CHICO — With the Chico City Council revisiting a hot-button issue, rents at mobile home parks, seniors filled many of the seats for Tuesday’s meeting. Along the back wall stood other residents bringing back another heated topic: Gaza.
The latter came away disgruntled, the former encouraged.
Mayor Andrew Coolidge enforced the council policy limiting public comments to topics within the city’s jurisdiction, which he said does not include “ceasefires and wars in other countries.” He redirected the first speaker, Rain Scher, then called a recess when another advocate for a ceasefire resolution, Chris Nelson, did not heed his admonition.
Elizabeth Martin, right, and daughter Stella Pertis, 13, await the start of the City Council meeting Tuesday, March 19, 2024, in Chico, California. (Evan Tuchinsky/Enterprise-Record)
When the council returned, Coolidge advised the audience that a recurrence would prompt another recess — and a third would clear the chamber. The final speaker, Yahmo Ahqha, criticized “the rules of purview” he contrasted with other cities, adding: “We’re supposed to be telling you how to represent us. … You have very special rules that are very undemocratic.”
When Ahqha started a call and response of “free free Palestine,” Coolidge adjourned the meeting again and declared the speaker “out of order.” When councilors reconvened, the back of the room had emptied.
Mobile home comments got emotional, as well, with hardy residents waiting two hours for their chance to speak. Councilors reached consensus on exploring options once staff returns with more information.
Tuesday’s agenda also featured reviews of the Downtown Chico Business Association’s 12-month progress report; a proposal allowing alcohol at private events in City Plaza; and a policy for allocating Fire Victim Trust funds.
Mobile home parks hit councilors’ consciousness in the fall after Pleasant Valley Mobile Estates in north Chico announced a 30% hike in space rents following 10% increases the previous two years. The owner subsequently reduced the rise to 10%, but residents of that park and others asked the council to consider adopting a rent stabilization ordinance.
The council referred the matter to its Internal Affairs Committee, which heard from affected seniors during the March 4 meeting. Neither committee chair Tom van Overbeek nor Vice Mayor Kasey Reynolds seconded a motion from Councilor Addison Winslow to recommend the council weigh an ordinance, so the item came back to the full council with no suggested course of action.
Janet Olsen, a resident of a park outside city limits, spoke to the cumulative effect of annual increases on seniors with fixed incomes. Julie Threet clashed with the mayor on the scope of her comments, nearly precipitating a third recess; comments continued unabated from the final 11 speakers.
Celeste Macklin held back tears as she described her plight. Al Johnson said the age of his unit precludes moving it to another park in any county — “my mobile home is no longer mobile.” Mary Carlisle told councilors, “You up there have a unique opportunity to protect not hundreds, but thousands of people in the city of Chico.”
Planning Commission Chair Larry Wahl, a former councilor and county supervisor, added his voice in support: “Free market is the American way — predatory pricing is not part of the free market.” Climate Action Commissioner Bryce Goldstein echoed the call for rent stabilization.
Saulo Londono of the Western Manufactured Housing Communities Association said the California Legislature is working on rent stabilization for mobile homes. “This is an emotional issue but also a complicated issue,” he concluded.
Winslow raised the specter of a ballot initiative for an ordinance. Van Overbeek countered that “rent stabilization is a misnomer” and that owners have the right under state law to recover their costs — but Councilor Deepika Tandon distinguished park tenants from housing renters, and asserted, “They should have a little more peace of mind than an apartment (tenant) who can move whenever they want.”
Tandon made a motion for staff to return with options for an ordinance — space control and allowable increases — and hear experiences from cities with rent stabilization — specifically, costs and liabilities the city might incur.
Councilor Dale Bennett agreed, saying he did not have enough information to proceed. Councilor Sean Morgan said he’s “all for getting more information” while skeptical of the effectiveness of rent controls.
After the 7-0 vote in favor, residents applauded.
Downtown matters
The DCBA, under terms of a funding contract with the city, presents periodic updates to the council. DCBA President Greg Scott summarized the first annual report — “time flies when you’re having fun” — by reviewing the focus areas of the group’s recovery plan: reorganization, marketing/communications, events and placemaking.
The city provides $140,800 a year, with the second and third years subject to councilors’ support of the progress. Key data points he relayed were a 14% decrease in parking revenue in 2023 from 2022 and that sales-tax revenue in the third quarter last year was 93% of 2020’s rate.
Winslow asked about a $114,000 deficit, which Scott attributed to an event that underperformed expectations, Chico Live, and disparities in assessments collected from businesses.
The councilor responded he didn’t “feel comfortable recommitting” funds under the current scenario and suggested tabling the report — staff working with the organization — rather than waiting for the 18-month update. Coolidge proposed two months.
Morgan made a substitute motion to accept the report, which passed 5-2 with Winslow and Coolidge dissenting.
The council also concurred on expanding alcohol provision in City Plaza to private functions. Councilors previously approved alcohol at public events; Feb. 5, Internal Affairs recommended the change.
Other business
Regarding fire relief, the Finance Committee last month recommended a policy to delineate uses of disaster-recovery monies that “do not conflict or jeopardize other forms of funding.” City Manager Mark Sorensen elaborated that specific projects will come forward during budget planning.
Councilors approved the policy unanimously.
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Other open-session discussions included three budget adjustments and adding monthly reports from councilors to meetings (the latter continuing past this edition’s deadline). Closed session, a half-hour instead of the usual hour, consisted solely of updates on labor negotiations.
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