Alameda Rental Housing Community Discussion Public Meeting

The Alameda Rental Housing Community Discussion group will hold its third public meeting on Wednesday, January 7, 2015 at the Mastick Senior Center Social Hall from 6 PM to 9 PM.

Note that the 6 PM start is a new earlier time then previously announced. The earlier start time was to accommodate the addition of Vanessa Cooper’s presentation on the services offered through the Alameda Housing Authority.

Speakers will include members of the City of Alameda Rent Review Advisory Committee. The Rent Review Advisory Committee reviews complaints of significant rental increases, providing a neutral forum for renters and residential property owners to present their views. It evaluates increases, determines whether they are equitable, and, if not, attempts to mediate a resolution acceptable to all parties.

Greg McFann, the City’s Building Official will describe the illegal unit amnesty program for property owners who have unpermitted units and are interested in legalizing them. Since 1998, the City of Alameda has offered an amnesty program to property owners who have undocumented construction. The Amnesty Program allows property owners who voluntarily come forward to obtain permits for undocumented construction.

Vanessa Cooper, Executive Director of the Alameda Housing Authority will present an overview of the services available to residents. Created in 1940 to meet the housing needs of lower income households within the City, the Housing Authority of the City of Alameda serves over 4,000 persons today, including the households who live in the 934 affordable units owned, operated or controlled by AHA.

A focus group of tenants and landlords have developed six discussion points to start the conversation about addressing the issues residents are facing.

The six points address:

• providing notice of the City’s Rent Review Advisory Committee’s mediation service in rent increase notices.

• requiring both tenants and housing providers to attend the mediation session if an application is filed.

• requiring both tenants and housing providers to participate in good faith.

• creating the opportunity for an expedited mediation process.

• preventing housing providers from retaliating against tenants who file an application with the City for a mediation session.

• establishing a minimum percentage of rent increase to request a mediation session.

Tenants, housing providers, and anyone with an interest in rental housing are encouraged to attend the meeting and register their views regarding the six provisions. Based on the comments received, the group will present their revised findings to the City Council on January 20, 2015.

Contact Jeff Cambra, Community Facilitator at jeffcambra@earthlink.net or (510) 865-7369 for additional program information.

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