Title
Approval of Next Steps on Renter Protections
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Discuss a potential collaboration with the cities of Tumwater and Lacey on renter protections that will include community engagement and provide staff direction.
Report
Issue:
Whether to discuss and provide direction direction on a potential collaboration with the City of Tumwater and the City of Lacey on renter protections.
Staff Contact:
Cary Retlin, Home Fund Manager, Community Planning & Development, 360.570.3956
Presenter(s):
Cary Retlin, Home Fund Manager
Background and Analysis:
Many cities have added local renter protections to enhance and modernize elements of the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act (RCW 59.18). Cities are making these changes to reduce the negative impacts of increasing rents and low vacancy rates.
The Urban Cities Ad Hoc on Housing and Homelessness met on Thursday April 11 (Councilmembers Cooper and Rollins attended). Tumwater staff presented a list of potential changes (attached) that Tumwater Council ranked based on ease of implementation.
Urban Cities Ad Hoc discussed and supported the idea of collaborating between the three cities to gather public input on this topic and identify a slate of protections to bring to each city.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
This topic will be of high interest to landlords, property managers and renters - who are now 53 percent of Olympia’s residents.
Options:
1. Direct staff to collaborate with Tumwater and Lacey on collaborative staffing and community conversations about renter protections
2. Direct staff to take other action
3. Take no action
Financial Impact:
N/A
Attachments:
March 27 Memo re: Potential Measures for Addressing Tenant Protections
February 2019 Olympia Metro Rental Market Overview