Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-07-26 STAFF REPORTS 1C L.qw OFFICES GILCH-PJST &- F2UTTER PROITLS93ONA-L CORPORATION WILSHIRE FA ISAQEZ DUILOING TELEFHONC(010)3031000 1298 OGEAN AVENUL,SMITE BOO FACSIMILE 1310)39� 00 SANTA MONICA.CALIFORNIA 90401-1 000 E-MAIL.iel0000�11ct�Lilvi[u�.ea rn July 21, 2006 VIA FEDERALExrRrss Mayor Ronald Oden Ginny Foat,Mayor Pro Tom Councilmember Mike McCulloch Councilmember Chris Mills Councilmember Steve Poupet City of Palm Springs City Council 3200 East Tahquitz Canyon Way Palm Springs, California 92262 Re: Interim Urgency Ordinance No. 1691 Prohibiting Mobile Home Park Conversions City Council Hearing, July 26, 2006 Dear Mayor Oden, Mayor Pro Tom Foat, and Councilmembers McCulloch, Mills, and Pougnet: This office represents Palm Springs View Estates Mobile Home Park ("Palm Springs View") in its pending conversion to resident ownership in the City Of Palm Springs ("the City"). It has come to our attention that on Wednesday,July 26, 2006, the Palm Springs City Council will vote whether to extend Interim Urgency Ordinance No. 1691 ("No. 1691 i1). As you are undoubtedly aware,No. 1691, which the City Council passed on June 21, 2006,imposes a 45- day moratorium on mobile home park conversions within the City of Pahn Springs. No. 1691 is not supported by the requisite legislative findings pursuant to Government Code scezion 65858 and is an improper use of the City Council's authority to pass interim urgency measures. An extension of NO. 1691 also is not supported by adequate findings and would compound the City Council's errors and serve only to worsen the abuse of power. We therefore urge you not to extend No. 1691. We also note that a local agency cannot enact a moratorium on the processing of subdivision applications. See Building lndusrey Legal Defense Found. v. Superior Court, 72 Cal- App. 4' 1410, 1420 (1999). Accordingly, an extension of No. 1691 will have no affect on the processing of Palm Springs View's pending tentative tract map application to convert the Park from a rental Facility to a resident-owned mobile home park. D 71ZG 196010 zr EX, i. e . LRH OFFICES GXLCBIUST&Rr7'RIER nxo(m.:.'SCON.u.co[+Poytn�yoN Mayor Ronald Odea Ginny Foat,Mayor Pro Tem Councilmember Mike McCulloch Councilmember Chris Mills Councilmember Steve Pougnet July 21, 2006 Page 2 Finally,we caution you that a delay in approval of Palm Springs View's conversion application will correspondingly delay Palm Springs View's ability to sell units,thereby causing Palm Springs View to suffer damages. Palm Springs View will hold the City liable for these damages and will pursue all available remedies in litigation against the City. I. No. 1691 Is Not Supported By Factual Findings Constituting An Ureencv It is well-established that unless the ordinance "recites facts that constitute the urgency and those facts may reasonably be held to constitute an urgency,"an interim urgency ordinance will be held invalid. 216 Sutter Bay Assoc. v. County of Sutter, 58 Cal.App. 0 860, 868 (1997). The City Council may not use its power to pass interim urgency measures to further public policy goals where there is no finding of"a current and immediate threat." Gov't Code § 65858(c). No, 1691 clearly does not contain the requisite findings of"a current and immediate threat." Rather, No. 1691 merely makes conclusions without providing any factual support: "The conversion of mobile home parks to other uses or the subdivision of mobile home parks and the concomitant change of a `for rent or lease' space to a 'for sale' lot within the City presents an immediate threat to the public health, safety, and welfare in that the City currently has limited supply of mobile home units,which are one of the most affordable forms of housing in the City. Converting this type of housing to alternate uses or to subdivided `for sale' lots will eliminate a significant source of affordable housing in the City and may result in the creation of lots that will be sold to seasonal residents rather than full time residents who are employed year round in the community and would eliminate a form of housing for which there is a high demand by City households earning lower incomes. . . The City intends to study the economic and market impacts of converting mobile home parks to other uses and the subdivision of existing mobile home parks, converting individual spaces into individual lots of record for sale and to propose amendments to the City's municipal code to address these impacts. The City must prohibit the conversion of its scarce supply of mobile home parks to other uses or subdivision lots while staff completes