01 Staff Report
PREPARED BY: Arn Andrews
Assistant Town Manager
Reviewed by: Town Manager and Town Attorney
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● (408) 354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: 03/24/2020
ITEM NO: 1
DATE: March 20, 2020
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: Laurel Prevetti, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Adopt an Interim Urgency Ordinance Enacting a Temporary Moratorium on
Evictions Due to Nonpayment of Rent for Residential Tenants where the
Failure to Pay Rent Results from Income Loss Resulting from the Novel
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Suspending All Deadlines Related to Land Use
Entitlements
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt an Interim Urgency Ordinance enacting a temporary moratorium on evictions due to
nonpayment of rent for residential tenants where the failure to pay rent results from income
loss resulting from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and suspending all deadlines related to
land use entitlements.
DISCUSSION:
On March 16, 2020, the Health Officer of Santa Clara County issued an Order directing all
individuals living in the County to shelter at their place of residence beginning March 17, 2020.
Per the County Health Officer, the Order is to ensure that the maximum number of people self-
isolate in their places of residence in order to slow the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. In
addition, the Order identified many business types as non-essential services requiring their
closure through April 7, 2020. The result of these public health efforts is the significant
displacement of many workers from their places of employment and access to income.
On March 17, 2020, the Town Council of the Town of Los Gatos ratified and continued a
Proclamation of Local Emergency due to the increasing spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus in
Santa Clara County. Among other things, a Proclamation of Local Emergency allows
jurisdictions to make and issue rules and regulations on matters reasonably related to the
protection of life and property as affected by such emergency.
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SUBJECT: Urgency Ordinance Eviction Moratorium
DATE: March 20, 2020
DISCUSSION (continued):
In order to maintain the integrity of the Health Officer’s Order, every effort must be taken to
ensure that residents are able to self-isolate. As such evictions directly related to the
consequences of COVID-19 mitigation measures would run contrary to the Health Officer’s
Order to shelter in place.
In addition, with the closure of Town Hall to implement the shelter in place directive, non-
essential Town services have been significantly reduced and/or suspended. For example, the
Town has not been able to accept any new land use or development applications or issue
building permits. For this reason, the proposed Urgency Ordinance also includes a temporary
suspension of all deadlines related to land use entitlements.
CONCLUSION:
Pursuant to the Town of Los Gatos Municipal Code, California Government Code, Governor of
California, and Santa Clara County Public Health Officer, a temporary moratorium on evictions
related to income loss due to COVID-19 mitigation measures will ensure that individuals can
continue to self-isolate.
COORDINATION:
This staff report was coordinated with the Town Manager and Town Attorney.
FISCAL IMPACT:
No impact
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
This is not a project defined under CEQA, and no further action is required.
Attachment:
1. Draft Interim Urgency Ordinance