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Home My WebLink AboutRESOLUTION 2026-033 N.C.S. 04-06-2026 Resolution No. 2026-033 N.C.S. Page 1 of 2 Resolution No. 2026-033 N.C.S. of the City of Petaluma, California RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PETALUMA AUTHORIZING A LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR AB 2596 (GIPSON), MOBILEHOME PARKS: FEDERALLY APPROVED HOUSING PROGRAMS: COMPLIANCE WITH STATE AND LOCAL LAWS, AND A LETTER OF OPPOSITION TO THE HCD BUDGET TRAILER BILL PROPOSAL RELATING TO DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FEES (RN 26 08976) WHEREAS, mobilehome parks provide an important source of housing for many Californians, including seniors and households with fixed or limited incomes; and WHEREAS, AB 2596 (Gipson) would add Section 798.14.5 to the Civil Code to specify that if a mobilehome park operator or owner fails to comply with federal law or other federal requirements imposed in connection with a federally approved housing program, the operator or owner shall ensure ongoing compliance with applicable state laws, including specified provisions of the Unruh Civil Rights Act, and local ordinances; and WHEREAS, the City of Petaluma supports legislation that preserves resident protections, fair housing requirements, and the continuing applicability of local ordinances; and WHEREAS, RN 26 08976, budget trailer bill language published by the Department of Finance relating to Department of Housing and Community Development fees, would authorize annual adjustments to various statutory and regulatory fees beginning July 1, 2026, based on the California Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, require adjusted fees to be rounded up to the nearest whole dollar, and provide an alternate process for certain regulatory fee adjustments; and WHEREAS, the City of Petaluma is concerned that automatic, recurring fee increases affecting mobilehome and manufactured housing matters may increase housing-related costs and undermine affordability for mobilehome residents. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Petaluma as follows: 1. Finds that the Recitals set forth above are true and correct and are incorporated herein by reference. 2. Finds that the proposed action is exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(4), in that approving this action does not meet CEQA's definition of a "project," because the action does not have the potential for resulting either a direct physical change in the environment or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. 3. Authorizes the City Manager to submit a Letter of Support (Exhibit A) in support of AB 2596 (Gipson) and a Letter of Opposition (Exhibit B) opposing the HCD budget trailer bill proposal relating to Department of Housing and Community Development fees (RN 26 08976), with such non-substantive revisions as the City Manager or City Attorney may determine necessary. // Docusign Envelope ID: 230C651E-C521-44F5-AFF4-D8364A9945DA Resolution No. 2026-033 N.C.S. Page 2 of 2 Under the power and authority conferred upon this Council by the Charter of said City. REFERENCE: I hereby certify the foregoing Resolution was introduced and adopted by the Council of the City of Petaluma at a Regular meeting on the 6th day of April 2026, by the following vote: Approved as to form: __________________________ City Attorney AYES: McDonnell, Barnacle, Cader Thompson, DeCarli, Nau, Quint, Shribbs NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None ATTEST: ______________________________________________ City Clerk ______________________________________________ Mayor Attachments: Exhibit A – Letter of Support for AB 2596 Exhibit B – Letter of Opposition to HCD Budget Trailer Docusign Envelope ID: 230C651E-C521-44F5-AFF4-D8364A9945DA April 6, 2026 The Honorable Mike Gipson California State Assembly State Capitol Sacramento, CA 95814 RE: AB 2596 (Gipson), Mobilehome Parks: Federally Approved Housing Programs: Compliance with State and Local Laws. Notice of SUPPORT (As Introduced 2/20/2026) Dear Assembly Member Gipson, The City of Petaluma is pleased to support AB 2596 (Gipson), which would clarify that a mobilehome park operator or owner that fails to comply with federal law or other federal requirements imposed in connection with a federally approved housing program must nevertheless remain in ongoing compliance with applicable state laws and local ordinances. This clarification is important. Mobilehome parks provide a critical source of housing for many residents, including seniors and households on fixed or limited incomes. Residents and local agencies alike benefit when state law makes clear that federal program issues do not create uncertainty about the continued enforceability of the Mobilehome Residency Law, the Unruh Civil Rights Act, and local ordinances designed to protect health, safety, and fair treatment. For jurisdictions like Petaluma, local ordinances are an important part of preserving senior mobilehome housing stock and protecting residents who rely on it. Petaluma’s Senior Mobilehome Park Overlay District was adopted to preserve a variety and balance of housing types within the city and to help ensure that senior mobilehome parks remain available to seniors. AB 2596 could help confirm that these kinds of local protections remain enforceable notwithstanding noncompliance with federal program requirements. For these reasons, the City of Petaluma respectfully supports AB 2596 (Gipson) and other similar regulations designed to protect senior Mobilehome parks and urges your support. Sincerely, Kevin McDonnell Mayor of the City of Petaluma On behalf of the Petaluma City Council CC: State Assembly Docusign Envelope ID: 230C651E-C521-44F5-AFF4-D8364A9945DA Docusign Envelope ID: 230C651E-C521-44F5-AFF4-D8364A9945DA April 6, 2026 The Honorable Members Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 5 on State Administration and Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 4 on State Administration and General Government California State Legislature State Capitol Sacramento, CA 95814 RE: HCD Budget Trailer Bill Proposal Relating to Department of Housing and Community Development Fees (RN 26 08976). Notice of OPPOSITION Dear Members, The City of Petaluma respectfully opposes the Department of Housing and Community Development budget trailer bill proposal relating to department fees, RN 26 08976. As drafted, the proposal would authorize HCD beginning July 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, to adjust various statutory and regulatory fees using the California Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers and to round adjusted fees up to the nearest whole dollar. The proposal spans numerous provisions affecting manufactured homes, mobilehomes, mobilehome parks, special occupancy parks, and factory-built housing. The City is concerned that this structure would create automatic and recurring cost increases in an area of housing that remains one of the more attainable options for seniors, working families, and other lower-income households. Even seemingly modest increases can compound over time, and costs associated with permits, registrations, transfers, and park operations may ultimately be borne by residents directly or indirectly. In a housing environment already shaped by rising rents, insurance, utility costs, and other household expenses, the State should exercise caution before establishing a broad mechanism for ongoing fee increases tied to inflation and rounded upward each year. The City is also concerned that the proposal would allow certain regulatory fee adjustments through a streamlined filing process rather than the ordinary regulatory process. Automatic adjustments with reduced procedural review risk limiting transparency and public participation in decisions that may materially affect housing affordability. Petaluma supports transparent and carefully justified fee-setting when necessary to fund public programs. However, this proposal is too broad, too automatic, and insufficiently sensitive to the Docusign Envelope ID: 230C651E-C521-44F5-AFF4-D8364A9945DA affordability pressures facing mobilehome residents and other households that rely on this form of housing. For these reasons, the City of Petaluma respectfully opposes RN 26 08976 and urges the Legislature to reject the proposal in its current form. Sincerely, Kevin McDonnell Mayor of the City of Petaluma On behalf of the Petaluma City Council CC: State Assembly Docusign Envelope ID: 230C651E-C521-44F5-AFF4-D8364A9945DA