11-27-2017 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

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 not a destination area such as Florida or Arizona and that it is a bedroom community of people who have lived here for a long time and who want to stay here to raise their kids. Walsh indicated he does not have any problem with requiring 30 -day rentals, which gets rid of the short-term issues. Walsh stated he would like to have a little carve out in the ordinance to allow for people who have owner -occupied homesteaded homes like the Carters who rent out a room here and there. Walsh stated in his view that would help alleviate those issues. Walsh stated if someone is going to have a non -homesteaded rental house to make money, Orono is not a destination rental community and that he would like to require a license and a 30 -day minimum stay. Crosby commented everybody has the right to enjoy their property and not be infringed upon. Crosby stated he would like to see something in the 30 -day range and that he would not have a problem carving something out for the owner -occupied rentals. Seals stated if they think about where the problems arise, it is when the property owner is out of state or otherwise absent regardless if the property is homesteaded or not. Seals questioned whether they would be overcomplicating it with the carve out. Seals stated in her view they can have a short-term rental for less than 30 days if the property owner lives in the state and has a manager for the property, but the moment they or the renters break the rules, they are gone. Walsh noted in Minnesota, in order to kick somebody out, the landlord needs to go to court, and that the renter has certain legal rights. Seals stated the person who is renting the property can lose their rental license. Walsh concurred that a rental license should be a requirement and that their contact information or that of a manager needs to be on file with the City. Walsh stated when things happen on the weekend, the City Hall is closed and that information has to be in the hands of City Staff and the Police Department. Walsh agreed there also has to be some type of strike system and that the landlord should lose their ability to rent for, say, 12 months, but then can reapply. Seals stated the type of people and the amount of people would change drastically if the property owner knew they were at risk of losing their ability to rent. Walsh stated in order to not promote Orono as a transient community, he would like to see 30 days for a minimum stay. Seals stated she struggles with the 30 days because most people do not rent a place for 30 days and they are more likely to rent a place for a week. Walsh stated the people who rent for 30 days are people who might be here for a job versus a party, a family reunion, etc. Dankey indicated she has stayed in Vrbos and that she has always had a good experience. Dankey noted there are a couple of people on Casco Point that have Vrbos and that she has talked to the neighbors and Page 7of17