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Home My WebLink About1994-07-12 - AGENDA REPORTS - MH CITY VS STATE JURISDICTIONAGENDA REPORT UNFINISHED BUSINESS DATE: July 12, 1994 City Manager Item to be SUBJECT: MOBILEHOMES: CITY VS. STATE (HCD) JURISDICTION DEPARTMENT: Community Development BACKGROUND This item was continued from the May 24, 1994 meeting. At that time, the Council directed staff to do additional research on this issue, and to return with an update on the feasibility of taking over jurisdiction in mobilehome parks from the California Housing and Community Development Department (HCD). All inspections and permitting are conducted by HCD, who collects the permit fees associated with these activities and bears the administrative costs. Regarding the Issue of a City takeover of jurisdiction in mobilehome parks from HCD, staff notes the following: Since the quake, staff has received minimal complaints regarding the performance of HCD. The HCD response was prompt, effective, and comprehensive. HCD attended the very first meeting of the Mobilehome Task Force following the quake, and set up a field office in Cordova Mobilehome Park within a week of the quake. HCD waived all fees Immediately, and transferred staff from the state to this area. In Staff's judgment, HCD has gotten caught up in criticism directed at FEMA and DES, who were unable to promptly deliver on their announcements to the public that they would fund mobilehome repairs and the Installation of earthquake resistant bracing. 2. In preparing this report, Staff consulted with an HCD Administrator, who indicated the following: A. The City could only enforce state regulations in the parks If we took over jurisdiction --we could not impose stricter or additional regulations. B. HCD indicated that they would be pleased to have the City take over jurisdiction of the parks, that numerous cities have done this, and that HCD will work with us to implement this if that Is our decision. In Los Angeles County, the following cities have taken jurisdiction over from the state: Bell Gardens, Burbank, Cudahy, El Monte, Lancaster, Lynwood, Norwalk, Redondo Beach, and Santa Monica. Other nearby jurisdictions that have also taken over jurisdiction from HCD Include Escondido, Hemet, Oceanside, Rancho Mirage, Riverside County, and San Bernardino County. To date, staff has only had communication with Lancaster on this Issue. C. The program generates very little revenue for HCD, primarily $6.00 per unit per year, and this is not enough to cover HCD costs. This is the primary reason HCD does not oppose local takeovers of the function. Assuming approximately 2,400 units in the City, the $6.00 annual fee would generate $14,400 annually. APPROWED D. Currently, HCD does all inspections and Issues permits for construction, alterations, occupancy permits, utilities, earthquake bracing, etc. Should the City take this over, HCD would monitor our work to ensure that we are enforcing state regulations and performing adequately. HCD would have the ability to take the function back from the City if HCD found that we were not performing adequately. In the last couple of years, HCD Indicates that they have taken jurisdiction back twice, though they would not Indicate the jurisdictions Involved. E. HCD Indicates that it would be fairly easy to train building inspectors to take over this function, though they would have to be certified by HCD. F. Since the quake, HCD has issued 1,431 permits and conducted 1,850 inspections in this area for quake related work, waiving all fees except those for earthquake bracing Installations. HCD Indicated that this Is almost equal to 4 years work for this area done without fees. Staff has not verified if HCD fee waivers will be reimbursed by FEMA. 3. Lancaster is the nearest jurisdiction that has taken over the mobilehome function. Their staff person outlined the following points: A. They have the same fee structure and inspection schedule as the state --they collect a $6.00 fee per home per year, and each home gets Inspected once every five years. They have a full-time staff person assigned to the program. B. The program does not pay for Itself. For Instance, costs for the inspection program funded by the $6.00 annual fee exceeds the fees by five times--$30,312.00 In fees collected, while the cost to the City was $157,252.00. Similar cost ratios exist for the other fees collected as well. The additional costs associated with administration also need to be computed, such as postage, court time, vehicle acquisition, vehicle operation and maintenance, etc. C. Service response is quicker in Lancaster than typically offered by HCD. Most Lancaster complaints are responded to within 24 hours, and this seems to encourage people to file proper permits and to keep health and safety code violations from festering and multiplying. 