Novato City Council deserves credit for passing rent control on mobile homes – Marin Independent Journal

Sometimes it seems hard to find good news about affordable housing in Marin County. But there is some, and it comes from Novato.

On July 9, hidden on the Novato City Council agenda, along with ten other items bundled together and passed unanimously, came final approval of what may be the most progressive and balanced rent control bill in Marin County for an often-overlooked affordable housing option: mobile homes.

What was passed was a 4% cap on annual base rent increases. That’s as low as any other North Bay municipality. All new leases are covered. These provisions protect residents – who own their homes but rent the land – from financial shocks. But that’s only half of what Novato has done.

The rent control changes, which affect three parks with about 500 apartments, also provide cost savings for the property owners. Instead of having to go through a costly city hearing to recoup the money spent on redevelopment, the park owners can seek direct approval from the park’s residents (through their homeowners association).

There will always be friction between tenants and landlords. But under the leadership of Novato Mayor Mark Milberg, City Attorney Gary Bell and City Manager Amy Cunningham, Novato has managed to balance protecting residents with savings for park owners.

You may be wondering how this situation came to be in Novato. And why did the city revise its mobile home rent controls when it is facing so many problems — like the need to raise the local sales tax to end a multimillion-dollar deficit?

First of all, Novato’s government takes affordable housing seriously.

Last fall, the homeowners association of one park approached Milberg about the issue. Los Robles Park is a community for people ages 55 and older, made up of semi- and fully retired teachers, social workers, artists, construction workers and business owners. It is one of the most affordable housing options in the Bay Area.

Before I moved here two years ago, I saw the battles between homeowners and park owners in other North Bay communities. In this park, there was friction between residents and park management. I and others in our homeowners association felt we could reset the relationship and add new protections and cost efficiencies into local laws.

There were plenty of doubters. Nevertheless, we talked to the administration, negotiated and presented a wish list of reforms to the city council in October. Milberg, who represents our group on the council, didn’t really know what to do with us.

Finally, we presented an agreed agenda from factions that usually argue. But Milberg was open-minded, solution-oriented, and guided us through the process. Neither the HOA nor the park owners got everything they wanted. But the outcome was fair. The truth is that we had to present a ready-made compromise. There was no other way to get Novato’s busy, business-oriented city government to act on our behalf.