Salinas City Council passes ordinances aimed at stabilizing rent, providing guidance on just cause evictions

SALINAS, Calif. (KION-TV) -- Salinas City Council members approved three ordinances aimed at stabilizing the city's rising rent.

Three ordinances were adopted Tuesday night:

• Rent Stabilization Ordinance
• Tenant Protection and Just Cause Eviction Ordinance
• Tenant Anti-Harassment Ordinance

Before the final vote, council members heard comments from multiple tenants saying their landlords were increasing their rent and in some cases doubling it.

Some even made some final pleas for retroactive protections for people who have just recently received an eviction notice.

"The day after I made my comment, I was served with papers telling me to get out," said one Salinas resident.

Some landlords also voiced concerns. Some saying they wish Salinas council members made an effort on a rental assistance program like the City of Monterey put together.

"It's disheartening that little intention was given to improving the permit process or incentivizing builders. Rather than encouraging development, this ordinance risks losing builders and developers when we need them the most," said one commenter via Zoom.

Councilmembers insist the ordinance is not an attack on landlords and that something had to be done about the increasing rent.

City Council member Anthony Rocha pointed to the point-in-time homeless count, which he said indicated 79% of respondents in the homeless survey said they were homeless because they couldn't afford rent.

"Never lose hope that meaningful change is possible when you get involved in the decision-making process," said Rocha. "The voices you brought to this council meeting are the voices of others in the community."

To read the ordinances in full, see the documents below:

Salinas council members pass introduction of rent stabilization, just cause eviction and tenant protection ordinances

Salinas City Council members are moving forward with multiple ordinances aimed at stabilizing rent increases in the city, as well as providing guidance on just cause evictions, tenant protections and tenant harassment.

This was the first reading of the series of ordinances that each received support from council members in attendance.

The Rent Stabilization ordinance was passed with a correction, however, so the language could reflect council direction on rent increase limitation.

This would mean one increase would be allowed per 12 month period at 2.75% or 75% of CPI. With council members saying during the meeting this would be dependent on whichever is lower. This portion would also be retroactive to December 2023.

According to the city, this is the first reading of the ordinances and they will have further discussion during a council meeting to be scheduled in the coming weeks.

City of Salinas discussing potential plans for rent stabilization

It's no surprise -- rent in Salinas is getting expensive. To help combat this, city officials have drafted an ordinance to stabilize rent in Salinas.

The ordinance drafted by the Salinas housing committee has property owners in the city upset.

"I've had three particular owners call me within four days of that draft coming out saying, please give my tenants notice and put list out properties for sale. I had to do that. And they were at that moment, they felt that it was necessary with the government overreach," said Amy Salmina, Owner of Coast and Valley Properties.

The city attorney drafted an ordinance that would stabilize rent, protect tenants from eviction without cause, and prohibit landlords from harassing tenants. The ordinance also lists the way that the city will help tenants if a legal issue is involved.

"If a tenant has an issue, and there is, they can demonstrate that landlord violated the law, then the city could step into that role and enforce its own ordinance," said Salinas City Attorney Chris Callihan.

Renters in Salinas like Maria deem it necessary with the amount of rent she pays.

"We want to pass the rent stabilization, because we are suffering a lot since everything is expensive and the jobs cut hours or people are working less," said Chavez.

Last year, the U.S. and World Report ranked the Salinas metro area as the 7th most expensive place to live in the country. A study including other parts of Monterey County.

When checking Zillow you can find several one-bedroom apartments in San Francisco for $1,700, but none in Salinas.

Gonzalez Mengibar says his rent went up over 500 dollars over the last two years.

"They need to put a limit because if there is no limit that they are told, then the landlords will raise rent higher and higher," said Gonzalez who lives in Salinas.

Landlords who spoke in a housing committee meeting this week said this will cause a housing shortage, as people won't want to buy property to rent. As of now, the limit a landlord could increase rent throughout the year is left blank – but that will soon change.

This ordinance is still in the draft phase. The amount a landlord can increase rent will be determined through conversations with the community and council.

The next housing committee meeting is on May 28th.