On May 19, 2020, the City Council gave direction to 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 COVID-19. As part of the discussion, 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.
The purpose of this agenda item is to provide the City Council with an update on assistance programs for property owners impacted by the COVID-19 emergency, per the City Council‘s request on May 19, 2020.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Richard F. Anthony and Finance Director John Gross on May 29, 2020.
STATEMENT OF URGENCY
On May 19, 2020, the City Council requested an update on assistance programs available to property owners at the June 2, 2020 City Council meeting.
EQUITY LENS
The City has incorporated the Equity Toolkit into this recommendation as requested by the City Council on April 21, 2020. This recommendation will provide information regarding assistance programs for property owners impacted by the COVID-19 emergency.
This recommendation is to receive and file a report on assistance programs for property owners impacted by the COVID-19 emergency. This recommendation has some moderate staffing impact beyond the normal budgeted scope of duties related to the research and preparation of the report and may require additional staffing or contractor support to implement programs directed by the City Council. This activity is consistent with existing City Council priorities related to the COVID-19 Economic Relief Package approved by the City Council April 14, 2020. There is no local job impact associated with this recommendation.