The city council made a wise decision yesterday by approving a recommendation to reject Mayor Thomas Menino’s rent control proposal. The measure would not have appropriately combated serious problems in Boston like homelessness and a dire lack of affordable housing. But the council, along with other government officials, should keep these issues in the forefront of policy discussion and push for a better solution.

Menino proposed the rent control measure, which has caused a considerable amount of controversy over the past few months, as an answer to the call for some restraint on rapidly rising rent prices. The proposal included a stipulation that would offer tenants the chance to appeal substantial rent hikes and landlords the chance to show a pressing need for rent increases to deal with operating expenses and capital improvement costs. While these are important considerations, the more significant part of the legislation would have set base rent prices at high levels that would further impede the quest for affordable housing.

Setting base prices high and limiting rent hikes prevents low-income tenants from obtaining good housing in the first place, while also threatening to obstruct necessary maintenance. In addition, with the housing market softening, supply and demand dictates rent prices should lower regardless.

The city council, mayor and state legislature should continue to work toward a comprehensive plan to deal with rent and housing issues. Another major component in this process is the cooperation of local universities like Boston University, Boston College and Harvard University, amongst others. Because a principal cause of spiked rents is college students’ willingness to pay higher prices, universities should be doing more to keep enrollment down and on campus housing up.

Enrollment caps are possible options for local universities. Without an overflow of students, colleges will have more room in on campus dorms and students will not be pushed into the apartments on the streets of Allston, Brighton and greater Boston. Building better facilities and taking the needs of students into account is another method to consider in trying to convince students to stay in campus housing.

Mayor Menino deserves praise for bringing this issue into the spotlight of city discussions. While the city council was smart in recognizing this legislation would not properly solve the housing in the city, it should not rest here. Council members should follow Menino’s lead and, with the help of city and state officials, community groups and local universities, search for an acceptable resolution to a serious problem.