COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

County Counsel

DATE:

April 21, 2003

BOARD MEETING DATE:

May 6, 2003

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

County Counsel

SUBJECT:

Adoption of Annual Fee for License to Operate a Mobilehome Park

Recommendation

Adopt a Resolution setting the annual fee for License to Operate a Mobilehome Park, and delegating to the Treasurer-Tax Collector the authority to increase the fee.

Background

On March 25, 2003, your Board adopted an ordinance adding a new section 5.92.055 (License Required) to Chapter 5.92 (Trailer Camps) of Title 5 of the San Mateo County Ordinance Code, which added the requirement of an annual license to operate a mobilehome park. Section 5.92.055(e) provides that "No license shall issue until the management has paid an annual license fee to be established by a resolution of the Board of Supervisors." Section 5.92.055(f) provides that "No rent increase may be imposed until such time that the mobilehome management has obtained the license required by this section."

Discussion

Mobilehome park owners are eager to obtain the licenses because of the provision freezing rent increases. In order to expedite the process, applicants have been asked to make a deposit to cover the anticipated fee. However, adoption of this resolution establishing the amount of the fee is necessary to complete the procedure for issuing the new licenses.

Each license will require a hearing before the License Board, which will consume staff time and resources. The license fee will help to offset those costs. The proposed annual fee for a license to operate a mobilehome park is $500 for parks with more than 100 spaces, and $200 for parks with 100 or fewer spaces.

Vision Alignment

The proposed resolution furthers the County's effort to promote responsive, effective and collaborative government.

Fiscal Impact

The license fees will be used to cover some of the costs of administering the license process.