HomeMy WebLinkAbout3D - Public Comment-----Original Message-----
From: Chris <chrismariebinge@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, October 13, 2022 10:08 PM
To: Llubi Rios <Llubi.Rios@palmspringsca.gov>
Subject: Please vote against the moratorium
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>>
>>> Council member Llubi Rios,
>>>
>>>
>>>>> I would like to ask you to Please vote against a moratorium against new str applications. I
understand the city wants more time to discuss capping STRs.
>>>>>
>>>>> However, even the talk of the moratorium has crushed the value of my home and potential to sell
and get out under this loan. The majority of people looking to buy homes want the option to str when
they are away in the hot months. Our economy is already headed for a downturn with rising inflation
and a normal correction in real estate coupled with rising interest rates and a coming recession. A
moratorium is going to hurt all of the homeowners. The entire city depends on the vacation industry.
Just vote to add the cap if you really want to and put out the rules. Allow the licenses to be transferable
and go from there. Why not just not put a cap and let the industry auto correct?
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Did any of the analysts account for the world we are in now when they did their study? Are any of
these people analyzing the economy, housing market, inflation, raising rates etc? The market is auto
correcting now. A moratorium and cap will send all homeowners in a worst recession than 2008. Get
ready for an empty city ,a wave of foreclosures and vacant homes. Palm Springs …from vacation
destination to Detroit. Vacant homes and lots of crime.
>>>>>
>>>>> Please do not kill our economy and housing market with a 45 day to one year moratorium.
>>>>>
>>>>> Thank you for your consideration.
>>>>>
>>>>> Christine Binge
>>>
-----Original Message-----
From: Jerome Mickelson <jeromeemickelson@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, October 13, 2022 4:12 PM
To: Llubi Rios <Llubi.Rios@palmspringsca.gov>
Subject: STR Freeze and Cap
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
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attachments unless you are sure the content is safe.
Dear mayor,
I own a home in Palm Springs and the buyer backed out because they are nervous about the potential
freeze on freeze.
As you are probably aware, the fed is aggressively raising interest rates, which is causing a slow down in
the real estate market.
The combination of the license freeze and the rate increases will cause a huge drop in housing prices
that will leave many home owners in a bad position.
I’m worried I will lose my home or need to sell at a substantial loss.
Please consider the many home owners in Palm Springs that will be impacted by the license freeze.
At least consider allowing any houses being purchased to have their application completed so people
have time to prepare for the upcoming cap.
Sent from my iPhone
From: Ron Opaleski <ropaleski@gmail.com>
Date: October 19, 2022 at 6:41:56 PM PDT
To: Veronica Goedhart <Veronica.Goedhart@palmspringsca.gov>
Cc: Christy Holstege <Christy.Holstege@palmspringsca.gov>, Teresa Gallavan
<Teresa.Gallavan@palmspringsca.gov>, Llubi Rios <Llubi.Rios@palmspringsca.gov>, Cindy Cairns
<Cindy.Cairns@palmspringsca.gov>, Zsuzsanna Cohen <zsuzsanna.cohen@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: Short Term Rental Ordinance / I'm in escrow
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I feel this is very unfair for someone in our situation who had no idea about a possible residential
requirement when making a decision to buy a second home. I urge the council to reconsider exemptions
for families who are in a similar position as ours.
Will this residential requirement apply to all new home owners in Palm Springs? or only new home
owners who request an STR permit?
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
On Wed, Oct 19, 2022 at 5:37 PM Veronica Goedhart <Veronica.Goedhart@palmspringsca.gov> wrote:
Hi Ron –
You are correct, there was discussion that new permit holders would be required to live in
their home for 90 days per calendar year. This timeframe was the number referenced;
however, it has not been determined yet. Discussion regarding enforcement including
signed attestations, requesting travel receipts and receipts evidencing using Palm Springs
businesses. Again, this only discussion – nothing has been determined. Exemptions for
this requirement would not be applicable for new permits, your permit would be deemed a
new permit. Current permit holders would have a time frame, yet to be determined, for
this requirement.
Veronica E. Goedhart
Director, Department of Special Program Compliance
Office – 760-322-8370 / Ext. 8370
Email: veronica.goedhart@palmspringsca.gov
CONFIDENTIAL COMMUNICATION: This message is for the sole use of the intended recipients and may
contain confidential material, legally privileged information, and/or information exempt from disclosure
under applicable law. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you have
received this e-mail in error, please so notify the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the
original.
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
From: Ron Opaleski <ropaleski@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, October 19, 2022 5:29 PM
To: Veronica Goedhart <Veronica.Goedhart@palmspringsca.gov>
Cc: Christy Holstege <Christy.Holstege@palmspringsca.gov>; Teresa Gallavan
<Teresa.Gallavan@palmspringsca.gov>; Llubi Rios <Llubi.Rios@palmspringsca.gov>; Cindy Cairns
<Cindy.Cairns@palmspringsca.gov>; Zsuzsanna Cohen <zsuzsanna.cohen@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: Short Term Rental Ordinance / I'm in escrow
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Veronica,
I watched this week’s city council meeting to follow the STR discussion and I came away with more
questions than answers. I’m hoping you can help clarify what I heard and what the next steps are for
the council and for me as a recent homeowner in Palm Springs (we closed escrow on Oct 17).
There was discussion about owners perhaps being required to live in the house for a certain amount of
time to qualify for an STR permit. Is that accurate? Would this same requirement be made of anyone
who buys a new home in Palm Springs whether they apply for an STR permit or not? How would this be
enforced?
In your below email you made reference that exemptions could be made for someone in our position
who were in escrow as potential STR changes were being discussed. Again, we closed escrow on Oct 17th
so how would we have known about a possible requirement to reside in the house for any amount of
time when it was just brought up at this council meeting. I encourage you to consider an exemption in
this case, as we bought a second home without knowing about this possibility.
Look forward to your feedback.
Thanks,
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
Ron Opaleski
310-344-2174
On Mon, Oct 10, 2022 at 11:24 AM Veronica Goedhart <Veronica.Goedhart@palmspringsca.gov> wrote:
Mr. Opaleski –
At the September 29th City Council meeting, near the close of the vacation rental
discussion, the subject of a moratorium was discussed. Specific inquiry regarding when to
“cut-off” the submission of new applications. The council discussed setting a date
retroactive to the posting date of the agenda, September 22nd, as the cut off date. That
has not been determined at this time; however, all applications submitted are being
warned that a permit may not be issued. The exemptions discussed would remain,
applications submitted prior to 09/22, homes that closed escrow within 30 days of 09/22,
and homes could be transferred from agency to individual operated would be processed. I
urge you to continue to watch the meetings for additional and emerging information
regarding vacation rental permitting.
Thank you.
Veronica E. Goedhart
Director, Department of Special Program Compliance
Office – 760-322-8370 / Ext. 8370
Email: veronica.goedhart@palmspringsca.gov
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
CONFIDENTIAL COMMUNICATION: This message is for the sole use of the intended recipients and may
contain confidential material, legally privileged information, and/or information exempt from disclosure
under applicable law. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you have
received this e-mail in error, please so notify the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the
original.
From: Christy Holstege <Christy.Holstege@palmspringsca.gov>
Sent: Monday, October 10, 2022 9:02 AM
To: Ron Opaleski <ropaleski@gmail.com>; Veronica Goedhart
<Veronica.Goedhart@palmspringsca.gov>; Teresa Gallavan <Teresa.Gallavan@palmspringsca.gov>;
Llubi Rios <Llubi.Rios@palmspringsca.gov>; Cindy Cairns <Cindy.Cairns@palmspringsca.gov>
Cc: Zsuzsanna Cohen <zsuzsanna.cohen@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: Short Term Rental Ordinance / I'm in escrow
Thank you for emailing me about this. I understand your concerns. I’ve copied city staff to get you a
reply on this. Happy to help in any way.
Thank you,
Christy Gilbert Holstege, Esq.
Councilmember
District 4
City of Palm Springs
On Oct 10, 2022, at 8:07 AM, Ron Opaleski <ropaleski@gmail.com> wrote:
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
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Dear Council Member Holstege:
I am writing to you for your guidance on a pressing matter regarding the short term rental
ordinance. My wife and I are currently in escrow on a home in South Palm Springs in the neighborhood
of the Tahquitz Creek Golf Course with a closing date of October 19th. I believe we are in your district!
We are very concerned about the potential cap on short term rental permits and the impact it has on us.
As a Los Angeles based family we have vacationed in Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley for many
years and have fallen in love with the area. We have looked in earnest to buy a property in the Tahquitz
Creek Golf Neighborhood for close to two years, finally finding a home that is perfect for our
family. This is a major investment for us and we budgeted for short term rental income to help offset
our costs. We are not a development company looking to acquire multiple properties, this is a second
home for us, our child and our future. We plan on spending many weekends and holidays there, inviting
relatives from the east coast to visit the desert and ultimately to retire there.
It is our understanding from watching the recent city council meeting, that any potential cap on permits
would not be put in place until 30 days after the adoption of an ordinance. There were multiple
mentions of our situation being exempt as we are currently in escrow on a home. However, later in the
meeting there was reference to a retroactive date where permit requests would no longer be accepted
and this language has now been added to the application on the city's website. Protecting people that
are currently in escrow as this ordinance is being debated only seems fair and sounded like the intent of
the council.
Can you please provide some clarity?
Will our short term vacation permit be accepted after our closing date ?
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
We are looking for feedback and assurances from the council as we do not want to pull out of escrow,
but are honestly confused and concerned.
We love this home and would be heartbroken to lose it. We want to stay committed to Palm Spring and
the desert community we love and aspire to live in full time.
We look forward to your feedback.
Sincerely,
Ron Opaleski
310-344-2174
Future address:
2405 S. Brentwood Drive
Palm Springs, CA 92264
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
From:danachaban@aol.com
To:Lisa Middleton; Dennis Woods; Christy Holstege; Geoff Kors; Grace Garner
Cc:Patrick Clifford; City Clerk
Subject:FURTHER INFORMATION/SUGGESTION ON VACATION RENTAL (STR) PROCESS
Date:Tuesday, October 18, 2022 1:00:30 PM
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unless you are sure the content is safe.
Dear Councilmembers and City Staff:
Monday evening during public comment (10/17/22) I alluded to educating/training of home owners new to
the permit and STR process, and their non-professional managers they might have hired (a friend, a
neighbor, as opposed to a professional home management business such as ACME House.) Perhaps it
could be required even in the permit renewal process.
My direct experience has been that most if not all STR Owners and their management person are not
trained on the city's rules/ordinances.
EXAMPLE - we like the homeowner behind us but has his housekeeper greeting the renters, and
apparently does not read the rules to the renter. It is only one of 2 rental properties in our neighborhood
where as many as 5 neighbors have had to constantly call the Hot Line for 24 hour loud music and
screaming party-goers. Fines were issued on 3 occasions that we know of. The owner was also fined
and then he suffers because he did not properly train his manager. We want families and guests to enjoy
their stay, but . . . .
In contrast, homes managed by such companies as ACME or other, renters are asked to read and sign
the 3-fold rule pamphlet (the one that Suzanne and Boris developed when they established the
department.). The renters are quiet and respectful. We hear children, and that's totally fine.
During public comment, I mentioned “The Brown Act,” because we - as elected officials, commissioners
or trustees - must attend the education session each year.
SIMILARLY, the permit application process should have the home owner AND their non-professional
manager attend a short session (**), learn the rules, their duties and obligations under their STR permit,
and be certified. It is at this time, they can ask questions..
[** Attending could be in person, via ZOOM, or in written form wherein the permit applicant reads each
rule, initials each rule showing evidence that he/she read it, then sign & date the list and submit it to the
Rental Office at City Hall to be placed in their file(s). I can help implementing this step or discuss further,
if you wish.].
As I said at the beginning of my public comment, I was pleased to hear Mayor Middleton's clarification of
recent direction on this issue, which "shaved off a minute of my comments."
Thank you all so much.
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO FORWARD THIS E-MAIL TO OTHER CITY STAFF, TO STR COMMITTE
MEMBERS OR OTHERS WHOM YOU FEEL WOULD BENEFIT FROM MY INPUT.
Sincerely,
Donna Chaban-Delmas
P O Box 2461
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
Palm Springs 92263
(760) 449-0021
** IN MEMORY OF JOEL SOLARI, FRIEND
AND 20 YEAR DIRECTOR OF ADA PROGRAMS,
CITY OF BORDEAUX. **
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
From: Ken Hedrick <kenhedrick1949@live.com>
Date: October 17, 2022 at 4:26:22 PM PDT
To: Christy Holstege <Christy.Holstege@palmspringsca.gov>
Subject: Vacation Rental Policy
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attachments unless you are sure the content is safe.
Mayor Lisa Middleton, Mayor Pro Tem Grace Garner, and Council Members, Kors, Holstege, and Woods
For full disclosure purposes, I am an Alternate on the Administrative Appeals Board, and my opinions
have not been expressed to, or endorsed by any of the Board Members. They are solely my own as a
resident of Palm Springs. In addition, the Board has made separate recommendations to the Council for
improving the City’s Short-term Vacation Rental Ordinance which I hope will be given future
consideration.
I have read the report of the special committee on Short-Term Vacation Rentals and would like to state
my opposition to their findings. Limiting short-term vacation rentals to 10% of each neighborhood will
be punitive to those that have not applied for a permit. I talked to a couple of real estate agents and was
told that not having the ability to get a permit will affect the resale value of my home up to 30%...money
that I will need when I go into some type of continuing care facility in the future.
What is more troubling is that in 2018, just four years ago, voters overwhelmingly approved the vacation
rental ordinance and those rules have been strictly enforced. Some neighborhoods have HOAs
forbidding vacation rentals and residents have a choice when buying a home of living in those
neighborhoods. As a compromise, why not give each neighborhood the option to limit vacation rentals.
That to me seems a fairer process than doing a blanket 10% cap. Also, I believe most homeowners have
not had the chance to digest the proposed capped since most of the discussions took place over the
summer.
Palm Springs’ economy is fragile because of its tourist dependency. When the country gets a cold, Palm
Springs gets pneumonia. Home prices are static in some places and falling in the Bay Area, San Diego,
and Los Angeles. Already, according to Zillow, my home value is down 3% from the peak. It will not take
much to cause a serious decline in home prices in Palm Springs and that decline will hurt condominium
and middle-income single-family homeowners the most.
If the real issue is the lack of affordable housing for low- and middle-income families, then deal with that
issue directly and do something that will solve the problem. The City has a healthy revenue stream from
short term vacation rentals, so why not devote some of that income to providing affordable housing.
One option for consideration is as follows:
1. The City is looking at purchasing the 119-acre plot from the College of the Desert. The land can
potentially support the construction of over thirteen hundred units ranging from the low to
middle income.
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
2. The City maintains ownership of the land thereby eliminating the need of the ultimate residents
to have to pay their proportionate share of property tax as it pertains to the land. It will also
allow the City to dictate how the land is developed and more importantly, keep whatever is
built, affordable for the long term.
3. The City will pay for the infrastructure for streets, water, sewer, electrical service, parks, and
recreational amenities.
4. The City will increase the Short-Term Vacation Rental license fee by 50% to $1,425 and the TOT
for short term vacation rentals to 14% of the daily rent. The increase will NOT apply to
hotels/motels. The increases will discourage rentals in lower price units as well as bring in an
extra $6.5 mm in TOT revenues.
5. All units will be electric only, solar powered with back-up batteries. Tax credits for the solar will
be monetized.
6. Land use and unit mix:
Area
Size / acres Unit mix
1
5 150 Low-income units
2
2.5 75 transitional / very low-
income units
3
25 500 Low/moderate income
co-ops
4 59 590 single-family middle-
income units
Infrastructure/ streets, bike paths, sidewalks
18
Community facilities
10
Total 119 1315 units
1. Area 1: 150 Units on five acres nearest North Palm Canyon, consisting of very low-
income studio and one-bedroom units for those on disability or retirement social
security. Each unit will be fully handicapped accessible. Studios will be 400 square foot
($170 per square foot x 400 = $70,000) and the one bedroom will be 575 square feet
($170 per square foot x 575 = $97,750). With an equal split, cost of the section will be
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
$12,581,250. Rent includes power, water/sewer and waste pickup and is assumed to be
less than $500 per unit. $400 will go to management/services/repair/replacement,
insurance and $100 will be allocated to debt service.
2. Area 2: 75 units of transitional / very low-income studio and one-bedroom apartments
on 2 ½ acres of land for people who were homeless and coming out of the Navigation
Center. Each unit will be fully handicapped accessible. Studios will be 400 square feet
($170 per square foot x 400 = $70,000) and the one bedroom will be 575 square feet
($170 per square foot x 575 = $97,750). Any rent collected will be used to pay utilities,
administrative overhead, management, repair/replacement. The costs of this section
will be $6,300,000.
