Draft Planning List Outlines Rental Board’s Fall Agenda

The Pasadena Rental Housing Board’s fall calendar is beginning to fill, and a draft planning list circulated with Thursday’s agenda schedules a study session on the definition and application of small landlord for Sept. 3.

The same list sets information on tenant buyout regulations and a quarterly report from the Board and the Rent Stabilization Department for Sept. 3; an update on Measure A rental assistance funds and a legal services program for Sept. 17; and two returning items for Oct. 1 — a second study session on penalty fees for violations of Charter Article XVIII other than registration, held over from June 18, and substantial compliance and amendments to Chapter 8 procedures for annual adjustments related to rent increases, held over from July 16. Oct. 15 appears on the list with no items beneath it.

The list is labeled a draft. For Pasadena landlords and tenants, it shows which rules are moving toward Board consideration over the next two months, and which questions the Rent Stabilization Department is still working through.

A separate section names three items as outstanding: Chapter 3 amendments to exempt appeal records from publication requirements, board compensation, and limiting public comment to bring the Board’s rules closer to City Council procedures. Three more are listed as reserved regulations — the online portal for rental registry regulations and improvements, Vega adjustment examples in Chapter 7, and egregious habitability under Chapter 3. All six also appear among the seven topics the Board is scheduled to rank Thursday.

The list further names 15 matters as in process with staff: a promotores update in the quarterly report; an Ellis Act cross-reference to the PMC ordinance; Chapter 1 purpose, Chapter 2 definitions and Chapter 3 standing committees; Section 8 fallout; “junk” fees; TPO; accountability for security deposits; how many apartment buildings are being sold; how many hearing cases staff hearing officers handle compared with those sent to contract attorneys; a complete ownership portfolio covering LLC ownership; a judicial memo; article dissemination; and outside council.

Two of those concern who owns Pasadena rental property. Staff is working on a new ownership report in response to the question about apartment building sales, and the complete ownership portfolio entry covers LLC ownership. Under the Section 8 fallout entry, Helen Morales, Executive Director of the Rent Stabilization Department, is to request what Housing presented in its budget.

The Sept. 17 date also carries a tentative appeal of a downward rent adjustment that may require additional meeting time.

The Pasadena Rental Housing Board is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 20, in the Council Chamber at Pasadena City Hall, 100 N. Garfield Ave., Room S249, in Pasadena. For more information call (626) 744-4124 or visit https://www.cityofpasadena.net/commissions/agendas/.