EAST PALO ALTO
CITY COUNCIL
STAFF REPORT
DATE: March 15, 2022
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
VIA: Jaime M. Fontes, City Manager
BY: Valerie J. Armento, Interim City Attorney
SUBJECT: Letter Supporting Extension of AB 832
Recommendation
Direct the City Manager to submit a letter to the Governor and State Legislature requesting emergency legislation to extend the provisions of AB 832 (AB 832, COVID-19: tenancy: federal rental assistance (Chapter 27, Stats 2021) by five months, through August 31, 2022.
Alignment with City Council Strategic Plan
This recommendation is primarily aligned with:
Priority No. 6: Create a Healthy and Safe Community
Background
AB 832
AB 832 (Chiu) was signed by the Governor on July 28, 2021 and became effective immediately. This law extended and added key provisions to the tenant protections and distribution of rental assistance funds of SB 91,1 providing additional time for tenants and landlords to access federal rental assistance funds and prohibiting evictions due to nonpayment of COVID-19-related rental debt from proceeding where landlords did not seek rental assistance funds, among other actions. It also limited the ability of the City to enact its own eviction limitations.
These protections are set to expire on March 31, 2022.
While existing law has aided in reducing rental debt related to COVID-19 and preventing eviction or displacement due to COVID-19-related financial hardship, the timely 1 For an overview of SB 91, please see this informational report from February 16, 2021:
http://eastpaloalto.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_LegiFile.aspx?Frame=None&MeetingID=1348&MediaPosition=438.313&ID=1572&Css Class=
distribution of rental assistance remains a major concern statewide. Service providers and community partners assisting East Palo Alto residents with rental assistance applications continue to report significant delays in receiving funds.
Analysis
Letter to Governor and State Legislature
A draft letter from the City Council of the City of East Palo Alto is provided in Attachment
1. This letter, addressed to Governor Newsom, Senate President Pro Tempore Atkins, and Assembly Speaker Rendon, requests the State take action to extend the protections of AB 832 for five months (through August 2022) to allow more time for tenants and landlords to receive rental assistance funds and relieve rental debts related to COVID-19.
Staff recommends that the City Council direct the City Manager to submit this letter on behalf of the City Council.
Next Steps
If directed, the City Manager will submit the letter, signed by the Mayor, on behalf of the City Council to the intended recipients.
Fiscal Impact
There is no fiscal impact associated with this staff report.
Public Notice
The public was provided notice by making the agenda and report available on the City’s website and at the San Mateo Co. Library located at 2415 University Avenue, East Palo Alto.
Environmental
The action being considered does not constitute a “Project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), pursuant to CEQA Guideline section 15378 (b)(5), in that it is a government administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect changes in the environment.
Attachments
1. AB 832 Letter