With average rents more than $1,000 a month and median housing prices north of a quarter-million dollars, city leaders have declared a "state of emergency" over the lack of affordable housing. Construction of affordable rental property is not keeping pace with demand, according to housing advocates.

Councilman George Stevens has called for rent control and plans to propose a study of the issue, looking at it track record in such cities as Los Angeles and San Francisco. The San Diego County Apartment Association has already taken a stand against any form of rent control, arguing that it chills the incentive to build new projects in a market already burdened with over-regulation.

The council is scheduled to discuss the issue Wednesday.