Resident asks for help

A pocket of open space in Thurston Mobilehome Park has become the latest battlefield in the ongoing hostilities between a group of residents and the park association board of directors.

Five mobile-home residents appealed to the City Council at the Oct. 6 meeting for help in regaining the little oasis, now occupied by a trailer, and for help in challenging decisions by the board of directors they deem sketchy if not downright illegal. City Manager Ken Frank advised the council that city intervention was not a wise move and could lead to litigation.

“There are two factions within the park [that have fought] vicious battles, both personal and legal, and our staff has been whipsawed,” Frank said. The complex is in Laguna Canyon.

“I will meet with them if the council directs me to, but I sure don’t want to meet with both sides at the same time.”

Thurston Mobilehome Park Assn. board attorney Anna Roppo denied on Oct. 8 any impropriety by the board.

“There are two sides to every story,” board member Donita Lloyd said.

Lloyd, who has lived in the park for eight years, declined further comment.

“When I moved into the trailer park, it had two advantages: proximity and the little, tiny pocket park, a place you could go to catch a little breeze,” resident Deb Young said at the council meeting. “The residents became so impassioned about the park that two women who got in a fist fight over its use ended up on a judge’s television show.

“Now they [board] have stacked a trailer on top of it. It’s an insult. The current management is making poor judgments.”

The trailer is on Space 18 of the 27 listed in the park’s specific plan, although the state stipulated 26 spaces, according to Frank.

Resident Steve Shabazian said the mobile-home park is legally limited to 27 spaces, but there are now 29 spaces occupied, including two houses. And there are other issues, Shabazian told the council, without enumerating them.

“Space 18 is a legitimate mobile-home space, permitted by the state,” Roppo said. “There are 27 spaces, but I estimate only 24 are occupied. We have not exceeded the limit.”

Park neighbor Jeff Light said he came to the council meeting to talk about the trailer that juts out into the city right-of-way at Woodland and Laguna Canyon Frontage Road.

“Apparently there is a lot more going on,” Light said. “I will add my voice to the chorus here — something is wrong.”

The mobile home on Space 18 was about four feet in the city’s right-of-way and park management was notified. Frank was informed Monday that the mobile-home has been moved.

Park resident Larry Gill accused the city at the council meeting of failing in its duty to the residents of the park, resident-owned since 1992 under a state program with the collaboration of the city and the park inhabitants, Gill said.

“The purpose of the city’s participation and the state program is to provide low-income residential home ownership in Laguna Beach,” Gill said. “In pursuit of state funding, the city agreed to the fiduciary duty of overseeing and reporting any financial activity that violates the contract with the Mobilehome Park Resident Ownership Program ordinances.”

Frank said that required reports from the board had not been forthcoming and he notified the board’s legal representative of the omission.

Roppo refuted Gill’s accusations of hanky-panky in board elections and the use of association funds without disclosure, adding that as a participant in a lawsuit that was settled, Gill is bound to silence.

“You [the city] who have the fiduciary duty to the state and to us, are culpable,” Gill said. “You have failed to honor your contract with the state.”

The Thurston Mobilehome Park Assn. is a mutual benefit, nonprofit entity with articles of incorporation filed with the state and bylaws, the purpose of which is to ensure the mobile homes are occupied by the owners, Roppo said.

Gill further claimed at the meeting that most park residents want their issues heard by the council.

Frank said he will prepare a report for the council, and supply legal documents that they can review.