OXNARD : Mobile-Home Fee Ordinance Protested

About 150 mobile-home owners on Tuesday protested an ordinance that would allow Oxnard park owners unlimited increases in space rental fees each time trailers are sold.

Some of the crowd at the Oxnard City Council meeting threatened to sue the city if council members approve the ordinance.

“We are discussing bringing suit against the city because we are being deprived of our property rights,” said mobile-home owner Lee Amber. “You are face to face with anger . . . and it will continue to grow until it just bursts.”

The residents said the ordinance would let park owners charge outrageous sums for lot rentals, making the homes less affordable to buyers.

The city now has an ordinance that limits park owners to increasing lot rents by 20% or no more than $50 each time a mobile home is sold.

In 1990, six of Oxnard’s 21 park owners filed lawsuits against the city, saying they had each lost $1 million in profits since 1986 because of the ordinance, City Atty. Gary Gillig said. The remaining 15 park owners filed claims against the city.

Robert S. Coldren, an attorney for the park owners, has said the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in 1987 that rent control ends when houses are sold, making the city liable for damages. Coldren could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Some park owners have agreed to drop the lawsuits and claims if the City Council abolishes the rent caps.

The council gave preliminary approval to the ordinance this month. Council members postponed their final decision because not all the park owners have signed the agreement to drop the claims and lawsuits, Gillig said.

The ordinance will be discussed at a council meeting Thursday at 1:30 p.m.