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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-16-2017 - FioreRECEIVED COUNCIL MEETING: � ITEM NO.: n� FEB 16 2017 From: Dana F [ Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2017 1:00 PM To: E-mail Council Website <emailcouncilftocity.or > Subject: Rental Housing Inspection Program Dear Mayor and City Council Members, I am writing you to ask you to repeal the Rental Housing Inspections program. This program was ill conceived and is unfair to property owners and tenants alike. The program unfairly targets landlords, like myself, who own a single family dwelling as a source of supplemental income. I am not a slumlord, rather a retired teacher and a widow on a limited income. I am trying to provide safe and affordable housing for a young family in a nice neighborhood. The high cost of this program will have to eventually be shared by my tenants should it continue. The fact that the program excludes the many large apartment complexes in our city seems to indicate that the city is not really interested in the welfare of tenants, but in lining its coffers with additional income from individual citizens. I already pay thousands of dollars in property taxes to the city. Approximately 25% of my rental income goes to pay property taxes. If anything, the cost of this program should be paid from property taxes and shared by all. A program that seeks to protects consumers should not be charged to the people that it seeks to protect. Heath inspections are not charged to restaurants, but are funded by all taxpayers. Why then, are the costs of this program put upon the homeowner? The program is unnecessary and an invasion of privacy. If tenants have complaints, there is already a system in place that allows them to take action. Why is the city insisting on creating a problem where none existed? Over the last few years we have seen increasing interference, and attempts to control the lives of law abiding citizens of San Luis Obispo, from our elected city officials. The recent controls on vacation rentals is another example. I hope that the new city council, and our new mayor, will choose to go in a different direction. Thank you for your consideration, Dana Fiore San Luis Obispo