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Rent Review Board 3 February 13, 2001 <br />Current City Council Policy <br />City Council policy to date has been to direct staff to work one-on-one with affected tenants to try to <br />mediate large rent increases. <br />Previous City Council Actions <br />The City Council created the Ad Hoc Rental Housing Committee in September 2000, to develop <br />recommendations for addressing significant rent increases. <br />Summary of Public Outreach Efforts <br />The City Council Ad Hoc Rental Housing Committee convened a working group for input from <br />representatives of a landlord/tenant agency, community service agency, and Rental Housing Owner <br />Association of Southern Alameda County (RHO). Committee members and staff held many informal <br />discussions with tenants and landlords on the issue and all issues presented were considered in the <br />discussions of the Working Group. Final recommendations were made to the Ad Hoc Committee. <br />Applicable General Plan Policy <br />NA <br />Permits and/or Variances Granted <br />116M, <br />Environmental Review <br />NA <br />Code Compliance Review <br />NA <br />Board/Commission Findings <br />NA <br />Fiscal Impact <br />It is anticipated that additional staff will need to be hired (one half-time clerical support position) to <br />implement the rent review program. The estimated annual cost for the new staff person is $34,000. <br />Other annual program costs include a reallocation of the Housing Specialist's time, estimated to cost <br />$30,000, and mediation training and client services estimated at $9,500. While the Ad Hoc <br />Committee discussed charging property owners a fee for administering this service, it was determined <br />that the City could pay for the cost of the program by reallocating CDBG and Redevelopment Set - <br />Aside funds. After the first year of operation, the program's funding requirements will be reviewed <br />and a recommendation will be made regarding property owner participation in financing the program. <br />Budget Authority <br />Staff should be directed to transfer funds from Redevelopment Set -Aside fund balance to a new <br />expenditure account (Rent Review Program) to fund the program through June 30, 2001. CDBG and <br />Redevelopment Set -Aside funds will be budgeted for next fiscal year as part of the FY 2001-2002 <br />budget which will be presented to the City Council in the Spring. <br />10 <br />