its land use studies and its economic analysis on the impacts of such conversions. The issuance or approval or any general plan amendment, specific plan, zone change,building permit, conditional use permit,variance,precise plan of design, subdivision map, or parcel map, or other land use entitlement for the WW OFPcGe GmcC TRIsT&RUTTFR PROF'Ij.:ZUNK CORPOR =QN Mayor Ronald Oden Ginny Foat,Mayor Pro Tem Councilmember Mike McCulloch Councihnember Chris Mills Councilmember Steve Pougiet July 21, 2006 Page 3 conversion of a mobile home park would result in a threat to public health, safety and welfare in that there are insufficient standards or regulations in the City's municipal code that are unique to the City and comprehensively address mobile home park conversions. The City does not currently have a mechanism to ensure that the conversion of mobile home parks complies with all federal, state, and local laws or with the goals and policies of the City's General Plan, especially the goals and policies pertaining to the provision of affordable housing." Nowhere in these findings is there any support for the purported "immediate threat"to public health, safety and welfare. The findings state that the City has a"limited supply of mobile home units,"but do not say what that supply is or whether it is likely to be depleted any time in the near future. The findings also do not consider the availability of other affordable forms of housing in the City, only that mobile home units are among those affordable housing forms. Nor do the findings address the fact that mobile home park residents may continue to rent their units even after conversion to resident-ownership, thus calling into question whether any threat exists at all, let alone the immediacy of any alleged threat. To the contrary,the couclusory statements contained in No. 1691 have been made in total disregard for the elaborate state legislative scheme that is designed to both encourage conversions and protect affordable housing. The Subdivision Map Act, and in particular Government Code section 66427.5,provide a comprehensive structure for mobile home conversions while also providing mitigation measures. The findings in No. 1691 state that there are "insufficient standards or regulations in the City's municipal code that are unique to the City and comprehensively address mobile home park conversions." But it is settled law that section 66427.5 establishes a uniform statewide approach for converting mobile home parks to resident- owned facilities. See El Dorado Palm Springs, Ltd. v. City ofPahn Springs, 96 Cal.App. 4th 1153, 1168-69 (2002). In short, the City has no authority, let alone legal,rounds, upon which it may "comprehensively address mobile home park conversions,"which result in a change of ownership method. Thus,the legislative findings set forth in No. 1691 fall far short of showing a"current and immediate threat to the public health, safety, or welfare." Gov't Code § 65858(c). The City Council failed to make the requisite findings when it first passed No. 1691. An extension of No. 1691 will only worsen the City Council's improper me of its authority_ uW OFFICeS GILCHRIST &RII'S'TER Mayor Ronald Oden Giany Foat,Mayor Pro Tem Councilm ember Mike McCulloch Councilmember Chris Mills Councilmember Steve Pougnet July 21, 2006 Page 4 M No. 1691 Does Not Affect The Processing Of Palm Springs View's Conversion Application Based upon antidotal information in the public domain, the moratorium does not affect the Palm Springs View application to convert Palm Springs View to a resident owned park. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the City imposed No. 1691 with the aim of halting Palm Springs View's conversion process,then the City is mistaken as to the law. A moratorium on processing applications is prohibited. See Building Indusihy Legal Defense Found v. Superior Court, 72 Cal. App, 4`h 1410, 1420 (1999). "[S]ection 65858 is clear. It authorizes a city to prohibit any uses which may be in conflict with a general plan being studied so long as the city makes a finding the approval of additional subdivisions and other entitlements of use would result in a current and immediate threat to the public health, safety, or welfare. Nothing in that section permits a city to prohibit the formal processing of development applications,such as a tentative subdivision map." Id. (emphasis supplied.) The Subdivision Map Act establishes the procedure for processing development applications: "Given that the Map Act has established a comprehensive procedure for processing development applications, and nothing in it allows a city to