Santa Maria Council considers mobile home rent stabilization and senior park conversion prevention

The Santa Maria City Council meeting on April 15, 2025, featured significant public comments regarding mobile home park regulations, particularly focusing on the protection of senior residents.

During the public comment period, Gary Hall, representing the North Santa Barbara County Manufactured Homeowners Team, urged the council to consider adding mobile home rent stabilization and conversion prevention for senior mobile home parks to their agenda. Hall emphasized the need for an interim urgency ordinance to prevent the conversion of senior parks to all-age parks, arguing that seniors in Santa Maria deserve the same protections as those in unincorporated areas of Santa Barbara County. He highlighted the struggles faced by mobile home residents due to unregulated rent increases, which threaten their housing stability.

Hall recalled a previous attempt in 1999 to implement a mandatory mobile home rent control ordinance that ultimately failed. He expressed concern that current voluntary measures lack enforceability and do not adequately address affordability issues. He also praised the recent District 2 Town Hall meeting for its informative nature and expressed hope for ongoing dialogue between the city and firefighters regarding contract negotiations.

Esther Jensen echoed Hall's concerns, requesting that the council revisit the topic of mobile home rent stabilization and address the potential inappropriate conversion of senior parks.

The discussions reflect ongoing challenges faced by mobile home residents in Santa Maria, particularly seniors, as they seek greater protections and stability in their living situations. The council's response to these public comments and any subsequent actions will be closely watched by the community.