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Port Hueneme council to study landlord-harassment complaints after resident request; staff directed to gather facts
Summary
Council received a staff report on landlord-harassment ordinances, heard that local housing authority sees few harassment complaints, and voted to receive the report and direct staff to compile information to determine whether harassment is occurring locally.
The Port Hueneme City Council received a staff briefing on possible landlord-harassment enforcement and directed staff to gather information so the council can determine whether local harassment is occurring and warrants further action.
Staff noted that California law already prohibits certain landlord behaviors and that Oxnard recently adopted a city-level ordinance that creates local enforcement authority, penalties and investigative staff. Staff warned, however, that Oxnard is a much larger city and Oxnard's initial implementation estimate included hiring dedicated staff at an estimated cost (presented in Oxnard's materials) of roughly $500,000.
Gabby Basua, the city's housing director, told the council that Port Hueneme's housing authority manages Section 8 vouchers and about 90 units and that her office receives relatively few landlord-tenant complaints. Basua said the housing authority routinely acts as a mediator for its clients and refers other residents to outside groups such as the Housing Rights Center and to 2-1-1 for help. "I have not seen, at least in the last 5 to 7 years, I have not received a complaint about harassment," Basua said, adding that the office averages "about 1 or 2 a month" on housing-related requests and resolves most internally.
A resident who submitted written public comments urged council members to be creative and use low-cost outreach to make renters aware of state protections and local resources rather than assuming a high-cost enforcement program is the only option.
Council members debated the appropriate next steps. A motion to direct staff to prepare a comprehensive analysis and needs assessment (including a renter profile, historical complaint data and potential costs) failed on a roll-call vote. A subsequent motion to receive and file the staff report and to have staff return with facts necessary to determine whether harassment exists in Port Hueneme passed (two council members voted no).
What comes next: Staff will return to the council with the compiled information and recommended next steps to identify any demonstrated local need for ordinance-level enforcement or lower-cost alternatives such as targeted outreach and training.
