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July 19, 2005 (public hearing)

July 19, 2005 (public hearing)

 

June 30, 2005

 

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

 

DATE:            JULY 19, 2005

 

TIME:             6:30 P.M.

 

PLACE:          25 Van Ness Avenue (AT MARKET STREET)

                        Suite 70, LOWER LEVEL

                        SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA

 

THE RENT BOARD COMMISSIONERS INVITE THE PUBLIC TO COMMENT ON PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE RESIDENTIAL RENT STABILIZATION AND ARBITRATION ORDINANCE, CHAPTER 37 OF THE SAN FRANCISCO ADMINISTRATIVE CODE.

THE COMMISSION IS TAKING PUBLIC COMMENT ON PROPOSED NEW SECTIONS 4.14 AND 10.14, WHICH ARE ATTACHED TO THIS NOTICE. FORMER SECTION 4.14 (“EFFECT OF VACANCY”) WILL BE RENUMBERED AS SECTION 4.15, BUT THE LANGUAGE OF THAT SECTION REMAINS UNCHANGED.

THE INTENT OF PROPOSED SECTION 4.14 IS TO PROVIDE PROCEDURES TO IMPLEMENT ORDINANCE SECTION 37.3(a)(5)(B), WHICH ALLOWS LANDLORDS TO PASS THROUGH TO TENANTS 50% OF THE WATER BILL CHARGES ATTRIBUTABLE TO WATER RATE INCREASES RESULTING FROM ISSUANCE OF WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT REVENUE BONDS AUTHORIZED AT THE NOVEMBER 5, 2002 ELECTION (PROPOSITION A). THE INTENT OF PROPOSED SECTION 10.14 IS TO PROVIDE PROCEDURES FOR A TENANT TO CHALLENGE AN IMPROPER WATER REVENUE BOND PASSTHROUGH.

You may either comment at the Public Hearing and/or submit written comments. If you would like to submit written comments, it is requested that they be received at the Department no later than 5 p.m. on Monday, July 11th, 2005, so that the Commissioners can be mailed your comments and review them prior to the hearing. Written comments may also be submitted at the hearing. Please submit 12 copies of your comments in order to facilitate their distribution. You will be able to address the Commissioners during the public comment period at the hearing.

The proposed regulations read as follows below:

            Section 4.14   Water Revenue Bond Passthrough

                                   (Added [date])

                        (a)  A landlord may pass through fifty percent (50%) of the water bill charges attributable to water rate increases resulting from issuance of Water System Improvement Revenue Bonds authorized at the November 5, 2002 election (Proposition A), to any unit that is in compliance with any applicable laws requiring water conservation devices. The landlord is not required to file a petition with the Board for approval of a water revenue bond passthrough. 

                        (b)  The landlord shall give the tenant(s) legal notice of any water revenue bond passthrough.

                                   (1)  The notice shall specify the dollar amount of the monthly passthrough,  the period of time covered by the water bill(s) that are used to calculate the passthrough and  the number of months that the tenant is required to pay the passthrough.

                                   (2)  The notice shall explain that the passthrough is based on increased water bill charges attributable to water rate increases resulting from issuance of water revenue bonds authorized at the November 2002 election.

                                   (3)  The charges and the calculation of the passthrough shall be explained in writing on a form provided by the Board, which form shall be attached to the notice.

                                   (4)  The notice shall state that the tenant is entitled to receive a copy of the applicable water bill(s) from the landlord upon request.

                                   (5)  The notice shall state that the unit is in compliance with any applicable laws requiring water conservation devices.

                        (c)  The landlord shall calculate the amount of the water revenue bond passthrough as follows:

                                   (1)  Step 1: Compile the water bill(s) to be included in the calculation of the water revenue bond passthrough. The landlord may base the calculation on a single water bill or, in the alternative, on all of the water bills for any calendar year.  Where the landlord elects to calculate the passthrough based on calendar year, the passthrough shall be based on actual costs incurred by the landlord during the relevant calendar year(s), regardless of when the water bills were received or paid.

                                   (2)  Step 2: Add up the water bill charges attributable to water rate increases resulting from issuance of Water System Improvement Revenue Bonds authorized at the November 5, 2002 election. These charges are listed as a separate line item on the water bill. Divide that figure by two (since a 50% passthrough is permitted) in order to obtain the total amount permitted to be passed through to tenants in the building.

                                   (3)  Step 3: Divide the amount determined in Step 2 above by the total number of units covered by the water bill(s), including commercial units, to obtain the allowable passthrough per unit. 

                                   (4)  Step 4: Divide the amount determined in Step 3 above by the number of months covered by the water bill(s) to determine the monthly passthrough amount for each unit covered by the water bill(s).

