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Home My WebLink About2021 - City of Bellingham Initiative 2021-1 Expanding Tenant Rights to Include Rental RelocationLanguage on the Ballot: City of Bellingham Initiative 2021-1 Expanding Tenants Rights to Include Rental Relocation Assistance City of Bellingham Initiative No. 2021-01 expands tenant rights to include rental relocation assistance. This measure would require landlords to provide written notice 90 days before terminating a rental agreement without cause or increasing rent by more than 5% in a rolling 12-month period; require landlords to pay rental relocation assistance equal to three months of the current fair market rent in the Bellingham area when terminating a rental agreement without cause or increasing rent more than 8%, if requested by tenant, with limited exceptions; and authorize private party civil enforcement actions. Should this measure be enacted into law? 0 Yes 0 No Explanatory Statement: The Washington State Legislature has adopted the residential landlord -tenant act which outlines the rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants. State law authorizes municipalities, including the City of Bellingham, to adopt legislation that would require property owners and the municipality to provide up to $2,000 in rental relocation assistance to low-income tenants in limited circumstances. This measure would create a new rental relocation assistance program in Bellingham requiring landlords to provide three months of rental relocation assistance to all tenants regardless of their income level if the landlord terminates the lease without cause or increases rent by more than 8%. Tom' Ballot Measure Cover Shy; A completed cover sheet must accompany each ballot measure submitted to the Whatcom County Auditor. It is the submitter's responsibility to ensure that requested documentation is presented no later than the resolution deadline date. This form is available in a fillable form on the Auditor's website: www.whatcomcounty.us/auditor. District r District Name: City of Bellingham District Address: 210 Lottie Street, Bellingham Contact Person 1 Andy Asbjornsen, Finance Director Name & Title 360-778-8020, adasbjornsen@cob.org Phone & email James Erb Name 360-778-8132 Phone & email hftb• Contact Person 2 Elisabeth Oakes, Deputy Clerk Name & Title 360-778-8006, eaoaks@cob.org Phone & email Has your attorney prepared this ballot measure? ❑ Yes ANO Attached the Resolution with original signatures or a certified copy of ky es❑ No the original Resolution? Attached the Explanatory Statement (not to exceed 100 words) for Yes ❑ No the Local Voters' Pamphlet prepared by your attorney? Attached the "For" and "Against" Committee Appointment Forms? Yes ❑ No Completed this cover sheet? Auditors Office Use RECEIVED, 2.021 DIANA BRADRICK WHATCOM COUNTY AUDITOR Deputy Auditor's Signature Yes ❑ No Missing document(s): I understand that the submittal deadline date for the missing documents is and the Auditor's Office will not begin processing this ballot measure until all documents have been submitted. Presenter's Signature BALLOT TITLE FOR CITY OF BELLINGHAM INITIATIVE No. 2021-01 City of Bellingham Initiative No. 2021-01 expands tenant rights to include rental relocation assistance. This measure would require landlords to provide written notice 90 days before terminating a rental agreement without cause or increasing rent by more than 5% in a rolling 12-month period; require landlords to pay rental relocation assistance equal to three months of the current fair market rent in the Bellingham area when terminating a rental agreement without cause or increasing rent more than 8%, if requested by tenant, with limited exceptions; and authorize private party civil enforcement actions. Should this measure be enacted into law? E Yes? ..................................... No? ...................................... RECEIVED MAR 17 2021 DIANA BRADRICK WHATCOM COUNTY AUDITOR Office of the City Attorney City of Bellingham August 2, 2021 Whatcom County Auditor Diana Bradrick 311 Grand Avenue Suite 103 Bellingham, WA 98225 RE: Explanatory Statement for City of Bellingham Initiative 2021-01 Dear Madame Auditor, The City Attorney's Office has drafted the following explanatory statement regarding City of Bellingham Initiative 2021-01 to be included in the local voter's pamphlet: The Washington State Legislature has adopted the residential landlord -tenant act which outlines the rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants. State law authorizes municipalities, including the City of Bellingham, to adopt legislation that would require property owners and the municipality to provide up to $2,000 in rental relocation assistance to low-income tenants in limited circumstances. This measure would create a new rental relocation assistance program in Bellingham requiring landlords to provide three months of rental relocation assistance to all tenants regardless of their income level if the landlord terminates the lease without cause or increases rent by more than 8%. Thank you for your time and attention to this matter. Please let know if you have any questions. Respectfully, 00� Ciames Erb Sr. Asst. City Attorney Office: (360) 778-8270 1 Fax: (360) 778-8271 1 www.cob.org/attorney 210 Lottie Street, Bellingham WA 98225 RECEIVED RESOLUTION NO. 2021-18 DIA A BRADRICK VVHATCO COXNR�46IET&ION CONCERNING INITIATIVE BILL 2021-01 WHICH WOULD EXPAND TENANT RIGHTS TO INCLUDE RENTAL RELOCATION ASSISTANCE WHEREAS, a sufficient number of qualified electors of the City of Bellingham have proposed an Initiative Bill, previously assigned number 2021-01, which would expand tenant rights to include rental relocation