The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutItem 3DFrom:Naseem Moeel To:City Clerk Cc:Jeffrey Bernstein; Ron deHarte; Grace Garner; Christy Holstege; Lisa Middleton Subject:In Support of Co-ownership, Agenda Item 3D Date:Wednesday, July 3, 2024 8:27:14 PM Attachments:Support for Co-ownership Item 3D- Karla MacCary.pdf Support for Co-ownership Item 3D - Blake Janes.pdf Support for Co-ownership Item 3D - Deanna and Darren Sartison.pdf Support for Co-ownership Item 3D - Jennifer Broxmeyer and Eitan Kensky.pdf Support for Co-ownership Item 3D - Theresa Brocia.pdf Support for Co-ownership Item 3D - Stacey and Dan Levitan.pdf Support for Co-ownership Item 3D- Jim & Kathy Wagner.pdf Supporting Co-ownership Item 3D - Tommy Rooter Plumbing.pdf Supporting Co-ownership Item 3D - Luxury Carpet Cleaning.pdf Support of Co-ownership Item 3D- Rise N Shine Cleaning.pdf Supporting Co-ownership Item 3D - AC Doctor.pdf Support for Co-ownership Item 3D - Better Garden.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 Mayor Bernstein and Honorable Members of the Palm Springs City Council and Staff, I am attaching 12 letters to this email for your consideration, on behalf of Pacaso co-owners and vendor businesses who've expressed written support for Agenda Item 3D, and have asked that we include their statements to be made part of the official record for this item during the July 9, 2024 City Council meeting. Thank you for your consideration in advance. -- Naseem Moeel Public Affairs Manager 707.694.7878 Ready to own? Explore our curated collection of second homes here. 07/09/2024 Public Comment Item 3D Dear Mayor Bernstein and Honorable Members of the Palm Springs City Council, My name is Reginaldo Lopez and I am the owner of Better Garden, providing Landscaping and gardening services to homes in Palm Springs and the greater Coachella Valley. Better Garden is located in North Palm Springs, and I live with my family in Palm Springs. Better Garden has been providing general garden maintenance as well as landscaping to homes in Palm Springs since 2015, and in 2021 began offering services for the five Pacaso homes, which provides me with an opportunity to grow my small business operations to additional residential families in the region. As a small business owner, clients like Pacaso provide opportunities for our business in the future to compete for bids against larger companies, while maintaining competitive industry rates and economic growth for my family. For these reasons, I ask that you adopt this ordinance, recognizing and fully supporting co-ownership and private property rights in the City of Palm Springs. My family and I enjoy spending time and working for the diverse communities within Palm Springs. We now operate Better Garden here, employing 2 workers and I who reside in North Palm Springs . We opened/started our business in 2015, with only a couple homes to offer our services . As a referral from those few customers, we were able to successfully launch our business due to great quality workmanship and reliable service. We operate in a few homes as we are still a growing business, and we’re able to successfully expand our business with clients like Pacaso, who provide greater access to business opportunities in Palm Springs. We operate a small business that depends on building strong, trusting relationships with our clients, specifically through recommendations to families and friends of our work, which contribute to 100% of our yearly business. As a local business, we employ other locals who depend on clients like Pacaso to provide year-round landscaping and general gardening services for homes that might otherwise sit empty most of the year, and who professionally manage their accounts. We fully support legislation that protects co-ownership in Palm Springs and ask that you adopt this ordinance today. As always, thank you for your consideration and for your service to the great city of Palm Springs. Sincerely, Reginaldo Lopez Better Garden North Palm Springs 07/09/2024 Public Comment Item 3D 06/25/2024 Dear Mayor Bernstein and Honorable Members of the Palm Springs City Council, My name is Javier Perez, I am the owner of AC Doctor Heating & Air Conditioning inc. My company provides air conditioning services throughout the Coachella Valley. We operate in the City of Indio where we reside. Our family business is only 2 years old, but we have worked hard to establish an excellent reputation with our customers. I have been in the air conditioning business for almost 10-years. AC Doctor has been offering services for Pacaso for about a year. As a small business owner, we value the opportunity to work with Pacaso to provide high quality service always. We have a high number of clients in the city of Palm Springs. Some of our clients have come through referrals from co-owners of homes managed by Pacaso. Those co-owners helped our business grow by using our services so that we may keep our 3 employees busy. Keeping our crew busy during the off season is challenging. The amount of people we employ depends very much on continuing to grow. By allowing Pacaso to invest in the city of Palm Springs, our business can expand to hire new employees. I grew up in the Coachella Valley and I take pride in working in my community and being part of the growth. We hope you support legislation to protect co-ownership in the city. Co-owners have been instrumental building a relationship within the community. Thank you for your consideration. We hope you adopt these policies so we may continue to serve more members of our community. Sincerely, Javier Perez Owner, AC Doctor Heating & Air Conditioning inc. Indio, CA (760) 600-0153 07/09/2024 Public Comment Item 3D Good Afternoon, Mayor Bernstein and Honorable members of the Palm Springs City Council: My name is William Alfaro and my wife Maria Chacon. We are representing our company