Council Okays Registration Fees for Rental Units, 'Hero Pay' for Local Hospital Workers

The City Council this week approved a resolution establishing a registration fee for residential rental units in Culver City.

The fee -- $167 per unit per year -- was “based upon the reasonable costs associated with the administration and enforcement of the city’s residential rent control program and tenant protection program,” adopted by the Council last September, city officials said.

Some councilmembers said the new fee will severely affect “mom-and-pop” landlords but others contended that it a “reasonable and fair” business expense.

According to city staff, Santa Monica charges $198 per unit, Inglewood $168 and Los Angeles charges only $38.75 per unit. On the other end of the spectrum, Beverly Hills has no fee for rental unit registration, staff said.

After a brief Council discussion, the fee resolution was approved by 3-2 vote. Councilmembers Albert Vera and Goran Eriksson cast the “no” votes.

Also approved by a 3-2 vote at Monday’s meeting was the “hero pay” mandate for clinicians, nurses, aides, technicians, janitorial and housekeeping staff, security guards, food services workers, laundry workers, pharmacists, and non-managerial administrative staff at Southern California Hospital in Culver City.

Under the new ordinance, hospital workers shall be entitled to $5 per hour in premium hazard pay for providing essential services during the pandemic and engaging in essential activities to mitigate the spread and the effects of COVID-19. It will take effect in June, 30 days after passage.

Last month, the Council approved an ordinance that mandated a $5 hourly “hero pay” for 120 days for national grocery store or retail drug companies and retail companies that have at least 300 employees nationwide and more than 10 employees per store site.

Voting against the latest “hero pay” mandate were Vera and Eriksson.