The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About11-12-2013 ac evans ss1Goodwin, Heather From: Sent: To: Subiect: Heather, Agenda correspondence. . . Thanks - Kathy Smith, Kathy Monday, November 11, 20L3 7:54 PM Goodwin, Heather FW: Short term rentals R.CFT\/ED NO\/ 12 2013 SLCì Ri( AGENDA OORRESPONDENCË From: Pete Evans [riki77@gmail.com] Sent: Monday, November 11, 2013 6:21 PM To: Max, Jan; Smith, Kathy; Christianson, Carlyn; Carpenter, Dan; Ashbaugh, John Subject: Shoft term rentals Nov 11,2013 Dear Council members, Can we talk? (God, I love Joan Rivers!) If short term rentals do not negatively impact their neighborhoods or the economic viability of the city then no ban should be imposed. Can any of you tell me why this ban was created in the first place? If you cannot answer my question I urge you to overturn the ban. We should have no rules we cannot support wilh rational data. Our city has become overly obsessed with outlawing and regulating way too many arenas of life, and conversely has allowed many activities and development to the detriment of what a charming and inviting city should be. Do you know that city staff made THREE TRIPS to the Laguna Lake areato investigate a bicycle left on a front patio? Do we have a law about where to keep our bikes? Really? Here is the basic info you need to decide this issue . Where are the valid complaints against short term rentals? We know full well there are 'long term rental housing' problems almost daily. . Long term housing creation responsibility is yours, not that of the citizens. . Most (probably all) of the short term guests are mature folks, just like you. In fact some of you have availed yourself of this sort of lodging when out of town-how can you possible support banning it here? . The only difference between short term rentals and legal free stays (including friends, family, strangers we invite into our homes (I used to do this all the time), SERVAS and other cultural exchanges) is the money hosts make to support their property and lives-which mostly gets spent here on other services by other people, thereby supporting them as well. In fact Bob Shanbrom has used this sort of housing as recently as last summer (while he was hounding the city to enforce the ban here)! In fact many of our visitors to SLO would not even come here if not for the friendly feel of home stays, we would therefore lose those tourist dollars if we were to ban this popular housing option. SLO Hosts has launched a quiet and calm campaign based on supportable facts, unlike the opposition that only hurls wild accusations and even now hopes you will quell the voices of reason! Nearly all media supports the SLO Hosts'efforts (Trib, NT, radio (Dave Congalton)), as well as most citizens (see our petition) and businesses. I think the CoC and RE industry do not oppose the SLO Hosts efforts. Who 1 does that leave in opposition? Far as I can tell there are two or three individuals and maybe RQN, all of whom refuse to see the value in short term rentals wherein the guests are just like them! Are you not our representatives? 'Who are you representing? Even the hotel industry is not against short term rentals. And not to denigrate them, but many are national in scope, money spent on them leaves the area. SLO Hosts spend their money here, their guests spend their money here, often on those few local businesses that still exist. There are a host of already in-place regulations and rules about how we conduct our affairs- excessive noise and any other nuisance is easily dealt with through existing mechanisms. The hosted short term rentals obviates any of that, the host can and will'nip in the bud' any issue that needs attention. SLO Hosts are not Airbnb, VRBO or any other corporation. The proponents of the arbitrary ban take delight in denigrating those businesses and others as though that has any bearing on SLO Hosts, not true. If you have a gmail account are you responsible for what Google does? SLO Hosts are your neighbors trying to make it in hard times. And, is making money (a little or a lot) now a bad thing as the naysayers propose? You are plenfy smart enough to see the truth in this situation, you don't need a 30 page dissertation full of biased editorial matter. I read part of that childish'white paper'you have been subjected to by those on the witch hunt against reduced regulation. The rabid comments about the'serial lawbreakers' and'arrogant pirate hotel owners' call into question the sanity of the writers. I am ashamed of their behavior and vicious words. I know of a property owner who lives next door to a VRBO in our city, that person will swear an affidavit of a preference for the VRBO over long term renters! He/she claims the guests have been first rate and hardly noticeable! You are being asked to use your hearts and minds to decide this issue. Do not be swayed by wild, unsupported claims. Even though SLO Hosts are willing to pay TOT; by the good vibes, great people and economic vitality they bring to the city they should be rewarded for their efforts-never penalized. Never judge a program by its few liabilities, rather measure it by its many attributes. best, Pete Evans (Not a short term rental host, but I am a veteran and this is Veteran's Day!) 2