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Home My WebLink About11-12-2013 ac bruder2 ss1R,ECEÏVED OcT 31 2013 Goodw Heather From: Sent: To: Subject: Anthony J. Mejia I City Clerk ()r(,_v (}l s.llr lL¡rs 0¡ir$¡xr qüo Palm Stre et 1l*n I r.¡iç 0bir¡:o, CÀ g34u:r tel I Boi;.78r.7ro: AGENDA CORRESPONDENCE From: Man<, Jan Sent: Wednesday, October 30, 2013 2:47 PM To: Mejia, Anthony Subject: FW: A Proposed Vacation Rental Ordinance for Downtown SLO -----Ori ginal Message----- From: Roy Bruder [roybruder43@gmail.com] Sent: Monday, October 28,2013 04:37 PM Pacihc Standard Time To: Johnson, Derek; Marx, Jan; Smith, Kathy; ccchristi@slocity.orq; Carpenter, Dan; Ashbaugh, John Subject: A Proposed Vacation Rental Ordinance for Downtown SLO Laclies ancl Gentlemen: I represent a group of honreowners wlro oper:ate vacation rentals in downtorvn San l"uis Obis¡lo. Most of us havo been in operation tbr rnany years, unâ\.vare olcourse that any orclinance plohihiting rentals fbr periods of less tharr 30 <tays exisled. We have reseived and complied rvith your cease and desist nolilic¿rtions, much to the cheigrin o['oulr guests. 'When I receive inquilies fiom potential guesls. I am nor,v obligated to infonn them of this restriction. I lcre is a typical response I receivecl back frorn one gnest: Dear Ro.y, I'm s'orry uboul that. Eurlier in lhe clalt I hacl s'tumblecl up(1n cul urticle on f he weh uboul the vctcaÍion rentctl ban and was' s'urpri,sed and outroged myself. I hope youl'e able to ,seltle tltis',føirl¡,. ll/ell .,. lel me lcrunr i/'¡,ott re.\-o|,"'e lhi¡^ tuilh lhe city sooner ruther lhun laÍer. ,4s il ltu'nls out, yte wíll probubly nor .fìntrlize anlt pluns' unlil righl be.fbre Thank,sgit,íng. The idect of stal¡ing in hotel,s .li;r Thunk,sgiving is' very una¡spealing, so vt,e'd ralher jus'Í,stay honte and lake a doy lt'ip to the college s'omelinte lhat \t,eek,'l'he citlt o/' San Luis'Obispo.ju.sÍ lo,sl ottÍ r¡n,six clay',s of'Íourism dollar.s',/iorn my./amil¡t, Shqre thi.ssroryvith rhe city if'¡,ort 1 Mejia, Anthony Wednesday, October 30, 2013 5:24 PM Goodwin, Heather FW: A Proposed Vacation Rental Ordinance for Downtown SLO v,enL Lfc don't'¡uanl to stcrl,out of'tou,n or at the heaclles because we wunt Ío e,v¡terience the qcruul college lotyn almosphere,/br our duuSlhter v'hr¡ is considering ttttencling Cal Poþ, i¡x the,fiúure. Jill l;'aryell Livennore, (,'A The Tourism Market in SLO As in every city. the tourisrn market in SLO is segmented as follows: (l) Those pleferring holel ¿rccommoelalions" T'hese arre typically business travelers or couples traveling 1he coastal route \ /ho only stay one oL trvo nights. (2) 'l'lrose prefbrring a bed and bre¿rkfìrst or a honre stay situation. '['hese are getrerirlly singles or couples who stay lbr 2-4 nights ¿rnd n'ant the option of preparring sorne meals. They are liequently Europeans nho are very farniliar rvitli staying in guest houses. This is the segrnent which was being served by the airbnb.com group, (3) Those prefèning to rent an entire home. These are either 1àmilies or couples who sirnply prel'er the privacy not atTorded in the f,rrst two o¡rtions. 'l'hey want to ptepare meals, entertain. and enjoy the space only a private lrome can provide. '['hey do not want fhe homeclwner sleelring in the next bedroorn. 'l.hese people tend to stay longer---typically 4-7 nights or more. This is the segment which was being served by the VRBO,com groLrp. As I represent only VRBO owllers. I will conline my comrnents 1o that segmeut only Speaking fì'om my personal experience. I have fbund tlie rnajolity of rny guests to be the parents of Cal Poly students coming to SLO to visit their children or attencl special events. T'hey clesire the comfort of a ¡rrivirte home stocked with everything they need. They are quiet and respectful ol my home" I have spoken with ¿ill cll' tlie neighbors on my block as well ¿rs those I shale a backyarld fence with and have hearcl nothing but support. 'l'hc.v would much prefer my guests to a stuclent rental r,r'hich is what my house was before I ptuchased it. 2 Ploposal 1'or a Vacat"ion Rental Orclin¿rnce Ilerving been a long time traveler I havo stayed in literally hundreds of VIìIJO rent¿rls in the US as well as abroad. The regulations vary slightly fì'om one communit,v to arrother burt in general 1àll into a similar parttern We would like to propose that vacation rentals be limited to a clefined geographical area, specifically downtown SLO, where there is already a significani amount of comnrercial activity, high clensity lesidences. and student rentals. 'l'he presence of a limited group clf vacation rentals rvould have no substantial impact on thes<: neighborhoocls. Aller all, it has been going on lbr many yeals now so we have a de,fttcro impact study. This area woulcl be delined b.v" specific streets clr natural bounclaries. but would insure that pure lesidenli¿rl areas on the peripher,v of downtorvn woulcl nol be impactecl. Wc r¡,orilcl also Iike to propose that the City liccnse a limited nunrbcr of vacation rentals to operate in this downtorvn zone. Perhaps 20 -25 r.vcluld be adequate. Any futue adciiticlns to this group w<luld be decided throurgh an evaluation of market needs. Renefìts (l) Preventiou of uncontlolled prolilèration ol vacation rentals within the downto\,vn area. (?) Plevention of vacatiou rentals oper:ating in purc residential aleas, (3) Ability of ths City to monitor the safety and quality of this limited nunrber of rcntals. (4) Adequately serving tlrat seglnent of the tourist markct lvhich demands the use of ¡:rivnte hr:mes (5) Iìevenue to our local business commrnity. (6) 'l'ax clollars to the City tlrrough 'l'r¿ursient Occupancy'l'axes If the City is still unsure of the impaot sucli an ordinance would have. I rnight suggest that instead ol'an expeusive irnpact study we take a tnore efficient approtrch: First, look at the experience of parst yearrs. and second, why not licensc this group of 25 for one yeal'and track any compìaints or problems'? If onc or two rentals seem to lrtrve repeated issues, tlien theil license becclmes ncln*renew¿rble . Thank you l'or your consideralion, If'you have nny c¡uestions you c¿ilr reach me at 459-2844 3 Sincelely, Roy Brurder, Ph.D 4