Resolution 15319CITY OF ALAMEDA RESOLUTION NO. 15319
CALLING AN ELECTION TO BE CONSOLIDATED WITH THE
GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION AND STATEWIDE GENERAL
ELECTION ON NOVEMBER 6, 2018, AND SUBMITTING TO THE
VOTERS AT THAT ELECTION A MEASURE THAT PROPOSES TO
AMEND THE CITY CHARTER BY INCORPORATING INTO THE
CHARTER ORDINANCE 3148, WITH CERTAIN MODIFICATIONS
WHEREAS, pursuant to authority provided by Section 9255 of the Elections
Code an initiative petition has been filed with the City Council of the City of Alameda,
signed by more than 15% of the voters of the City, to submit to the voters a proposed
Charter amendment entitled: a Proposed City of Alameda Charter Amendment Making
the "City of Alameda Rent Review, Rent Stabilization and Limitations on Evictions
Ordinance" a Part of the Alameda City Charter; and
WHEREAS, the Registrar of Voters examined the records of registration and
ascertained that the petition is signed by the requisite number of voters, and has so
certified; and
WHEREAS, the City Council is authorized and directed by statute to submit the
proposed Charter amendment to the voters.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
*F ALAKPE5t7:FE=, 1.
SECTION 1. Calling the Election. Pursuant to the California Elections Code sections
1415, 9255, and 12001, the City Council hereby calls an election to be consolidated
with the City municipal election and statewide general election to be held on November
6, 2018, for the purpose of submitting the proposed Charter amendment described
above to a vote of the qualified voters of the City of Alameda, and hereby requests the
Board of Supervisors of the County of Alameda to consolidate this election with the
November 6, 2018, statewide general election to be held on that date. The
consolidated election shall be held and conducted in the manner prescribed by
elections Code section 10418.
SECTION 2: Submission of Measure to the Voters. Pursuant to Elections Code
sections 9222, 9255, 10201, 10403, and 12001, the City Council hereby orders the
measure proposing to amend the Charter to be submitted to the qualified voters of the
City of Alameda at the City municipal election and statewide general election on
November 6, 2018. The full text of the Charter amendment that shall be voted on is
attached hereto as Exhibit A.
SECTION 3. Ballot Question. The City Council, pursuant to California Elections Code
sections 13119 and 10403, hereby orders that the abbreviated form of the measure as it
shall appear on the ballot is as follows:
City of Alameda Ballot Measure: Shall the Charter be
amended by incorporating Ordinance 3148, which (a) limits
residential rent increases to once annually, (b) requires a
process for review of residential rent increases above 5 %, (c)
restricts reasons for evictions, and (d) requires landlords to pay
relocation fees when terminating certain tenancies, and by
amending Ordinance 3148 to eliminate the sunset date of
December 31, 2019, and the City Council's authority to amend
Ordinance 3148 in response to changing conditions and
concerns?
SECTION 4. Impartial Analysis by City Attorney. The City Clerk is hereby directed to
transmit a copy of the measure attached hereto as Exhibit A to the City Attorney, who
shall prepare an impartial analysis of the measure in accordance with California
Elections Code section 9280. The City Attorney shall submit the impartial analysis to
the City Clerk no later than the date set by the City Clerk for the submission of
arguments for and against the measure to the City Clerk's Office.
SECTION 5. Written Arguments by Council. Pursuant to California Elections Code
sections 9282 and 9285, the City Council, or any members of the City Council
authorized by the City Council, may file the direct argument against the measure and
any rebuttal argument to the argument in favor of the measure. Pursuant to California
Elections Code section 9285(b), the City Council hereby permits rebuttal arguments if
arguments have been filed in favor of or against the measure. Pursuant to Elections
Code section 9286(b), the City Clerk is authorized to fix dates by which arguments for
and against the measure and rebuttal arguments must be submitted to the Clerk's
Office in accordance with applicable law and shall publish those dates. In fixing such
dates, the City Clerk shall confer with the County Registrar of Voters to ensure the
deadlines are appropriate to meet all requirements for a consolidated election under
Elections Code section 10418. Upon setting the dates, the City Clerk shall place the
matter on the City Council's agenda to provide notice of the deadline and allow the City
Council to determine its interest in authoring an argument regarding the measure for
printing in the sample ballot.
SECTION 6. City Clerk. The City Clerk is hereby directed to file a certified copy of this
resolution with the Alameda County Clerk of the Board of Supervisors and the County
Registrar of Voters in sufficient time so that the measure may be included on the
November 6, 2018, City municipal election and statewide general election ballot. The
City Clerk is hereby directed to perform all other acts that are required for submitting the
measure to be voted on at the November 6, 2018, City municipal election and statewide
general election;
SECTION 7. Notice. Notice of the time and place of the election on these proposed
City Charter and Municipal Code amendments is hereby given, and the City Clerk is
authorized, instructed and directed to give further or additional notice of the calling of
the Consolidated Election, in the time, form and manner as required by law.
SECTION 8. Majority Vote. This measure proposes to amend the City Charter and
shall be approved if a majority (50% +1) of those voting on the measure approve it.
SECTION 9. Form of Ballot. The ballots to be used at the election shall be in form and
content as required by law.
SECTION 10. Certification. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of
this Resolution and enter it into the book of original Resolutions.
SECTION 11. CEQA. This action is not a project and is exempt from the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to section 15378(b)(3) of CEQA
Guidelines, as it concerns the submittal of a charter amendment measure to the voters
of the City.
SECTION 12. Effective Date. This Resolution shall become effective upon its adoption.
THE ALAMEDA RENT STABILIZATION ACT uff 'ILE D
t JUN 2 9 2017
The people of the City of Alameda do ordain as follows: CITY OF ALAMEDA
SECTION 1. Title. CITY CLERK'S OFFICE
This Charter Amendment shall be known and may be cited as "The Alameda Rent
Stabilization Act."
SECTION 2. Purpose and Intent.
In enacting this Charter Amendment, the people of the City of Alameda find and declare
as follows:
(A) On March 1, 2016, the Alameda City Council adopted the Rent Stabilization and
Limitations on Evictions Ordinance ("Ordinance No. 3148"), which was codified in Article
XV, Sections 6-58.10, et seq. of the Alameda Municipal Code. Ordinance No. 3148,
which took effect on March 31, 2016, limits the percentages and frequency of rent
increases in order to protect tenants against escalating rents that (a) impose an undue
burden on the finances of many Alameda residents and (b) compel such residents either
to pay the increased rent or face the choice, due to a critically low vacancy factor, of
either finding housing elsewhere and at a higher rent or not paying for food, clothing and
medical care for themselves and their families.
(B) Ordinance No. 3148 also limits the grounds for evictions without cause, thereby
preventing landlords from terminating tenancies without cause and displacing many
tenants in the City who, because of a critically low vacancy factor in the City, would be
compelled to find housing elsewhere possibly at a higher rent or causing a long commute.
(C) In addition, Ordinance No. 3148 provides for the payment of relocation
assistance to certain displaced tenants intended to help offset costs of relocation, such
as first and last month's rent at a different rental unit or for moving expenses.
(D) Finally, Ordinance No. 3148 recognizes the right of landlords to receive a fair, just
and reasonable return on their properties by providing a process that protects and
satisfies those rights.
(E) The voters confirmed Ordinance No. 3148 by passing Measure Ll in the
November 8, 2016 election. Measure Ll provided that the City Council would retain the
authority to amend, suspend, or repeal Ordinance No. 3148 without a further vote of the
people,
(F) On June 6, 2017, the Alameda City Council passed Ordinance No. 3180, which
made significant amendments to, and undermined the voters' intent regarding,
Ordinance No. 3148. Ordinance No. 3180 was subjected to a referendum effort, and its
effective date has been suspended. This Charter Amendment seeks to reestablish
Measure L1 as adopted by the voters, make minor improvements such as requiring a
vote of the people to amend it, and codify it in the Alameda City Charter.