RISE N SHINE CLEANING. We are residents of 13340 Ramona Dr. Desert Hot Springs, offering our services in Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells and La Quinta, since 2011. We started with residential cleaning and Airbnb. We are always searching for new opportunities that we find along the way. A lot of the time we find new experiences, some great and others not much, but our dream is to keep growing, to make us stronger by jumping barriers of people who never trust in our capacities. In June 2021 a Property Management company, that my company provided services to, sent us on assignment to 594 W. Stevens Road in Palm Springs. I had no idea this was my first PACASO HOME. I had no idea what was going on, or who PACASO was, they just sent me and when I got there, I found a well-stocked home, brand new linen, and all the home items were in packages, it was like a surprise. I just went by myself. I didn't know anything about the company, but I did it. I kept going with all my passion, because something told me, this was something big. I wanted to be part of it, but before long PACASO had other properties, with the same story and then a few more. After six months, PACASO reached out to me and made me an offer to become a direct vendor with them, and I did. I gave my other homes to my brother and my wife, and I stayed with PACASO only. After almost 3 years, I’m so happy and proud to be here as a vendor but trust me, I don’t feel like a vendor, we can say I belong to PACASO. PACASO Second Homeowners are a blessing to my family and team, and I can share this with all of you. For small businesses like mine, it is important to support this legislation in order for us to continue to grow and help other families by providing jobs and new opportunities. THE COACHELLA VALLEY needs to continue to be an attractive focus for tourism, but without forgetting, PACASO second homes, and PACASO Owners who are people who keep coming back to make memories in their home and in our home here in Palm Springs and the whole Coachella Valley. Like I said, they are not just tourists, they are owners who keep returning and becoming part of our growing local economy. At the City of Palm Springs, this is the reason I ask you to give all your support to this legislation that protects second home ownership so others can come and enjoy our amazing desert. Thank you to all Palm Springs members who make a hard work to build and keep PALM SPRINGS an attractive focus as tourism in the whole nation. Sincerely, William Alfaro and Maria Chacon Rise N Shine Cleaning 13340 Ramona Dr. Desert Hot Springs 07/09/2024 Public Comment Item 3D Dear Mayor Bernstein and Honorable Members of the a Palm Springs City Council, My name is Moisés Chaidez and I am the owner of Luxury Carpet Cleaning. I provide carpet, rug and upholstery cleaning services, tile and grout cleaning, and window cleaning to homes in Palm Springs and the greater Coachella Valley. Luxury Carpet Cleaning is located in Mecca California, same city where my family and I reside. My business began operating in 2020 with the purpose of offering accessible cleaning services to my community. Having started in the peak of COVID-19 my business was in search of any opportunity to become known. Thankfully in the year of 2022 Pacaso homes gave me an opportunity to provide my services to its homes and the uncertainty of a successful business was no longer in doubt. As a small business owner, having reliable customers is essential. Not only do they offer job opportunities but the communities where Pacaso homes are located give you access to other customers or simply allow you to promote your services. With the constant increase of the cost of living one appreciates any business opportunity to reach out to the community. I respectfully ask that you adopt this ordinance, recognizing and fully supporting co-ownership and private property rights in the City of Palm Springs. My wife Sandra and I grew up in the beautiful Coachella Valley. In the past 20 years we have seen the growth in our valley and the many job opportunities created due to its expanding economy. Therefore when COVID hit and our jobs at that moment were affected I decided to open my own carpet cleaning business. I began my business with the idea of providing high quality cleaning services at an accessible price and with 100% satisfaction guaranteed. We live in the eastern side of the valley where the desire of success is strong. Coming from low income families the idea of working hard was instilled in our minds and hearts. My wife supported my idea of starting my business and we began knocking on doors to offer top tier cleaning services. I registered under different vendor services for large companies to view my profile and my job services. Pacaso Homes goes through an adequate vendor screening before allowing a vendor into a community where their homes are located. They ensure vendors are local and trustworthy. This benefits not only them but also the neighbors surrounding their homes. My business met their expectations and it allows me to provide my services in their properties. This allowed my business to grow and offer my family financial security. Running a small business indeed comes with challenges. We depend greatly on building strong relationships with our clients. Gaining Pacaso’s trust reflects my business great effort. I have met some of their home owners and they too appreciate having responsible vendors servicing their home here in the Coachella Valley. There is no doubt that a great impression will impact them and that good reputation will be shared to their friends and family, speaking well of Coachella Valley community members. The Coachella Valley is continuing to grow. It is natural for its beautiful scenery to attract more people to reside here. Pacaso helps those interested by offering the opportunity to invest