New Panel to Address Mobile Home Rent

Hoping for compromise, the City Council wants a group of mobile home park managers and their tenants to hammer out a fair way to govern rent increases at the parks.

The council Wednesday set up a nine-member committee that will discuss revisions to a city ordinance controlling rent hikes in Moorpark’s two mobile home parks.

The panel, most of whose membership has not yet been picked, will bring together both sides of the issue.

Two members will represent the homeowners’ association of Villa del Arroyo, the larger of the two parks, said City Clerk Lillian Hare. Two other members will be Villa del Arroyo residents picked by the park’s management, which will also have one representative on the panel.

Two people--one a resident and one from management--will represent the smaller Moorpark Mobile Home Estates.

In addition, Councilman Chris Evans will sit on the panel and will pick another community member to round out the group. Evans said Thursday he would chose either a real estate agent or a lawyer.

Once organized, the panel will make recommendations to the City Council. Villa del Arroyo residents have complained to the council that even with the current rent stabilization ordinance, their rents have been climbing steadily, with no relief.

Acting on their concerns, the council last month slapped a temporary moratorium on any further rent increases.