City Council will discuss, at its Wednesday night meeting, what
to do about three years of annual fees due but not collected by the
city from mobile home parks. The amount totals approximately
$16,500.
City Council will discuss, at its Wednesday night meeting, what to do about three years of annual fees due but not collected by the city from mobile home parks. The amount totals approximately $16,500.
The city’s rent stabilization ordinance (5.36 section 380) allows it to collect space fees – $12 per space, per year – to underwrite the costs of administering the ordinance. During the years 1999, 2000 and 2001 the city finance department did not collect these fees from mobile home park owners.
As the report states, the department experienced a high rate of turnover during those years and was “actively involved in actions surrounding the (ordinance). These actions involved the city spending money. The city believes those expenses should be shared by the people directly benefitting from the ordinance.”
Over the past few months the Mobile Home Rent Commission and the Finance and Audit Committee have wrestled with the question of securing the missing money for the city budget while trying to remain fair to renters and park owners.
The staff recommendation is to bill for 2000 and 2001 but not for 1999 because there is some question about whether or not park owners collected the fee from renters in that year as was suggested by Commission member Mark Moore.
Park owners can pass on one half of the annual fee to the home owner occupying the space; if that renter has moved from the space, the park owner would be allowed, with proper documentation, to deduct that amount from the total owed. Park owners and their tenants – $6 of the fee comes from tenants – will also be able to pay in installments.
The complete Council agenda in full is available at the City Clerk’s desk in City Hall and on the city’s website. City Council and/or the Redevelopment Agency meets at 7 p.m. most Wednesdays in City Hall Chambers, 17555 Peak Ave. Details: 779-7271. Council meetings are broadcast live on cable access channel 17. The city’s website is www.morgan-hill.ca.gov
