Title
Receive a preliminary analysis report in response to Board Referral No. 2024.06 seeking to update the Monterey County Code (Chapter 18.15, Housing Code) to require payment of tenant relocation benefits directly to a County of Monterey account when tenants are displaced or subject to displacement from a residential rental unit that has an order to vacate by the County due to conditions which endanger the health and safety of the tenants.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Receive a preliminary report in response to Board Referral No. 2024.06 and provide direction to staff which may include:
1. Direct staff to proceed with completion of its response to the referral as proposed in this report; or
2. Direct staff to proceed with completion of its response to the referral based on modifications by the Board; or
3. Rescind the referral.
SUMMARY:
On May 15, 2024, the Board of Supervisors (Board) added Supervisor Alejo's Referral No. 2024.04 (Attachment A) to the County Board of Supervisors' referral matrix. The referral seeks to amend the Monterey County Code to require that landlords or property owners pay tenant relocation fees to the County when a rental property is ordered to be vacated by the County, so that the County can track and ensure that tenants receive the relocation assistance without needing to directly interact with the landlord or property owner.
This referral was prompted by a 2023 enforcement action against a property owner in Royal Oaks who had created more the 60 unpermitted and substandard apartment units on an agricultural property. Due to the endangerment of health and safety, the County ordered that the units be vacated. Pursuant to Section 18.15.050 of the County Code (Tenant Relocation Provisions for Rental Housing), the County ordered the property owner to provide the tenant of each unit two months fair market rent. The property owner interacted directly with the tenants on this and, in som...
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