Report 2015-134 Recommendation 1 Responses

Report 2015-134: Residential Building Records: The Cities of San Rafael, Novato, and Pasadena Need to Strengthen the Implementation of Their Resale Record Programs (Release Date: March 2016)

Recommendation #1 To: San Rafael, City of

To ensure that it is aware of the degree of property owners' compliance with its resale record ordinance, San Rafael should implement procedures that can help it monitor the sale or exchange of properties that require resale record inspections. The city should work with applicable stakeholders, such as realtors, to aid in this effort.

1-Year Agency Response

Once a week, City staff reviews the residential property listings and sales in San Rafael through on-line resources (Zillow and Redfin). Through this weekly review, staff can confirm that resale reports have been requested and issued for properties.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Fully Implemented

San Rafael also clarified that its review is designed to identify those properties that have sold but have not had resale reports requested.

6-Month Agency Response

On August 1st and Sept 6th City Council held public study sessions in order to hear testimony from all interested parties on whether or not to maintain our Resale program in it's present state. No determination was made, and staff is now in the process of preparing a list of options for modification of the program based on the public testimony heard. That will be presented to Council at some future date to be determined. At that time, it will be determined if the program will continue. Should the program continue in its current form, procedures for monitoring the sale or exchange of property will be developed and explored.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending

60-Day Agency Response

See May 21, 2016 memorandum forwarded via email to Myriam Czarniecki. On April 4, 2016, the performance audit report was presented to the San Rafael City Council. The City Council directed staff to return with options to the residential building records program. A report on the options will return to the City Council in June/July 2016. Web links to the staff report and streaming video of this public meeting are provided in this memo. At that time, it will be determined if the program will continue. Should the program continue in its current form, procedures for implementing the sale or exchange of property will be developed and implemented. On April 15, 2016, City staff met with the stakeholders (Marin Association of Realtors) to discuss ways to monitor the sale/exchange of property. Several potential measures were discussed.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending

All Recommendations in 2015-134

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.