CANCELLED - City Council Work Session

CANCELLED AGENDA City of Williamsburg City Council Work Session Monday, December 8, 2025 The City Council Work Session will be held Monday, December 8, 2025 p.m. in the Stryker Center, 412 N. Boundary Street commencing at 4:00 PM. Page 1. CALL TO ORDER 2. ROLL CALL 3. ITEMS FOR CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF DECEMBER 11, 2025 A. Council Preview B. Public Comment 4. BACKGROUND PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSION A. Presentation and Discussion Regarding the Proposed Rent Ready 2 - 18 Williamsburg Ordinance and Program Guidelines - Tevya Griffin, Planning and Codes Compliance Director 5. CITY COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS 6. SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS December 9 December 11 Farmers Market Advisory Board City Council 2:00 p.m., Stryker Center 2:00 p.m., Stryker Center December 9 December 17 Architectural Review Board Planning Commission 6:30 p.m., Stryker Center 3:30 p.m., Stryker Center December 10 January 5 Economic Development Authority City Council Work Session 3:00 p.m., Stryker Center 4:00 p.m., Stryker Center December 10 January 6 Historic Triangle Recreational Facilities Authority Board of Zoning Appeals 3:00 p.m., Stryker Center 4:003:00 p.m., Stryker Center 7. OPEN FORUM 8. CLOSED SESSION 9. ADJOURNMENT The City Council invites public comment on any subject during "Open Forum." To speak, fill out a Speaker's Card (available at the door) and give it to the Clerk of Council. Please direct all comments to the Chair, limited to 5 minutes. Thank you.  City Council Work Session Agenda Item Summary Related Goal Staff Contact Engaging with our Partners Tevya Griffin, Planning and Codes Compliance Director Agenda Item Wording Presentation and Discussion Regarding the Proposed Rent Ready Williamsburg Ordinance and Program Guidelines - Tevya Griffin, Planning and Codes Compliance Director Background Information At the request of the City Council, the Neighborhood Balance Committee (NBC) convened in September 2019 to examine best practices for enhancing the coexistence of rental and owner-occupied single-family neighborhoods near William & Mary. The NBC recommended approximately twenty strategies for City Council’s consideration. In response, the 2021–22 Biennial Goals, Initiatives, and Outcomes directed staff to review both the short- and long- term recommendations of the Committee and to develop an implementation plan for approved concepts, including the creation of a Rent Ready program for the City of Williamsburg. As part of the 2023–24 Biennial Goals, Initiatives, and Outcomes, the completion of an initial draft of the Rent Ready program guidelines was identified as one of three priority strategies. This draft was to include lease best practices, a landlord-renter educational curriculum, and a proposed ordinance for the City Council’s review and adoption. Between December 2022 and April 2023, the Planning and Codes Compliance Department conducted surveys, and facilitated focus groups with college students, landlords, and nearby owner-occupants to understand the needs and expectations that should guide program design. Drawing on research and feedback from these surveys and focus groups, and input and review by William & Mary, staff prepared a draft Rent Ready ordinance and program. An introductory presentation was shared with the City Council on July 10, 2025, coinciding with the launch of a dedicated Rent Ready webpage. The webpage provided public access to an FAQ section, student survey results, and summary findings from focus groups. On Aug. 18, 2025, a draft ordinance, program guidelines, and interior and exterior building checklists were published to the website along with an online portal for community comments. In addition, three 90-minute public input sessions were held between August and September, each featuring a detailed review of the proposed program, pre- and post-presentation surveys, and opportunities for questions and answers. While not every suggestion was adopted, the program has been revised in response to  feedback from the input sessions, surveys, and online comments. These revisions will be presented to the City Council at the December 8, 2025, work session. The next step in the process is the City Council’s consideration of the draft ordinance and its potential adoption. Previous Relevant Action 11/12/2020 - City Council approved the 2021-22 Biennial Goals, Initiatives, and Outcomes to consider the short- and long-term recommendations of the Neighborhood Balance Committee and to develop an implementation strategy for the approved concepts. 11/10/2022 - City Council approved the 2023-24 Biennial Goals, Initiatives, and Outcomes to complete the initial draft of a Rent Ready program. Staff Recommendation Staff recommends City Council consider the final draft of the Rent Ready ordinance and program and its potential adoption. Attachments Rent Ready Community Meeting Presentation Page 2 of 17 Page 3 of 17 December 8, 2025  What is RENT READY WILLIAMSBURG? Rent Ready Williamsburg is a proposed voluntary rental certification program developed to improve the quality, safety, and community integration of off- campus housing near William & Mary. Page 4 of 17 It strengthens neighborhoods by aligning the interests of students, landlords, and longtime residents through safe, high- quality rental housing and shared educational opportunities. It’s not just a certification; it’s a partnership for better living.  BACKGROUND Rent Ready was one of 27 concepts identified Page 5 of 17 by the Neighborhood Balance Committee, a workgroup that convened from 2019 to 2020 to address neighborhood stability issues, including affordability, owner-occupancy, and student occupancy. Rent Ready is the 10th NBC-identified concept completed since 2020. The consideration and implementation of a Rent Ready Williamsburg program has been included in the 2021-22, 2023-24, and 2025-26 Goals, Initiatives, and Outcomes.  