3. Area 3: 500 units of low / moderate income co-op apartment units on 25 acres,
consisting of one- and two-bedroom units with and average size of 600 sq feet for a one
bedroom (600 x $200 per sq ft = $120,000) and 800 square feet for a two bedroom (800
x $200 per sq ft = $160,000). Total cost of the project is approximately $70 million.
Using the NY State Mitchell Lama Program as a model which was responsible for the
construction of thousands of middle-income units including Co-op City, residents will
buy shares of the co-op which gives them the right to lease a unit at a cost of $500.00
per room or $1,500 for a 1-bedroom and $2,000 for a 2-bedroom. Closing costs will be
exceptionally low since the tenant is purchasing shares in the Co-op, not real property.
Tenants must meet certain income requirements to purchase a unit, and on an annual
basis, certify that they still meet the income limitations. If their income exceeds the
limitations, they will be charged a surcharge on their rent which will go into the
repair/replacement fund.
The neighborhood co-op board will approve the resident’s purchase of shares of the
building and entering a lease of a unit. The Board also has a right to terminate the lease
of any disruptive or non-paying tenants and refund their share price less unpaid rent.
Lease terminations will be easier because it is a co-op, not a rental property.
Tenants will be able to deduct their proportionate share of the property tax and interest
on the master mortgage. At the time of sale, the tenant can sell the applicable shares at
their appreciated value, which will be restricted to the annual cost of living index. This
will preserve the low /middle income apartments for the long term.
The City will subsidized 50% of the building costs, (effectively, 50% owner of the
buildings). The Co-op will obtain a mortgage for its share from the private market for the
remaining 50% of the costs. This will allow monthly cost to the tenant to be $900 to
1,000 per month with $600 allocated to utilities, management fee, property taxes,
hazard insurance, community solar system, repair/replacement reserve and community
recreation facilities. The mortgage part of the monthly will be between $300 and $400
depending on the size of the unit. Required Income to qualify will be $31,100 a month
with a cap income of $60,000.
The units will be divided into five neighborhood associations consisting of 100 units.
Each neighborhood will have their own board elected by the tenants. The City, as 50%
owner, will have the right to overrule any actions of the Co-op Board.
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
4. Area 4: 590 units of two story, single-family moderate-income housing consisting of 3-,
4- and 5-bedroom units with 2-bathrooms, average size – 1,500 square feet on 4,000
square foot lots. Assuming construction cost at $225 per square foot, a 1600 sq ft four-
bedroom plus $100 square foot for the 2-car garage, units will sell for approximately
$400,000. Price includes a solar system and one battery.
5% down payment plus $20,000 in closing costs: $40,000
Estimated Federal Tax Credit for solar system $10,000
30-year mortgage at 6% on $360,000 $2,082
Property tax on the house (1.35% including assessments) 450
Fire/earthquake/hazard insurance 250
Community HOA Recreation Facilities 60
Total monthly excluding water/sewer, trash,
cable/internet:
$2,842
Estimated qualifying income at 36%:
$94,733
The owner is saving on property taxes and is buying into the development where the
City provided the basic infrastructure and is controlling the markup on the units. The
City also has the option to subsidize the interest rate on the mortgages. A one percent
subsidy per year would be $2.3 million a year and will save the homeowner $230 a
month on the mortgage payment.
At the time of sale, the unit must be sold back to the city at the original purchase price
plus an inflation factor, less any major repair/replacement costs.
Annual cost to the City:
City Financed Private
Market
Financed
Income
from
units
Land
purchase:
$5,700,000
Infrastructure: 10,000 per
unit:
13,150,000
Area 1 150 units 12,600,000 180,000
Area 2 75 units 6,300,000
Area 3 500 units 35,000,000 35,000,000
Area 4 590 units 236,000,000
Recreation 6,000,000
$78,750,000 $271,000,000
City financed: $78,750,000 @ 5.5% (Combination of both taxable and tax-exempt
bonds:
Debt service outlay per year: $5.4mm plus maintenance/administration of $3mm
(estimate) = Outlay of $8mm charged to the TOT income from Short Term Vacation
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
Rentals. Each 1% subsidiary one the single-family mortgages will be an additional $2.3
million a year.
This is a rough summary of one of the options available to the City. Please let me know if
you have any questions or if I can be of assistance. Thank you for reading.
Best,
s/s Ken Hedrick
Robert K Hedrick Jr
1055 East Deepwell Road
Palm Springs, CA 92264
415.990.6536
Sent from Mail for Windows
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
From: Eric Johnson <ejohnla@yahoo.com>
Sent: Monday, October 17, 2022 10:55 AM
To: Llubi Rios <Llubi.Rios@palmspringsca.gov>
Subject: Short Term Rentals
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attachments unless you are sure the content is safe.
Dear Councilmembers,
My name is Eric Johnson, I live on East Adobe Way where I’ve owned a home for over 10 years. Next-
door to me, on both sides, are rental properties, and behind me are two additional rentals. At one time
three of these were short term rentals and one was a long-term rental. Since Covid the homes on either
side of me have become ‘long-term‘ rentals with two short term rentals behind me.
During this time the only property that we have had challenges with is the long-term rental next to
us. This opinion is shared by most of the cul-de-sac, I believe. I would much prefer living next-door to a
short term rental with code enforcement and noise restrictions, than a long-term rental that is
dependent on absentee management, and the courts to enforce any nuisance behaviors.
Regarding restricting the number of vacation rentals in the city, I am opposed but if you do that I think it
is smart if you take in consideration how many long-term rentals a given individual has and whether or
not they live in the city and are part of our community. I have recently purchased a new home and
would like to make my old home a vacation rental, it is a block away. I am a retired long-term member
of this neighborhood in this community. You are now arbitrarily considering denying me the
opportunity to take advantage of what investors and out of town individuals have been doing for years.
I have been coming to Palm Springs since the 1960s. My father use to rent homes from ads out of the
Wall Street Journal to stay here for a month during the winter. Vacation rentals are not a new
occurrence. Additionally turning a short term vacation rental into a 30 days or longer long-term rental
will not improve the neighborhood or community, and in fact may have a negative impact on
neighborhoods and property values.
Considering the cool down of the real estate market, the incredible economic benefit to residents,
businesses, employees and the City, I strongly urge you not to move forward with limiting arbitrarily the
number of short term rentals, or any significant change to a very effective ordinance and program at this
time.
Thank you for your time,
Eric
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
From:Info Info
To:City Clerk
Subject:Re: Public comments for 10-17-22 City Council Meeting
Date:Monday, October 17, 2022 6:26:48 PM
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attachments unless you are sure the content is safe.
Written comments re: STR item 3D public comment session:
Short term rental comments to PS city council. 10/18/22
My name is Jeffrey Mauk.
I was one of the 11 Palm Springs residents selected to participate in the short term rental work group commissioned
by our city.
PS has a house and condo population of approximately 35,000 units, and a STR permit level of approximately
2500. Just 10%.
However it was immediately clear that those in the business of profiting from STR growth were over represented in
this work group. There was inadequate representation by the vast majority of PS residents who are impacted
negatively by STRs. They had little to no voice at the table. I tried to speak for them.
I live in Escena, whose HOA prohibits rentals less than 30 days.
Prior to moving to Palm Springs in 2019, I lived for over 30 years in San Francisco. Both tourism based economies
and tourism tax revenue dependent.
Thus I am well aware of our city’s need to balance our tourism industry, our city budget and the quality of life for
permanent year round residents.
I have friends who own short term rentals, friends who use short term rentals, friends who live in neighborhoods
surrounded by short term rentals, and friends who are strongly opposed to short term rentals due to their negative
impact on the sense of community amongst their now constant transient neighbors.
I strongly encourage our city council to not only enact this proposed STR permit moratorium… but also to adopt the
STR work group’s recommendations to cap total STRs at 2500 and a 10% density cap per neighborhood. The
recommended 20% is unfathomable for those who are surrounded by commercial business in residential
neighborhoods.
This very conservative recommendation will not result in any loss of existing permits. And sadly will take decades
to rectify the extreme STR density in many residential neighbor- hoods, such as Racquet Club, which are now like
living inside an actual commercial zone.
I am also of the opinion that STRs in PS do in fact remove existing long term rental housing stock from the market.
And also are one of many reasons why we have such a chronic problem with stalled hotel and motel projects. Hotel-
motel occupancy remains stagnant in the pre-Covid 60% range, despite our city council and airport bragging about
the post Covid tourism industry booming here. These tourists are driving the STR demand.
We allow private homes in residential neighborhoods to house tourists instead of hotels which are located in
commercial districts. And at the same time do not even require the STRs to adhere to the same regulations, such as
ADA compliance and accessibility, as we do for hotels.
The proliferation of STRs with less stringent rules, seems to be creating the very same uneven playing field, which
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
years ago allowed Amazon to unfairly steal business away from many now closed brick and mortar businesses.
> On Oct 17, 2022, at 8:26 AM, Info Info <info@sfbackdoorboys.com> wrote:
>
> I would like to participate in the public comments portion at the Monday, 10-17-22 , PS City Council Meeting.
>
> FYI- I was a member of the recently commissioned Short Term Rental Wok Group.
>
> Jeffrey Mauk
> 4941 Frey Way, PS, CA 92262
> 415-533-4614
> info@sfbackdoorboys.com
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
From:Doug Prochaska
To:City Clerk
Subject:Public Comment - Item 3-D on the October 17, 2022 Agenda
Date:Monday, October 17, 2022 3:26:40 PM
NOTICE: This message originated outside of The City of Palm Springs -- DO NOT CLICK on links or open attachments
unless you are sure the content is safe.
Mayor Middleton and Members of the Council,
I have been following the vacation rental issue in our Valley and especially in Palm
Springs, and I was pleased to see the Vacation Rental Workgroup's report presented
to the Council at a recent meeting. I was impressed by the analytical questions
posed by the Council as well as the willingness of the Council to explore the issue
further.
I am writing in support of a moratorium on new vacation rental permits so that the
Council can gather and study additional data in order to make an informed policy
decision.
Having read the Workgroup's report, I am in support of the recommendation of a
city-wide cap on vacation rentals as well as neighborhood caps. The city-wide cap
is the easy part; figuring out an appropriate neighborhood cap is more tricky. I am
confident that this Council will come up with an appropriate solution.
I believe that Palm Springs needs to cap vacation rentals at a number at or close to
the current number of rentals (plus those in process).
Thank you for your service.
Respectfully,
Doug Prochaska
2260 Paseo Roseta
Palm Springs, CA 92262
(949) 923-9178
Sender notified by
Mailtrack
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
1
Brent Rasi
Subject:RE: STR meeting comments
From: Britton Stuber <brittonstuber@gmail.com>
Date: October 17, 2022 at 3:23:53 PM PDT
To: Christy Holstege <Christy.Holstege@palmspringsca.gov>
Subject: STR meeting comments
NOTICE: This message originated outside of The City of Palm Springs ‐‐ DO NOT CLICK on links or open
attachments unless you are sure the content is safe.
My family of three have lived in Palm Springs for over 20 years. We also have a business here
that employs 8 people or I should say it supports 8 families. We have always loved our
neighborhood and our neighbors. That love is quickly changing as our neighborhood is being
hollowed out by STRs. Our home borders on the Racquet Club Estates neighborhood. We have
always had a few vacation homes here, but those homes were always used by the same
families or their close relatives and friends. Now, at least 25% of the homes around us are used
by strangers.
I keep hearing that we have the BEST regulations in the state. Well, I am here to say that
keeping the noise down is not the issue for me and my neighbors who live full time here. The
issue is being surrounded by strange cars, empty houses most of the summer and strangers
walking around the neighborhood the rest of the year. We had strangers jumping off the roof
into the STR pool one weekend night. While looking into our neighbors backyard.
Some of these STRs are not even listed with the city. There needs to be a moratorium on
the STRs. This will not reduce our tax base. I keep hearing from realtors and rental care foks
that the sky will fall. This isn't about reducing what we have, it is just putting the brakes on the
growth of STRs. Our city leaders can always revisit any changes that are made this evening....at
anytime. Also, this does not keep someone from renting rooms in their own home.
Please support keeping our neighborhoods....as neighborhoods. I support the work of the STR
working group and limiting STRs to 2500 units. It's a start!
Britton Stuber
John Hines
Betty Cahill
2596 N Aurora Drive, PS 92262 (please do not publish our address, the last time we wrote
about this on Nextdoor we were practically threatened with business boycotts, etc. )
To [ ]
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
From:City of Palm Springs
To:City Clerk; City Clerk
Subject:*NEW SUBMISSION* Submit Public Comment to the City of Palm Springs
Date:Monday, October 17, 2022 3:16:01 PM
Submit Public Comment to the City of Palm Springs
Submission #:2030486
IP Address:72.132.0.155
Submission Date:10/17/2022 3:15
Survey Time:1 minute, 16 seconds
You have a new online form submission.
Note: all answers displaying "*****" are marked as sensitive and must be viewed after your login.
Full Name/Nombre
James Bruce
City of Residence/Ciudad de residencia
Palm Springs,
Phone (optional) /Teléfono (opcional)
7605075884
Email (optional/opcional)
jrbrucejr@hotmail.com
Your Comments/Sus comentarios
Good evening Councilmembers, When we purchased our home in the Gene Autry Neighborhood over 7 years ago,
we had great neighbors on all four sides. Now we have NONE ! • NO ONE to watch for "porch pirates" when we
have deliveries. • NO ONE to take in our mail when we're away. • NO ONE to help with moving trash cans from the
curb. I am writing to ask for your consideration to finally curb the impacts on our Quality of Life caused by the
explosion of Short Term Rentals across our City. Please, please, please, stand with your full-time resident
constituents and issue an immediate moratorium, followed by a Cap on Short Term Rentals, thank you.
Thank you,
City of Palm Springs
This is an automated message generated by Granicus. Please do not reply directly to this email.
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
From:City of Palm Springs
To:City Clerk; City Clerk
Subject:*NEW SUBMISSION* Submit Public Comment to the City of Palm Springs
Date:Monday, October 17, 2022 3:14:21 PM
Submit Public Comment to the City of Palm Springs
Submission #:2030482
IP Address:72.132.0.155
Submission Date:10/17/2022 3:14
Survey Time:24 minutes, 25 seconds
You have a new online form submission.
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Full Name/Nombre
Ross Bodle
City of Residence/Ciudad de residencia
Palm Springs,
Phone (optional) /Teléfono (opcional)
Email (optional/opcional)
rbodle@hotmail.com
Your Comments/Sus comentarios
Good Evening Council and Mayor, The "Gene Autry" Neighborhood has been hollowed out by Short-Term Vacation
Rentals. As the previous Chair of the Neighborhood, I have watched with sadness as vacation rentals overwhelm our
Neighborhood, causing an exodus of residents. My husband and I walk our dogs every morning and have watched
with alarm as house after house have sold and been turned into vacation rentals. Quality of life in our
Neighborhoods is measured by having neighbors you know and can count on. When we moved here permanently
five years ago, we had wonderful neighbors on either side, behind and across the street. Now, we have no one. That
is lost quality of life. Council Member Garner has referred to our Neighborhoods as the "fabric" of the City. Some
properties may look a little better, but the fabric has been ripped apart and they are certainly no longer affordable.
An immediate moratorium and caps are needed at the neighborhood level and City-wide! Thank you!
Thank you,
City of Palm Springs
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10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
October 17, 2022
Palm Springs City Council
C/O cityclerk@palmspringsca.gov
3200 E Tahquitz Canyon Way
Palm Springs, CA 92262
RE: Vacation Rentals
Dear Palm Springs City Council:
We are residents of the Old Las Palmas Neighborhood. It’s very important that the Council
consider a moratorium on issuing any new permits for short-term vacation rentals (STR) and a
10% cap restriction in neighborhoods, which we fully support. We have seen our neighborhood
slowly change over the past several years where more and more properties have become vacation
rentals with owners who do not care about us locals and the impact they have placed on our
quality of life. Often, greedy investment owners only care about getting their cash. We’ve seen
more and more SFRs appear in our neighborhood and it’s very challenging to live by and lessens
our sense of community.
Also, please note, there’s a number of properties in our neighborhood that have been purchased
by out of town /state investors under the disguise of LLC’s with multiple owners having a
percentage share of ownership interest. Why is this important? These LLCs are being setup as
timeshares which we understand are illegal in Palm Springs. We do know that there are other
property recordings throughout Palm Springs using the LLC’s disguise with similar
arrangements impacting the neighborhood desirability and values of our personal residences.
