Laserfiche WebLink
BACKGROUND <br />The Hacienda Mobilehome Park (HMP) is a 149 space mobilehome park located at <br />3231 Vineyard Avenue. HMP is one of two "senior" mobilehome parks in the City (the <br />other is the 200 space Vineyard Mobile Villa located adjacent to the HMP). Residents <br />own their mobilehomes and rent space from the park owner; in addition, residents <br />typically pay for their own utilities (gas, electricity, water, cable tv, etc.). The park is a <br />senior park in that at least one of the residents must be at least 55, although many of <br />the residents are in fact older than that. The term mobilehome is also somewhat of a <br />misnomer in that the dwelling units that occupy the spaces within the park are far from <br />mobile; the current word in vogue is manufactured housing. <br />HMP was owned and developed in the 1970's by Richard McDonnell; Mr. McDonnell <br />sold the park in 1999 to Phillip Hoon and Ken Waterhouse. Mr. Hoon and Mr. <br />Waterhouse ended their business relationship and now the park is owned solely by Mr. <br />Hoon. <br />Since 1988, space rents in HMP have been subject to a rent stabilization agreement <br />between the various park owners and the City, the most recent of which was entered <br />into in December 2001. Since 2006, City staff has been in discussions with Mr. Hoon <br />and with a resident committee concerning terms and conditions for a new agreement. <br />To date, City staff is not prepared to recommend to the City Council that a new <br />agreement for this park be approved, although discussions are continuing and, in staff's <br />opinion, progressing. If a new agreement is not reached, then the City's Rent <br />Stabilization Ordinance-which largely tracks many of the provisions of the existing <br />agreement-would apply to the rents and other aspects of the park. <br />Currently, the base rents at the HMP range from $583.50 to $856.50, depending on <br />when the resident moved to the park. Household income, while a factor in the owner's <br />decision to rent space, is not a factor for determining the space rent. As mentioned, <br />residents also pay utilities in addition to the base rent. While not an apples to apples <br />comparison, rents at Ridgeview Commons range from $300 to $800 for one bedroom <br />units and from $350 to $950 for two bedroom units based on household income. Also, <br />under the City's below market rent program, the maximum monthly rent for households <br />with 50% of the median income ($29,00 to $33,000 is 50% of the median income) is <br />$830 for a one bedroom unit and $1038 for a two bedroom unit. By way of comparison, <br />market rate one bedroom units at Ponderosa's senior apartment project on Ironwood <br />Drive, which are not subject to household income restrictions, range from $1150 for one <br />bedroom units to $1300 for two bedroom units. <br />At the HMP, maintenance issues are addressed in two ways. The 2001 Agreement <br />between the City and the park owner provides that the then existing amenities and <br />service levels are not to be reduced without first meeting and conferring with the <br />residents. In addition, certain Maintenance Standards were attached as an exhibit to <br />the Agreement. (A copy of those Maintenance Standards are attached to this report as <br />Exhibit 1.) These Standards address more particularly matters concerning maintenance <br />of the Clubhouse and related facilities (there is a community Clubhouse with a meeting <br />Page 2 of 4 <br />