HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-05-2015 PH1 OrtizRECEIVED
MAY 01 X015
From: Juventino Ortiz [mailto:iavaiuv @me.com] SLO CITY CLERK
Sent: Friday, May 01, 2015 3:52 PM `_: �CIL MEETING: OS - 0t> — 15
To: E -mail Council Website ITEM NO.:
Subject: Support of Rental Inspection Program -City Council Agenda item - P4 I — -
Honorable Council members:
I am asking that you unanimously support the Rental Inspection Program for the City of San Luis Obispo
as a more proactive measure to improve wellness and renter safety in residential neighborhoods.
This very important program will improve the health and safety of renters in residential neighborhoods
and place more accountability of property owners using residential homes as commercial rental
properties. Many of these commercial residential rentals result in unsafe and illegal property
conversions. These conditions are most often left unaddressed by absentee property owners or less
scrupulous owners.
The City of San Luis Obispo has an extraordinary percentage of residential neighborhood rental units
with absentee owners compared to owner occupied dwellings. This disproportionate number is
characterized by higher occupant densities well beyond the carrying capacity of street parking,
increasing demand for city services and often causing more noise and disruptive behavior in residential
neighborhoods.
This type of rental inspection program is utilized in many communities in California and other areas of
this country especially in areas with university /college student populations and high percentage of
renters.
Arguments against this type of program because of threats towards privacy and property rights or being
detrimental to renters are ill informed and bias. The rental of residential properties resulting in
commercial gain especially by absentee owner investors should be regulated and monitored for health
and safety and code enforcement just as a restaurant /bar business is regulated and monitored.
The City of San Luis Obispo is deserving of the same consideration as other communities with similar
issues of concern in residential neighborhoods. This legally acceptable, state of the art, community
standard approach is supported by residents, Cal Poly University and Cuesta College administrators and
City staff to address a major goal to improve residential wellness and health and safety of renters in San
Luis Obispo.
Please look beyond your individual opinions and bias and exercise your leadership as a representative
body for all of the residents in the City of San Luis Obispo by supporting this very important and needed
program. The alternative of non - support simply will expose our city to continued neighborhood issues
and inactive leadership.
Unanimous support of this Rental Inspection Program will go a long way to sending a message from
each of you that neighborhood wellness and renter health and safety is important in the City of San Luis
Obispo.
Respectfully,
Juventino Ortiz
San Luis Obispo, CA