Title
Adoption of Urgency Uncodified Ordinance Imposing within the City of Alameda a Temporary (60-Day) Moratorium on (A) Evictions from all Residential Rental Units due to the COVID-19 Pandemic and (B) Landlords' Shutting off Utilities in Rental Units Except for Emergency Situations. (Community Development)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
Executive Summary
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the California Department of Health, and the Alameda County Department of Public Health have all issued recommendations including but not limited to social distancing, staying home if sick, canceling or postponing large group events, working from home, and other precautions to protect public health and prevent transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19). In addition, the President of the United States has declared a national emergency, the Governor of the State of California has declared a State of Emergency for the State and for all the counties in the State, and the City Council of the City of Alameda (City) has declared a local emergency.
As a result of the state of emergency and the government-recommended precautions, many tenants have experienced sudden income loss, and further income impacts are anticipated, leaving tenants vulnerable to eviction. During this state of emergency, and in the interests of protecting the public health and preventing transmission of the coronavirus, it is essential to avoid unnecessary displacement and homelessness. Therefore, staff is recommending that the City Council adopt an urgency ordinance imposing a 60-day moratorium on evictions due to a substantial loss of income resulting from COVID-19 and on non-emergency utility shut-offs by landlords. The moratorium would be achieved by reason of the Ordinance's providing to a tenant a substantive eviction defense if an eviction proceeding (an unlawful detainer) were filed against the tenant for non-payment of rent and the tenant could demonstrate tha...
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