Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board Meeting Agenda: 06/18/2026

Rent Stabilization board
Regular Meeting 
Thursday, June 18, 2026 – 6:30 p.m.
School District Board Room – 1231 Addison Street, Berkeley, CA 94702
Teleconference Location – 2010 Fifth Street, Apt. 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: 838 2098 5248 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 
Thursday, June 18, 2026 – 6:30 p.m.
School District Board Room – 1231 Addison Street, Berkeley, CA 94702
Teleconference Location – 2010 Fifth Street, Apt. 260, Berkeley, CA 94710

Live Webcast

AGENDA 

1. Roll call
2. Closed Session: Pursuant to Government Code section 54956.9(d)(1), the Board will convene in closed session for a litigation update.
   
   ALAN WOFSY & ASSOCIATES, a California corporation dba Hearst VS. BERKELEY RENT STABILIZATION BOARD (Case No. 23CV043503)
3. Approval of Agenda
4. 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. 
5. Public Comment for Unions representing Rent Board staff
6. Public Comment
7. Consent Items 
   1. Approval of the May 28^th regular meeting minutes
   2. Proposal to approve staff recommendations on requests for waivers of late registration penalties (Executive Director/Registration Unit Manager) – Please see attachment 7.b. for a list of all addresses with discretionary waivers that will be considered by the Board. 
8. Special Presentation: Legislative Update (Board action may be taken)
   Presenter: Rent Board Legislative Advocate Brian Augusta
   1. Discussion and possible action to take a position on state legislative bills (Chair Alpert)
9. Staff Presentation: Fiscal Year (FY) 2026-2027 Budget, Staffing Model, and Expenditure Level
   Presenters: Finance Director Shamika Cole & Executive Director Williams
10. Appeal in Case No. Case No. L-4366 (1522 Walnut St., Unit 3) – 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. Chair Update: Update on Ordinance Amendments (Chair Alpert) 
    2. Recommendation to adopt Resolution 26-23 approving the FY 2026-2027 Line-Item Budget, Staffing Model, and Expenditure Level (Finance Director Shamika Cole & Executive Director Williams)
    3. Discussion and possible action to recess for the month of August – Verbal (Chair Alpert)  
    4. Discussion and possible action to approve the staff recommendation for Discretionary Waiver W5166 for Evans Manor (2316 Haste St./2315 Dwight Way) (Registration Unit Manager/Staff)
    5. Recommendation to adopt Resolution 26-24 to modify the contract with Berkeley Community Media (BCM) by an amount not to exceed $27,000 for Fiscal Year 2026-2027 (Executive Director Williams/Board Secretary Mueller)
12. Information, Announcements and Articles/Media
    NOTE:  The Board may vote to move Information Items to the Action calendar.
    1. Deadline to submit agenda items/topics for the July regular Rent Board meeting: Wednesday, July 1^st by 5:00 p.m. (Board Secretary)
13. Committee/Board Meeting Updates and Announcements
    1. Budget & Personnel Committee (Vice-Chair Walker, Chair)
    2. Climate Resilience & Habitability Committee (Commissioner Martinac, Chair)
    3. Eviction/Section 8/Foreclosure Committee (Commissioner Elgstrand, Chair)
    4. Legislation, IRA/AGA & Registration Committee (LIRA Committee) (Chair Alpert, Chair)
    5. Outreach & Accessibility Committee (Commissioner Kelley, Chair)
    6. 2 x 2 Committee on Housing: Rent Board/Berkeley Unified School District (Commissioner Marrero, Chair)
    7. 4 x 4 Joint Task Force Committee on Housing: City Council/Rent Board (Councilmember Lunaparra & Chair Alpert, Co-Chairs)
    8. Updates and Announcements
    9. Discussion of items for possible placement on future agenda
14. Adjournment