March 30, 2020
To:
Rusty Bailey, Riverside Mayor
Erin Edwards, Riverside City Councilmember Ward 1
Andy Melendrez, Riverside City Councilmember Ward 2
Ronaldo Fierro, Riverside City Councilmember Ward 3
Chuck Conder, Riverside City Councilmember Ward 4
Gaby Plascencia, Riverside City Councilmember Ward 5
Jim Perry, Riverside City Councilmember Ward 6
Steve Hemenway, Riverside City Councilmember Ward 7
Re: March 31st, 2020, Riverside City Council Meeting for COVID-19 Moratorium against Evictions and Bill Relief resolutions with recommended revisions
Riverside City Council and Mayor,
Here is our revised recommendations and questions related to COVID 19 Moratorium Against Evictions and Bill Relief resolution introduced by Riverside City Councilmembers.
COVID 19 MORATORIUM AGAINST EVICTIONS (PART 1)
Councilmembers Fierro and Hemenway and Councilwoman Plascencia recommend a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Riverside, California, establishing a temporary moratorium on the eviction for non-payment of rent for residential and commercial tenants during the declared local emergency, for 60 days - Waive further reading (All Wards)
California Partnership (CAP) Revisions/Recommendations/Questions: Include a spread out payment plan for a year, after the suspension ends
A temporary moratorium on the eviction of residential and commercial tenants due to non-payment of rent in relation to the COVID-19 crisis is hereby imposed, subject to the following requirements: a. The tenant is to notify their landlord before the day the rent is due, with the circumstances surrounding their inability to pay the entire rent.
CAP Revisions/Recommendations/Questions: Defining “in relation to the COVID-19 crisis” is necessary because many people are going to lose their jobs and have reduced hours as the social distancing order is in place. Will this moratorium provide them protection? When will the council decide that the people who have been devastated by this crisis need to be made homeless?)
b. If able, the tenant should make an effort to pay a portion of their monthly rent.
CAP Revisions/Recommendations/Questions: none
c. The tenant and the landlord should work out a payment plan with a minimum of four (4) months after the repeal of the Local Emergency in which to pay back the rent owed. No late fees are to be imposed on the late rent.
CAP Revisions/Recommendations/Questions: instead of four (4) months that it extends to a year for the payment plan.
d. The landlord is entitled to collect full monthly rent owed after the repeal of the Local Emergency.
CAP Revisions/Recommendations/Questions: none
2. The temporary moratorium will not relieve the tenant from their obligation to pay rent nor will it restrict the landlord’s ability to recover rent that is due after the termination of the moratorium. The landlord’s ability to evict a tenant for non-payment of rent due to the COVID-19 emergency, is suspended until the Local Emergency is repealed.
CAP Revisions/Recommendations/Questions: Need to explicitly say that the payment plan will be respected after the moratorium; without this it can imply that the payment plan doesn’t give the tenant protections after the moratorium.
3. This Resolution shall go into effect immediately upon adoption and shall terminate and be of no further force and effect upon the repeal of the Local Emergency. This Resolution, unless the Local Emergency has been repealed, shall be reviewed by the City Council in 60 days.
CAP Revisions/Recommendations/Questions: In this section, need to explicitly say that the the payment plan will be respected after the moratorium.
COVID 19 BILL RELIEF (PART 2)
COUNCILMEMBER RONALDO FIERRO WARDS: ALL COUNCILMEMBER ANDY MELENDREZ COUNCILWOMAN PLASCENCIA
ISSUE: Suspend the utility shut-offs for a thirty-day period, with the option to extend, and discuss other economic relief measures to safeguard rent-burdened families and small-businesses.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council:
1. Direct the City Manager to suspend discontinuance of water, electric, sewer and refuse utility service for non-payment for a period of thirty-days, and to extend that time period if still in a declared local emergency.
CAP Revisions/Recommendations/Questions: change from 30 days to 90 days and include a spread out payment plan for a year, after the suspension ends.
2. Discuss other possible economic relief measures for low-income residents and local small businesses.
CAP Revisions/Recommendations/Questions: none
(COVID 19 resolution Addendums):
-Rent forgiveness for 90 days or at least give the tenant to pay rent and city fees and services
-No required notification: We are in a middle of an epidemic and don’t need a letter we are economically strained and can’t pay rent.
Respectfully,
Organizations
Lead signer, California Partnership
Co-signers
United Domestic Workers
TODEC Legal Center
Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice
TruEvolution Inc
Riverside County National Organization for Women
SBX Youth & Family Services
Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, Inland Empire Chapter
LULAC Riverside Council 3190
Inland Empire Democratic Socialist of America
Inland Congregations United for Change
Universalist Unitarian Church of Riverside
Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice
Community Advocates and Riverside Residents
Elizabeth Ayala
Rabbi Suzanne Singer
Kevin Akin
David Kronenfeld
Judy Kronenfeld,
Diana Goldman
Bill Oppenheim
Roslyn and Marc Jones
Marc Feldstein
Kara Crohn
Gayle Webb
Carol Johnson
Dan Straus
Charlene McKinley Powell
Tiffany Farris
Lee Greer, Board President Universalist Unitarian Church of Riverside
Adam Wedeking, Chair, Social & Environmental Justice Committee Universalist Unitarian Church of Riverside