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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 5 - AB0599 Grosso PacketADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS BOARD STAFF REPORT DATE: February 28, 2024 SUBJECT: APPEAL OF THE ADMINISTATIVE DECISION OF A SIX-MONTH SUSPENSION OF THE VACATION RENTAL REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE FINE OF $2,500.00 TO TAYLOR GROSSO AND JULIE WHITE FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 622 S. HIGHLAND DR., PALM SPRINGS. BY: Office of Special Programs Compliance Department SUMMARY Taylor Grosso has requested an appeal of the 6-month suspension of the Vacation Rental Registration Certificate and the administrative fine of $2,500.00 for failure of submitting a Contract Summary to the Enforcement Official for the property located at 622 S. Highland 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 THE ADMINISTRATIVE CITATION AB0599 ISSUED IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,500 TO TAYLOR GROSSO AND JULIE WHITE AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE DECISION OF A SIX-MONTH SUSPENSION OF THE VACATION RENTAL REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 622 S. HIGHLAND DR., PALM SPRINGS. THIS PORTION OF PAGE BLANK Item 5 - Page 1 Administrative Appeals Board Staff Report February 28, 2024 - Page 2 Vacation Rental Appeal – 622 S. Highland Dr., Palm Springs BACKGROUND: The property located at 622 S. Highland Dr., Palm Springs, is a registered Vacation Rental with the City of Palm Springs with a start date of July 6, 2022. STAFF ANALYSIS: The owners for the property located at 622 S. Highland Dr. were issued administrative citation AB0599 for failure to file contract summaries to the Enforcement Official as required by The Vacation Rental Ordinance 2075 for guests stays of 28 days or less at a Vacation Rental. The Vacation Rental Ordinance No. 2075 (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 administration staff communicated the requirement to submit contract stays prior to arrival. Attachment 5. Initial notification can be found in the Vacation Rental Registration Certificate application under section D. A second notification was sent via email on July 6, 2022, along with the Vacation Rental Certificate, with a link to access the contract summary tool. A third notification was sent via email on July 13, 2022, along with the Transient Occupancy Tax Permit, with a link to access the contract summary tool. The City of Palm Springs Code Compliance determined after receiving a music complaint on September 16, 2023, and issuing a citation for a violation found, that the property located at 622 S. Highland Dr., had not submitted a Contract Summary for a short-term Vacation Rental stay. A Code Compliance Officer investigated the property and found that the property had 16 short-term rental stays between January 2023 through September 2023, and three contract summaries were submitted. Attachment 6. A review below of the Contract Summary system confirmed three submissions and is also included in Attachment 6. Submission Date This Contract Summary is Conf VR Property VR Property TOT #: Palm Springs Bedroom: First Name Last Arrival Date: Departure Date: Contract Contract Year: 2023‐04‐13 13:40:16 New Contract Summary 5060 622 S Highland Dr 9199 Demuth Park 3 Taylor Grosso 04‐13‐2023 04‐17‐2023 6 2023 2023‐01‐12 20:19:14 New Contract Summary 5060 622 S Highland Dr 9199 Demuth Park 3 Taylor Grosso 01‐13‐2023 01‐15‐2023 3 2023 2023‐01‐12 20:16:53 New Contract Summary 5060 622 S Highland Dr 9199 Demuth Park 3 Taylor Grosso 01‐20‐2023 01‐22‐2023 3 2023 Item 5 - Page 2 Administrative Appeals Board Staff Report February 28, 2024 - Page 3 Vacation Rental Appeal – 622 S. Highland Dr., Palm Springs Staff finds that based on the information reviewed, that short-term vacation rental use at the property 622 S. Highland 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 AB0599 in the amount of $2,500.00 to Taylor Grosso and Julie White, the owners 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. Additional Information Upon drafting this staff report, staff has found that citation AB0599 was the third administrative citation in a twelve-month period. A citation review is included below: Citation #1 – Date of violation 2/18/23 for music audible at the property line. Citation #2 – Date of violation 9/16/23 for music audible at the property line. Citation #3 – Date of violation 9/16/223 for failing to submit contract summaries. A suspension letter has not been drafted to date. Pursuant to Palm Springs Municipal Code 5.25.090(b) Upon the third violation in any twelve-month period, the city manager shall suspend the vacation registration certificate for two years. 