While a controversial trails plan is sparking interest in the
Bicycle and Trails Advisory Committee, the often-overlooked Mobile
Home Rent Commission still struggles with two vacancies on its
board and no solicitors.
While a controversial trails plan is sparking interest in the Bicycle and Trails Advisory Committee, the often-overlooked Mobile Home Rent Commission still struggles with two vacancies on its board and no solicitors.
Unfortunately, the commission – which monitors the city’s mobile home rent stabilization ordinance – lacks a hot-button issue at the moment to bring applicants out of the woodwork, said commissioner Swanee Edwards.
But at any given moment there could be disputes between landlords and tenants that could bring arbitration hearings.
And that, Edwards said, is reason enough for anyone to join.
“Really,” she said, “we’re protecting the last bastion of affordable housing in Morgan Hill for seniors and people living at or below the poverty level.”
Yet the rent commission is the city’s only appointed board with openings and no applicants.
Until recently, the bicycles and trails advisory committee – a subcommittee established by the Morgan Hill Parks and Recreation Commission – held the same dubious distinction. But now four residents are vying for three vacant seats, thanks to the attention brought upon the committee by the review of controversial trails opposed by many Jackson Oaks residents. The four new applicants are from Jackson Oaks.
Meanwhile, the mobile home commission remains neglected.
Established by the Morgan Hill City Council in 1988, the five-member commission hears arbitrations related to the city’s mobile home rent control law, which dates back to 1983. The ordinance is modeled after Santa Monica’s rent control law, which survived a 1982 court challenge and presumes a “fair” rent increase is not more than 75 percent of the increase of the Consumer Price Index in any one year. A park owner may request a higher rent increase, but he must petition the city.
There are seven mobile home parks in Morgan Hill with more than 800 mobile homes. Nearly 300 are resident-owned, but the remaining 500 or so are subject to tenant-landlord agreements.
Last year, the commission helped settle a heated dispute between the owner of Windmill Mobile Estates on San Pedro Avenue and residents of some 90 homes regarding a proposed rent increase. Eventually the council denied the owner’s petition to raise rents after the commission heard the matter.
“I felt the work was important enough to sign up for a second term,” Edwards said, adding former Morgan Hill Mayor Dennis Kennedy urged her to join in the first place.
Just like any city commission, committee or board, residents can pick up applications to join the mobile home commission at City Hall at 17555 Peak Ave.
The council finalizes all appointments to outside committees and commissions.