Thank you for your consideration of these important recommendations.
Sincerely,
Lauren Adamski-Davee
247 W. Stevens Road Unit 11, Palm Springs, CA 92262
Lauren@LDavee.com
Garth Gilpin and Elizabeth Smalley, MD
1441 N Kaweah Road, Palm Springs, CA 92262
gggilpin@sbcglobal.net
Stephen and Roberta Edelstein
201 Camino Norte, Palm Springs, CA 92262
sgedelstein@gmail.com
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
From:Bruce Hoban
To:City Clerk
Cc:Lisa Middleton; Geoff Kors; Dennis Woods; Grace Garner; Jeff Ballinger; Christy Holstege; Aftab Dada
Subject:VRON-PS Recommendations for Agenda Item #3D
Date:Monday, October 17, 2022 3:02:56 PM
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unless you are sure the content is safe.
The VRON-PS Board of Directors respectfully submit its’ recommendations for the discussion
segment of tonight’s meeting. We believe these are fair and equitable solutions to achieve the
balance from all sides of the community while still keeping our tourism economy in healthy shape.
City-wide Cap
There will be no city-wide cap. Instead, the total number of permits will be restricted by
neighborhood.
Density
Each neighborhood will have a density limit of 20% for any new permits effective Jan 1, 2023.
Existing permit renewals are grandfathered whether in a neighborhood above the 20% density of
not. Limiting neighborhood density is, in effect, a city-wide cap since new VR permits can only be
issued in neighborhoods under the 20% density
Contracts Per Year
Existing permit holders retain the current 32 + 4 contracts/year and are grandfathered for 3 years
effective Jan 1, 2023.
Starting Jan 1, 2026, permits issued prior to Jan 1, 2023 in this group will see a reduction of 2
contracts per year over 3 years resulting in 26 + 6 (3rd quarter only) being achieved by Jan 1,
2029.
New permits applications submitted after the moratorium takes effect effective Jan 1, 2023 are
allowed 26 + 6 (3rd quarter only).
The City will conduct an economic impact assessment by an outside, qualified 3rd party, i.e.,
Tourism Economics within 6 months of the ordinance enactment date. This is to assess both the
tourism spending and city TOT impact of reducing the existing pool of permits that rent 27 or more
contracts per year. Since individual TOT revenue per permit is not publicly available (per the TOT
ordinance), a Confidentiality Agreement must be signed between the 3rd party vendor and the
City to allow this.
This will be an "equal" treatment of all “A” permit holders contracts/year achieved by Jan 1, 2029.
· Gradually reducing the contracts allows the VR and hospitality community to track the
tourism spending impacts and gauge any positive or negative impacts.
· Raising the 3rd quarter contracts induces more tourism at the City’s slowest time of
the year, the summer.
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
“B” Permits
Effective January 1, 2023, B permits will be available to apply for a permit. All existing VR
ordinance regulations apply to these permits with two exceptions:
· B Permits are limited to 6, 8, or 12 per year (the number is a discussion the Council members
will have to decide).
· “B” permits are not limited by city-wide caps or neighborhood density.
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
From:JF S
To:City Clerk
Cc:JF S
Subject:City Council meeting October 17, 2022 - Comments on item 3D
Date:Monday, October 17, 2022 2:55:29 PM
NOTICE: This message originated outside of The City of Palm Springs -- DO NOT CLICK on links or open attachments
unless you are sure the content is safe.
Honorable Council Members,
My name is Jesus Salcedo, I am a resident in the Tahquitz River Estates
Neighborhood and I am writing today to submit my comments on meeting item
3D.
1) On item 3D - 2: I am dismayed that you are ready to pass a moratorium on
issuing licenses, your staff report clearly indicates that your authority lies in
the fact that you must "..protect the public safety, health and welfare..."
Vacation rentals pose no such threat. I am shocked that you will let the
hundreds of homeless commit endless crimes around the neighborhood, but you
are focused on a non-existent threat. Time and time again I see people just walk
out of Ralphs at the Smoke Tree Villas with bags full of groceries and no one
does anything. Please explain during the meeting, with actual data, what is the
threat that you see and I don't. Do you have crime statistics around the Short
Term Rental homes that can be provided to substantiate your overreach? Please
provide that information to the public.
2) On item 3D-3 : I listened to the last hearing you held on this matter on
September 29th. Council member Woods asked the very question that was never
answered. "What problem are you trying to solve?" Additionally, the Mayor
mischaracterized the effort put into the "workgroup" as 6 months, when in
reality there were only 5 meetings and not everyone attended those meetings.
The Mayor also failed to acknowledge that the staff commented that the 5
meetings were not enough to gather sufficient data. Lastly, the Mayor also
ignored that the workgroup was not representative of the community and/or
stakeholders at play. This is small town politics and the City Council is being
pushed around by a small group of loud residents. City Council should study the
issue at hand and take their time with proven experts that can provide national
and local science driven data. Their decision should be based on the greater
good for Palm Springs that will ensure a future for our City; not on a few people
that insist on keeping Palm Springs like it used to be 20 or 30 years ago.
I am against limiting the number of STR licenses and most definitely against the
density limits by neighborhood. However, in your last meeting you did not discuss
the effects of by-neighborhood percentages. This will undoubtedly have an
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
effect on the smaller lot/poorer neighborhoods, as it has been proven on the
North side of town. Your comments about the effects of STR's on home
affordability are not founded on data as your staff reported, they found articles
that supported both sides of the issue. An independent study should be done by
a third party company to study the local effects, total effects, of the STR
ordinance.
I have been coming to Palm Springs since 1991 and I remember when downtown
Palm Springs was nothing but a deserted row of shirt and watch repair shops.
Some people like it that way, but most people who are part of Palm Springs now,
like myself, prefer a vibrant down and uptown scene. Perhaps you should
consider asking the people who work and depend on the thousands of visitors
that stay at STR's, in many cases, they are your constituents as well.
I thank you for your time and I hope that you consider my comments. Most
importantly,I hope your vision for Palm Springs is one for the future and not one
taking us back to the days of yesteryear.
sincerely,
Jesus Salcedo- Resident and registered voter in Palm Springs.
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
From:Matt Robinson
To:City Clerk
Subject:Public comments 10/17
Date:Monday, October 17, 2022 2:04:43 PM
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unless you are sure the content is safe.
Greetings Mayor and Council
Tonight you will address vacation rentals once again.
1. Minimum stays do wonders to shift from party weekend to Palm Springs Vacation renters.
Simply requiring a three night Minimum makes a difference, four nights even more. Shorter
stays here to party for a weekend belong in hotels where onsite supervision is provided.
2. Using the neighborhood boundaries for maximum percentages leaves out pockets that were
excluded when some neighborhoods didn't welcome some of the neighbors into their enclave.
In some cases it was income level and even race. I believe in a city not only divided by
neighborhoods but also by Council Districts. If percentages are used it should be by Council
District including everyone in a district.
3. Using percentages can force someone to live next to a rental forever. When a house sells,
the buyer is right there to apply to continue the rental. I prefer a cap of whatever number you
set citywide. A wait list is formed, when a vacation rental is sold, it is sold as a home not a
business with a likelihood the permit transfers. This favors secondary use rentals over
developing a business in a residential neighborhood to eventually sell at a higher price because
of its rental history. By using a wait list or lottery system it is likely when a vacation rental
sells the neighbors will no longer have a rental next door. This seems a fair way to share the
burden of who has to live next to a vacation rental. Even establishing a wait list or lottery
system by neighborhood would benefit the neighbors next door by making it very clear homes
sold (or fractional ownership change) the permit is lost and new owner goes to the bottom of a
wait list or in a lottery.
Thanks
Matt Robinson
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
From:Michael Alcenius
To:City Clerk; hankplante@aol.com
Subject:City Council Meeting 10/17/2022 re: STR Issue
Date:Monday, October 17, 2022 1:11:06 PM
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unless you are sure the content is safe.
Greetings,
I am on record from previous meetings so will not re-hash my position. I would attend today
however my Husband is undergoing emergency open heart surgery this afternoon.
I find it interesting that the majority of those that do not support a moratorium on STR licenses and
revision of code are those that benefit from STR income in one way or another or rely on the citizens
of Palm Springs to support a future retirement, vacation home, or thriving business. Those are
personal issues that could be labeled under the heading of “entitlement” and coded as businesses
and are not what a city should be required to support no matter how loudly or dramatically they
present. Many of us worked hard all of our lives to afford the lovely life we now enjoy. They
obviously do not live adjacent to an STR under poor management. I have not heard clear testimony
that any of the opposers honestly and altruistically care about our community.
Also, I support Councilperson Holstege’s decision to recuse herself from voting or acting on STR
issues based on perceived conflict with her family’s business even at the unwise counsel of the Palm
Springs Attorney who is a consultant and not a resident of Palm Springs. Councilperson Holstege
has listened to her constituency and should be applauded and supported for her decision and
transparency.
Michael Alcenius
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
1
Brent Rasi
From:Llubi Rios
Sent:Monday, October 17, 2022 8:01 AM
To:City Clerk
Cc:Grace Garner
Subject:FW: Short Term Rental Comment
Public comment‐
‐‐‐‐‐Original Message‐‐‐‐‐
From: Nancy <nancy@forstella.com>
Sent: Monday, October 17, 2022 8:00 AM
To: Llubi Rios <Llubi.Rios@palmspringsca.gov>
Cc: Grace Garner <Grace.Garner@palmspringsca.gov>
Subject: Short Term Rental Comment
NOTICE: This message originated outside of The City of Palm Springs ‐‐ DO NOT CLICK on links or open attachments
unless you are sure the content is safe.
City Council Members:
The short‐term rental opposition has been extremely vocal, but I hope you will carefully consider the affect it will have
on your constituents in an economy that is struggling right now. Making significant changes to the STR industry right
before prime season just doesn't make sense.
A few months ago the City sent out a flyer basically insisting that even if you have family or friends stay at a condo or
property you own you should apply for a STR permit. I'm sure many did. The least you could do at this point is allow
permits currently being processed to proceed.
There is no "emergency" situation that calls for suddenly halting this program. Please take your time and review the
stats & information without the noise from either side.
Respectfully,
Nancy Parsons
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
From:Crosby Smith
To:City Clerk
Subject:Cap Short Term Rentals
Date:Monday, October 17, 2022 7:32:00 AM
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attachments unless you are sure the content is safe.
Let’s get these hotels completed. Cap STR’s until all hotels under development are open for business.
Crosby Smith
(760) 333-4500
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
From:City of Palm Springs
To:City Clerk; City Clerk
Subject:*NEW SUBMISSION* Submit Public Comment to the City of Palm Springs
Date:Monday, October 17, 2022 4:32:15 PM
Submit Public Comment to the City of Palm Springs
Submission #:2030720
IP Address:72.132.214.36
Submission Date:10/17/2022 4:32
Survey Time:7 minutes, 42 seconds
You have a new online form submission.
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Full Name/Nombre
F. Ramirez
City of Residence/Ciudad de residencia
Palm Springs,
Phone (optional) /Teléfono (opcional)
Email (optional/opcional)
Your Comments/Sus comentarios
It appears to me based on the previous City Council meeting that there is an inconsistent message about the specific
problem the VR department is trying to solve by placing a moratorium on new permits and by limiting the total
number of permits. As council members noted in the previous session, the current regulations are working. The
largest number of complaints I reviewed were related to music, cars/parking and trash. These seem to reflect
specifically to single family homes. I urge the council to consider two items: First, a tiered permit whereby those
families who want to rent less than 10 times per year, and another tier for those who rent 32 (+4) times per year.
This allows for greater spread of permits and more options for the citizens. Second, extend permit number limits to
only housing outside of an HOA. HOA's already limit short term rentals in their communities. The city does not need
to manage and limit VR permits inside an HOA. Thank you
Thank you,
City of Palm Springs
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10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
From:Bob Iles
To:City Clerk
Subject:STRs
Date:Monday, October 17, 2022 4:36:11 PM
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attachments unless you are sure the content is safe.
Hello,
Regarding short term rentals in Palm Springs: I support a cap to the number of rentals city-wide as well a limit to
the percentage of homes in each neighborhood that are STRs, and would like to see the city bring these numbers
down over time. While I understand that the city earns good money through the TOT collected, I feel that it is more
important that we protect the peace and quiet of our town for those of us who live here permanently and pay
property taxes. Even with stepped-up enforcement of noise violations, it is not possible to keep the noise abated.
People who rent STRs are on vacation and ready to let loose and enjoy themselves; since they do not live here full-
time, they are not likely to be concerned about the effects of their noise on their neighbors since they don’t know
them or live next to them year-round.
I would also support a minimum of one week for STRs as it is often the weekenders who make the most noise.
Thank you,
~Bob Iles
1001 Andreas Palms Drive, Palm Springs
925-324-7221
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
From:melissarla@aol.com
To:City Clerk
Subject:Vote on STR temporary moratorium
Date:Monday, October 17, 2022 4:43:14 PM
NOTICE: This message originated outside of The City of Palm Springs -- DO NOT CLICK on links or open attachments
unless you are sure the content is safe.
To the City Council of Palm Springs,
Thank you for taking the time to read my concerns about the possible temporary moratorium of vacation rental permits. While
I can see that this is only being considered for the good of the community, I do feel as a resident that this will lead to nothing
but negative effects for the city and its residents.
One reason we purchased our vacation retirement home in Palm Springs was because of the excellent regulations for short
term rentals put in place by the city. We liked that there were hotlines for neighbors to make complaints so the
neighborhoods aren’t noisy. Palm Springs is quieter than our home in Los Angeles where our neighbors can have parties
until two in the morning or decide to cut their trees at seven am on Saturday morning.
Having the ability to have people using our home and our neighbor’s homes instead of them being continuously empty when
we’re not there is also a plus. We much prefer having people in and around our homes using them than a desolate, empty
neighborhood of vacation homes where the lack of eyes seeing what is happening makes crime even more rampant in the
off season.
The value of our homes have also gone up because of the wonderful vacation resort lifestyle Palm Springs has because of
the abundant availability of STR rentals. The upkeep needed for STRs bring jobs. Our gardeners, pool companies, cleaning
agencies all have to come more often to keep up the standards needed to encourage visitors. Our home alone employs eight
people to maintain it for us. Not to mention the various employees of rental agencies who take care of properties. Has no one
thought about the loss of jobs, taxes and sales for local stores and restaurants if there are less rental options for visitors?
If the city is concerned about protecting residents, more focus needs to be placed on protecting the local owners of short
term rental properties from predatory STR agencies. There are no protections to keep them in line. If a home has noise
complaints, is rented without having the proper permits in place, etc. all the fines and punishments hit the homeowner. What
incentive do these companies have to keep in line with city requirements if they’re the ones overseeing these properties for
homeowners? Rental agencies, especially those run by corporations who aren’t even located within the city, sometimes not
even the county limits, should be under even more scrutiny.
We purchased our Palm Springs vacation home in 2021 with the intent to rent it out as an STR to help pay for the mortgage,
taxes and upkeep of such a property. No plans on a profit, just enough to have the home. Even without being there in July,
the electric bill alone was still over $2000. Renting it as an STR wasn’t ideal, but it would help pay for our dream Palm
Springs vacation/retirement home. Because of signing with an agency who does not care about the city’s regulations, we are
now losing that home. We lost our ability to rent as an STR, our ability to obtain our permit was taken away, we were fined,
and now can’t afford to keep our retirement investment. What happened to the company that rented our home with no
permits? The company who didn’t do the good neighbor check in with the renters? The company that allowed underage
renters to create a noise disturbance that resulted in multiple calls? Nothing. No fine, no loss of ability to rent homes and
continue their uncaring practices. They’re still renting homes and apartments all over the city making a profit with no care for
the neighbors or city in which they rent. Not to mention our contract was designed that we were stuck with them. There
should be a 30 day cancelation mandatory for all rental agencies, fines for the agencies, and city kept records for home
owners to reference complaints before signing on. Agencies should also not be allowed to include a clause that any
complaints or problems are to remain with owners and agencies and not reported to the city or complaint boards, etc. I can’t
even sign my name to this letter for fear of repercussions from the STR agency. Give the appeals board more power. Give
them the ability to fine the appropriate party when they see the rental agency is at fault and not the homeowners. Help them
protect homeowners, not rental agencies.
Palm Springs has an excellent system in place to protect the peace and tranquility of neighborhoods. This has been proven
by complaint numbers going down. If a moratorium is put into place there will be more unregulated rentals happening
because the loss of permit rights are no longer a threat. What’s to lose when you can’t even get it? Focus on protecting
vacation homeowners who want to better our neighborhoods and want to be a part of the city of Palm Springs. Give those
homeowners more rights. Restrict large companies who don’t care, not the local agencies who are a part of Palm Springs
and also care about the city, but the ones who come in from out of town and just want to take.
