DUTIES : The Advisory Commission
on Rents oversees the operation of the Rental Dispute Mediation and Arbitration
hearing process as set forth in Section 2.08.200 of the San José
Municipal Code. The Commission recommends to the City Council any changes
and/or amendments which may be deemed necessary to insure the successful
operation and administration of Rental Dispute Mediation and Arbitration,
Section 17.23 of the San José Municipal Code. The Commission may
also make recommendations to the City Council and Administration regarding
the staffing and funding necessary to operate and maintain the rental
dispute mediation and arbitration hearing process.
RELATIONSHIPS : The Commission acts
in an advisory capacity to the City Council and the Administration.
The City Council is the final decision-making body of the City.
QUALIFICATIONS : The Commission
is composed of two tenants, two landlords and three neutrals. The tenant
members must live in a rent controlled apartment; the landlord members
must own or manage a rent controlled apartment building; the neutral
members may be neither tenants nor landlords. All Members must be residents
of San Jose.
MEETINGS : The Commission meets
on the 3rd Thursday of odd numbered months at 5:30 P.M. at City Hall,
Room T1245. The meetings usually last from two to three hours. On average,
commissioners spend 5 hours per month on commission business.
BENEFITS : There is no compensation
for the members of the Advisory Commission on Rents. However, from
time to time, Commission members may be reimbursed for some expenses
incurred on City business.
POLITICAL REFORM ACT OF 1974 AS AMENDED
: The
Conflicts of Interest Section of the Political Reform Act applies to
the Advisory Commission on Rents; however, Commission Members are not
required to file a Statement of Economic Interests.
APPOINTMENT PROCESS : All applications received are
submitted to the Project Diversity Screening Committee for review according
to the needs of the Commission as specified in a Needs Assessment Memo.
Applications will also be forwarded to the City Attorney for a Conflict
of Interest review and thereafter, the applicants will be asked to
appear before the Screening Committee Members for an interview. Following
interviews, the Screening Committee will develop a list of applicants
which will be submitted to the Council Member Liaison to the Commission.
The Liaison will forward the list to the Rules Committee of Council
either with or without a supplemental recommendation. The City Council
makes the final appointment to the Commission based on Rules Committee
recommendations.
ATTENDANCE : Commissioners are expected
to attend all Commission meetings. San José Municipal Code Section
2.08.060 specifies that a Commissioner who has unexcused absences from
any three consecutive regular meetings, or 20% of the meetings in a calendar
year, is deemed to have resigned from the Commission.
For further information about the Commission, please
call the Commission Staff at 408-975-4480.
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