prolubit the processing of a tentative subdivision map that is complete, a city cannot use an interim ordinance as a backdoor method to modify the rules" Id. at 1417 (emphasis supplied) (citations omitted). Palm Springs View filed its conversion application prior to the 45-day conversion moratorium imposed by No. 1691. Accordingly, City must continue to process Palm Springs View's conversion application. III. Palm Springs View Will Seek Damages Against The Citv For A Delay In The Approval Of Its Conversion Application The Court of Appeal's holding in El Dorado and decisions by other courts have made very clear that local governments are pre-empted from attempting to legislate in the area of mobile home parlc conversions. Because the holding of El Dorado makes very clear that the City LaW OFFICHe G-ILCHRIST&FLUTTER eeot7:u.^,lon.tz cD[ti'oitlTioly Mayor Ronald Oden Gunny Foat,Mayor Pro Tem Councihmember Mike McCulloch Couucihnember Chris Mills Councilmember Steve Pougnet July 21, 2006 Page 5 does not have the authority to enact the sort of ordinance envisioned in No. 1691. The City is imposing the moratorium for the purposes of delay of the conversion of Palm Springs View. Palm Springs View hopes that the City Council will refrain from extending No. 1691 or specifically exempt Palm Spring View in the resolution extending No. 1691. But if the City Council chooses to extend that ordinance and not specifically exempt Pahn Springs View, thereby delaying the conversion of Palm Springs View,Palm Springs View will seek all available remedies,monetary and otherwise, in litigation against the City. Very truly yours, C, SIRLST &RUTTER P �Gorporation r /f jj i j Vr Richard H. Close Of the Firm cc: Douglas C. Holland, Esq. (Via FedEx) James Thompson, City Clerk(Via FedEx) JEL:=p/133234_I.DOCl072006 W 51.002 0'f-26-O6 04:54pm From- T-253 P.00Z/1102 F-T04 Staff Reports The Desert Sun June 24, 2006 Mobile home park submits application to convert lots The owners of the Palm Springs View Estates mobile home park have submitted an application to convert some lots into resident owned parcels. The application was submitted June 5 to Start the process of converting the 178 lots. Property attorneys have said residents at the 55-and-older mobile home park at 6300 Bolero Road will not be forced to buy their lots_ The city is studying the application before sending it to the Planning Commission and City Council for review. On Wednesday,the Palm Springs City Council voted 4-0 to approve an interim urgency ordinance that places a temporary moratorium on any mobile home park conversions. However, because the Palm Springs View Estates application was filed before the council's vote,it is exempt from the moratorium, Planning Director Craig Ewing said Thursday. The ordinance is not meant to block mobile home park conversions but to make sure applications are fled appropriately and that improvements are made to the parks when they are converted,City Attomey Doug Holland said Thursday_ d 7/.7li�i�Pb� Slob and Helga Slagle 155 Vista de la Montana, Palm Springs, CA (760) 898-121 1 Email: bobslagle@earthlink.net July 26, 2006 City of Palm Springs Mayor, City Council and Members of Staff P,O. Box 2743 (3200 E, Tahquitz Canyon Way) Palm Springs, CA 92263-2743 Subject: Presentation to Palm Springs City Council at Meeting of July 26, 2006, Agenda Item 1.C. Interim Urgency Ordinance Extending Ordinance No. 1691 Introduction: Bob Slagle, resident of Palm Springs View Estates Mobile Home Park(PSVE MHP) and would like to address the council on Agenda Item 1C. 1. The Main Issue Is Rent Control. We are aware of mobile home park owners' long history of legal efforts to eliminate rent control. They often cite impingement on their property rights, and are brought about by lawsuits stating violations of the 5th Amendment to the Constitution defined as a "taking" of their property rights. Rejections by the courts do not stop the park owners; they are steadfast in their efforts as they continue the fight. Many other actions have and are being undertaken with the same purpose. For those people that are staunch advocates of property rights, free markets and free enterprise, it should be pointed out that mobile home residents do not have the freedom to simply pick up and move like renters of residential properties when confronted with increased rents or other negative impacts. They would have to physically move their homes along with their belongings. Thus, rent control has a special purpose in this case, and park owners are fully aware of it when they create or purchase a mobile home park. In seeking other more creative methods of dealing with