Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board Meeting Agenda: 05/18/2023

RENT STABILIZATION BOARD
Regular Meeting
Thursday, May 18, 2023 – 7:00 p.m.
School District Board Room – 1231 Addison Street, Berkeley, CA 94702

PUBLIC ADVISORY: THIS MEETING WILL BE CONDUCTED IN A HYBRID MODEL WITH BOTH IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE AND VIRTUAL PARTICIPATION.

For in-person attendees, face coverings or masks that cover both the nose and the mouth are encouraged. If you are feeling sick, please do not attend the meeting in person.

To access this meeting remotely: Join from a PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone, or Android device by clicking on this URL: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88524276546?pwd=bjBTVjNYcGtGbFQ3Wlc0VUttK0hqUT09.  If you do not wish for your name to appear on the screen, then 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 and enter Webinar ID: 885 2427 6546 and Passcode: 056490. If you wish to comment during the public comment portion of the agenda, Press *9 and wait to be recognized by the Chair.

To submit a written communication for the Board’s consideration and inclusion in the public record, please email amueller@cityofberkeley.info with the Subject line in this format: “RENT BOARD MEETING PUBLIC COMMENT ITEM.” Please observe a 150-word limit. Email comments must be submitted to the email address above by 5:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting in order to be included.

Please be mindful that this will be a public meeting and all rules of procedure and decorum apply for both in-person attendees and those participating by teleconference or videoconference.

This meeting will be conducted in accordance with Government Code Section 54953, 54956, and all current state and local requirements allowing public participation in meetings of legislative bodies. Any member of the public may attend this meeting. Questions regarding this matter may be addressed to DéSeana Williams, Executive Director, at (510) 981-7368 (981-RENT). The Rent Board may take action related to any subject listed on the Agenda. 

COMMUNICATION 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.

Attendees at public meetings are reminded that other attendees may be sensitive to various scents, whether natural or manufactured, in products and materials. Please help the City respect these needs.

RENT STABILIZATION BOARD
Regular Meeting
Thursday, May 18, 2023
7:00 p.m.
School District Board Room – 1231 Addison Street, Berkeley, CA 94702

Video Archive (1:08)

AGENDA

*Times allotted for each item are approximate and may be changed at the Board’s discretion during the course of this meeting.

1. Roll call – 1 min.*
    
2. 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. – 2 min.*
3. Approval of Agenda – 1 min.*
    
4. Public Comment – 2 min. per speaker for non-agendized items*
    
5. Public Comment – 2 min. per speaker for items on the agenda*
    
6. CONSENT ITEMS – 1 min.*
   1. Approval of the April 20th regular meeting minutes
       
7. ACTION ITEMS
   from Board Members, Committees, Executive Director or Staff
   
   Public comment will also be heard prior to the Board’s vote on each action item listed below – 1 min. per speaker.
   1. Chair Update (Chair Simon-Weisberg) – 5 min.*
       
   2. Discussion and possible action to recommend that the Board adopt Proposed Amendments to Regulations 525 [Procedure for Challenging Tenant in Occupancy Status], 1205 [Filing the Petition], and 1210 [Notices to Opposing Parties and Board] – First Reading (LIRA Committee) – 15 min.*
       
   3. Discussion and possible action to recommend that the Board adopt Proposed Amendments to Regulations 883 [Waiver of Penalties and Interest on Delinquent Registration Fees] and 884 [Other Waiver Requests] to streamline the waiver process – Second Reading (LIRA Committee) – 5 min.*
       
   4. Discussion and possible action to recommend that the Board send a letter of support for Assembly Bill 1218 (Lowenthal) - Development projects: demolition of residential dwelling units (LIRA Committee) – 10 min.* 
       
   5. Recommendation to adopt Resolution 23-12 authorizing the Executive Director to amend the staffing model to add an Assistant Management Analyst in the Finance Unit for the 2023-2024 fiscal year (Budget & Personnel Committee) – 10 min.*
       
8. INFORMATION, ANNOUNCEMENTS AND ARTICLES/MEDIA
   from Board Members, Committees, Executive Director or Staff
   
   NOTE:  The Board may vote to move Information Items to the Action calendar.
   1. Eviction Moratorium outreach update (Public Information Unit Manager) – 5 min.*
       
   2. Copy of April Eviction Moratorium mailing to Berkeley property owners, managers, and tenants (Executive Director) – 2 min.*
       
   3. Update on Rent Board staff outreach at the April 22nd Berkeley Bay Festival at the Berkeley Marina (Public Information Unit Manager) – 2 min.*
       
   4. Copy of April 24, 2023 letter to Assemblymember Bonta conveying the Board’s support for Assembly Bill 846 (Chair Simon-Weisberg) – 1 min.*
       
   5. May 10, 2023 Berkeleyside article by Supriya Yelimeli titled, “Berkeley’s eviction moratorium is ending. Here’s what you need to know” (Executive Director) – 1 min.*
      https://www.berkeleyside.org/2023/05/10/berkeleys-eviction-moratorium-is-ending-heres-what-you-need-to-know
       
   6. Date to submit agenda topics/items for June’s regular Rent Board meeting: Monday, June 5th by 5:00 p.m. (Board Secretary) – 1 min.*
       
9. COMMITTEE/BOARD MEETING UPDATES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
   1. Budget and Personnel Committee (Commissioner Walker, Chair) – 5 min.*
      Next regularly-scheduled meeting:  Thursday, June 1st at 5:30 p.m.
      
      May 4th agenda
       
   2. Eviction/Section 8/Foreclosure Committee (Commissioner Elgstrand, Chair) – 5 min.*
      Next regularly-scheduled meeting:  Tuesday, June 13th at 6:00 p.m. 
       
   3. Legislation, IRA/AGA & Registration Committee (LIRA Committee) (Commissioner Kelley, Chair) – 5 min.*
      Next regularly-scheduled meeting:  Tuesday, June 6th at 5:30 p.m.
      
      May 2nd agenda
       
   4. Outreach Committee (Vice-Chair Alpert, Chair) – 5 min.*
      Next regularly-scheduled meeting:  Monday, June 12th at 5:30 p.m.
      
      May 8th agenda
       
   5. 4 x 4 Joint Task Force Committee on Housing: City Council/Rent Board – 5 min.*
      (Mayor Arreguín and Chair Simon-Weisberg, Co-Chairs)
      Next regularly-scheduled meeting:  TBA
      
      May 2nd agenda packet
       
   6. Ad Hoc Committee on Environmental Sustainability (Commissioner Martinac, Chair) – 5 min.*
      Next meeting date:  Wednesday, June 7th at 5:30 p.m.
      
      May 3rd agenda 
       
   7. 2 x 2 Committee on Housing: Rent Board/Berkeley Unified School District
      (Chair TBA) – 1 min.*
      Next meeting date:  Monday, May 15th at 5:30 p.m.
      
      May 15th agenda 
       
   8. Updates and Announcements – 5 min.*
       
   9. Discussion of items for possible placement on future agenda – 5 min.*
      
       
10. ADJOURNMENT