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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013/05/21 Item 07CITY COUNCIL AGENDA STATEMENT ~`~~ CITY OF CHUTA VISTA May 21, 2013, Item 7 ITEM TITLE: PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER AMENDING CHAPTER 18 (MOBILEHOMES) OF THE CITY'S MASTER FEE SCHEDULE RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA AMENDING CHAPTER 18 (MOBILEHOMES) OF THE CITY'S MASTER FEE SCHEDULE, INCLUDING SETTING THE FEE AT $60 FOR FISCAL-YEAR 2014 SUBMITTED BY: DIRECTOR OF FINANCE/TREASURER ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER/DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DIRECTOR REVIEWED BY: CITY MANAGER ~,b/Jp7 4/STHS VOTE: YES ~ NO SUMMARY Effective August 18, 2011, Section 9.50.030 established an Administrative Fee to be assessed upon all eligible mobilehome residents receiving benefits and services under Chula Vista Municipal Code 9.50 ("Chapter 9.50") - Mobilehome Park Space Rent Review. At this time, staff is bringing forward an amendment to Chapter 18 of the Master Fee Schedule, including setting the annual administrative fee at $60 for Fiscal-Year 2014 ("FY 14"). ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW The Director of Development Services has reviewed the proposed activity for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") and has determined that the activity is not a "Project" as defined under Section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines because the proposed activity consists of a governmental administrative action that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment. Therefore, pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines the activity is not subject to CEQA. Thus, no environmental review is necessary. RECOMMENDATION Council conduct the public hearing and adopt the resolution. BOARDS-COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Not applicable. 7-1 May 21, 2013, Item 7 Page 2 of 5 DISCUSSION On July 19, 2011 City Council approved various amendments to Chapter 9.50 including the establishment of an Administrative Fee in order to ensure a consistent funding source for implementation of the ordinance (which provides unique benefits and services solely to eligible mobilehome residents) and to conform to the general city policy that the public at ]azge should not subsidize activities of private interest. As part of the annual Administrative Fee update process, staff has committed to annually reporting out on prior yeaz revenues and expenditures in an effort to establish the amount necessary to recover the costs of administering Chapter 9.50. This item provides an update on the initial data and collection efforts and establishes the fee for FY 14. Outreach and Educational Efforts In this initial year of collection, staff made extensive outreach efforts to ensure that residents were awaze of the rights and services they had been benefiting from and would be opting out of by non-payment of the fee, including: • Office Visits &Mobilehome Information Line -Staff established a dedicated line for mobilehome questions and responded to over 500 calls and office visits. • Resident Survey & Invoicing -Six (6) mailings were made to residents in the form of postcazds (March and April 2012) and bills (July 2012, August 2012, December 2012 and Mazch 2013). Staff additionally verified all returned mail with park management to confirm vacancies and accuracy of addresses. • Informational Meetings- Nine (9) educational forums were held. • Direct Noticing -City staff posted individual notices to unpaid spaces in October 2012. Both the Chula Vista Mobilehome Park Owners Association (pazk owners) and Chula Vista Mobile Home Residents Association (residents) additionally provided noticing at vazious pazks. • Office Hours - In Mazch 2013 staff posted individual notice and held office hours at three (3) pazks. After several extensions of the fee collection process, staff was able to receive information from 3,108 residents, leaving 304 spaces with unknown eligibility. Initial Yeaz Overhead Exroenses Staff recognized that the initial yeaz set-up would be extensive and require more staff hours than in future yeazs; staff has therefore identified those expenses that are considered overhead expenses and not being chazged to the administrative fee below, totaling over $19,000. • Database Initialization and Maintenance -The IT department and intern staff time was significant the first yeaz for programming, set-up; and data input into the database that is being used for annual fee collection, totaling $11,270. • Administrative Fee Billing- Interns staff time was expended in assisting the billing process this year totaling $1,350. • Translation and Bilingual Services - Staff services associated with translation of documents and bilingual assistance to residents by phone and office visits were expended totaling $6,550. 