CC Minutes - 06/25/07 City Council Meeting

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were disabled, and low-income tenants, were protected. He stated that there were 34 parks representing over 3,000 spaces in Eugene. He stated that the Housing Policy Board (HPB) subcommittee had spent a lot of time reviewing the current ordinance and developing a recommendation for changes to it. Mayor Piercy opened the public hearing. Tom Mitchell , 3355 North Delta Highway, #45, submitted his testimony in writing. He related that he had lived in a manufactured home park for nine years. He said residents feel threatened by the proposed hospital development. He surmised that if a commercial development was approved for construction across the street from the manufactured home park, the out-of-town landlord could decide to sell the land on which the park was located. He supported the proposed City of Eugene ordinance. He believed it would provide protec- tions to them in the event the park their home was located in was closed or converted. He thought provisions for relocation costs in the ordinance were fair. He noted that if owners had the money to pay actual moving costs they would be reimbursed by the park owner within 10 days of receiving the receipt for the amount of costs incurred or they could choose to receive a lesser amount up front. He said most important was the provision that directed that if a home could not be moved the park owner would pay the homeowner the real market value of the home. He noted that a survey of vacant spaces in mobile and manufactured home parks had identified only 80 spaces in the City of Eugene. He predicted that if the park he resided in closed, the 192 double and triple wide homes would have no place to be relocated. He felt that a park closure could mean they would lose their home entirely. He urged the council to pass the ordinance and protect the vulnerable citizens that reside in the manufactured home parks. Barbara Mitchell , 3355 North Delta Highway, #45, submitted her testimony in writing. She echoed Mr. Mitchell’s testimony. She offered five points suggested to be added to make the ordinance stronger: ? Operate with State law so that provisions could not be construed as to conflict with it; ? Owner relief with writ of review – adding something such as the Wilsonville language could make the ordinance appear more comprehensive and balanced; ? Private right of action should be provided to residents and park owners for legal remedies; ? Severability – if any portion of the ordinance should be held invalid it should not affect the validity of the remaining portions; ? An emergency clause which would make the ordinance effective on the date of passage. Ms. Mitchell noted that the City of Eugene would have 180 days to add to its ordinance after the end of the legislative session. She urged the council to make the City of Eugene ordinance as “bullet proof as possible.” Troy Brost , owner of a local manufactured home park, 4055 Royal Avenue, noted that he had served as the “Lone Ranger no vote” on the HPB subcommittee on manufactured home parks. He provided copies of his testimony in writing. He called the ordinance “ill policy” for the manufactured housing industry. He had promoted a four-legged stool concept regarding park closure, with the four legs representing the homeowner, the land owner, state government, and local government. He believed that affordable housing was a societal issue that should not be subsidized by any one industry or entity. He thought it was a responsibility of each of the stakeholders. Mr. Brost pointed out that homeowners signed an agreement upon moving into a manufactured home park indicating they understood the rental agreement could be terminated. He also pointed out that the new Marriott Residence Inn was on the site of a former trailer park and the property tax revenue from the site had increased by 250 percent. He suggested that the solution lay in exacting $5,000, $7,000, or $9,000 from the landlord based on the size of the home, giving a $10,000 tax credit to the homeowner from the state, and granting the land owner a five-year exemption from the property tax MINUTES—Eugene City Council June 25, 2007 Page 7 Regular Meeting