rent control, park owners and investors have been successful in converting parks to condominium ownership, which, of course, eliminates rent control. In response to court recommendations in a previous conversion case here in Palm Springs, ordinances were adopted by the city council to prevent "sham" conversions designed to avoid rent control laws. The slate also responded with modifications to the applicable state codes for the same reason. One provision in the city ordinances requires 51 percent of the residents to be in favor of the conversion. Based on two surveys of the PSVE MHP residents, this clearly is not the case. This should make it loud and clear that the proposed conversion is not in the best interest of the residents in contrast to statements made by conversion proponents. Apparently, the PSVE MHP park owners/investors have completely ignored these city provisions in their conversion application, which, by the laws on the books, renders their application incomplete, even though we understand it continues to be processed. Also, we have been told of a current case in the Los Angeles/Long Beach area that has impact on the Palm Springs ordinances involving the conversion of our park. These issues identify at least two good reasons for delaying conversions and giving the city a period of time to evaluate the current legal climate. Our sincere wish is the city finds sufficient resolve to uphold the ordinances now on the books. 2. Why Change A Good Investment? In comparing alternatives for investment, such as office buildings, shopping centers and apartments, senior citizen mobile home parks on rent control offer very low-risk, solid-gold opportunities. They have literally no vacancy factors, the renters are locked in, since it is not economically feasible to move their residences, the renters maintain their own units, rental income is automatically increased yearly by law to keep up with inflation, and hardship rent increases are available to offset unforeseen expenses. So, why are the park owners/investors trying to give up a solid-gold investment? Well, there is that sometimes incredible benefit of price appreciation when demand exceeds supply, clearly evidenced by the recent real estate boom, and what is better than having your tenants pay your expenses, plus a secure profit, during the property holding period; and then the same tenants are allowed to purchase at new market prices. "Truly a captured market." And there's still more: For low-income residents, government subsidies are available to either purchase their lots, or rent at low rates, which means taxpayers are helping the investors maximize their profits. Is this too good to be true? Probably not. However, the quest for excessive profits sometimes promotes disaster. If, for instance, a good number of residents feel the lots are too pricey, or they simply cannot afford to purchase, the motivation to maintain their homes in good condition diminishes as does the motivation for the park owner to properly maintain the park. A domino effect can occur. A deteriorating park will turn away potential buyers and cause values to decrease. Driving through a recently converted park in Palm Springs where there is a number of abandoned lots scattered about with old concrete driveways bordering sandy pits where the mobile homes once stood gives the impression this could happen. 2 3. Affordable Housing The conversion of mobile home parks to condominium ownership tends to reduce the supply of low-to-moderate-income housing in the community. There are 12 mobile home parks in the City of Palm Springs listed under the jurisdiction of the California Housing and Community Development Agency, with a total of 2,539 home sites, accommodating 4,000 to 5,000 residents. With affordable housing almost impossible to replace today, the entire community looses a valuable asset each time a mobile home park is converted. 4. The Agony The threat of a senior citizen park conversion tends to disrupt the residents and cause a great deal of anxiety and even some remorse. Many feel that their retirement plans and their very lifestyle are up for grabs. "Who do we believe? What are our options? What will we do with so many unknowns?" It is particularly scary for residents with incomes just over the low-income subsidy level, which is our case could be about 70 percent of the residents according to the park owners/investors' official survey- s. Summary With the refusal of the PSVE MHP owner/investors to comply with our city ordinances in the submission of their conversion application, and with the possible impact of a recent court decision on this subject, it