2020 11 05 STVRP AD-HOC MinutesSTVR PROGRAM AD-HOC COMMITTEE Page 1 of 5 NOVEMBER 5, 2020
MEETING MINUTES
SHORT-TERM VACATION RENTAL
PROGRAM AD-HOC COMMITTEE
MINUTES
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2020
CALL TO ORDER
A regular meeting of the Short-Term Vacation Rental Program Ad-Hoc
Committee (Committee) was called to order at 4:01 p.m. by Committee
Secretary Lorett.
This meeting was held by teleconference pursuant to Executive Orders N-25-
20, N-29-20, N-33-20, and N-35-20, executed by the Governor of California
in response to the state of emergency relating to novel coronavirus disease
2019 (COVID-19) and enabling teleconferencing accommodations by
suspending or waiving specified provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act
(Government Code § 54950 et seq.).
ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Committee Members Best, Butler, Caldwell, Church,
Coronel, Franco, Grotsky, Jonasson, McDonough, Monroe,
Shelton, Spinney, Tamm and Chair Schutz
ABSENT: Committee Member Navarro
STAFF PRESENT: Design & Development Director Castro, Hub Manager
Sanchez, Permit Technician/Committee Secretary Lorett,
Public Safety Manager Mendez, Code Compliance Supervisor
Meredith, and Community Resources Director Escobedo
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Committee Secretary Lorett led the Committee in the Pledge of Allegiance.
PUBLIC COMMENTS ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA
Committee Secretary Lorett announced the following WRITTEN PUBLIC
COMMENTS were received as of 12:00 p.m., which were distributed to the
Committee, and incorporated into the agenda packet and public record of the
meeting:
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MEETING MINUTES
• Sandy and Tom Baak – commenting on the Short-Term Vacation Rental
(STVR) hotline;
• Greg Schierholz – requesting an extension of Executive Order No. 10
imposing a moratorium on new STVR permits and recommending tiered
permit fees;
• Charles Eckman – recommending stronger restrictions on STVRs, and
requesting enforcement assistance from the City for STVRs located
within residential communities with homeowner associations (HOAs);
• Keith Benham – requesting the termination of Executive Order No. 9
imposing stricter regulations on the use and occupation of STVRs;
• Anthony Amini and Richard LaBrie – providing suggestions to the
Committee to consider when making recommendations related to STVRs
for Council’s consideration;
• Carrie Babij – recommending how to improve the STVR program and
requesting the termination of Executive Order No. 10;
• Meagan Beavers, Arlene Gotshalk, and Jeffrey Smith – in opposition of
STVRs;
• Nelda Esmeralda – requesting new applications be accepted for
homeshare STVRs during the moratorium imposed by Executive Order
No. 10;
• Barbara (Barb) Montavon – commenting on over occupancy for STVRs
and monitoring advertisements for unlicensed properties;
• James Lewis – recommending improvements for the STVR program;
• David Dinnel – in support of STVRs and providing information on
volunteer services to assist the City in collecting data.
CONFIRMATION OF AGENDA
Chair Schutz requested to switch the agenda order by taking up the Business
Session items first, followed by Study Session. The Committee concurred.
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. APPROVE MEETING MINUTES OF OCTOBER 1, 2020
MOTION – A motion was made and seconded by Committee Members
Best/Caldwell to approve the Consent Calendar as submitted. Motion passed:
ayes 14, noes 0, absent 1 (Navarro).
REPORTS AND INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
1. CODE ENFORCEMENT UPDATE
Community Resources Director Escobedo provided an update on Code
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MEETING MINUTES
Enforcement activities:
• Staff is drafting a report to present to the City Council at the November
17, 2020, regular meeting outlining the STVR program’s
characteristics; the City’s past, current, and future objectives and
initiatives; and enforcement efforts;
• City Council approved one additional Code Compliance Officer position
on October 20, 2020;
• A weekly posting of active and suspended STVR properties is available
on the City website;
• Staff is preparing to send out Cease and Desist letters to all unlicensed
properties.
Director Escobedo answered related questions from Committee Members.
