Fortuna City Council adopts temporary moratorium on mobile-home space rent increases

The City Council of the City of Fortuna on Sept. 29 adopted an urgency ordinance temporarily prohibiting rent increases on mobile-home spaces in the city, voting 4-1 to suspend space-rent hikes until April 30, 2026, or until a permanent mobile-home rent stabilization ordinance becomes effective.

The moratorium is intended to preserve housing stability for residents — many described in public comment as seniors on fixed incomes — while staff finish work on a permanent rent stabilization ordinance. City staff told council members the pause would prevent a “rush” of space-rent increases that could undermine future regulation and that staff will return with a draft rent stabilization ordinance before April 30, 2026.

During public comment, multiple Royal Crest Mobile Estates residents and tenant advocates urged immediate action. Cecilia Holland, a Royal Crest resident, said rising space rents have eroded longtime residents’ equity and argued the moratorium would protect basic needs: "Seniors should not be forced to choose between heat, medicine, and keeping their homes." Deborah Thomas, also a Royal Crest resident, told the council existing short-term aid programs reach only a small fraction of households and called the moratorium and a permanent ordinance “systematic, enforceable, and fair.” Several commenters requested the moratorium include a prohibition on passing owners’ expenses through to tenants.

City staff recounted a timeline leading to the special meeting: staff received resident complaints in early July; staff met Royal Crest residents July 17; Save Our Seniors presented public comment July 21 requesting a rent-stabilization ordinance; staff met with Stores Management on Aug. 28; the council held a study session on Sept. 15 and directed staff to return with a temporary moratorium; and the council held a closed session Sept. 24 for "significant exposure to litigation" related to assertions by the owners of Royal Crest Mobile Estates.

A motion to approve the urgency ordinance was made by Council member Conley and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Trent. The ordinance was read by title prior to the roll call. Roll call voting as recorded in the meeting minutes: Council member Connolly — aye; Council member Diaz — aye; Council member Stevens — no; Mayor Pro Tem Trent — yes; Mayor Johnson — yes. The motion passed and the ordinance was adopted.

The ordinance in the council packet sets the moratorium to expire April 30, 2026, or earlier if a permanent mobile-home rent stabilization ordinance is adopted. The motion also included direction to determine whether the urgency ordinance is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

Council discussion was limited before the vote; one council member said they were inclined not to support the moratorium based on process concerns and a preference to attempt negotiations with the park owner before adopting an urgency ordinance. The meeting record shows broad public support for immediate action from Royal Crest residents and tenant advocates, who described financial strain, examples of steep rent increases over recent years, and gaps in short-term aid coverage.

The council adjourned after the vote. Staff will return to the council with the draft rent stabilization ordinance and with the council's determination on CEQA exemption as directed in the adopted urgency ordinance.