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
We personally have nothing to gain from the vote. Although, now that we’ve lost our ability to rent and have to sell our home,
our property value and ability to sell will plummet if this vote goes through, causing us even more financial hardship. We’ve
already had buyers cancel because of the discussion of this vote. Buyers who wanted the same as us, a vacation home that
they could buy because of the funding from renting it occasionally on the weekends. While our ability to sell and the financial
hit we’d take from a no vote is upsetting, it’s not as upsetting as it was losing our ability to be a part of this city and to grow
with it by occasionally renting it. Please don’t allow that to happen for others. Protect homeowners from predatory rental
agencies.
Thank you again for your consideration on voting no on the temporary moratorium of STRs,
A Palm Springs Resident
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
From:Jorge Valladares Oyola
To:City Clerk
Subject:IN SUPPORT OF VACATION RENTALS
Date:Monday, October 17, 2022 11:32:21 AM
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unless you are sure the content is safe.
This is an email in support of vacation rentals. I do not understand why the City Council
continues to attempt to limit and harass Vacation rentals when the citywide voted to reject
Measure C in 2018.
Jorge Valladares
3010 E Via Escuela
Palm Springs CA 92262
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
From:Danielle Hartigan
To:City Clerk
Cc:Josh Moran; arowinsky@gmail.com
Subject:Regarding the short-term rental moratorium
Date:Monday, October 17, 2022 11:35:36 AM
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To Whom It May Concern:
I am writing in opposition to the proposed moratorium on short-term rentals in Palm Springs. I am currently in
escrow on a beautiful home here in Palm Springs. I have worked so hard to be a part of this community. I sold my
oceanfront property in Laguna Beach to own a piece of Palm Springs. My three young sons are so excited to get to
spend Christmas here. If this moratorium passes, all the sacrifices my family has made to be here are in vain.
There are so many families like mine, families who want to buy a second home here but cannot do so unless we are
also using these homes at short-term rentals. And the fact is, the guests in this type of rental spend much more
money locally than hotel guests! Think about the grocery bills, the pool toys, the “oops we forgot Tylenol!” trip to
local businesses like Long’s Drug Store, or even CVS. Short-term rental guests are a crucial part of this city’s
economy. Stopping this cash flow seems insane to me.
I’m also concerned about the legal ramifications if this passes. My attorney advises me that we will be forced to sue
the city if the moratorium goes into effect, and it’s not just me. People in my situation don’t have a choice. This will
be a huge burden on all of us, most of all the Palm Springs taxpayers.
I urge you to reject this moratorium. At very minimum, consider people like me who are currently in escrow. This
will ruin us. It hurts families like mine, and it hurts this wonderful city we all love so much.
Thank you,
Danielle Hartigan
Sent from my iPhone
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
From:Eric Johnson
To:City Clerk
Subject:Short Term Rentals
Date:Monday, October 17, 2022 10:55:43 AM
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Dear Councilmembers,
My name is Eric Johnson, I live on East Adobe Way where I’ve owned a home for over 10
years. Next-door to me, on both sides, are rental properties, and behind me are two additional
rentals. At one time three of these were short term rentals and one was a long-term rental.
Since Covid the homes on either side of me have become ‘long-term‘ rentals with two short
term rentals behind me.
During this time the only property that we have had challenges with is the long-term rental
next to us. This opinion is shared by most of the cul-de-sac, I believe. I would much prefer
living next-door to a short term rental with code enforcement and noise restrictions, than a
long-term rental that is dependent on absentee management, and the courts to enforce any
nuisance behaviors.
Regarding restricting the number of vacation rentals in the city, I am opposed but if you do
that I think it is smart if you take in consideration how many long-term rentals a given
individual has and whether or not they live in the city and are part of our community. I have
recently purchased a new home and would like to make my old home a vacation rental, it is a
block away. I am a retired long-term member of this neighborhood in this community. You
are now arbitrarily considering denying me the opportunity to take advantage of what
investors and out of town individuals have been doing for years.
I have been coming to Palm Springs since the 1960s. My father use to rent homes from ads out
of the Wall Street Journal to stay here for a month during the winter. Vacation rentals are not a
new occurrence. Additionally turning a short term vacation rental into a 30 days or longer
long-term rental will not improve the neighborhood or community, and in fact may have a
negative impact on neighborhoods and property values.
Considering the cool down of the real estate market, the incredible economic benefit to
residents, businesses, employees and the City, I strongly urge you not to move forward with
limiting arbitrarily the number of short term rentals, or any significant change to a very
effective ordinance and program at this time.
Thank you for your time,
Eric
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
PAUL K POPOWICH
247 W Stevens Road Unit 10, Palm Springs, CA 92262| paul7285@aol.com
October 17, 2022
Palm Springs City Council
C/O cityclerk@palmspringsca.gov
3200 E Tahquitz Canyon Way
Palm Springs, CA. 92262
RE: Vacation Rental
Dear Palm Springs City Council:
Thank-you for the opportunity to share my thoughts about vacation rentals here in Palm Springs.
I’m a full-time resident and live in the Old Las Palmas neighborhood. It’s very important that the Council
consider a moratorium on issuing any new permits for short-term vacation rentals (STR) and a 10% cap
restriction in neighborhoods which I fully support. I have seen my neighborhood slowly change over the
past several years where more and more properties have become vacation rentals with owners who do not
care about us locals and the impact they have placed on our quality of life. At one time, STRs seemed to
work but many greedy investment owners only care about getting their cash. I’ve seen more SFRs appear
in my neighborhood and adjacent over the last 2.5 years fueled by property sales during COVID.
Please note, there’s a number of properties in my neighborhood that have purchased by out of town /state
investors under the disguise of LLC’s with multiple owners having a percentage share of ownership
interest. Why is this important? These LLCs are being setup as timeshares which I understand are illegal
in Palm Springs. I do know that there are other property recordings throughout Palm Springs using the
LLC’s disguise with similar arrangements impacting the neighborhood desirability and values of our
personal residences.
Thank-you for your time and please consider these important recommendations
Sincerely,
Paul K Popowich
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
From:Kurt
To:City Clerk
Subject:Letter in support of STR’s
Date:Monday, October 17, 2022 11:52:03 AM
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To whom it may concern:
As a property owner in Palm Springs it’s important for my voice to be heard in that vacation rentals are a huge
benefit to the overall economic engine of our city and to do anything else would be a huge mistake. We already
voted to leave vacation rentals in place so why this is coming to the table again seems to be a waste of everyone’s
time.
Respectfully,
Kurt Snodgrass
Owner and resident of Palm Springs
109 E Twin Palms Drive
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
From:Ken Priore
To:Christy Holstege; City Clerk; Dennis Woods; Geoff Kors; Grace Garner; Lisa Middleton; Llubi Rios; Makinen, Julie;
paul.albani-burgio@desertsun.com
Subject:An Emergency Measure on a Freeze of Vacation Rentals is not supported by data/ Is a Back Door limit
Date:Saturday, October 15, 2022 12:37:56 PM
Attachments:Screenshot_20221015-111329.png
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To City of Palm Spings Mayor and City Council:
This note is in response to the draft emergency order released on October 17th, for public
hearing on October 19th, 2022. It is alarming that the City Council is considering an arbitrary
freeze that can last for up to 22 months, based on assumptions and runs counter to the city’s
own available data available on the impact of vacation rentals.
As a reminder the city’s own data show that:
the number of complaints in Palm Springs are at their lowest levels on records
93% of vacation rental had no complaints in 2021
Only 45% of calls required investigation
Only 9% of calls resulted in a citation, which represented 1.01% of the average number
of vacation rentals for 2021
2.65% of those cited were banned from vacation rentals
This data questions the Mayor’s and City Council’s motivation to take this action now. The
Mayor and City Council need to be clear as to what data underpins this emergency declaration
action.
What is even more questionable is when you look at the “analysis” supporting the city’s own
justification:
1) as the density and frequency of vacation rentals have grown, neighboring Coachella
Valley cities have received an increasing number of public nuisance complaints
emanating from vacation rentals and have recently taken actions to ban or limit such
rentals;
(2) excessive density and frequency of vacation rentals within the City may threaten the
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
character of existing residential neighborhoods;
(3) the density and frequency of vacation rentals has gradually grown over the last
several years; recent limits placed elsewhere in the Coachella Valley, as well as the
City of Palm Springs own indications of potential additional regulations, may cause a
significant increase in applications for vacation rental permits in the City;
(4) the City requires time to study and evaluate the potential impacts of vacation
rentals, including involving the public, to determine the necessary regulatory
requirements to ensure that vacation rentals do not fundamentally alter the character of
existing residential neighborhoods.
Let’s break down each of these statements, which are based on assumptions and not
objective information:
Point 1: Why is the conduct of other neighboring communities a justification for Palm
Springs? Palm Springs holds itself as a leader and progressive mindset, yet on this
issue suddenly the Mayor and CIty Council would prefer to follow in the shadow of the
less progressive communities in the Coachella Valley. As a resident of Palm Springs,
many choose to live in a community that is supportive of putting in the hard work to
effectively support vacation rentals. We choose to live in Palm Springs, not other
communities within Coachella Valley.
Point 2: Since the strongest wording this clause can muster is the word “may” when
discussing the impact of character of neighborhoods, this is an inappropriate basis for an
emergency measure.
Point 3: There has been a recent increase in vacation rentals (the current increase is
approximately a 10% increase), but when you take a data driven view of the annual
average increase, the average is closer to 7%. A 3% increase over average is not a
reasonable basis for an emergency measure. What is even more concerning, is by
the Mayor’s own statements the Mayor feels that 2500 is the right level to hold vacation
rentals. By supporting this arbitrary emergency freeze (which could last for up to 22
months), is the intent of the Mayor and City Council to indirectly accomplish this
outcome? Any outcome should be based on a broad based set of discussions and facts,
not back door mechanisms based on feelings and opinions.
Point 4: This point does not appear to have any reasonable factual basis to support an
arbitrary 22 month freeze on vacation rentals. The assumption here is that the city must
freeze at or below the current levels while the city studies the issues.
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
Nothing in the current proposal lays a reasonable foundation for an emergency measure for a
potential 22 month ban. These are all difficult and important questions that the Mayor and
City Council should review, but this is hardly an emergency.
If the City Council is basing this emergency measure on the findings of the working group, it is
important to consider that the working group was fundamentally flawed in its
recommendation.
The working group lacked fundamental data to underpin the recommendation of an
arbitrary limit.
The working group met 5 times over a period of less than 2 months (not 6 months).
The city group provided no explanation of how an arbitrary limit would address issues of
neighborhood character or the impact of vacation rentals.
The panel lacked diversity of gender, neighbor representation and potentially economic
demographics.
The city council should question the influence of a former journalist who is a vocal
opponent of vacation rentals including in the working group, and his his impact on the
recommendation.
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
It is concerning that the Mayor and City Council are justifying an emergency measure based
on opinion and a questionable analysis from a quickly drawn, narrow representation of
potentially biased community members.
If the city council moves forward with this emergency measure, we ask for the following
clarifications:
How do the Mayor and City Council justify this emergency measure based on the
complaint hotline data?
Given the historical context of the average year or year increase, how a 3-4% represents
the right pretext for an emergency measure that could last up to 22 months.
How will the Mayor and City Council members protect the housing security of vulnerable Palm
Springs Residents for the next 22 months. By enacting an arbitrary emergency freeze on
vacation rentals, the Mayor and City Council will eliminate a fall back for vulnerable residents.
In addressing the availability of homeshares being maintained in the emergency measure, It is
disingenuous to point to homeshares as a viable option, homeshare rentals are at a much
lower demand and price point than vacation rentals.
In a period of unprecedented economic uncertainty, taking a rash unjustified action is
unwarranted.
Finally, in less than 30 days, an election will change the membership of the City Council, this is
not the time for the City Council to approve an arbitrary emergency freeze on vacation rentals
that can last for up to 22 months. The new city council should make this determination, based
on facts and data.
This is the wrong decision at the wrong time.
- Ken Priore
On Wed, Oct 12, 2022 at 7:35 AM Ken Priore <kenpriore@gmail.com> wrote:
To The City Council of Palm Springs:
This note is a follow-up to the request for public comment on the arbitrary limit to short term
vacation rentals (Vacation Rentals) proposed by the Department of Special Program
Compliance Vacation Rental and Homeshare Work Group (Working Group). After reviewing
the public commentary from the September 29th meeting and the available public
documentation and data, we have some additional questions and observations.
The Working Group focused on a narrow set of concerns
In the City Council’s enablement of the Working Group the “City Council directed staff and
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
the Working Group to address the following issues:
• “Vacation Rental Density
• Vacation Rentals as an ancillary use or secondary use of one’s property
• Impacts on Housing Supply.”
Unfortunately, the Working Group spent a minimal amount of time discussing ancillary use
and impact on housing supply. From the Working Group report:
“The quality-of-life issues mentioned above seemed to be primarily
focused on noise and parking issues. Aside from the household that does
not like strangers in their neighborhoods, those are the top two
complaints.”
From the public testimony, the testimony of the Working Group members, and the
questioning from City Council members at the September meeting, it appears that the
Working Group lacked sufficient data and information to achieve these goals. But
disappointingly, the Working Group also failed to use the available data to support its narrow
recommendation and assumptions on quality of life issues.
When you look at the vacation rental hotline data, it tells a very different story on
impact and the effectiveness of regulation
But what is even more compelling, is when you look into the reporting hotline call log details,
the success of this robst regulation in responding and acting on violations is clear. This
regulation is working and in the words of Mayor Middleton in her remarks in the September
meeting, “No other city has gotten it as correct as Palm Springs, and that was a tremendous
amount of work.”
First, from a call volume standpoint, the number of calls received is at its lowest levels ever
for each reporting month on record.
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
And when you look at the outcome of these calls in 2021, a clearer picture of the
effectiveness of the hotline is clear.
93% of vacation rental had no complaints in 2021
Only 45% of calls required investigation
Only 9% of calls resulted in a citation, which represented 1.01% of the average
number of vacation rentals for 2021.
And finally, 2.65% of those cited were banned from vacation rentals.
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
Chart
The number of issued citations is down tremendously since implementing robust
regulation in 2018
There is no data surge in complaints and citations that would warrant rash action such as an
arbitrary cap. “The City’s strict rules and enforcement has assisted in mitigating these issues
for many neighborhoods”
Grace Elena Garner, Mayor Pro Tem, observed in her commentary at the September 29th
meeting that may best describe what is happening “For those residents that are used to
properties remaining vacant, or only used occasionally by a couple, having a neighborhood
more fully lived in is a change that will lead to conflict.” (Paraphrased). The goal of vacation
rental regulation is to find a balance, not to prefer a particular point of view. This regulation
has done the hard work to strike that balance. This arbitrary limit undoes this balance and
does nothing to address reasonable concerns.
The system is working, allow the system to work.
The Working Group is flawed in composition and methodology
When we reviewed the City Council report, we have concerns over the limited data
reviewed, but also in general its timing, selection and composition.
The Working Group met for only 5 sessions, for less than 2 months.
It was unclear what standards were used to randomly select 8 of the members, nor
were the opinions that members brought into the discussions prior to the sessions
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
disclosed. It is curious that one of the working group members is a former journalist
that has consistently leveraged his privileged position in the media to oppose vacation
rentals.
The panel contained only 2 women, and as the public testimony highlighted, lacked
gender, age and socio-economic diversity.
For residents that don’t support any vacation rentals, or “don’t like strangers in their
neighborhood,” the arbitrary cap will not achieve anything. We are concerned about the City
Council taking the recommendation of a Working Group that lacked data and may have
been biased in its recommendations.
We encourage the City Council to consider a methodology that addresses the biases,
positions and agenda of community members that are participating in any future form. For a
Working Group to be representative of the diverse community of Palm Springs, we would
encourage the City Council to explore a process that brings in a broader cross section of the
Palm Springs community.
By enacting an arbitrary 3 year freeze on vacation rentals, the City Council will
contribute to housing insecurity for some Palm Springs residents
One interesting outcome of the September 29th meeting was a deeper understanding that
an arbitrary freeze at 2500 Vacation Rentals will likely result in a three year ban of new
vacation rentals if the city council takes no further action. The result of this ban is to actually
reward and preference those vacation rentals that are currently approved and “in the
system”.
As mentioned by several community members, this arbitrary ban will also endanger housing
security of some Palm Springs residents by completely locking them out of access to the
vacation rental process. This is a curious and ill-considered outcome given the uncertain
and worsening economic climate.
