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Rent Review Program Evaluation - 2 - July 2, 2007 expects to continue to see a steady number of landlord and tenant mqumes by e-mail, by telephone, or in person at City Hall. Of the 81 inquiries received and addressed by staff, one (1) went to the Rent Review Board for a hearing and settlement in October 2006. A possible reason for the slight increase in inquiries may include more calls this year from renters in unincorporated Alameda County and landlords who rent out single family or duplex units. Two interesting trends from the inquiries seem to be emerging: l) renters whose monthly utility costs are no longer included in the rent and 2) renters with expiring long-term leases who have the option to renew their long-term leases with rental increases that comply with the ordinance or enter into new month-to-month leases with rental increases that are not regulated by the Rent Review Board ordinance. According to the nonprofit, ECHO Housing (which provides free landlord-tenant counseling to San Leandro residents) and the City Attorney's Office, changing lease terms from a long-term to a month-to-month is considered a new lease agreement and any resulting rental increase is allowable. Staff will continue to monitor these two trends, which are not regulated under the ordinance, to determine if they become more prominent and frequent. The average rents in San Leandro increased by 69% between 1996 and 2001, while between 2002 and 2005 rents decreased modestly by 5.0% (see Attachment B: Rental Housing Market Trends in San Leandro). Also per Attachment B, the 2007 average rent has only increased slightly from 2006 by about 2.5%. The Rent Review Board consists of five (5) City Council-appointed posItIOns. The Board composition includes: two tenants, one resident landlord, one non-resident landlord and one homeowner representative. Currently, the resident landlord and homeowner positions are vacant. Furthermore, the terms for Lizzie Brown, who serves as a tenant representative Board member and Thomas Silva, who serves as the non-resident landlord representative Board member, expire in June 2007. To maintain a quorum, staff recommends renominating and reappointing Ms. Brown and Mr. Silva to four year terms through June 2011. The third existing Board member's term does not expire until June 2009. Current City Council Policy Title 1, Chapter 1-3, Article 14 of the Municipal Code authorizes the Rent Review Board. Title IV, Chapter 32, Article 5, 4-32-500 of the Municipal Code authorizes the Rent Review Program. Title 13, Chapter 1, Articles 1-9, of the Administrative Code authorizes the rules of order. Previous City Council Action(s) The Rent Review Ordinance was adopted April 2001. The Municipal Code was amended in March 2002, October 2003 and July 2005. City Council Committee Review and Action None Applicable General Plan Policy