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Marin County

BOS Public Hearings on Rental Housing Dispute Resolution

Board of Supervisors Chambers - Room 330
3501 Civic Center Drive
San Rafael, California
July 31, 2018
10:00 AM PT

The Marin County Board of Supervisors will conduct two public hearings - a first reading on Tuesday, July 31 at or after 10:00 AM and a merit hearing on Tuesday, August 7, 2018 at or after 10:30 AM - to consider an ordinance to amend Chapter 5.95 of the Marin County Code, titled Rental Housing Dispute Resolution.

The proposed amendments are intended to simplify the eligibility criteria and clarify certain provisions that define Good Faith participation in the program.

The County's Rental Housing Dispute Resolution program was established to provide mandatory mediation services for landlords and tenants who are party to a rent increase and/or change in Housing Services equivalent to a rent increase greater than 5% over a 12-month period.

Since implementation of the program in January 2018, all applicants have requested program services based on monetary increases in rent; no applicants have asserted reductions in Housing Services to establish eligibility for program participation.

To simplify the eligibility determination process, an thereby promote greater transparency and clarity for all parties, staff recommends that the program be amended to allow eligibility determinations to be based solely on changes in monetary rent.

The proposed amendment also includes revisions intended to clarify specific
provisions of the ordinance that describe Good Faith participation in the program and notice requirements. These revisions do not constitute a diversion from the existing legal implications of the ordinance; they are submitted only to create a document that is more comprehensible for a broader audience.

A staff report for the July 31st first reading, proposed Ordinance, and document illustrating the suggested amendments are now available on the County of Marin Affordable Housing webpage.

An agenda and staff report will be made available on the Friday before the scheduled hearing on the Board of Supervisors meeting webpage and at the Community Development Agency, Suite 308, San Rafael (open Monday - Thursday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM, closed Friday).

The Board of Supervisors hearings will be held in the Board of Supervisors Chambers (Room 330, Administration Building), 3501 Civic Center Drive, San Rafael, California, where anyone interested in this matter may appear and be heard. Written comments may be submitted in advance of the hearing to BOS@marincounty.org.

If you have questions regarding these matters, please contact Debbi La Rue at dlarue@marincounty.org or 415-473-7309.


Organization: Marin County Government

Contact: Debbi La Rue

Contact Phone: 415-473-7309

Contact Email:

Website: https://www.marincounty.org/depts/cd/divisions/housing/affordable-housing