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 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: Item 5 - Page 3 Administrative Appeals Board Staff Report February 28, 2024 - Page 4 Vacation Rental Appeal – 622 S. Highland Dr., Palm Springs ”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 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”. Item 5 - Page 4 Administrative Appeals Board Staff Report February 28, 2024 - Page 5 Vacation Rental Appeal – 622 S. Highland Dr., Palm Springs Patrick Clifford Assistant Director Attachments: Resolution no. _____ Decision of the Administrative Appeals Board 1 Notice of Appeal Hearing 2 Administrative Citation Appeal Letter 3 Administrative Citation AB0599 4 Department Notification 5 Code Officer Findings 6 Item 5 - Page 5                     ATTACHMENT 1  Item 5 - Page 6 RESOLUTION NO. ___ A RESOLUTION OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS BOARD OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, ON THE APPEAL OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE CITATION AB0599 ISSUED IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,500 TO TAYLOR GROSSO AND JULIE WHITE AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE DECISION OF A SIX-MONTH SUSPENSION OF THE VACATION RENTAL REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 622 S. HIGHLAND DR., 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, Taylor Grosso and Julie White 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 622 S. Highland Dr., hosted guests for a period of twenty-eight (28) consecutive days or less; and WHEREAS, Administrative Citation No. AB0599 failure to file a Contract Summary was issued on November 3, 2023 to Taylor Grosso and Julie White for the property located at 622 S. Highland Dr., Palm Springs; and WHEREAS, Taylor Grosso and Julie White, filed an administrative appeal of the Administrative Citation No. AB0599 for failure to file a Contract Summary prior to an occupancy for the property 622 S. Highland 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 February 28, 2024; and Item 5 - Page 7 Resolution ____ Page 2 WHEREAS, the Administrative Appeals Board was presented prima facie evidence that Taylor Grosso and Julie White 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 February 28, 2024; 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 Taylor Grosso and Julie White for the property located at 622 S. Highland 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 Taylor Grosso and Julie White for the property located at 622 S. Highland Dr., Palm Springs THIS PORTION OF PAGE BLANK Item 5 - Page 8 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 2024. Wayne Sinclair 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 Item 5 - Page 9                     ATTACHMENT 2  Item 5 - Page 10 Item 5 - Page 11 Item 5 - Page 12                     ATTACHMENT 3  Item 5 - Page 13 Item 5 - Page 14 Item 5 - Page 15 Item 5 - Page 16                     ATTACHMENT 4  Item 5 - Page 17 Item 5 - Page 18 Item 5 - Page 19 Item 5 - Page 20 Item 5 - Page 21 Item 5 - Page 22 Item 5 - Page 23 Item 5 - Page 24 Item 5 - Page 25 Item 5 - Page 26                     ATTACHMENT 5  Item 5 - Page 27 Item 5 - Page 28 Item 5 - Page 29 Item 5 - Page 30 Item 5 - Page 31 Item 5 - Page 32 Item 5 - Page 33 Item 5 - Page 34 Item 5 - Page 35 Item 5 - Page 36 Item 5 - Page 37                     ATTACHMENT 6  Item 5 - Page 38 Item 5 - Page 39 Item 5 - Page 40 Item 5 - Page 41 Item 5 - Page 42 Item 5 - Page 43 Item 5 - Page 44 Item 5 - Page 45 Item 5 - Page 46 Item 5 - Page 47 Item 5 - Page 48 Item 5 - Page 49 Item 5 - Page 50 Item 5 - Page 51