in a home in a valley with so much potential. That one new home will open doors to many businesses just like it did to Luxury Carpet Cleaning. Starting a business is not easy but when reliable companies offer you the possibility to make yourself available to others, one is very grateful. For these reasons, we fully support legislation that protects co-ownership in Palm Springs and ask that you adopt these policies today. Thank you for your consideration and for your service to the great city of Palm Springs. Sincerely, Moises Chaidez Luxury Carpet Cleaning Company 760-989-7647 07/09/2024 Public Comment Item 3D My name is Beth Clarke and I am the Owner of Tommy Rooter Plumbing, providing plumbing, drain cleaning and maintenance services to homes in Palm Springs and the greater Coachella Valley. Tommy Rooter is located in Palm Desert and I live with my family in the Coachella Valley. Our company has been providing plumbing service to homes in the region since 2008, and in 2021 began offering services to the five Pacaso homes, which provides me with an opportunity to grow my small business operations to additional residential families in the region. As a small business owner, clients like Pacaso provide opportunities for our business to compete for bids against larger companies, while maintaining competitive industry rates and economic growth for my family. For these reasons, I ask that you adopt this ordinance, recognizing and fully supporting co-ownership and private property rights in the City of Palm Springs I am a lifelong resident of the Coachella Valley and my husband relocated here from the Bay Area in 2000. We are now operating our business and raising our own family in the Valley. My husband received his Contractor’s License in 2008 and I started helping him in the office in 2014. Retaining consistent business from clients like Pacaso allows us to provide our services for additional homes in Palm Springs, where we operate a significant part of our business. Given that we run a small family business, referrals drive a healthy percentage of our business, making relationships the single-most important driver in our success. We have built strong, trusting relationships with our clients, including Pacaso and the owners of the homes they manage. Not only have they retained us to service all of their homes in the Coachella Valley, but they are also professional, respectful and keep their accounts current. We’ve even received a few referrals from Pacaso owners who introduced us to friends who live in town, and whose homes we now also service.. Co-ownership provides more families the ability to come to Palm Springs, and it allows our business to maintain year-round service to second homes that would otherwise be left empty most of the year. We would welcome the opportunity to expand our small business with clients like Pacaso, We fully support legislation that protects co-ownership in Palm Springs and ask that you adopt this ordinance today. As always, thank you for your consideration and for your service to the great city of Palm Springs. Sincerely, Beth Clarke Tommy Rooter Plumbing 07/09/2024 Public Comment Item 3D July, 2024 Dear Mayor Bernstein and Honorable Members of the Palm Springs City Council, My name is Jim Wagner and my wife and I have co-owned a home in Palm Springs with a handful of families and I’m writing to you today as I strongly believe this business model is great for owners like me, and the communities like Palm Springs that you represent. I work in Los Angeles as a Professor of Marketing at the LMU Graduate School of Business and our home in Palm Springs has become an integral part of our lives as we always wanted to own a home in Palm Springs, but the costs versus time we would be able to enjoy the house does not make financial sense. The concept of co-ownership is brilliant as it allows individuals like me with the financial ability and personal desire to own a vacation home, a fiscally responsible option. One of the values of co-ownership like this versus other more traditional options like Air BnB’s or hotels is the “familiarity” with the experience. I am a member of the Cathedral City Tennis Club and play on weekends when we visit, we eat at Rick’s on each departure morning, are frequent attendees of the mid-century modern tours, and even do some drop-in pickleball events! We often visit Palm Springs with our two grown sons and hit the same restaurants, and activities so there is a familiarity that builds stronger memories! From our standpoint, it lets us live out our dream of owning a vacation home in Palm Springs, with an added benefit of shared costs, & property management to maintain the home in tip top shape. From the standpoint of Palm Springs, co-ownership brings visitors to your businesses on a more consistent basis. It also brings “owners” that respect the home and the community as opposed to AirBnB and other options where people are “renters” of the space and therefore more likely to party and be disrespectful of the neighbors. Having a consistent place of residence ensures that families like mine make annual and consistent trips to Palm Springs. It is a more personal and welcoming way to visit Palm Springs and I would think you would want MORE of these and less AirBNB or hotel options if you are looking to preserve the home community feel in certain sections. Further, co-owners of vacation homes by definition are likely to have higher incomes and disposable incomes than others. For these, and many other reasons, we fully support any legislation that protects co-ownership in Palm Springs and ask that you adopt any ordinances that are before you today or in the future. This is a WIN/WIN for Palm Springs and families that love to come visit! We appreciate you hearing us out, and for your service to the great city of Palm Springs! Jim & Kathy Wagner 07/09/2024 Public Comment