11-27-2017 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, November 13, 2017 7:00 o'clock p.m. 16. #17-3984 — CITY OF ORONO TEXT AMENDMENT: RENTAL LICENSING, VACATION RENTAL PROHIBITION — Continued it has been nice to see people enjoying the area. Whitaz stated in her view Orono is kind of a destination place and that the renters do spend their money at the local businesses. Seals asked what their minimum number of nights stay is. Whitaz indicated it is two. Whitaz stated it is a one -bedroom home but that it does sleep six people. Seals commented it is helpful that she is not an absent property owner. Whitaz stated there should be someone nearby monitoring the property. Seals asked if they are required to obtain a rental license or a permit from Spring Park. Whitaz stated they do not. Printup asked how she heard about this issue in Orono. Whitaz stated they were contacted by other vacation rental owners. Jeanne Carter, 2780 Shadywood Road, noted she addressed the City Council earlier on this issue approximately a year ago. Carter stated in her view there might be problems based on individual properties but to enact kind of an overreaching type of policy might not be the best way to address those individual problems. Carter indicated she and her husband moved to Orono a few years ago but that she used to run a traditional bed and breakfast in Excelsior. Carter stated she enjoys hosting and welcoming people to the community and that there is a real shortage of places for people to stay in this area. Being an Airbnb host is a way to welcome people to the community. Carter noted they are an owner -occupied rental property, and that when they have guests, they are there and have good control over the situation. Carter stated she does it on a limited basis and that the types of people that have stayed with them are people who are coming into the area for a wedding, a funeral, a reunion, or perhaps an anniversary, etc. Carter stated they are not getting large groups of party individuals and that she is particular about how she screens the guests. Carter stated she gets stressed out about a 30 -day minimum because then the person is becoming more of a landlord. The longer someone stays at a property, the more comfortable they get, and that's when the problems start. Carter stated she does not feel the City should be looking at a 30 -day guideline. Carter indicated she also has no problem with being licensed or paying some sort of registration fee. Carter stated she would question jumping on this as a huge issue when the issue is rather small and concentrated on one or two properties in the city. Dankey asked if her guests sign a contract. Page 5 of 17