TITLE
Recommendation to request City Manager to work with all appropriate departments to include commercial small business rent relief as part of any future rent relief funding initiatives provided by the City.
DISCUSSION
On March 19, 2020, the State of California and City of Long Beach instituted emergency orders as a response to control the spread of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). At this meeting, the City Council directed the City Attorney to draft and submit an Ordinance amending the temporary prohibition on evictions of residential and commercial tenants due to non-payment of rent resulting from adverse impacts associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
As part of the discussion, the City Council directed the City Manager to report back with a summary of available assistance programs for both residential and commercial property owners impacted by the ordinance, including:
(a) relief programs for property owners to offset the loss of rental income,
(b) resources to prevent foreclosure,
(c) property tax relief programs,
(d) access to affordable loan funds, and
(e) legislative strategies to encourage State legislation providing such relief programs.
This Ordinance was amended by the City Council again on May 26, 2020, extending the rent deferment period for an additional 60 days (to July 31, 2020), and the repayment period an additional 12 months (to July 31, 2021).
As COVID-19 infection numbers have continued to rise, however, more needs to be done to ensure the economic viability of our small business sector which faces continued hardships and additional closures. While the City has done a great service in identifying resources for our commercial renters and property owners, the City also needs to include these same parties in any future rent relief funding from the City. Thus, as we continue to work to identify funding for residential rent relief, we should also set aside a portion of any such available City funding to commercial small business rent re...
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