{"body": "RentReviewAdvisoryCommittee", "date": "2016-09-07", "page": 1, "text": "Approved Minutes\nMinutes of the Regular Meeting of the\nRent Review Advisory Committee\nWednesday, September 7, 2016\n1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL\nThe meeting was called to order at 6:37 p.m.\nPresent were: Chair Sullivan-Sari\u00f1ana, Vice-Chair Landess; and Members Griffiths,\nFriedman, and Schrader.\nAbsent: None\nVacancy: None\nRRAC staff: Jennifer Kaufman\n2. AGENDA CHANGES (None)\n3. ANNOUNCEMENTS\na. The Chair invited Angie Watson-Hajjem of ECHO Housing to speak about ECHO's Fair\nHousing and tenant/landlord mediation services.\nb.\nStaff is developing an information brochure for tenants and landlords regarding new\nregulations and protections under Rent Stabilization Ordinance no. 3148.\n4. CONSENT CALENDAR\na.\nApproval of the Minutes of the August 1, 2016 Regular Meeting\nApproved by unanimous consent with the provision that staff confirm the exact\npercentage of the agreed rent increase in Case 417. Motion and second (Schrader and\nFriedman).\n5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS (None)\n6. NEW BUSINESS\na.\nCase 434 -941 - Shorepoint Ct. #F318\nTenant/public speaker: Ralph Medina\nLandlord/public speaker: Darren Carrington, Katie Edwards\nMr. Medina stated that his family has lived at the property since 2010 and they would\nlike to continue living there. Mr. Medina noted that the rent has increased significantly\neach of the previous three years, which he finds excessive. The tenant did not feel that\nthe month-to-month offer was an option due to its high rate, and he preferred a 12-month\nlease. Mr. Medina proposed a 2.0% rent increase for a 12-month lease. As an alternative\noption, he also proposed a 12-month lease with one month of free rent based an offer he\nsaw in an online advertisement to prospective tenants at the property.\nMs. Edwards and Mr. Carrington stated that the tenant's rent is $400 below the current\nmarket rate. They explained that it was in the interest of the landlord to have long-term\ntenants and leases. They believed it was important to comply with the Ordinance and\nPage 1 of 7", "path": "RentReviewAdvisoryCommittee/2016-09-07.pdf"}
{"body": "RentReviewAdvisoryCommittee", "date": "2016-09-07", "page": 2, "text": "Approved Minutes\nRegular Meeting Minutes of the RRAC\nSeptember 7, 2016\nconsidered the 4.9% increase reasonable, given that it was still below the market rate. To\napproximate market rates, they observed rents at Ballena Village, Summer House\nApartments, and Tower Apartment Homes. Ms. Edwards and Mr. Carrington proposed\nexploring options to transfer the tenant to another available unit on the property within\nthe tenant's price range.\nMr. Medina did not have interest in relocating to a different unit on the property. He did\nnot agree that his unit was $400 below market rent. He stated that the rent increase was\ncausing him to consider leaving the property to move into a more affordable unit\nelsewhere.\nParties were unable to reach agreement. The Committee discussed a recommendation for\nthe rent increase.\nSchrader commented there is a difference between the market rent for a new tenant\nand the market rent for a long-term tenant. Additionally, he stated it is difficult to\ncompare unit rents as there is often variation on floor plan, location on the property,\netc. Due to the fact there have been significant rent increases in the past, he stated\nthere should be comprise on the rent increase and determined a reasonable rent\nincrease for a 12-month lease would be $90 (3.6%).\nSullivan-Sari\u00f1ana stated he finds the multiple rent increases over the recent years\nexcessive, especially because salaries do not increase quickly enough to match. He\nemphasized that the financial burden on the tenant gets to the core of the Ordinance\nand its purpose. He stated he was not in dispute of the landlord's concerns, however,\nhe believed the Committee should consider the intent of the Ordinance.\nLandess stated that she understood the landlord's perspective. Nevertheless, she also\nobserved an apparent conflict between the landlord's statement that long-term tenants\nare valued, yet, long-term tenants receive frequent, high rent increases. She agreed\nwith the $90 (3.6%) rent increase recommendation.\nGriffiths agreed with statements by Schrader and Landess. He noted that the\nCommittee should find the most equitable solution that is possible in each situation.