R-8903
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CA:f\atty\muni\laws\mobile.rc
city Council Meeting 5-23-95
Santa Monica, California
RESOLUTION NO. 8903
(city council Series)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF SANTA MONICA OPPOSING THE
"RENTAL ASSISTANCEn PROPOSITION THAT WILL
PREEMPT LOCAL MOBILEHOME RENT CONTROL
WHEREAS, there are a substantial number of Santa Monica
residents living in mobilehome parks within this jurisdiction, many
of whom are senior citizens or have low or fixed incomes; and
WHEREAS, historically there has been a shortage of mobilehome
rental spaces in this region resulting in a low vacancy rate which,
in the absence of rent control, would threaten to contribute to
rapidly escalating rents; and
WHEREAS, due to the prohibitive cost of moving a mobilehome,
the lack of available spaces in parks, and the existence of park
restrictions which limit the type and size of mobilehomes which can
be placed in parks, mobilehomes are really "immobile", and
mobilehome owners would therefore be captive to any rising rents;
and
WHEREAS, mobilehome owners typically have a substantial
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investment in their homes which, many times, is their only asset
that will be lost if no relief from excessive rents is provided;
and
WHEREAS, in April, 1979, the voters of Santa Monica enacted
the Rent Control Law and this city is one of nearly 100 California
jurisdictions which control rents in mobilehome parks to safeguard
their vulnerable, elderly and low-income mobilehome residents and
to preserve its affordable housing; and
WHEREAS, the city Council opposes any attempt to preempt or
remove the city's power to protect its needy citizens or to make
policy which responds to a crisis created by high rents and
immobility; and
WHEREAS, an initiative is due to appear on the next statewide
ballot titled as a IIRental Assistancell initiative which would phase
out all existing mobilehome rent ordinances in California and
prohibi t new ones from being enacted, thereby preempting and
voiding the ability of the city to regulate rents; and
WHEREAS, the "Rental Assistance" initiative has been
misrepresented as one which would assist mobilehome owners in
meeting their rent obligations, but would in reality result in much
higher rents when the protections afforded by local ordinances have
been removed,
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NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA
DOES RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. That the Santa Monica City Council hereby goes on
record in opposition of the so-called "Rental Assistance"
proposition which will appear on the next statewide Ballot.
SECTION 2. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of
this Resolution, and thenceforth and thereafter the same shall be
in full force and effect.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
-}~s L{f. 0' h C/U M
MARSHA MOU . E
CITY ATTO Y
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Adopted and approved thIS 23rd of May, 1995
4J;~
Mayor
I hereby certIfy that the foregoIng ResolutIOn 8903 (CCS) was duly adopted at a meetmg
of the City CouncIl held on the 23rd of May, 1995 by the followmg vote
Ayes
Councd members
Abdo, Ebner, Genser, Greenberg, Holbrook, O'Connor,
Rosenstelll
Noes
Council members
None
AbstaIn
CounCIl members
None
Absent
CouncIl members
None
ATTEST
~KIl~
----- ( - .....
CIty Clerk