March 15, 2022 Rent Board Commission meeting

Tuesday, March 15, 2022

In this page:

    Overview

    The Commission strongly encourages interested parties to submit their comments in writing by noon on March 15, 2022 to rentboard@sfgov.org.

    Agenda

    1. Call to Order

      President Gruber called the meeting to order at 6:07 p.m.

    2. Reading of Ramaytush Ohlone Land Acknowledgment

      Commissioner Dandillaya read the Ramaytush Ohlone Land Acknowledgment.

    3. Roll Call

      Commissioners Present: Crow; Dandillaya; Gruber; Hung; Mosbrucker; Qian; Sawney; Tom; Wasserman.

      Commissioners not Present: Klein.

      Staff Present: Brandon; Flores; Koomas; Varner.

    4. Approval of the Minutes

      MSC: To approve the minutes of February 8, 2022. (Wasserman/Sawney: 9-0)

    5. Remarks from the Public

      There were no remarks from the public.

    6. Consideration of Appeals

      A. 68 – 6th Street, #31 (AT220003)

      The tenant’s petition alleging decreased housing services was dismissed due to the tenant’s non-appearance at the hearing. On appeal, the tenant claims that he did not receive the Notice of Hearing, and submits the requisite Declaration of Non-Receipt of Notice of Hearing.

      MSC: To accept the appeal and remand the case for a new hearing. Should the tenant again fail to appear, absent extraordinary circumstances, no further hearings will be scheduled. (Wasserman/Mosbrucker: 5-0)

      B. 1690 Broadway Street, #612 (AT220001)

      The tenant’s petition alleging decreased housing services was granted in part and the landlord was found liable to the tenant for rent overpayments in the amount of $2,762.50 for various repair conditions. The tenant appeals, contending that the ALJ exhibited bias towards the tenant; that the ALJ failed to consider all of the tenant’s evidence and gave improper weight to the landlord’s evidence; and that the ALJ’s valuation of her claims was unreasonably low and arbitrary.

      Commissioner Wasserman recused himself from the consideration of this appeal because he provides legal representation to the property owner and has a professional relationship with the tenant petitioner/appellant.

      MSC: To deny the appeal. (Tom/Gruber: 5-0)

      C. 1450 California Street, #1 AL220002 The tenant’s petition alleging an unlawful rent increase under the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act and Rules and Regulations Section 6.14 was granted. The ALJ found that the tenant petitioner was a lawful subtenant who resided in the unit prior to January 1, 1996, and that the landlord failed to serve the tenant with a timely 6.14 Notice. The rent increase from $654.65 to $2,900.00 effective January 1, 2020 was therefore determined to be null and void. On appeal, the landlord argues in part that the ALJ failed to give proper weight to the representations made in a 2018 estoppel certificate and that the tenant’s failure to identify herself as an occupant in the estoppel certificate should be considered conclusive evidence that the tenant did not occupy the subject unit at that time.

      Commissioner Hung recused himself from the consideration of this appeal because he is personally familiar with the landlord respondent/appellant.

      MSC: To deny the appeal. (Mosbrucker/Qian: 4-1)

    7. Remarks from the Public (cont.)

      There were no remarks from the public.

    8. Communications

      In addition to correspondence concerning cases on the calendar, the Commissioners received the following communications:

      A. Articles from the SF Chronicle, SF Public Press, KRON4 News, and CBS San Francisco.

      B. Monthly workload statistics for January 2022.

    9. Director’s Report

      A. Rent Board Operations Update During COVID-19 Health Emergency

      Acting Executive Director Varner told the Board that the Rent Board’s office has remained open to the public during the past month, but at reduced hours following City guidance. Phone counseling services have not been affected and remain open each weekday from 9:00am to 12:00pm and 1:00pm to 4:00pm. She told the Board that staff are in the midst of recruitments for about a dozen positions and have selected a few candidates since the last Board meeting. She also said that the office has seen a recent increase in filings and duplication requests. Regarding the Rent Board Fee, Acting Executive Director Varner thanked the Rent Board’s counseling staff and supervisors for responding to an extraordinary number of phone queries related to the Fee over the past five months, including almost 8,000 phone calls in the month of November alone. Finally, she reminded property owners that they can still pay the Rent Board Fee after March 1st, but a 5% penalty will be added if payment is received by March 31st, which increases to 10% on April 1st and 15% on May 1st. Any Rent Board Fees that have not been paid by June 1st will be sent to collections.

      In regards to the proposed FY 22-23 budget, Acting Executive Director Varner thanked the Commissioners for passing the proposed budget at the last Board Meeting and informed them that she is scheduled to present the proposed budget to the Board of Supervisors in May 2022.

      Regarding legislation, Acting Executive Director Varner told the Commissioners that Board of Supervisors (BOS) File No. 230131, which would reinstate the local eviction moratorium for non-payment of rent beginning on April 1, 2022, after the expiration of California’s AB 832, was signed by the Mayor on March 11, 2022; that BOS File No. 211265, which requires landlords pursuing certain types of evictions to first give the tenant a written 10-day warning notice and opportunity to cure, was signed by the Mayor and went into effect on March 14, 2022; that BOS File No. 211096, regarding tenant associations and organizing activities, was signed by the Mayor on March 11, 2022; that BOS File No. 211202, regarding building density limits and the construction of affordable rental units, is still before the Land Use Committee; and that BOS File No. 210866, which would waive certain building limits provided those newly constructed units would be subject to the rent increase limitations of the Rent Ordinance, is before the Land Use Committee.