Item 3D Dear Mayor Bernstein and Honorable Members of the Palm Springs City Council, My name is Dan Levitan and my wife, Stacey Winston-Levitan and I co-own a home in Palm Springs with a handful of families. While I work in Seattle, WA as the co-founder of Maveron Venture Capital and Stacey owns a successful Art Gallery, Palm Springs is an escape for us from the overcast days we experience in the Pacific Northwest each winter. We enjoy the opportunity to learn more about the Palm Springs area while enjoying the comforts of a home in place of a hotel or resort stay. Stacey and I have been visiting the area in and around Palm Springs for many years. When we had the opportunity to co-own a home and not worry about the maintenance or security of the home while we were not on site, in addition to the amenities of the home, we jumped at the chance. We make sure to visit the area several times each year and have also used the home to host small gatherings of friends and coworkers. We thoroughly enjoy the food and the eclectic vibe that resonates with the area. As a second home, we feel we have a connection to the beauty only found in Palm Springs. Co-ownership is a particularly cost-effective and practical way to own a second home. When we first began visiting Palm Springs, we stayed in area resorts but we missed the feeling of “home” and really wanted to be able to visit quickly, not have to pack our items back and forth, and have a chance to step out of the airport to just relax and enjoy the sunshine and desert location. The biggest benefit is knowing that the home is secure and the maintenance is kept up to date. Knowing we do not need to worry when there are storms in the area or if there is an issue, stop our busy schedules to be there to handle, is an immense relief. Additionally, with a Pacaso home, we know other families are taking good care of the home so we don’t feel guilty about leaving a second home empty for longer periods of time. We spend more time in Palm Springs than we did previously because we now have a second life here. We’ve gotten to know the downtown local shops such as Trina Turk, and enjoy both Standish and Copleys restaurants whenever we are in town. Additionally, we look to enjoy the area as much as possible and spend hours hiking in the Taqkiz canyon. For these reasons, we fully support legislation that protects co-ownership in Palm Springs and ask that you adopt the ordinance before you today. As always, thank you for your consideration of this important ordinance and for your service to the great city of Palm Springs. Sincerely, Stacey and Dan Levitan 07/09/2024 Public Comment Item 3D Dear Members of the Palm Springs City Council, My name is Theresa Brocia and our little family has been lucky enough to be owners of our Pacaso since the summer of 2021. Yes, we fell in love with our house and Palm Spring in late August with temps at 114. We looked at several condos that day and we were unfortunately feeling very discouraged until our realtor took a chance on showing us a Pacaso Co-Ownership listing. Wow. It was spectacular. Beautiful home for us, private pool for the kids and big backyard for the puppies. Not only was the home more than we ever thought we could afford, it checked so many other boxes. We knew we couldn't be in Palm Springs full time, so learning that we would share the ownership with other families like us instead of renting it out to total strangers was a huge relief. Furthermore, learning the home manager would maintain the home, its landscaping, take care of all the repairs, utilities and then it's all perfectly split among us; we were sold and became the first owners of 1961 South Palm Canyon Drive. We love the ease of being owners of a second home that we know is cared for mutually by its owners and that is impeccably maintained. Our primary home is in Mammoth Lakes, California, a resort community sharing many similarities to that of Palm Springs in terms of visitor seasonality, challenging weather and limited housing for our workforce. Our Mammoth neighborhood consists of 70% second home owners and our neighborhood is not permitted to allow nightly rentals. This has created a very quiet neighborhood however, empty homes do not contribute to our local economy and we are local business owners who depend on our guests. Empty homes equate to empty seats in our restaurant and we need people here. I wish I could say our second homeowners are here often, but sadly they are not and they hardly maintain their homes. So while I would not like nightly rentals in my neighborhood, I would welcome the Pacaso Co-Ownership in a second. Why? Because I know what it means to be this owner. I am vested in the property, long term, not for a 5 night stay. I love and respect the community and want to be welcomed. We aren't loud, we pick up trash on our walks, we are good neighbors, even if only part time. Our Palm Springs home is beautiful, not just on the inside but outside as well, and that is also being a good neighbor. It's my understanding that Pacaso homes are occupied 90-95% of the time, thus contributing to the local economy and building connections with the community as well. One quick analogy... Decades ago I was a backpacking guide up Mt. Whitney and there came a point where the Forest Service thought there were too many hikers on the mountain, so they decided to discontinue guided services up the mountain. What followed? Less hikers maybe but, far less skilled hikers, like those trained in first aid, high altitude conditions, 07/09/2024 Public Comment Item 3D understanding the change in weather patterns etc. So who had to step in and answer more distress calls...the Forest Service, Search and Rescue, First Responders. What is the connection you ask? I see Pacaso Co-Ownership has guided second home ownership. They are professionals, providing a valuable service and they are