HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 3/9/2021 - Memorandum From Jc Ward And Emily Olivo Re: Mobile Home Park Residents Rights Projects Update
Planning, Development & Transportation
Community Development & Neighborhood Services
281 N. College Ave.
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.416.2350
970.224.6134 FAX
www.fcgov.com
MEMORANDUM
DATE: March 4, 2021
TO: Mayor Troxell and Councilmembers
THRU: Darin Atteberry, City Manager
Kyle Stannert, Deputy City Manager
Caryn Champine, PDT Director
Paul Sizemore, Interim CDNS Director
FROM: JC Ward, Senior City Planner, Neighborhood Services
Emily Olivo, Senior Specialist-Neighborhood Liaison, Neighborhood Services
RE: Mobile Home Park Residents' Rights Projects Update
This memo is in response to a request from City Council for updates on the status of Mobile
Home Park/Manufactured Housing Community projects initiated by the City and additional
upcoming projects identified through resident engagement efforts.
Background
Cross-departmental technical teams began work in August 2019 on mobile home park P
ghts and housing preservation projects based on updated City Council priorities.
Staff monitored state legislative and enforcement changes, incorporated them into outreach
materials, and su rights protections with additional local policy and
Municipal Code changes. Over the past 18 months, Staff has also conducted targeted
engagement and outreach with MHP residents, property managers, and owners.
Status of Mobile Home Park Projects
Completed Projects
Pilot a Mobile Home Parks Mini-Grant Program: $50,000 was distributed in 2020.
Create a City webpage & local complaint system dedicated to MHP residents,
property managers, and owners: This was completed in May 2020 and provides
information on new local and state legislation related to R
links to eviction avoidance and CARES Act Eviction Defense Fund and service
providers.
State and local legislation enacted in 2019 and 2020 supported many of the identified
priorities, including: Establishment of maintenance roles and responsibilities, utility billing
transparency, home sale protections, retaliation protections, privacy rights, accessory
structure privileges, park sale notice and purchase opportunity, and limitation of required
upgrades.
Ongoing 2021 Projects
Enforcement of legislation: This continues to be explored at a city level, utilizing
Access Fort Collins, Code Compliance Staff, and an MHP Licensing program. This effort
was paused due to the enactment of state legislation and the establishment of the state
dispute resolution center, and the enforcement that was anticipated as a result.
However, at least two complaints filed with the state dispute resolution center in August
2020 have not received any response, so resuming work toward improved local
enforcement will begin in Q2 2021. An MHP Licensing Program will require additional
resources and staffing and is currently on hold until the Housing Strategic
Plan/Occupancy rental licensing discussions move forward.
Establish Neighborhood Liaisons: This is completed for the four highest priority parks
(Skyline MHP, Hickory Village, North College MHP, Harmony Village). The full-time
Neighborhood Liaison position began work in February 2021. This liaison will assist
with coordination of all staff and community partners acting in MHP liaison roles.
Funding may be required to compensate community partners for their work in this area.
Larimer Home Improvement Program: This program, created in conjunction with the
State Division of Housing, City of Fort Collins, and City of Loveland, addresses repair
needs on mobile/manufactured homes. This program was piloted in 2020 and funding
has been requested for 2021 forward.
Utility Billing Transparency: State legislation was enacted in 2020 requiring timely,
consistent, and transparent water billing from property managers to residents. Currently,
enforcement options are being explored alongside providing property managers with
tools to assist managers in the billing process. Neighborhood Services is working with
Fort Collins Utilities to explore solutions related to continuous consumption, income-
qualified water rate application, incentives for property owners to locate and fix leaks,
and additional Municipal Code changes to address the gaps in state enforcement.
Mobile Home Park Handbook: Content creation is in progress in collaboration with the
Mi Voz community group and is anticipated to be completed in Q3 2021.
Engagement with residents, property managers, and owners: Neighborhood
Liaisons, the City, and community partners will host workshops and neighborhood
meetings and resources. A property manager network and
continuing education program will be continued and expanded. Due to the persistent
turnover of management at many of the MHPs and the emergence of new resources and
opportunities for residents, this engagement will be ongoing.
Planned/Future Projects & Strategies
55+ MHP resident: This strategy requires in-person
engagement due to reduced access to technology and internet services and has
therefore been limited during the COVID-19 pandemic. As vaccinations continue, we
anticipate an increase in the ability to fulfill this goal. Currently, grant opportunities to
support this effort are being pursued for implementation in 2021.
Digital & Language Equity for MHP s: Neighborhood Services will be exploring
opportunities for increasing digital equity in our MHP communities, including working
with Connexion to pursue grant and other funding sources. All current and future
projects will be prepared and implemented with accessibility as the priority, including
providing all programs and their components in Spanish.
Negotiated Investments: There is a need to develop resource and/or funding networks
to provide avenues for the City to assist with infrastructure upgrades, lot rent increase
moratoriums, and percentage of affordable housing units in mobile home parks. This
strategy has not yet been initiated.
Community Enhancements: The MHP Resi g avenues
for community enhancements such as safety lighting, bike path connectivity, increased
public transportation options, and community gathering space. Programs including
Resident-Owned Community readiness, home maintenance workshops, and
neighborhood clean-up days are also being considered.
Mandatory Recycling Service Support: Mandatory recycling service is scheduled to
begin in June 2021.
readiness for this initiative, and engagement efforts will begin in Q2 to proactively
support compliance.
Coordination of Growth Management Area (GMA) Neighborhood Services
will continue to collaborate with Larimer County to address unmet needs and align
programming for MHP's in the GMA in preparation for their eventual annexation into the
City.
CC: Marcy Yoder, Neighborhood Services Manager