assistance; WHEREAS, Initiative Bill 2021-01 would require landlords to provide written notice 90 days before terminating a rental agreement without cause or increasing rent by more than 5% in a rolling 12-month period; require landlords to pay rental relocation assistance equal to three months of the current fair market rent in the Bellingham area when terminating a rental agreement without cause or increasing rent more than 8%, if requested by tenant, with limited exceptions; and authorize private party civil enforcement actions; WHEREAS, the City Charter and BMC 1.02.070 provide that the City Council may choose to enact the bill, reject the bill, reject the bill and propose another bill dealing with the same subject, defer the bill to the voters, or take no action on the bill; WHEREAS, RCW 29A.04.330 requires that the City Council pass a resolution on or before August 3, 2021 to allow an initiative to be placed on the general election ballot in November 2021. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BELLINGHAM: The City Council hereby defers Initiative Bill 2021-01 to the voters. The Finance Director is instructed to deliver the Initiative Bill to the Whatcom County Auditor for submission to the qualified electors for approval or rejection on the November 2, 2021, ballot pursuant to the City Charter and the Bellingham Municipal Code as well as all paperwork required to ensure that the measure is placed on the ballot in November. The City Council designates the following community members to serve on the committee "For" the initiative bill to prepare a statement advocating that voters approve the measure: Sage Jones, Eve Smason-Marcus, and Seth Mangold. The City Council designates the following community members to serve on the committee "Against" the initiative bill to prepare a statement advocating that voters reject the measure: Jim Henderson, Bret Beaupain, and Jon Neville. Resolution Concerning Initiative 2021-01 (1) City of Bellingham City Attorney 210 Lottie Street Bellingham, Washington 98225 360-778-8270 PASSED by the Council this 2"d day of August, 2021. I I� Hann h Stone, Council President ;,ivl a APPROVED by me this day of ,�.021� S6t6 Fleetwa ayor ' . ATTEST: Andy slia' rnse ' nce Director APPRO D,AS TO FORM: Office of h City Attorney Resolution Concerning Initiative 2021-01 (2) City of Bellingham City Attorney 210 Lottie Street Bellingham, Washington 98225 360-778-8270 Whatcom County Auditor's office Whatcom County Courthouse 311 Grand Avenue, Suite 103 Bellingham, WA 98225-4038 January 25, 2022 City of Bellingham Andrew Asbiornsen zoo Lottie Street Bellingham, WA 98225 Dear Andrew: Diana Bradrick County Auditor Stacy Henthorn Chief Deputy Auditor Enclosed is the Statement of Votes Cast from the November z, 2021 General Election pertaining to City of Bellingham: Initiative 2021-01, Expanding Tenant Rights to Include Rental Relocation Assistance Initiative 2021-02, Concerning Use of Facial Recognition Technology Initiative 2021-03, Prohibits Using City Funds to Discourage Unionization Efforts Initiative 2021-04, Concerning Employee Rights for Hourly -Wage Employees and Gig Workers Proposition 2021-16, Reducing Signatures Required to Amend Charter Proposition 2021-17, Reducing Signatures Required to Propose an Initiative For the Precinct by Precinct Abstract, please refer to our website at www.whatcomcounty.us/auditor. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to give me a call at 360-778-5105. Sincerely, �7 Diana Bradrick County Auditor Enclosure Administration Elections Licensing Recording We gladly accept Auditor@comhatcorn.wa.us Elections@ co.whatcornma.us Licensing@co.whatcom.wa.us Recording@co.whatcom.wa.us relay calls. 360-778-5100 360-778-5102 360-778-5100 360-778-5100 Statement of Votes Cast by Geography Page: 1 of 1 Whatcom County, Washington; General Election November 2, 2021 2021-11-23 All Precincts, All Districts, All ScanStations, City of Bellingham Proposition 2021-16, City of Bellingham 11:20:32 Proposition 2021-17, City of Bellingham Initiative No. 2021-01, City of Bellingham Initiative No. 2021-02, City of Bellingham Initiative No. 2021-03, City of Bellingham Initiative No. 2021-04, All Boxes Total Ballots Cast: 30018, Reqistered Voters: 157062. Overall Turnout: 19.11 % Choice Votes Vote % All Precincts City of Bellingham Proposition 2021-16 (Vote for 1) 30018 ballots 0 over vote_ d ballots, 1 overvotes, 1642 undervotes), 61148 registered voters, turnout 49.09% Yes 16048 56.56% NO 12327 43.44% Total 28375 100.00% Overvotes 1 Undervotes 1642 City of Bellingham Proposition 2021-17 (Vote for 1) 30018 ballots (0 over voted ballots, 0 overvotes, 1703 undervotes), 61148 registered voters, turnout 49.09% Yes 15553 54.93% No 12762 45.07% Total 28315 100.00% Overvotes 0 Undervotes 1703 City of Bellingham Initiative No. 2021-01 (Vote for 1) 30018 ballots (0 over voted ballots. 0 overvotes, 715 undervotes), 61148 registered voters, turnout 49.09% Yes 14485 49.43% No 14818 50.57% Total 29303 100.00% Overvotes 0 Undervotes 715 City of Bellingham Initiative No. 2021-02 (Vote for 1) 30018 ballots 3 over voted ballots 3 overvotes, 940 undervotes), 61148 registered voters, turnout 49.09% Yes 16630 57.20% No 12445 42.80% Total 29075 100.00% Overvotes 3 Undervotes 940 City of Bellingham Initiative No. 2021-03 (Vote for 1) 30018 ballots 3 over voted ballots 3 overvotes, 1136 undervotes), 61148 registered voters, turnout 49.09% Yes 18237 63.15% No 10642 36.85% Total 28879 100.00% Overvotes 3 Undervotes 1136 City of Bellingham Initiative No. 2021-04 (Vote for 1) 30018 ballots 2 over voted ballots 2 overvotes, 788 undervotes), 61148 registered voters, turnout 49.09% Yes 11912 40.76% No 17316 59.24% Total 29228 100.00% Overvotes 2 Undervotes 788