MOORPARK : Special Election on Rent Law Approved

The Moorpark City Council has agreed with county election officials that the owner of a mobile home park in the city gathered enough signatures to contest their efforts toward mobile home rent control.

Expressing anger and reluctance, council members voted late Wednesday to spend an estimated $22,000 to hold the special election on April 13, instead of voluntarily rescinding the ordinance that regulates the amount of rent park owners can charge new tenants after mobile homes are sold.

The council unanimously adopted the ordinance in October, leading to a bid by Dale Williams, owner of the Villa del Arroyo mobile home park, to reverse the action by referendum. County officials told the city last week that Williams had collected 1,507 valid signatures, 156 more than the 1,351 he needed to force a vote.

“I think it’s an absolute shame that the people of the city of Moorpark have to pay this kind of money for the sole purpose of aggrandizing the ego and income of one person,” Councilman Scott Montgomery said at the meeting.

A small contingent of park tenants, who have consistently supported the city’s move to regulate the rent of resale units, applauded after the council voted unanimously to proceed with the election.