7-2 May 21, 2013, Item ~ Page 3 of 5 • Off ce Supplies -Due to the extensive amount of outreach many mailing, printing and other associated office supply expenses were captured as deparhnentoverhead in Fiscal-Year 13 ("FY 13") but will be line items in future expenditure reports. FY 13 Revenues and Expenditures Anticipated revenues for FY 13 were $120,000 based on 2,000 residents paying the fee at $60. Actual payments have been received from 2,157 eligible spaces for total revenues of $129,420. A fiscal analysis of revenues and expenditures is provided in Table 1 with a description of the activities following. Staff Charges During FY 13, $93,629.93 in staff charge time for administration of Chapter 9.50 was realized. Charges have been summarized below as annual expenses, which, may be reduced in future years but are anticipated annually, and one-time non-recurring expenses that are charged to the fee due to their direct impact on Chapter 9.50 effectiveness. Annual Expenses - • Ombudsman Activifres & Mobilehome Rent Review Commission ("MHRRC Educational Meetings -Staff provided extensive general ombudsman related activities to residents and held informational meetings with the MHRRC. • Annual Permissive Rent Calculations -Twice annually the Consumer Price Index (CPI) is released and staff provides notification to all park owners and managers of the annual permissive rate as calculated under Section 9.50.050. • Administrative Fee Billing & Collection -Billing for the fee and database updates were extensive during the fiscal year. During the initial billing cycle due to database and software glitches a small amount of billing errors occurred and the staff time and overhead related to reprinting of bills in the amount of $2,012.46 was deducted from total staff charges in Table 1. • Rent Review Administration -From time to time, staff receives inquiries from residents regarding the legality of ]ease terms and rental fees. During this fiscal year, staff 7-3 Table 1 FY 2012/2013 BUDGET SUMMARY May 21, 2013, Item 7 Page 4 of 5 investigated vazious rental increases, including one that resulted in staff intervention to rectify a rental increase dispute at an administrative level. Initial Yeaz/One-Time Expenses - • Administration of Chapter 9.50 Administrative Fee - Extensive outreach and educational activities, as identified above, were provided during the initial set-up yeaz. ^ Policy Updates -Amendments to Chapter 9.50 and the Administrative Fee Regulations were brought forward to City Council in Februazy 2013 to streamline administration. • Request for Qualifications ("RFQ) -Staff prepazed an RFQ and is currently soliciting proposals for on-call rate of return experts and Member of the Appraisal Institute ("MAI") appraisers. Experts During FY 13 the City did not receive any notice of rental increases above the annual permissive rate or associated petitions. Therefore, no rent review hearings or hiring of experts was necessary. These funds will be tamed over to FY 14 as a contingency for hiring of experts if a second rent review case is needed. Collection Staff chazges from the City's Finance Department for fee collection and processing totaled $5,924. Staff anticipates the number of transactions decreasing in FY 14 due to the elimination of the option to pay in two installments. All staff time associated with the collection of fees will be budgeted under "staff chazges" in future fiscal yeazs. Administrative Costs During FY 13, the City's Finance Department changed $396.06 for envelopes used for the billing process and $120.44 for publication of this heazing notice. FY 14 Budget and Administrative Fee While staff does not anticipate the same level of administrative activities in FY 14, staff remains concerned regarding the potential for rent review hearings in the coming fiscal year. As reported previously, the majority of previous rent review cases have occurred when pazk ownership has changed. In the past yeaz, five (5) pazks within Chula Vista have changed ownership, as follows: Bayside Trailer Park, Broadway Trailer Pazk, Cabrillo Mobile Lodge, Chula Vista Mobilehome Park, and Terry's Mobile Park. With this lazge number of pazks changing ownership, staff is anticipating more than one rent review case in the coming year. A fund balance of $29,351 would be available to hire experts and cover staff time to prepare and hold one additional rent review case, if necessary. Staff is recommending the fee remain at $60 for FY 14 and anticipates a similaz level of collection. Table 2 provides a summary of the FY 14 budget. 7-4 May 21, 2013, Item ~ Page 5 of 5 Table 2 FY 2013/2014 BUDGET Revenues: FY 12/13 carry over Revenuesl2,166 @ Expenditures: Staff Charges $102,000 Experts $25,000 Postage $1,000 Office Supplies $500 sting & Binding $1,500 DECISION MAKER CONFLICT $29,351 City staff has determined that Councilmember Ramirez has property within 500 feet of a mobilehome park, but upon review of the scope of the proposed action, there is no conflict because any material financial effect is not reasonably foreseeable within the meaning of FPPC regulation 18706. CURRENT YEAR FISCAL IMPACT The administrative fee established a new Mobilehome Park Space Rent Review Administrative Fee fund for FY 13 to reimburse the City for all staff time and other costs associated with administering Chapter 9.50. Appropriations