SECTION 3. Removal of the Rent Stabilization and Limitations on Evictions
Ordinance from the Alameda Municipal Code; Placement of Provisions in the
Alameda City Charter
Article XV of Chapter VI of the Alameda Municipal Code is hereby repealed in order to
recodify its provisions in the Alameda City Charter with minor improvements, such as
providing that amendments may only be made by a vote of the people.
SECTION 4. Removal of Section 2 -23.4 from the Alameda Municipal Code;
Placement in the Alameda City Charter
Alameda Municipal Code section 2 -23.4 is hereby repealed in order to recodify it in the
Alameda City Charter.
SECTION 5. Suspension of Article XIV of Chapter VI of the Alameda Municipal
Code
Article XIV of Chapter VI of the Alameda Municipal Code [Rent Review] (Sections 6-
57.1 through 6- 57.13) is hereby suspended in its entirety but the suspension shall be
lifted if this Charter Amendment is repealed by operation of law or otherwise.
SECTION 6. Rent Stabilization and Limitations on Evictions Charter
Amendment.
Article XXV is hereby added to the Alameda City Charter and shall read as follows:
ARTICLE XXV
Rent Stabilization and Limitations on Evictions
Sec. 25 -1. Title
This Article shall be known as the "City of Alameda Rent Review, Rent Stabilization and
Limitations on Evictions Measure."
Sec. 25 -2. Definitions
Unless the context requires otherwise, the terms defined in this Article shall have the
following meanings:
(A) Base Rent. "Base Rent' is the Rent that the Tenant is required to pay to the
Landlord in the month immediately preceding the effective date of the Rent Increase.
(B) Base Rent Year. "Base Rent Year" means 2015.
(C) Capital Improvement. "Capital Improvement" means an improvement or repair to
a Rental Unit or property that materially adds to the value of the property, appreciably
prolongs the property's useful life or adapts the property to a new use, and has a useful
life of more than one year and that is required to be amortized over the useful life of the
improvement under the straight line depreciation provisions of the Internal Revenue
Code and the regulations issued pursuant thereto.
(D) Capital Improvement Plan. "Capital Improvement Plan" means a plan that meets
the criteria of a Capital Improvement and meets the following four criteria: (1) is
submitted by a Landlord (a) on the Landlord's own initiative or (b) as a result of the
Landlord's obligation to comply with an order of a local, state or federal regulatory
agency, such as the City's building or fire department, or (c) in order for the Landlord to
repair damage to the property as a result of fire, flood, earthquake or other natural
disaster, (2) the cost of which improvement is not less than the product of eight times
the amount of the monthly Rent multiplied by the number of Rental Units to be
improved, (3) the implementation of which may render one or more Rental Units
uninhabitable and (4) is approved by the City.
(E) City. "City" means the City of Alameda.
(F) Committee. "Committee" means the Rent Review Advisory Committee created in
Article 11 of Chapter II of the Alameda Municipal Code.
(G) Community Development Director. "Community Development Director" means
the Director of the Community Development Department of the City of Alameda, or
his /her designated representative.
(H) Consumer Price Index. "Consumer Price Index" means the Consumer Price Index
for All Urban Consumers ( "CPI -U ") for the San Francisco - Oakland -San Jose, CA Region,
published by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
(1) Costs of Operation. "Costs of Operation" means all reasonable expenses incurred
in the operation and maintenance of the Rental Unit and the building(s) or complex of
buildings of which it is a part, together with the common area, if any, and include but are
not limited to property taxes, insurance, utilities, professional property management fees,
pool and exterior building maintenance, supplies, refuse removal, elevator service and
security services or system, but Costs of Operation exclude Debt Service, depreciation
and Capital Improvements.
(J) Council. "Council" means the City Council of the City of Alameda.
(K) Debt Service. "Debt Service" means the periodic payment or payments due
under any security financing device that is applicable to the Rental Unit or building or
complex of which it is a part, including any fees, commissions or other charges
incurred in obtaining such financing.
(L) Housing Authority. "Housing Authority" is the Housing Authority of the City of
Alameda.
(M) Housing Services. "Housing Services" means those services provided and
associated with the use or occupancy of a Rental Unit including, but not limited to,
repairs, replacement, maintenance, painting, light, heat, water, elevator service, laundry
facilities and privileges, janitorial services, refuse removal, allowing pets, telephone,
parking, storage and any other benefits, privileges or facilities.
(N) Housing Unit. "Housing Unit' means a room or group of rooms that includes a
kitchen, bathroom and sleeping quarters, designed and intended for occupancy by
one or more persons as separate living quarters, but does not mean a room or rooms
in a single family residence.
(0) Landlord. "Landlord" means any person, partnership, corporation or other
business entity offering for rent or lease any Rental Unit in the City and shall include,
except as set forth in subsection D of Section 25 -17 and in subsection F of Section 25-
27, the agent or representative of the Landlord if the agent or representative has the full
authority to answer for the Landlord and enter into binding agreements on behalf of the
Landlord.
(P) Maximum Increase. "Maximum Increase" means a Rent Increase that on a
cumulative basis over the 12 months preceding the effective date of a proposed Rent
Increase is more than 5 %.
(Q) Net Operating Income. "Net Operating Income" means the gross revenues that
a Landlord has received in Rent or any rental subsidy in the twelve months prior to
serving a Tenant with a notice of a Rent Increase less the Costs of Operation in that
same twelve month period.
(R) Notice to Vacate. "Notice to Vacate" means a notice to vacate a Rental Unit
that a Landlord serves on a Tenant under Section 1946.1 of the California Civil Code
and Section 1162 of the California Code of Civil Procedure.
(S) Party. "Party" means a Landlord or Tenant.
(T) Programs. "Programs" mean the programs created by this Article.
(U) Program Administrator. "Program Administrator" is a person designated by the
City or the Housing Authority to administer one or more of the Programs.
(V) Program Fee. "Program Fee" means the fee the City imposes on each property
owner or Landlord of a Rental Unit to cover the costs to provide and administer the
Programs.
8&0 Rent. "Rent" means ofiXedperiodic compensation including any amount paid
for utilities, parking, storage, pets or any other fee or charge associated with the
tenancy that a Tenant pays st fixed intervals toa Landlord for the possession and use of
a Rental 'Unit and related Housing Services; astO any Landlord whose Rental Unit was
but is no longer exempt from this Article under paragraph (i) of subsection Z of Section
25-2, Rent shall include the subsidy amount, if any, received as part of the Base Rent.
(X) Rent Dispute Hearing Officer. "Rent Dispute Hearing Officer' or "Hearing Officer"
means a person designated by the Program Administrator to hear rent dispute petitions
under this Article.
(Y) Rent Increase. "Rent Increase" means any upward adjustment of the Rent from
the Base Rent.
G5 Rental Unit. "Rental Unit" means e Housing Unit offered or available for Rent iDthe
City of Alameda, and all Housing Services in connection with the use or occupancy thereof,
other than (i) Housing Units, regardless of ownership, for which the Rents are regulated by
federal law or by regulatory agreements between a Landlord and (a) the City, (b) the
Housing Authority or. (c) any agency of the State of California or the Federal Government;
provided, however, if the Housing Unit no longer qualifies for the exemption, for example,
the Landlord withdraws from e subsidy program orm regulatory agreement expires, the
Housing Unit will immediately cease to be exempt, (ii) Housing Units that are rented or
leased for 3Ddays or less, (iii) accommodations in hotels, motels, inns, rooming or boarding
houses, provided that such accommodations are not occupied bv the same occupant or
occupants for more than 30 consecutive days, (iv) commercial units, such as office
condominiums or commercial storage units, (v) housing accommodations in any hospital,
convent, monastery, extended care facility, convalescent home, home for the aged or
don,DibJry operated bvaD education institution or(vi) mobile homes or mobile home lots.
(AA) Tenant. "Tonan[ means any person having the legal responsibility for the
payment of Rent for a Rental Unit and shall include a person's conservator or legal
guardian.
