Sec. 8.186. Establishment of Five Neighborhood Mediation Boards.

   There are also hereby created and established in the City of Los Angeles five Neighborhood Landlord-Tenant Mediation Boards (hereinafter referred to as “Neighborhood Boards”) each of which shall consist of three members of the City Board, assigned to each Neighborhood Board by order of the Chairperson of the City Board. No City Board Member shall be assigned to more than one Neighborhood Board.

SECTION HISTORY

Added by Ord. No. 150,718, Eff. 5-26-78.

Sec. 8.187. Functions of the Neighborhood Boards.

   A.   A Neighborhood Board may assist the parties to a residential landlord-tenant dispute in settling such disputes through conciliation and mediation. It shall make its mediation services and facilities available upon request whenever in its judgment it appears that such dispute is susceptible to resolution by mediation. However, a Neighborhood Board shall refrain from offering its services to mediate any dispute that is the subject of any pending civil or criminal action.

   B.   Requests for mediation services of a Neighborhood Board may be made on a form prescribed by the City Board for that purpose. Upon receipt of a specific request for mediation of a landlord-tenant dispute, the Neighborhood Board shall investigate the matter. If in its opinion the need for mediation exists, two voluntary mediators shall be assigned to handle the dispute; and where practical, one mediator should be a landlord and the other a tenant. The findings and decisions of the mediators shall be advisory only.

   C.   These voluntary mediators shall possess experience or training in the field of landlord-tenant dispute mediation. They shall not be employees of the City of Los Angeles, but shall be entitled to compensation of $10.00 per assigned case.

SECTION HISTORY

Added by Ord. No. 150,718, Eff. 5-26-78.

ARTICLE 4 GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section

8.189   Confidentiality.

8.190   Employees.

8.191   City Board’s Authority to Adopt Rules.

Sec. 8.189. Confidentiality.

   All matters connected with any mediation efforts under this chapter are privileged and may not be examined, inspected or received in evidence in any judicial proceeding.

   When a tenant or landlord is contacted by a Neighborhood Board, a member of the City Board, its staff, or a voluntary mediator, the tenant or landlord shall be informed whether the contact is for purposes of investigation or dispute mediation; and if it is for dispute mediation, the landlord or tenant shall be informed that all matters relating thereto are privileged.

SECTION HISTORY

Added by Ord. No. 150,718, Eff. 5-26-78.