Palm Springs should not consider an arbitrary limit, without first truly enabling the “A/B”
permit mechanism that allows for limited ancillary use that are exempted from the proposed
arbitrary limit. Some attributes to enable this “B” permit could include:
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
Narrower limits on short term rental contracts- 8 contracts or 60 days
Proof of residency (copies of tax returns, drivers license to confirm residency)
Limiting ownership types (not available to LLC or Trusts)
Using this easily managed methodology, the City Council can ensure that Palm Springs
residents can access fairly economic security provided by vacation rentals that are based on
incidental use.
But effective improvements can be made to the existing regulation to address impact
and density
The Working Group report said it best when it came to the effectiveness of a percentage cap
on vacation rentals:
“The group determined that a percentage cap by district would not
address the immediate problem of neighborhood saturation and opted
to vote on a percentage cap to be implemented for every identified
neighborhood.”
There is no data supporting that a neighborhood cap is any more effective than a district
cap. The assumption is that increased density leads to more impact, but the proposed cap
will do nothing to address this concern. It’s important to note that neighborhoods were
defined not by city planners designed to address issues of noise and parking, but were
established decades ago to address development and vary widely in size, compensation and
geography. The solution should be much more targeted and hype-local, such as a minimum
distance between Vacation Rentals.
We ask the City Council to explore an option that works to strengthen the current system
that actually targets impact. Some observations on mechanism that could be applied in
such a requirement:
Limiting Vacation Rentals based on property maps /lot lines for more even spacing of
Vacation Rentals
Limiting Vacation Rentals to be a set number of feet apart to approximate typical lot
lines (i.e. 100ft, 150ft)
If the City Council’s goal is to address issues of noise and parking, then a distance based
approach, though more difficult to implement, seems more directly aimed at addressing
concerns.
Next, the City Council can strength existing Vacation Rentals rules to address the small
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
number of Vacation Rentals that have been cited:
A meaningful fine to a property owners and management company for each citation.
Issuance of citation lowers the number of rental contracts for a property for the
following year
Issuance of a citation requires self managed properties to use a professional
management company going forward.
Suspension of a property would prohibit that property from being eligible as a Vacation
Rental for 1 year after the sale of that property.
These approaches will be more difficult to implement but are aligned with the City Council's
goals of effectively balancing the needs of many stakeholders, and builds on the existing
hard work of the current regulations.
There is no data to support rushing to an arbitrary cap, and the city already has additional
tools and options at its disposal to strengthen the current regulation without the drastic step
of an arbitrary cap.
Explore tools within the existing regulations to strengthen anniclary use
One of the City Council’ s directives to the Working Group that was not deeply explored was
to understand more about “Vacation Rentals as an ancillary use or secondary use of one’s
property.” We want to encourage community development within a system that promotes
ancillary use. The City Council can explore a number of options within the existing system to
encourage ancillary use:
Strengthen existing tools to confirm that the Palm Springs property is the primary
residence (copies of driver’s license, tax returns, attestation)
A license structure with a lower number of contracts for properties held in LLC’s or
trusts (25 rental contracts)
On the sale of a property, the property owners cannot apply to be an operating
Vacation Rentals for a period of 1 year.
There have been some misplaced concerns that some residents have been able to “get
around” regulations, and in some instances that may be true. But in opening this public
forum, the City Council has supported an iterative process, searching to improve a regulation
that is effective, if not perfect. Lurching to an arbitrary limit is not an improvement, but a
reactionary step backwards.
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
Housing supply impact is a big, tough question, and needs more data
Finally, to briefly touch on one of the questions underpinning the Working Group's work, was
a deeper understanding from the community on the impact of Vacation Rentals on housing
supply. The Working Group’s report recognized the difficulty of the task and perhaps a bit
dismissively stated: “All opinions could be supported if you look hard enough”. Perhaps that
is true, and perhaps this is not an issue that can clearly be addressed by an arbitrary cap on
vacation rentals. One of the more comprehensive data driven approaches to the impact of
Vacation Rental limits in Santa Monica and West Hollywood might have also captured the it
when the researchers found both positive and negative impacts:
Short-term rentals can result in both positive and negative changes to
home values. A 10 percent increase in AirBnB listings in West Hollywood
resulted in a 1.55 percent increase in housing prices, whereas the same
increase in AirBnB listings in Santa Monica decreased housing prices by
2.66 percent.
The 2015 ordinance in Santa Monica resulted in a reduction of short-term
rentals. This resulted in a nearly 8 percent increase in housing prices in
Santa Monica, which is consistent with the findings from the analysis of LA
County data.
It’s unclear what impact, if any, an arbitrary ban on short term rentals would have on housing
supply and affordability in Palm Springs. This may feel like a step that will help, but nothing
presented to the City Council or the Working Group supports this assumption.
We ask the City Council to recognize that a vote for this arbitrary 3 year freeze does not
accomplish its goals of strengthening vacation rental regulation, but is a response to a
privileged few that are using journalistic pressure to push a false narrative that is not
supported by data.
In voting for an arbitrary cap, the City Council may force some Palm Springs residents into
greater housing insecurity. A vote for this arbitrary cap is to say to that resident that has lost
their job, become sick, or had a significant change of their financial security- that this city
council is prioritizing the goals of a vocal, privileged minority. For a city that prides itself on
progressive ideals, why is now the time for a regressive arbitrary limit?
This is the wrong decision and the wrong time.
--
Ken Priore
415.601.6658
--
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
Ken Priore
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
From:markplatt@instructor.net
To:City Clerk
Subject:No STR restrictions
Date:Monday, October 17, 2022 12:01:21 PM
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To whom it concern:
As a property owner in Palm Springs for over 10 years it’s important for my voice to be heard. Vacation rentals are
a huge benefit to the overall economic engine of our city. It would be a huge mistake to limit or restrict this
important income stream to so many. We already voted to leave vacation rentals in place so why is this coming to
the table again?
Please do not vote to restrict STRs.
Respectfully,
Mark Platt
3085 E San Juan Rd
Palm Springs, CA 92262
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
From:FREDERICA HOOPER
To:City Clerk
Subject:We need help from the City Council
Date:Monday, October 17, 2022 12:04:21 PM
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attachments unless you are sure the content is safe.
To Palm Springs CityCouncil Meeting,
Thank you for discussing the STR issues. I live in theDesert Park Estates and have for over 45 years. Working
outside in my backyard yesterday was a new experience. There were 3 STR’s all having parties before noon
through the afternoon. With all 3 going, I could not enjoy my own backyard or even hear the phone ring.
A moratorium is not a permanent ruling, but can be reversed later. It can give the council time to discuss the issues
and find solutions. We need help in areas with a high ratio of STR’s. This is just the beginning of our beautiful
weather.
Thank you again,
Frederica Hooper
2810 Vincentia Rd
Palm Springs, Ca 92262
Sent from my iPad
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
From:City of Palm Springs
To:City Clerk; City Clerk
Subject:*NEW SUBMISSION* Submit Public Comment to the City of Palm Springs
Date:Monday, October 17, 2022 10:18:43 AM
Submit Public Comment to the City of Palm Springs
Submission #:2029120
IP Address:66.27.173.24
Submission Date:10/17/2022 10:18
Survey Time:33 seconds
You have a new online form submission.
Note: all answers displaying "*****" are marked as sensitive and must be viewed after your login.
Full Name/Nombre
Corinne Griswold
City of Residence/Ciudad de residencia
PALM SPRINGS,
Phone (optional) /Teléfono (opcional)
7603336626
Email (optional/opcional)
H1HOPPER@AOL.COM
Your Comments/Sus comentarios
I am Corinne Griswold, a retired teacher. I've lived in the Gene Autry Neighborhood in Palm Springs since 1977. I've
seen my neighborhood go from a vibrant place, full of teachers, small business owners, electricians, working people
with kids, to bordering on a ghost town. I know one long term teacher whose rent on a 3 bedroom house just went
from $2800 to over $5000. And i think a lot of new short term rentals are being bought by corporations. Please put
a hold on this assault on ordinary people.
Thank you,
City of Palm Springs
This is an automated message generated by Granicus. Please do not reply directly to this email.
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
From:Martha Putman
To:City Clerk
Subject:Vacation Rentals, Moratorium
Date:Monday, October 17, 2022 10:45:42 AM
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Dear Council members,
I sent the following email back in July to each of you and I am thankful for each of your responses at the time. I am once again urging you to vote for an Urgency Moratorium on New Permits to
be put in place Immediatley. Otherwise, people will flood the city with applications while the council considers new regulations. This is already happening.
Email previously sent in July, 2022:
Martha Putman <putman5@gmail.com>Thu, Jul 21, 5:08 PM
to Dennis.woods, grace.garner, geoff.kors, christy.holstege, lisa.middleton, bcc: me
Dear Dennis and City Council Members,
This is in regards to an immediate moratorium to be put in place to stop the issue of permits for short term vacation rentals (STVRs) in Palm Springs.
I am writing as a resident of Palm Springs who has lived here for 35 years and 33 years in the same neighborhood. For the most part I’ve had the pleasure of knowing several of
my neighbors for the same amount of years. Others have passed away and some have moved away.
The constancy and stableness of daily living in my neighborhood is comforting and reassuring. I know who is leaving for school or for work and when they return.
I know the sounds of their cars without even looking and know whose dog is barking as well.
As neighbors we look out for each other. Not in a nosy fashion but for the small things that might need attention -whether it be a garage door left open or reminders about weight
disposal bins out front or packages left by the front door. Having good neighbors means everything to me. Especially in the years when my children were young playing with other
neighborhood children.
However, in the past year my neighborhood has changed quite dramatically. All of the above descriptions are slowly disappearing because of Short Term Vacation Rentals.
(STVRs)
At first when I started seeing For Sale signs go up I was excited and anticipated a new neighbor but instead, it was purchased as an investment for short term rental vacationers.
There was no new neighbor to welcome and was now replaced with unfamiliar cars, loud voices, and loud music on weekends. Of course I enjoy a relaxing weekend with my
family and friends when we go out of the area. Usually it has been in hotels. However we have also enjoyed a few Airbnb’s but always abide by their rules and owners have
typically checked in with us who lived nearby. I do not know this for a fact but I believe the owners of the vacation rentals around me do not live nearby.
I have had to call the hotline number to report loud music and party atmosphere just to be able to go to sleep. I live with my husband and my adult daughter who has a disability.
As of recently my husband is facing some health challenges. The increase of the STR’s in my neighborhood is placing more stress and anxiety into my life than I need right now.
I think after living here 35 years I should be able to have my neighborhood back and not be overrun by these types of rentals that turn it into a hotel- like zone.
For the sake of the residents who care about their neighborhoods I am imploring you to place a moratorium on issuing any new permits at this time for STR’s.
Thank you for your attention on this matter.
Sincerely,
Martha and Rory Putman
Desert Park Estates
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
From:Jaymes Green
To:City Clerk
Subject:Support Short term rentals
Date:Monday, October 17, 2022 10:27:44 AM
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unless you are sure the content is safe.
Council, I am writing to support citizens right to use their property as they like. The STR issue
was already put to vote (Prop C) and 70% of Palm Springs residents supported short term
vacation rentals. I don’t understand why the city Council now it has to intervene. This is
another unnecessary overreach by the City. Let the citizens vote again to decide whether or
not the city will allow or restrict vacation rentals. Once again I oppose any restrictions or
limits on vacation rentals as it is the lifeblood of Palm Springs. If a decision has to be made,
let the citizens decide as they did with Prop C. Jaymes Green (Palm Springs owner and
resident)--
Jaymes Green
619-549-5439
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
From:Jason Cochran
To:City Clerk
Subject:E-Public Comment - VR Moratorium Impact Points
Date:Monday, October 17, 2022 9:53:38 AM
Attachments:PastedGraphic-1.tiff
NOTICE: This message originated outside of The City of Palm Springs -- DO NOT CLICK on links or open attachments
unless you are sure the content is safe.
Please forward this to the appropriate parties.
Impact and Consideration Points:
1) Many homes are being marketed/sold/purchased as Vacation Rentals. I personally have
two escrows that will fall apart if this passes. I know many other agents saying the same… so
this could cause 100s of escrows to fail.
2) Housing Market Impact - there is already a market shift due the recession, instituting a
moratorium on VR will create a CRASH scenario. The PS housing market has been strong,
and is largely based on people buying and investing in vacation homes. VR help supplement
mortgage payments. Taking this away, even if by a cap, is going to cause escrows to fail and
impact values of homes as buyers can no longer bank on the option to rent should they need.
3) How are you going to stop unused VR licenses? When I first heard of this moratorium,
myself and many other home owners thought about rushing to get a license just to have the
option down the road. This is but one side… you also have those anti-VR people who are
hogging up licenses just to restrict rentals in the area. So before any moratorium put in place,
you need to have a way of making sure those with active VR licenses are utilizing.
4) VR license transfers… as many homes here are bought/sold as VRs. There should be a
way that current VR license holders can transfer their license to buyers intending to maintain
the property as a VR. The home has already gone through the inspections and verifications to
be a VR, so to help mitigate the negative impact a moratorium will have, a VR license transfer
option would help.
I am available to discuss any of these concerns or any others should you need.
Jason Cochran
Realtor | CalBRE# 01947240
Mobile: 323.243.6998
Address: Los Angeles | Palm Springs
Web: www.CochranEstates.com
Email: jcochran@CochranEstates.com
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
From:City of Palm Springs
To:City Clerk; City Clerk
Subject:*NEW SUBMISSION* Submit Public Comment to the City of Palm Springs
Date:Monday, October 17, 2022 9:44:00 AM
Submit Public Comment to the City of Palm Springs
Submission #:2028955
IP Address:66.74.1.189
Submission Date:10/17/2022 9:43
Survey Time:6 minutes, 48 seconds
You have a new online form submission.
Note: all answers displaying "*****" are marked as sensitive and must be viewed after your login.
Full Name/Nombre
Jason Cochran
City of Residence/Ciudad de residencia
Palm Springs,
Phone (optional) /Teléfono (opcional)
3232436998
Email (optional/opcional)
cochranestates@gmail.com
Your Comments/Sus comentarios
My comments are in regards to the Vacation Rental Moratorium ... as an agent and home owner I have major
concerns as to the impact of this and want to ensure key factors are considered. As an agent I have many clients
that buy/sell investment properties purchased as a VR and sold as a VR. I have several in escrow and the topic or
moratorium has already caused concern.. and if it was put in place I expect 100s of escrows to be cancelled...
opening you up to lawsuits. As a home owner.. when hearing of this my instinct was to get a VR permit just to have
in case down the road I want to rent it.. so I expect the number of VR licenses to not be accurate to those that are
actually active rentals.. I also know several anti-VR people who are planning on rushing the system to eat up any
avail VR licenses to push out investors. So I urge you to consider these items and further research the impact and
not pass this immediately but perhaps a more phased in approach.
Thank you,
City of Palm Springs
This is an automated message generated by Granicus. Please do not reply directly to this email.
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
From:Carlotta Rinke
To:City Clerk
Cc:Rinke Carlotta; Boyd Huffman
Subject:The short term vacation rental issue
Date:Monday, October 17, 2022 9:27:17 AM
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unless you are sure the content is safe.
I am Carlotta Rinke, a full-time resident of Palm Springs, CA (92264). I am voicing my
support to a moratorium on the short term vacation rentals. I live in a real neighborhood, not
behind gated communities or homes with HOA’s. The community of Palm Springs will be
disrupted if the current pace of STVR continues. I would like to present several points:
Financial advisors are counseling clients to invest in “direct” real estate to protect
portfolios from the downturn in the economy and precipitous fall in the stock markets.
Real estate is a hedge against a recession. RESULT: Investors purchase homes as
income streams with little commitment to the community.
Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert and Cat City have banned STVR. Where is all the supply?
In Palm Springs—a virtual hunting ground for investors and an abundance of STVR.
Neighborhood disruption and attention to community needs are sacrificed on the altar of
real estate investors and developers buying up property for STVR usage. Doesn’t PS
have hotel space? The ability to attract full-time residents, or provide housing capacity
for Coachella Valley workers and residents will be compromised.
Finally, I moved here from Chicago, Lincoln Park, 2.5 years ago, and I have appreciated the
beauty of the desert, the community and public activism.
Thank you for the opportunity.
Best,
Carlotta Rinke, MD
847-354-1154
Get Outlook for iOS
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
From:h1hopper@aol.com
To:City Clerk
Subject:Vote yes to limit Short Term vacation rentals
Date:Monday, October 17, 2022 9:16:10 AM
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unless you are sure the content is safe.
