A representative of the North Santa Barbara County Mobile Homeowners Team urged the City Council to pursue mobile‑home rent stabilization after more than a year without resolution of prior direction to review the model lease agreement.

Gary Hall, a resident of Rancho Buena Vista Mobile Estates, said more than 100 California jurisdictions have enacted rent stabilization programs for mobile‑home parks and asked Santa Maria to follow suit to protect senior and low‑income residents from excessive rent increases. Hall said a council motion on June 6, 2022, by Council members Sotto, Escobedo and Cordero instructed city staff to examine the model lease agreement and alternatives; he said that 14 months later the work remained incomplete.

Hall thanked Council member Sotto, assistant city manager Hackleman and the assistant city attorney for meeting with resident representatives but said park owners had made no constructive counterproposals and that residents would next meet with an attorney and prepare a written response intended for delivery to council before the Aug. 15 meeting.

Council members acknowledged the comments and a staff‑resident follow‑up meeting on July 21 was referenced during public remarks.