To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Community Development Commission, County Administrator’s Office
Staff Name and Phone Number: Michelle Whitman, (707) 565-7504; Adam Brand, (707) 565-2421
Vote Requirement: 4/5th
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Consideration of an Urgency Ordinance Creating a Temporary Moratorium on Rent Increases on Mobilehome Spaces In the Unincorporated Area of the County
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Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Consider adoption of an Urgency Ordinance creating a temporary moratorium on rent increases on mobilehome spaces in the unincorporated area of the County until the earlier of February 29, 2024, or the effective date of an ordinance amending Chapter 2, Article XIX of the Sonoma County Code; and determination of exemption of the Urgency Ordinance from the California Environmental Quality Act.
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Executive Summary:
At the August 15, 2023, meeting of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors several residents of mobile home parks within the County’s jurisdiction were in attendance to bring attention to their concerns about rent increases outpacing the fixed income on which many mobile home park residents rely. During public comment, several speakers suggested that the County’s current mobile home rent stabilization policies should be revisited.
One speaker recommended that the yearly cap on rent increase be modified from the current 100% of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) or 6%, whichever is less, to 70% of the CPI or 4%, whichever is less. The Board of Supervisors directed staff to draft an urgency ordinance placing a temporary moratorium on rent increases on mobile home spaces located in the unincorporated area of the County. The purpose of the moratorium is to preserve housing status for vulnerable populations while staff further investigates the issue to determine whether the Mobile Home Rent Stabilization Ordinance should be permanently amended.
Discussion:
A significant majority of the residents of mobile home parks in the unincorporated area of the county are older individuals or couples living on fixed incomes. These residents qualify as "low" and "very low" income households and typically expend more than thirty percent of their income on housing related expenses. Nearly all mobile home park residents own and occupy their mobile home and have made a substantial monetary investment to live in a mobile home park. Residents of a mobile home park have very limited mobility due to the difficulty and expense of relocating a mobile home. The adoption of this ordinance on an urgency basis is necessary to preserve the public peace, health, and safety of the county.
Temporarily pausing rent increases on any mobile home space until the earlier of February 29, 2024, or the effective date of an ordinance amending Chapter 2, Article XIX, will prevent an undue rush on rent increases on mobile home spaces before the effective date of future amendments to Chapter 2, Article XIX that will be designed to protect mobile home space tenants, particularly during conditions created by high inflation.
Strategic Plan:
This item directly supports the County’s Five-year Strategic Plan and is aligned with the following pillar, goal, and objective.
Pillar: Healthy and Safe Communities
Goal: Goal 4: Reduce the County’s overall homeless population by 10% each year by enhancing services through improved coordination and collaboration.
Objective: Objective 3: Increase investment in programs that treat underlying causes of homelessness, including substance abuse, mental illness, poverty, and lack of affordable housing.
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
06/23/87: Board Adopts Mobilehome Park Space Stabilization Program.
06/16/92: Boards adopts findings on 1992 Mobilehome Park report.
07/14/92: Board adopts Ordinances Nos. 4655 and 4657 to continue the Mobilehome Park Space Rent Stabilization Program.
01/23/96: Board adopts Ordinance No. 4919 amending the Mobilehome Park Space Rent Stabilization Program.
02/03/98: Board adopts a Resolution amending Section 19-54 and adding Sections 19-56 of the Sonoma County Code in reference to the Mobilehome Park Stabilization Program.
Fiscal Summary
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FY23-24 Adopted |
FY 24-25 Projected |
FY25-26 Projected |
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Not Applicable
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
Not Applicable
Environmental Review (if required):
This ordinance is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to Sections 15307 and 15308 of the State CEQA Guidelines as an action taken to assure the maintenance, restoration, enhancement, and protection of natural resources and the environment where the regulatory process involves procedures for protection of the environment. The basis for this determination is that this ordinance establishes a temporary moratorium on the processing and approval of permits for new water supply wells. Public trust resources that are interconnected to groundwater are natural resources and an important part of the environment and would be protected and maintained by this ordinance. This moratorium will not result in any significant adverse direct or indirect physical changes to the environment. This ordinance is further exempt from CEQA pursuant to State CEQA Guideline § 15061(b)(3) because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that this ordinance may have a significant effect on the environment. The Director of the Permit and Resource Management Department is directed to file a notice of determination that this ordinance is exempt from CEQA and the State CEQA Guidelines.
Attachments:
Urgency Ordinance
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
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