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Home My WebLink AboutItem 4 - Addtl. Documents from AppellantSubject: Appeal for Suspension of Helios Vacation Rentals' Management of 400 W Camino Alturas To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to appeal the suspension of Helios Vacation Rentals' management of 400 W Camino Alturas. As the owner of the management company overseeing this property, I feel compelled to address the citations issued against us, which I believe resulted from genuine misunderstandings rather than deliberate non-compliance. On 3/31/23, our property received a citation for the violation "Failure to post City ID." Our general manager spoke to the city and misunderstood the corrective action as needing to post a visible sign in front of the home with the City ID. Subsequently, on 06/12/23, we were surprised to receive another citation for the same infraction. It was after this second citation that we further clarified with the city authorities the specific nature of the violation, which pertained to the absence of the City ID on the online marketing listing. We promptly rectified this oversight by adding the required information to the listing description online. It is crucial to note that our actions were not indicative of intentional negligence or an attempt to circumvent regulatory requirements. Rather, they stemmed from a misinterpretation of the corrective measures needed. I understand that local authorities require the permit number to be visible online in order to verify homes are not being marketed without a valid rental certificate. Throughout this period, our City ID remained active, and we were committed to upholding all necessary regulations. Moreover, platforms such as Airbnb and VRBO enforce stringent measures to ensure compliance with local regulations. These platforms mandate the input of permit numbers before allowing listings to go live, thereby providing an additional layer of verification. The booking platforms in turn automatically make visible the permit number at the bottom of the listing in a specific section called “Registration Number”. Therefore, it is perplexing that the City ID was not visibly displayed on our Airbnb listing despite our adherence to platform policies. Following the issuance of the second citation, I diligently pursued clarification from Airbnb regarding the absence of the permit number on our listing. Regrettably, due to the elapsed time since the initial citation, Airbnb was unable to provide a definitive response. Nonetheless, we have since implemented additional safeguards, including the inclusion of the permit number in the listing description itself, to mitigate any recurrence of such issues. In summary, I appeal the suspension on the grounds that the initial citation was unwarranted given the stringent requirements imposed by platforms like Airbnb and VRBO. Furthermore, the subsequent citation resulted from a miscommunication regarding the nature of the violation. It is pertinent to acknowledge our consistent compliance with city regulations, exemplified by our active permit status, timely payment of transient occupancy taxes, and stringent noise control measures. Item 4 - Page 1 I respectfully ask the city authorities to consider the context surrounding the citations and to recognize our track record of compliance, save for the isolated noise violation incident. Your understanding and consideration in this matter are greatly appreciated. Thank you for your attention to this appeal. Sincerely, Pablo Flores Owner, Helios Vacation Rentals Item 4 - Page 2 R KEY VACATION RENTAL REGULATIONS: - A written rental agreement is required prior to occupancy of this Vacation Rental Property. - The responsible person, whose name is on the rental contract must provide a copy of a government issued ID to the Vacation Rental Host. - The Responsible Party occupying this Vacation Rental Property shall be at least 25 years old; and is responsible for the compliance of the Vacation Rental Regulations for all occupants and guests. - Amplification of sound, including music, outdoor speakers, TV’s, etc., outside of the dwelling unit is PROHIBITED and SHALL NOT BE AUDIBLE AT THE PROPERTY LINE. - Maximum occupancy limits for this Vacation Rental Property as listed above shall not be exceeded at any time. Please note that Vacation Rental unit operators may impose their own occupancy limits as long as they do not exceed the City’s. - Parking is limited to one (1) car per bedroom. - Trash and refuse shall not be left stored within public view and must be in proper containers for the purpose of collection by the collectors and between the hours of five a.m. and eight p.m. on scheduled trash collection days. - Occupants are subject to immediate citation and fine for creating a disturbance or violating the Vacation Rental or other regulations. CITY OF PALM SPRINGS Vacation Rental Registration Certificate PROPERTY ADDRESS: 400 W Camino Alturas City ID # 4990 Palm Springs, CA 92264 OCCUPANCY LIMITS: DAYTIME: 12 OVERNIGHT: 8 TOT PERMIT NUMBER: 3215 AGENCY NAME: Helios Vacation Rentals EXPIRATION DATE: 4/30/2024 IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO RENEW & UPDATE THIS CERTIFICATE ANNUALLY This certificate becomes VOID upon change of property ownership or agency management Please call 760-322-8383 to report any violations of Vacation Rental Regulations PSMC Ch. 5.25 MUST BE POSTED IN A CONSPICUOUS PLACE 425 N Civic Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92262 www.psvacationrentalcompliance.com Item 4 - Page 3 R KEY VACATION RENTAL REGULATIONS: - A written rental agreement is required prior to occupancy of this Vacation Rental Property. - The responsible person, whose name is on the rental contract must provide a copy of a government issued ID to the Vacation Rental Host. - The Responsible Party occupying this Vacation Rental Property shall be at least 25 years old; and is responsible for the compliance of the Vacation Rental Regulations for all occupants and guests. - Amplification of sound, including music, outdoor speakers, TV’s, etc., outside of the dwelling unit is PROHIBITED and SHALL NOT BE AUDIBLE AT THE PROPERTY LINE. - Maximum occupancy limits for this Vacation Rental Property as listed above shall not be exceeded at any time. Please note that Vacation Rental unit operators may impose their own occupancy limits as long as they do not exceed the City’s. - Parking is limited to one (1) car per bedroom. - Trash and refuse shall not be left stored within public view and must be in proper containers for the purpose of collection by the collectors and between the hours of five a.m. and eight p.m. on scheduled trash collection days. - Occupants are subject to immediate citation and fine for creating a disturbance or violating the Vacation Rental or other regulations. CITY OF PALM SPRINGS Vacation Rental Registration Certificate PROPERTY ADDRESS: 400 W Camino Alturas City ID # 4990 Palm Springs, CA 92264 OCCUPANCY LIMITS: DAYTIME: 12 OVERNIGHT: 8 TOT PERMIT NUMBER: 3215 AGENCY NAME: Helios Vacation Rentals EXPIRATION DATE: 4/30/2025 IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO RENEW & UPDATE THIS CERTIFICATE ANNUALLY This certificate becomes VOID upon change of property ownership or agency management Please call 760-322-8383 to report any violations of Vacation Rental Regulations PSMC Ch. 5.25 MUST BE POSTED IN A CONSPICUOUS PLACE 425 N Civic Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92262 www.psvacationrentalcompliance.com Item 4 - Page 4 Item 4 - Page 5 Item 4 - Page 6