. y4ohuos and Materials to be Provided to Current and Prospective Tenants
(4) In addition to any other notice required to be given by law or this Article, a Landlord
shall provide to a current Tenant and to a prospective Tenant (1) a written notice that the
Rental Unit is subject to this Article, (2) a copy of this Article as such Article exists at the
time such notice is provided and (3) a copy of the then current City regulations
promulgated to implement this Article and /4\a copy Of the then current information
brochure(s) that the City provides that explains this Article.
/EA For leases that begin onor after the effective date Vf this Article, m Landlord shall
comply with the requirements of subsection A of this Section 25-3 no later than the date on
which the Landlord receives the first payment of Rent from the Tenant. For month to month
tenancies in existence as of the effective date of this Article, a Landlord shall comply with
the requirements of subsection A of this Section 25 -3 no later than the day following the
expiration of the current month of the tenancy. For a prospective Tenant, a Landlord shall
comply with the requirements of subsection A of this Section 25 -3 prior to, or
concurrently with, the Landlord's offering the Tenant a one year lease as required by
Section 25 -6.
Sec. 25 -4. Disclosures
(A) A Landlord shall in writing disclose to a potential purchaser of the Rental Unit or
of property that has one or more Rental Units that such Rental Unit or property is
subject to this Article and all regulations that the City promulgates to implement this
Article.
(B) The failure of a Landlord to make the disclosure set forth in subsection A of this
Section 25-4 shall not in any manner excuse a purchaser of such Rental Unit or property
of any of the obligations under this Article.
Sec. 25 -5. Documents That the Landlord Must File with the Program Administrator
In addition to any other notice required to be filed with the Program Administrator by law
or this Article, a Landlord shall file with the Program Administrator a copy of the
following:
(A) The notice to the Tenant that the Landlord is proposing a Rent increase of more
than 5% and has initiated the process to have the Committee review the Rent Increase
as required by Section 25 -14;
(B) The terms of any settlement as to the Rent Increase reached between the
Landlord and the Tenant when either the Tenant or the Landlord has requested the
Committee to review the Rent Increase but settlement is reached before the
Committee's hearing (Section 25 -14 D);
(C) The petition when the Landlord disagrees with the decision of the Committee and
files a petition with the Program Administrator (Section 25 -19);
(D) Certain notices to terminate a tenancy (Section 25 -27 A, F, G, H, I and J; Section
25 -29);
(E) The amount of the Rent for the new Tenant when the current tenancy is
terminated for no cause (Section 25 -27 A 2);
(F) The name and relationship of the person who is moving into the Rental Unit when
the current tenancy is terminated due to an "owner move in" and documentation that the
Landlord is a "natural person" (Section 25 -27 F);
(G) Written notice that the Landlord or the enumerated relative who was intended to
move into a Rental Unit either did not move into the Rental Unit within 60 days after the
Tenant vacated the Rental Unit or that the Landlord or the enumerated relative who
moved into the Rental Unit did not remain in the Rental Unit for one year (Section 25 -27
F. 6.).
(H) The requisite documents initiating the process to withdraw the Rental Unit from
rent or lease permanently under Government Code, section 7060 et seq. (Section 25 -27
1); and
(1) Written proof of the relocation assistance provided to the Tenant if different than
as provided in Section 25 -28 (Section 25 -28 D).
(J) Requests for a Rent Increase in Conjunction with a Capital improvement Plan
Sec. 25 -6. Offer of a One Year Lease
A Landlord shall offer one time a one year lease to:
(A) Any prospective Tenant.
(B) Any current Tenant with a lease at the first time the Landlord serves a notice of Rent
Increase following the effective date of this Article unless (1) the current lease is not a fixed
term lease and the Landlord has served on the Tenant a Notice to Vacate or (2) the Tenant
is in default under the lease and offering a lease to the Tenant may waive any claims the
Landlord has regarding the default. If the current lease is not a fixed term lease, the
Landlord shall not offer the Tenant a fixed term lease unless the Tenant requests such a
lease. The Landlord must offer a Tenant a lease that has terms materially the same as the
terms in the current lease as to duration, Housing Services and household composition
provided such terms do not conflict with this Article.
(C) Any current Tenant on a month to month tenancy at the first time the Landlord
serves a notice of Rent Increase following the effective date of this Article unless the
Landlord has notified the Tenant that the Tenant is in default under the month to month
tenancy and offering a lease to the Tenant may waive any claims the Landlord has
regarding the default.
Sec. 25 -7. Limitations on Revising What is included in the Rent
(A) As to any lease in which charges or fees for utilities, parking, storage, pets or any
other fee or charges associated with the tenancy that the Tenant pays at fixed intervals
to a Landlord for the possession and use of the Rental Unit that are not identified
separately within the lease, a Landlord shall not unbundle or increase any of such
charges during the term of the lease except for increased charges paid directly to the
Landlord for utilities that are separately metered or for charges for utilities that are pro-
rated among the Tenants pursuant to a Ratio Utility Billing System or a similar cost
allocation system. As to the terms of a new or renewed lease, to the extent a Landlord
unbundles any of such charges or fees and lists them separately within a new or
renewed lease, the amount of such charges or fees shall be included in calculating the
Maximum Increase except for charges paid directly to the Landlord for utilities that are
separately metered or for charges for utilities that are pro -rated among the Tenants
pursuant to Ratio Utility Billing System or similar cost allocation system.
(B) Notwithstanding subsection A of section 25 -7, to the extent that a Tenant requests
Housing services that were not included in an existing lease, such as a parking space or
an additional parking space, storage space or additional storage space, a pet or an
additional pet, or to the extent that utilities are separately metered or the amount of such
utility charges are pro -rated among the Tenants pursuant to a Ratio Utility Billing System
or other similar cost allocation system but the charges are paid directly to the Landlord,
such fees for Housing Services or charges for utilities shall not be included in calculating
the Maximum Increase.
Sec. 25 -8. Limitations on the Frequency of Rent Increases
No Landlord shall increase the Rent of any Rental Unit more than once in any twelve
month period.
Sec. 25 -9. Notice of Review Procedures for Rent Increases; Exceptions
(A) In addition to the notice of a Rent Increase required by Civil Code section 827 (b),
at the time a Landlord provides such notice to the Tenant, the Landlord shall also
provide to the Tenant a notice of availability of the rent review procedures established
by this Article when the Rent Increase is equal to or less than the Maximum Increase
and a notice that the Landlord has requested the Committee to review the Rent Increase
when the Rent Increase is more than the Maximum Increase.
(B) Notwithstanding subsection A of this section 25 -9, a Landlord is not required to
provide the notice described in subsection A of this section 25 -9 when the Landlord has
submitted a Capital Improvement Plan that includes as part of that Plan a proposed
Rent Increase that exceeds the Maximum Increase.
(C) Any notice of Rent Increase or a Rent Increase in violation of Sections 25 -9, 25 -10,
25 -11 or 25 -12 shall be void and a Landlord shall take no action to enforce such an invalid
Rent Increase; provided, however, a Landlord may cure the violation by re- serving the
Tenant with the notice that complies with the provisions of Sections 25 -9, 25 -10, 25 -11 or
25 -12. A Tenant may use as evidence in a Tenant's defense to an unlawful detainer action
based on the Tenant's failure to pay the illegal Rent Increase of the Landlord's violation of
Sections 25 -9, 25 -10, 25 -11 or 25 -12, or any other violation of this Article.
Sec. 25 -10. Information in and Service of the Notice.
All notices of the availability of rent review procedures under this Article shall be in
writing and shall provide the name, address, phone number and email address of the
Landlord. The Landlord shall serve notice of the availability of the rent review
procedures or that the Landlord has requested the Committee to review the Rent
Increase concurrently with, and in the same manner as, the notice of Rent Increase.
Sec. 25-11. Text of Notice to Tenant When Rent Increase is Equal to or less than the
Maximum Increase.
