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Novato council advances broader tenant-protection ordinance after hours of testimony
Summary
After more than three hours of testimony and detailed council questioning, Novato—ity Council voted to advance a staff-drafted just-cause tenant protections ordinance with amendments including a small-operator exemption aligned with state law and a per-diem relocation payment for short-term displacements.
Novato—ity Council moved forward on March 24 with staff raft language for a "just cause" tenant protections ordinance, after an evening of technical staff presentations, extensive public comment from tenants and landlords, and detailed council questions about exemptions and relocation payments.
Claire Hartman, the city—mployee leading the presentation, told the council the draft is focused on expanding protections for "no-fault" evictions — including withdrawal-from-market, owner-move-in, red-tag code enforcement orders and substantial renovations — and would add a day-one tenant protection in many cases. Hartman said the proposal also adds a right of return for displaced tenants, a staged relocation-assistance program (a per-diem for short-term displacement, HUD fair-market-rent compensation for months 2—, and a permanent-relocation payment if displacement endures), and a set of exemptions that the city could align with state law.
"The purpose of the draft is essentially to create stronger tenant protections, but specifically for no fault," Hartman said during the staff presentation.
The public-comm…
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