Menlo Park Housing Commission backs anti‑displacement plan, asks for electrification protections and guardrails

The Menlo Park Housing Commission voted to recommend City Council approve the city’s draft anti‑displacement plan, while urging staff to incorporate four specific protections addressing habitability law, electrification work, and cost pass‑throughs.

Management Analyst Ariana Milton presented the draft plan and said staff’s recommendation is that the commission “review and recommend approval of the City of Menlo Park’s anti displacement plan.” The proposal organizes 23 candidate strategies into four pillars—production, protection, preservation and prosperity—and advances seven priority actions that focus mainly on tenant protections and short‑term supports.

Why it matters: commissioners and public commenters said the plan targets immediate threats to Belle Haven residents, where many rentals are single‑family homes and displacement risks have been documented. Staff told the commission that the city received a $250,000 grant from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) to help fund rental assistance and a legal assistance program.

Public testimony emphasized speed and tenant safeguards. Pam Jones, a longtime Belle Haven resident, thanked staff for the report’s “breadth and depth” and urged that the rental registry be moved up the priority list so the city “knows what we have and what’s available” before implementing programs. Cade Kennedy, senior director at Climate Resilient Communities, said community engagement showed anti‑displacement was the top priority for more than 1,800 Belle Haven participants and urged quick rollout of rental assistance and legal counsel; Kennedy cited a figure from the presentation that “85 percent of evictions are due to nonpayment of rent.” Angela Evans, a climate nonprofit director calling in virtually, urged guardrails so electrification upgrades cannot be used as a pretext for eviction and recommended that the proposed anti‑harassment ordinance explicitly cover landlord threats tied to appliance replacement.

Staff details and constraints: Ariana Milton and Housing Manager Tim Wong described the plan’s timeline and funding constraints. Milton said the draft reflects outreach in 2024–2026 (two community events at Belle Haven, a citywide survey and stakeholder interviews) and that the finalized plan will go to City Council on May 19. Wong said the MTC grant of $250,000 supports rental and legal assistance but noted the city must pledge matching funds of $300,000 per program (a $600,000 match total) spread over four years under the MTC agreement; staff indicated the rental and legal assistance programs could be implemented in fall 2026 subject to Council approval and matching funds.

Key recommended actions: staff summarized the seven priority strategies in order of priority: (1) create a rental assistance program; (2) establish a legal assistance program for tenants; (3) expand just‑cause eviction protections (including extending AB 1482 protections past 2030, considering single‑family dwellings, requiring landlords to submit eviction notices to the city, and lengthening relocation assistance from three to four months); (4) adopt an anti‑harassment ordinance; (5) expand preservation programs (NOFA changes and prioritizing rehabilitation); (6) create a rental registry to track vacancies and relocation assistance; and (7) develop a workforce program.

Commission deliberation and motion: commissioners repeatedly emphasized the rental registry’s value for data, and several said fast implementation of rental and legal assistance should be prioritized. Chair Sweitzer moved that the commission recommend approval of staff’s recommendation while asking staff to consider four additions raised during public comment: (1) reference existing California habitability law for heat and hot water in ordinance text; (2) prevent misuse of the substantial‑remodel eviction exemption for routine electrification upgrades; (3) place explicit guardrails preventing landlords from passing through subsidized electrification costs to tenants; and (4) include landlord misuse of electrification as conduct covered by the proposed anti‑harassment ordinance. Commissioner Osler seconded the motion.

Vote and next steps: the roll call vote passed with five yes, one abstention (Commissioner Chapa) and one absence (Commissioner Wong). Following the commission’s recommendation, staff will present the finalized, formatted plan to City Council on May 19; if Council approves and match funding is secured, staff indicated rental assistance and legal assistance programs could begin implementation in fall 2026.

Authorities and existing rules cited: staff referenced state measures including AB 1482 (California Tenant Protection Act) and the Housing Accountability Act (SB 330), and noted local measures such as the city’s 2019 tenant relocation assistance ordinance and a 12‑month lease ordinance already on the books.

What remains unresolved: commissioners and commenters sought clearer, dedicated funding besides grant opportunities; staff said no dedicated ongoing local tenant stabilization fund is identified in the plan beyond the MTC grant and continuing grant searches. The commission’s recommendation asks staff to fold electrification protections and cost‑pass‑through guardrails into the final materials presented to Council.