HomeMy WebLinkAboutAB0598 - Farooqi Packet ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS BOARD STAFF REPORT
DATE: November 29, 2023
SUBJECT: APPEAL OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE DECISION THAT JAVAID FAROOQI
AND MADIHA FAROOQI ARE PERMANENTLY INELIGIBLE TO
OPERATE A VACATION RENTAL IN THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS AND
THE ADMINISTRATIVE FINE OF $5,000 FOR OPERATING AN
UNREGISTERED VACATION RENTAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 2860
N. LOS FELICES RD., UNIT 100, PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA
BY: DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL PROGRAM COMPLIANCE
SUMMARY
Madiha Farooqi has requested an appeal of the permanent ineligibility to operate a
Vacation Rental in the City of Palm Springs and administrative fine of $5,000.00 for
operating an unregistered Vacation Rental property located at 2860 N. Los Felices Rd.,
Unit 100, Palm Springs.
RECOMMENDATION:
1) Open the Appeal Hearing and accept public testimony.
2) Adopt Resolution No. ______, A RESOLUTION OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE
APPEALS BOARD OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, ON THE
APPEAL OF MADHI FAROOQI FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 2860 N.
LOS FELICES RD., UNIT 100, PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA REGARDING
ADMINISTRATIVE CITATION AB0598 ISSUED IN THE AMOUNT OF $5,000
AND THE PERMANENT INELIGIBILITY TO OPERATE A VACATION RENTAL IN
THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS
THIS PORTION OF PAGE BLANK
Administrative Appeals Board Staff Report
November 29, 2023
Vacation Rental Appeal –2860 N. Los Felices Rd., Unit 100, Palm Springs
STAFF ANALYSIS:
The owners for the property located at 2860 N. Los Felices Rd., Unit 100, Palm Springs
did not hold a Vacation Rental Registration Certificate by the City of Palm Springs as of
the date of violation on September 19, 2023.
Staff has determined that the owners have, without a Registration Certificate, advertised
and operated the property at 2860 N. Los Felices Rd., Unit 100, as a Vacation Rental
from elements as follows in violation of Palm Springs Municipal Code 5.25.040 (a):
1. Advertisement Airbnb.com/rooms/968423050113321690 listed as “Up state”
ATTACHMENT 5
2. Advertisement Airbnb.com/rooms/968423050113321690 lists no minimum
night stay. ATTACHMENT 5
3. A Code Compliance Officer submitted an online booking inquiry to stay during
the dates November 17, 2023, through November 20, 2023 (3-nights);
ATTACHMENT 6
4. A response was received by the Code Compliance Officer confirming
availability for the dates November 17, 2023, through November 20, 2023 (3-
nights); ATTACHMENT 6
Staff finds that the advertisement found on Airbnb.com/rooms/968423050113321690 and
inquiry affirmation for the dates November 17, 2023, through November 20, 2023 (3-
nights) for stay at property 2860 N. Los Felices Rd., Unit 100, is in violation of
§5.25.040(a) and proceeded to issue Administrative Citation AB0598, in the amount of
$5,000, to Javaid Farooqi and Madiha Farooqi, the owners on title, for operating a
Vacation Rental without a Vacation Rental Registration Certificate. The Administrative
Citation was mailed by the Department of Special Program Compliance staff to the
mailing address on title.
The following Palm Springs Municipal Codes sections and Regulations are applicable to
this matter.
The Palm Springs Municipal Code §5.25.030 Definitions, reads as follows:
"Vacation Rental" means a single-family dwelling, or any portion thereof,
utilized for occupancy for dwelling, lodging, or sleeping purposes without the
Owner being present for a period of twenty-eight (28) consecutive days or
less,…”
Palm Springs Municipal Code §5.25.040(a) reads as follows:
The operation of a Vacation Rental or a Homeshare Interest without a Vacation
Rental Registration Certificate is prohibited.