4. Staff has requested literature searches from the League of Cities Library and from the California Innovation Group regarding the issue of local takeovers of HCD functions In mobilehome parks. We have received a response from The Innovation Group which is attached. In addition, staff used the League's electronic mail bulletin board to request information from other jurisdictions. A copy of our request for information and the one response we have received to date are attached. 5. The Installation of earthquake bracing outside of Cordova Park has begun. FEMA and OES are now continuing the program that the City helped to initiate In Cordova Mobllehome Park, and soon the installation of the bracing by master contractors to quallf led homeowners should be In full swing. In addition, FEMA will now give checks to qualified homeowners to allow them to choose the contractor and bracing system of their choice. When the next significant earthquake strikes, the damage should be minimized to the extent that the bracing is Installed. HCD has been cooperative In this effort in Cordova Mobilehome Park, and they have not caused any delays. Typically, delays were caused while waiting for FEMA to Inspect and determine eligibility of homeowners for the program. 6. The earthquake Impacts in the park might have been reduced If the homeowners were better organized and were trained In emergency preparedness. The encouragement of Neighborhood Watch groups, homeowners associations, and the continued Implementation of the SECURE emergency preparedness program In the parks may Improve the ability of park managers and homeowners to organize and respond should there be a future emergency, particularly in those critical hours before there can be a governmental response. Overall, staff believes that It would be best to leave jurisdiction with HCD this time, and to continue to monitor their responses to Issues in our jurisdiction. Asa result of the quake, new relationships have been formed with HCD which will be useful In handling Issues as they arise. Furthermore, staff has serious concerns about taking on the responsibilities and the costs of acquiring jurisdiction from the state In this time of dwindling resources. Some Ideas for Improving service and any responses to a future disaster without taking over jurisdiction of the parks Include: A. Lend City staff to other jurisdictions suffering from future disasters, similar to the help that we received In response to the January quake. This should help ensure that we get the aid we need In the future. B. Monitor the response of HCD to complaints in our jurisdiction and assist homeowners and parkowners in working with HCD as necessary. Providing phone numbers and contact persons could be a minimal start. C. Encourage the formation of Neighborhood Watch groups, homeowner associations, and the SECURE program in the mobilehome parks. D. In any future disaster, make sure a portion of any volunteer building Inspectors are assigned to mobilehomes and HCD. E. Provide the Council with updated information on this Issue as we receive It. F. Review the feasibility of funding an HCD Inspector specifically for this area. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the City not take over jurisdiction from HCD of mobilehome parks at this time. Staff recommends that the Council direct staff to monitor HCD responses to complaints and permits, and that staff encourage the formation of Neighborhood Watch, homeowner associations, and SECURE participation in the mobilehome parks. Staff recommends that the City continue to cooperate with FEMA, OES, and HCD to ensure that the earthquake bracing systems are Installed on every eligible mobilehome to limit damages during any future earthquake. GAC:KJM:Iep cunel mh_hcdl.kjm Attachments CCAN G) IfWOVVION GROUP CALIFORNIA COLORADO ARIZONA June 26, 1994 Kevin Michel Senior Planner City of Santa Clarita 23920 Valencia - Suite 300 Santa Clarita, CA 91355 Dear Kevin: NEVADA RECEIVE® iUN 2 8 1994 COMMUNI FY DEVELOPMENT CITY CF SANTA rLARITA Thank you for your inquiry regarding state jurisdiction over mobile home parks and the way cities can take back the jurisdiction. I was fortunate enough to come in contact with a company in Orange that specializes in mobile home parks and they sent me a list that shows which cities in Orange County have taken over control of the mobile home parks and which are still under California's Housing and Community Development department I have enclosed that list for your perusal. It is a private company called Talley & Associates and their telephone number is 714/935-1999. I contacted the following references which you can call to get their input regarding your inquiry: California Department of Housing & Community Development- You need to contact Chris Anderson regarding taking over responsibilities from the state. He's on vacation for two weeks, but call him in Sacramento at 916/445-9471. Also, you should contact Karen Howell at the same number to get her input regarding your inquiry. Palmdale, CA - Laura Archulata works with mobile homes in Palmdale. She is new to Palmdale from Anaheim, but has a lot of information. Her telephone number is 805/267- 5100. She said city ordinances tend to tighten up local control including rents. 