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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 5 - Osaze ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS BOARD STAFF REPORT DATE: December 28, 2022 SUBJECT: APPEAL OF THE ADMINISTATIVE DECISION OF A SIX-MONTH SUSPENSION OF THE VACATION RENTAL REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE FINE OF $2500.00 TO WESLEY OSAZE FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1585 MADRONA DR., PALM SPRINGS. BY: Office of Special Programs Compliance Department SUMMARY Wesley Osaze has requested an appeal of the 6-month suspension of the Vacation Rental Registration Certificate and the administrative fine of $2500.00 for failure of submitting a Contract Summary to the Enforcement Official for the property located at 1585 Madrona Dr., 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 WESLEY OSAZE FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1585 MADRONA DR., PALM SPRINGS REGARDING ADMINISTRATIVE CITATION AB0415 ISSUED IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,500 AND THE ADMINISTATIVE DECISION OF A SIX-MONTH SUSPENSION OF THE VACATION RENTAL REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE THIS PORTION OF PAGE BLANK Administrative Appeals Board Staff Report December 28, 2022 - Page 2 Vacation Rental Appeal – 1585 Madrona Dr., Palm Springs STAFF ANALYSIS: The owner for the property located at 1585 Madrona Dr. was issued administrative citation AB0415 for failure to file contract summaries to the Enforcement Official as required by The Vacation Rental Ordinance 1918 for guests stays of 28 days or less at a Vacation Rental. The Vacation Rental Ordinance No. 1918 (Palm Springs Municipal Code 5.25) requires the submittal of a Contract Summary prior to each separate guest stay of 28 days or less at a Vacation Rental. This Contract Summary allows the Office of Special Program Compliance Department to verify the contract limitations outlined in Palm Springs Municipal Code Section 5.25.070(b). Palm Springs Municipal Code (PSMC) 5.25.070(b) states “A Contract includes any occupancy of a property subject to a Vacation Rental registration certificate by persons other than the Owner when the Owner is not present during such occupancy, regardless of whether compensation is paid for such occupancy or whether occupancy is evidenced in an agreement or document”. The Department of Special Program Compliance determined after comparing Contract Summary submissions to remitted Transient Occupancy Tax that Transient Occupancy Tax was remitted to the City for the months July and August 2022 but there were no Contract Summaries submitted for the respective short-term stays. Staff finds that based on the information reviewed, that short-term vacation rental use at the property 1585 Madrona Dr. occurred and Contract Summaries were not submitted as required prior to a guest stay of 28-days or less and proceeded to issue administrative citation number AB0415 in the amount of $2,500.00 to Wesley Osaze, the owner on title, for failure to file a contract summary to the Enforcement Official prior to occupancy of the Vacation Rental. The Administrative Citation was mailed by staff to the mailing address located on the title report. The following Palm Springs Municipal Code Sections 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 §5.25.070(b) reads as follows: No more than thirty-two (32) Contracts for Vacation Rental use of a property shall be allowed or provided in any calendar year; however, up to Administrative Appeals Board Staff Report December 28, 2022 - Page 3 Vacation Rental Appeal – 1585 Madrona Dr., Palm Springs four (4) additional Contracts shall be allowed or provided for the Third Quarter of a calendar year so long as the entire term of each such Contract occurs during such Third Quarter A Contract includes any occupancy of a property subject to a Vacation Rental registration certificate by persons other than the Owner when the Owner is not present during such occupancy, regardless of whether compensation is paid for such occupancy or whether occupancy is evidenced in an agreement or document. Palm Springs Municipal Code §5.25.070(h) reads as follows: ”Prior to occupancy pursuant to each separate occasion of rental of a Vacation Rental, the Owner or the Owner’s agent or representative shall enter into a written Contract with a Responsible Person where (1) the Responsible Person will provide the Responsible Person’s name, age, address, and a copy of a government issued identification; (2) establishes and sets out the terms and conditions of the Contract, including without limitation occupancy limits, noise prohibitions, and vehicle parking requirements; (3) requires the Responsible Person to acknowledge and agree that he or she is legally responsible for compliance of all occupants of the Vacation Rental or their guests with all provisions of this Chapter and/or the Municipal Code; (4) the Owner or the Owner’s Agent provides a copy of the “Good Neighbor Brochure” to the Responsible Person; (5) the Responsible Person provides a list of all guests by name; and (6) the Responsible Person provides a list of all guests’ vehicles, including license plate numbers. 