February 16, 2025 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Santa Monica City Council Considers Landlord-Tenant Ordinances:

The Santa Monica City Council grappled with a few potential changes to the Relocation Assistance and Tenant Harassment Ordinances during its regular public meeting held on Tuesday at City Hall.

As part of a first reading, council members offered several suggestions to city staff to prepare ordinances creating certain changes to policies governing landlord-tenant relations in Santa Monica.

Specifically, the new ordinances, once finally adopted by the council, would increase permanent relocation benefits while also eliminating the date restriction in determining eligibility for increased relocation benefits for seniors, disabled, and families with children.

Previously, seniors, disabled, and families with children were allowed increased relocation benefits only if they occupied units as of 1999.

“Basically, Santa Monica has fallen behind in the overall relocation amounts,” Adam Radinsky, the head of the city’s Consumer Protection Unit, told council members about why permanent relocation benefits should be increased. Currently, Santa Monica trails cities such as Los Angeles and West Hollywood.

The proposed new amounts for regular relocation assistance under the new ordinance would be $7,800 for those living in single or bachelor apartments, $12,050 for one-bedroom units, and $16,300 for two or more bedrooms.

As for qualified relocation assistance, the proposed amounts are $8,900 (single), $13,850 (one-bedroom), and $18,750 (two-plus bedrooms), respectively.

Additionally, certain code section references within the relocation ordinance would be corrected and council members hope to extend tenant harassment protections to all tenants covered by just cause eviction rules.

Radinsky said the corrections to the code section references were merely for updating how an eviction would trigger a permanent relocation.

“Although it is not part of the Rent Control Board’s recommendations, staff suggests that Council amend (the relevant) Municipal Code Section … to reflect the current and correct sections of the City Charter for evictions that trigger permanent relocation,” Radinsky wrote in his staff report.

As for just cause evictions, in light of Measure RR, all tenants would be protected from potential landlord harassment, instead of merely rent control tenants.

Council member Kevin McKeown hoped staff would come back to the dais with an ordinance that addressed the potential “aftermath of relocations.” McKeown considered scenarios where it might be profitable for a landlord to force out a rent control tenant and then re-rent the same unit at a much higher rate.

Even more, McKeown hoped staff could look into how the city might prevent confusion in a situation where an occupant would move into a unit believing it to be an apartment but would later find out they were instead living in a condominium.

By living in a condo, the occupant would be exposed to a much higher assessment rate; apparently, according to McKeown, there have been instances where someone indeed moved into a unit believing it to be an apartment, but when the first-year assessment was made due, that occupant would only then find out they were actually living in a condo.

The council unanimously agreed to direct staff to draft the relevant ordinances in accordance with the suggested recommendations presented to and by members of the dais; Council member Bobby Shriver was absent from the Sept. 13 meeting.

Keep Up-To-Date With The Mirror:

Follow The Mirror on Twitter: twitter.com/SMMirror

Follow The Mirror on Facebook: facebook.com/SMMirror

in News
<>Related Posts

Country Club Donates $1M for Palisades Recovery

February 14, 2025

February 14, 2025

The club has encouraged members and partners to contribute to an established fund The Riviera Country Club has pledged $1...

UCLA Suspends Pro-Palestinian Student Groups Following Protest at UC Regent’s Home

February 14, 2025

February 14, 2025

Chancellor Cites Potential Student Code Violations; Student Groups Reject Allegations UCLA has suspended two pro-Palestinian student organizations following a protest...

Black History Greens Festival to Celebrate Community Legacy of Virginia Avenue Park

February 13, 2025

February 13, 2025

The free community event is part of Santa Monica’s Black History Month celebrations, with the 2025 theme, “Roots and Reflections:...

Flash Flood Warning Issued for Burn Areas, LAFD Officer Swept off Road by Debris

February 13, 2025

February 13, 2025

Storm Damage Closes Pacific Coast Highway, Officials Urge Caution Not even members of the LAFD are being spared from the...

Film Review: Love Hurts

February 13, 2025

February 13, 2025

FILM/ REVIEWLOVE HURTSRated R83 MinutesReleased February 7th Valentine’s Day is written all over this movie. Love Hurts seems to be...

New Map Tracks Palisades Cleanup Progress, Identifies Phase 1 and Phase 2 Areas

February 12, 2025

February 12, 2025

New interactive map helps residents track debris removal progress as officials emphasize unprecedented cleanup speed A newly released interactive map...

Santa Monica Hotel Event Space Offers Affordability, Accessibility

February 12, 2025

February 12, 2025

Elevate Your Events with Versatile Venues and Exceptional Service Coastal stays and eclectic event spaces don’t have to be expensive....

Santa Monica Arson Suspect Arrested After String of Fires Across City

February 12, 2025

February 12, 2025

Authorities used aerial drone technology to assist in the investigation A man was arrested Saturday in connection with a string...

Tai Chain to Donate Santa Monica Grand Opening Proceeds to Wildfire-Affected Restaurants

February 12, 2025

February 12, 2025

The restaurant’s U.S. presence began in Arcadia, Calif., in 2000, and has since expanded to 17 locations  Din Tai Fung,...

SMMUSD Makes Rain-Related Announcement About Malibu Schools This Week

February 12, 2025

February 12, 2025

Road Closures and Flood Warnings Force the School District’s Hand All four public schools in Malibu will be closed on...

(Video) The Willows Students Bring a 50-Foot Dragon to Life Through Art and Teamwork

February 12, 2025

February 12, 2025

Kristy Acero, The Willows DK-4th Grade Art teacher, led her students in a large-scale, collaborative project, with each grade creating...

Man Sues Famous Marina del Rey Bar for Alleged Assault

February 12, 2025

February 12, 2025

The plaintiff is seeking compensatory and punitive damages By Zach Armstrong A patron has sued Brennan’s Pub in Marina del...

Phase 2 Debris Removal Underway in Palisades, Officials Tout Historic Recovery Speed

February 12, 2025

February 12, 2025

Residents Urged to Submit ROE Forms as Crews Accelerate Debris Removal Efforts Crews have begun Phase 2 of debris removal...

Powerful Storm to Bring Heavy Rains, Possible Debris Flow to Los Angeles

February 12, 2025

February 12, 2025

Officials Warn of Risks, Urge Residents to Prepare for Severe Weather A Pacific storm system is expected to bring widespread...

One of Palisades’ First Black Homeowners Seeks Support After Fire Destroys Home

February 11, 2025

February 11, 2025

Now displaced, she faces uncertainty in finding stable housing Nearly $42,000 has been raised for Louvenia Jenkins, a 97-year-old woman...