200 Pine Avenue, Suite 502 Long Beach, CA 90802 310.495-5930 Fax 310.495-5935 Burbank, CA - Ronald Koch is works in building & safety and is in charge of the one remaining mobile home park in the city. He mentioned several points about the park - both pro and con - so you can contact him at 818/953-9541. He said that the state required Burbank to overtake the responsiblities of the park several years ago and with the new Title 25 city officials are required to enforce the expanding regulations. Lake Elsinore, CA - Paul Smith in the Housing and Community Development Dept. said that all parks in Elsinore are under local control. His telephone number is 909/674- 3124. He doesn't know the procedure to switch, but he said any city can be under local control if they choose. Hemet, CA - Carol Donohoe of the Housing and Community Development department told me that mobile homes that rent are under State Code Title 25, but if a mobile home is on purchased land or in an independent mobile home subdivision they would fall under city code. Carol's number is 909/765-2300. California City, CA - Ron Brazil can be reached at 619/73-8625. He is a city engineer and said that all but one mobile home park is under city jurisdiction. The one that isn't, he feels, has caused no problems with the city. Redondo Beach, CA - Nagi Jacob in the building department feels strongly that it was a mistake to overtake all responsibilities from the state. He can give you details over the telephone and his number is 310/318-0636. Please make sure you talk to Chris Anderson at the state office so he can guide you best in your inquiry. Should you need any additional information please let me know. Sincerely, JoTm Paul Encl. JUN 2J 04 '1'11U 1b:41 I'ALLY & ASSOU. INC. FAX NO. UJbll4b I'. U1 ORANGE COUNTY MOBILEHOME PARK INSPECTION 1991 Ellen Friedmann ANAHEIM BREA BUENAPARK COSTA MESA CYPRESS DANA POINT EL TORO rUUNI'AI1N VALLEY FULLERTON GARDLN GROVE HIJNTINGTON BEACH IRV INE LAGUNA BEACH LAGUNA HILLS LA HABRA LOS ALAMITOS NEWPORT BEACH ORANGE PLACENTIA SAN CLEMENTE SJ CAPISTRANO SANTA ANA SEAL BEACH STANTON TUSTIN WESTMINSTER YORBA LINDA UN-INCORP. LOCAL BCD HCD LOCAL. BCD HCD -Ha,A-,�. +G 1U-e-6 �. LOCAL LOCAL LOCAL HCD IICD -I-9C� �f cA LOCAL H D LOCAL LOCAL LOCAL LOCAL Hm LOCAL LOCAL IKD LOCAL m /,7i -k, �413 (Message /usr/bboards/citytalk:5597) Date: Thu, 23 Jun 94 11:44:32 PDT To: Citytalk From: etlsclr Subject: Mobilehomes As a result of having over 1800 mobilehomes in our city damaged in the January Northridge earthquak Northridge earthquake, the City of Santa Clarita is investigating the possibility of requesting mobilehome jurisdiction from the state department of Housing and Community Development. We are interested in learning whether other cities have thought about, investigated and/or taken over local mobilehome jurisdicition from the state. We are interested in hearing your stories ---good, bad and ugly! Please contact Kevin Michel (805) 255-4351 or Laura Stotler (805) 255-4357. Thanks for your help. Mike Murphy Santa Clarita RECIE, VIE L JUN 2 7 1994 COMMUNITY OEVELONENT CITY OF SANTA ^[ARITA (Message /usr/bboards/citytalk:5599) Date: Fri, 24 Jun 94 10:39:34 PDT To: etlsclr cci Citytalk <bboards>, etlsant From: etlsant Subject: Re: Mobilehomes In -Reply -To: Your message of "Thu, 23 Jun 94 11:44:32 PDT." <9406231844.AA00653@ipa.sac.ca.us> A former city of mine looked into this issue. The major issue is transference of building inspection/code inspection functions. Your current building inspectors could not assume these functions without first being certified by the state for mobilehome inspections. You will need to commit part of your building division staff for this function-- and be responsible for getting the designated inspectors trained and certified by the state. ICBO (Internt'1 Conference of Building Officials) might give you some insights on that. Also, the mobilehome division of HCD should be able to provide you with a listing of cities that have assumed these functions. There are several mobilehome related HCD publications available. Godd Lucki---------------- Pam White/Santee Press RETURN to continue, or type "end"... Using BBS: Citytalk