Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board Meeting Agenda: 12/18/2025

RENT STABILIZATION BOARD
Regular Meeting
Thursday, DECEMBER 18, 2025 – 7:00 p.m.
School District Board Room – 1231 Addison Street, Berkeley, CA

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: 825 9492 2748 and Passcode: 157031. 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, DECEMBER 18, 2025 – 7:00 p.m.
School District Board Room – 1231 Addison Street, Berkeley, CA

Video Archive (pending)

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. Special Order of Business
   1. Election of Rent Board Chair
   2. Election of Rent Board Vice-Chair
   3. Comments from newly elected Chair and Vice-Chair
5. Public Comment for Unions representing Rent Board staff
6. Public Comment
7. Consent Items
   1. Approval of the October 10th special meeting minutes - TO BE DELIVERED
   2. Approval of the November 20th regular meeting minutes
   3. Proposal to approve staff recommendations on requests for waivers of late registration penalties (Executive Director/Registration Unit Manager) – Please see attachment 7.c. for a list of all addresses with discretionary waivers that will be considered by the Board.
8. Appeal in Case No. T-6124 (2243 Ashby Ave., #1/2) – This appeal will not be heard before 8:00 p.m. but may be heard anytime thereafter. Please see attachment 8 for case description and legal staff recommendation.
9. Action Items
   1. Chair Update: Council action on amendments to Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) rules (Chair Alpert)
   2. Special Ceremonial Act: Recommendation to adopt Resolution 25-29 Honoring Urban Compassion Project (Chair Alpert)
   3. Demolition Ordinance Update: City of Berkeley Demolition projects status (Senior Planner Lief Bursell)
   4. Evans Manor property discussion and possible action to adopt Resolution 25-30 (General Counsel)
   5. Discussion and recommendation to adopt Resolution 25-31 establishing the Board’s 2026 Regular Meeting Schedule (Executive Director)
   6. Recommendation to adopt Resolution 25-32 to extend the amnesty period to allow for the automatic waiver of penalties for late payment of Measure BB Registration Fees for non-profit affordable housing providers (Executive Director)
   7. Recommendation to adopt Resolution 25-33 authorizing the Executive Director to amend a contract with Goldfarb & Lipman LLP to increase the amount of the contract by $150,000 (General Counsel)
   8. Recommendation to adopt proposed Regulation 1283 to allow for rent ceiling increases to government-subsidized tenancies that are now subject to rent control due to Ordinance amendments of Measure BB – First Reading (LIRA Committee/General Counsel)
   9. Recommendation to adopt Resolution 25-34 modifying the Fiscal Year 2025/26 Staffing Model to reflect the addition of an Assistant Planner to the Planning Unit (Executive Director)
10. Information, Announcements and Articles/Media
    NOTE:  The Board may vote to move Information Items to the Action calendar.
    1. Special Presentation: Registration 365 (Amanda Eberhart, Registration Unit Manager)
    2. Copy of November 24, 2025, letter to Council titled, “Measure BB Implementation, Affordable Housing Registration Fees, and Amnesty Extension” (Chair Alpert/Executive Director)
    3. Owner Move-in Eviction Tracking Report: July 2022 - June 2025 (Eviction/Section 8/Foreclosure Committee)
    4. Deadline to submit agenda items/topics for the January 2026 regular Rent Board meeting: Monday, January 5th by 5:00 p.m. – Verbal (Board Secretary)
11. 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
12. Adjournment