In addition to all other information that the Landlord must provide to a Tenant in a Rental
Unit in the notice of the availability of rent review procedures established by this Article,
if the rent increase is at or below the Maximum Increase, the notice of the availability of
rent review procedures shall state:
"NOTICE: Under Civil Code section 827 (b), a Landlord must provide a Tenant
with 30 days' notice prior to a Rent Increase of 10% or less and must provide a
Tenant with 60 days' notice of a Rent Increase greater than 10%. Because your
Landlord proposes a Rent Increase that is at or below the Maximum Increase (as
defined in subsection P of Section 25-2 of this Article), under Article XXV of the
Alameda City Charter your Landlord must at the same time provide this Notice
that advises you of the availability of the City's rent review procedures.
You may request the City's Rent Review Advisory Committee to review the
increase by submitting in writing a request for review within 15 calendar days of
your receipt of the notice of the Rent Increase either by mailing the request to the
Program Administrator, 701 Atlantic Avenue, Alameda, CA 94601, or emailing the
request to the Program Administrator at rrac@alamedahsg.org. You must submit
along with your request a copy of the notice of the Rent Increase. If you do not
submit a request within 15 calendar days, the Committee will not have the
authority to review the Rent Increase.
If you submit such a request, the Program Administrator will advise you of the
date, time and place of the hearing concerning the Committee's review of the
Rent Increase. If the effective date of the Rent Increase is before the date of the
hearing, you must nevertheless pay the Rent Increase. If you and your Landlord
reach agreement as to the Rent Increase before the hearing, you and your
Landlord must provide written confirmation to the Program Administrator
concerning the terms of such agreement. If no agreement is reached, you and
your Landlord must appear before the Committee concerning the Rent Increase.
If you fail to appear at the hearing, the Committee will not consider your request
and you will be precluded from seeking further or additional review of the
particular Rent Increase under the City's rent review procedures.
At the hearing, the Committee will make a decision concerning your request You
and your Landlord may agree to accept the Committee's decision even though the
Committee's decision will be non-binding on you and your Landlord. If you and
your Landlord agree to a Rent Increase less than the Rent Increase your Landlord
requested and you have already paid the Rent Increase, your Landlord must
provide you with a refund or a credit against future rents.
It is illegal for a Landlord to retaliate against a Tenant for the Tenant's lawfully and
peacefully exercising his or her rights including a request for the Committee to
review a Rent Increase. Civil Code section 1942.5. A Landlord's efforts to evict a
Tenant within six months of a Tenant's requesting a hearing or otherwise
participating in any way in the City's rent review process may be used as
evidence of a retaliatory eviction."
Sec. 25 -12. Text of Notice When Rent Increase is Greater than the Maximum Increase.
In addition to all other information that the Landlord is required to provide to a Tenant
in a Rental Unit in the notice of availability of rent review procedures established by
this Article, if the Rent Increase is greater than the Maximum Increase, the notice
shall state:
"NOTICE: Under Civil Code section 827 (b), a Landlord must provide a Tenant with
30 days' notice prior to a Rent Increase of 10% or less and must provide a Tenant
with 60 days' notice of a Rent Increase greater than 10 %. Because your Landlord
proposes a Rent Increase that is greater than the Maximum Increase (as defined in
subsection P of Section 25 -2 of the Alameda City Charter), under Article XXV of
the Alameda City Charter your Landlord must at the same time provide this Notice
that advises you that the Landlord has requested the City's Rent Review Advisory
Committee to review the Rent Increase.
If your Rental Unit is not exempt from certain provisions of the City's Rent
Review, Rent Stabilization and Limitations on Evictions Ordinance, the Rent
Increase will not go into effect until the Committee reviews the Rent Increase,
unless you and your Landlord agree otherwise. If your Rental Unit is exempt
from certain provisions of the City's Rent Review, Rent Stabilization and
Limitations on Evictions Ordinance and if the effective date of the Rent Increase
is before the date of the Committee's hearing, you must pay the Rent Increase.
You will need to contact the Program Administrator (rrac @alamedahsg.org) as to
whether your Rental Unit is or is not exempt from certain provisions of the City's
Rent Review, Rent Stabilization and Limitations on Evictions Ordinance.
The City's Program Administrator (rrac @alamedahsg.org) will advise you of the
date, time and place of the Committee's hearing concerning its rent review. If you
and your Landlord reach agreement as to the Rent Increase before the hearing,
you and your Landlord must provide written confirmation to the Program
Administrator concerning the terms of such agreement. If no agreement is
reached, you and your Landlord must appear before the Committee concerning
the Rent Increase. If you fail to appear at the hearing, the Committee will not
consider the matter and you will be precluded from seeking further or additional
review of the particular Rent Increase under the City's rent review procedures.
10
At the hearing, the Committee will make a decision concerning the Rent
Increase. You and your Landlord may agree to accept the Committee's
decision. Depending on whether your Rental Unit is or is not exempt from
certain provisions of the City of Alameda's Rent Review, Rent Stabilization and
Limitations on Evictions Charter Amendment, the decision of the Committee
may be nonbinding or may become binding on you and your Landlord.
If your Rental Unit is not exempt from certain provisions of the City's Rent
Review, Rent Stabilization and Limitations on Evictions Charter Amendment,
and if you or your Landlord do not agree with the Committee's decision, you or
your Landlord may file a petition with the Program Administrator within seven
calendar days of the Committee's decision and have the determination of the
Rent Increase decided by a neutral Rental Dispute Hearing Officer whose
decision is final and binding. If you or your Landlord do not agree with the
Committee's decision and do not file a timely petition, the Committee's
decision will be binding on you and your Landlord. You will need to contact the
Program Administrator (rrac@alamedahsg.org) concerning whether the
Committee's decision will be binding on you and your Landlord if you or your
Landlord do not file a timely petition.
If your Rental Unit is exempt from certain provisions of the City's Rent Review,
Rent Stabilization and Limitations on Evictions Charter Amendment, the
Committee's decision as to the Rent Increase is non-binding on you and your
Landlord. You will need to contact the Program Administrator concerning
whether the Committee's decision will be non-binding on you and your
Landlord.
It is illegal for a Landlord to retaliate against a Tenant for the Tenant's lawfully
and peacefully exercising his or her rights including a request for the
Committee to review a Rent Increase. Civil Code section 1942.5. A Landlord's
efforts to evict a Tenant within six months of a Tenant's participating in the
City's rent review process may be used as evidence of a retaliatory eviction."
Sec. 25-13. Tenant's Request for Rent Review
(A) A Tenant may request the Committee to hear a proposed Rent Increase when the
Landlord proposes to increase the Base Rent at or below the Maximum Increase.
(B) The Tenant requesting review must within fifteen calendar days of the Tenant's
receipt of the notice of Rent Increase either (a) mail or email the written request for
review to the Program Administrator (rrac@alamedahsg.org) or (b) call the Program
Administrator and request a review. In either event, the Tenant must submit to the
Program Administrator a copy of the notice of Rent Increase.
Sec. 25-14. Landlord's Request for Rent Review
(A) A Landlord must comply with all the notice and participation provisions of this Article
and must request the Committee to review a Rent Increase when the Landlord proposes to
increase the Base Rent by more than the Maximum Increase.
(B) A Landlord must within 15 calendar days from the date the Landlord serves on the
Tenant the notice of Rent Increase either (a) mail or e-mail the written request for review to
the Program Administrator (rrac @alamedahsg.org) or (b) call the Program Administrator
and request a review. In either event, the Landlord must submit to the Program
Administrator a copy of the notice of Rent Increase.
(C) A Landlord's failure to comply with subsections A and B of Section 25 -14 shall
render the Rent Increase null and void; provided, however, a Landlord may cure the
violation by re- serving the Tenant with the notice that complies with the provisions of
Sections 25 -9, 25 -10, 25 -11 or 25 -12.
