Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board Meeting Agenda: 03/23/2026

RENT STABILIZATION BOARD 
REGULAR MEETING 
MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2026 – 7:00 p.m.
SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD ROOM – 1231 ADDISON STREET, BERKELEY, CA 94702
TELECONFERENCE LOCATION – 2010 FIFTH STREET, UNIT 260, BERKELEY, CA 94710
 

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: 881 9921 7055 and Passcode: 505132. 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 
MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2026 – 7:00 p.m.
SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD ROOM – 1231 ADDISON STREET, BERKELEY, CA 94702
TELECONFERENCE LOCATION – 2010 FIFTH STREET, UNIT 260, BERKELEY, CA 94710
 

Live Webcast

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. Introduction of new Rent Board staff: Abigail Vieira, Public Information Unit Manager
5. Public Comment for Unions representing Rent Board staff
6. Public Comment
7. Consent Items 
   1. Approval of the February 19th regular meeting minutes
   2. Recommendation to adopt proposed amendments to Regulations 525, 1205, 1210 and 1242 regarding E-Service – Second Reading (Chair Alpert)
   3. Recommendation to adopt Resolution 26-14 in support of the American Homeownership Act (Commissioner Kelley and Chair Alpert)
   4. Proposal to approve staff recommendations on requests for waivers of late registration penalties (Executive Director/Registration Unit Manager) – Please see attachment 7.d. for a list of all addresses with discretionary waivers that will be considered by the Board. 
8. Special Presentation: Finance 365 (Finance Director Shamika Cole)
9. Special Presentation: Web Content Accessibility Project Update – Upcoming Changes to Federal Requirements (Operations and Systems Coordinator Jen Fabish)
10. Appeal in Case No. RWN-1682 (702 Hillsdale Ave.) – This appeal will not be heard before 7:30 p.m. but may be heard anytime thereafter. Please see attachment 10. for case description and legal staff recommendation. 
11. Action Items
    1. Special Presentation: Spring Legislative Update (Brian Augusta, Rent Board Legislative Advocate) 
    2. Discussion and possible action regarding the Ad Hoc Committee's recommendation to place Potential Berkeley Rent Ordinance Amendments on the November 2026 General Election Ballot (General Counsel Matt Brown) 
    3. Discussion and possible action on the Discretionary Waiver for 2315 Dwight Way (Executive Director/Registration Unit Manager)
    4. Recommendation to adopt Resolution 26-15 establishing a Rent Board Language Access Policy (Outreach Committee/Commissioners Twu and Marrero)  
    5. Recommendation to adopt Resolution 26-13 Advancing Justice: Ensuring Access and Inclusion for All (Outreach Committee/Commissioners Marrero and Twu)
12. Information, Announcements and Articles/Media
    NOTE:  The Board may vote to move Information Items to the Action calendar.
    1. Update on the Data System Request for Proposal (RFP) Process (Principal Program Manager Andrew Chang)
    2. Update on the Apparent Lawful Rent Ceiling (ALRC) Notice mailing to tenants this month (Principal Program Manager Andrew Chang)
    3. Commissioner Attendance Records for Board and Committee meetings updated through December 2025 (Board Secretary) 
    4. Copy of the Rent Board’s Quarterly Newsletter: The Rent Board Review – Housing News You Can Use! Spring 2026 (Executive Director)
    5. Annual Statement of Economic Interests (Form 700) filing due April 1, 2026, via NetFile (Board Secretary)
    6. Deadline to submit agenda items/topics for the April regular Rent Board meeting: Thursday, April 2^nd by 5:00 p.m. – Verbal (Board Secretary)
13. 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 (Councilmember Lunaparra & Chair Alpert, Co-Chairs) Board
    9. Updates and Announcements
    10. Discussion of items for possible placement on future agenda
14. Adjournment