MINUTES 

MOBILEHOME COMMISSION MEETING

______________________

January 24, 2008

Elena Baskin Live Oak Senior Center

 

COMMISSIONERS PRESENT:                       Jean Brocklebank, 1ST District

Henry Cleveland, 2ND District

Mary Crowther, 4th District

Rick Halterman, 5TH District

Bonnie Lund, WMHA Representative

 

COMMISSIONERS ABSENT:                         Carol Lerno, GSMOL Representative

                                                                       Mary L. Hanley, 3rd District

                                                                                                                                               

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS                            David Reetz

REPRESENTATIVE:                                                       

 

COUNTY COUNSEL:                                       Absent

 

SECRETARY:                                                  Lynn Guio for Lee Ann Shenkman

 

GUESTS:                                                         None

                                                                       

                                                                       

 

Vice Chair Henry Cleveland called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m.  There were 8 members of the public in the audience.  The minutes of the November 29, 2007, meeting were reviewed and upon motion by Commissioner Brocklebank, seconded by Commissioner Crowther, the November 29, 2007, minutes were approved. 

I.          ADDITIONS AND DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA

Commissioner Brocklebank added Item D to the agenda for a discussion regarding the Santa Cruz Property Rights Initiative.

II.         BUSINESS

 

A.         Commissioner Reports

Commissioner Halterman informed the Commission that the eminent domain Jarvis initiative (#1248) qualified for the June ballot.  An announcement will be made today as to whether or not the initiative sponsored by the League of Cities (#1251) will qualify for the ballot. 

Commissioner Brocklebank updated the Commission regarding the Blue and Gold Homeowners’ Association.  She has been working with Will Constantine and there will be a Homeowners’ Association meeting on February 28, 2008.  The goal is to go to each park before the June 5, 2008, election to inform the residents on initiatives 1248 and 1251. 

 

  

B.         Legislation

 

Rick Halterman updated the Commission on three bills.  SB900 is in the Assembly Housing Committee.  The Committee has not yet decided on what amendments they will make to the bill. 

 

AB1309, a two-year bill which would provide for vacancy decontrol, must pass out of the Assembly by the end of January. 

 

AB 285 failed.  This was a bill that would have changed the state code and would have made exceptions regarding second homes which would have allowed some to be under rent control.

 

C.         County Counsel Report

 

County Counsel was not in attendance.  At next month’s meeting County Counsel will update the Commission regarding the status of the Alimur Park lawsuit.

 

D.                 Santa Cruz Property Rights Initiative

 

Commissioner Brocklebank informed the Commission that on October 5, 2007, there was a public notice in the Santa Cruz Sentinel entitled “The Santa Cruz Property Rights Initiative,” proponents George Drysdale and Steven Douglas.  Commissioner Brocklebank has seen nothing else regarding this since that date.  No action needs to be taken at this time.

III.        CORRESPONDENCE

           

                        The following letters were provided to the Commission:

 

A.                  November 29, 2007, Letter to Board of Supervisors Requesting Opposition to AB 1309

B.                  November 29, 2007, Letter to Board of Supervisors Requesting 2008 Proposed Legislation Regarding Written Acknowledgement By Mobilehome Park Residents of the Ramifications of Executing a Lease Greater Than 12 Months

C.                 January 9, 2008, Letter of Appreciation to Mobilehome Commissioners from Chairperson Janet K. Beautz, Board of Supervisors

 

A letter from the City of Berkeley opposing Initiative 1248 was distributed at the meeting.  At a later date, the Mobilehome Commission may request the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors to oppose this initiative. 

IV.        COMMUNITY INPUT

 

A resident of Blue Pacific Mobilehome Park updated the Commission on that park’s lawsuit.  The court gave the park owner a six-month extension.  The residents are also in the midst of a rent adjustment hearing which is scheduled for March.  The hearing officer is Stephania Francone.

 

The newly elected president of the Homeowners’ Association of San Lorenzo Mobilehome Park (previously known as Smithwoods) informed the Commission of alleged violations in the park. 

 

A resident of El Rio Mobilehome Park alleged there are property line problems in the park.  Commissioner Halterman provided him with his phone number to discuss the issues with him, and  recommended that the resident contact John Barisone, the Santa Cruz City Attorney, regarding legalities of what is going on in the park. 

 

 

V.         ADJOURNMENT

 

The meeting was adjourned at 10:30 A.M.  The next meeting will be February 28, 2008.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

                                                                                                                                                             

                                                            Lynn Guio, Staff Secretary to the

Mobilehome Commission

 

Approved: