Santa Barbara City Council delays Rent Stabilization Ordinance Vote

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) Santa Barbara City Councilmembers voted 4-to-3 to remove some Rent Stabilization Ordinance language requested by Mayor Pro Tempore Kirsten Snedden.

The RSO is intended to cap annual rent increases at 3 percent or 60 percent of the Consumer Price Index.

The CPI is a measure based on the change in prices of goods and services.

And in a separate vote, the council passed a motion to include two additional exemptions described by the Housing Authority.

"We have one of the best housing authorities that manages those units that was one of things I was able to support I wasn't able to support the ordinance overall because in the longterm I think it actually leads to raised rents overall in the community," said Eric Friedman who is running for Mayor.

Snedden, who is also running for mayor, chose not to comment as she left the council chambers.

Some people are concerned they won't have a enough votes next week, but Santamaria appears ready to vote yes, despite tenant related changes she requested in a motion that did not pass.

"This will get done one way or another we are going to be protecting families we may not have the full scope of protections we were aiming for from the very beginning it got a little bit watered down, I think tenants saw that I was fighting for habitability standards and for every single tenant regardless of income to have a safe and stable home," said Santamaria.

An updated ordinance will be introduced and voted on next week.

Santa Barbara Rental Property Association President Betty Jeppesen was disappointed by the meeting.

"I know for a fact clients of mine are selling and leaving the area, even one of the speakers tonight said that she is going to talk to her husband about selling her duplex and moving to Nevada," said Jeppesen.

She has opposed the ordinance from the beginning and is part of a lawsuit against the rent freeze.

Angeliza Sanchez said she is okay with the delay since the ordinance will give renters some sense of certainty over future rent increases.

"Ideally it would help create something that people could predict, right, so you know that maybe a 3 percent increase is coming, you are able to plan for that a little bit better," said Sanchez.

 If approved the final ordinance would launch in January when the rent hike moratorium ends.

The council is also expected to finalize a Rental Registry Fee on Dec. 15.

For more information visit https://www.SantaBarbaraCa.gov