is obvious the city needs time to study the entire issue. Without an extension of the emergency ordinance, we can expect a legal nightmare. Thank you for your consideration. Bob Slagle Cc' Mayor, City Council and Staff Members 3 PALM SPRINGS VIEW ESTATES HOMEOWNERS' ASSOCIATION 122 Via de Azulejos Palm Springs, CA 92264 Phone: (760) 202-2389 Email: chackler@dc.rr.com July 26, 2006 City of Palm Springs Mayor, City Council and Members of Staff P.O. Box 2743 (3200 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way) Palm Springs, CA 92263-2743 Subject: Presentation to Palm Springs City Council at Meeting of July 26, 2006, regarding moratorium on mobile home park conversions Introduction: I am Cal Hackler, President of the Palm Springs View Estates Homeowners' Association, and would like to speak on behalf of the residents of our park on "Agenda Item 1C, INTERIM URGENCY ORDINANCE." Our park was developed in the1970's and is located along the Palm Canyon Wash in Palm Springs near the Cathedral City border. It consists of 184 mobile homes, which are now often referred to as manufactured homes. Nearly all are double-wide units of approximately 1500 square feet that provide comfortable and safe housing for approximately 300 senior citizens. In November 2005, the owners of our park, apparently composed of a newly formed investment group, filed an application to the city for conversion to a resident-owned park pursuant to California Government Code Sections 66427.5 and 66428.1- Although our park is included in the subject moratorium, the park owners' conversion application continues to be processed through the city departments and associated agencies. We have many concerns with the details involved in the conversion process, from the condition of the park's basic infrastructure, to flood control issues, to aircraft noise, but here we wish to register our desire that the conversion process be stopped for lack of conformance to the city's ordinances. Apparently, the owners' submittal was designed to comply with the new state requirements for conversions, but not to comply with important provisions in our city rent control ordinance. These provisions were adopted by the City of Palm Springs, as were the new state codes, as the result of a court decision in the El Dorado Mobile Home Park conversion to protect park residents from future "sham" conversions designed to avoid rent control. a The new city requirements have more protection than those of the state and an important provision requires a majority vote of the residents in order to convert the park to "resident ownership." The Tenant Impact Report survey required by the government codes to be submitted with the owner's application was conducted by the owners' representative and clearly shows that an overwhelming majority of the residents do not favor conversion to a Resident-Owned Park. This report was included in the owners' official submittal package to the city and shows that out of 116 respondents (63% of 184 total surveys mailed): 8% were in favor, 66% were not in favor, and 26% declined to respond at this time. A second survey conducted by the residents further confirms that even a larger percentage of residents object to the proposed conversion. By not complying with city codes of law, officially identified as "Rent Control Ordinance Chapter 4.08.136, Rent adjustments following conversion of rental mobile home park to resident ownership." the park owners have not submitted a complete application and it should not be processed until it is complete. The review process should be stopped either by the terms of the moratorium, or by administrative action. These laws were adopted in good faith by the city council on July 23, 2003 to protect Palm Springs mobile home residents, many of whom are lower income seniors on fixed incomes, and we believe they should be enforced immediately. In other words, stop the conversion process until the application conforms to existing city codes. Thank you for your consideration. PALM SPRINGS VIEW ESTATES HOMEOWNERS' ASSOCIATION Cal Hackler President Cc: Mayor, City Council and Staff Members �i ON"au MO OJ oi SIVI t] Divn 00 ' l N31l . , PROOF OF PUB LICA'fION ,,,- ,i 'This in space foi County Clerks piling Stamp (2015.5.C.C.P) 22H .I(,AL 20 Al ! 