In the northern California city of Arcata, the City Council voted last week to approve a draft ordinance on rent control for manufactured home communities.
According to the Times-Standard, the draft ordinance is based of Humboldt County‘s Measure V, which was approved by voters in November.
The Daily Business News covered the Measure V vote, in an article linked here.
In a 3 to 1 vote, Councilman Michael Winkler dissented, citing the importance of looking at the central California city of Modesto’s ordinance on manufactured home rents.
Council members Sofia Pereira and Paul Pitino noted that it was important to consider a rent control ordinance that could be amended if it did not fit citizen’s needs.
Arcata Mayor Susan Ornelas and city engineer David Loya also presented the idea of entering into a regulatory agreement with manufactured home communities that would provide residents the power to adjust it.
“An ordinance doesn’t protect you from rent raises. While I agree that an ordinance should be considered, so should a development agreement process,” said Ornelas.
“If Arcata citizens do not agree with the decision made by the council, they have the power to take it to a ballot measure, similar to the county’s Measure V,” said Winkler.
And, like Measure V itself, the proposed ordinance sparked tensions as residents and owners had their say.
“When I add my water and sewer, my electrical and my gas I’m up to over half of my income,” said Lazy J community resident Raven Le Barron.
“When I add in my garbage and my telephone, I get no cable or no internet and no cell phone. I live bare bones, so if my rent continues to go up, people like myself are afraid that we’ll lose our homes. We’ll have to move.”
Le Barron says that is not an option for her or other residents on fixed incomes.
“My home is too old to legally move and even if we could move, there is nowhere to move,” said Le Barron.
“We love our home. We’re people who were fishermen, loggers, janitors, factory workers. We’re parents and grandparents and great grandparents. I sit with 80- and 90-year-old people who are so terrified they’re going to lose their home.”
For Town and Country Mobile Home Park owner Cecilia Quick, she says that her rents are not only in line, but that she is also sensitive to residents’ situations. Her community does not receive government subsidies, but Quick keeps her rents lower than the regular county housing market.
“After close to 60 years of ownership, these price rises do not show a history of huge price increases,” said Quick.
“We’ve only raised rent six times in the last seven years at an average of 2 percent at that time. We’re very mindful of our tenants and what they can afford, especially during the recession. We try to be sensitive to that and also run a functioning business.”
The city plans to move forward on drafting the, but also consider changes to it in the near future.
“Despite all the efforts to bring folks together, moving forward with rent stabilization makes the most sense,” Pereira said. ##
(Image credits are as shown above.)
Submitted by RC Williams to the Daily Business News for MHProNews.
