HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-14-17 Public Comment - A. Henkle - Short Term RentalsFrom:Amy Henkle
To:Agenda
Subject:Short term rentals 1974
Date:Monday, August 14, 2017 6:54:21 AM
Dear Honorable Mayor and City Commission,
I have kept quiet on the subject of short term rentals lately. No excuses, except I try to keep quiet in the public eye.
But, I have taken the time to read through the Commission Memorandum for the upcoming meeting. Though, I did
not understand it completely, I think I understand it well enough how it may affect myself and others, as home
owners that depend on this as our income.
I know it maybe too late to voice my concerns, but I felt I needed to speak out before the meeting.
Passing Ordinance 1974, regulating short term rentals, will affect me greatly. Mainly in two ways:
First, this is my main source of income and financial contribution, as I struggle with a physical syndrome that makes
it hard to hold down a full time “normal” job, this is what I have found to help me financially and also keep me
feeling like I am contributing, which is good for my mental health. I hope I will be one of the lucky ones and be
considered to be grandfathered in, since I have been in the business a few years now, but, there is that fear that I may
not be… especially since when I first started, I was told by the city that there wasn’t anything I needed to do…so, I
didn’t.
Secondly, because this being my main income and way to contribute in life, I don’t mind doing what it takes to stay
in business and paying reasonable bed taxes. BUT, what I am having a hard time understanding is the 1-2 bedroom
allowance and that the owner has to occupy the property 50% of the time. Mainly because it is harder to rent out a
home for vactioners (the type that are renting out my space) if I am there or only one or two bedrooms are available.
Offering only one or two bedrooms seems to be more in direct competition with the local hotel businesses, who
offer one room or possibly a suite for 4 people. But, my clientele are families or group of friends who want a place
they can relax in a common space, possibly do some BBQing, cook together, play board games, etc… and not in
direct competition of hotels. If all I can offer is one or two bedrooms and must share the space, I will lose about
90% of my customers, since only a few guests are wanting to share space with the owner or in need of a partial
space.
Finally, I take great pride in being a host and providing a place people can enjoy while they are in town for vacation,
in between moving, visiting family, friends, at workshops, temporary jobs, etc… I also, take extra care, that my
neighbors are not affected negatively and most of my neighbors enjoy having a vacation home nearby vs long term
tenants (loud college students, unkempt tenants,etc...). I have had families of my neighbors come and stay in my
homes and they love that their visitors can be within easy walking distance and be able to have a space they can all
gather in one place. More traditional places as hotels, can not provide this. Also, part of being successful at hosting
vacationers, it is based on reviews, so vacationers tend to be better behaved than longer term tenants, from my
experience.
So, if I can’t keep my home as a short term rental and ability to rent out as a whole space, I will be losing much of
my income that I have relied on and hoped to rely on for the future. As a person with a disability and facing daily
health struggles, it will be a hard hit to lose this part of my life. I know my neighbors who have enjoyed having
loved ones stay close by and past guests who have voiced they would like to return, will also be saddened by such
changes.
Sincerely,
Amy