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Council ratifies settlement and ordinance package protecting Saint George tenants; landlord rent increases limited
Summary
The council accepted a settlement resolving litigation over the St. George Apartments and moved to rescind the emergency ordinance tied to the dispute. The settlement bars enforcement of July 2024 tenant notices, limits rent increases and requires refunds for tenants who paid under those notices.
The City Council accepted a settlement agreement between the city and the owner of the St. George Apartments and adopted the staff recommendation tied to implementing the negotiated terms.
What the settlement does: Assistant City Attorney Cassie Bronson told the council the agreement prevents the landlord from raising rents on non‑voucher tenants by more than 8.8 percent and imposes limits on increases for units with Housing Choice (Section 8) vouchers. Bronson said, “the settlement agreement prevents the landlord from raising rents on tenants that don't have housing choice vouchers, and that can't be more than 8.8%.” The settlement also requires the landlord to refund any tenants who paid under the notice the owner issued in July 2024 and to provide a 90‑day notice before any increase becomes effective.
Council action and context Council member Scott Newsom moved to adopt the staff recommendation; Vice Mayor Kalantari Johnson seconded the motion. Council approved the motion on a roll call vote. City staff told council that the city has discretion over rescinding the municipal code provision at issue and that, per the settlement, if the city did not rescind the ordinance the agreement would be null and litigation would continue.
Public comment A number of St. George residents spoke during public comment to ask for stable rents and to thank council members and staff. Resident John Doherty, who identified himself as a longtime St. George resident, told council he hoped the settlement would not require tenants to pay past due rent.
Next steps Staff will return with the ordinance rescission and finalize administrative steps required by the settlement; the settlement also anticipates associated consent‑calendar claim actions listed earlier in the agenda.
Ending Council framed the settlement as a tool to provide tenant stability while preserving the city's discretion and concluding litigation risk if the rescission and related steps are taken.
