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HomeMy WebLinkAboutcc - Jones (Rental Inspection Ordinance)To: Maier, John Paul Subject: RE: Record outrage at the city ordinance Rental Properties FJA FD 2016 From: Bar ry Jones [ CL Sent: Monday, January 18, 2016 2:14 PM To: E -mail Council Website Subject: Record outrage at the city ordinance Rental Properties Dear City Director and staff San Luis Obispo City Council members I would like to record my outrage and disappointment of you the city council members decision to approve the May 19th 2015 Ordinance requiring every owner of residences that are rented in San Luis Obispo to have to obtain a permit and the approval of the City Council. I believe that as a USA citizen I should be able to do what I like with my property (within reason) and certainly rent my guest house without the "big brother SLO City" watching or intruding into my private affairs. However, I do accept the need for control should the building contravene building regulation but that covers just a few properties of the 20553 plus dwellings in San Luis Obispo. These contraventions in the past have a way of surfacing without checks on the majority 61.8% dwellings. I believe SLO city completely unreasonable with their request and far overstepped the power given to them by the elected population. I have noted that this invasion into citizens of SLO privacy has been steadily rising over the 15 years that I have been associated with the town. I see this as a total infringement of my privacy and rights and certainly not the reason that I voted some of you onto the city council. I would ask if this is even lawful. It goes against everything of a "free" America. You should feel ashamed to place this burden on the citizens that support you. You are requiring the owners of 12701 rental property owner in San Luis Obispo to pay $65 registration then a $185 inspection fee so the city will generate a further $3.2m on top of the huge property tax we all are forced to pay. If this is not an extra taxation then please explain what it is? On top of that if we conclude that the 12701 owners vote for you to retain your seats on the City council then that is a large share of the votes. You as our representatives are putting much of the community to unnecessary trouble and huge additional expense. How do you expect to obtain our vote in subsequent elections with such an unpopular ordinance? In my opinion you are not representing the views of your electorate. Not only that but it will direct code enforcement staff away from the real function they are employed and of which the property tax payers pay their salary. The whole scheme needs a new look and I implore you to reconsider this unpopular intrusive ordinance. And if this is not changed what next? I know many owners who rents rooms or their full property through on -line web sites such as Airbnb ". Are they going to be investigated and inspected? This all smacks of a control state and not the freedom I expect of the USA. If contravention staff want something to concentrate on that why not check out the grossly inadequate toilet facilities in most of the bars and restaurants in SLO. Some of them placed very close to the kitchens where food is cooked without any intervening vented space. Please Reconsider, Dr Barry Jones 1/18/2016