(D) If, prior to the hearing (whether the Landlord or the Tenant has requested the
Committee to review the Rent Increase), the Landlord and Tenant reach agreement as
to the Rent Increase, the Landlord and the Tenant must inform the Program
Administrator in writing concerning the terms of the agreement as to the Rent Increase
Sec. 25 -15. Effective Date of Rent Increases
(A) If the Rent Increase is equal to or less than the Maximum Increase and the
effective date of the Rent Increase occurs before the Committee's hearing, unless the
landlord and the tenant agree, the rent increase will become effective as provided in the
notice of Rent Increase but subject to subsection A of Section 25 -17 (a Landlord's
failure to appear at the Committee's hearing renders the Rent Increase void.
(B) If the Rent Increase is more than the Maximum Increase„ the Rent Increase will
be effective only as provided in subsections D, E, F or G of Section 25 -16.
Sec. 25 -16. Committee's Hearing and Decision
(A) At the hearing, the Committee will afford the Landlord and the Tenant the
opportunity to explain their respective positions as to the Rent Increase. Neither the
Committee as a whole nor any individual member of the Committee will act as an
advocate for either the Landlord or the Tenant.
(B) The Committee may take into consideration any factors that may assist the
Committee in determining a fair resolution concerning the Rent Increase including, but
not limited to, such factors as the financial hardship to the Tenant, the frequency,
amount and the presence or absence of prior Rent Increases including any Rent
increases that the Landlord was prevented from noticing or imposing during the
moratorium (November 5, 2015 through April 1, 2016), the Landlord's Costs of
Operation including, as to historic buildings, that costs to repair or maintain may be
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higher than comparable costs for non-historic buildings, any increases or decreases in
Housing Services since the last Rent Increase, and the Landlord's interest in earning a
just and reasonable rate of return on the Landlord's property.
(C) The Committee will render a decision concerning the Rent Increase.
(D) If the parties agree with the Committee's decision, the Landlord and all Tenants who
have financial responsibility for the Rent shall formalize and sign an agreement, in a form to
be provided by the City, to that effect. Neither the City, the Program Administrator nor the
Committee shall be a signatory to such an agreement and neither the City, the Program
Administrator nor the Committee shall assume any obligation or responsibility to enforce
the terms of the agreement, except as provided in this Article.
(E) If the Tenant has requested the Committee to review the Rent Increase pursuant
to Section 25-13, the Committee's decision will be non- binding on the parties.
(F) If the Landlord has requested the Committee to review the Rent Increase and
either the Landlord or the Tenant does not agree with the Committee's decision, unless
the Rental Unit is an exempt Rental Unit under Section 25-26, either party may file a
petition for further review of the Rent Increase as set forth in Section 25-19 or Section
25-20. If neither party files a petition, the Committee's decision will be binding on the
parties and the Rent Increase shall be effective upon the expiration of the time to file the
petition. If either party files a petition, the Rent Increase shall take effect only as
provided in subsection D of Section 25-19 or subsection D of Section 25-20.
(G) If the Landlord has requested the Committee to review the Rent Increase and
either the Landlord or the Tenant does not agree with the Committee's decision, and the
Rental Unit is an exempt Rental Unit under Section 25-26, the Committee's decision is
non-binding on the parties and the Rent Increase shall be effective as provided in the
notice of Rent Increase but subject to subsection A of Section 25-17 (a Landlord's failure
to appear at the Committee's hearing renders the Rent Increase void). Either the Landlord
or the Tenant may request the City Council to review the Committee's decision as set
forth in Section 25-18 but such request shall not delay the effective date of the Rent
Increase.
Sec. 25-17. A Party's Failure to Appear for the Hearing
Regardless of whether a Landlord or a Tenant has requested the Committee to review
the Rent Increase:
(A) If the Tenant appears at a noticed Committee hearing and the Committee finds
the Landlord failed to appear without notifying the Program Administrator prior to the
hearing and providing a good reason for not appearing, the Rent Increase shall be void
and the Landlord shall neither take action to enforce such Rent Increase nor notice
another Rent Increase for one year from the date the proposed rent increase was to
become effective.
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(B) If the Landlord appears at a noticed Committee hearing and the Committee finds
the Tenant failed to appear without notifying the Program Administrator prior to the
hearing and providing a good reason for not appearing, the Committee shall take no
action and the Landlord's Rent Increase will be effective as of the effective date of the
Rent Increase in the notice of Rent Increase.
(C) If both the Tenant and the Landlord fail to appear at a noticed Committee hearing
without providing notice to the Program Administrator prior to the hearing and providing
good reasons for not appearing, the Committee shall take no action, the Rent Increase
shall be void and the Landlord shall neither take action to enforce such Rent Increase nor
notice another Rent Increase for one year from the date the proposed Rent Increase
was to become effective.
(D) For purposes of this Section 25 -17, when the Landlord has requested the
Committee to-hear the Rent Increase, "Landlord" shall mean a person who has an
ownership interest in the Rental Unit or the property in which the Rental Unit is located
or, if an entity owns the Rental Unit or the property in which the Rental Unit is located,
then a person from that entity who has the lawful authority to bind the entity must appear
at the hearing and the failure of such person to attend the hearing will constitute a failure
to appear as set forth in subsections A and C of this Section 25 -17.
Sec. 25 -18. City Council Review of the Committee's Decision
(A) After the Committee has made its decision, if the Rental Unit is an exempt Rental
Unit under Section 25 -26, either the Tenant or the Landlord may within seven calendar
days following the Committee's decision request the City Council to review the decision
by filing such request with the Program Administrator.
(B) The City Council's review of the Rent Increase under subsection A of this Section
25 -18 will occur as soon as practicable and be limited to reviewing the Committee's
decision and then issuing a letter, under the Mayor's signature, as to the Council's non-
binding recommendation as to the Rent Increase.
Sec. 25 -19. Petitions Filed by Landlords Following the Committee's Decision
(A) Any Landlord whose Rental Unit is not an-exempt Rental Unit under Section
25 -26 and who does not agree with the Committee's decision under Section 25 -16
may initiate a hearing process by filing a petition with the Program Administrator
provided that the Landlord shall also notify in writing all Tenants subject to such
proposed Rent Increase that the Landlord has filed such petition. The Landlord shall
include with the petition a list of names and addresses of all such Tenants.
(B) Petitions must be filed on a form prescribed by the Program Administrator and
must be accompanied by such supporting material as the Program Administrator shall
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prescribe including, but not limited to, a copy of the Landlord's notice of the Rent
Increase.
(C) If the Landlord does not file the petition and the prescribed documentation within
15 calendar days of the date of the Committee's decision, and if the Tenant has not filed
a petition as provided under Section 25 -20, the Committee's decision will be binding on
the parties.
(D) Provided that a petition has been filed as provided in this Section 25 -19, the Rent
Increase shall not take effect until 60 days after a decision of a Hearing Officer or, if that
decision is judicially challenged, until there is a final judgment from a court of competent
jurisdiction or other resolution, such as a settlement.
Sec. 25 -20. Petitions Filed by Tenants Following the Committee's Decision
(A) A Tenant whose Rental Unit is not an exempt Rental Unit under Section 25 -26 and
who does not agree with the Committee's decision under Section 25 -16 may initiate a
hearing process by filing a petition with the Program Administrator and notifying the
Landlord in writing that the Tenant has filed such petition.
(B) Petitions must be filed on forms as prescribed by the Program Administrator and
must be accompanied by such supporting material as the Program Administrator shall
prescribe including, but not limited to, a copy of the Landlord's notice of the Rent
Increase.
(C) A Tenant must file the petition and the prescribed documentation within 15
calendar days of the date of the Committee's decision. If a Tenant does not file the
petition within 15 calendar days of the date of the Committee's decision, and if the
Landlord has not filed a petition under Section 25 -19, the Committee's decision will be
binding on the parties.
(D) Provided that a petition has been filed as provided in this Section 25 -20, the Rent
Increase shall not take effect until 60 days after a decision by the Hearing Officer or, if
that decision is judicially challenged, until there is a final judgment from a court of
competent jurisdiction or other resolution, such as a settlement.
Sec. 25 -21. Burden of Proof
The party who files the petition shall have the burden of proof. As to the burden of proof, the
Hearing Officer will use the preponderance of evidence test, i.e. that what the petitioner is
required to prove is more likely to be true than not and, after weighing all of the evidence, if
the Hearing Officer cannot decide that something is more likely to be true than not true, the
Hearing Officer must conclude that the petitioner did not prove it.
