Culver City : Mediation Board Alternate

Culver City is seeking applicants to fill a tenant-alternate position on the Landlord-Tenant Mediation Board, which mediates rent increase disputes.

The alternate, who will receive mediation training, will serve on mediation panels when the three regular tenant representatives of the board are unavailable. Applicants must live in rental property in Culver City. In addition, applicants and their spouses and dependents may not have any financial interest in residential income-producing property either in Culver City or elsewhere.

The alternate is encouraged but not required to attend the board’s monthly public meetings, for which the pay is $50 a meeting.

The board, established in 1981, consists of three landlord representatives, three tenants, three at-large members who are neither landlords nor tenants, and one alternate for each of the categories. Rent dispute cases are heard by a panel composed of one representative from each category.

If a tenant requests mediation within 15 days of receiving a notice of a rent increase, the landlord must mediate in good faith before raising the rent, said Phyllis Baboolal, housing manager for the city Housing Division of the Community Development Department.

Application forms are available at the Culver City Housing Division, 9696 Culver Blvd., Suite 100, or by calling 202-5768. Deadline is Dec. 22.