Update: City Process on BV Closure Application

• Lynnie Melena, BPA President
• Art Liberman, BPA Vice-President

We have just received the following information from Curtis Williams, Planning Director of the City of Palo Alto, regarding the status of the Buena Vista mobile home park. The application for closure from the owner was received by the City several weeks ago and the City’s Planning Department staff (led by Jason Nortz) is following the procedures outlined in applicable City Ordinances to insure compliance by the owner.

1.       Notices to residents:   Early next week, staff expects to send a notice (bilingual) to residents that the closure application has been submitted. Staff also has someone who can translate documents into Spanish for those residents who prefer. If others don’t understand English or Spanish, staff will retain other translation services.

2.       Group Meetings with residents:  The owner expects to schedule meetings with the residents as a whole, or in groups, likely the week of December 10^th.  The relocation specialist will be introduced at this meeting and staff will attend to be sure information is accurate and City processes are understood. Staff is encouraging the owner to retain either the Palo Alto Mediation Services or the Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center to facilitate the meeting, but that is ultimately their call.

3.       Selection of Relocation Specialist:  Key criteria for selecting a Relocation Specialist will be bilingual capabilities, sensitivity to resident concerns, and confidentiality, as well as their technical competence.  Staff interviewed two “relocation specialist” firms, and has recommended one to the owner; staff was very impressed by their sensitivity to the mobile home residents and think they will provide considerable assistance to the residents. Staff also checked with cities where they had worked before and found they were highly regarded and had gained a strong level of trust with residents. The preferred firm further indicated that, if there were persons who are trusted by a resident, they may be included in the individual meetings.

4.       Resident Questionnaires:  Staff will be sending out the Resident Questionnaires to residents shortly following the group meetings. The relocation specialist will meet individually with each resident/family to help complete the questionnaire and prepare information for the relocation assessment. Staff anticipates that the individual meetings between residents and the relocation specialist will begin in January.

5.       Appraising the mobile home properties:  Staff is awaiting word from the Administrative Services Department regarding the proposed appraiser, but expect that the owner’s recommendation will be satisfactory.

6.       Relocation Impact Report (RIR):   The Relocation Impact Report must be prepared by the relocation specialist and owner and submitted with an appraisal for each unit to the City. Staff anticipates a RIR being submitted sometime in the Spring. The City has 30 days to determine if the information is “complete,” and may then request additional information until completeness is determined.

7.       Final Determination:  Not later than 60 days following completeness, a hearing must be conducted on the adequacy of the RIR and appraisal and relocation approach. The City has not yet determined who that person will be, but Staff will work with the City Attorney’s office to identify someone. Any resident(s) who wish to challenge the adequacy of the decision may appeal the decision to the City Council, which would then make the final determination.  Once a final action is taken, a minimum of 6 months is allowed for relocation.  The entire process is likely to take a year, at least.