CITY OF SANTA MARIA
MOBILE HOME MODEL LEASE
STATUS UPDATE
January 16, 2024
June 7, 2022 direction
On June 7, 2022, the City Council met to discuss the Mobile Home Model Lease 2020 Agreement and to receive public comment.
Following City Council discussion and public input, on the motion, direction was given to staff to work with community members and park owners to examine enhancing the Model Lease Agreement to see if there was room for improvement and to look at alternatives.
Stakeholder meetings
Following City Council direction, City staff held several meetings with community members and park owners to identify areas of
improvement and to look for alternatives:
• 9/22/2022 Meeting with City, resident, and park owner representatives • 11/29/2022 Meeting with City and resident representatives • 2/22/2023 Meeting with City and resident representatives • 6/20/2023 Meeting with City and park owner representatives • 7/21/2023 Meeting with City and resident representatives • 11/14/2023 Meeting with City, resident, and park owner representatives Participation
Santa Maria Mobile Home Park Model Lease Participation
Signed and Participating # spaces percent Not Signed # spaces percent Airport MHP 96 Anderson TP 10
Casa Grande 420 El Capitan Village 152
Casa del Rio 236 Highway TP 21
Rancho Buena Vista 209 Mobile Gardens 11
Santa Maria RV 7 Santa Maria TP 39
Trailer Rancho 100 Total not signed 233 15%
Total signed 1068 69%
Committed # spaces percent
La Maria 152
Newlove 26
Ranchwood 42
Riverside 22
Total committed 242 16% Total mobile home spaces 1543
Outreach
• The City to provide assistance in efforts to disseminate information and to educate the public about the Model Lease program • In-person and virtual meetings, letters to mobile home park residents
• Posting of information on the City’s website
• Translation of letters and educational materials (but not contractual materials) in Spanish
• The City to help formation of an “outreach committee” that will provide guidance and direction on ongoing outreach efforts Enforcement
• The Model Lease is enforced by civil remedy.
• The City has received one complaint, which has been sufficiently remedied. • Make information available, in outreach communications, on how a homeowner can make a complaint to the City regarding possible violations of the Model Lease program. • Amend Paragraph 2.02 of the Enforcement Agreement that would require the Model Lease to be offered to new buyers at the same time as any other lease agreement. • Report to the City, annually, how many residents have signed the Model Lease. • Discussion to create a volunteer committee of resident and park owner representatives to address any issues prior to a complaint filed with the City, to minimize City staff time.
Financial Terms
• Stakeholder groups did not discuss financial terms of the model lease; the park owners group emphasizes that they have entered into a binding agreement and have complied with its terms. • The groups did discuss the potential of mobile home parks voluntarily providing financial assistance programs that could aid residents experiencing hardship.
Summary
The 2020 Model Lease program provides another lease option for prospective mobile home residents. Meetings were held to obtain input on how the program could be improved, and to look for alternatives. Improved efforts in participation, outreach and enforcement will help prospective residents, including seniors.