Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board Meeting Agenda: 02/19/2026

RENT STABILIZATION BOARD
REGULAR MEETING 
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2026 – 7:00 p.m.
SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD ROOM – 1231 ADDISON STREET BERKELEY, CA 

Public participation

This meeting will be conducted in a hybrid model with both in-person and remote participation, and in accordance with Government Code Section 54953 and all current state and local requirements allowing public participation in meetings of legislative bodies. Any member of the public may attend this meeting at the posted location(s). Questions regarding this matter may be addressed to DéSeana Williams, Executive Director of the Rent Board, at 510-981-7368 (981-RENT). The Board may take action related to any subject listed on the Agenda.

To access this meeting by Zoom 

Join the meeting from a PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone, or Android device. If you do not want your name to appear on the screen, use the drop-down menu and click on "Rename" to rename yourself to be anonymous. To request to speak, use the “Raise Hand” icon by rolling over the bottom of the screen.

To join by phone 

Dial 1-669-444-9171, enter Webinar ID: 810 5085 2854 and Passcode: 683480. To comment during the public comment part of the agenda, Press *9 and wait to be recognized by the Chair.

Email comments 

Email comments must be submitted to amueller@berkeleyca.gov by 4:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting in order to be considered by the Board and included in the public record. Format your subject line: “RENT BOARD MEETING PUBLIC COMMENT ITEM.” Please observe a 150-word limit. Time limits on public comments will apply.

Decorum 

All rules of procedure and decorum apply for both in-person attendees and those participating remotely. Attendees at public meetings are reminded that other attendees may be sensitive to various scents. Please help the City respect these needs.

Communications access information 

This meeting is being held in a wheelchair accessible location. To request disability-related accommodation(s) to participate in the meeting, including auxiliary aids or services, please contact the Disability Services Specialist at (510) 981-6418 (voice) or (510) 981-6347 (TDD) at least three (3) business days before the meeting date.

RENT STABILIZATION BOARD
REGULAR MEETING 
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2026 – 7:00 p.m.
SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD ROOM – 1231 ADDISON STREET BERKELEY, CA

Video Archive (2:48)

AGENDA

1. Roll call 
2. Approval of Agenda 
3. Land Acknowledgment Statement: The Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board recognizes that the rental housing units we regulate are built on the territory of xučyun (Huchiun-(Hooch-yoon)), the ancestral and unceded land of the Chochenyo (Cho-chen-yo)-speaking Ohlone (Oh-low-nee) people, the ancestors and descendants of the sovereign Verona Band of Alameda County. This land was and continues to be of great importance to all of the Ohlone Tribes and descendants of the Verona Band. As we begin our meeting tonight, we acknowledge and honor the original inhabitants of Berkeley, the documented 5,000-year history of a vibrant community at the West Berkeley Shellmound, and the Ohlone people who continue to reside in the East Bay. We recognize that Berkeley’s landlords and tenants have and continue to benefit from the use and occupation of this unceded stolen land since the City of Berkeley’s incorporation in 1878 and since the Rent Stabilization Board’s creation in 1980. As stewards of the laws regulating rental housing, it is not only vital that we recognize the history of this land but also recognize that the Ohlone people are present members of Berkeley and other East Bay communities today. 
4. Public Comment for Unions representing Rent Board staff
5. Public Comment
6. Special Presentation: Rent Board Research Project Proposal by the Student Policy Institute at Berkeley
   Presenter: Sanjna Shah
7. Consent Items 
   1. Approval of December 18, 2025, regular meeting minutes
   2. Approval of January 15th regular meeting minutes
   3. 2026 Committee Assignments (Chair Alpert)
   4. Recommendation to adopt Resolution 26-06 increasing the purchase order with ACRO Service Corporation to support additional temporary staff assistance through May 31, 2026 (Executive Director)
   5. Proposal to approve staff recommendations on requests for waivers of late registration penalties (Executive Director/Registration Unit Manager) – Please see attachment 7.e. for a list of all addresses with discretionary waivers that will be considered by the Board.
8. Appeal in Case No. IRD-191 (2924 Florence St., Unit B) – This appeal will not be heard before 8:00 p.m. but may be heard anytime thereafter. Please see attachment 8 for case description and legal staff recommendation. 
9. Action Items
   1. Discussion and possible action to adopt Resolution 26-07 modifying the Board’s 2026 Regular Meeting Schedule to hold an additional regular meeting on Thursday, March 5, 2026 (Chair Alpert)
   2. Recommendation to adopt Resolution 26-08 urging Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to enact an eviction moratorium to prevent displacement during the ICE terror campaign (4 x 4 Committee)
   3. Recommendation to adopt proposed amendments to Regulations 525, 1205, 1210 and 1242 regarding E-Service – First Reading (Chair Alpert)
   4. Discussion and possible action on Discretionary Waiver for 2315 Dwight Way (Executive Director/Registration Unit Manager)
10. Information, Announcements and Articles/Media
    NOTE:  The Board may vote to move Information Items to the Action calendar.
    1. Board and Committee Meeting attendance records updated through the 4th quarter of 2025 (Board Secretary)
    2. Deadline to submit agenda items/topics for the next regular Rent Board meeting: Date to be announced – Verbal (Board Secretary)
11. Committee/Board Meeting Updates and Announcements
    1. Ad Hoc Committee to Consider Rent Ordinance Amendments at the November 2026 Election (Chair Alpert, Chair)
    2. Budget & Personnel Committee (Vice-Chair Walker, Chair)
    3. Climate Resilience & Habitability Committee (Commissioner Martinac, Chair)
    4. Eviction/Section 8/Foreclosure Committee (Commissioner Elgstrand, Chair)
    5. Legislation, IRA/AGA & Registration Committee (LIRA Committee) (Chair Alpert, Chair)
    6. Outreach Committee (Commissioner Kelley, Chair))
    7. 2 x 2 Committee on Housing: Rent Board/Berkeley Unified School District (Commissioner Marrero, Chair)
    8. 4 x 4 Joint Task Force Committee on Housing: City Council/Rent Board (Councilmember Lunaparra & Chair Alpert, Co-Chairs)
    9. Updates and Announcements
    10. Discussion of items for possible placement on future agenda

12. Closed Session: Pursuant to Government Code section 54957(b)(1), the Board will convene in closed session for a Public Employee contract discussion. Title: General Counsel

13. Adjournment