The Pacifica City Council this week balked at a proposal to implement an emergency just-cause eviction ordinance, although threats of rent control and similar regulations remain in play.
At its Oct. 26 meeting, the council declined to schedule a vote on the item next month. If the proposal had advanced to the Nov. 9 agenda and been approved, the law would have taken effect immediately and applied to all rental housing regardless of size, type or year built.
Councilman John Keener proposed this urgency measure to address pending notices to vacate given to residents at Pacific Skies Mobile Home Park, which, according to a city report, appears to be the impetus for the proposal.
Last month, Pacifica’s city council scheduled a study session to gather public comments on rent control and how it affects the rental housing industry, and this could include eviction-delay measures harmful to rental property owners.
CAA Tri-County, as well as members of the rental housing industry in Pacifica, spoke against any consideration of just-cause eviction.
Just-cause eviction is poor public policy that jeopardizes neighborhood safety and limits the property owners’ ability to keep renters safe. Such an ordinance would require rental owners to prove “cause” in court or, in some cases, before a political body every time they need to remove a problem resident such as a drug dealer, violent criminal or individual causing a significant nuisance to the community.
The proposal also does not address residents’ concerns about the need for more affordable housing.
Mayor Karen Ervin and Councilman Mike O’Neill declined to support Councilman Keener’s motion to place the emergency ordinance on the Nov. 9 agenda. Instead, the council unanimously directed the city manager to facilitate a conversation between residents and Pacific Skies Mobile Home Park to address pending disputes.
This made Pacifica the fourth city in Silicon Valley, and third in San Mateo County, to reject just cause in the past three months.
Still, the threat of rent control and related regulations still loom in this city south of San Francisco.
Last month, Pacifica’s city council scheduled a study session to gather public comments on rent control and how it affects the rental housing industry, and this could include eviction-delay measures harmful to rental property owners.
CAA Tri-County will notify members once the meeting date is confirmed and encourages them to attend the meeting and engage in the discussion.