I am Corinne Griswold, a retired teacher. I've lived in the Gene Autry Neighborhood in Palm Springs since
1977. I've seen my neighborhood go from a vibrant place, full of teachers, small business owners,
electricians, working people with kids, to bordering on a ghost town. I know one long term teacher whose
rent on a 3 bedroom house just went from $2800 to over $5000. And i think a lot of new short term rentals
are being bought by corporations.
Please put a hold on this assault on ordinary people.
Corinne Griswold
760 333 6626
2050 N San Antonio Road
Palm Springs, CA
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
1
Brent Rasi
To:Christy Holstege
Subject:RE: Plea from a new Palm Springs Resident
From: Stephen Smith <chatwithstephen@gmail.com>
Date: October 17, 2022 at 7:30:02 AM PDT
To: Christy Holstege <Christy.Holstege@palmspringsca.gov>
Subject: Plea from a new Palm Springs Resident
NOTICE: This message originated outside of The City of Palm Springs ‐‐ DO NOT CLICK on links or open
attachments unless you are sure the content is safe.
Dear Council Member Holstege,
I know it is your responsibility to protect the wonderful environment we have here in Palm Springs and
the long term interests of its residents. Thank you for your service to our community.
Just a few days ago I learned about the vote on the proposed short term rental moratorium.
It was a real body blow.
My wife Heather and I are new and excited residents of Palm Springs. We have been coming here with
our family of five young adults for the last five years and have longed to live here one day.
This year we took two big steps; I quit my job to start a business with Heather, and since we had more
flexibility, we decided we would start to transition our lives towards full time residence in Palm Springs.
We mortgaged our home in Los Angeles, and in May were delighted to buy a home in Palm Springs.
We love it here. We want to be here. This is the place we chose for our family of young adults from
different families to be together, this is where our daughter got married, this is where my mother‐in‐law
celebrated her 60th wedding anniversary. Palm Springs is the place we came to be as a family even
before we had a home here. I have been pinching myself that we took the plunge and made our dream a
reality.
If this moratorium goes ahead (or is backdated), it will turn our Palm Springs dream into a nightmare.
Being able to afford to live here means having some kind of short term rental for the weeks that we are
working in LA or travelling, in order to offset our mortgage ‐ just until the time comes we can move here
permanently. We will have no choice but to sell the home we just bought and spent the summer
lovingly renovating. It will cost us likely $100k's after the wasted renovations, inevitable downturn in
house prices, purchase costs, and mortgage fees, and will throw us right back to square one.
I applied for the permit about a week ago (not linked to this decision, which I only discovered in the
course of submitting). I would respectfully ask you to at least date any moratorium from the date of the
meeting today.
Please help us keep our Palm Springs dream alive.
Respectfully,
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
2
Stephen D. Smith
820 N Calle Quetal
(I have also sent this to the other council members)
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
From:Mary Marx
To:City Clerk
Subject:Meeting tonight re vacation rentals
Date:Monday, October 17, 2022 7:41:00 AM
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unless you are sure the content is safe.
While I cannot attend the City Council meeting tonight, I would like to voice my opinion
regarding vacation rentals. While I agree that stronger oversight and ordinances may be
warranted to control the small minority of disruptive vacation rental homes, I am opposed to
limiting the number of permits…and particularly to limiting to the unreasonably low number
of 10% per neighborhood.
Many people with vacation rental permits are not operating as a business and are renting only
occasionally to offset the costs of their 2nd home ownership and/or when they are not using. A
better alternative to limiting the number of permits or neighborhood percentage may be to
separate and and limit those operating as a business vs those doing STR on a very limited
basis. Perhaps a limit of 2500 permits operating at the current max of rentals per year… but
then a second tier for those renting 10x per year or 60 nights per year (or whatever the right
numbers are) in order to allow the 2nd home owner some opportunity for income to offset
their ownership costs.
Many 2nd home owners have not purchased as a luxury but have purchased with plans to live
here full time within the next few years and are currently in transition using occasionally now
and expanding their time here as they get closer to their full time move. This is exactly what
my husband and I did when we initially purchased in 2006.
The bigger issue is for those that have already committed to investments dependent on STR
and confident that there would be no problem because of the vote just 4 years ago to allow
STR. But now, suddenly, the issue comes up again with a proposed immediate moratorium
which is devastating. Further, it should be noted that a lot of people have bought homes and
are in process of major remodels that substantially improve the neighborhoods and increase
values for the current homeowners in those neighborhoods. Because of reliance on the recent
vote to allow STR, they will be financially ruined if they cannot obtain a permit and are forced
to list the home for sale in this down market (after buying at historically high prices) and when
may other homes may be coming on the market due the change in rules… and again, after
having contributed to the City and the neighborhood by improving the property.
I urge the City Council to view this issue fairly and to also take into account the significant
loss of TOT tax and local business revenue if we reduce the opportunity for visitors to come
and enjoy our wonderful city in the comfort of a single family home.
Mary Marx | 760.424.9299
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
Mary Marx
mary@marxrealestategroup.com |
www.marxrealestategroup.com |
DRE# 00684821
An independently owned and operated member of BHH Affiliates, LLC.
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
From:SCOTT CROTHERS
To:City Clerk
Subject:Vacation Rentals
Date:Monday, October 17, 2022 12:33:55 PM
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attachments unless you are sure the content is safe.
I am writing to ask the city to do the moratorium on vacation rentals, also to have no more than a 10 percent limit
per neighborhood. I have vacation rentals on both sides of my home now and many in front of us and it is loosing
the neighborhood feel. As an RE agent I feel these units have added to the housing and affordability issues of Palm
Springs since neighboring communities have restricted or eliminated them.
Scott Crothers
2956 N. Sunrise Way
Palm Springs
760-285-8296
Sent from my CD
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
From:Nick Latkovic
To:City Clerk
Subject:E-Public Comment re STR’
Date:Monday, October 17, 2022 12:32:47 PM
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unless you are sure the content is safe.
Honorable Mayor and Council:
Nick Latkovic, 40629 Via Fonda, Palm Desert Ca.
At the start of CoVid restrictions, the Valley exploded with STR’s as you well know. We have
1 next door, behind us, across the street and 2 doors down. Since these days houses lost their
permit to operate by the Palm Desert City Council, they continue to operate illegally weekly
claiming “Friends and Family” are utilizing them - while still advertising on AirBNB etc.
Whole being continually fined and liened, they still operate under the guise of long term
rentals - not having to follow stricter STR Rules. Code enforcement and neighbors are
continually frustrated by these out of town owners.
My point being, some, not all, but many STR owners become addicted to the money and once
allowed in, continue to operate with no regard for the law. This is one example of the many
carpet baggers buying properties in the valley.
Please stop the invasive species of STR’s while you have the opportunity to do so.
Nick Latkovic
40629 Via Fonda
Palm Desert CA
760-455-9727
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
10/17/2022 Public Comment Item 3D
From:Paula Auburn
To:City Clerk
Subject:Comment to City Council STVRs
Date:Sunday, October 16, 2022 2:02:47 PM
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unless you are sure the content is safe.
TO: Mayor Lisa Middleton, and Council Members Grace Garner, ChristiHolstege, Geoff Kors, and Dennis Woods
FROM: Paula Auburn
RE: STVR Study Recommendations Before City Council Monday, October 172022
DATE: October 16, 2022
I am unable to attend the October 17th council meeting to speak hence I amsubmitting this written comment.
My previous letter outlined my concerns about STVRs – the destruction ofneighborhood quality, the decrease in full time residents to vote and serve onboards and commissions, the corporate purchasers driving up housing costspricing out locals, and violation of residential zoning by allowing hotel-likebusinesses in such zoning.
I urge you to adopt the moratorium on new permits; please disallowgrandfathering of those in the “pipeline” Further I urge you to adopt the StudyGroup Recommendations for a city-wide cap of 2500 units with no more than10% per neighborhood.
Concerning that 10% cap, I forwarded to Mayor Middleton several months agothe City Ordinance from Northfield, MN which has such a cap. Northfield is acollege town with a highly educated population. Their conversions were tostudent housing which was destroying old historic houses. I worked.
The short-term gains in TOTs are not worth the long term costs. Unless you donot want Palm Springs to be a residential city.
Thank you for your consideration,
Paula Auburn
1369 Campeon Circle, PS
760-464-4494
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
From:Mike
To:City Clerk
Subject:Unfair city ordinance
Date:Sunday, October 16, 2022 9:23:35 AM
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attachments unless you are sure the content is safe.
Greetings,
Can you please ask the city council to address this issue soon… this should be an easy no brainer for them to fix …
it’s costing us residents each month until they do…
I’m writing to ask your help in amending an unfair fee placed on owners who rent a room in their home.
I recently applied for a permit to rent a spare bedroom. There is an ordinance that vacation rentals must have walk
in garbage service…. That fee apparently applies to people who live in their home full time and year round.
This is an unfair fee. Vacation homes and people who rent a room in their home should not be considered the same
when it comes to this fee….
Can you please amend the ordinance to be fair…utilities are so expensive in PS as it is…that’s why I’m considering
renting my spare room once in a while….
Thank you for whatever help you can provide.
Michael Lambton
E. Buena Vista Dr
510-387-5775
Sent from my iPhone
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
From:City of Palm Springs
To:City Clerk; City Clerk
Subject:*NEW SUBMISSION* Submit Public Comment to the City of Palm Springs
Date:Friday, October 14, 2022 3:30:07 AM
Submit Public Comment to the City of Palm Springs
Submission #:2024156
IP Address:142.91.24.74
Submission Date:10/14/2022 3:30
Survey Time:10 minutes, 1 second
You have a new online form submission.
Note: all answers displaying "*****" are marked as sensitive and must be viewed after your login.
Full Name/Nombre
Gerry Bowman
City of Residence/Ciudad de residencia
Palm Springs,
Phone (optional) /Teléfono (opcional)
Email (optional/opcional)
Your Comments/Sus comentarios
Concerning - Item 3D - Vacation Rentals As a PS resident I feel this is a politically laden item and should be deferred
until a new City Manager is installed. Furthermore, if anything, voting should be deferred on this issue and include
an option (if there will be a vote) to include those properties (regardless where they are or will be transferred to
new owners) that have been rented out remain eligible now and in the future. In other words it is the property that
is deemed eligible based on history and not a new owner. Notwithstanding, I believe this subject needs to be
deferred until a new City manager is installed as this is as many know a political play.
Thank you,
City of Palm Springs
This is an automated message generated by Granicus. Please do not reply directly to this email.
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
1
Brent Rasi
Subject:RE: Please vote against the moratorium
From: Chris <chrismarie @gmail.com>
Date: October 13, 2022 at 9:58:39 PM PDT
To: Christy Holstege <Christy.Holstege@palmspringsca.gov>
Subject: Please vote against the moratorium
NOTICE: This message originated outside of The City of Palm Springs ‐‐ DO NOT CLICK on links or open
attachments unless you are sure the content is safe.
Council member Christy Holstege,
I would like to ask you to Please vote against a moratorium against new
str applications. I understand the city wants more time to discuss
capping STRs.
However, even the talk of the moratorium has crushed the value of my
home and potential to sell and get out under this loan. The majority of
people looking to buy homes want the option to str when they are away
in the hot months. Our economy is already headed for a downturn
with rising inflation and a normal correction in real estate coupled with
rising interest rates and a coming recession. A moratorium is going to
hurt all of the homeowners. The entire city depends on the vacation
industry. Just vote to add the cap if you really want to and put out the
rules. Allow the licenses to be transferable and go from there. Why not
just not put a cap and let the industry auto correct?
Did any of the analysts account for the world we are in now when they
did their study? Are any of these people analyzing the economy,
housing market, inflation, raising rates etc? The market is auto
correcting now. A moratorium and cap will send all homeowners in a
worst recession than 2008. Get ready for an empty city ,a wave of
foreclosures and vacant homes. Palm Springs …from vacation
destination to Detroit. Vacant homes and lots of crime.
Please do not kill our economy and housing market with a 45 day to one
year moratorium.
Thank you for your consideration.
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
2
Christine Binge
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
1
Brent Rasi
Subject:RE: YES ON MORATORIUM
From: Terry House <terry.house@gmail.com>
Date: October 14, 2022 at 9:00:25 AM PDT
To: Lisa Middleton <Lisa.Middleton@palmspringsca.gov>, Dennis Woods
<Dennis.Woods@palmspringsca.gov>, Geoff Kors <Geoff.Kors@palmspringsca.gov>, Christy Holstege
<Christy.Holstege@palmspringsca.gov>, Grace Garner <Grace.Garner@palmspringsca.gov>
Subject: YES ON MORATORIUM
NOTICE: This message originated outside of The City of Palm Springs ‐‐ DO NOT CLICK on links or open
attachments unless you are sure the content is safe.
Mayor & Councilmembers ‐
As I have expressed in the past, I support a moratorium on the issuance of STR rentals in the City of Palm
Springs. I have been writing to this council and previous councils since 2011 about the unfairness of
unfettered STRs in the city.
I live in District 2, where 39% of my neighboring households are STRs. Outrageous, isn’t it?
Don’t be bullied (by absentee landlords that finance their house purchases by short term rentals
income) into any cap for citywide and districtwide numbers of STRs above 10%. In fact, consider a lower
percentage.
10% is actually a high a number of allowable STRs to foster community. If you look at other cities who
have set these caps, none approach 10%. Most are under 5%.
Most sincerely,
Terry House
2138 N Berne Dr
PS 92262
760‐898‐6199
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
From:Bruce Hoban
To:City Clerk
Subject:10/17/22 Public Comments for Item #3D (Vacation Rental Permits)
Date:Friday, October 14, 2022 11:11:06 AM
Attachments:Microsoft Word - 2022_10_14 VRON_PS Vacation Rental Framework.docx.pdf
NOTICE: This message originated outside of The City of Palm Springs -- DO NOT CLICK on links or open attachments
unless you are sure the content is safe.
Dear City Clerk and City Council,
Attached are VRON-PS comments concerning Monday’s Council discussions and/or actions
to permit limits and/or density items in the Staff Report,
Please note, VRON-PS is also recommending 8 specific and important changes to the
current ordinance, but were stalled pending resolution of the lawsuit against the City. Some
of these changes have proven to be ineffective/not applicable or could not be implemented or
align VR’s with the same requirements applied to our hotels.
Thank you for your consideration.
VRON-PS Board of Directors
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
VACATION RENTAL OWNERS AND NEIGHBORS OF PALM SPRINGS (VRON-PS)
- PAGE 1 -
NEW ITEMS NOT IN CURRENT VR ORDINANCE:
1) Two tiers of VR Permits:
A) Full permit (“A”) for all existing permit holders including those in the application queue as of
October 17, 2022 under the proposed Urgency Ordinance. Homes currently in escrow post 30
days of the enactment date will be allowed to submit an application and receive a permit. This
will be capped at 2,500 permits city wide. As the City will have exceeded 2,500 permits on the
enactment date, to achieve this limit, permit attrition will be used to get the number down to
the City’s cap. The existing 32 + 4 contracts will remain in place for all permit “A” holders.
Applications will also be accepted for those actively in renovation and can demonstrate through
correspondence and other documentation that they had the intent to submit an STR permit
application. These applications must be received within 10 business days of the October 17,
2022 Council meeting.
B) Secondary permits (“B”) will be available on an unlimited basis to all who apply. This is for
permit holders who intend to rent 12 or fewer times per year. Permit cost to be adjusted
accordingly. All rules of the VR Ordinance will apply to this group.
At the commencement of tiered permits, within one year of enactment, anyone in group “A” who does
not use 13 contracts or more within 12 months of their permit renewal will be automatically
downgraded to a “B” permit.
2) Neighborhood Cap
VRON does not support a neighborhood cap. We feel the City should apply one major restriction at a
time (which would be a City-wide cap) as a precaution against imposing too many unknowns on the
housing market which may adversely impact real estate prices, real estate tax revenues, sales tax and
other possible lines of revenue to the City.
SPECIFIC ORDINANCE CHANGES and OTHER MODIFICATIONS:
We have 8 modifications of the existing Ordinance that we would like Council to consider. They are all
relatively straightforward and will make for more efficiency in permit holders managing their homes in
compliance with the STR ordinance regulations.
We have grouped the following four items (VRON ref #57, 151, 152, 167) together as they all
reference the same topic.
VRON ref #57 - Existing Ordinance PSMC 5.25.030 Definitions:
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
VACATION RENTAL OWNERS AND NEIGHBORS OF PALM SPRINGS (VRON-PS)
- PAGE 2 -
"Local contact person" means the Owner, a local property manager, or agent of the Owner,
who is available twenty-four hours per day, seven days per week for the purpose of responding
in-person within thirty (30) minutes to complaints regarding the condition, operation, or
conduct of occupants of the Vacation Rental, or any agent of the Owner authorized by the
Owner to take remedial action and who responds to any violation of this code.