Administrative Appeals Board Staff Report
November 29, 2023
Vacation Rental Appeal –2860 N. Los Felices Rd., Unit 100, Palm Springs
Palm Springs Municipal Code §5.25.090(c) reads as follows regarding the administrative
fine:
(c) Any person who operates a Vacation Rental without a Vacation
Registration Certificate, shall be liable to the City for the payment of transient
occupancy tax pursuant to the provisions of the Palm Springs Municipal
Code Chapter 3.24, including without limitation penalties and interest,
payment of an administrative fine in the amount of Five Thousand Dollars
($5,000.00), and permanent ineligibility to operate a Vacation Rental in the
City…”
Administrative Regulation “Operation of a Vacation Rental” dated 07/2017 defining
“Operation” of a Vacation Rental to include the following:
1. “Advertisement” of the property means on any web-based advertising,
hosting platform, print media, bulletin, signage, radio, and television or
on any other medium for the purposes of promoting interest in, testing
the market for, or soliciting the occupancy of a property for a period of
twenty-eight (28) consecutive days or less.
2. An owner, agent or other representative of the owner has an interest in
rental, exchange, trade, gift, or grant of a guest stay at a property of less
than twenty-eight (28) consecutive days or less.
3. An owner, agent or any other representative of the owner interacts with
another party whether directly or indirectly through personal or
digital/electronic contact with the intent to provide availability of the
property for occupancy of 28 days or less, or to complete a rental and/or
reservation of the property for future occupancy of 28 days or less.”
Administrative Regulation “Authority for the Issuance of Administrative Citations”
dated 08/2014 reads as follows:
“Vacation Rental Enforcement Officials are hereby authorized to issue, an
Administrative Citation for the violation of the provision of Chapter 5.25 of the Palm
Springs Municipal Code without first complying with the pre-citation or courtesy notice
requirements contained in PSMC Section 1.06.030.”
Administrative Appeals Board Staff Report
November 29, 2023
Vacation Rental Appeal –2860 N. Los Felices Rd., Unit 100, Palm Springs
Patrick Clifford
Assistant Director
Department of Special Program Compliance
Attachments:
AB0598 Resolution no. _____ 1
Notice of Appeal Hearing 2
Administrative citation Appeal Letter 3
Administrative citation AB0598 & citation letter 4
Copy of the Airbnb.com/rooms/968423050113321690 advertisement 5
Copy of Code Compliance Inquiry 6
Copy of the title report 7
THIS PORTION OF PAGE BLANK
ATTACHMENT 1
RESOLUTION NO. ____
A RESOLUTION OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS
BOARD OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA,
ON THE APPEAL OF MADHI FAROOQI FOR THE
PROPERTY LOCATED AT 2860 N. LOS FELICES RD.,
UNIT 100, PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA REGARDING
ADMINISTRATIVE CITATION AB0598 ISSUED IN THE
AMOUNT OF $5,000 AND THE PERMANENT
INELIGIBILITY TO OPERATE A VACATION RENTAL IN
THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS
Jurisdiction: This administrative hearing is conducted in accordance with Palm
Springs Municipal Code 2.50 which confers jurisdiction upon the Administrative Appeals
Board.
WHEREAS Javaid Farooqi and Madiha Farooqi did not obtain a Short-Term
Vacation Rental Registration Certificate for the property located at 2860 N. Los Felices
Rd., Unit 100, Palm Springs, pursuant to Palm Springs Municipal Code Chapter 5.25;
and
WHEREAS, any person who operates a Vacation Rental without a Vacation
Registration Certificate, shall be liable to the City an administrative fine in the amount of
Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), and permanent ineligibility to operate a Vacation
Rental in the City, Palm Springs Municipal Code 5.25.090 (c); and
WHEREAS, “Operation” of a Vacation Rental as used in Palm Springs Municipal
Code Section 5.25 includes “Advertisement” of the property on any web-based
advertising, hosting platform, print media, bulletin, signage, radio, and television or any
other medium for the purposes of promoting interest in, testing the market for, or
soliciting the occupancy of a property for a period of twenty-eight (28) consecutive days
or less; and
WHEREAS, Administrative Citation No. AB0598, operating a Vacation Rental
without a Vacation Rental Registration Certificate, was issued on September 19, 2023,
to Javaid Farooqi and Madiha Farooqi for the property located at 2860 N. Los Felices
Rd., Unit 100, Palm Springs; and
WHEREAS, Madiha Farooqi filed an administrative appeal of the Administrative
Citation No. AB0598 operating a Vacation Rental without a Vacation Rental Registration
Certificate issued in the amount of $5,000 for the property located at 2860 N. Los
Felices Rd., Unit 100, Palm Springs with the City Clerk; and
WHEREAS, the Administrative Appeals Board opened and conducted a duly
noticed Administrative Appeal Hearing on November 29, 2023; and
Resolution No.