BUSINESS SESSION – items taken out of agenda order
1. APPROVE PERMITTING SUB-COMMITTEE REPORT WITH
RECOMMENDATIONS TO MODIFY SHORT-TERM VACATION
RENTAL PERMIT PROCESS AND REQUIREMENTS
Committee Member Jonasson provided an overview of the proposed
recommendations to modify the current STVR permit process and
requirements:
• Two types of permits – Homeshare and standard STVR;
• Minimum stay requirements;
• Neighbor notification of a new permit or permit renewal;
• Review of costs for STVR program to ensure all costs are fully covered
by permit/license fees;
• Permits shall be non-transferrable;
• Enhance City databases to improve enforcement and reporting of the
STVR program;
• Suspended STVR property addresses to be published on the City
website;
• Properties to be suspended for 6 months for operating without a permit
and denied a permit if this type of violation re-occurs.
MOTION – A motion was made and seconded by Committee Members
Monroe/Shelton to approve the permitting sub-committee report with
recommendations to modify short-term vacation rental permit process and
requirements. Motion passed: ayes 12, noes 2, absent 1 (Navarro).
2. APPROVE DENSITY SUB-COMMITTEE REPORT WITH
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MEETING MINUTES
RECOMMENDATIONS TO MODIFY SHORT-TERM VACATION
RENTAL OCCUPANCY LIMITS
Committee Member Best noted the Committee considered this item at the
October 1, 2020, meeting; and provided an overview of the proposed
recommendations, which were amended based on the comments and
feedback received from the Committee:
• Studio and 1-bedroom properties are not to be considered the same;
• Increase of Studio occupancy from 2 to 3 occupants, with one occupant
being 12 years of age or younger;
• Increase of 1-bedroom occupancy from 2 to 4 occupants, with 2
occupants being 12 years of age or younger;
• Maintain recommendation on occupancy level for 2-bedroom properties
at 4 occupants;
• Maintain recommendation on occupancy level for 3-bedroom properties
at 6 occupants.
MOTION – A motion was made and seconded by Committee Members
Caldwell/McDonough to approve the density sub-committee report with
recommendations to modify short-term vacation rental occupancy limits.
Motion passed: ayes 11, noes 3, absent 1 (Navarro).
3. APPROVE DENSITY SUB-COMMITTEE REPORT WITH
RECOMMENDATIONS TO INCLUDE SHORT-TERM VACATION
RENTAL PROPERTY DENSITY LIMITS
Committee Member Caldwell provided an overview of the proposed
recommendations for density limits on STVRs:
• Divide STVR community into 2 groups: homeshares and standard
STVRs;
• Homeshares would be exempt from density limitations;
• Single family STVR properties would be subject to one STVR property
per 300-foot radius of another permitted property;
• Condominium complexes consisting of 4 or more units would be subject
to 2 STVR properties per 300-foot radius;
• STVRs within Tourist Commercial Zones would be exempt from density
limitations;
• A variety of recommendations on how density recommendations can be
implemented successfully.
MOTION – A motion was made and seconded by Committee Members
Church/Spinney to approve density sub-committee report with
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MEETING MINUTES
recommendations to include short-term vacation rental property density
limits. Motion passed: ayes 10, noes 4, absent 1 (Navarro).
STUDY SESSION – items taken out of agenda order
1. DISCUSS MARKETING SUB-COMMITTEE REPORT AND UPDATE
Committee Member McDonough provided an update to the Committee on the
focus of the Marketing Sub-Committee. They will continue to work on a host
checklist, Good Neighbor/Good Guest brochure, develop host training and best
practices for hosts, create a violation notice/supplement for guests to receive,
and research the creation of a welcome video for guests.
Chair Schutz informed the Committee that all recommendations have been
approved, therefore no further sub-committee meetings are needed for
density, enforcement, and permitting.
The Committee reached a general consensus that the next regularly scheduled
Committee Meeting of December 3, 2020, will be the Committee’s final
meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by Committee
Members Franco/Grotsky to adjourn this meeting at 5:55 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
LORI LORETT, Committee Secretary
City of La Quinta, California