Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board Meeting Agenda: 09/17/2026

Rent Stabilization board
Regular Meeting 
Thursday, September 17, 2026 – 7:00 p.m.
School District Board Room – 1231 Addison Street, Berkeley, CA 94702
Teleconference location: 651 Addison Street, Apt. 215, Berkeley, CA 94710
 Teleconference location: Prudential Properties Unit 11- Potworks, St. James Parish, Nevis, KN1102

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: 853 8339 6793 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 doliver@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, September 17, 2026 – 7:00 p.m.
School District Board Room – 1231 Addison Street, Berkeley, CA 94702
Teleconference location: 651 Addison Street, Apt. 215, Berkeley, CA 94710
Teleconference location: Prudential Properties Unit 11- Potworks, St. James Parish, Nevis, KN1102

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. Public Comment for Unions representing Rent Board staff
5. Public Comment
6. Consent Items 
   1. Approval of the July 16^th regular meeting minutes
   2. Recommendation to adopt Resolution 26-31 amending the Rent Board’s Records Retention Schedule to include updated retention code descriptions and periods for enhanced records management (Executive Director) *TO BE DELIVERED 
   3. Proposal to approve staff recommendations on requests for waivers of late registration penalties (Executive Director/Registration Unit Manager) – Please see attachment 6.c for a list of all addresses with discretionary waivers that will be considered by the Board. 
7. Appeal in Case No. T-6171 (2020 Kittredge St. #404) – This appeal will not be heard before 7:30 p.m., but may be heard anytime thereafter. Please see attachment 7. for case description and legal staff recommendation. 
8. Action Items
   1. Chair Update 1: Ordinance Update – Measure X (Chair Alpert) 
   2. Chair Update 2: Eviction Emergency Legislation (Chair Alpert) 
   3. Chair Update 3: Letter to Superior Court of California, Civil Division, Department 511 at the Hayward Hall of Justice (Chair Alpert)
   4. Recommendation to adopt Resolution 26-26 in appreciation of Moni Law in honor of her retirement and for fifteen years of outstanding service to the Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board and the City of Berkeley (Chair Alpert)
   5. State Legislative Report: Presentation, discussion and possible action to adopt a position on pending housing legislation (Brian Augusta, Legislative Advocate
   6. Recommendation to adopt Resolution 26-27 approving adjustment to compensation package for Executive Director DéSeana Williams (Chair Alpert and Vice-Chair Walker) 
   7. Recommendation to adopt Resolution 26-28 approving adjustment to compensation package for General Counsel Matt Brown (Chair Alpert and Vice-Chair Walker) 
   8. Recommendation to adopt Resolution 26-29 approving the Rent Board Executive Evaluation Process (Chair Alpert and Budget & Vice-Chair Walker) 
   9. Recommendation to adopt Resolution 26-30 approving the employment agreement extension with General Counsel Matt Brown (Chair Alpert)
9. Information, Announcements and Articles/Media
   NOTE:  The Board may vote to move Information Items to the Action calendar.
   1. San Francisco Empty Homes Tax Litigation and Implications for Berkeley’s Empty Homes Tax Program (Matt Brown, General Counsel)
   2. Updated Regulation 1266 [Self Labor] with current Consumer Price Index (CPI) information; Updated Appendix B of Rent Board Regulations, Chapter 12 – US Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI Information; and Updated Appendix C of Rent Board Regulations, Chapter 12 – US Department of Housing and Urban Development Lower Income Limits (General Counsel)
   3. Deadline to submit agenda items/topics for the October regular Rent Board meeting: Monday, October 5th by 5:00 p.m. – Verbal (Board Secretary)
10. 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
11. Adjournment – In remembrance of Dolly Parton