3: CID No, 2347 NOTICE of PUBLIC NEARING NOTICE OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING INTERIM URGENCY ORDINANCE - J L.J it J:_r r I- MOBILE HOME PARR CONVERSIONS CI T f Adapting mtonm Uryt•ncy TpaNbamr) ii home park conversions wltlnn the Crry of ' I aprinys and Notice of Exemption from the California Envlronmontal quality Act APPllcint: City of Palm Sprinys STATE Or CALIFORNIA NOTICE 15 HEREBY GIVEN that the CITY Council Canal of Riverside of the City or Palm Springs, California will hold a Y Public Hearing at Its noctrng of Julyy 26, 2DOE The Oily Council mG�hnqq beglc;• at 6:00 p m. in the Council Ch•imber at L'ty Ball SPOO East Tah- qultz Canyon Way, papa Springs. inn purpose of the Hear'Ingg ` to consider the ex- torsion,for 10 month,= •in d 15 day.^, of the Inter.. inn Urgency Ordln3nca adCtu1g interim urg,.ncy regulations prohibiting mobs a home parK conver- sons within the Cry of Palm Springs pending I am a citizen of the United States and a resident of completion of a stu,y of the enacts of the con- voeman of trial home p]riu to other uses or the County aforesaid;I am Over the age Of eighteen — subdivLnon lots as may bo needed to alleviate a current and actual threat to the ppublc I'roalth, Years,and not a party to or interested in the ••dory, and welfare. The current Intenrrl Urgency above-entitled matter. I am the principal cleric of a Ordinance expires on August S 2005 printer of the,DESERT SUN PUBLISHING Pursuant to Government Code Sectlon 05858(3) and IL• yuthorlry ovor maaters of local concert,-,a COMPANY a newspaper of general circulation, a charter clry, the City Council finds me conver- sion of nnobllc home parks to other uses or the printed and published in the city of Palm Springs, subdivision of moicile home pads and IN, can- Count of Riverside,and which newspaper has been comitant change of a "for rent or lease space to ya 'for soli,' lot within the Ciry ppresents an Imme. a newspaper adjudged a of general Circulation b the dialu threat to Iho public ne'aith, safery, ]rid weI-i P P Y fare In that the Clry currentiy has Ilm lud supply Of Superior Court of the County of Riverside,State of mobne home units,which are one of the most Of. laical forms of houslng in the CITY. Convert! n California under the date of March 24, 1988.Case this type of rlagsinl TO alternate uses or to subd� vide 'for cote" Io will eliminate a significant Number 191236;that the notice,Of which the source of avoid 1I housing in the City and may annexed is a COPY set in type not smaller result In me climmatlon of a form of housing for p PY( yP which thvo is a hlyll demand by City households than non pariel,has been published in each regular eirmnn lower Incomes. and entire issue of said newspaper and not in any For The punod of tnl; Or lmance 1110 City of Palm Su lement thereof on the following dates,to wit: %ings shall mt issue or approve any gcnaral pp g pplan amendment spedfio plan zone ,change, building permit, conditional use permit, vadancq n planned development permit, proase plan of de- duly 15 ',200E sign,oI ppyyl4r land use Cnhllcrri lot the conver- sion _.._..— nor shall t7icCnl4ohome I allm S rmo any other use tentatm, rollminai or final subpprove any map su,laredln y, �vuion or Parcel 9 :Any mcblle, home parK on any property wuhin the City of Palm Sormns during ---"----`—.....-`—'.....-`— the tllni, that this Int,,nm ordinanc; Is m effect, All in the year 200E The Ciry of Palm Spring,, in its capvattyy ll me lead ]Benny for lair pmleat under the Calld the Enwmnmenral rimenY Act (GEQA), evaiu prod the I certify(or declare)under penalty of perjury that the ppursua l an Sectient1 imppacts of me Ordinance. Parce it to Sectlon from E 01 cir ihls view foregoing is true and correct. nonce is exempt from aorlZes th'.un review whereas the Ordinance ruthorizes thy.undertakingg of feasibwTy and y OCing straw; and any interim Dated at Palm Springs,California this---17n',---day �tand rds will noiybe OUI pored unto the mplete pof The ropl q d proiptc environmental evaiu+lion of the proposed protect hat Occurred. 6i-- my- --------,200E REVIEW OF INFCM4ATION: The ecaff mNp and outer suppglTing documents regarding ihla matter pro avallabh for public review at CITY Hall be- tween the hours of ti u.m,and 5.00 p.m. Mon- day Il1rou h Friday. Please con{act the Off1ce of -----� the City Clerk;it ((60) 323-8204 if you would like to schedule vI appolntmcnt iq remr.w those doc- ( umenw. COMMkNT ON THIS ORDINANCE Rc- Sign. oreponse to this notice may be made vernally at the Public Ht,i and/or In wnting before the I Ing.Written comments may be made to the Palm Springs City Council In willing (marled far hand delivered) la: Jame•Thompson City Clerk 3200 E. Tahgwtz canyon Wry Palm St CA 9]a52 If any group challenges Ille ac kin In court, issues raised may be limited to onlyy thou issues raised m at the Public He, n, deserfbed in this notice ar n written corruspon fence,at, or prior lo, the Ciry in 1-loarinp An opportunity will be given it said Hearing