\nGriffiths expressed the hope that this recommendation will lead to more discussion\nbetween the landlord and the tenant.\nFriedman stated that his main concern is the rent increase's financial impact on the\ntenant as the factor gets to the purpose of the Ordinance. He noted that the tenant did\nnot emphasize a concern regarding financial impact. Friedman commented that it\nseems the Alameda community has come together and determined that rent increases\nof 5% are reasonable. However, he understood the perspective of other Committee\nmembers and was in agreement with their recommendation.\nThe Committee recommended a rent increase of $90 (3.6%) effective September 12,\n2016. Motion and second (Schrader and Landess) and unanimous consent.\nPage 2 of 7", "path": "RentReviewAdvisoryCommittee/2016-09-07.pdf"}
{"body": "RentReviewAdvisoryCommittee", "date": "2016-09-07", "page": 3, "text": "Approved Minutes\nRegular Meeting Minutes of the RRAC\nSeptember 7, 2016\nb. Case 435 - 941 Shorepoint Ct. #F314\nNo review. Prior to the RRAC meeting, the tenant and landlord agreed to a rent increase\nbetween 0-5%.\nc. Case 441 - 941 Shorepoint Ct. #F111\nNo review. The tenant did not attend the meeting. Hence, the Committee took no action\nand both options on the rent increase notice are valid. The tenant retains the option to\nchoose the 12-month lease offer or the month-to-month rental agreement offer.\nd. Case 442 - 941 Shorepoint Ct. #F106\nNo review. The tenant did not attend the meeting. Hence, the Committee took no action\nand both options on the rent increase notice are valid. The tenant retains the option to\nchoose the 12-month lease offer or the month-to-month rental agreement offer.\ne. Case 444 - 915 Shorepoint Ct. #E323\nNo review. The tenant did not attend the meeting. Hence, the Committee took no action\nand both options on the rent increase notice are valid. The tenant retains the option to\nchoose the 12-month lease offer or the month-to-month rental agreement offer.\nf.\nCase 446 - 915 Shorepoint Ct. #E317\nNo review. Prior to the RRAC meeting, the tenant submitted paperwork to vacate the\nunit.\ng. Case 448 - 915 Shorepoint Ct. #E306\nNo review. Prior to the RRAC meeting, the tenant and landlord agreed to a rent increase\nbetween 0-5%.\nh. Case 450 - 915 Shorepoint Ct. #E304\nNo review. The tenant did not attend the meeting. Hence, the Committee took no action\nand both options on the rent increase notice are valid. The tenant retains the option to\nchoose the 12-month lease offer or the month-to-month rental agreement offer.\ni.\nCase 455 - 915 Shorepoint Ct. #E226\nPage 3 of 7", "path": "RentReviewAdvisoryCommittee/2016-09-07.pdf"}
{"body": "RentReviewAdvisoryCommittee", "date": "2016-09-07", "page": 4, "text": "Approved Minutes\nRegular Meeting Minutes of the RRAC\nSeptember 7, 2016\nNo review. The tenant did not attend the meeting. Hence, the Committee took no action\nand both options on the rent increase notice are valid. The tenant retains the option to\nchoose the 12-month lease offer or the month-to-month rental agreement offer.\nj.\nCase 461 - 915 Shorepoint Ct. #E113\nNo review. Prior to the RRAC meeting, the tenant and landlord agreed to a rent increase\nbetween 0-5%.\nk. Case 463-909 - Shorepoint Ct. #D322\nThe case was postponed to the RRAC meeting on October 3, 2016.\n1.\nCase 472 - 344 Westline Dr. #C305\nNo review. Prior to the RRAC meeting, the tenant and landlord agreed to a rent increase\nbetween 0-5%.\nm. Case 475 - 300 Westline Dr. #B229\nNo review. Prior to the RRAC meeting, the tenant and landlord agreed to a rent increase\nbetween 0-5%.\nn. Case 476 - 330 Westline Dr. #B427\nNo review. The tenant did not attend the meeting. Hence, the Committee took no action\nand both options on the rent increase notice are valid. The tenant retains the option to\nchoose the 12-month lease offer or the month-to-month rental agreement offer.\nO. Case 478 - 344 Westline Dr. #C202\nNo review. The tenant did not attend the meeting. Hence, the Committee took no action\nand both options on the rent increase notice are valid. The tenant retains the option to\nchoose the 12-month lease offer or the month-to-month rental agreement offer.\np. Case 480 - 344 Westline Dr. #C209\nNo review. Prior to the RRAC meeting, the tenant and landlord agreed to a rent increase\nbetween 0-5%.\nq. Case 487 - 300 Westline Dr. #A313\nPage 4 of 7", "path": "RentReviewAdvisoryCommittee/2016-09-07.pdf"}
