Task Force to Study Short-Term Vacation Rentals
Cathedral City witnessed a case study on democracy in action on Wednesday evening (June 26) as residents and property owners packed the Council chambers to make their voices heard on the topic of Short-Term Vacation Rentals (STVR). More that twenty speakers provided public comments to the City Council during a discussion lasting almost two hours. The Council listened to all speakers and carefully considered the comments provided. Ultimately, they passed an urgency ordinance imposing a temporary moratorium on the issuance of new STVR permits in the City. In a compromise among the Councilmembers, they agreed to an exemption allowing potential STVR operators who had already applied, but who had not yet received their permit, to continue through the review and approval process. The objective of the moratorium is to stop the clock while a soon to be appointed task force studies the issue of STVRs.
The task force will begin their work in July with three primary objectives:
- The task force will review current regulations governing the operation of STVRs in the City and recommend new or improved regulations to the City Council.
- The task force will evaluate the enforcement of STVR regulations and suggest ways to strengthen or otherwise improve enforcement efforts.
- The task force will study the effect of concentrations of STVRs on neighborhoods and develop suggestions on ways to address any identified negative effects.
Council has asked for a report and recommendations from the task force within the next six months or by the end of the year. The task force will be comprised of a balanced mix of permanent neighborhood residents and STVR owners and managers to assure that all points of view are considered. The Council’s use of a task force to provide advice and suggestion is consistent with their adopted goal to engage residents to be more active in our community through civic affairs and volunteering.
