Government corner wrap up: Postcards sent to remind about rent control

Posted on April 16, 2018

By Sentinel staff report
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/government-and-politics/20180413/government-corner-wrap-up-postcards-sent-to-remind-about-rent-control

APRIL 13, 2018, SANTA CRUZ >> Santa Cruz city officials mailed 1,000 postcards to some of the city’s landlords on April 5 to alert them to the city’s temporary rent control and just-cause eviction ordinances. The city expects to send an estimated 4,000 emails to additional landlords for notification purposes.

The effort came at the direction of the Santa Cruz City Council last month, as the council delayed presentation of housing project-related recommendations until June. The city’s informational page on the emergency housing ordinances, at cityofsantacruz.com/rentcontroljustcause, also has been updated with a form letter tenants can download and give to their landlord to notify them of the laws and a frequently asked questions section in Spanish.

Landlords seeking to raise rents above the city’s temporary 2 percent increase cap are now able to find instructions to apply for the waiver on the city page.

The Santa Cruz City Council met on Tuesday. The council approved several items, including a new fee-for-electric-vehicle charging pilot program and beginning work to rename Cowell Beach/Annex Parking Lot as “Jack O’Neill Way.” The council voted to delay moving forward to oppose Senate Bill 827 “Planning and Zoning: Transit-Rich Housing Bonus” until receiving more information.