HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-07-14 - AGENDA REPORTS - CONSIDERATION OF AN URGENCY ORD 20-3 TO EXTEND THE (2)0
Agenda Item: 5
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CITY OF SANTA CLARITA AGENDA REPORT
CONSENT CALENDAR
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:1
DATE: July 14, 2020
SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF AN URGENCY ORDINANCE OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA,
AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 20-3 TO EXTEND THE
TEMPORARY PROHIBITION ON EVICTIONS OF RESIDENTIAL
AND COMMERCIAL TENANTS ARISING FROM FINANCIAL
IMPACTS OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND RENT PAYBACK
PROVISIONS
DEPARTMENT: City Manager's Office
PRESENTER: Joseph Montes
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council introduce, waive further reading, and adopt an urgency ordinance via a 4/5 vote of
the City Council entitled, "AN URGENCY ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 20-3 TO
EXTEND THE TEMPORARY PROHIBITION ON EVICTIONS OF RESIDENTIAL AND
COMMERCIAL TENANTS ARISING FROM FINANCIAL IMPACTS OF THE COVID-19
PANDEMIC AND RENT PAYBACK PROVISIONS" and find that the recommended action is
exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to State CEQA
Guidelines per Section 15061(b)(3), the General Rule that CEQA only applies to projects that
may have an effect on the environment.
BACKGROUND
On March 31, 2020, the City Council adopted an urgency ordinance (No. 20-3) providing certain
eviction protection between March 4 and May 31 for residential and commercial tenants as a
result of financial impacts resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. That moratorium was
extended via Ordinance No. 20-4 through the end of June and included a nine month rent
payback provision for deferred rent. The City Council indicated it did not wish to be subject to
Los Angeles County's (County) eviction moratorium because the rent payback provision differed
from the City of Santa Clarita's (City) moratorium. On June 23, 2020, the County extended its
moratorium through July 31, 2020. That moratorium has been in effect in the City since July 1,
2020.
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The attached urgency ordinance would extend the City's moratorium so that the moratorium
period extends from March 4 through August 31, so that its provisions will govern over those of
the County moratorium.
There is currently a court order in effect prohibiting the commencement of new unlawful
detainer (eviction) cases. Additionally, there are several bills in Sacramento that would provide
eviction protection and rent deferral on a uniform statewide basis, but none have yet been
adopted by the State legislature.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION
Other action as determined by City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
No financial impact.
ATTACHMENTS
Urgency Ordinance
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5.a
ORDINANCE NO. 20-
AN URGENCY ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA
CLARITA, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 20-3 TO EXTEND THE
TEMPORARY PROHIBITION ON EVICTIONS OF RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL
TENANTS ARISING FROM FINANCIAL IMPACTS OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND
RENT PAYBACK PROVISIONS
WHEREAS, on March 4, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of
emergency within the State of California ("State") due to the threat posed by Novel Coronavirus
("COVID-19"); and
WHEREAS, on March 4, 2020, the Los Angeles County Health Officer issued a
Declaration of Local Health Emergency due to the introduction of COVID-19 cases to Los
Angeles County; and
WHEREAS, on March 4, 2020, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors ('Board")
concurred and issued a Proclamation ("Proclamation") declaring a local emergency within the
County of Los Angeles regarding the imminent spread of COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, on March 16, 2020, Governor Newsom issued an Executive Order that
authorizes local governments to halt evictions for renters, encourages financial institutions to
slow foreclosures, and protects renters and homeowners against utility shutoffs for Californians
affected by COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, on March 19, 2020, Kathryn Barger, Chair of the Los Angeles County
Board of Supervisors issued an Executive Order prohibiting residential and commercial evictions
in the unincorporated portions of the County under certain circumstances; and
WHEREAS, on March 31, 2020, the Santa Clarita City Council adopted an urgency
ordinance establishing an eviction moratorium to provide protection to residential and
commercial tenants impacted by COVID-19 between March 4 and May 31. The City Council
extended that moratorium through June 30 via Ordinance No. 20-4; and
WHEREAS, as a result of the public health emergency and the precautions recommended
by health authorities, many residential and commercial tenants in the City have experienced and
continue to experience sudden and unexpected income loss; and
WHEREAS, further economic impacts are anticipated, leaving residential and
commercial tenants potentially unable to pay rent and vulnerable to eviction; and
WHEREAS, during this local emergency, and in the interest of protecting the public
health and preventing transmission of COVID-19, it is essential to avoid unnecessary housing
displacement, and prevent housed individuals from falling into homelessness, as well as facilitate
the rapid return to business and generation of tax revenues and provision of retail services to the
Santa Clarita community by commercial tenants.
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5.a
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Ordinance No. 20-3 is hereby amended to extend the eviction moratorium
period so that it is in place from March 4 through August 31, 2020.
SECTION 2. The City Clerk shall certify the adoption of this ordinance and shall
cause this ordinance to be published by title and summary in the manner required by law.
SECTION 3. For the reasons set forth above in the recitals, this Ordinance is an
urgency ordinance and shall take effect immediately upon adoption by a 4/5 vote of the City
Council, due to the immediate need to protect the public health, safety and welfare.
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this 14th day of July 2020.
MAYOR
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK
DATE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss.
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA )
I, Mary Cusick, City Clerk of the City of Santa Clarita, do hereby certify that the
foregoing Urgency Ordinance 20- was duly introduced and adopted at the regular meeting
of the City Council on the 14th day of July 2020, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: COUNCIL,MEMBERS:
NOES: COUNCIL,MEMBERS:
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS:
AND I FURTHER CERTIFY that the foregoing is the original of Ordinance No. _
and was published in The Signal newspaper in accordance with State Law (G.C. 40806).
CITY CLERK
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