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