Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board Meeting Agenda: 11/16/2023

RENT STABILIZATION BOARD
Regular Meeting
Thursday, november 16, 2023 – 7:00 p.m.

School District Board Room – 1231 Addison Street, Berkeley

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/81315510979?pwd=LytGV2RZUDNrNVl4NHRJWkhHcVhSUT09. 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: 813 1551 0979 and Passcode: 101882. 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 oojigbo@berkeleyca.gov 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 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, 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, November 16, 2023 
7:00 p.m.
School District Board Room – 1231 Addison Street, Berkeley

Video Archive (2:33)

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 October 23rd special meeting minutes
       
   2. Proposal to approve staff recommendations on the following requests for waivers of late registration penalties (Executive Director/Registration Unit Manager)
      
      Ministerial Waivers
      Property Address
      
      1609 BANCROFT WAY
      3033 HARPER ST
      3114-3120 MLK
      1935 ADDISON 
      2425 EUNICE
      3081 BUENA VISTA
      1696 SACRAMENTO
      1735 6TH 
      2240 ROSE
      2311 ACTON 
      2207 BONAR
      1619 HARMON
      2236 8TH ST.  
      
      Discretionary Waivers
      Waiver No.     Property Address
      
      W5093           2285 EUNICE 
      W5094           1530 BANCROFT 
      W5095           1507 HARMON 
      W5096           1120 CARLETON 
      W5097           1944 CURTIS   
      W5098           2632 WARRING #6 
      W5099           2911 LORINA 
      W5100           1110 & 1112 PARKER ST 
       
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.*
      
      (1) Letter regarding the Alameda County Unlawful Detainer Calendar sent to The Honorable Charles Smiley on November 8, 2023
       
   2. Recommendation to adopt Resolution 23-28 authorizing the Executive Director to execute a contract with BMI Imaging Systems for digital conversion of Rent Board property files for an amount not to exceed $99,100 for a contract term through June 30, 2024 (Executive Director) – 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 update – Verbal (Public Information Unit Manager) – 5 min.*
       
   2. Owner Move-in Eviction Tracking Report (July 2020 - June 2023) (Eviction/Section 8/Foreclosure Committee) – 3 min.*
       
   3. Summary of Ellis Act Evictions (1986 - June 30, 2023) (Eviction/Section 8/Foreclosure Committee) – 3 min.*
       
   4. Commissioner attendance at Board and Committee meetings updated through the third quarter of 2023 (Board Secretary) – 1 min.*
       
   5. November 8, 2023 The Mercury News article by Kate Talerico titled, “A ‘tsunami’ of eviction cases is hitting Alameda County. These elected officials are calling for a slowdown” (Chair Simon-Weisberg) – 1 min.*
      https://www.mercurynews.com/2023/11/08/a-tsunami-of-eviction-cases-is-hitting-alamedas-courts-these-elected-officials-are-calling-for-a-slowdown/
       
   6. November 8, 2023 NBCBayArea.com article by Madison Fagundes titled, “Alameda County leaders raise alarm over rising eviction cases overwhelming court system” (Chair Simon-Weisberg) – 1 min.*
      https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/alameda-county-over-rising-eviction-cases-overwhelming-court-system/3365861/
       
   7.  October 25, 2023 Berkeleyside article by Commissioner Marrero titled, “Opinion: CPUC’s upcoming consumer solar vote would hurt renters, schools and farmers” (Commissioner Marrero) – 1 min.*
      https://www.berkeleyside.org/2023/10/25/opinion-cpucs-consumer-solar-vote-hurt-renters-schools-farmers
       
   8. Date to submit agenda topics/items for December’s regular Rent Board meeting: Monday, December 11th by 5:00 p.m. (Board Secretary)
      
       
9. COMMITTEE/BOARD MEETING UPDATES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
   1. Budget & Personnel Committee (Commissioner Walker, Chair) – 5 min.*
      Next regularly-scheduled meeting: To Be Announced (TBA)
       
   2. Environmental Sustainability Committee (Commissioner Martinac, Chair) – 5 min.*
      Next regularly-scheduled meeting: Wednesday, January 10th, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. 
      
      November 1st agenda
       
   3. Eviction/Section 8/Foreclosure Committee (Commissioner Elgstrand, Chair) – 5 min.*
      Next regularly-scheduled meeting: Tuesday, November 14th at 6:00 p.m.
      
      November 14th agenda
       
   4. Legislation, IRA/AGA & Registration Committee (LIRA Committee) (Commissioner Kelley, Chair) – 5 min.*
      Next regularly-scheduled meeting:  TBA
       
   5. Outreach Committee (Vice-Chair Alpert, Chair) – 5 min.*
      Next regularly-scheduled meeting:  Monday, November 13th at 6:00 p.m.
      
      November 13th agenda
       
   6. 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
       
   7. 2 x 2 Committee on Housing: Rent Board/Berkeley Unified School District
      (Chair TBA) – 5 min.*
      Next meeting date:  Monday, December 18th at 5:30 p.m.
       
   8. Ad Hoc Committee to Consider Rent Ordinance Amendments at the 2024 November General Election
      (Commissioner Johnson, Chair) – 5 min.*
      Next meeting date: Wednesday, November 15th at 5:30 p.m.
      
      November 15th agenda
      
      October 30th agenda
       
   9. Updates and Announcements – 5 min.*
       
   10. Discussion of items for possible placement on future agenda – 5 min.*
        
10. CLOSED SESSION – Pursuant to California Government Code Section 54957(b)(1), the Board will also convene in closed session for a Public Employee Evaluation of Performance:
    
    Title: General Counsel
     
11. ADJOURNMENT