Costa Mesa council directs staff to study rental registry, update tenant-notice rules; ratifies $100,000 in community donations

The Costa Mesa City Council on Sept. 9 directed staff to return with an update to the city's Tenant Protection Ordinance to require notice of any eviction, to draft a proposal for a Costa Mesa rental registry modeled after Santa Ana's registry (but without a rent-cap), and to form a "network for renter solutions" to coordinate outreach to renters and landlords.

The council also ratified staff action to disburse $50,000 each to two local nonprofits, Enough For All and Someone Cares Soup Kitchen, money staff said has already been dispersed.

City staff opened the discussion by summarizing work requested at an Aug. 5 council meeting. "The $50,000 contribution to Enough For All Fund will help provide assistance with rent, groceries, and other essential necessities," Management Analyst Sergio Escobar told the council, adding that both organizations "confirmed the acceptance of the donation" and that the funding had been dispersed.

Deputy City Manager Reyes and Government Affairs Manager Jay Barkman presented preliminary research on rental registries and tracking at-fault evictions. Barkman said staff found eight California cities with rental registries, mostly charter cities with larger populations, and that registries are typically used to track base rent, annual increases and related fees. "Fees for landlords to register range from as low as $29 to almost $400 per unit," Barkman said. He told the council that start-up costs can be close to $300,000 in the first year and that annual software costs may run about $85,000; registries also require dedicated staffing.

Staff emphasized that courts do not provide searchable, aggregate data on at-fault evictions. "The courts do not report or track at fault evictions in a manner the cities can access," Barkman said. The presentation noted that the county superior court will generally not release aggregate unlawful-detainer data without a subpoena or court order, which is a key reason some cities build their own registries.

Why it matters

Council members and public commenters said the item matters because renters are a large share of Costa Mesa's population and because recent immigration enforcement activity has increased housing instability. Speakers representing tenant organizations and neighborhood groups urged the council to move forward with a registry or stronger tenant-notice requirements so the city can intervene earlier in unlawful or at‑risk evictions. Several commenters connected recent immigration enforcement activity to rising fear in renter communities, which they said can depress reporting of unlawful eviction practices and reduce access to services.

What the council approved

- Update the Tenant Protection Ordinance to require notice to the city for any eviction (staff to return with specific draft language and options).

- Develop a proposal for a Costa Mesa Rental Registry modeled after Santa Ana's registry but without a rent cap or rent‑control provisions.

- Establish a "network for renter solutions" modeled on the city's existing network for homeless solutions, to improve outreach and coordinate landlord/tenant services.

Council action and votes

Council Member Reynolds moved the three-part motion; it was seconded and passed by voice vote. The motion passed 4-2 (tally recorded in the minutes as 4 yes, 2 no). The minutes do not record individual roll-call votes for that motion in the transcripted portion.

Separately, staff told the council it had already issued the two $50,000 checks as directed on Aug. 5. Council later voted to ratify that prior action (a formal ratification of the Aug. 5 direction to distribute the funds). That ratification passed by recorded vote, 5-2; the minutes note Council Members Pettis and Villalivanino voted no on the ratification.

Key details staff and speakers highlighted

- Staff found registry programs in eight California cities; they vary widely in scope and cost and are staff‑intensive to launch and maintain. Barkman said registries are often used in jurisdictions that administer rent control or rent-stabilization programs but can also be used solely for data collection and transparency.

- Typical registry costs mentioned in the staff report: registration fees for landlords ranging roughly $29–$400 per unit (based on other cities); estimated start‑up costs near $300,000 and recurring software costs around $85,000 annually.

- Tenant Protection Ordinance (TPO): current city practice requires landlords to notify the city within 72 hours of serving certain no‑fault notices; staff said expanding notice requirements to at‑fault evictions raises timing and logistics issues (a three‑day "pay or quit" notice commonly used in nonpayment cases can expire before the city would receive notice unless the ordinance's timing is revised).

- Data limits: staff and members said the Orange County Superior Court told the city it will not release aggregate unlawful‑detainer filing data except by subpoena or court order, which is why some cities build registries to collect local data directly.

Public comment and community perspective

Public commenters included tenant-rights organizers, community nonprofit representatives and residents. Speakers urged the council to prioritize tracking evictions and improving tenant outreach and to consider the registry primarily as a data and intervention tool rather than as immediate rent‑control. Christian Lopez of Resilience OC said a registry "would help prevent unlawful evictions" by giving the city the ability to track all evictions. Other speakers urged stronger tenant notice requirements, more rental-assistance funding and clearer landlord education.

What happens next

Staff will return with specific ordinance language, cost estimates and a draft structure for a rental registry and the proposed network for renter solutions. The council's action is a direction to draft proposals and options; no new ordinance or fee was enacted tonight.

Ending

Council members said they expect follow‑up reports with proposed ordinance text, budget estimates and an implementation timeline before any registration fees or enforcement elements would be adopted.

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