The Redwood City Council is set to consider resuming work on antidisplacement programs, previously put on pause until the status of a rent control ballot initiative — which failed to get the necessary signatures in July 2024 — was determined.
The citizen’s initiative for rent control failed to meet November ballot qualifications after review of signatures by the County Elections Office determined many were not registered voters within the city’s jurisdiction. The measure, dubbed the Fair and Affordable Housing Ordinance, sought to cap raises in rent by 5% each year at most and strengthen protections to prevent unjust evictions of tenants.
Now, staff is recommending restarting work on one facet of the city’s antidisplacement strategy, tenant protections, and continuing the pause on further mobile home preservation work, according to a staff report.
If recommendations are approved by the City Council at its upcoming Jan. 27 meeting, Redwood City would move forward with drafting a tenant protections ordinance that includes relocation assistance, minimum lease terms, just cause protections and a right of return policy to be determined.
The staff report cites state laws like Assembly Bill 1482, which set a statewide annual rent cap for eligible properties, and Senate Bill 567, which increases displacement protections for tenants. These laws provide tenants with greater protections than what was in place when the original antidisplacement strategy was put in place, according to the staff report.
“While this approach may not include every tenant protection sought by some stakeholder groups, it represents a balanced strategy that considers feedback from a diverse range of stakeholders and progresses the work in a timely manner,” the report said.
Focus group work on the right-to-return issue would begin spring 2025 and the ordinance would be considered by the summer or fall.
Staff also recommends that the timeline for a planned Mobile Home Ordinance and Mobile Home Needs Assessment is revisited during the 2026-27 budget process. Progress has been made on protecting mobile home residents both statewide and within the city, where all mobile home parks have been rezoned to a specific category.
“With respect to tenants residing in mobile home parks, the Legislature has implemented measures to strengthen protections for these residents,” the report said.
As part of conversation around the city’s antidisplacement strategy, staff will also provide the City Council with an update on various Redwood City housing initiatives, including the housing element and annual action plan.
Many of the housing-related goals established by the antidisplacement strategy have been achieved by the city — including a first applicant to the affordable housing preservation program — the report said.
Other achieved goals include the Project Sentinel Redwood City tenant and landlord counseling services project, which offers dispute resolution services to residents. The City Council will receive an update on that program at its Jan. 26 meeting as well.
The City Council meeting will be 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 27, 1017 Middlefield Road, Redwood City.
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