City Council

5.B. DISCUSSION ON SETTING FORTH A POLICY REGARDING THE USE\nOF THE ELLIS ACT ON CITY OWNED PROPERTIES OR PROPERTIES\nACQUIRED WITH CITY FUNDS [L. LANGER, L. BIERY, B. LEAGUE,\nA. BARTLE]:\nSUBJECT: The City Council directed staff to develop a City policy\nrestricting the City from utilizing the Ellis Act to remove units from the\nhousing market in residential properties acquired by the City, thereby\ndisplacing tenants. At City Council’s November 20, 2023 meeting\nCouncilmembers expressed concerns with staff’s initial policy\nrecommendation and requested additional recommendations for City\nCouncil’s consideration and direction.\nRECOMMENDATIONS: 1) Adopt Resolution No. 24-_______:\nRESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF WEST HOLLYWOOD\nESTABLISHING THE CITY’S POLICY FOR THE USE OF THE ELLIS\nACT TO REMOVE UNITS FROM THE HOUSING MARKET IN CITY-\nOWNED RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES OR WITH THE USE OF CITY\nFUNDS, including one of the alternatives listed below related to the\nutilization of the Ellis Act to remove units form the housing market in\nresidential properties acquired by the City or with the use of City Funds; 2)\nSelect Alternative A, B, C, D, or E related to the Ellis Act in residential\nproperties acquired by the City; Alternative A: The City shall not use the\nEllis Act on properties acquired through donations or City Funds,\nAlternative B: In addition to Alternative A, the City shall restrict the use of\nCity Funds to assist with the acquisition of property by an entity which will\nbe subject to a future Ellis Act, Alternative C: In addition to Alternative A,\nthe City shall restrict the use of City Funds to assist with the acquisition of\nproperty by an entity which will be subject to a future Ellis Act unless there\nis an increase in overall affordable housing production on the site,\nAlternative D: Rather than a policy, this values statement expresses that\nthe City of West Hollywood is committed to preserving existing affordable\nhousing, increasing the overall supply of affordable housing, and\nexpanding tenant protections. In the City’s continued efforts to address the\naffordable housing crisis and protecting vulnerable tenants, the City is\ncommitted to limit its use of the Ellis Act on City-owned properties when\npossible, and Alternative E: Take no action.