Council Urges Defeat of Mobile Home Issue

Calling it a direct challenge to local control, the City Council last week urged residents to vote against a measure on Tuesday’s ballot that would deregulate mobile home parks.

Proposition 199 would phase out rent control on mobile home parks and prohibit cities from enacting rent control legislation.

Although some council members said they are hesitant to take an official stand on any ballot measure, they agreed that the legislation could dramatically affect senior citizens and others on fixed incomes who live in parks in the city.

They unanimously passed a resolution against the measure last week, after having discussed the issue in depth earlier this month.

“I think we must oppose this proposition,” Councilman Art Brown said. “This is a city problem. It should stay in the city and not be taken over by the state.”

City officials advised the council to oppose the initiative, which would allow park owners to increase rental rates at will with no governmental oversight.

Many cities have enacted rent controls to protect seniors and low-income families, who might have to relocate to more affordable sites if rent controls are lifted, the staff report stated.

The measure would also require the park owners to reduce rents by 10% for tenants who meet certain income guidelines. That would likely mean higher rates for the rest of the tenants, Councilman Don Griffin said.

“That suggests to me that the provision will justify raising rates to others,” he said. “Somebody is going to pay the bill.”