The Pacifica City Council narrowly approved an ordinance that will temporarily protect tenants from high rent increases and certain evictions, while the city works out details of a possible ballot measure for November.
The peninsula city is the latest in the Bay Area to adopt similar renter protections that limit the amount landlords can raise rents. Opponents argue the laws hurt small landlords and prevent future development, while supporters say it's one of the few ways to protect residents from being displaced. The debate over rent control in Pacifica -- where a third of residents are renters -- is likely to be as contentious as it has been in other cities, where lawsuits have been filed.
"I think these rent stabilization issues are contentious in any city they're brought up," said Councilman John Keener, who supported the ordinance in Monday's 3-2 vote.
Pacifica has seen a 51 percent rise in rents from 2010 to 2015, while household income has not kept pace, according to city staffers.
"We've tried to draft this in a way that's fair to property owners and tenants," Keener said.