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Sec. 25 -22. Hearing Process
(A) The Program Administrator shall assign a Rent Dispute Hearing Officer to decide
any petition, including its timeliness and other procedural matters, which is filed under
this Article.
(B) The Hearing Officer shall endeavor to hold the hearing with 30 days of the filing of
the petition or within such time as the Hearing Officer and the parties may agree.
(C) The Hearing Officer shall conduct the hearing employing the usual procedures in
administrative hearing matters, i.e., the proceeding will not be governed by the technical
rules of evidence and any relevant evidence will be admitted. Hearsay evidence may be
admitted solely for the purpose of supplementing or explaining other evidence.
(D) Any party may appear and offer such documents, testimony, written declarations, or
other evidence as may be pertinent to the proceeding. Each party shall comply with the
Hearing Officer's request for documents and information and shall comply with the other
party's reasonable requests for documents and information. The Hearing Officer may
proceed with the hearing notwithstanding that a party has failed to provide the documents
or information requested by the Hearing Officer or a party has failed to provide
documents or information requested by the other party. The Hearing Officer may take
into consideration, however, the failure of a party to provide such documents or
information.
(E) The hearing will be reported by a certified court reporter for purposes of judicial
review.
Sec. 25 -23. Hearing — Findings and determination
Within 30 days of the close of the hearing, the Hearing Officer shall make a
determination, based on the preponderance of evidence and applying the criteria set
forth in Section 25 -24, whether the proposed Rent Increase is reasonable under the
circumstances or not, and shall make a written statement of decision upon which such
determination is based. The Hearing Officer's allowance or disallowance of any Rent
Increase or portion thereof may be reasonably conditioned in any manner necessary
to effectuate the purposes of this Article. Copies of the statement of decision shall be
served on the parties, the Program Administrator and the City.
Sec. 25 -24. Criteria to be applied to rent increases
In determining whether or not a Rent Increase is reasonable, the Hearing Officer shall
take into account the purposes of this Article to eliminate imposing excessive Rent
Increases while providing Landlords with a just and reasonable return on property, the
non - exclusive factors that the Committee considered in making its decision as set forth in
subsection B of Section 25 -16, the existing market value of rents to Rental Units similarly
situated, the vacancy rate in the building or complex in comparison to comparable
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buildings or complexes in the same general area, the physical condition of the Rental Unit
or building /complex of which the Rental Unit is part, and the quality and quantity of
maintenance and repairs to the Rental Unit or the building /complex of which the Rental
Unit is part. The Hearing Officer shall not determine just and reasonable rate of return
solely by the application of a fixed or mechanical accounting formula but there is a
rebuttable presumption that maintenance of Net Operating Income for the Base Year, as
adjusted by inflation over time, provides a Landlord with a just and reasonable rate of
return on property.
Sec. 25 -25. Rent Dispute Hearing Officer's Decision —Final Unless Judicial Review is
Sought
The Hearing Officer's decision shall be final and binding on the parties unless judicial
review is sought within 60 days of the date of the Hearing Officer's decision.
Sec. 25 -26. Exemptions
The following Rental Units shall be exempt from the provisions of Sections 25 -19, 25 -20,
25 -21, 25 -22, 25 -23, 25 -24 and 25 -25 but are subject to all other Sections of this Article:
Rental Units constructed after February 1, 1995; Rental Units that are separately
alienable from the title of any other dwelling (e.g., single family residences,
condominiums, etc.); and any other Rental Units exempt under the Costa - Hawkins
Rental Housing Act (California Civil Code sections 1954.50 and following) or under any
other applicable state or federal law.
Sec. 25 -27. Evictions and Terminations of Tenancies
No Landlord shall take action to terminate any tenancy including, but not limited to, making a
demand for possession of a Rental Unit, threatening to terminate a tenancy, serving any notice
to quit or other notice to terminate a tenancy, e.g. an eviction notice, bringing any action to
recover possession or be granted possession of a Rental Unit except on one of the following
grounds:
(A) Notice to Vacate. A Landlord may terminate a tenancy under Civil Code section 1946.1
(a termination of tenancy for "no cause ") but the following provisions shall apply:
1. The Landlord shall not impose on a new Tenant Rent that exceeds more than 5%
of the amount of the Rent in effect at the time the Tenant was served with a
Notice to Vacate, and the Landlord shall inform the new Tenant in writing of the
amount of the Rent that was in effect at the time the prior Tenant was served with
a Notice to Vacate and that the Rent imposed on the new Tenant does not
exceed the prior Rent by more than 5 %.
2. The Landlord must provide to the Program Administrator a copy of the Notice to
Vacate served on the Tenant and the amount of the Rent in effect at the time the
Notice to Vacate was served and the amount of the Rent that the new Tenant will
be charged.
3. Except for Rent Increases as provided in this Article, if it is determined the Landlord
imposes Rent on the new Tenant that exceeds that allowable under paragraph 1 of
subsection A of this Section 25-27, in addition to any other penalties or remedies
available to the existing Tenant, the City or the previous Tenant, the Landlord shall
reduce the Rent to that allowable under paragraph 1 of subsection A of this Section
25-27 and shall reimburse the existing Tenant, plus interest as provided by law, the
difference between the amount of the Rent that exceeded the allowable Rent under
paragraph 1 of subsection A of this Section 25-27 and the Rent in effect when the
previous Tenant was served with a Notice to Vacate, retroactive to the date when
the excessive Rent was first paid.
4. As to any building or buildings with five or more Rental Units, a Landlord may use
this subsection A of Section 25 -27 for no more than 10% of all Rental Units in any
month, and no more than 25% of all Rental Units (rounded up to the nearest whole
number if 0.5 or more or rounded down to the nearest whole number if 0.4 or less)
in any consecutive twelve month period.
5. As to any building or buildings with no more than four Rental Units, a Landlord
may use this subsection A of Section 25 -27 for only one rental unit in any
consecutive twelve month period.
(B) Failure to pay rent. The Tenant upon proper notice has failed to pay the Rent to which
the Landlord is entitled under a written or oral agreement; provided, however, that the 'failure
to pay rent" shall not be cause for eviction if (i) the Tenant cures the failure to pay rent by
tendering the full amount of the Rent due within the time frame in the notice but the Landlord
refuses or fails to accept the Rent or (ii) the Tenant tenders some or all of the Rent due and
the Landlord accepts some or all of the Rent.
(C) Breach of lease. The Tenant has continued, after the Landlord has served the Tenant
with a written notice to cease, to commit a material and substantial breach of an obligation or
covenant of the tenancy other than the obligation to surrender possession upon proper notice,
provided, however, that a Landlord need not serve a written notice to cease if the breach is for
conduct that is violent or physically threatening to the Landlord, other Tenants or members of
the Tenant's household or neighbors.
Notwithstanding any contrary provision in this Section 25 -27, a Landlord
shall not take action to terminate a tenancy as a result of the addition to the
Rental Unit of a Tenant's child, parent, grandchild, grandparent or spouse
or domestic partner (as defined in California Family Code section 297) of
such relatives, or as a result of the addition of a spouse or domestic partner
of the Tenant, so long as the number of occupants does not exceed the
maximum number of occupants as determined under Section 503(b) of the
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Uniform Housing Code as incorporated by California Health and Safety
Code section 17922.
2. Before taking any action to terminate a tenancy based on the violation of a
lawful obligation or covenant of tenancy regarding subletting or limits on the
number of occupants in the rental unit, the Landlord shall serve the Tenant a
written notice of the violation that provides the Tenant with the opportunity to
cure the violation within 14 calendar days. The Tenant may cure the violation
by making a written request to add occupants to which request the Landlord
reasonably concurs or by using other reasonable means, to which the
Landlord reasonably concurs, to cure the violation including, but not limited
to, causing the removal of any additional or unapproved occupant.
