The Herald in Monterey County, California reports a preliminary hearing concerning rent control for Marina’s five manufactured housing communities was approved by the Marina City Council by a 3-2 vote. First proposed by residents 20 years ago, the Mobile Home Rental Stabilization Ordinance allows the annual rent increase to 80 to 100 percent of the increase in the Consumer Price Index. Manufactured housing residents would have to pay a yet-to-be-determined monthly fee for administration of the program, estimated to be $10,000 annually. Manuel Vieira, representing community owners, called the measure “fiscally irresponsible” and a “special interest pet project”. Doug Johnson, regional representative of the Western Manufactured Housing Communities Association, said, “It’s too bad Marina taxpayers will have to foot the bill for this type of incompetence and fiscal mismanagement.” Some community residents said it would only affect 100 of the 399 homesites because of rental agreements already signed. Proponents pointed out that when those leases expire, residents will then be protected by the ordinance. A final hearing is set for Oct. 4.
