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Rent Board says city approval is bottleneck as five of 15 positions remain vacant
Summary
Staff told the board five approved FTEs remain open, including the deputy director role; staff said recruiting requires written city manager approval and HR meetings, causing delays and operational strain across intakes, hearings and legal functions.
Fred Tran reported that five of the Rent Program’s 15 approved positions are vacant — an office assistant, an administrative trainee, a deputy director, a staff attorney, and a program analyst — and that recruitment has been delayed by new procedural steps requiring meetings with HR and written approval from the city manager.
"It requires a written approval from the city manager, and that's what we've been requesting from the city," Tran said, describing the current hold-up. He told the board the vacancies have increased workloads across the front desk, intake, hearings, registrations, collections and legal units and that interns are filling gaps but are not a long‑term substitute.
Board members discussed whether the board or the City Council could press the city manager for a written decision or otherwise expedite approval. General Counsel Charles Oena confirmed that hiring must follow the city’s hiring procedures and that the board could legally ask City Council to direct the city manager if necessary.
Public commenter Cordell Hendler urged timely hiring, saying the deputy director is needed to assume responsibilities when the executive director is absent. The board heard the staffing presentation and requested that staff continue outreach to the city manager and prepare options for the next meeting.