(D) Nuisance. The Tenant has continued, after the Lan ' dlord has served the Tenant
with a written notice to cease, to commit or expressly permit a nuisance on the Rental
Unit or to the common area of the rental complex, or to create a substantial interference
with the comfort, safety or enjoyment of the Landlord, other Tenants or members of a
Tenant's household or neighbors, provided, however, a Landlord need not serve a notice
to cease if the Tenant's conduct is illegal activity, has caused substantial damage to the
Rental Unit or the common area of the rental complex, or poses an immediate threat to
public health or safety.
(E) Failure to give access. The Tenant has continued to refuse, after the Landlord has
served the Tenant with a written notice, to grant the Landlord reasonable access to the
Rental Unit for the purpose of inspection or of making necessary repairs or
improvements required by law, for the purpose of showing the Rental Unit to any
prospective purchaser or mortgagee, or for any other reasonable purpose as
permitted or required by the lease or by law.
(F) Owner move-in. The Landlord seeks in good faith to recover possession of the
Rental Unit for use and occupancy as a primary residence by the Landlord, or the
Landlord's spouse, domestic partner, children, parents, grandparents, grandchildren,
brother, sister, father-in-law, mother-in-law, son-in- law, or daughter-in-law.
For purposes of this section a "Landlord" shall only include a Landlord that is
a natural person who has at least a 50% ownership interest in the property
and the Landlord shall provide to the Program Administrator documentation
that the Landlord meets the definition of Landlord as provided in this
paragraph. For purposes of this paragraph, a "natural person" means a
human being but may also include a living, family or similar trust where the
natural person is identified in the title of the trust.
2. No action to terminate a tenancy based on an "owner move-in" may take
place if there is a vacant Rental Unit on the property and the vacant
Rental Unit is comparable in size and amenities to the Rental Unit for
which the action to terminate the tenancy is sought.
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3. The notice terminating the tenancy shall set forth the name and
relationship to the Landlord of the person intended to occupy the Rental
Unit.
4. The Landlord or the enumerated relative must intend in good faith to
move into the Rental Unit within 60 days after the Tenant vacates and to
occupy the Rental Unit as a primary residence for at least one year.
5. If the Landlord or enumerated relative specified on the notice terminating
the tenancy fails to occupy the Rental Unit within 60 days after the
Tenant vacates or if the Landlord or enumerated relative vacates the
Rental Unit without good cause before occupying the Rental Unit for one
year, the Landlord shall:
(a) Offer the Rental Unit to the Tenant who vacated it and at the same
Rent that was in effect at the time the Tenant vacated the Rental
Unit; and
(b) Pay to the Tenant all reasonable and documented expenses
incurred in moving to and from the Rental Unit, to the extent such
expenses exceed the relocation assistance the Landlord has
already paid to the Tenant as provided in Section 25 -28.
(G) Demolition. The Landlord seeks in good faith to take action to terminate a tenancy to
demolish the Rental Unit and remove the property permanently from residential rental housing
use; provided, however, the Landlord shall not take any action to terminate such tenancy until
the Landlord has obtained all necessary and proper demolition and related permits from the
City.
(H) Capital Improvement Plan. The Landlord seeks in good faith to take action to
terminate a tenancy in order to carry out an approved Capital Improvement Plan.
(I) Withdrawal from the rental market. The Landlord seeks in good faith to take action to
terminate a tenancy by filing with the Program Administrator the requisite documents to initiate
the process to withdraw the Rental Unit from rent or lease under Government Code section
7060 et seq. with the intent of completing the withdrawal process and going out of the
residential rental business permanently.
(J) Compliance with a governmental order. The Landlord seeks in good faith to take action to
terminate a tenancy to comply with a government agency's order to vacate, or any other order
that necessitates the vacating of the building, Housing or Rental Unit as a result of a violation of
the City of Alameda's Charter, Municipal Code or any other provision of law.
The Landlord shall offer the Rental Unit to the Tenant who vacated the Rental
Unit when the Landlord has satisfied the conditions of the governmental agency
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that caused the governmental agency to order the Rental Unit vacated and at the
same Rent that was in effect at the time the Tenant vacated the Rental Unit,
2. The Landlord shall pay to the Tenant all reasonable expenses incurred in
vacating the Rental Unit, as provided in Section 25 -28 and all reasonable
and documented expenses incurred in moving into the Rental Unit should
the Tenant do so.
Sec. 25 -28. Required Payment of a Relocation Fee.
(A) If the Landlord has taken any action to terminate a tenancy on the grounds set
forth in subsections A, F, G, H, I or J of Section 25 -27, the Landlord shall pay a
relocation fee in an amount of one month's Rent, as averaged over the twelve months
preceding the serving of the notice to vacate, for each year, or portion thereof, to a
maximum of four months' Rent if the tenant has lived in the Rental Unit for four or more
years, plus $1500. The $1500 will be adjusted on January 1 of each year based in the
change of the Consumer Price Index from the previous January 1.
(B) The Landlord shall pay the relocation fee as follows:
The entire fee shall be paid to a Tenant who is the only Tenant in the Rental
Unit and if the Rental Unit is occupied by two or more Tenants, then each
Tenant who is on the lease or has financial responsibility to pay the Rent
shall be paid a pro -rata share of the relocation fee; provided, however, if a
Tenant or Tenants receive, as part of the eviction, relocation assistance from
a governmental agency, then the amount of that relocation assistance shall
operate as a credit against any relocation fee to be paid to the Tenant(s)
under this Section 25 -28.
2. After taking into account any adjustments in the amount of the relocation fee
under subsection C of Section 25 -28, the Landlord shall pay one half of the
applicable relocation fee when the Tenant has informed the Landlord in
writing of the date when the Tenant will vacate the Rental Unit and the other
half upon certification that the Tenant has vacated the Rental Unit on the
date provided in the notice, as permissibly extended by subsection C of
Section 25 -28.
(C) Notwithstanding subsection A of Section 25 -28, as to any Rental Unit to be vacated
under subsections A, G or I of Section 25 -27, a Tenant has the choice to remain in the
Rental Unit, starting from the eviction date in the notice to vacate, an additional month for
every year, or portion thereof, up to a maximum of four months if the Tenant has lived in
the Rental Unit for four or more years, but the Landlord's requirement to pay the relocation
fee will be reduced by one month's Rent for every month, or portion thereof, the Tenant
remains in the Rental Unit beyond the date on which the Tenant was required to vacate.
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(D) Nothing provided herein prohibits a Landlord and a Tenant from agreeing to
relocation assistance different than as provided in this Section, provided the Landlord
and Tenant provide to the Program Administrator written proof of the alternative
relocation assistance within 21 days of the Tenant's vacating the Rental Unit.
Sec. 25 -29. Service and Contents of the Written Notices to Terminate a Tenancy
(A) In any notice purporting to terminate a tenancy the Landlord shall state in the
notice the cause for the termination, if any.
(B) if the cause for terminating the tenancy is for the grounds in subsections B, C, D
or E of Section 25 -27 and a notice to cease is required, the notice shall also inform the
Tenant that the failure to cure may result in the initiation of an action to terminate the
tenancy; such notice shall also include sufficient details allowing a reasonable person to
comply and defend against the accusation.
(C) If the cause for terminating the tenancy is for the grounds in subsections A, F, G,
H, 1 or J of Section 25 -27, the notice shall also inform the Tenant that the Tenant is
entitled to a relocation fee in the amount then in effect.
(D) If the cause for terminating the tenancy is for the grounds in subsection H of
Section 25 -27, the notice shall state the Landlord has complied with that subsection by
obtaining a City approved Capital Improvement Plan and a copy of the approved Capital
Improvement Plan shall accompany the notice.
(E) The Landlord shall file with the Program Administrator within seven calendar days
after having served any notice required by Section 25 -27 a copy of such notice.
Sec. 25 -30. Retaliation Prohibited.
