Tuesday, November 28, 2023 at 6 PM

Agenda 3 items

1. 1.
   23-1708 Committee Minutes Kept in committee

   Approval of the Minutes of the Legislative Matters Committee Meeting of November 14, 2023.

   • 📎 Minutes - Leg Matters - 11-14-23 Full
2. 2.
   23-0318 Order Recommended to be marked work completed

   That this Council draft a Home Rule Petition to authorize Somerville to regulate against rent gouging by establishing Rent Stabilization.

   {\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang1033{\fonttbl{\f0\froman\fprq2\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}{\f1\fnil\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}} {\colortbl ;\red0\green0\blue0;} \viewkind4\uc1\pard\nowidctlpar\qj\f0\fs24 Taken together with item 23-1694. \par \pard\cf1\f1\par }

   • 📎 Presentation slides 4-27-22
   • 📎 Minneapolis-Rent-Stabilization-Study-web
3. 3.
   23-1694 Mayor's Request Recommended to be approved as amended

   Requesting approval of a Home Rule Petition authorizing the City of Somerville to regulate rent in residential dwelling units.

   {\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang1033{\fonttbl{\f0\froman\fprq2\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}{\f1\fnil\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}} {\colortbl ;\red0\green0\blue0;} \viewkind4\uc1\pard\nowidctlpar\qj\f0\fs24 Dir. Shachter and Chair Davis explained that revisions they made to the proposed Home Rule Petition (HRP) are largely non-substantive and were based on feedback from the previous Legislative Matters meeting. Dir. Shachter reviewed the larger changes (\i attachment titled \ldblquote Legislative Matters - 2023-11-28 Rent Stabilization 11.27.23 (Tracked changes) 2 (with 23-1694)\rdblquote\i0 ), and Solicitor Piques explained why sections 2.d.i and 2.d.ii in that attachment are separate.\par \par There was discussion of the section on Consumer Price Index (CPI). Chair Davis had questions about the use of the word \ldblquote increase\rdblquote ; Dir. Shachter said that the section was phrased this way to exclude a negative CPI. Councilor Scott asked why not consider having a 0% increase in rent as the lower boundary, noting that 2% higher rents in a period of deflation could cause hardship. Dir. Shachter said that there is nothing in the HRP that requires landlords to raise rent a certain amount.\par \par Councilor Scott pointed out that Section 3.e ends with the word \ldblquote and\rdblquote , but the other subsections do not. \ul\b\i\f1 Chair Davis said that the word should not cause issues, but stylistically should be removed. Chair Davis moved to replace the current version of the Home Rule Petition with the text of the attachment titled \ldblquote Legislative Matters - 2023-11-28 Rent Stabilization 11.27.23 (Clean) 2 (with 23-1694)\rdblquote\ulnone\b0\i0\f0 . The motion was approved with a roll call vote of 5 in favor (Councilor Scott, Councilor McLaughlin, Councilor Burnley, Councilor Ewen-Campen, and Chair Davis), none opposed, and none absent.\par \par Councilor Burnley revisited his outstanding questions from the last meeting over vacancy decontrol and the new construction exemption. He said that this draft of the HRP, with the recent changes, makes clearer the city\rquote s authority to regulate vacancy. \i Councilor Burnley moved that the language referring to the 15-year exemption for new construction be lowered to 10 years\i0 . The motion was NOT approved with a roll call vote of 2 in favor (Councilor Scott, Councilor Burnley), 3 opposed (Councilor McLaughlin, Councilor Ewen-Campen and Chair Davis), and none absent. Councilor Ewen-Campen moved to recommend approval as amended.\par \pard\cf1\f1\par }

   Roll call: 5 aye

   • Lance L. DavisAye
   • Willie Burnley Jr.Aye
   • Matthew McLaughlinAye
   • Jefferson Thomas (J.T.) ScottAye
   • Ben Ewen-CampenAye

   • 📎 HRP Rent Stabilization
   • 📎 Legislative Matters - 2023-11-28 Rent Stabilization 11.27.23 (Clean) 2 (with 23-1694)
   • 📎 12.14.23 CC Rent Stabilization HRP