paid for by us, not the city or any other entity. They are also vested, not just in the home and its owners but in the neighborhood and the community. Please consider my comments as you collectively find solutions to move forward with Pacaso in Palm Springs. Sincerely, Theresa Brocia 07/09/2024 Public Comment Item 3D Dear Mayor Bernstein and Honorable Members of the Palm Springs City Council, My husband Eitan and I co-own a home in Palm Springs with a handful of families. It’s become a deeply special place for both us and our two kids, 5 and 8, and we’re so grateful that co-ownership has let us become a part of the community. We first came to Palm Springs when I was pregnant with our daughter and fell in love with it. And now our kids love it too. It is the perfect mix of culture (restaurants, museums, galleries, stores) and relaxation (beautiful weather, nature, pools). We come down several times a year (though still never as much as our kids want!), often bringing extended family or friends with kids. We’ve built our own traditions – macarons at L'Atelier Café, bagels at Townie Bagels, lunch at On the Mark, Shermans, or Manhattan in the Desert, dinner everywhere!. We take a trip to the Architecture and Design Center and the Library every time we come, and shop for art, clothes, and toys. We look forward to the Palm Springs Film Festival and Modernism Week every year. We considered buying, but it wasn’t feasible or practical for us to own a home, and we didn’t like the idea of letting a property sit vacant for so much of the year. Renting is challenging with kids – lugging around their floaties, not knowing if there was a crib or if the pool was kid-safe. Co-ownership lets us have a place that feels like just ours – our kids even have “their room,” and we don’t have to worry about forgetting their favorite loveys at home since we leave back-ups in Palm Springs. We live in the Bay Area, so understand how housing shortages can put homes out of reach for many locals. We had several frustrating experiences with vacation rentals in Palm Springs where the owners had never stepped foot in the area and saw the home as just a business venture. What we love about co-ownership is that it invests us in the community – we pay taxes, shop locally, meet our neighbors. Co-ownership also pushes us to take our vacations and spend time as a family. Before co-owning, we were lucky if we came to Palm Springs once a year. Now we come five times. For these reasons, we fully support legislation that protects co-ownership in Palm Springs and ask that you adopt the ordinance before you today. As always, thank you for your consideration of this important ordinance and for your service to the great city of Palm Springs. Sincerely, 07/09/2024 Public Comment Item 3D Jennifer Broxmeyer and Eitan Kensky 07/09/2024 Public Comment Item 3D Deanna & Darren Sartison 1405 23 Street Calgary, AB T3C 1H5 Canada deanna.sartison@gmail.com 403-471-6775 June 30, 2024 Dear Mayor Bernstein and Honorable Members of the Palm Springs City Council: My name is Deanna Sartison, and my husband Darren Sartison and I co -own a home in Palm Springs with a group of families. I am writing you today to talk about why we chose to invest in your city, and why we believe the co-ownership model works for both residents and the community. We live in Calgary Alberta, and like many Canadians we have been taking advantage of the direct flights to Palm Springs for almost twenty years, since our children were very young. We love everything Palm Springs has to offer, inclulding weather, dining, shopping, culture and big events such as the BNP Paribas Open and the Coachella Music festival. We also appreciate how friendly and kind residents in the valley are towards visitors. We always considered purchasing a second home in Palm Springs, however as Canadians, there are issues associated with being sole owners of a home in the US. Frequency of travel is an issue, as we can ’t be there every weekend to check on the property. We do not want to have a house that sits empty more than 50% of the year, and hiring a full-time property manager is not practical. We therefore chose to find rentals, and although there are many, renting has its challenges. We wanted to come back to the same h ouse every time, a place that we knew and cared for. We also wanted to have control over maintenance and the quality of the home, without 100% of the costs. Earlier this year we found a co-ownership opportunity for a beautiful house through Pacaso. Our purchase was completed in March, and we had our first 07/09/2024 Public Comment Item 3D 2 trips in May and June. The difference between being in a house that we co -own and coming to a rental is significant. The house is immaculately maintained, and our home manager is very responsive and located in Palm Springs. Pacaso sets clear expectations regarding being a good neighbor and community member , including everything from noise to parking. It is also reassuring to know that the house is rarely empty, but rather usually occupied by another co -ownership family, even during the off-season. Although we are new to the co-ownership model, we already know we made the right decision. We are looking forward to spending more time in Palm Springs, a place that we always knew we wanted to be. We feel that we have invested in a way that works for us, and our home is maintained and occupied by people who respect and care for the Palm Springs community. We fully support legislation that protects co-ownership in Palm Springs and ask that you adopt the ordinance before you today. Sincerely, Deanna Sartison Calgary, AB, Canada 07/09/2024 Public Comment Item 3D From: Blake Janes, Co-Owner of 1961 S. Palm Canyon Dr To: Palm Springs City Council RE: Support for Ordinance Recognizing and Regulating Co-ownership in Palm Springs Dear Honorable Members of the City Council, My name