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. A summary or abstract of the written Contract, in a form approved by the Enforcement Official, shall be filed with the Enforcement Official prior to occupancy, in a manner approved by the Enforcement Official, and shall be posted in a conspicuous location on the Vacation Rental property and shall be made available on site at the request of an Enforcement Official”. Palm Springs Municipal Code §5.25.090(d) reads as follows regarding the administrative fines: “Any person who advertises a Vacation Rental without including the Vacation Registration Certificate in any advertising for such Vacation Rental, or operates a Vacation Rental without a contract, or without providing the City with a summary or abstract of such contract, or without timely tendering full monthly payments of transient occupancy tax, shall pay a fine in the amount of Two Thousand, Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00) and the Owner’s Vacation Registration Certificate shall be suspended for six (6) months for a first offense and shall pay a fine in the Administrative Appeals Board Staff Report December 28, 2022 - Page 4 Vacation Rental Appeal – 1585 Madrona Dr., Palm Springs amount of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) and the Owner’s Vacation Registration Certificate shall be revoked for a second offense. Any subsequent violations will be subject to the provisions of Subsection (c) of this Section”. Patrick Clifford Executive Program Administrator Attachments: Resolution no. _____ Decision of the Administrative Appeals Board 1 Notice of Appeal Hearing 2 Administrative Citation Appeal Letter 3 Administrative Citation AB0415 4 Suspension Letter 5 Contract Summary Review 6 Transient Occupancy Tax Review 7                     ATTACHMENT 1  RESOLUTION NO. ___ A RESOLUTION OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS BOARD OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, ON THE APPEAL OF WESLEY OSAZE FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1585 MADRONA DR., PALM SPRINGS REGARDING ADMINISTRATIVE CITATION AB0415 ISSUED IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,500 AND THE ADMINISTATIVE DECISION OF A SIX-MONTH SUSPENSION OF THE VACATION RENTAL REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE Jurisdiction: This administrative hearing is conducted in accordance with Palm Springs Municipal Code 2.50 which confers jurisdiction upon the Administrative Appeals Board. WHEREAS, Wesley Osaze did not file a Contract Summary for an occupancy 28 days or less; WHEREAS, any person who operates a Vacation Rental and fails to submit a contract summary to the Enforcement Official, shall be liable to the City an administrative fine in the amount of Two Thousand and Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00), and shall have the Vacation Rental Registration Certificate suspended for a period of six-months, Palm Springs Municipal Code 5.25.090 (d); and WHEREAS, “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; and WHEREAS, the City investigated and determined that the Vacation Rental Property 1585 Madrona Dr., hosted guests for a period of twenty-eight (28) consecutive days or less; and WHEREAS, Administrative Citation No. AB0415 failure to file a Contract Summary was issued on October 27, 2022 to Wesley Osaze for the property located at 1585 Madrona Dr., Palm Springs; and WHEREAS, Wesley Osaze filed an administrative appeal of the Administrative Citation No. AB0415 for failure to file Contract Summaries prior to occupancies for the property 1585 Madrona Dr., Palm Springs to the Enforcement Official with the City Clerk and paid the appeal fee; and WHEREAS, the Administrative Appeals Board opened and conducted a duly noticed Administrative Appeal Hearing on December 28, 2022; and Resolution ____ Page 2 WHEREAS, the Administrative Appeals Board was presented prima facie evidence that Wesley Osaze violated Section 5.25.070 (h) of the Palm Springs Municipal Code; and WHEREAS, the Administrative Appeals Board has carefully reviewed and considered all the evidence presented in connection with said appeal on December 28, 2022; 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 5.25.070(h). The Administrative Appeals Board upholds the administrative decision of a six- month suspension of the Vacation Rental Registration Certificate and the Administrative Fine of $2500.00 to Wesley Osaze for the property located at 1585 Madrona Dr., Palm Springs The Appellant is not in violation of Palm Springs Municipal Code 5.25.070(h). The Administrative Appeals Board overturns the administrative decision of a six- month suspension of the Vacation Rental Registration Certificate and the Administrative Fine of $2500.00 to Wesley Osaze for the property located at 1585 Madrona Dr., Palm Springs THIS PORTION OF PAGE BLANK Resolution ____ 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 2022. Michael Paonessa Chair ATTEST: Brenda Pree 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: BRENDA PREE City Clerk                     ATTACHMENT 2                      ATTACHMENT 3                      ATTACHMENT 4                      ATTACHMENT 5  November 21, 2022 Wesley Osaze City of Palm Springs Department of Special Program Compliance 4 25 North C ivic Drive • Palm Springs, Ca li fo rnia 92 262 Te l: 76 0 .322-8382 • Fax : 760 .3 22.83 17 • TD D 76 0 .864 .95 27 • www.pa lm springs ca .gov Re: Suspension of Short-Term Vacation Rental Registration Certificate for 1585 Madrona Dr., Palm Springs, CA 92264 Upon review of the recent activity at your sho rt -term rental property located at 1585 Madrona Dr., the City of Palm Springs is hereby suspending your Vacation Rental Registration Certificate for a period of six (6) months. In order to minimize the negative impact to any near-term guests visiting our city who may already be currently booked at your property, the suspension period will begin on December 12, 2022, and will end on June 12, 2023 . All advertising of your property for short term rentals must cease immediately. During the suspension period, your property may not be rented for short term stays (28 days or fewer) but you may rent your property as a long-term rental. Transient Occupancy Tax returns and annual renewal fees