LAGUNA BEACH : City Backs Off Plan to Curb Rent Hikes
A proposed ordinance that would have limited rent increases at the city’s three mobile home parks to 7% over the next year was killed by the City Council on Tuesday.
The council had tentatively approved the ordinance in an effort to persuade the owner of the Laguna Terrace Mobilehome Park to limit increases to that amount.
For the record:
12:00 a.m. July 12, 1990 For the Record
Los Angeles Times Thursday July 12, 1990 Orange County Edition Metro Part B Page 2 Column 3 Metro Desk 2 inches; 36 words Type of Material: Correction
Vote tally--The Laguna Beach City Council vote Tuesday to kill a proposed rent control ordinance for the city’s three mobile home parks was 4 to 1. Councilman Robert F. Gentry cast the dissenting vote. The tally was reported incorrectly in a story Wednesday.
But Tuesday night, council members unanimously agreed that owner Stephen Esslinger is treating tenants fairly and is willing to work with those who would be severely strained by larger rent increases.
On June 5, after months of grappling with ways to stabilize rents at mobile home parks, the council lifted a six-month rent freeze while accepting agreements with owners of the other two parks, Treasure Island and Thurston. The Treasure Island agreement allows a 7% increase while freezing rents for low-income seniors. The Thurston Mobile Home Park accord allows a 6% increase but has no special provision for seniors.
Esslinger would agree only to keep rents in line with increases of the previous year. He was satisfied with the council’s action Tuesday. “Fair is a subjective word. And what I thought was fair, the council thought was fair,” he said.
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