is Blake Janes, and I am writing to express my strong support for the proposed ordinance that would formally recognize and regulate co-ownership of homes in Palm Springs. My partner, Alberto Vazquez, and I have been fortunate enough to have a special connection to Palm Springs for many years, not only through our own experiences but also because my parents are residents of the city. We first fell in love with Palm Springs over 15 years ago, drawn to its warm weather, stunning natural beauty, and vibrant cultural scene. Our love for the city grew as we visited my parents regularly, enjoying countless weekends and holidays in their home, creating unforgettable experiences together. As our desire to have our own place in Palm Springs deepened, we realized that the financial burden of sole ownership was a significant obstacle. In 2022, we discovered co-ownership, and it was a revelation. We were able to find like-minded individuals who shared our passion for Palm Springs and our desire for a vacation home. Through co-ownership,we purchased a beautiful property that we would not have been able to afford on our own. Co-ownership has allowed us to strengthen our bond with Palm Springs, creating a home away from home where we can relax, recharge, and spend quality time with loved ones. The co-ownership model has also given us a sense of community and belonging in Palm Springs, something we treasure deeply. We believe that co-ownership is an excellent option for individuals and couples who want to experience the joy of homeownership in Palm Springs. It provides a more affordable and accessible pathway to owning a vacation home, while also fostering a sense of community and shared responsibility. We urge the Palm Springs City Council to adopt the proposed ordinance, which would formally recognize and regulate co-ownership in the City. This ordinance would provide a clear legal framework for co-ownership, ensuring that all parties involved are protected and that co-ownership arrangements are conducted fairly and transparently. We believe that this ordinance would be a positive step for Palm Springs, as it would encourage more people to invest in the community and contribute to the local economy. Co-ownership is a model that benefits both homeowners and the City as a whole. 07/09/2024 Public Comment Item 3D Thank you for your time and consideration. We look forward to your favorable response to this important matter. Sincerely, Blake Janes 07/09/2024 Public Comment Item 3D 62830772.v1 July 1, 2024 Dear Mayor Bernstein and Honorable Members of the Palm Spring City Council: My name is Karla, and my husband and I co-own a home in Palm Springs with a few families. I work in Los Angeles as a real estate attorney, and my husband works in Los Angeles as an aviation executive and attorney. We bought an interest in our home in Palm Springs over two years ago. When another owner wanted to sell, we bought them out so that we could come more often. Palm Springs has become an integral part of our lives, and is the way we get a monthly reset to rejuvenate. Co-ownership has made this possible. We chose Palm Spring because it is an easy drive from Los Angeles and we can take our dog. We have enjoyed three New Years with our adult children in Palm Springs, and it has become part of our holiday tradition. I was originally more interested in a mountain location for a second home, but my husband always liked the desert. We made a weekend trip to check out Palm Springs, and I was quickly convinced that this was the place to find our get-away. The vibe, extraordinary natural beauty, modernism, and all the festivals and celebrations drew me to Palm Springs. We enjoy hiking in the cooler weather, the museums and movies in the heat, and restaurants, shopping and performances year round. We regularly eat at Miro’s, Mirasol, Mr. Lyons and Boozehounds. I shop at Bud Press, get ice cream at Kreem, and get my nails done at the nearby nail salon. My husband joined a gym, and I regularly swim at the amazing Palm Springs Swin Center. We buy our dog treats at Bones & Scones and buy bike gear at Trek next door. We chose co-ownership rather than purchasing a home on our own because my husband and I both work and we do not have the time to deal with a the maintenance of a second home. We also do not want to rent out our home and wanted to buy a place we could afford without renting it out. We like knowing that the other owners of the home have been vetted and that none of us are permitted to rent out the home. Another benefit of co-ownership is that if a house is occupied, the occupants can be alert to a hazard at a neighbor’s property. One time when we were at our home in the shoulder season, I smelled gas on one side of the property. I walked down the street to see where the smell was coming from and found the only other person on the street who was there that weekend. He walked towards our house, smelled gas, and immediately called the gas company. It turned out the pool heater had been stolen from the house next door to ours that had recently sold. Gas was leaking, and the gas company came and shut off the gas. We are conscientious neighbors and love Palm Springs and our monthly trips there. We fully support legislation that protects co-ownership in Palm Springs and ask that you adopt the ordinance before you today. Thank you for you consideration of this important ordinance and for your service to the great city of Palm Springs. Sincerely, Karla MacCary 07/09/2024 Public Comment Item 3D From:Kevin Comer To:Jeffrey Bernstein; Ron deHarte; Christy Holstege; Grace Garner; Lisa Middleton; Scott Stiles; City Clerk Cc:Patsy Marino; Joe Vassallo; Leda Potente; Byron Hancock; Bryan Beak; Robert Gottlieb; Gustav Swanson; Kermit Ferrer Subject:Vista Las Palmas Foundation Shared Ownership Opposition Date:Tuesday, July 9, 2024 11:02:31 AM Attachments:Pacaso Letter July 2024.