02-12-2018 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, February 12, 2018 7:00 o'clock p.m. Elliott reiterated that the issue is not about noise and that the real issue is about safety. Elliott stated his daughter and son do not want to be outdoors when it is rented. Elliott indicated he and his son have also been knocked down by a Rotweiler. Elliott stated they do not know who these people are and that this is something that any of the council members would want to live next to. Elliott stated if they had a 15 -year-old son or daughter, they would not be having this discussion and an ordinance would be passed. Walsh stated in the past few years there have been issues raised about sex offenders and that it was said at the time that Orono doesn't have any problems with sex offenders. Walsh stated the Council did not want to have a problem and then pass an ordinance. Walsh stated the City Council passed that ordinance and soon after that a number of other communities followed Orono's lead. Walsh stated in his opinion this is along the same lines and that it is a philosophical issue and what type of community Orono wants to be. Walsh stated it comes down to whose property rights are more important and that the City has the right to regulate rentals. Jeanne Carter, 2780 Shadywood Road, stated she is here tonight to speak in support of Staff's recommendation which does not support an ordinance amendment that prohibits short-term rentals. Carter noted Staff s recommendation states that "prohibiting and severely restricting the short-term rental of a property owners' home impacts their property rights, actively punishes the 99 percent of property owners and renters that are respectful because of the one percent that does not." Carter stated she very much sympathizes with the gentleman who just spoke and that it is a horrible situation to be in because in her view that is the one problem the city faces. Carter stated it seems like common sense to her that the City Council does not go overboard on this and that there is a different way to handle this. Carter stated if they make a law that requires someone to have a minimum of 30 -day rentals, they are actually encouraging a transient community. Carter stated the longer someone stays in a property, the more comfortable they get and the more likely they are to have bad behavior. Carter commented this particular rental property seems to be quite the exception to the norm, but the City already has rules and laws to deal with some of those issues. Carter indicated she would like to see those laws continue to be enforced for those individuals who are affected by that. 19. #17-384 CITY OF ORONO: TEXT AMENDMENT: RENTAL LICENSING, VACATION RENTAL PROHIBITION — Continued Carter noted people come into the community for all kinds of reasons and that there are not very many accommodations around the lake. Carter stated the type of guests that they have are coming to the community because they grew up here and they are visiting friends and family, attending weddings, funerals, and so on. Carter commented she is not a landlord and that she does not want all the problems that come along with being a landlord. Carter stated in her view the City does not want to encourage more transient residency in the community, which is her concern with Options A and B. Carter encouraged the City Council to use the tools that they already have to deal with this problem property and let everyone else get on with doing their thing. Richie Anderson, 3205 Crystal Bay Road, stated he is trying to figure out why people in Orono have to rent their homes out to make extra money and that perhaps they should move elsewhere. Anderson stated it is basically the same as renting a boat slip out. Anderson stated he stands with his brother, because if it was his house and his kids, he would hope someone would stand with him to oppose it. Page 17 of 22