CHICO — In a chippy meeting punctuated by emotions and outcries, the most reserved members of the Chico City Council made the loudest — and potentially most enduring — impact Tuesday night.
The moment came nearly three hours into open session as councilors considered whether the city should proceed with a rent stabilization ordinance to help seniors living in mobile home parks. These residents voiced their fears at previous meetings, starting in the fall after a north Chico property announced a 30% hike — triple its increases the previous two years — that the owner dropped back to 10% under pressure from the mayor and others. They also addressed the Internal Affairs Committee, which elected not to make a recommendation to the full council.
Twelve Chicoans pushed for rent stabilization — among them Larry Wahl, chair of the Planning Commission, who’s served both as a councilor and county supervisor. A representative from a park owners association, Saulo Londono, argued against restrictions. Councilors Tom van Overbeek and Sean Morgan shared the latter view; Addison Winslow championed the former.
Deepika Tandon, the least outspoken councilor, shifted the tenor of the discussion. An owner of rental property, she noted the unique position mobile home residents find themselves as owners of their abodes but not the spaces they inhabit — a distinction that excludes them from rent protections other renters receive. She sought to learn more about the options Chico has to address the issue along with costs and liabilities the city could incur.
Dale Bennett quickly concurred. About as soft-spoken as Tandon, he distilled the same sentiment into a refrain: “We need more information.” The whole panel ultimately concurred and, on a 7-0 vote affirming Tandon’s motion, directed staff to return with, well, more information.
“I do understand there are pros and cons of rent stabilization,” Tandon said afterward. “I just don’t want to make any hasty decision on that.
“California already has rent limitations on other asset classes; having that on mobile home parks would not be a bad thing, because we know the cost of housing is high for people on fixed income. So if we can help them, that would be a wonderful thing.”
Morgan warned about failures of rent control yet supported the motion. Vice Mayor Kasey Reynolds, on Internal Affairs with van Overbeek and Winslow, expressed her affirmative vote by saying, “Sure.” Audience members applauded the decision.
“We’re very good at doing things people don’t think will happen,” Mayor Andrew Coolidge said later. “On rent stabilization, we’re getting more information, and I’m glad to hear it.”
Late business
The final item stretched past 9 p.m. Ironically, the crux of the matter involved judicious use of time.
Coolidge requested consideration of a comment period for councilors. He proposed three minutes apiece, once per month, to share about subjects not otherwise covered on the agenda.
Morgan voted against a discussion when the mayor first floated the idea — and Tuesday, he read a list of reasons against it. Primarily, he anticipated councilor comments devolving into campaigning and self-aggrandizement. Morgan also noted that a previous council instituted, then quickly rescinded, a bloc for reports from members about committees on which they serve; City Clerk Debbie Presson confirmed his history lesson.
Related Articles
Chicoans chippy with council
Mobile home park rents back before Chico council
What’s next for Valley’s Edge?
New neighborhood park fees on Oroville council
Aviation leader lands at Chico Regional Airport
Van Overbeek was even more blunt, calling such comments “a waste of time.”
Coolidge and Winslow asserted that monthly reports would inform colleagues as well as constituents. Presson said council policies already allow for this reporting — Coolidge and Winslow moved to allow reports on councilors’ districts, too. Before they could refine the proposal, Morgan made a substitute motion to stick with the status quo. Reynolds seconded, and it passed 5-2 over Coolidge and Winslow’s dissent.
+ There are no comments
Add yours