Larkspur officials are headed back to the drawing board to refine proposals for tenant protections.
After a four-hour workshop Wednesday, the City Council said it needed more information on rent regulations, rental assistance programs and eviction protections.
“It’s a difficult issue, and I don’t think there is an easy answer,” Councilmember Scot Candell said after the meeting. “We’re balancing pros and cons on both sides, trying to find something that works for our community.”
For the past six months, the city has been considering whether to adopt rent control laws. Officials formed two ad-hoc committees: Mayor Gabe Paulson and Councilmember Kevin Haroff were assigned to study rent stabilization, while Candell and Councilmember Catherine Way studied rental assistance.
The first committee recommended that the council direct staff to draft local rent stabilization and eviction protection regulations.
The committee recommended establishing a rental registry for landlords and capping rent increases at 7% in a 12-month period. Increases above the threshold would trigger a notice of intent from landlords, and tenants would be able to appeal. A valid appeal would trigger mandatory mediation.
The committee proposed that the ordinance sunset in 2030.
“We don’t have a lot of information — that’s part of what’s making this discussion go on,” Paulson said. “If we start something and find out it’s great, so be it. If not, it’s nice that it has a sunset.”
The second committee proposed...
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