City of Berkeley
Rent Stabilization Board

COMMITTEES
Meeting Schedules and Assignments

(Click on a linked meeting date to view the proposed meeting agenda.) 

Rent Stabilization Board Commissioners' Committee meeting attendance records 

BUDGET & PERSONNEL COMMITTEE

This Committee oversees the annual budget process and makes recommendations to the Board throughout the year on changes to the staffing model and any expenditures that arise outside of the budget process. Any issues related to registration or the registration fee originate with this Committee, including such programs as the Summer Registration Fee for fraternities.

Prior Agendas  

Next Meeting:         Tuesday, September 19, 2017@ 5:45 p.m.
                                 2001 Center Street, Law Library, 2nd Floor  

Commissioner Chang
Commissioner Selawsky
Commissioner Simon-Weisberg
Commissioner Tregub (Chair)

EVICTION / SECTION 8 / FORECLOSURE COMMITTEE

This Committee reviews and monitors matters related to the displacement of tenants from affordable housing and possible resources to assist them. The Committee’s work includes, but is not limited to, reviewing and tracking annual status reports on Owner Occupancy and Ellis evictions, meeting with the Berkeley Housing Authority on common ground issues, tracking and monitoring staff’s progress in outreach to tenants in foreclosed or distressed properties, and reviewing the work performed under contract with the East Bay Community Law Center and Eviction Defense Center.

Prior Agendas 

Next Meeting:     To Be Announced

                  Commissioner Chang
                  Commissioner Poblet - effective August 1, 2017. 
                  Commissioner Selawsky
                  Commissioner Simon-Weisberg (Chair)

HABITABLE & SUSTAINABLE HOUSING COMMITTEE

This Committee will take the place of the former Habitability Committee and Resilience & Sustainability Committee.  The Committee will focus on habitability issues such as cyclical housing inspections, anonymous building complaints, and Rental Housing Safety Program issues.  It will also focus on disaster preparedness and maintaining safe, secure, healthy, and environmentally conscientious rental housing in Berkeley.

Prior Agendas

Next Meeting:      Thursday, September 21, 2017 @ 5:30 p.m. 
                              2001 Center Street, 2nd Floor, Law Library

Commissioner Laverde-Levine (Chair)
Commissioner Soto-Vigil
Commissioner Townley
Commissioner Tregub

INDIVIDUAL RENT ADJUSTMENT / ANNUAL GENERAL ADJUSTMENT / REGISTRATION COMMITTEE
(formerly the Individual Rent Adjustment / Annual General Adjustment / Habitability Committee)

This Committee handles all issues that relate to the Board’s regulations and the Hearings Unit. The Committee reviews and approves the Annual General Adjustment. Changes to regulations may be initiated at the Committee, and the Board refers any issues that arise related to regulations, hearings, or the appeals process to this Committee.  The Committee also reviews issues related to waivers or other registration topics.

Prior Agendas  

Next Meeting:       To Be Announced

Commissioner Poblet
Commissioner Simon-Weisberg (Chair)
Commissioner Townley
Commissioner Tregub

OUTREACH COMMITTEE

The Outreach Committee reviews efforts and makes recommendations for informing Berkeley residents and property owners of the services that the Rent Board provides and for expanding access to these services. Outreach projects include, but are not limited to, informative workshops and mailings, advertising, and on-the-spot counseling services at annual Berkeley events, the library, senior centers, and local college campuses.

Prior Agendas

Next Meeting:        To Be Announced
                                                
          Commissioner Chang (Chair)
          Commissioner Laverde-Levine
          Commissioner Murphy

4 x 4 JOINT COMMITTEE ON HOUSING -- RENT BOARD AND CITY COUNCIL
(Prior meeting agendas are posted on the City Clerk's web site which is linked above.)

The 4x4 was established to allow the Rent Board and the City Council to discuss and make recommendations on housing issues where jurisdiction or policy overlap, conflict or is unclear. Four members are appointed from each body. Issues that have been before the 4x4 include seismic safety issues (soft story ordinance and signage enforcement), the Smoke-Free Multi-Unit Housing Ordinance, the Condominium Conversion Ordinance, proposed changes to the Demolition Ordinance, recycling and energy issues, the apartment building fires, and habitability issues, including the Rental Housing Safety Program and how the city performs inspections.

Prior Agendas 

Next Meeting:          Thursday, September 21, 2017 @ 10:00 a.m
                                    2001 Center Street, 2nd Floor, Law Library  

Commissioner Laverde-Levine
Commissioner Murphy
Commissioner Selawsky
Commissioner Townley

4 x 4 JOINT COMMITTEE ON HOUSING -- AD HOC COMMITTEE ON SAFETY, OCCUPANCY, AND AFFORDABILITY OF CONVERTED ARTIST WAREHOUSES AND WORKSPACES

Prior Agendas 

Next Meeting:         To Be Announced

Commissioner Laverde-Levine
Commissioner Townley 

This Committee will focus on the issues and impacts of the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act (California Civil Code 1954.5).  This state law – commonly referred to as “vacancy decontrol” – permits landlords to establish the initial rate when there is a change of occupancy in a rent-controlled unit.

Prior Agendas 

Next Meeting:     To Be Announced

Commissioner Laverde-Levine (Chair)
Commissioner Murphy
Commissioner Poblet
Commissioner Townley 

AD HOC COMMITTEE ON TECHNOLOGY ISSUES 

This Committee will address technology issues related to the new paperless agenda program.  It will also identify and analyze new technology opportunities with an eye towards increasing efficiency and effectiveness, including but not limited to, the cost of implementing and maintaining new technologies, effects on Board and staff processes, and creating implementation and use policies that comply with the City's applicable Administrative Regulations and policies for any new technologies that may be adopted.

Prior Agendas

Next Meeting:       To Be Announced

          Commissioner Chang
          Commissioner Selawsky
          Commissioner Soto-Vigil
          Commissioner Townley

 2 x 2 x 2 COMMITTEE ON HOUSING: COUNCIL / RSB / BUSD

To better fulfill the Rent Stabilization Board's duties as required by the Charter, this Committee was created so that the Board can work in concert with the Berkeley Unified School District and City Council on rental housing issues that affect families with school-aged children.  

Prior Agendas

Next Meeting:     To Be Announced

              Commissioner Laverde-Levine
              Commissioner Simon-Weisberg

Ad Hoc Committee to Fill Board Vacancy    

Prior Agendas

Habitability Committee --This committee was subsumed by the Habitable and Sustainable Housing Committee

Prior Agendas

 Resilience & Sustainability Committee --This committee was subsumed by the Habitable and Sustainable Housing Committee

Prior Agendas

 Ad Hoc Committee on Paperless Agendas --This committee's purview was subsumed by the new Ad Hoc Committee on Technology Issues

Prior Agendas

 Ad Hoc Committee on Short-Term Rentals --This committee's purview was transferred to the 4 x 4 Joint Committee on Housing: City Council / RSB