nor all mtteeeted person,, to be heard. CIu,,,,ucns regarding this case may be di- rected to Craig Ewing, Director of Planning Sor- viCcs, at 760-3p3.82Ab. SI mCussita ayudi con esta cirt'a, perfavor IUme la Ciudad do Palm Spring-:y puede hubiar con Nadlnc FlCger teietouo 7GO-323-3245 J9Maa nomp^on, Ci ClerkC lerk Published:7/15/2006 NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING INTERIM URGENCY ORDINANCE — MOBILE HOME PARK CONVERSIONS Adopting Interim Urgency prohibiting mobile home park conversions within the City of Palm Springs and Notice of Exemption from the California Environmental Quality Act Applicant: City of Palm Springs NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City Council of the City of Palm Springs, California, will hold a Public Hearing at its meeting of July 26, 2006. The City Council meeting begins at 6:00 p.m- in the Council Chamber at City Hall, 3200 East Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs. The purpose of the Hearing is to consider the extension, for 10 months and 15 days, of the Interim Urgency Ordinance adopting interim urgency regulations prohibiting mobile home park conversions within the City of Palm Springs pending completion of a study of the effects of the conversion of mobile home parks to other uses or subdivision lots as may be needed to alleviate a current and actual threat to the public health, safety, and welfare. The current Interim Urgency Ordinance expires on August 5, 2006. Pursuant to Government Code Section 65858(a) and its authority over matters of local concern as a charter city, the City Council finds the conversion of mobile home parks to other uses or the subdivision of mobile home parks and the concomitant change of a "for rent or lease" space to a "for sale" lot within the City presents an immediate threat to the public health, safety, and welfare in that the City currently has limited supply of mobile home units, which are one of the most affordable forms of housing in the City. Converting this type of housing to alternate uses or to subdivide "for sale" lots will eliminate a significant source of affordable housing in the City and may result in the elimination of a form of housing for which there is a high demand by City households earning lower incomes. For the period of this Ordinance the City of Palm Springs shall not issue or approve any general plan amendment, specific plan, zone change, building permit, conditional use permit, variance, planned development permit, precise plan of design, or other land use entitlement for the conversion of any mobile home park to any other use nor shall the City of Palm Springs approve any tentative, preliminary, or final subdivision or parcel map subdividing any mobile home park on any property within the City of Palm Springs during the time that this interim ordinance is in effect. The City of Palm Springs, in its capacity as the lead agency for this project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), evaluated the potential environmental impacts of the Ordinance. Pursuant to Section 15262 or CEQA, this Ordinance is exempt from environmental review whereas the Ordinance authorizes the undertaking of feasibility and planning studies and any development which may occur pursuant to the interim standards will not be approved until a complete environmental evaluation of the proposed project has occurred. REVIEW OF INFORMATION: The staff report and other supporting documents regarding this matter are available for public review at City Hall between the hours of 8.00 a-m. and 5:00 p-m., Monday through Friday. Please contact the Office of the City Clerk at (760) 323-8204 if you would like to schedule an appointment to review these documents. COMMENT ON THIS ORDINANCE: Response to this notice may be made verbally at the Public Hearing and/or in writing before the hearing- Written comments may be made to the Palm Springs City Council in writing (mailed for hand delivered) to: James Thompson, City Clerk 3200 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way Palm Springs, CA 92262 If any group challenges the action in court, issues raised may be limited to only those issues raised at the Public Hearing described in this notice or in written correspondence at, or prior to, the City Cotin�il_ Hearing. An opportunity will be given at said Hearing for all interested persons to be heard. Questions regarding-this case may be directed to Craig Ewing, Director of Planning Services, at 760-323-8245. , Si necessity ayuda con esta carta, porfavor Ilame a la Ciudad de Palm Springs y puede hablar con Nadine Fieger telefono 760-323-8245- es Thompson, City Clerk