WESTMINSTER : Mobile Home Law Revision Postponed

Once again the City Council postponed revising the embattled mobile home conversion ordinance, after scores of angry mobile home residents last week demanded that the ordinance be rewritten to give them more protection.

The council has held a number of study sessions on the ordinance, but mobile home residents, who might soon face eviction if their parks are converted, are not satisfied.

“We agree with the changes, but they will not solve the problem,” said Stan Hirsch, a mobile home resident speaking on behalf of 12 of the city’s 18 mobile home parks. “The ordinance is in favor of the park owners and was written with them in mind.”

Hirsch said the residents’ main demand is that the city provide a buyout provision for those coaches that are too old to move and include a rule forcing park owners to notify the city of intent to convert. Mission del Amo Mobile Home Park residents were notified last year that the owners were considering converting the property to another use, but residents have not been told if and when the conversion will happen.

Proposed amendments include:

* Increasing the daily allowance for temporary housing for those undergoing relocation from $75 to $125.

* Increasing the daily allowance for each child from $25 to $40.

* Increasing the period during which the mobile home owner is entitled to the payment from two weeks to 30 days.

* Giving a mobile home owner one year instead of six months after the granting of a conversion permit to remove his or her mobile home without risk of losing that compensation.

At the suggestion of Councilman Tony Lam, the council approved formation of a task force made up of representatives of the council, park owners and residents to work out a mutually acceptable proposal within 90 days.