This post was originally published on this site.
After a number of requests, Sonoma City Council began reviewing the city’s mobile home park closures and conversions ordinance during its Nov. 5 study session, launching a public process that residents, advocates and city officials say is essential to maintaining affordable housing in the city.
Residents and housing advocates have urged city officials to revisit Sonoma’s regulations on how and when mobile home parks can close or be converted.
They contend the city’s existing ordinance is outdated and doesn’t offer enough protection for those residing in mobile home parks, which are considered some of the few affordable housing options in the city. Sonoma is home to three mobile home parks, Moon Valley, Pueblo Serena and Sonoma Oaks, which provide more than 450 affordable units to residents.
Sonoma City Manager David Guhin said the process of updating the ordinance will begin after officials are certain hat everyone in the community — City Council, residents, housing advocates and mobile home park owners — fully understand the current regulations and requirements of state law.
Guhin said city staff will host two study sessions to educate and inform the community about the mobile home park closures, conversions and cessation of use ordinance and to consider any potential changes.
He said the Nov. 5 study session focused on informing the community of Sonoma’s current closure ordinance, state law and updates required under Assembly Bill 2782 which became law in 2021 and Senate Bill 610 which took effect this year. The two laws expand mobile home park resident protections and require local governments to update their ordinances to reflect new standards for relocation assistance, notice periods and data about affordable housing impacts.
AB 2782 increases municipal authority over affordable housing stock.
Among its provisions, according to the state Assembly’s Housing and Community Development Committee, which reviewed the measure during its progression through the legislature, it “requires mobile home park owners … take steps to relocate or compensate mobile home park residents when a park is closing or being converted for a different use.”
SB 610 provides disaster assistance to tenants, mobile home owners, and renters by clarifying landlord responsibilities for cleaning damaged properties, and by providing relief regarding rent and mobile home park operations after a natural disaster. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the bill into law on Oct. 10.
Sonoma city leaders did not take any action during their Nov. 5 session and are expected to again take up this topic next month.
During a second City Council session on this topic, scheduled for Dec. 5, council members will weigh which optional elements — such as state mandates and resident proposals — to include in a draft update of Sonoma’s current law.
Any potential changes will be considered by city staff and all stakeholders before being brought to City Council for consideration, Guhin said.
An updated proposal with required elements from state law and any elements recommended by council could be adopted in early 2026, he added.
“City staff will work with all the stakeholders through the whole process to ensure everyone has the time and forum to provide input, as well as ensuring this process keeps moving forward in a timely way,” Guhin said.
Local advocates argue that Sonoma’s existing mobile home park policies, which date back to 2004, have not kept pace with rising costs or corporate investment in mobile home properties. Caitlin Cornwall a representative of Sonoma Valley Collaborative, a coalition of organizations supporting affordable housing, stressed the urgency of the issue.
“The hurry, now, is because the wolf is at the door. We’re seeing the different parks fall,” Cornwall said. “And a lot of the legislation, it’s about closures and conversions of parks. Because the rules aren’t tightened up, aren’t protective, what’s happening is park owners are threatening residents with closure as a way to extract rent increases.”
Saulo Londono, a representative of the Western Manufactured Housing Communities Association, a nonprofit working to protect owners, operators and developers of manufactured home communities, challenged the urgent approach residents are bringing to the proposed ordinance changes.
“We want to make sure this process is done the right way, with enough time being given and not in a rush,” Londono said. “That’s our main concern, is that there’s no obvious emergency in this situation. No (mobile home) parks in the city of Sonoma are planning to close anytime soon or have even indicated any desire to close.”
City staff encourage the community to participate and attend upcoming meetings.
The study session staff report can be viewed on Sonoma’s CivicWeb Portal. Both study sessions will be held during regular City Council meetings at 6 p.m. in City Council Chambers, 177 First St. West. Meetings will be available to view live on the city’s CivicWeb Portal, YouTube channel and Comcast Channel 27.