                       (d)  The monthly passthrough amount determined in Step 4 can be imposed only for the same number of months covered by the water bills that are used in the passthrough calculation. For example, if the landlord imposes a water revenue bond passthrough based on a single water bill with a two-month bill cycle, the monthly passthrough remains in effect for two months only. If the landlord imposes a water revenue bond passthrough based on water bills for charges incurred during an entire calendar year, the monthly passthrough remains in effect for twelve months. If the landlord imposes a water revenue bond passthrough based on water bills for charges incurred during two calendar years, the monthly passthrough remains in effect for twenty-four months.

                       (e) Where the landlord elects to calculate the water revenue bond passthrough based on a single water bill, the passthrough may be imposed at any time, provided that the landlord serves notice of such passthrough within sixty (60) days of receipt of the water bill. Where the landlord elects to calculate the water revenue bond passthrough based on water bills for charges incurred during an entire calendar year, the passthrough may be imposed at any time, provided that the landlord serves notice of such passthrough to be effective on the tenant’s anniversary date.

                        (f)  Only those tenants in residency during the billing period(s) in which the water bill charges were incurred may be assessed the passthrough.

                        (g) The amount due from the tenant for any water revenue bond passthrough shall be due on the same date as a rent payment normally would be due.

                        (h)  The water revenue bond passthrough shall not be included in the tenant's base rent for purposes of calculation of the amount of rent increases allowable under the Ordinance and these Rules and Regulations.

                        (i)  Nothing in this section or in these Rules and Regulations shall be interpreted as requiring any landlord to pass through any water rate increases resulting from issuance of Water System Improvement Revenue Bonds authorized at the November 5, 2002 election.  However, the provisions of this Section shall be deemed a part of every rental agreement or lease, written or oral, for the possession of a rental unit subject to the Ordinance unless the landlord and tenant agree that the landlord will not pass through any charges based on water rate increases resulting from issuance of Water System Improvement Revenue Bonds authorized at the November 5, 2002 election, in which case such agreement will be binding on the landlord and on any successor owner of the building, unless such agreement is changed in accordance with applicable law.

                        (j)  Where a water revenue bond passthrough has been lawfully demanded of a tenant, a change in the ownership of the building in which the tenant's unit is located will not affect the tenant's liability to pay the amount passed through.

                        (k)  Where a tenant alleges that the landlord has imposed a water revenue bond passthrough that is not in compliance with Ordinance Section 37.3(a)(5)(B) and Rules and Regulations Section 4.14, the tenant may petition for a hearing under the procedures provided in Ordinance Section 37.8. In such a hearing, the landlord shall have the burden of proof. Any tenant petition challenging such a passthrough must be filed within one year of the effective date of the challenged water revenue bond passthrough. The filing of a petition by a tenant does not relieve the tenant of his or her obligation to pay the passthrough pending a final determination. Grounds for challenging a water revenue bond passthrough are set forth in Section 10.14 of these Rules and Regulations.

                        (l)  A tenant may file a hardship application with the Board requesting relief from all or part of a water revenue bond passthrough. Any hardship application must be filed within one year of the effective date of the water revenue bond passthrough(s). Payment of the water revenue bond passthrough(s) set forth in the hardship application shall be stayed until a decision is made by the Administrative Law Judge after a hearing on the tenant’s hardship application. Appeals of decisions on a tenant’s hardship application shall be governed by Ordinance Section 37.8(f).

 

           Section 4.15  Effect of Vacancy

           (Added April 25, 1995, effective February 1, 1995; renumbered effective [date])

 

{TEXT OMITTED FROM THIS DRAFT, BUT REMAINS UNCHANGED}

 

            Section 10.14  Improper Water Revenue Bond Passthrough

            (Added [date])

            (a)  Within one year of the effective date of a water revenue bond passthrough, a tenant may petition for an arbitration hearing on the following grounds;

                       (1)  The landlord has not properly calculated the passthrough;

                       (2)  The passthrough is calculated using an incorrect unit count;

                       (3)  The landlord failed to provide a clear written explanation of the charges and the calculation of the passthrough;

                       (4)  The unit is not in compliance with applicable laws requiring water conservation devices;

                       (5)  The tenant requested a copy of the applicable water bill(s) and the landlord has not provided them;

                       (6)  The tenancy began during or after the billing period(s) included in the passthrough calculation;

                       (7)  The landlord failed to discontinue the passthrough after it was fully paid.

           (b)  The landlord shall have the burden of proving the accuracy of the calculation that is the basis of the water revenue bond passthrough, and that the unit is in compliance with applicable laws requiring water conservation devices.

           (c)  A petition based on this section shall be accompanied by the notice of the water revenue bond passthrough.

 

 

 

 

Last updated: 10/9/2009 11:26:10 AM