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File Number: 15-203 <br />The Board may continue the hearing for up to one month or request the City Council <br />review the rent dispute after a party requests that the Board forward the dispute for <br />further consideration by the City Council. It is within the Board's discretion, after either <br />a first or a second hearing, to request the City Council's review. <br />If the landlord fails to appear at the hearing without good cause, then the rent increase <br />is voided. If the tenant fails to appear, then the rent increase becomes effective. <br />• City staff annually prepares a report to the Board and City Council to review current <br />rental housing and Rent Review Program trends and to assess the effectiveness of the <br />program. <br />Under the Ordinance, City Housing staff serves as the secretary to the Rent Review Board, <br />but in recent years, the capacity to administer the Rent Review Program has been significantly <br />diminished. Prior to the end of redevelopment statewide in 2012, the City had 3.5 full time <br />employees in the Housing Services Division under the Community Development Department <br />to administer the City's affordable housing programs (which include the Rent Review <br />Program, below market rate housing, first time homebuyer, and housing rehabilitation <br />programs) and federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) programs such as the <br />Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Home Investment Partnership (HOME). <br />Since the dissolution of redevelopment, there is one full time employee in the Housing <br />Services Division to administer these programs, including the Rent Review Program. <br />Beginning in FY 2013-14, the City contracted with ECHO Housing to assist with the <br />administration of the Rent Review Program, including the intake of applicants and rental <br />housing counseling/advice as needed. <br />Recommended Next Steps for the Rent Review Program Ordinance <br />Based on the recent increase in Rent Review Board cases along with comments from tenants, <br />landlords/property managers, RHO, and ECHO Housing, it is apparent that the Rent Review <br />Program Ordinance should be reviewed. Most of the Ordinance's language has remained the <br />same since its adoption in 2001. <br />Below are suggested amendments to the Ordinance. Pursuant to the City Council's direction, <br />staff suggests bringing the proposed amendments back for further direction or approval, after <br />receiving feedback from landlord and tenant stakeholders. The suggested changes below are <br />based on preliminary feedback from landlords and tenants as well as staff, based on day to <br />day experience implementing the Ordinance. <br />• Increase existing $75 threshold to $100 and adjust for annual Consumer Price <br />Index (CPI). The CPI index has increased by 28% since 2001, which equals <br />approximately $100. <br />Clarify when rent increases take effect if cases are pending or during the <br />continuance of hearings. The existing Ordinance is silent on the situation when, for <br />example, the Board votes to continue a case to a second and final meeting that goes <br />beyond the noticed rent increase effective date. <br />City of San Leandro Page 4 Printed on 4114/2015 <br />