Item 3A - Minutes Approval - Laserfiche WebLink

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Paul Cauthorn, 2739 University Street, asked the council to Consider all options before moving forward. He opposed the ordinance because his tenants would have to pay the yearly fee. He maintained his property and his tenants would not benefit from the tax. The program would take money out of the pocket of tenants and he questioned what they would receive in exchange. He suggested a landlord-tenant education campaign administered by a local nonprofit be considered instead. If tenants did not know their rights, they had none. Courtney Anglin, 915 West 20th Avenue, chair of the Oregon Student Public Interest Research Group (OSPIRG), noted her organization's long-time interest in the topic. She said OSPIRG published a renter's handbook but it did not replace local protections she believed the City should provide. She maintained there was a problem with landlords in the community, and her organization did not have the resources to protect all renters. She asked the council to support a local rental housing code and local enforcement. Christa Hansen, 2738 Kismet Way, spoke in support of enforceable local housing standards such as there were in Lawrence, Kansas. She said that program benefited everyone. Violations were easily addressed because all understood the rules. The remainder of the community benefited because adjacent property values were maintained. She spoke of the experience of a friend, who was told by her landlord to go to court when she experienced a mouse infestation. Allison Rajak, 825 West 2nd Avenue, supported the creation of housing standards. She said she had first- hand experience with negligent landlords but her complaints were largely unaddressed by her out-of-town landlord. She was now a landlord herself and thought a housing standards program would be very useful, noting that the Corvallis program received many calls for information from landlords as well as tenants. Corey Harmon, 2141 Hilyard Street, acknowledged the State standards but said they forced tenants to file lawsuits, costing them time and money. He also acknowledged that tenants could withhold their rent in certain circumstances. However, many times the cost of repairs exceeded the withholding limits, and a lawsuit created the threat of eviction. She said the cost of the fee should not stress landlords as it was only $1 more monthly for renters and that was often divided among many people. She thought tenants would be willing to pay those costs for a local enforcement option. Taylour Johnson, 725 East 14th Avenue, a member of the Eugene Citizens for Housing Standards, said her organization met with landlords and property managers over the past years to discuss their concerns. She said one concern was that a local program would create loopholes for tenants to damage their properties to avoid eviction. Tenants would have to cause major damage for that to be a concern, such as damage to a property's structural integrity, broken windows, or a broken furnace. They would then have to wait ten days after contacting their landlord before filing a complaint with the City. In addition, State law already protected landlords in the case of tenant-caused property damage. She asserted that Oregon's eviction process was among the quickest in the country. There were alternatives available to landlords if damages exceeded the security deposit. Scott Lu, 746 East 19th Avenue, #7, a member of the Eugene Citizens for Housing Standards, noted the many members of the coalition present as well as those who endorse its efforts. He thanked the council for holding the hearing and asked it to adopt the standards. Bob Suess Jr., PO Box 456, Springfield, said he owned and operated apartment complexes in Eugene and Springfield. He had been trying to figure out why Eugene needed such standards given the State laws MINUTES--Eugene City Council November 8, 2004 Page 5 Regular Meeting