Petitions are being circulated to challenge the adoption of Richmond’s Rent Control and Just Cause ordinance adopted by the City Council in August. If approximately 4,100 signatures are collected and found to be valid, the ordinance will be immediately suspended, and the City Council will have three choices:

• Repeal the ordinance.
• Call for a special election for a vote on the ordinance.
• Place consideration of the ordinance on the ballot for the next “regular election.”

The exact definition of a “regular election: date is a little murky, but according to Section 1000 of the Elections Code, the next regular election dates (called “established election dates”)  would be:

• The second Tuesday of April of 2016.
• The first Tuesday after the first Monday in June of 2016.
• The first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of 2016.

An election at a time other than November 2016 would cost the City approximately $200,000. It would cost less in November 2016 because it would be consolidated with other ballot items.

Pro-rent control advocates have started a campaign, including robo-calls, social media and flyers trying to persuade voters not to sign the petitions.