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Council receives report on rent stabilization; staff compares other cities’ nonpayment thresholds
Summary
Staff briefed the council on the city’s rent stabilization program, reporting about 6,160 registered rental units and a current allowable annual rent increase of 1.5%; staff compared neighboring cities’ nonpayment thresholds and counseled continued tenant outreach; council voted to receive and file the update (3‑1‑1).
The Bell Gardens City Council received an update April 13 on the city’s rent‑stabilization ordinance and tenant eviction protections.
Housing programs manager Myra Garcia told the council the city’s rental registry contains about 6,160 units, of which roughly 4,493 are subject to registration fees. She reiterated that Bell Gardens’ allowable annual rent increase is currently 1.5% (50% of the change in the Consumer Price Index or 4%, whichever is less) with an additional 3% allowance in some cases for units renting below comparable fair‑market rates.
Garcia described the ordinance’s tenant protections, including anti‑harassment rules, requirements that landlords provide a copy of termination notices to the city, and relocation assistance for non‑fault evictions. Staff noted that the city tracks notices of termination (for example three‑day pay or quit notices) but that unlawful detainer filings and final court outcomes are administered by courts and are not retained in the city’s termination notice database.
As part of the briefing, staff compared recent changes in neighboring jurisdictions: one nearby city adopted a minimum nonpayment threshold tied to HUD fair‑market rents and another set a one‑month nonpayment threshold based on contracted rent; staff noted these approaches vary in how they define minimums and the mechanics of enforcement. Several public commenters urged Bell Gardens to adopt a nonpayment threshold to protect tenants who lose income during ICE enforcement runs or other crises.
Council action: The council voted to receive and file the report (roll call recorded as 3 yes, 1 no, 1 abstain). Staff said it will continue outreach and tenant assistance work and stands ready to return with further policy proposals if the council requests them.
What’s next: Council did not adopt a policy change at the meeting; the matter remains available for future council direction and staff may return with proposed ordinance changes if requested.
