CC 2022-03-22_11a Supplemental 1
MEMORANDUM
TO: City Council
FROM: Jessica Matson, Legislative & Information Services Director/City Clerk
SUBJECT: Supplemental Information
Agenda Item 11.a. – Study Session Regarding Short Term Rentals
(Vacation Rentals and Homestays) and Potential Revisions to the
City’s Short Term Rental Ordinance
DATE: March 22, 2022
Attached is correspondence received prior to 4:00 p.m. for the above referenced item.
cc: City Manager
Assistant City Manager/Public Works Director
Community Development Director
City Attorney
City Clerk
City Website (or public review binder)
1
Jessica Matson
From:Jim Guthrie <
Sent:Tuesday, March 22, 2022 12:12 PM
To:Caren Ray Russom; Jimmy Paulding; Keith Storton; Kristen Barneich; Lan George
Cc:Jessica Matson
Subject:Comments for 3/22 council meeting
Mayor and Council Members
Just a quick note for tonight's item on STR’s.
A few things that might be helpful in making a decision.
What is the actual TOT revenue from STR’s (2021 or the city fiscal year 2020‐2021). If the revenue is less than $30,000,
we should consider whether it is worthwhile to have STR’s at all.
Has any other city of our size banned STR’s completely? If there is going to be a second hearing, could we find out how
the enforced it.
I don’t think we have a good handle on how impactful STR’s are on their neighborhood. The few appeals we have heard
demonstrate that the neighbors do not know how or where to report problems. While I doubt that we would find wide
spread problems we may be able identify the problems that are out there. I recognize that we do not have enough staff
time to check in with each neighbor, but we could send out a letter to the immediate neighbor of each STR inviting them
to email their experience with the STR.
A few ideas to improve the current program.
1 Send out a letter to the immediate neighbors of each STR with the current STR contact every year as part of the
licensing process.
2 Test the contact to ensure that they meet the response requirements i.e., verify that they will respond in the required
time period and what their current address is.
3 Prioritize the 2nd criteria for revoking the license/approval that requires that they are actually using it for the intended
use. At least require that they have a current license and probably that they have a reported rental and TOT in the last
year.
4 Consider an extra level of findings for STRs in PUDs or where ever there are special conditions even if they are in the
CC&Rs, particularly around parking or access (fire lanes, long driveways or shared entry or walls). The education of each
guest is difficult but necessary to make the change use work for each of the neighbors.
Thanks
1
Jessica Matson
From:Kevin Buchanan <
Sent:Tuesday, March 22, 2022 10:10 AM
To:public comment
Subject:Item 11.a - Short Term Rental Ordinance
Councilmembers and staff,
I'm writing support changes to the existing short term rental ordinance that further restrict short term rentals in
the city. The prevalence of short term rentals in Arroyo Grande is removing much needed housing from the
market, and strips neighborhoods of the actual neighbors that actively contribute to our communities.
I support the following changes to the short term rental ordinance:
1. Set a cap on the available vacation rental permits. 3% of the existing rental housing stock is already too
much. I recommend capping vacation rentals at 1% of the total rental housing market.
2. Move all vacation rental permits to planning commission review. Planning commission is already hearing
appeals of most of the vacation rental permits, which leaves the PC in a reactive state, making it harder to
provide positive guidance and recommendations for vacation rental planning and implementation in the city.
3. Expand the buffer between vacation rentals. Neighborhoods should be for neighbors.
4. Expire permits after 2 years. Allow neighbors and the planning commission to re-assess the impacts of any
given vacation rental, rather than binding the permission in perpetuity and thereby raising the stakes of the
singular approval. Keep a waiting list for vacation rental permits, and move holders of expired permits to the
back of the waiting list every 2 years.
5. Increase enforcement of unpermitted vacation rentals. I know for a fact that there are unpermitted vacation
rentals currently operating in Arroyo Grande. Grover Beach uses Host Compliance for enforcement, and by all
accounts has been successfully enforcing their ordinance.
Kevin Buchanan
Arroyo Grande Planning Commission