Mountain View Rental Housing Committee Regular Meeting - August 27, 2026
Mountain View Rental Housing Committee Regular Meeting - August 27, 2026
The Rental Housing Committee (RHC) held a regular meeting on August 27, 2026, at 6:01 PM. The meeting included approval of consent calendar items, a public hearing on an appeal of a hearing officer's decision, and an informational update on the one-time utility adjustment petition process. All committee members were present except Chair Robert Cox.
Consent Calendar
- The committee voted unanimously to approve the minutes from the June 11, 2026, rental housing committee meeting. (Motion by Kevin Ma, second by Edie Keating.)
Public Comments & Testimony
- Elaine Ty attempted to speak during public comment on a non-agenda item but was redirected to the upcoming appeal hearing for 1300 Montecito. No other public comments were made.
Discussion Items
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Appeal of Hearing Officer's Decision (Petition C252029): The appeal concerned a tenant petition for a downward adjustment of rent based on alleged habitability issues: lack of heat, unsafe roof eaves, lack of cleanliness, and broken blinds. The hearing officer had awarded a rent refund for the first four conditions but denied the broken blinds claim. The landlord appellant argued that: (1) the hearing officer erred by considering outdoor temperature in assessing the lack of heat; (2) the tenant chose not to use the heater, which was actually functional; (3) there was insufficient evidence of noise from the heater; and (4) the tenant's claim of a $100 rent credit offer from the resident manager was disputed. The tenant respondent stated she stood by her petition and the hearing officer's findings.
The committee deliberated, noting that the hearing officer's decision was based on evidence from two contractors who reported abnormal heater noise and that the tenant had been advised by a professional not to use the heater. The committee found the hearing officer's conclusions reasonable and that the landlord had not provided new evidence warranting a modification.
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One-Time Utility Adjustment Petition Process Update (Item 6.1): Staff presented an update on the implementation of Chapter 13 of the CSFRA regulations, which prohibit ratio utility billing systems (RUBS) for fully covered units. As of the report, 96% of units had either filed a petition or reported no RUBS usage. Approximately 71% of units were fully processed, 25% were in process, and 4% had not responded. Staff will continue processing and anticipate finalization by December 2026. Committee members asked about the 4% non-responsive properties and the timeline for phasing out RUBS.
Key Outcomes
- The RHC voted unanimously to affirm the hearing officer's decision in its entirety, denying the landlord's appeal. The motion included findings that the hearing officer did not err in awarding a rent refund for the lack of heat, did not err in awarding a refund based on heater noise, and did not err in concluding the tenant's testimony about the rent credit offer was undisputed.
- The committee received the utility adjustment process update as informational. No formal action was taken. Staff will continue outreach and processing with a target completion date of December 2026.
Committee Announcements
- Staff announced upcoming workshops: September 1 (tenant-focused on below-market housing), September 10 (landlord-focused on eviction protections), and September 15 (anti-harassment protections). Office hours continue Tuesdays and housing help centers on first and third Thursdays.
- The next regular RHC meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 24, 2026, at 6:00 PM, where the committee will receive the fiscal year 2025-26 Financial Report and activity report.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:02 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Oh yeah. Okay. Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the August twenty-seventh, twenty twenty-six rental housing committee regular meeting. The meeting let us just count us in. And then we'll begin. Oh, I'm sorry, forgot about that part. You should put that on. Okay. Four, three, two, one. We are live. Good evening. Welcome to the August twenty-seventh, twenty twenty six Rental Housing Committee regular meeting. The meeting is called to order at 601 PM. I'll proceed with roll call. All committees. Let's see. Oh, I heard. Everyone. Sorry, there's nothing that's logged on the screen with this. Yep. Okay. All committee members are present with the exception of Chair Robert Cox, who is absent. Okay. Uh we will move on to the consent calendar on number three on the agenda. These items will be approved by one motion unless any member of the committee wishes to remove an item for discussion. The purpose of the consent calendar is for the committee to efficiently and quickly consider routine or administrative business items with one motion. Public comment will occur after the discussion. We invite you to submit a speaker card now if you would like to speak on this item during public comment. Would any member of the committee like to pull an item? Not seeing anyone. Any member of the public wishing to provide a virtual comment on this item, please click the raise hand button in Zoom or press number uh star nine on your phone. Yeah, I get that. Okay, there's no public comment. Uh no nobody in the audience and nobody online raising their hand. I will now bring the item back for committee action. A motion to improve approve the consent calendar should include reading the title of the agenda item three point one. Uh would any I see motions made. Uh the mover is Kevin Ma and the second is Edie Keating. Uh sorry, a motion was made by committee member Ma and second by committee member Keating. The motion on the floor is go ahead. I make a motion to approve the minutes for the June eleventh, twenty twenty-six rental housing committee meeting. And second. Speakers are allowed to speak on any topic for up to three minutes during this section. State law prohibits the committee from acting on non-agenda items. Would any member of the public like to provide comments on non-agenda items? If you would like to speak on this item in person, please submit a speaker card to city staff. In person public comments will be called to speak first. Any member of uh the public wishing to provide a virtual comment on this item, please click the raise hand button and zoom or s press star nine on your phone. And I do see one hand raised. Do I call the name?
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