Elk Grove City Council votes to revisit eviction moratorium

Due to the coronavirus issue, the city council members are meeting online via teleconference, instead of in person. City staff will be in the council chambers. The public is prohibited from attending in person but can submit written responses, leave a voicemail. or call in during the meeting.

At a special meeting last night, the Elk Grove City Council voted to revisit the idea of a temporary moratorium against commercial and residential evictions related to the Covid 19 Coronavirus situation. That will take place this Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Last week the council debated a proposal that was put together by city staff. Several council members questioned some of the details in the plan as it pertained to landlords. Councilmembers Hume and Detrick felt the proposal merely shifted the burden from renter to landlord. They eventually voted 4-1 against the proposal with Mayor Steve Ly the lone vote in favor of a temporary moratorium. There was interest in bringing it back to revise the details by several council members.

Audio of the March 18, 2020 meeting

Over the weekend there was a push on social media to pressure the council to revisit the temporary moratorium. A special meeting was called to discuss bringing the issue back for the council to hear again on March 25. The council unanimously agreed to revisit the plan. Councilmember Pat Hume requested that residential and commercial eviction ordinances be split up.

Councilman Detrick asked city attorney Jonathan Hobbs for clarification on two issues. The first was who this temporary ban on evictions would apply to. Hobbs said it would only apply to those who are unable to pay their rent as a result of the Covid 19 outbreak. Those already going through the eviction process prior to the shutdowns related to Covid 19 would not be affected. Also, evictions related to illegal activities would not be stopped.

The second issue was the current state of the court system in Sacramento County. Hobbs said courts dealing with eviction proceedings are closed until at least April 18.