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2015/07/02 Mobile Home Park Rent Appeals Board MinutesCity of Rohnert Park Mobile Home Parks Rent Appeals Board Minutes Thursday, July 2, 2015 6:00 P.M. 1. CALL TO ORDER. Chair Waterman called the meeting to order at 6:00 P.M. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. Chair Waterman led the Pledge of Allegiance 3. ROLL CALL. Present (5): Chair Waterman, Vice Chair Reymond and Board Members Carlson, Engelhart and Broadhead. Staff in attendance was Jeffrey Beiswenger, Planner IIl. 4. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF POSTING OF AGENDA. Beiswenger acknowledged that the notice was posted as required. 5. PUBLIC COMMENT (Items not on Agenda). No public comments were made. 6. CONSENT CALENDAR 6.1 Approval of Minutes from March 5, 2015 Englehart made a motion to approve the Consent Calendar with a second by Reymond. The motion carried unanimously. 7. AGENDA ITEMS 7.1 Financial Update Beiswenger identified that the budget report has been update to the end of May, 2015. Once the City's fiscal year is closes June 30 and addition information will become available. The Board has received all of the required registration fees from the parks for a total of $86,473. The fund balance is on track for this year with the notable exception of petition expenses. The Rent Appeals Board Rules and Regulations don't allow the complete billing of petition expenses before a final decision is reached. The petition has resulted in significant legal expenses. 7.2 Discussion of Potential Changes to Rent Appeals Board Rules and Regulations (Rules). Beiswenger identified the goal of the discussion is to compile a list of areas for additional study based on recent experience with petitions and other areas where clarifications or processing improvements may be in order. Beiswenger reviewed the Rules with the Board and answered some clarifying questions from the Board regarding: the annual CPI adjustment (rents do not decrease with a decrease in CPI, they remain unchanged); when rent control or leases apply (residents are automatically on rent control unless they opt to sign a lease); does rent apply to the space or the unit? (rental rates apply to the space not the mobile home itself). Beiswenger reviewed the petition process as outlined in the Rules. The Board discussed some potential changes. Carlson stated that he did not see that changes to the rules were necessary at this time. Engelhart stated that certain changes may be in order to correct problems areas that may have been identified by staff. Beiswenger identified a significant issue with deposits relating to landlord petitions. The Rule currently requires a $5,000 deposit which is not adequate to cover legal expenses. A possible solution would be to collect an initial deposit and then bill monthly for expenses. Beiswenger identified that the definitions may need some clarification. For example, what constitutes a capital improvement. Steam -lining the petition process could be considered if carefully done. Options to reduce paperwork could be considered (e.g. a copy of the full petition may not need to be mailed). Board members suggest several ideas, including ways in which residents could identify whether or not they want a full copy of the petition (e.g. self-addressed and stamped postcard) and how information could be readily available on-line, at City hall or publically accessible in the park itself. Engelhart mentioned that the rules should provide more guidance on which petitions can be rejected. Rules tend to "require" that the Board accept petition if it is in a proper form. Need to have a way for Board to make decision without going to a Hearing Examiner. Need more information in the Rules to provide a rational to reject (or accept) petitions. 9. ITEMS FROM THE BOARD Diane Broadhead mentioned that she is moving to Idaho and can no longer serve on the Rent Appeal Board. Beiswenger mentioned that a new Board member would be appointed by the City Council. 10. ITEMS FROM THE STAFF Beiswenger provided an update on where the Rancho Verde, Capital Improvement Pass -Through (CIPT). The Hearing Examiner held a hearing in June and a decision will continue through the process and will come to the Board for possible acceptance at a future meeting. 11. SECOND PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD (Items not on Agenda). Robert Fleak mentioned that GSMOL is trying to identify how to engage mobile home park residents, particular with regards to elections. 12. NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING. August 6, 2015. 13. ADJOURNMENT. Adjourned at 5:52 P.M.