Mountain View Rental Housing Committee Regular Meeting - January 22, 2026

The Rental Housing Committee (RHC) met on January 22, 2026, at 6:01 PM. The meeting included approval of the consent calendar, an annual update on the Outreach and Education Program, an annual update on relevant legislation and case law in California, and staff announcements. All votes were conducted by roll call due to remote attendance by one committee member.

Consent Calendar

• Approved unanimously (5-0) the consent calendar comprising: Item 3.1 (minutes for the December 18, 2025 RHC meeting) and Item 3.2 (minor clarifications in the CSFRA regulations, Chapter 13, Utility Charges).

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were received on non-agenda items during Oral Communications.
• No public comments were offered on Item 5.1 (Outreach and Education Program) or Item 5.2 (Legislation and Case Law Update).

Discussion Items

• Outreach and Education Program Annual Update (Item 5.1): Staff Analyst Alexelle Camacho presented an informational update on the Rent Stabilization Division's outreach and education activities for fiscal year 2024-25 and plans for FY 2025-26. Key highlights included: 3,369 public inquiries responded to; 95% of clients felt they received the support they needed; 94% found the information helpful; 98% found staff helpful and courteous; 466 attendees at the annual summer community kickoff event; materials translated into Spanish, Mandarin, and Russian. Outreach targeted hard-to-reach community members through schools, food distributions, and community events. Committee members expressed appreciation for the program and inquired about outreach methods. No additional direction was given.
• Legislation and Case Law Update (Item 5.2): Staff presented a comprehensive update on changes to the Brown Act (SB 707), new state laws affecting landlord-tenant relations, and recent court cases. Key items discussed:
  • Brown Act Remote Attendance: Under SB 707, committee members may attend remotely for "just cause" (limited to two meetings per 12-month period) or by posting agenda at a remote location open to the public. The latter option was used for Member Balch's attendance from New York.
  • New Laws: AB 456 (mobile home park management response timelines), AB 806 (cooling systems in mobile homes), SB 610 (disaster-related tenancy protections, including debris removal), AB 246 (Social Security hardship as affirmative defense to eviction), AB 1414 (security deposit return methods), AB 628 (landlord duty to provide stove and refrigerator), AB 299 (extending tenancy establishment in hotels/motels to 270 days post-disaster), AB 1414 (tenant opt-out of third-party internet subscriptions), AB 863 (multi-language unlawful detainer summons effective 2027).
  • Court Cases: California Apartment Association v. City of Pasadena (upheld most rent control charter provisions but struck down relocation assistance for rent increases >5%+AGA and pre-litigation notice requirement; city seeking Supreme Court review); CP6 Admirals Cove v. City of Alameda (former Navy housing not exempt from rent stabilization under Costa-Hawkins); Anaheim Mobile Estates v. State of California (upholding rent cap law without fair return mechanism; facial challenge fails but as-applied challenges remain possible); and a case reinforcing strict compliance requirements for eviction notices.
  • Committee Questions: Vice Chair Cox asked about applicability of AB 628 to rent-controlled month-to-month tenancies; staff noted statutory ambiguity and suggested using joint petition process. Member Balch inquired about his own remote attendance under the Brown Act; staff clarified he was using the longstanding posting option, not just cause. Member Keating asked about SB 610's debris removal requirement; staff explained it addresses landlord responsibilities after disasters like the LA fires. Member Statsisle asked whether the Pasadena case's holding on pre-litigation notices affects CSFRA; staff are investigating.

Key Outcomes

• Consent calendar approved 5-0.
• Committee received and acknowledged the Outreach and Education Program update; no formal action taken.
• Committee received the legislative and case law update; no formal action taken.
• Staff announced that the next RHC meeting on February 26, 2026, will include an annual update on registration fee payment compliance and an appeal (with translation services).
• Meeting adjourned at 6:59 PM.