Conversion on hold pending new tally at Rancho de Sonoma

Unable to determine which of two competing homeowner groups truly represents Rancho de Sonoma residents, the Sonoma City Council has called for a special election within the mobile home park to decide the fate of a condo-style conversion.
With owner Preston Cook’s application set to expire at the end of the month, the council voted 3-2 to undertake the election immediately. Ballots will be mailed to all residents of the park as soon as possible. If not mailed back, they will be picked up at the park on June 14. The final count will inform the council’s decision at its June 17 meeting.
Cook has been working for two years on the conversion plan. The council’s previous adoption of a mobile home ordinance had seemingly paved the way for its final approval Wednesday night. But it was language in that ordinance – a provision leaving the decision up to a park’s residents association – that proved problematic.
Rancho de Solano has two residents groups. At the time of the initial vote, there was only one, the Residents Association, which claimed a membership then of 42. It opposes the conversion.
A second group, the Homeowners Association, was formed this year and favors the conversion. While it states a lot membership of 62 – “one lot, one vote” – Cook owns 22 of those lots.
The packed chambers Wednesday night were perhaps two-thirds against the conversion. Comments were heated, and bad blood evident. Opponents claim Cook exerted undue influence on the process, and collected names under false pretense.
If the conversion is allowed, Cook has promised to make $2 million in improvements to the park, including upgrading outdated utilities. The park would move from a well to the city water system. And though the conversion would void local rent-control laws, his proposal would continue to honor them.
The split decision to authorize the new vote was three votes in favor (Brown, Barbose, Gallian) and two against (Sanders, Sebastiani). Mayor Brown asked Cook if he would be willing to extend the July 1 deadline to allow more time to organize the election. Cook said no.
In other council business, the city will renew its agreement with the Sonoma County Sheriff to provide law enforcement services. The new 10-year contract begins July 1, 2009, and reflects an 8 percent price increase. The call from Police Chief Brett Sackett to raise parking citation fees was also approved. The increase will bring Sonoma in line with other cities in the county, he said, and help recoup a state-imposed surcharge on all citations.