THE UKIAH DAILY JOURNAL, CALIF. | JUSTINE FREDERIKSEN | Fri, Jun 4, 6:08 AM
Jun. 4–Issue tabled until budget workshops are completed
The Ukiah City Council voted unanimously Wednesday night to postpone discussions and further action on a proposed rent-stabilization ordinance for mobilehome parks.
“We need a clear understanding of the potential outcomes before we pick a path,” said Council member Doug Crane. “This step should follow (the budget strategic planning) discussion later this month. I hope that we simply continue this until we’ve had a chance to digest the budget and do some prioritization.”
Prior to the vote, City Attorney David Rapport presented the council with three examples of similar ordinances in California: one in Santa Rosa, one in Lake County and one in Merced.
According to Rapport’s report, the Santa Rosa ordinance establishes a base rent for mobilehome parks and limits any increases to 100 percent of the consumer price index (CPI), as long as it is 6 percent or less.
The ordinance also allows park owners to pass on expenses such as capital improvements and government-mandated fees and taxes to tenants, but sets procedures for how the fees can be imposed and how tenants are notified.
If owners feel the CPI does not provide a “fair return” on their investment, they can seek an increase through a formal arbitration procedure.
The city’s costs to administer the ordinance include paying a clerk to assess and collect fees, proce