Motion to postpone fails 4-2 - only CMs Joe & Hall voted in support.
Conversation
Back to the main motion, but first, CM Hunt says she'll make an additional motion after the ordinance to research the other ARCH recommendations. Cites maintaining consistency with Redmond & other jurisdictions.
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CM Joe says he concerned the motion on the table would increase the cost of providing rental units. Says putting more uncertainty for landlords will increase prices overall. Keeps describing the increased notice as a "tax on apartments", which it is not.
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CM Hall says "he really wants to get to yes," but cites lack of data. Says he needs to understand the impacts that high YOY rent increases are having and needs to see that borne out in the data. "I don't think it's a bad policy...but I'll be voting no."
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Ordinance to require a 120 day notice to tenants for rent increases >3% passes on a 4-2 vote. CMs de Michele, Hunt, Marts, and Walsh vote in support.
CM Hunt then makes her motion to have a Council Committee review ARCH recommendations for late fees & move-in fees.
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Main factor for her is that other ARCH cities adopted these other requirements recently. Emphasizes consistency between jurisdictions & using a regional approach.
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CM de Michele, who is on that committee, says she previously didn't support the other two parts moving forward but would want the opportunity to reconsider. Would want to consider other solutions and wouldn't want to be bound to just ARCH's solutions.
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CM Marts says he "will need help from [staff]" on understanding relationships between affordability and the recommended provisions. Says he won't know how to determine the legitimacy of opposing sides on the issue otherwise. Is supportive of having the further conversation.
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Mayor asks that the scope of the motion be expanded so that the staff can deliver more concrete data, "otherwise this is just stories." Wants the ordinance to go to the Committee of the Whole instead.
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CP Walsh supports this going back to the Committee on Services, Safety & Parks. Says the city knows the data on the scope of the problem but not necessarily the potential impacts of the proposed solutions.
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After a Q from CM Hall, CM Hunt says the committee could end up recommending things beyond ARCH's proposals.
Vote to bring other tenant protection issues back to the Committee on Services, Safety, & Parks passes unanimously 6-0. With that, I end my tweeting. Thanks for reading.