Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Cottage Grove residents, many seniors, urge council to limit rent increases
Summary
Multiple Cottage Grove residents told the City Council during open forum on May 21 that recent rent hikes — some as high as about 7.8–9% — are forcing seniors to make difficult choices; speakers urged a city ordinance capping increases, while city and outside speakers noted state limits on municipal rent control.
Several Cottage Grove residents urged the City Council on May 21 to draft an ordinance to limit rent increases after a string of hikes at local rental communities that speakers said fall heavily on seniors.
Residents at The Cottages and at Legends reported increases they described as steep and recurring. “We have seen our rent increase up to 7.85,” a resident identified in the record as Cheryl said during the open forum. Sharon Tashner said her rent rose “9 point some percent.” Julie O’Brien and Rita Isker described repeated increases and property maintenance problems they say accompany higher rents.
The speakers said many residents are on Social Security or fixed incomes and cited difficulties covering medicine and food when rent rises. “If rents keep going up, you’re going to have…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
