Tracy Lehr
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – The Santa Barbara City Council gave staff feedback on Tuesday night on what they would like to see in a future rent stabilization program.
After discussing everything from a rental registry to an appeals process, the council voted 4-to-3 to consider a rent hike moratorium in January while city staff works on a rent stabilization ordinance.
Mayor Randy Rowse, Mike Jordan, and Eric Friedman voted no, but Friedman said he is in favor of some form of rent stabilization.
Rowse and Jordan both voiced concerns about the cost of a rent stabilization program down the road.
Rowse said it will be a burden on staff and he shared concerns about over regulation and rentals never turning over in markets with rent control such as Santa Monica.
He said the City of Santa Monica spends about $6 million a year on its rent control program.
But in October, Councilmembers Kristen Sneddon and Wendy Santamaria presented a memo with a proposal and a request for action on a rent stabilization.
That is when City Administrator Kelly McAdoo proposed getting feedback instead on a working plan.
Councilwoman SantaMaria posed for photos with supporters of rent stabilization at the end of the four and half hour discussion that included public comments and a motion and vote for action down the road.
“So we just voted to bring back a rent increase moratorium in January that will help to prevent the displacement of local families as we are developing the rent stabilization program,” said Santamaria, “and we also provided staff to make amendments to our just cause ordinance to make sure that we are closing any loopholes and protecting as many families as we can.”
The issue has led to rallies and packed council meetings that pit renters against landlords.
Speakers thanked the council for taking up the item at 5 p.m. to allow 9-5 workers to attend.
It was standing room only, with dozens of people in an overflow room watching the meeting on television.
The non-profit CAUSE even bought in pizza as the meeting went well past dinnertime.
Before the meeting CAUSE Associate Police Director Jennifer Hernandez said they wanted action.
“We are asking the council act on immediate interim measures; a rent freeze, and eviction moratorium that will last until the ordinance is completed and is ready to be implemented,” said Hernandez.
Trish Ainsworth said she has lived in Santa Barbara since the 1950s.
She said a grown child of her first landlord is now in control and has been raising her rent each year.
Like many renters she said she pays about $1,750 in rent, but only receives $2200 in social security.
“I am having trouble coming up with the money for my rent because my rent goes up every year five percent and I’m on Social Security, so, it is killing me,” said Ainsworth.
Rick Lang is a landlord with several units but he is considering selling them.
“They think you are getting rich – 60 percent of the rent goes to the mortgage company, after that 15 percent goes to property taxes and you have to put money away for replacing roofs, driveways, replacing landscaping,” said Lang. “All that money has to be put into reserves the value is in the building but there is no money in the rent.”
Lang noticed the unintended consequences of prices going up as soon as the city started talking about rent stabilization.
Some supporters said the goal is to solve the affordability crisis.
Some critics spoke out against having a renters registry and the formula discussed that could be linked to rent stabilization plan.
With input from the meeting, city staff intend to have an ordinance presented to the council for consideration in July 2026.
For more information visit https://santabarbaraca.gov
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