The Unincorporated Services Committee (USC) met on July 31, 2026, at the San Lorenzo Library to receive informational briefings on two topics: a background and policy briefing on "junk fees" in the unincorporated rental market, and an update on the Unincorporated Urban Forest Planning project. Both items were informational; no votes were taken. The committee heard public testimony on both items and provided direction to staff on next steps.
1. Informational Item: Background and Policy Briefing on Junk Fees Aaron Tiedman (Housing & Community Development) presented an overview of junk fees – hidden, excessive, or deceptive charges outside base rent. A survey by Eden Renters United of five large rental buildings in Ashland, Cherryland, and Castro Valley found fees for garbage, water, and sewer ranging from $85 to $700/month, often without notice, not tied to service, and used to pressure tenants. State law (AB 1482/SB 567) does not cover these fees; AB 1248 failed at the state level. The California Apartment Association (CAA) argued fees are standard and can help tenants manage costs, but supported transparency in listings. The National Consumer Law Center recommended limiting fees, requiring opt-in consent, and mandating transparent advertising. Local examples from Salinas and Mountain View define rent narrowly to ban junk fees. Possible county options include defining rent in a stabilization ordinance, banning specific fees, seeking state clarification, or funding enforcement.
Supervisor Lena Tam asked clarifying questions about which fees are at issue; the problematic fees are primarily for garbage, water, and sewer that are not separately metered. She also asked whether junk fees have appeared in unlawful detainer proceedings; staff did not have that data. Supervisor Nate Miley emphasized the need to distinguish between legitimate and abusive practices, and proposed exploring:
The supervisors agreed that more information is needed. Staff and county counsel were asked to return in 3–4 months with a comprehensive informational report on legal options and potential studies.
2. Informational Item: Unincorporated Urban Forest Planning Project Update Ali Abbors (Planning Department) updated the committee on the Urban Forest Plan project, funded by a $685,000 Calfire grant (IRA funding). The project has two main deliverables: (1) an Unincorporated Urban Forest Plan, including a complete street‑tree inventory (expected ~16,000 trees), analysis of canopy equity, urban heat, and fire risk, and recommendations to achieve the Board's goal of 20% canopy cover by 2050; (2) a Growing Futures workforce development pilot program in partnership with Merritt College and the Hayward Area Recreation and Park District (HARD), providing 5–8 students with free coursework and stipends in arboriculture. The project timeline runs through March 2028. A tree advisory group of 15 members (non‑Brown Act body) has been formed. The tree inventory is underway (about 4,000 trees inventoried as of the meeting). The project covers the urban unincorporated areas: San Lorenzo, Hayward Acres, Ashland, Cherryland, Fairview, and urban Castro Valley.
Supervisor Tam noted that San Lorenzo values tree canopy and asked about the existing tree advisory board (TAB) under Public Works, which has not met since 2023; its members may be invited to the new advisory group. She also asked about the selection and composition of the new advisory group. Supervisor Miley stressed that he would need strong convincing before supporting any regulation of trees on private property, noting past controversies. Staff confirmed that the canopy equity analysis will include private property data from satellite imagery but the inventory is limited to public trees. Recommendations from the plan could include updates to the county's recommended tree list and possibly a future urban forest management plan. The committee will receive another update after the inventory and existing conditions study are completed.
All right. Good evening. Good evening. See, sorry, running a little behind. So we're going to call the meeting to order for the unincorporated services committee for the board of supervisors. Clerk want to take the role. Supervisor TAM. Present. Supervisor Miley. Present. We have a quorum. All right. So if we could have instructions and interpretation. Steven. Yes, they're loading on the screen now. Dice para seleccionar el canal de lenguaje español. Este instrucciones para la persona assistindo a la reunión presencialmente. Uno asegurece de tener la applicación de Zoom installada in su teléfono intelligente and conexión al internet. Favor de usar audífonos con su dispositivo para no interromper la sala de reunion. Abril applicación de Zoom and ingresar a la reunion con el numero 846, 8443, 0209. A click in la esquina con los tres puntitos. Selecciona interpretación. Aga clic in el idioma que desee escuchar. Español. Y opcional para escuchar solo el idioma interpretado. Aga clic in silencio audio original. Thank you. For in-person participation, the meeting site is open to the public. If you'd like to speak on an item, you can fill out a speaker's card in the front of the room and hand it to me, the clerk. And for remote participation, you can follow the teleconferencing guidelines posted at www.acgov.org and use the raise your hand function. All right. So first item this evening is a background and history. There's the interpreter speaking. Please please turn on the interpretation function. Okay. Are we okay? Yes. Okay. So first item is informational item on background and policy briefing on junk fees. And that'll be the housing and community development department. Good evening, supervisors and members of the public. My name is Aaron Tiedman with the Alameda County Housing and Community Development Department. I'll be presenting this informational item on junk fees tonight. I'll wait to get the slides up. Thank you. Now to define what we're talking about, there's a variety of fees that are routinely charged as part of the rental market that are outside of base rent. Often these are part of the lease, though sometimes they're not. So it is quite common for there to be a variety of these fees, and many of them are uh very necessary. If we can go to the next slide. Over the term junk fees specifically refers to uh fees like this that are charged outside of the lease and outside of the rent uh that are perceived as hidden, excessive, or often deceptive.