04-25-2016 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, April 11, 2016 7:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 29 of 32 16. #15-3759 CITY OF ORONO TEXT AMENDMENT – SHORT-TERM (VACATION) RENTALS (continued) Mattick stated the City does not need to inspect the buildings or conduct background checks. The impetus behind the ordinance was that some lakeshore owners expressed concern about different people renting out a house in their neighborhood for a weekend at a time. If the home is not owner-occupied, the City wants to know who to contact in the event problems come up. Mattick stated the City can choose to place further conditions on the property owner if it chooses. Mattick stated the question currently before the courts is what the City can inspect on a residential property. One of the arguments is that since there is not an open building permit, the City cannot require a lot of those updates. Walsh stated it is similar to a home occupation in that the City is not approving the business or the people who come to the home. Walsh stated it might be good to have some language in the ordinance that says the City is not endorsing this business or property. McMillan noted the neighbors will not have a lot of say in the business license process and that she will need to see the business license form to comment further. McMillan stated she also does not feel that someone should pay $50 simply to provide some contact information. McMillan stated when the owners are onsite, it typically is not a problem. Mattick stated as long as the person meets the criteria for the license, there is no opportunity for the neighbors to come in and comment on it. Mattick stated unless the person violates the terms of the license, there really is nothing the City can do. Walsh stated right now they can do anything they want. McMillan stated she is aware of some issues and that the letter the City sent last year helped to some extent but it did not solve everything. Walsh stated he is not aware of any huge problems. Barnhart stated the Council could elect to table it tonight and that Staff will continue to collect information over the summer. Barnhart stated if there are complaints, Staff could send another letter to the known properties. Barnhart stated the Council could perhaps look at it again in the fall. McMillan stated another article in the newsletter on short-term rentals would be helpful. Walsh stated having the discussion is helping to make people aware of the situation and the issues. Carter suggested the City keep statistics on short-term rentals and long-term rentals separate. McMillan stated she also would like to enclose a public notice in the newsletter if the Council has another public hearing on this item. Knutson noted the situation described by Jeanne Carter is not what he is talking about.