VRON ref #151 + 152 - Existing Ordinance PSMC 5.25.070 Operational Requirements and
Standard Conditions:
(1) responding by telephone within fifteen (15) minutes of complaints from or through the
Hotline and (2) responding in-person within thirty (30) minutes to any additional or successive
complaints regarding the condition, operation, or conduct of occupants of the Vacation Rental.
VRON ref #167 - Existing Ordinance PSMC 5.25.070 Operational Requirements and Standard
Conditions:
(i) The Enforcement Official shall be the first responder and have primary responsibility or the
enforcement of this Chapter. In the event the Enforcement Official notifies the Owner, or his or
her agent, the Owner, or his or her agent, that the responsible person, including any occupant
and/or guest of the Vacation Rental unit, has created unreasonable noise or disturbances,
engaged in disorderly conduct, or committed violations of provisions of the Municipal Code or
any state law, shall promptly respond in a timely and appropriate manner to prevent a
recurrence of such conduct by those occupants or guests, and evict one or more of the guests
when requested by the City Enforcement Official. For the purpose of this Subsection and
Subsection (j) below, the phrase "in a timely and appropriate manner'' shall mean in-person
contact within thirty (30) minutes for any call from the Enforcement Official.
Proposed VRON Update:
Response time definition is inconsistent throughout the Ordinance and could be more
explicitly defined in Section 5.25.070 (e) which states:
(1) responding by telephone within fifteen (15) minutes of complaints from or through the
Hotline and (2) responding in-person within thirty (30) minutes to any additional or
successive complaints regarding the condition, operation, or conduct of occupants of the
Vacation Rental.
Revise 5.25.070(e) to:
(1) responding by telephone within fifteen (15) minutes of complaints from or through the
Hotline and after this period has elapsed (2) responding in-person within thirty (30) minutes
to any failure to address the complaint of additional or successive complaints regarding the
condition, operation, or conduct of occupants of the Vacation Rental.
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
VACATION RENTAL OWNERS AND NEIGHBORS OF PALM SPRINGS (VRON-PS)
- PAGE 3 -
Repeat the suggested revision to 5.25.070(e) in 5.25.070(i)
VRON ref #143 - Existing Ordinance PSMC PSMC 5.25.070 Operational Requirements and
Standard Conditions:
No more than one (1) automobile per bedroom shall be allowed for each Vacation Rental.
Proposed VRON Update:
● 2 additional vehicles allowed during daytime hours for visitors or services
● No strike against owner’s permit for any citation issued to guest for parking violation
VRON ref #163 - Existing Ordinance PSMC 5.25.070 Operational Requirements and Standard
Conditions:
Each Contract shall be maintained by the Owner or the Owner's Agent for a minimum of four
(4) years and shall be readily available for inspection upon request of the Enforcement Official.
Proposed VRON Update:
Owner must retain a copy of guest’s ID for a minimum of 5 business days after the end of
guest’s Rental Term. (FYI: Hotels are not required to retain guest IDs beyond their stay.)
VRON ref #170 - Existing Ordinance PSMC 5.25.070 Operational Requirements and Standard
Conditions:
(k) Trash and refuse shall not be left stored within public view, except in proper containers for
the purpose of collection by the collectors and between the hours of five a.m. and eight p.m. on
scheduled trash collection days. The Owner of the Vacation Rental unit shall use reasonably
prudent business practices to ensure compliance with all the provisions of Chapter 6.04 of the
Municipal Code (Waste Disposal and Diversion), and shall provide "walk-in service" or as may
otherwise be approved by the Enforcement Official.
Proposed VRON Update:
No strike against owner’s permit for any citation issued to guest for trash violation.
VRON ref #171 - Existing Ordinance PSMC 5.25.070 Operational Requirements and Standard
Conditions:
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
VACATION RENTAL OWNERS AND NEIGHBORS OF PALM SPRINGS (VRON-PS)
- PAGE 4 -
(I) All home repairs (external and internal), garden and yard maintenance, and pool cleaning
and maintenance shall not be performed between the hours of 5:00 pm on Friday through 8:00
am on Monday, except in the case of an emergency or the occurrence of an unexpected event
that reasonable warrants a timely or immediate response.
Proposed VRON Update:
Permitted vacation rentals adhere to same maintenance and repair requirements defined in
City Ordinances for all Palm Springs residences.
VRON ref #173 + 174 - Existing Ordinance PSMC 5.25.070 Operational Requirements and
Standard Conditions:
(m) The Owner or the Owner's agent or representative shall meet the Responsible Party in
person at the Vacation Rental or the Owner’s or Owner’s agent’s office prior to, or within
twenty-four (24) hours of, the commencement of the occupancy and verbally explain and
describe all rules and regulations applicable to the use of the property as a Vacation Rental and
the responsibilities of the Responsible Party to the neighbors and the City as well as the Owner.
Proposed VRON Update:
● Include live video conference for meet and greets (as per current Administrative
Regulation)
● Only the Responsible Party is required to sign the Statement of Rules and Regulations
VRON ref #234 - Existing Ordinance: 5.25.090 Violations + PSMC Section 93.23.16C
Upon a determination by the City Manager of a third qualified violation within any twenty-four
(24) month period regarding the vacation rental of an Estate House, the land use permit for
such vacation rental shall be subject to revocation or modification by the Planning Commission
at a noticed public hearing to be held in the manner provided for in Section 94.09.00 of this
Code.
Proposed VRON Update:
There is conclusive data showing Estate Homes receive proportionally less citations than non-
Estate Homes. VRON would like to see a strike duration of 12 months for Estate Homes
instead of the existing 24 months to conform with non-Estate Homes.
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
VACATION RENTAL OWNERS AND NEIGHBORS OF PALM SPRINGS (VRON-PS)
- PAGE 5 -
VRON ref #260 - Existing Ordinance 5.25.090 Violations Referencing PSMC Section 2.50.080
A person aggrieved by an action taken by an administrative officer of the city as provided in
Section 2.50.020 may appeal the action to the board by filing with the city clerk a written notice
of appeal within ten days of the action.
Proposed VRON Update:
VRON has observed at multiple Appeals Board hearings that owners are receiving notification
close to or even after the 10 day period, not allowing them time to complete due diligence
including a PRA to determine what was documented by code enforcement. VRON is
requesting that the appeal time frame be changed to 30 days.
OTHER MODIFICATIONS:
Guest Violation Remediation:
In the event that a guest receives a citation and the Agent/Owner evicts the guest in a timely
manner and Agent/Owner certifies proof of the eviction, the fine will still be issued but the
permit will only receive a ½ strike due to Agent/Owner taking action to ensure that the
Responsible Party and their guests cannot cause an additional incident.
Penalties to Agents/Owner’s Representative:
There is nothing currently in the Ordinance that punishes or penalizes Agents/Owner
Representatives when they are negligent. Over the past few years, there have been several use
cases where a penalty to the agent/owner’s rep would have been appropriate. Possible penalty
to include revocation of Agent/Owner Representative’s business license. Here are two such
cases:
A penalty to Agent/Owner’s Representative for failure to obtain a valid VR permit prior to
advertising/renting property resulting in the Owner receiving a lifetime ban.
VRON would like to recommend that a penalty be introduced to Agents/Owner’s
Representatives when a VR homeowner receives three strikes and a suspension due to
Agent/Owner’s Representative’s failure to evict guests after the first citation. (Example: music
citation is issued to the guest on Friday night but Agent does not evict; the following day, two
more citations are issued and the Owner’s permit is suspended for 2 years.)
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
1
Brent Rasi
From:TJ Sank <tjsankjr@gmail.com>
Sent:Friday, October 14, 2022 6:26 PM
To:Cindy Cairns; CityManager; City Clerk
Subject:Fwd: Palm Springs Short Term Rental Moratorium
NOTICE: This message originated outside of The City of Palm Springs ‐‐ DO NOT CLICK on links or open attachments unless you are
sure the content is safe.
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Forwarded message ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
From: TJ Sank <tjsankjr@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Oct 14, 2022 at 6:21 PM
Subject: Palm Springs Short Term Rental Moratorium
To: <grace.garner@palmspringsca.gov>, <dennis.woods@palmspringsca.gov>, <geoff.kors@palmspringsca.gov>,
<christy.holstege@palmspringsca.gov>, <lisa.middleton@palmspringsca.gov>, <llubi.rios@palmspringsca.gov>
With all due respect, a moratorium on short term rentals in a market like Palm Springs
might be one of the most idiotic ideas that I've ever heard. Palm Springs is no longer
your grandparents town, this isn't the 1950s & 60s anymore. In case you haven't
noticed, Palm Springs in the last few years has become an International destination for
younger generations of all walks of life & setting the tone for future generations.
These people are investing in the community via homes, local businesses and/or visiting
by renting out short term rental properties then spending money locally. The tax
revenue from the rentals to the money spent at local businesses has been tenfold... what
was once a seasonal destination, Palm Springs is now a destination throughout the
year. In an economy that is currently battling inflation and a looming recession, you
don't cut off access & punish the community / local economy especially for those that are
investing here by purchasing houses & converting them to short term rentals. You
already have restrictions in place on the number of times a property can be rented out,
now you want to restrict it even further so the boarded up house overrun by meth addicts
in a neighborhood can stay (and bring down everyone's property values), BUT the person
who was going to invest in that property, fix it up, bring up the value of homes in the
neighborhood & rent it out from time to time all the while generating substantial tax
revenue for the city is no longer needed!?! Got it.
The city is making a drastic mistake even thinking about this. Someone that is old & rich
who sadly won't be around that much longer is having way to much say in the local
community because they don't like seeing younger generations of all walks of life now in
their neighborhoods. Well, the time is now for the city to keep embracing the future of
Palm Springs & how the community will continue to diversify & expand vs continuing to
look into the rearview mirror at the past.
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
1
Brent Rasi
Subject:RE: Vacation rentals aren't a problem
From: Michael Spain <mcspain@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, October 13, 2022 2:17 PM
To: Dennis Woods <Dennis.Woods@palmspringsca.gov>
Subject: Vacation rentals aren't a problem
NOTICE: This message originated outside of The City of Palm Springs ‐‐ DO NOT CLICK on links or open attachments unless you are
sure the content is safe.
Hello Dennis.
My husband and I have owned a home in Racquet Club Estates for 12 years. We operated as a
vacation rental for 9 of those and moved to Palm Springs full time after that.
We have five vacation rentals near us - two on our street and 3 on the street behind us. We have
never had a problem with noise or any disturbance whatsoever.
As former vacation rental operators, we know the rules and enforcement mechanisms in place. They
work.
We should embrace visitors, not discourage them.
A moratorium is absolutely unnecessary. Please vote against this.
Michael Spain & Glen Miller
2102 North Berne Drive
206.262.9907
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
From:Mike
To:City Clerk
Subject:Unfair city ordinance
Date:Sunday, October 16, 2022 9:23:35 AM
NOTICE: This message originated outside of The City of Palm Springs -- DO NOT CLICK on links or open
attachments unless you are sure the content is safe.
Greetings,
Can you please ask the city council to address this issue soon… this should be an easy no brainer for them to fix …
it’s costing us residents each month until they do…
I’m writing to ask your help in amending an unfair fee placed on owners who rent a room in their home.
I recently applied for a permit to rent a spare bedroom. There is an ordinance that vacation rentals must have walk
in garbage service…. That fee apparently applies to people who live in their home full time and year round.
This is an unfair fee. Vacation homes and people who rent a room in their home should not be considered the same
when it comes to this fee….
Can you please amend the ordinance to be fair…utilities are so expensive in PS as it is…that’s why I’m considering
renting my spare room once in a while….
Thank you for whatever help you can provide.
Michael Lambton
E. Buena Vista Dr
510-387-5775
Sent from my iPhone
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
From:Dean Chantiles
To:City Clerk
Subject:E-Public Comment re STRs
Date:Sunday, October 16, 2022 1:49:00 PM
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attachments unless you are sure the content is safe.
Dear Palm Springs City Council:
I am 40 year resident of Palm Springs and have owned a home in Araby for 31 years. I am strongly opposed to
STRs. They create unwanted noise and traffic and take the “neighbor” out of neighborhood. Once upon a time(not
so long ago) visitors stayed in hotels that were mainly along North, South, and East Palm Canyon Drive while the
rest of the city was essentially residential.
I understand that people want to come to Palm Springs to party but the transient nature of STRs really disrupts the
tranquil tone of the desert. The Declaration of Independence famously mentioned “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of
Happiness”. STRs serve as a disruptive force in our city and the noise makes it difficult for us to enjoy our homes.
Another famous quote “the right to move your fist ends at the tip of my nose” really highlights the current situation.
People rent, renters make noise, renters drive quickly , and this impacts residents negatively.
Please eliminate or reduce STRs in our city! We will be the shining star of the Coachella Valley again instead of a
transient party town.
Thank you for your consideration.
Dean Chantiles
2250 Smokewood Avenue
Palm Springs, CA. 92264
760-409-3342
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
From:Paula Auburn
To:City Clerk
Subject:Comment to City Council STVRs
Date:Sunday, October 16, 2022 2:02:47 PM
NOTICE: This message originated outside of The City of Palm Springs -- DO NOT CLICK on links or open attachments
unless you are sure the content is safe.
TO: Mayor Lisa Middleton, and Council Members Grace Garner, ChristiHolstege, Geoff Kors, and Dennis Woods
FROM: Paula Auburn
RE: STVR Study Recommendations Before City Council Monday, October 172022
DATE: October 16, 2022
I am unable to attend the October 17th council meeting to speak hence I amsubmitting this written comment.
My previous letter outlined my concerns about STVRs – the destruction ofneighborhood quality, the decrease in full time residents to vote and serve onboards and commissions, the corporate purchasers driving up housing costspricing out locals, and violation of residential zoning by allowing hotel-likebusinesses in such zoning.
I urge you to adopt the moratorium on new permits; please disallowgrandfathering of those in the “pipeline” Further I urge you to adopt the StudyGroup Recommendations for a city-wide cap of 2500 units with no more than10% per neighborhood.
Concerning that 10% cap, I forwarded to Mayor Middleton several months agothe City Ordinance from Northfield, MN which has such a cap. Northfield is acollege town with a highly educated population. Their conversions were tostudent housing which was destroying old historic houses. I worked.
The short-term gains in TOTs are not worth the long term costs. Unless you donot want Palm Springs to be a residential city.
Thank you for your consideration,
Paula Auburn
1369 Campeon Circle, PS
760-464-4494
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
From:Linda L. Holmes
To:City Clerk
Subject:Opposition to Short-Term Vacation Rentals
Date:Sunday, October 16, 2022 2:09:26 PM
NOTICE: This message originated outside of The City of Palm Springs -- DO NOT CLICK on links or open attachments
unless you are sure the content is safe.
Dear Mayor and Members of the Palm Springs City Council:
I am highly opposed to short-term vacation rentals (STRs) in residential
zones. These homes are owned as businesses, and it is destroying our
quiet neighborhoods. They should only be allowed wherever hotels are
allowed.
In my street in The Movie Colony, there are seven homes. When we moved
here in 1999, all the homes were owner-occupied, and we had wonderful,
caring neighbors. We get together for lunch and dinner, have cul-de-sac
happy hours, take care of each other, feed cats when someone is away,
pick up mail and packages, etc. However, today, four of those homes have
been sold to people who are using them for vacation rentals with people
continually in and out. Therefore, we have people coming and going who
are not "neighbors" and don't care about each other. Fortunately, each
home has a good property manager, so we are not suffering from numerous
loud parties, extra cars on the street, or trash that some neighborhoods are
experiencing. But we are suffering from not knowing who is staying here,
they don't smile or wave, or in any way act as neighbors. It's just not the
same, and we are no longer living in a community of neighbors.
I understand there has been discussion about enforcing the federal
Americans with Disabilities Act in the vacation rentals where the City
collects Transient Occupancy Taxes. This would ensure rentals are
accessible to the disabled, just like any hotel where the City collects TOT. I
support this issue.
Another issue: there is much talk from the vacation rental owners that these
renters are helping our economy by shopping and eating here. However, if
these homes were owner-occupied, they would have gardeners,
housekeepers, pool services, pest control, etc., and the owners would shop
in our stores and restaurants. The loss of City revenue should not be as
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
significant as is being told.
Thank you for your work on these issues of great concern to the residents
and voters of Palm Springs.
