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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 5 - Tian Su ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS BOARD STAFF REPORT DATE: November 30, 2022 SUBJECT: APPEAL OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE DECISION THAT SU LING TIAN IS 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 2600 E. VINCENTIA RD., PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA BY: DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL PROGRAM COMPLIANCE SUMMARY Su Ling Tian 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 2600 E. Vincentia Rd., 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 SU LING TIAN FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 2600 E. VINCENTIA RD., PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA REGARDING ADMINISTRATIVE CITATION AB0380 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 30, 2022 Vacation Rental Appeal – 2600 E. Vincentia Rd., Palm Springs BACKGROUND On April 19, 2022, the Department of Special Program Compliance mailed a rejection letter to Xi Chen, owner and applicant for the property located at 2600 E. Vincentia Rd., Palm Springs regarding a Vacation Rental application received on or around the same date. The application was rejected because the application was incomplete. On April 21, 2022, A Code Compliance Officer for the City of Palm Springs issued administrative citation AB0380 for a violation on April 19, 2022 for operating a Vacation Rental without a Vacation Rental Registration Certificate. On May 10, 2022, the Department of Special Program Compliance mailed a second rejection letter regarding the Vacation Rental application for 2600 E. Vincentia Rd. to owner Su Ling Tian, the owner listed on title and person cited referencing administrative citation AB0380. ATTACHMENT 5 STAFF ANALYSIS: The owner for the property located at 2600 E. Vincentia Rd., Palm Springs did not hold a Vacation Rental Registration Certificate by the City of Palm Springs as of the date of administrative citation issuance on April 21, 2022. Staff has determined that the owner has, without a Registration Certificate, advertised and operated the property at 2600 E. Vincentia Rd., as a Vacation Rental from elements as follows in violation of Palm Springs Municipal Code 5.25.040 (a): 1. Advertisement Airbnb.com/rooms/584329732436313238 listed as ““The Gorilla Villa” Most Luxury 6 bed 5 bath with pool designer Villa in central Palm Spring!” ATTACHMENT 6 2. Advertisement Airbnb.com/rooms/584329732436313238 shows 5 reviews between between April 2022 and May 2022 ATTACHMENT 7 3. Advertisement Airbnb.com/rooms/584329732436313238 shows a review in April 2022 stating “he checked in on us daily during our 2 day stay” A ATTACHMENT 7 4. Advertisement Airbnb.com/rooms/584329732436313238 shows a review in May 2022 stating “was a perfect weekend getaway” stay ATTACHMENT 7 5. A Code Compliance Officer submitted an online booking inquiry to stay during the dates August 11, 2022 to August 16, 2022 (5 nights); ATTACHMENT 8 6. A response was received by the Code Compliance Officer confirming availability for the dates August 11, 2022 to August 16, 2022 (5 nights); ATTACHMENT 8 7. Staff finds that the advertisement found on Airbnb.com/rooms/584329732436313238 and inquiry affirmation for the dates August 11, 2022 to August 16, 2022 (5 nights) for stay at property 2600 E. Vincentia Rd., is in violation of §5.25.040(a) and proceeded to issue Administrative Citation AB0380, in the amount of $5,000, to Su Ling Tian, the owner on Administrative Appeals Board Staff Report November 30, 2022 Vacation Rental Appeal – 2600 E. Vincentia Rd., Palm Springs 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. Palm Springs Municipal Code §5.25.090(c) reads as follows in regards to the administrative fines: (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 Administrative Appeals Board Staff Report November 30, 2022 Vacation Rental Appeal – 2600 E. Vincentia Rd., Palm Springs 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.” Patrick Clifford Executive Program Administrator Department of Special Program Compliance Attachments: AB0380 Resolution no. _____ 1 Notice of Appeal Hearing 2 Administrative citation Appeal Letter 3 Administrative citation AB0380 & citation letter 4 Application rejection letter dated May 10,2022 5 Copy of the Airbnb.com/rooms/584329732436313238 advertisement 6 Copy of the Airbnb.com/rooms/584329732436313238 reviews 7 Copy of Code Compliance Inquiry 8 Copy of the title report 9 THIS PORTION OF PAGE BLANK