{"body": "RentReviewAdvisoryCommittee", "date": "2016-09-07", "page": 5, "text": "Approved Minutes\nRegular Meeting Minutes of the RRAC\nSeptember 7, 2016\nNo review. The tenant did not attend the meeting. Hence, the Committee took no action\nand both options on the rent increase notice are valid. The tenant retains the option to\nchoose the 12-month lease offer or the month-to-month rental agreement offer.\nr.\nCase 488 - 310 Westline Dr. #B 101\nNo review. The tenant did not attend the meeting. Hence, the Committee took no action\nand both options on the rent increase notice are valid. The tenant retains the option to\nchoose the 12-month lease offer or the month-to-month rental agreement offer.\nS.\nCase 490 - 310 Westline Dr. #B 103\nNo review. The tenant did not attend the meeting. Hence, the Committee took no action\nand both options on the rent increase notice are valid. The tenant retains the option to\nchoose the 12-month lease offer or the month-to-month rental agreement offer.\nt.\nCase 497 - 300 Westline Dr. #A216\nNo review. The tenant did not attend the meeting. Hence, the Committee took no action\nand both options on the rent increase notice are valid. The tenant retains the option to\nchoose the 12-month lease offer or the month-to-month rental agreement offer.\nu. Review and approve proposed amendments to the Rent Review Advisory Committee's\nRules and Procedures\nStaff summarized amendments in Rules & Procedures based on Committee comments\nand feedback from the August 1, 2016 RRAC Regular Meeting.\nMembers requested additional amendments:\n1) Item B.3., Maintenance of Membership. Amended to strike the phrase \"whether\nexcused or not unexcused.\" Motion and second (Schrader and Friedman), passed\nunanimously.\n2) Item C.3.b., Officers. Concern about who is responsible for archiving and\nretaining audio recordings. Staff clarified and the concern was withdrawn.\n3) Item D, Duties of the Committee. Concerns about the using the term \"mediation\"\nas that word does not appear in the Ordinance or Alameda Municipal Code.\nMembers agreed it is important that their Rules & Procedures match the\nOrdinance verbiage exactly.\nMotion and second (Schrader and Landess) to strike \"The purpose of the\nhearing is to endeavor to settle rent increase disputes through mediation\nbetween parties.\" and \"when the parties have not reached an agreement\nthrough mediation\".\nPage 5 of 7", "path": "RentReviewAdvisoryCommittee/2016-09-07.pdf"}
{"body": "RentReviewAdvisoryCommittee", "date": "2016-09-07", "page": 6, "text": "Approved Minutes\nRegular Meeting Minutes of the RRAC\nSeptember 7, 2016\nMotion and second (Schrader and Sullivan-Sari\u00f1ana) to strike \"If an\nagreement by mediation does not occur,\"\nBoth motions passed by Sullivan-Sari\u00f1ana, Friedman, Landess, and Schrader\nin favor, Griffiths abstain.\n4) Item E., Meetings\nMotion and second (Friedman and Schrader) to amend \"the Chair may\ngrant such a request\" to \"the Chair shall grant such a request.' Sullivan-\nSari\u00f1ana, Friedman, Landess, and Schrader in favor, Griffiths abstain.\n5) Item H., Rules of Order\nMembers requested clarification for the reason \"Motion to table\" was\nremoved from the Rules & Procedures. Staff explained removing the\nparagraph did not limit the conduct of the Committee. Members withdrew\nconcern.\nSullivan-Sari\u00f1ana, Friedman, Landess, and Schrader in favor, Griffiths abstain, to\napprove the Rent Review Advisory Committee's Rules and Procedures with amendments\nfrom September 7, 2016.\n7. PUBLIC COMMENT\nNo additional public comment.\n8. MATTERS INITIATED\na.\nSullivan-Sari\u00f1ana stated he would like to invite City Council members to future\nRRAC meetings.\nb. Staff confirmed the Rent Program's monthly report will be emailed Committee\nmembers.\n9. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS (None)\n10. ADJOURNMENT\nThe meeting was unanimously adjourned at 9:03 p.m.\nRespectfully submitted,\nRRAC Secretary\nJennifer Kauffman\nApproved by the Rent Review Advisory Committee on October 3, 2016.\nPage 6 of 7", "path": "RentReviewAdvisoryCommittee/2016-09-07.pdf"}
{"body": "RentReviewAdvisoryCommittee", "date": "2016-09-07", "page": 7, "text": "Approved Minutes\nRegular Meeting Minutes of the RRAC\nSeptember 7, 2016\nPage 7 of 7", "path": "RentReviewAdvisoryCommittee/2016-09-07.pdf"}