Park resident Joseph Donahue told that the council that he had the impression that the city “would rather” be sued by the residents.Acting Mayor Rick Cook said that the city is dealing with a poorly written ordinance and “now we’re stuck with it....”“I know the impacts of this agreement might be difficult for some of the residents,” Councilman Gabino Aguirre noted after the council returned from a second closed session.Cook said that in recent months the council has been faced with seniors facing stiff increases in apartment rents, and Councilman Ray Luna said the issue is a “gut-wrencher...one of those decisions I have to make is how to protect the city of Santa Paula,” as well as balancing the needs park residents.The issue is “one of the toughest things I ever dealt with,” noted Councilman John Procter. “I hate to squander money, and would rather see a way to put money into relief for people” than damage costs.Aguirre said his concerns also centered on the structure of the ordinance.Cook noted that the ordinance, passed in 1992, “would have to go to a vote now to change it...it’s a horrible thing but all we’re going to try to do is minimize the pain. If you sue us and win, great, but we went down trying to protect everyone, the whole city.”“The owners are playing hardball with this,” said Procter, before the council voted 4-0 to accept the settlement.
Council approves SP West settlement, space rents to increase at park
June 03, 2005
Santa Paula City Council
Santa Paula West residents will see their rental rates increase after the City Council approved a settlement with the mobilehome park’s owner at a special meeting held Tuesday.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesSanta Paula West residents will see their rental rates increase after the City Council approved a settlement with the mobilehome park’s owner at a special meeting held Tuesday. The council agreed to a $148 increase over a three-year period for the 188 coaches covered under a rent control ordinance; seven other park mobilehomes are exempt from the ordinance.Before the council went into closed session to address settling two lawsuits filed in state and federal courts by the park’s owner, SP West LLC, about 100 residents jammed into City Hall and its outlying areas. Without the settlements, the city could have faced more than $350,000 in damages. The settlement is just the latest chapter of the longtime struggle between coach owners and Santa Paula West LLC, since 1998 the owner of the park located off Beckwith Road.Mayor Mary Ann Krause, who lives within 500 feet of the park, recused herself from the council discussion and action.The dispute started when the owner tried to raise space rent by about $270 a month - almost 60 percent - late in 2002. Although the next year the Mobile Home Rent Review Commission turned down the request with a split vote and granted a $2.39 monthly increase, the issue simmered until the owner filed a lawsuit against the city.The population of SP West is primarily senior citizens on fixed incomes and low-income Hispanic families, according to an analysis provided by park residents to the Rent Review Commission two years ago.SP West LLC had filed a lawsuit against the city alleging that it was denied even Consumer Price Index increases, and is waiving back rent or damage claims, according to the settlement.Attorney Barbara Macri-Ortiz, representing the tenants, said the proposed settlement was illegal and the rent hikes would seriously impact park residents. “Seniors are not going to be able to pay for medicine and they’re not going to be able to pay for food if all they can do is pay for their rent,” Macri-Ortiz told the council.City Attorney Karl Berger told the council that the Rent Review Commission is not a “legal entity,” and all responsibility for its decisions rests with the city. Berger also offered a history of the issue and that the city consultant hired in 2003 had calculated a $111 rent increase.
