A: The Hearing Officer’s consideration and rent reduction award based on the excessive noise from the
water heater and bathtub clogging did not violate Respondent’s due process rights.
B: The Hearing Officer did not err or abuse her discretion in awarding a rent reduction based on the mold
and moisture conditions in the Affected Unit.
C: The Hearing Officer did not err or abuse her discretion in awarding a rent reduction based on the sewer
and plumbing issues in the Affected Unit.
E: The Hearing Officer’s rent reductions were not arbitrary or excessive because she applied consistent
methodology; and
To remand item D to the Hearing Officer to reexamine whether the circumstances of the alleged
hazardous electrical circuitry in the Affected Unit constituted a failure to maintain the Affected Unit in a
habitable condition.
Motion failed for lack of second.
6.
NEW BUSINESS
Contract Renewal with Goldfarb & Lipman LLP for Fiscal Year 2025-26
6.1
Rent Stabilization Manager van Deursen presented a report and responded to questions.
SPEAKING FROM THE FLOOR WITH COMMENTS:
No public comments received.
MOTION - MS - Keating/Cox - To 1) authorize the Rent Stabilization Manager or designee to execute an
agreement with Goldfarb & Lipman LLP for legal services related to the Community Stabilization and Fair
Rent Act for Fiscal Year 2025-26 and to represent the Rental Housing Committee and the City of Mountain
View in litigation related to the Community Stabilization and Fair Rent Act for Fiscal Year 2025-26 for a
total amount not to exceed $250,000.
2) Authorize the Rent Stabilization Manager or designee to execute an agreement with Goldfarb & Lipman
LLP for legal services related to the Mobile Home Rent Stabilization Ordinance for Fiscal Year 2025-26
and to represent the Rental Housing Committee and the City of Mountain View in litigation related to the
Mobile Home Rent Stabilization Ordinance for Fiscal Year 2025-26 for a total amount not to exceed
$35,000.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Contract Renewal with Project Sentinel for Fiscal Year 2025-26
6.2
1. Authorize the Rent Stabilization Manager or designee to execute an agreement with Project Sentinel to
provide administrative and hearing process services for the Community Stabilization and Fair Rent Act for
Fiscal Year 2025-26 for a total amount not to exceed $180,000 as follows:
a. Administrative support services in an amount not to exceed $10,000;
b. Deploy and reimburse Facilitators for the Prehearing Settlement Conference Process in an amount
not to exceed $10,000; and
c. Deploy and reimburse Hearing Officers for the Petition Hearing Process in an amount not to exceed
$160,000.
2. Authorize the Rent Stabilization Manager or other designee to execute an agreement with Project
Sentinel to provide administrative and hearing process services for the Mobile Home Rent Stabilization
Ordinance for Fiscal Year 2025-26 for a total amount not to exceed $13,000 as follows:
a. Administrative support services in an amount not to exceed $1,000;
b. Deploy and reimburse Facilitators for the Prehearing Settlement Conference Process in an amount
not to exceed $2,000; and
c. Deploy and reimburse Hearing Officers for the Petition Hearing Process in an amount not to exceed
$10,000.