The city had an item on its agenda this past week that would have limited short term rentals in single family neighborhoods. The proposal would have prevented residents from renting their homes for less than 90 days. I spoke against this proposed ordinance at the meeting, and the commission held off on deciding the issue.
I opposed this proposal because I think it tries to correct a problem that can be fixed with existing laws. The idea first surfaced after complaints were made about some loud and unruly college students who were renting a house for spring break. Some on the commission wanted to know if it was possible to limit these types of rentals.
The city came back with a proposal that would prohibit renting a house for less than 90 days. In my speech, I raised how the proposal would have an extremely negative impact on residents throughout the city at a time when many are already struggling with making ends meet. The proposal went way too far in addressing the problem with loud and unruly renters.
