Attachment A: The Pasadena Fair and Equitable Housing Charter Amendment, Article XVIII, Section 1811, Pasadena Rental Housing Board
(e) Powers and Duties. The Rental Board shall have the following powers and duties:
(1) Set allowable Rent increases at fair and equitable levels to achieve the purposes of this Article. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, the Rental Board shall have the authority to adopt regulations authorizing Rent increases and/or adjustments required by state or federal law.
(2) Establish rules and regulations for administration and enforcement of this Article. (3) Determine and publicize the Annual General Adjustment pursuant to this Article. (4) Appoint Hearing Officers to conduct hearings on Petitions for Individual Rent Adjustment pursuant to this Article. The duties and powers of Hearing Officers are laid out in Section 1814(a). Before a Hearing Officer is appointed, they must complete a verified statement of Material Interest under penalty of perjury, as described in Section 1811(c). This document will be made available to the public.
Additionally, a Hearing Officer will be disqualified from hearing a Petition under the same circumstances that a Board Member would be disqualified from ruling on a petition, detailed in Section 1811(q). If a Hearing Officer is disqualified from hearing a Petition, the Rental Board will appoint another Officer in their place. (5) Delegate authority to adjudicate petitions as appropriate and act as the appellate body that reviews and adjudicates appeals on decisions made by a Hearing Officers.
(6) Establish procedures and timelines for hearings on Petitions, including determining the timelines and procedures for appeals to the Rental Board. (7) Establish procedures and timelines for the withholding of Rent by a Tenant in the event that a Landlord fails to repay them excessive Rents charged, as detailed in Section 1813(e)
(8) Issue rules and regulations for Petitions not enumerated in this Article as necessary to effectuate the purposes of this Article.
(9) Administer oaths and affirmations and subpoena witnesses and relevant documents.
(10) Establish a budget for the reasonable and necessary implementation of the provisions of this Article, including but not limited to the hiring of necessary staff, such as Hearing Officers, and the maintenance of a Rental Registry. The Rental Board may charge fees in an amount sufficient to support this budget. 1 (11) Administer the withdrawal process for the removal of Rental Units from the rental housing market.
(12) Hold public hearings.
(13) Conduct studies, surveys, investigations, audits, and hearings, and obtain information to further the purposes of this Ari:icle.
(14) Make quarterly reports to the City Council on the status of Rental Units subject to this Article. Reports shall be made available to the public and include, but not be limited to: (a) a summary of the numbers of Written Notices to Cease served pursuant to this Article, including the bases upon which they were served, (b) a summary of any and all Petitions submitted to and/or decided by a Hearing Officer and/or the Rental Board pursuant to this Article, including the bases on which the Petitions were submitted and the determinations on the Petitions, (c) a summary of any and all other matters brought before the Rental Board, and (d) a summary of egregious cases and actors with numerous or frequent violations and actors engaging with the Rental Board in bad faith. (15) Publicize through reasonable and appropriate means the provisions of this Article, including without limitation the rights and responsibilities of Landlords and Tenants.
(16) Establish a schedule of penalties that may be imposed for noncompliance with this Article or with rules and regulations promulgated under this Article. (17) Pursue civil remedies as provided by this Article in courts of appropriate jurisdiction.
(18) Intervene as an interested party in any litigation brought before a court of appropriate jurisdiction by a Landlord or Tenant with respect to Rental Units subject to this Article.
(19) Establish and maintain a Rental Registry. The Rental Board shall make all reasonable efforts to guarantee that appropriate contents of the Rental Registry are easily accessible to all Pasadena residents.
(20) Produce written notices and other public documents in English and Spanish, and shall make a reasonable effort to accommodate additional languages as requested.
(21) Any other duties necessary to administer and enforce this Article. 2