Title
Approval of an Ordinance Amending Olympia Municipal Code 5.82 Relating to Rental Housing to Address Income to Rent Ratio Screening Practices
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Move to approve on first reading, and forward to second reading, an ordinance amending Olympia Municipal Code 5.82 relating to Rental Housing to address income to rent ratio screening practices.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve on first reading, and forward to second reading, an ordinance amending Olympia Municipal Code 5.82 relating to Rental Housing to address income to rent ratio screening practices.
Report
Issue:
Whether to approve an ordinance amending Olympia Municipal Code 5.82 relating to Rental Housing to address income to rent ratio screening practices.
Staff Contact:
Christa Lenssen, Senior Housing Program Specialist, Community Planning and Economic Development, 360.570.3762
Presenter(s):
Christa Lenssen, Senior Housing Program Specialist, Community Planning and Economic Development
Background and Analysis:
Development of Olympia tenant protections
In 2021, the City hired consultant Jason Robertson to assist in developing an outreach and engagement plan to solicit feedback from renters, landlords, and other interested third parties regarding the rental climate in Olympia. Through 1-on-1 stakeholder interviews, focus groups (with renters, renter advocates, local landlords and larger property management companies), and community surveys; staff learned about challenges faced by renters, gathered insights from landlords about potential unintended consequences of policies, and relative support from stakeholders for various policy options.
Staff researched and interviewed other Washington cities about their tenant protection policies. The Land Use & Environment Committee reviewed stakeholder input and staff research to prioritize policies for adoption. Since 2022, the Olympia City Council has passed several tenant protection measures under Olympia...
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