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. Good morning to you all. The attached letter is written on behalf of the roughly 400 homes in the Vista Las Palmas Neighborhood regarding the shared ownership legislation proposed for the meeting this evening. We want to be perfectly clear that we stand 100% united in opposition to the shared ownership model, and to the proposed legislative change. I encourage you to read the letter in its entirety, but it focuses on three key points. First, there is simply no time to adequately vet this proposed upzoning to our entire city. The vote on the proposal needs adjourned for at least a year. Second, as your constituents, we'd like you to consider one simple question when considering any legislation: "How is the quality of life for my residents positively impacted by this change?" The answer here is that it is inconceivable how our quality of life would be improved. And third: If Palm Springs wants to allow shared home ownership, which is really just another form of multifamily, then it should allow the neighborhoods to vote on whether or not they want to change their zoning from single family residential to mixed use multifamily. Nothing short of that ability to vote themselves by neighborhood is fair to the people of our city. Once again, reiterating, WE ARE 100% in opposition to the shared ownership model, not as proposed, and not as exists. We do NOT want the model in our neighborhood, or in our city, not in any format. Thanks for your consideration. The Board of the Vista Las Palmas Foundation Co-Chairs: Kevin Comer and Patsy Marino Board Members: Joe Vassallo Leda Potente Byron Hancock Bryan Beak Bob Gottlieb Kermit Ferrer 07/09/2024 Public Comment Item 3D Gustav Swanson 07/09/2024 Public Comment Item 3D July 9, 2024 To: The City of Palm Springs, Offices of the Palm Springs Mayor and City Council, Mayor Jeffrey Bernstein Mayor Pro Tem Ron deHarte Councilmember Grace Elena Garner, Councilmember Christy Holstege, Councilmember Lisa Middleton, City Manager Scott Stiles and ONE-PS: Good morning City Council Members. This letter is written on behalf of the roughly 400 homes in the Vista Las Palmas Neighborhood regarding the shared ownership legislation proposed for the meeting this evening. We want to be perfectly clear that we stand 100% united in opposition to the shared ownership model, and to the proposed legislative change. We have three considerations that we want to share with you. First, There is simply no time to adequately consider and debate the proposed changes. As far as the neighborhoods in our city were concerned, this was put to bed last summer when the city council issued its moratorium, and allowed the five homes to remain. We had zero knowledge that any change in policy was being considered. There has been zero input from ONE PS. At a minimum, the vote for this legislation needs to be postponed for a minimum of one year. Our residents largely don't return until October. It can then be calendared for assessment in January, a couple months for feedback, and then re-consideration in the Spring of 2025. It is unseemly for an upzoning to an entire city to be noticed in four days and then voted upon in the dead of the summer months. Second, we ask you to consider one simple question when contemplating putting in place any legislation: "How is the quality of life for my voting residents positively impacted by this change?" If the answer is that it isn't, or even worse that it is negatively impacted, then you should vote "no". It is baffling to all of us how any resident in our city has their quality of life improved by losing a neighbor and having it replaced with 8 different families who all come and go at different times, all using the home as a vacation getaway rather than a "home". The concept that once again policing a shared ownership home is left up to the residents is one of the reasons why we all have witnessed so many of our friends moving to other cities in the valley, and not once in the other direction seeing anyone moving to Palm Springs from another valley city. Palm Springs is being hollowed out, becoming one big tourist zone. 07/09/2024 Public Comment Item 3D And third, if you want a solution to this question, then it's simple: give that power to the people, as our City Hall and Council Chamber signage suggests: The People Are the City. This is an upzoning to our entire city, and with any upzoning there is a "taking". Our residents have purchased homes in single-family neighborhoods. That's a pact that the city has made with its residents. If we had wanted to live in a mixed-use district, then we would have bought homes in one. But we didn't. Zoning law all over the country has existed for centuries: it has worked in the past, and it works now. If Palm Springs wants to allow shared home ownership, which is really just another form of multifamily, along with timeshares, hotels, apartments, and any other form, then it should allow the neighborhoods to vote on whether or not they want to change their zoning from single family residential to mixed use multifamily. Nothing short of that ability to vote themselves by neighborhood is fair to the people of our city. Once again, reiterating, WE ARE 100% in opposition to the shared ownership model, not as proposed, and not as exists. We do NOT want the model in our neighborhood, or in our city, not in any format. We have never said this to you before, but we’re saying it now: This is an issue upon which our residents will base their votes for who represents us on City Council. Sincerely, Kevin Comer and Patsy Marino Co-Chairs The Vista Las Palmas Neighbors Foundation (VLPNF, a ONE-PS Neighborhood Organization) 07/09/2024 Public Comment Item 3D REVIEW OF PROPOSED ORDINANCE REGULATING CO-OWNED HOUSING UNITS Dear Mayor: Thank you again for asking for my input on the proposed