Community Development Director Jennifer Gates presented a study session on the city's mobile-home-park closure and conversion rules, explaining what the municipal code currently requires and what must change to comply with recent state laws. The city's code includes Chapter 9.8 (rent/tenant protections), Chapter 9.82 (closure and conversion mitigation) and Chapter 9.84 (resident ownership conversion). Gates told the council the city has three mobile-home parks with more than 450 units and that closures or conversions can have "a substantial adverse effect on residents due to the high cost of relocation, the difficulty of finding similar affordable replacement housing, and the scarcity of comparable mobile home spaces in the area."

Gates described the existing process: a park owner filing to change a park's use must pay for a comprehensive relocation-impact report prepared by an independent consultant selected by the city; that report must estimate relocation costs and the fair-market value of homes that cannot be reasonably relocated, list comparable parks in Sonoma County, and be distributed to residents prior to a public hearing. She said the council must make written findings before approving a closure or conversion and may impose mitigation conditions "to mitigate the impacts of relocation" such as moving costs, lump-sum payments for deposits and first/last month's rent, compensation for unrecoverable homes, and set-aside affordable units.

Gates told the council the state law AB 2782 (adopted 2020) raises the standard by requiring the applicant to compensate a displaced mobile-home occupant for the "full in-place value" of a home based on an appraisal if the home cannot be relocated. She said Sonoma would need to amend Chapter 9.82 to require an appraiser-selected in-place valuation and to change resident-notice timing from 15 to 60 days before a public hearing. Gates also said staff will incorporate SB 610 changes, including provisions that affect how disaster-related closures are treated and what technical inspections must be provided with the impact report. Staff proposed a follow-up study session on Dec. 3 and to return a draft ordinance in early 2026.

During the public-comment period dozens of mobile-home residents and advocates emphasized elders' vulnerability, the community value of parks, and the limits of relocation options. Jesse Ortiz (public comment) had earlier raised neighborhood concerns about a separate housing development; mobile-home speakers tonight included Lynn Marie de Vincent (Tri Park Committee), Bonnie Joy Koslan (Moon Valley Homeowners Association), John Kyle (Pueblo Serena/Hacienda) and Caitlin Cornwall (Sonoma Valley Collaborative). John Kyle submitted a draft ordinance prepared by attorney Will Constantine and requested staff review it when they return in December.

Council members asked staff for more detail on affected units and funding options and expressed support for reviewing the homeowners' draft. Councilmember Lo said the council would take the contributions "very seriously." Staff emphasized it was an educational study session and is not requesting action tonight. The city will work with residents and park owners during the ordinance development and hold the required public hearings before any changes are adopted.