will still be due, unless you choose to complete and submit the enclosed Owner's Request to Close TOT Permit and Vacation Rental Certificate form This suspension is issued in accordance with the City of Palm Springs Municipal Code (PSMC) Section 5 .25 .090(d) as follows : "(d) Any person who advertises a Vacation Rental without including the Vacation Registration Certificate in any advertising for such Vacation Rental, or operates a Vacation Rental without a contract, or without providing the City with a summary or abstract of such contract, or without timely tendering full monthly payments of transient occupancy tax, shall pay a fine in the amount of Two Thousand, Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500 .00) and the Owner's Vacation Registration Certificate shall be suspended for s ix (6) months for a first offense and shall pay a fine in the amount of Five Thousand Dollars ($5 ,000.00) and the Owner's Vacation Registration Certificate shall be revoked for a second offense. Any subsequent violations will be subject to the provisions of Subsection (c) of this Section. You have the right to appeal this suspension pursuant to Palm Springs Municipal Code, Section 5 .25.090(f). Your appeal will be heard by the Administrative Appeals Board in accordance with Palm Springs Municipal Code, Chapter 2.50. Please also see the attached Written Notice of Appeal Form and Filing Process information; or feel free to contact the Department of Special Program Compliance at #760 -322 -8382 with quest ions . Should you choose to appeal this suspension , your suspension does go into effect on December 12, 2022, in accordance with this lette r, and it remains in effect pending the outcome of the Administrative Appeals Board hearing . Advertising or operating as a vacation rental prior to the determination of the Administrative Appeals Board is a violation of PSMC Section 5 .25 .090(c). Pos t Office Box 2743 • Pa l m Springs , C aliforni a 92263-2743 To exercise your option to appeal , your completed Written Notice of Appeal Form with the non -refundable appeal fee of $857 must be received by the City Clerk 's office no later than December 12, 2022, and should be addressed to : Respectfully, Teresa Gallavan Interim City Manager Cc: File City of Palm Springs Office of the City Clerk 3200 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, CA 92263                     ATTACHMENT 6  Contract Year: 2022Row Labels Count of Contract Summary ID Number5001 15002 105003 155004 15005 355007 15009 15013 25015 45016 105017 85019 65023 225025 165030 65032 165033 35039 25040 25042 55043 205046 175062 85063 35069 245073 25074 85075 15086 115087 95089 35090 85091 105093 85095 85097 1Grand Total 307                     ATTACHMENT 7  From:City of Palm Springs To:TOTonlinepayments Subject:Payment Submitted-City of Palm Springs: 28135 Date:Monday, August 22, 2022 4:12:48 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. Confirmation #: 28135 Date:08/22/2022 Time:04:12 pm PST Status: Payment Submitted Billing Address (Credit Card Statement Address): Sheila Monroe Bottom Line Investments Item Description Amount TaxPayment Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) Property/Owner Name: Wesley Osaze Permit Number: 7524 Reporting Month: July 2022 Affirmation: Yes Completed By: Wesley Osaze Revenue of Property Type: VR Rental Tax Rate(%): 11.5 TBID Add in(%): 1 Revenue: Resort Fees: Total Taxable: 11.5% Tax on 1% TBID Fee on Subtotal: Fee/Discount Cost: Total Charged to Credit Card ************3607: Thank you for submitting your Transient Occupancy Tax Return online. The City will review your submission for compliance with all regulations before this Tax Return is considered accepted as filed. Important: If you have more than 5 exemptions or have taken any adjustments to your entry, you must also complete the following online forms for your submission to be complete: For Exemptions: Exemption Form For Adjustments:Adjustment Form Both forms are available on the TOT tax payment page at: Palm Springs Transient- Occupancy-tax-tot Please email your Exemption Form to totdesk@palmspringsca.gov If you have any questions regarding Transient Occupancy Tax, please contact us by email at TOTdesk@palmspringsca.gov. From:City of Palm Springs To:TOTonlinepayments Subject:Payment Submitted-City of Palm Springs: 28806 Date:Wednesday, September 7, 2022 6:53:03 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. Confirmation #: 28806 Date:09/07/2022 Time:06:52 pm PST Status: Payment Submitted Billing Address (Credit Card Statement Address): Sheila Monroe Bottom Line Investments Item Description Amount TaxPayment Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) Property/Owner Name: Wesley Osaze Permit Number: 7524 Reporting Month: August 2022 Affirmation: Yes Completed By: Wesley Osaze Revenue of $ Property Type: VR Rental Tax Rate(%): 11.5 TBID Add in(%): 1 Revenue: Resort Fees: 0.00 Total Taxable: 11.5% Tax on 1% TBID Fee on Subtotal: Fee/Discount Cost: Total Charged to Credit Card ************3607: Thank you for submitting your Transient Occupancy Tax Return online. The City will review your submission for compliance with all regulations before this Tax Return is considered accepted as filed. Important: If you have more than 5 exemptions or have taken any adjustments to your entry, you must also complete the following online forms for your submission to be complete: For Exemptions: Exemption Form For Adjustments:Adjustment Form Both forms are available on the TOT tax payment page at: Palm Springs Transient- Occupancy-tax-tot Please email your Exemption Form to totdesk@palmspringsca.gov If you have any questions regarding Transient Occupancy Tax, please contact us by email at TOTdesk@palmspringsca.gov.