ordinance. Several caveats ﬁrst: I was a trial lawyer for 45 years, and never had any expertise in municipal law or the drafting of ordinances or laws. Instead, my supposed strength was in analyzing my opponents’ facts and arguments and presenting a “parade of horribles” that would result if the judge or jury ruled in their favor. So I bring those limited strengths and only those to this analysis. Second. I feel strongly that co-owned housing units need regulation. So the following is not a discussion of whether there should be an ordinance but whether the draft ordinance is sufﬁcient or has weaknesses or ambiguities that need further drafting. Third. The following analysis makes two or three major observations and then concludes with a number of small nit pick language edits that might improve the ordinance. A. The basic business model of Pacaso (I hereafter use “Pacaso” to describe all co-owned housing plans) and the proposed ordinance take diametrically opposed approaches to increase “affordable housing,” a laudable goal. Pacaso claims that it does not target homes that are in the city’s affordable housing pool, by investing only in homes that are worth 2 to 4 times more than the local median value. Pacaso claims this model makes housing in Palm Springs available to many non-white or LGBTQ buyers without shrinking the affordable housing market. The proposed ordinance takes a vastly different approach. It would prohibit the permitting of a Pacaso home that was more than 2.5 times the local median value, essentially the opposite of Pacaso’s proposal. The ordinance likely will have several consequences as a result. It will force Pacaso to invest in neighborhoods where the property values are less than where it is currently investing. By limiting and lowering the purchase price of a Pacaso investment, the City is lowering the per home proﬁt Pacaso will make when it resells homes to the LLC’s it creates. (A $3MM home that Pacaso currently purchases and then resells to an LLC and 8 07/09/2024 Public Comment Item 3D buyers for $500M each yields a $1MM proﬁt. Those numbers cannot be achieved under the proposed ordinance. In sum, it may make Palm Springs a far less attractive market for Pacaso. I obviously prefer the ordinance limitation. B. Pacaso says that once it transfers title to the LLC it has created, it claims that it is essentially hands off and the LLC and its selected property manager control the property thereafter. However, this statement ﬂies in the face of Pacaso’s four part “enforcement proposal” as outlined in counsel’s letter to Jeff Ballinger on January 21, 2022. Thus the clear need for a city enforcement model. This leads to several points. Obviously Pacaso drafts the articles of incorporation of the LLC’s it creates. It is important for the city to review the model articles, analyze it, and then to require the ﬁling of each home’s LLC with the city. Why do I think this is important? There is no prohibition for the Pacaso created LLC to transfer title to another LLC it has created without assistance from Pacaso. That “new” LLC may not contain all, or even any, of the restrictions Pacaso has placed on the property. In addition, as I understand it, Riverside County property taxes are based on 1% or 1.25% of the assessed value of a home, generally calculated as the purchase price of the property. When Pacaso buys a home the assessed value is the purchase price it pays. It then creates an LLC, and the assessed value should theoretically be the new price paid by the LLC to Pacaso. And I assume the LLC is the taxed entity, not the individual owners. The LLC is clearly not going to be static. Shareholders or partners in the LLC are likely to sell or otherwise transfer their interests. If member of the LLC sells his, her or its share in the LLC for twice what it originally paid, that will not increase the assessed value of the property, although it is now arguably worth far more than when it was originally assessed. The price the LLC paid remains static. So I would like to see a requirement that all owner/shareholders/partners in the LLC sign a statement saying they are aware of the co-owned home ordinance and agree to be bound by it, and that they will advise the county of Riverside of any sale of their interest in the home for more than the price they paid to acquire their interest. 07/09/2024 Public Comment Item 3D C. Random thoughts about the ordinance. I would: 1. Include the existing stock of Pacaso homes in determining the limit of two per neighborhood. If there are already two or more Pacaso homes in a neighborhood, no additional Pacaso homes should be permitted. 2. Why include a three year cap of 30 Pacaso homes? I would prefer a limit of 30. The Council can always consider and modify that limit. 3. I would like the ordinance to require that a Pacaso permitted home have at least one onsite parking spot for each bedroom of the home. That is, a 3 bedroom home would have to have three off street parking sites available. 4. I would specify the type of insurance the ordinance would require on each Pacaso home - e.g., ﬁre, liability, earthquake? 5. I would change the requirement of a local contact person to be a local property manager or employee within 25 miles. 6. Finally, I’d make clear that home repairs and maintenance can only be done Monday through Friday. The staff report attempts to prohibit and allow in the same sentence, which is confusing. I am certain this analysis is far more detailed and extensive than you asked for or needed. (You were probably looking for a two sentence yea or nay.). Once I got into this, I tried to make it as professional as I could, and I enjoyed returning to the kind of critical review I was fond as doing as a professional. So thank you again for the opportunity, and feel free to use as much or little of the review as you see ﬁt. Best PwS 07/09/2024 Public Comment Item 3D