No Landlord shall take any action to terminate a tenancy, reduce any Housing Services or
increase the Rent where the Landlord's intent is to retaliate against the Tenant (i) for the
Tenant's assertion or exercise of rights under this Article or under state or federal law, (ii) for
the Tenant's request to initiate, or the tenant's participation in, the rent review procedures
under this Article or (iii) for the Tenant's participation in litigation arising out of this Article. Such
retaliation may be a defense to an action to recover the possession of a Rental Unit and/or
may serve as the basis for an affirmative action by the Tenant for actual and punitive damages
and/or injunctive relief as provided herein. In an action against the Tenant to recover
possession of a Rental Unit, evidence of the assertion or exercise by the Tenant of rights under
this Article or under state or federal law within 180 days prior to the alleged act or retaliation
shall create a rebuttable presumption that the Landlord's act was retaliatory; provided, however,
a Tenant may assert retaliation affirmatively or as a defense to the Landlord's action without the
presumption regardless of the period of time that has elapsed between the Tenant's assertion
of exercise of rights under this Article and the alleged action of retaliation.
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Sec. 25-31. Program Fee
This section intentionally left blank
Sec. 25-32. Actions to Recover Possession
In any action brought to recover possession of a Rental Unit, the Landlord shall allege
and prove by a preponderance of evidence compliance with this Article.
Sec. 25-33. Landlord's Failure to Comply.
A Landlord's failure to comply with any requirement of this Article may be asserted as an
affirmative defense in an action brought by the Landlord to recover possession of the Rental
Unit. Additionally, any attempt to recover possession of a Rental Unit in violation of this Article
shall render the Landlord liable to the Tenant for actual and punitive damages, including
damages for emotional distress, in a civil action for wrongful eviction. The Tenant may seek
injunctive relief and money damages for wrongful eviction. The prevailing party in an action for
wrongful eviction shall recover costs and reasonable attomeys'fees.
Sec. 25-34. Penalties for Violations.
(A) The City may issue an administrative citation to any Landlord and to the Landlord's
agent for a violation of this Article. The fine for such violations shall be $250 for the first
offense, a fine of $500 for a second offense within a one year period and a fine of $1000
for a third offense within a one year period. In addition, the first two violations of this
Article shall be deemed infractions and the fines therefor for the first and second offenses
shall be as set forth in the previous sentence. A third violation in any one year period shall
constitute a misdemeanor, punishable as set forth in Chapter I of this Code.
(B) Notwithstanding subsection A of Section 25-34, it shall constitute a misdemeanor
for any Landlord to have demanded, accepted, received or retained any Rent in excess of
the Maximum Rent allowed by a binding decision of the Committee, a decision of a Rent
Dispute Hearing Officer, or by a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction should
the Rent Dispute Hearing Officers decision be challenged in court.
(C) In addition to all other remedies provided by law, including those set forth above,
as part of any civil action brought by the City to enforce this Article, a court may assess
a civil penalty in an amount up to the greater of $2500 per violation per day or $10,000
per violation, payable to the City, against any person who commits, continues to commit,
operates, allows or maintains any violation of this Article. The prevailing party in any
such civil action shall be entitled to its costs and attorney's fees.
Sec. 25.35. Waiver
(A) Any waiver or purported waiver of a Tenant of rights granted under this Article
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prior to the time when such rights may be exercised shall be void as contrary to public
policy.
(B) It shall be unlawful for a Landlord to attempt to waive or waive, in a rental
agreement or lease, the rights granted a Tenant under this Article prior to the time when
such rights may be exercised.
Sec. 25 -36. Annual Review
The Community Development Director shall annually prepare a report to the Council
assessing the effectiveness of the Programs under this Article and recommending
changes as appropriate.
Sec. 25-37. Duties of the Committee
It shall be the duty of the Committee to hold hearings in response to a request for a rent
increase review. The Committee will afford the parties involved in the request the
opportunity to explain their respective positions. The Committee as a whole and
individual members of the Committee shall not act as an advocate of either the Landlord
or the tenant. As to its review of a rent increase, the provisions of Section 25 -16 of this
Article shall apply.
SECTION 7. Amendment or Repeal.
The City Council of the City of Alameda may not amend or repeal any of the provisions
of this Charter Amendment. This Charter Amendment may only be amended or
repealed by the voters of the City of Alameda.
SECTION 8. Conflicting Law.
If this Charter Amendment and any other proposed Charter Amendments or ordinances
addressing rent, eviction, and /or relocation assistance appear on the same ballot, and a majority
of the voters vote in favor of both or all Charter Amendments or ordinances but this Charter
Amendment receives more votes than the other Charter Amendments or ordinances, this
Charter Amendment alone shall become valid and binding in its entirety, and the other Charter
Amendments and ordinances shall be null and void in its /their entirety and without any legal
effect.
If a majority of the voters vote in favor of this Charter Amendment and also in favor of the other
Charter Amendment or Amendments, but this Charter Amendment receives fewer votes than
the other Charter Amendment or Amendments, only those provisions of the other Charter
Amendment or Amendments that are in direct and irreconcilable conflict with the provisions of
this Charter Amendment shall control, and all other provisions of this Charter Amendment shall
become valid and binding. The voters expressly declare this to be their intent, regardless of any
contrary language in any other ballot measure or measures.
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SECTION 9. Severability.
This measure shall be interpreted and applied so as to be consistent with all federal, state,
and local laws, rules, and regulations. If any provision of this Act or part thereof, or any
application thereof, is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining
sections and applications shall not be affected but shall remain in full force and effect, and
to this end, the provisions of this initiative measure are severable.
25
I, the undersigned, hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was duly
and regularly adopted and passed by the Council of the City of Alameda in regular
meeting assembled on the 17th day of October, 2017, by the following vote to wit:
AYES: Councilmembers; Ezzy Ashcraft, Matarrese, Oddie, Vella and
Mayor Spencer — 5.
NOES: None.
ABSENT: None.
ABSTENTIONS: None.
IN WITNESS, WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official
seal of said City this 18th day of October, 2017.
Lara. Weisiger, City Clerk
City of Alameda
Janet ,X/'%Kern, City Attorney
City 6f Alameda
CITY OF ALAMEDA RESOLUTION NO. 15320
APPROVING GUIDELINES FOR THE SISTER CITY PROGRAM
WHEREAS, the people of the City of Alameda and its officials have
enthusiastically endorsed the concept of forming sister city relations and
affiliations with communities abroad with common concerns and mutual
interests; and
WHEREAS, the Alameda Sister City Association, a member organization
of Sister Cities International, was formed in 2009 by the city's Social Services
and Human Relations Board to carry out a Sister City program; and
WHEREAS, the mission of the Alameda Sister City Association, in
accordance with the mission of Sister Cities International, is to promote peace
through mutual respect, understanding, and cooperation one individual, one
community at a time;
WHEREAS, the Alameda Sister City program works to promote cultural
understanding and cooperation with cities around the world, and to strengthen
international partnerships at the municipal and person -to- person levels; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Alameda does recognize and
endorse said non-political program with the hope that it will lead to creating
goodwill and understanding between the peoples of Alameda and our sister
cities; and
WHEREAS, representatives of the Alameda Sister City Association and
City staff have worked closely together to develop formal guidelines for the Sister
City program; and
WHEREAS, these guidelines provide a set of criteria for the adoption of
new sister cities, and clarify and define the roles of the City and ASCA in sister
city relationships.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF
ALAMEDA;
Section 1. The Guidelines for the Sister City Program, attached as Exhibit 1, are
approved.
Section. 2. This resolution shall be effective immediately upon its adoption.
I, the undersigned, hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was duly
and regularly adopted and passed by the City Council of the City of Alameda at a
regular meeting assembled on the 17th day of October, 2017, by the following
vote to wit:
AYES: Councilmembers Ezzy Ashcraft, Matarrese, Oddie,
Vella and Mayor Spencer — 5.
NOES: None.
ABSENT: None.
ABSTENTIONS: None.
IN WITNESS, WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the
official seal of said City Council this 181h day of October, 2017.
Lara Weisiger, Ci Clerk
City of Alameda