for this fund are included in the Third Quarter Financial Report, which is scheduled to be brought to Council on May 28`h. It is projected that this fund will have an available fund balance of $29,351 that will be restricted for rent review case related expenses. ONGOING FISCAL IMPACT The proposed FY 14 budget reflects the revenues and expenditures for this program. ATTACHMENTS 1. Master Fee Schedule Prepared by: Stacey Kurz, Senior Project Coordinator, Development Services Department, Housing Division 7-5 ATTACHMENTI ~`~ ~~ MPS I tR FEE 5CH EDULE Chapter 18 - Mobilehomes ~` General Fees ~ ~ CITY OF City of Chula Vista Development Services ~ CHUTA VISTA 276 Fourth Avenue, Chula Vista, CA 91910 MOBILEli0N1E::< PARK'" SPACE ' RENT RE1(lEW ADMINISTRATIVE FEE ', `° An administrative fee is required of all households residing in eligible mobilehome spaces to receive the benefits and services provided in Chapter 9.50 of the Chula Vista Municipal Code, Mobilehome Park Space Rent Review. The administrative fee is assessed annually, with s~;.:,~.;-payments due 9~-and "~`'.~='9~,by July 1st. h ~.ll h.. .... L. L+ !I .. Gl10/ f h Payments received after these-this dates shall be considered delinquent and assessed a delinquent payment penalty if received within 60 davs of such due date, as detailed below. Annual fee, per mobilehome space ................... $60 Sena+an~ua!#ee .......................-~8°5e~arinual-flee Delinquent payment penalty, per occurrence .. $10 City of Chula Vista www.chulavistaca.gov 619.585.5600 7-6 RESOLUTION NO. 2013- RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA AMENDING CHAPTER 18 (MOBILEHOMES) OF THE CITY'S MASTER FEE SCHEDULE, INCLUDING SETTING THE FEE AT $60 FOR FISCAL-YEAR 2014 WHEREAS, California State Mobilehome Residency Law allows local jurisdictions to establish rent control; and WHEREAS, in 1982, the City adopted Chula Vista Municipal Code Chapter 9.50, "Mobilehome Park Space -Rent Review," as allowed by Mobilehome Residency Law, and amended the Chapter to its current form on July 19, 2011; and WHEREAS, the ordinance amendments took effect August 18,.2011 and established an administrative fee to provide a limited segment of the public, specifically mobilehome residents, per 9.50.030, the ability to obtain unique services and benefits available to them only under Chapter 9.50, including, but not limited to, a rent calculation (via the annual permissive and exceeding the annual permissive) which results in reduced rents and related ombudsman services; and WHEREAS, on February 14, 2012 the City adopted "Mobilehome Park Space -Rent Review Administrative Fee Regulations" establishing a process for determining and collecting such fee; and WHEREAS, the proposed fee does not exceed the estimated reasonable cost of providing the associated services; and WHEREAS, Article XIII C of the California Constitution requires a vote of the electorate to increase any levy, charge, or exaction imposed by a local.government, unless specifically exempted; and WHEREAS, pursuant to the provisions of Article XII C, the proposed fees are exempt from the vote requirement; and WHEREAS, the proposed amendment to the Master Fee Schedule Chapter 18 (Mobilehomes) shall become effective upon adoption of this Resolution by the City Council. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Chula Vista does hereby amend Chapter 18 (Mobilehomes) of the City's Master Fee Schedule as reflected on Exhibit 1 to this Resolution and sets the fee as $60 for Fiscal-Year 2014. Presented by: Gary Halbert, P.E. AICP Assistant City Manager/Director of Development Services Approved as to form by: i i~~h / v ~' Glen R. Googins City Attorney 7-7 EXHIBIT 1 ~~~~~ MASTER FEE SCHEDULE Chapter 18 - Mobilehomes ~` General Fees ~ ~ COY ~ City of Chula Vista Development Services CHULA VISTA 276 Fourth Avenue, Chula Vista, CA 91910 „_ 'IVIOBILfHUME ~~AARK ;..SPACE'~`~ RENT .REVIEW ADMINlSTf~ATIUE FEE s. '° ~~~._. M__~n u~M..-.~, ~ ~_.~. _... An administrative fee is required of all households residing in eligible mobilehome spaces to receive the benefits and services provided in Chapter 9.50 of the Chula Vista Municipal Code, Mobilehome Park Space Rent Review. The administrative fee is assessed annually, with payments due by July 1~t. Payments received after this date shall be considered delinquent and assessed a delinquent payment penalty if received within 60 days of such due date, as detailed below. Annual fee, per mobilehome space ................... $60 Delinquent payment penalty, per occurrence .. $10 City of Chula Vista www.chulavistaca.gov 619.585.5600 7-8 _ F~ ._, 7/1999 - 6/2000 PROJECT ACCOUNTING APPROVED STAFF TIME HA002 Several cases carried over 7/2000 - 6/2001 None until 2004 - 2005 2006 - 2007 None until $ 88,709 119,187 45,628 I-4em ~`~ ~cv~ ny Vai,~9 ~h 17,000 Fair rate of return expert 89,345 2009 - 2010 Brentwood zoo Sp.~ 2011 2 change of ownership cases both settled at one hearing. Totaling 96,171 New park owner $ 456,040 over a 12 year period That is an average of only $ 38,003 per year including Change of Ownership cases. 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