Does repaving charge violate rent control?

Editor, Index-Tribune:

I recently sent the following letter to the Sonoma City Council:

This is my protest against the 20-year rent increase for a capital improvement, the repaving of Del Rio Paseo, proposed by Terra Vista Management for residents under rent control at De Anza Moon Valley, a mobile home park of 247 units.

The reasons for my protest are:

As a resident of this park for less than two years, I’ve had three rent increases. When I moved here in December of 2012, my space rent was $959.53. Today it is $995.85. The rent increases, $36.32 for my space, should cover improvements and maintenance of the park.

Besides the above-mentioned rent increases, there is an additional monthly charge for improvements of $.29. Note that all maintenance and landscaping of my space is also at my own expense.

If 247 residents are paying $4.45 a month for 20 years, it adds up to $263,800. The quoted price of the improvement is $163,993. It appears as if tenants are being asked to pay $99,803 above the quote for the improvement. Also, the question should be addressed, if the project is to go forward, will it be put out to competitive bidding?

This kind of reckless rent increase tends to affect the most vulnerable of this community’s population, those on fixed incomes such as me.

Furthermore, I live on the street of the proposed repaving. It doesn’t appear in anyway in need of repaving. Is this a ruse to circumvent the existing rent control?

Judy Lehner

Sonoma