      Acting Executive Director Varner reminded the Commissioners that several of them still need to file a Form 700 and complete the required Sunshine and Ethics trainings by April 1. She stated that if Form 700 is not timely filed, the Commissioner may not vote at the next Board Meeting.

      Acting Executive Director Varner also acknowledged the passing of former Rent Board Commissioner Larry Becker, who was a long-time tenant Commissioner. Many of the Commissioners shared personal and professional memories of Commissioner Becker and stated that he would be dearly missed.

      Finally, Acting Director Varner announced with sadness that Commissioner Dandillaya had tendered her resignation from the Rent Board, to be effective after the March Board Meeting. She stated it was a great honor to have Commissioner Dandillaya serve as a neutral Commissioner for over ten years and thanked her for her commitment and service on the Board, a sentiment that was shared by many of her fellow Commissioners.

    10. Old Business

      A. AB 361, Mayoral Directive, and Future Remote Commission Meetings

      Acting Executive Director Varner told the Commissioners that since the last Board Meeting, she received new information from the Mayor’s Office and City Administrator that while Charter Commissions would begin holding in-person meetings on March 7, non-Charter Commissions and City policy bodies may continue holding virtual Board Meetings for the time being, provided they make findings pursuant to California Government Code 54953(e) every 30 days. After Acting Executive Director Varner read the Board’s findings into the record, President Gruber made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Wasserman, to make a resolution making Page 5 of the Minutes of March 15, 2022 findings to allow a teleconferenced meeting on April 12, 2022 pursuant to California Government Code 54953(e). (Gruber/Wasserman: 9-0)

    11. New Business

      (There was no New Business.)

    12. Calendar Items

      April 12, 2022 – remote meeting via WebEx Events

      A. Consideration of Appeals

      6 appeal considerations

      Reader of the Ramaytush Ohlone Land Acknowledgment – President Gruber

    13. Adjournment

      President Gruber adjourned the meeting at 7:15 pm.

    Date & Time

    Tuesday, March 15, 2022
    6:00 pm

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    Phone

    Public comment line

    Access code: 2491 876 7595

    Accessible meeting policy

    Accessible meeting policy

    The Rent Board does not discriminate on the basis of disability in the admission and access to its programs or activities.

    Christina Varner has been designated to coordinate this agency’s compliance with the nondiscrimination requirement of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Information concerning the provisions of the ADA and the rights provided under the Act are available form the ADA Coordinator.

    The Rent Board’s TTY number is 415-554-9845.

    Assistive listening devices, American Sign Language interpreters, readers, large print agendas or other accommodations are available upon request.

    Please make your requests for accommodations to the Acting Deputy Director, Christina Varner, at 415-252-4650 at least 72 hours in advance.

    Your rights under the Sunshine Ordinance

    Your rights under the Sunshine Ordinance

    Government’s duty is to serve the public, reaching its decisions in full view of the public. Commissions, boards, councils, and other agencies of the City and County exist to conduct the people’s business. This ordinance assures that deliberations are conducted before the people and that City operations are open to the people’s review.

    For information on your rights under the Sunshine Ordinance (Chapters 67 of the San Francisco Administrative Code) or to report a violation of the ordinance, please contact:

    Sunshine Ordinance Task Force Administrator
    City Hall – Room 244
    1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
    San Francisco, CA  94102-4683
    415-554-7724 (Office)
    415-554-7854 (Fax)
    E-mail: SOTF@sfgov.org

    Copies of the Sunshine Ordinance can be obtained from the Clerk of the Sunshine Task Force, the San Francisco Public Library, and on the City’s website.

    Copies of explanatory documents are available to the public.

    Language access

    Language access

    Per the Language Access Ordinance (Chapter 91 of the San Francisco Administrative Code), Chinese, Spanish and or Filipino (Tagalog) interpreters will be available upon request.

    Meeting Minutes may be translated, if requested, after they have been adopted by the Commission.

    Assistance in additional languages may be honored whenever possible.

    To request assistance with these services, please contact the Acting Deputy Director, Christina Varner, at 415-252-4650 at least 48 hours in advance of the hearing.

    Late requests will be honored if possible.

    Disability access

    Disability access

    Rent Board Commission meetings are held at 25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 70, lower level, and are wheelchair accessible.

    The closest accessible BART station is located at Civic Center. All MUNI Metro lines at Van Ness and Market Street are accessible.

    There is accessible parking available on adjacent streets (Oak Street and Hickory). Metered street parking is also available.

    Lobbyist ordinance

    Lobbyist ordinance

    Individuals and entities that influence or attempt to influence local legislative or administrative action may be required by the San Francisco Lobbyist Ordinance [SF Campaign & Governmental Conduct Code 2.100] to register and report lobbying activity.

    For more information about the Lobbyist Ordinance, please contact:

    San Francisco Ethics Commission
    25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 220
    San Francisco, CA 94102
    Phone: 415-252-3100
    Fax: 415-252-3112

    Last updated May 19, 2022

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