Title
Briefing on Renter Protections
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Report from staff and discussion of renter protections
City Manager Recommendation:
Discussion only. No action requested.
Report
Issue:
The City Council will receive a briefing from staff on renter protections recently considered at several Olympia City Council committees, renter protections adopted in other cities, and protections that tenant advocates brought to Council.
Sarah Nagy from Columbia Legal Services will attend and be available to respond to questions during the discussion about the Residential Landlord Tenant Act or recent renter protections adopted in other cities.
Staff Contact:
Cary Retlin, Community Planning & Development, Housing Manager, 360.570.3956.
Presenter(s):
Cary Retlin, Community Planning & Development
Background and Analysis:
In May, Tumwater staff approached the cities of Olympia and Lacey, as well as Thurston County proposing a cross-jurisdictional approach to exploring renter protections. Tumwater staff shared a long list of tenant protections that served as the beginning of potential changes that could be considered. That list had been ranked by the Tumwater City Council based on impact and ease of adoption. The Olympia Land Use and Environment Committee reviewed that list in August and made their own rankings with many overlaps.
Olympia's General Government Committee considered options for different models of tenant relocation assistance programs in September. Tacoma has a relocation program that could serve as a model for one in Olympia. Relocation assistance provides cash assistance to tenants receiving no-cause evictions to reduce the burden of moving and paying deposits, last month's rent, and other expenses all at once.
Land Use 'Green List'
In October, the Land Use and Environment Committee reviewed and revised a list of the Tumwater protections and ranked them based on what appears most ready for consideration for adoption. ...
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