What started as a procedural discussion on a new tenants’ rights ordinance in Lemon Grove led to two council members walking out in protest during a meeting Tuesday. At the same time, the city successfully intervened in a local conflict that sparked the situation after local tenants said they were being evicted unfairly. Councilmembers Seth Smith and Yadira Altamirano declined to participate in deliberations intended to direct staff on the process for a permanent ordinance to strengthen tenant protections, citing concerns that Mayor Alysson Snow had a potential conflict of interest. The remaining officials decided not to create a stakeholder group and instead told staff to hold public meetings to collect input and educate residents on tenants’ rights. The discussion came a month after the council approved a controversial urgency ordinance that gave tenants 120 days to vacate their apartments for all “no-fault” evictions and increased relocation assistance requirements. Snow has pushed for a permanent policy to ban what she described as a loophole for landlords to evict tenants by falsely claiming substantial renovation is being completed on an apartment unit. City leaders were asked to give staff further direction on a plan to hold public outreach to gather input on a permanent ordinance and to decide who would serve on a stakeholder committee to help craft the policy. Council division on the issue reached a tipping point during their meeting on Tuesday. Altamirano and Smith asked Snow — a housing rights attorney — to recuse herself from the discussion, threatening to remove themselves if she didn’t. “Procedure was not followed, there was limited discussion, the community has expressed frustration and distrust in our city’s leaders and I will not support an ad hoc committee,” Altamirano said. “I believe there are some conflicts of interest, and even if there are none, let’s admit it, there is a public perception that Mayor Snow has bias in favor of an additional tenant protection ordinance.” “If it was up to me, I’d reverse this entire thing, tonight,” she added. Snow stood her ground. She said the city attorney confirmed there was no conflict of interest, adding, “I have no financial interest in any of these things.” Then, Altamirano rose from her seat and walked out of the building. Several audience members followed her lead. Gradually, the crowd dwindled as a group began forming outside the building. “My concern here is that we have a lack of transparency,” Smith said. “I think there is some undue influence here. I understand being passionate about the topic in front of us … but still, I’ve recused myself for less.” Cheers could be heard from outside the building as Smith announced he was also removing himself from the conversation because Snow refused to recuse herself. Snow and Councilmembers Jennifer Mendoza and Jessyka Heredia remained on the dais. There was a general consensus that forming a stakeholder committee was unnecessary. However, city leaders expressed concerns that the urgency ordinance would expire and a looming budget season would occupy council agendas. “I don’t want to appoint people, I want to do more like a workshop where we invite the public and do really robust public outreach,” Heredia said. City staff will hold two outreach meetings where public input on the tenants’ rights ordinance will be collected. Then, staff will bring the ideas before the planning commission to hear their thoughts. Lastly, a more finalized proposal will come before the council likely in early summer, Snow said. Although such a proposal would impact landlords and renters across the city, it was originally brought up after residents of the Serra Grove apartment complex complained their new landlord was bending substantial renovation rules to evict longtime tenants and relist units at double the price. The 64-unit complex was purchased by new owners in November. Beginning in January, tenants got notices telling them they had 60 days to find a new place to live because the owner planned to “substantially remodel” their unit. The city attorney sent a demand letter to the owner of the complex asking for proof that they had obtained all necessary permits for the renovation work. Snow said the landlord hadn’t received all the necessary permits for the repairs that were listed on the notices. “The permits were defective and weren’t the actual work that was being done, so the notices were defective,” Snow said. “This is a win for housing rights.” The owners have since informed the city they will not be enforcing the notices to vacate, Snow said, and the next step is a written withdrawal. ...read more read less