental owners, unless this tax goes through the requirements based
upon state law, which I believe is having two - thirds of the voters approve the tax.
Thank you for your time and consideration for improving the city while still following the local, state, and
federal laws.
Respectfully,
Donnie Priest