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Council approves $65,000 consultant agreement to advance rent‑stabilization ordinance after close 4–3 vote
Summary
After extended questioning about cost and staff capacity, the council voted to approve a $65,000 agreement with consultant RSG to analyze and help draft a rent‑stabilization ordinance; the motion passed with three members recorded in opposition.
The Santa Bárbara City Council voted to approve an agreement with consulting firm RSG to support analysis and drafting of a rent‑stabilization ordinance and program. Staff said the work was narrowed from an original scope above $80,000 to a $65,000 contract focused on data collection, unit counts and legal and administrative implications.
Councilmembers questioned whether the city should rely on outside consultants given existing staff expertise and potential long‑term costs. Councilmember Jordan and others pressed staff on whether internal resources could complete parts of the scope and on how recurring administrative costs might arise from the ordinance’s implementation.
Councilmember Armon moved the staff recommendation to authorize the agreement; the motion was seconded by Mayor Snedon. After deliberation, the motion passed. The transcript records three councilmembers—Freeman, Raus and Jordan—as voting against the motion.
Staff said the $65,000 contract is funded from the city’s housing-related accounts (the Workforce/Navigation and Flexible Housing Fund items were discussed on the consent calendar) and is intended to produce ordinance language, unit-impact analysis and implementation options for subsequent council consideration. Councilmembers who opposed the motion cited fiscal caution and uncertainty about whether consultant work would displace or duplicate staff work.
Council directed staff to return with ordinance language and additional implementation details following the consultant’s analysis.