Sincerely,
Linda Holmes
501 N. Phillips Rd.
Palm Springs, CA 92262
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
From:City of Palm Springs
To:City Clerk; City Clerk
Subject:*NEW SUBMISSION* Submit Public Comment to the City of Palm Springs
Date:Sunday, October 16, 2022 10:11:06 PM
Submit Public Comment to the City of Palm Springs
Submission #:2027850
IP Address:148.64.20.25
Submission Date:10/16/2022 10:11
Survey Time:1 minute, 12 seconds
You have a new online form submission.
Note: all answers displaying "*****" are marked as sensitive and must be viewed after your login.
Full Name/Nombre
Ryan Leaderman
City of Residence/Ciudad de residencia
Los Angeles,
Phone (optional) /Teléfono (opcional)
3108044523
Email (optional/opcional)
ryan.leaderman@hklaw.com
Your Comments/Sus comentarios
Honorable Councilmembers, I've been a homeowner in Demuth Park for several years and because I love PS so
much and my neighborhood in particular I bought an investment house in May 2022. The upgrades -- new roof, new
paint, inside and out, and many aesthetic improvements are big benefits to the community. As a small potato
homeowner, who is investing a HUGE amount of his total wealth in a down market, I did not realize so much was at
risk with not rushing to file the application first and THEN do upgrades. I filed my STR 10/6 - would have been earlier
if management company did not delay filing despite my frequent nagging. Just please don't impose a moratorium
while STR ordinance is updated. If there is any inclination to go forward with a ban, please grandfather in those who
have active STR permits or active building permit apps so that small potatoes like me don't get burned; I'm facing
potential massive avoidable losses with a ban - grandfather those in same boat as me.
Thank you,
City of Palm Springs
This is an automated message generated by Granicus. Please do not reply directly to this email.
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
From:Brett Smith
To:City Clerk
Subject:Short Term Rentals
Date:Wednesday, October 12, 2022 9:18:16 AM
NOTICE: This message originated outside of The City of Palm Springs -- DO NOT CLICK on links or open attachments
unless you are sure the content is safe.
Please forward this to all city council members. Thank you.
Dear City Council Members:
I have recently had reason to spend time in our neighboring valley cities. They are clean,
bustling with growth, with relatively few transients littering public spaces. Ideas are created
and in short order developments are finished. The build outs along El Paseo and other streets
are tasteful and clean.
Then I have to return home to my Palm Springs neighborhood (Sonora/Sunrise): transients
everywhere, short term rentals filled with multiple cars and excessive activities and noise, and
medians along Palm Canyon filled with trash, debris, weeds, and more transients and shopping
carts. The Ralph's store on E Palm Canyon is a disgrace! Behind it I find ravens tearing open
unclosed trash bins of food, transients defecating and urinating on the huge unchecked
recycling area, and a stench that is unbelievable. Empty restaurants and stores are left to decay
and crumble. Downtown is a hodgepodge of filthy, unmonitored build outs and transients.
I have lived here for 20 years. I no long go downtown, nor do my guests. Our city is a
disgrace. One cannot even go into a city park without being on high alert. Plans for new
buildings end up taking years to break ground OR EVEN FINISH. Yet, overnight we can give
money to transgender people and run political ads that bash other candidates. This city has
gone from a jewel to an embarrassment. Now you want to question whether or not to allow
for more short term rentals?
BIG QUESTION: Where are the people that wait on you hand and foot in your fancy
restaurants, stores, and hotels going to live when all available forms of shelter are catering to
the rich and out of towners? You need to wake up and respect the full-time residents who
occupy our neighborhoods. WE DO NOT WANT MORE SELLING OUT OF OUR
CITY> PERIOD! Stop this endless behavior. This city is falling apart! Sure, you can
continue to promote the home of Elvis, or a Marilyn statue, or Splash House events, but
eventually, this entire city and its infrastructure will collapse. Time to spend money, energy,
and resources on our city-not on allowing more selling out of its soul.
Brett Smith
Palm Springs resident
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
1
Brent Rasi
Subject:RE: Short Term Rental Ordinance / I'm in escrow
On Oct 10, 2022, at 8:07 AM, Ron Opaleski <ropaleski@gmail.com> wrote:
NOTICE: This message originated outside of The City of Palm Springs ‐‐ DO NOT CLICK on links or open
attachments unless you are sure the content is safe.
Dear Council Member Woods:
I am writing to you for your guidance on a pressing matter regarding the short term rental
ordinance. My wife and I are currently in escrow on a home in South Palm Springs in the neighborhood
of the Tahquitz Creek Golf Course with a closing date of October 19th. We are very concerned about the
potential cap on short term rental permits and the impact it has on us.
As a Los Angeles based family we have vacationed in Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley for many
years and have fallen in love with the area. We have looked in earnest to buy a property in the Tahquitz
Creek Golf Neighborhood for close to two years, finally finding a home that is perfect for our
family. This is a major investment for us and we budgeted for short term rental income to help offset
our costs. We are not a development company looking to acquire multiple properties, this is a second
home for us, our child and our future. We plan on spending many weekends and holidays there, inviting
relatives from the east coast to visit the desert and ultimately to retire there.
It is our understanding from watching the recent city council meeting, that any potential cap on permits
would not be put in place until 30 days after the adoption of an ordinance. There were multiple
mentions of our situation being exempt as we are currently in escrow on a home. However, later in the
meeting there was reference to a retroactive date where permit requests would no longer be accepted
and this language has now been added to the application on the city's website. Protecting people that
are currently in escrow as this ordinance is being debated only seems fair and sounded like the intent of
the council.
Can you please provide some clarity?
Will our short term vacation permit be accepted after our closing date ?
We are looking for feedback and assurances from the council as we do not want to pull out of escrow,
but are honestly confused and concerned.
We love this home and would be heartbroken to lose it. We want to stay committed to Palm Spring and
the desert community we love and aspire to live in full time.
We look forward to your feedback.
Sincerely,
Ron Opaleski
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
2
310‐344‐2174
Future address:
2405 S. Brentwood Drive
Palm Springs, CA 92264
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
1
Brent Rasi
Subject:RE: Personal Plea - Re: Financial Impact of Vacation Rental Moratorium
On Oct 11, 2022, at 1:54 PM, Marcus Davis <marcusd687@gmail.com> wrote:
NOTICE: This message originated outside of The City of Palm Springs ‐‐ DO NOT CLICK on links or open
attachments unless you are sure the content is safe.
Dear Councilmember Woods,
I'm writing to you regarding the vacation rental moratorium vote this upcoming Monday. I purchased a
beautiful mid century home designed by William Krisel last December. I've spent the past 10 months
restoring the home to its original beauty. I love this city and plan to spend much of my time in Palm
Springs and eventually retire here. However, I currently must split my time between the Bay Area and
Palm Springs for work and must offset the cost of my home with short term rentals.
I've poured most of my life's savings into this project. My application is pending acceptance by the city.
A decision to reject applications already in the pipeline would be disastrous for me financially. I urge you
to please honor existing applications and not apply this new moratorium retroactively.
Thank you,
Marcus Davis
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
1
Brent Rasi
Subject:RE: Concern About New Rental Cap/Restrictions
From: Richard Simms <rsimms@hw.com>
Date: September 30, 2022 at 4:12:32 PM PDT
To: Lisa Middleton <Lisa.Middleton@palmspringsca.gov>, Grace Garner
<Grace.Garner@palmspringsca.gov>, Geoff Kors <Geoff.Kors@palmspringsca.gov>, Christy Holstege
<Christy.Holstege@palmspringsca.gov>, Dennis Woods <Dennis.Woods@palmspringsca.gov>
Subject: Concern About New Rental Cap/Restrictions
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attachments unless you are sure the content is safe.
Dear Mayor and City Council Members,
My name is Richard Simms. My wife and I recently purchased unit 107 at Ocotillo Lodge in Palm Springs.
We have long dreamed of having a vacation/weekend getaway spot in the desert and were over the
moon when we closed escrow just over two weeks ago. We plan to retire to the community soon. In the
meantime, we will be using the home about one weekend a month before we can arrive permanently.
What was vital to us in the process of purchasing the home was the rental policies that existed in Palm
Springs. The only way we could afford the home was with the knowledge that we would be able to rent
it 3 weeks a month for ancillary income. The socio‐economic impact of not having the ability to rent our
home would be devastating for us and could negatively impact our ability to retire on schedule.
I mention the above because I recently discovered that Palm Springs is considering putting a cap on the
number of rentals allowed in Palm Springs. Considering that our home is in Twin Palms, any
neighborhood cap will be catastrophic for us financially.
As we only just closed escrow recently, we are still in the process of writing our rental application. We
plan to submit the application this Monday and are hopeful that our application will still be considered
and hopefully approved. Thank you for your time and consideration of this very important matter. Your
help is greatly appreciated.
Best wishes,
Richard and Cindy Simms
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
1
Brent Rasi
Subject:RE: Vacation Rental restrictions
From: Susan St Louis <suesaint24@gmail.com>
Date: October 2, 2022 at 7:52:31 AM PDT
To: Grace Garner <Grace.Garner@palmspringsca.gov>, Dennis Woods
<Dennis.Woods@palmspringsca.gov>, Geoff Kors <Geoff.Kors@palmspringsca.gov>, Christy Holstege
<Christy.Holstege@palmspringsca.gov>, Lisa Middleton <Lisa.Middleton@palmspringsca.gov>
Subject: Vacation Rental restrictions
NOTICE: This message originated outside of The City of Palm Springs ‐‐ DO NOT CLICK on links or open
attachments unless you are sure the content is safe.
To the city council:
I would like to express my opinion about the move to decrease density of vacation rentals in Palm
Springs.
As an owner, I feel that VR’s add a lot to the financial stability of Palm Springs, bringing in customers for
PS businesses and TOT taxes to help support all city services.
Trying to reduce density by neighborhood to a 10% cap is too restrictive, and would leave too many
owners in financial straits, if they could not rent their properties, without really changing the
composition of those neighborhoods. I feel that a 20% density cap would be fair and more beneficial to
both the owners of current VR’s and to the city’s coffers.
Even though the number of vacant 2nd homes not used as VR's is three times greater than the number
of VR’s in PS, nothing is being done to limit them, in spite of the fact that they also take possible long
term rentals off the market (and don’t even provide the city with TOT taxes to compensate!)
Please don’t confuse the issues here. The paucity of long term rentals for PS residents can be attributed
to the lack of new apartment building in the city, with very few new units being constructed each year,
and the very high numbers of 2nd homes which are mostly vacant. Low mortgage interest rates until
recently have also contributed to the lack of available units, as home sales were booming. The problem
is NOT vacation rentals, and in too severely restricting VR’s from operating, you are not going to be
adding much to the housing stock, but you will cut your tax revenues and reduce the monies you have to
support public services.
Thank you,
Susan St Louis
688 S Indian Trail
Palm Springs, CA 92264
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
1
Brent Rasi
Subject:RE: Feedback on Proposed Changes to STVR Regulations
From: William White <William.White.211553247@p2a.co>
Date: October 3, 2022 at 10:29:37 AM PDT
To: Christy Holstege <Christy.Holstege@palmspringsca.gov>
Subject: Feedback on Proposed Changes to STVR Regulations
Reply‐To: William White <doublerainbowprop@gmail.com>
NOTICE: This message originated outside of The City of Palm Springs ‐‐ DO NOT CLICK on links or open
attachments unless you are sure the content is safe.
Dear Councilmember Christy Holstege,
Hearing reports about limiting or putting a cap that would limit vacation rentals is a bit alarming. We
would be concerned for a number of reasons. Would current People that have vacation rentals lose their
licenses? How do you determine this? Would this just be for putting a cap on new rentals?
Also, putting the blame on vacation rentals for the lack of affordable housing and/or long term housing
is not fair. Yes, housing prices are rising everywhere, especially in a place like Palm Springs. After the
pandemic, so many people are fleeing big cities and looking for better options. People that moved from
big cities like LA, San Francisco, New York, etc..... They can afford a lot more. So much of the data has
shown this. My partner and I moved to Asheville, NC right as the pandemic started and there are very
similar parallels. Both are big tourists destinations, that are not big cities. Lots of art, culture and good
food. Both cities have seen a huge hike in home prices over the past two years, and it had NOTHING to
do with vacation rentals. People from New York, Florida, and California are coming here all the time, and
I know it is a similar situation there.
Also, the lack of new or affordable housing that has been built in the area of Palm Springs is an issue.
Looking at the data, there has been hardly any new building/complexes in the area. Not sure who there
is to blame on that, but changing the STR situation is not going to change that.
I hope there are ways to increase affordable housing, and get places built for that. Also, since I still love
to come visit and stay at our condo, I hope to be able to afford to do that. I lived in Los Angeles for
almost 20 years, and love the city of Palm Springs. It is truly a wonderful place. Sure hoping you find
another way to the solution you are looking for, because this will not solve it. Sincerely, W. Griffin White
Regards,
William White
2001 E Camino Parocela
Palm Springs, CA 92264
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
1
Brent Rasi
Subject:RE: Feedback on Proposed Changes to STVR Regulations
From: Cindy Stillman <Cindy.Stillman.211523862@p2a.co>
Date: October 3, 2022 at 10:34:28 AM PDT
To: Christy Holstege <Christy.Holstege@palmspringsca.gov>
Subject: Feedback on Proposed Changes to STVR Regulations
Reply‐To: Cindy Stillman <cindystillman64@gmail.com>
NOTICE: This message originated outside of The City of Palm Springs ‐‐ DO NOT CLICK on links or open
attachments unless you are sure the content is safe.
Dear Councilmember Christy Holstege,
Good evening,
I purchased my property in Palm Springs in 2004. At the time of purchase, the property was a well
known and popular complex for vacation rentals and it remains this way. I initially lived in the unit, but
found a need in later years to travel more for work and now partially rely on income produced from the
seasonal rental. I still use the property personally and as often as work and rentals permit. I am not
considered a short‐term rental as I currently only rent for 30 or more days. However, I would like to
retain the option to obtain a permit for shorter rental periods should my circumstances require. As I
bought the property with this in mind 18 years ago, I would hope any significant changes to city permits
provide some grandfather rights for long term properties purchased for this purpose. As you are aware,
the economy is uncertain. Some of us rely on alternative sources of income until and beyond retirement.
My plan since purchase, has been to retire to this property. I have held steady in this commitment
despite the devastating decrease to property values that lasted for over a decade. I have a 5 star review
and premier host rating with the company I use, no complaints from neighbors, etc. I take pride in the
property and in being a representative of the city I love.
Please consider this carefully as any changes for some, could be devastating for others.
Respectfully submitted
Regards,
Cindy Stillman
505 S Farrell Dr
Palm Springs, CA 92264
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
1
Brent Rasi
Subject:RE: I'm concerned about changes to the VR program
From: Haven White <Haven.White.577602364@p2a.co>
Date: October 3, 2022 at 10:39:37 AM PDT
To: Christy Holstege <Christy.Holstege@palmspringsca.gov>
Subject: I'm concerned about changes to the VR program
Reply‐To: Haven White <havenbeth@gmail.com>
NOTICE: This message originated outside of The City of Palm Springs ‐‐ DO NOT CLICK on links or open
attachments unless you are sure the content is safe.
Dear Councilmember Christy Holstege,
Let me admit up front that my primary concern is selfish.
My brother and I live in cold climates on opposite coasts. We purchased our condominium in Palms
Springs a number of years ago so we could enjoy sunny Christmas holiday vacations together. However,
we are not among the rich and famous who can afford a second home on a whim. We rely on our snow
bunnies' months‐long rentals January through April combined with short term renters in the fall to be
able to afford our bills and our mortgage.
Given that our home is in a large condominium community, I would guess that our neighborhood is
above the proposed 10% cap, and I’m not sure how many permits out of proposed 2,500 cap are already
active in the VR program. If the proposed changes are made to the Vacation Rentals program’s rules, do
we risk losing our current permit?
For us, that would mean having to give up our condo as well. Winter rentals are not enough to cover the
rest of the year. The only way we could avoid selling would be to become landlords for full time renters.
However, that would end our years of Decembers in Palm Springs, as well as our home's availability to
snowbirds January‐April. We don't want to be landlords. We want to be part‐timers in a city that has
always welcomed us.
We hope the city council won't make decisions that would end our ability to participate in the city's
winters.
In a less selfish vein, I wish the work group had made a strong recommendation for the construction of
additional affordable housing in Palm Springs. The numbers they present clearly suggest that less
wealthy locals' actual real estate problems are a lack of affordable units being built, not the increase in
vacation rentals.
If the goal of any proposed changes is to improve the life of those being squeezed out of the housing
market, promoting new construction needs to be at the center of that plan.
Thank you for your time.
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D
2
Regards,
Haven White
90 E 37th Ave
Eugene, OR 97405
10/17/2022
Public Comment
Item 3D