Page 2
WHEREAS, the Administrative Appeals Board was presented evidence that
Javaid Farooqi and Madiha Farooqi violated Section 5.25.040(a) of the Palm Springs
Municipal Code by an advertisement on Airbnb.com/rooms/968423050113321690 for
the property located at 2860 N. Los Felices Rd., Unit 100, Palm Springs; and
WHEREAS, the Administrative Appeals Board was presented evidence Javaid
Farooqi and Madiha Farooqi violated Section 5.25.040(a) of the Palm Springs Municipal
Code by responding to an inquiry to book the property located at 2860 N. Los Felices
Rd., Unit 100, Palm Springs and confirmed a period less than twenty-eight (28) days;
November 17, 2023, through November 20, 2023 (3-nights); and
WHEREAS, the Administrative Appeals Board has carefully reviewed and
considered all the evidence presented in connection with said appeal on November 29,
2023; and
THE ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS BOARD HEREBY FINDS, after due
consideration given to the relevancy, weight and credibility of testimony and evidence,
and based upon a preponderance of the evidence in accordance with the Board’s
procedures, as follows:
SECTION 1.
The Appellant is in violation of Palm Springs Municipal Code 5.25.040(a).
The Administrative Appeals Board upholds the administrative decision that
Javaid Farooqi and Madiha Farooqi are permanently ineligible to operate
a Vacation Rental in the City of Palm Springs, including the property
located at 2860 N. Los Felices Rd., Unit 100, Palm Springs and the fine of
$5,000.
The Appellant is not in violation of Palm Springs Municipal Code
5.25.040(a). The Administrative Appeals Board overturns the
administrative decision that Javaid Farooqi and Madiha Farooqi are
permanently ineligible to operate a Vacation Rental in the City of Palm
Springs, including the property located at 2860 N. Los Felices Rd., Unit
100, Palm Springs and the fine of $5,000.
Resolution No.
Page 3
SECTION 2. The Administrative Appeals Board directs the City Clerk to deliver a
copy of this Resolution to each party and to file a disposition report with the Palm
Springs City Council.
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED BY THE PALM SPRINGS
ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS BOARD THIS DAY OF 2023.
Wayne Sinclair
Chair
ATTEST:
Brenda Pree, MMC, CERA
City Clerk
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE ) ss.
CITY OF PALM SPRINGS )
I, BRENDA PREE, City Clerk of the City of Palm Springs, do hereby certify that
Resolution No. is a full, true, and correct copy, and was duly adopted at a meeting of
the Administrative Appeals Board of the City of Palm Springs
on the day of , by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
RECUSE:
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of
the City of Palm Springs, California, this day of .
Brenda Pree, MMC, CERA
City Clerk
ATTACHMENT 2
ATTACHMENT 3
City of Palm Springs, CA
FINANCE DEPARTMENT
PO Box 2743
Palm Springs, CA 92263-2743
+1 (760) 323-8299
10/12/2023 04:15PM Shahriar
001832-0011
MISCELLANEOUS
OTHER CHARGE CURRENT
SVC (OTHCHG)
2024 Item: OTHCHG
1 @ 911.00
Balance unpaid: -911.00
OTHER CHARGE CURRENT
SVC (OTHCHG) 911.00
--------------
911.00
Subtotal 911.00
Total 911.00
CHECK 911.00
Check Number 188
--------------
Change due 0.00
Paid by: MADIHA FAROOQI/JAVAID FAROOQI |
ADMIN APPEAL FEE #AB0598
Thank you for your payment
CUSTOMER COPY
ATTACHMENT 4
ATTACHMENT 5
ATTACHMENT 6
ATTACHMENT 7