RENT READY LOCATIONS Single-family detached dwellings in areas adjacent to William & Mary are eligible for the Rent Ready program: DISTRICT 1 DISTRICT 2 DISTRICT 3 DISTRICT 4 Page 6 of 17 Richmond Road Jamestown Road Capitol Landing York Street Area, Area, from Area, from Lake Road/Page Street including all Monticello Avenue to Matoaka to College Area, from CSX residential areas College Corner Corner Railroad property to along York Street Colonial Parkway  KEY CHALLENGES THE PROGRAM AIMS TO ADDRESS Page 7 of 17 Building Housing Quality Preserve Safety Communication Character & Cooperation  CORE CONCEPTS Page 8 of 17 1. City, William & Mary Endorsement 2. Quality Assessment Score 3. Property Rating 4. Best Practice Leases 5. Rent Ready Academy  The Four-Person Incentive The Rent Ready proposal allows more homes to gain four-person occupancy. To earn four-person occupancy, your property must earn a Quality Assessment (QA) score of 95. The proposal eliminates the square-footage requirements currently in place, though parking and bedroom requirements remain the same. (Bedroom requirements can be found in the Virginia Property Maintenance Code, Section 404.4.1.) Page 9 of 17 CURRENT FOUR-PERSON PROPERTIES • 37 houses enrolled in the four-person occupancy program. These homes are in good condition and should have no problem meeting the required Quality Assessment (QA) score of 95 to qualify for the Rent Ready Program. • To ease the transition, current four-person properties maintain their active Certificate of Occupancy; if the home earns a QA score of 95 or higher, it will immediately be accepted into Rent Ready with no loss of four-person occupancy.  PUBLIC INPUT PROCESS AUG 18 SEPT 18 -Rent Ready Williamsburg Second public input proposal rolls out session, held on W&M -Online feedback form campus launches, remains open Page 10 of 17 JULY 10 AUG 28 SEPT 30 Update to City Council on the First public input session, Last public input session, status of the Rent Ready held in Stryker Center held in Stryker Center Williamsburg proposal  PUBLIC INPUT 81 people attended three input sessions, and 36 people responded to an online feedback form On Campus Other 22% 21% Landlord None of These 31% 31% Page 11 of 17 Rental Unit in I AM A: WHERE DO YOU CURRENTLY LIVE? Multifamily Dwelling 6% Owner- occupied Home in a Downtown Rental Unit in Student Neighborhood Single-family 48% 16% Dwelling 25%  PUBLIC INPUT 81 people attended three input sessions, and 36 people responded to an online feedback form 59% WHY YES? Page 12 of 17 41% • Improves the quality and safety of housing Do you think • Holds landlords and tenants accountable Rent Ready • Allows review by the City Williamsburg • Improves the existing inspection program will have its • Attempts to meet some of the needs of all intended stakeholders effect? NO YES  PUBLIC INPUT 81 people attended three input sessions, and 36 people responded to an online feedback form WHY NO? 59% • Voluntary status • Not enough incentives for landlords to enroll • Participants with goals other than quality of housing Page 13 of 17 41% (such as affordability, student behavior, landlord response time, application fees, and increasing Do you think occupancy) did not see the program as beneficial Rent Ready • Too few consequences for students and too many Williamsburg penalties for landlords will have its • Costs intended • Waiting period to receive the incentive is too long effect? • Education classes are arduous • Program seems complicated NO YES • Current landlords within the 4-person occupancy felt program was costly and not truly voluntary  KEY PROPOSAL CHANGES As a result of the public input, staff has made six key changes to concepts in the Rent Ready Williamsburg proposal. AS PRESENTED IN CONCEPT CHANGES MADE AFTER INPUT PUBLIC INPUT SESSIONS • 4-year period to get 4-person incentive • Reduced to 1 year Timeframe for the landlord to receive the incentive • 2-year transition period for current 4-person • Current 4-person properties maintain current properties occupancy Page 14 of 17 Parking Location of off-street parking clarified Specified areas where parking is allowed Rent Ready Academy for Landlords enrolled in Exemption exists if receiving continuing education Rent Ready Academy for landlords landlord tenant/housing courses credit hours During inspection, the Landlord must provide the inspector with any required lead-based paint Required Lead-Based Paint Report Required lead-based paint certification documentation. No finding of lead-based paint report three (3) months prior to move-in for each new lease During inspection, the Landlord must disclose Required Asbestos Report Required exposed asbestos report certification known disturbed asbestos inside the dwelling During inspection, there will be no visible Interior Mold Removal Not included evidence of mold inside the dwelling  KEY CLARIFICATIONS As a result of the public input, staff also made clarifications in the Rent Ready Williamsburg proposal. CLARIFICATIONS MADE CONCEPT AFTER INPUT A report from an exterminator showing no infestations or that an Required Rodent/ Insect Inspection Report existing infestation was treated, dated within one (1) month of the application, shall be provided. Page 15 of 17 Each founded complaint shall be added to the cumulative total of violations attributable to the property, irrespective of the originating Define founded complaints department. The city will allow a warning for the first violation. A second, and any additional founded violation, will result in a 10-point reduction. Definitions Defined Agent, Landlord, and Tenant to clarify their roles. Any property accepted into the Rent Ready Program can take their Rent Ready Academy course during the annual inspection  PUBLIC INPUT 81 people attended three input sessions, and 36 people responded to an online feedback form When asked how important it is that the City implement Rent Ready Williamsburg on a scale of 1-5: AVG RATING: 2.84 Page 16 of 17 HOWEVER When asked how important it is that the City implements something to create a quality standard for safe and habitable off-campus housing on a scale of 1 to 5: AVG RATING: 4.2 Page 17 of 17 December 8, 2025