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COMMENTS FROM DAVID SUAREZ – RESIDENT OF MORRISON PARK. <br /> <br />My wife Martha and I purchased our home in Morrison Park in 2018. We did so because we loved the <br />architecture in Santa Ana. The home we purchased already had a guest suite which we planned on <br />using that space to host our out-of-town relatives, and to use it as a short-term rental. The income we <br />make from it, pays for our property taxes and a small mortgage. We’re retired now and would not be <br />able to properly maintain our 70-year-old home without it. <br /> <br />In 2019 we started hosting travelers. Mostly from across the US, as well as Canada, Europe, and <br />Australia. Over 80% of our guests are visiting Disney or a conference at the Anaheim Convention <br />Center. There are only four Santa Ana hotels within a 3-mile radius of our home. These are the: <br />Golden West Lodge 1.2 miles 3.6 Stars <br />Red Roof Inn 1.6 miles 3.5 Stars <br />Santa Ana Travel Inn 1.6 miles 3.6 Stars <br />Civic Center Inn & Suites 2.9 miles 3.0 Stars <br />And as a group, the guests of these hotels rate their stay as a 3 and half out of 5 stars. <br /> <br />Since 2019 we’ve hosted about 400 different stays. Over 95% of the guests staying with us, rate us at 5 <br />out of 5 stars on AirBnB. The remaining 4% rate us at 4 stars. No one rates us below 4 stars. <br /> <br />Why is that important? Two reasons: <br /> <br />1. To average 5 stars, you must have a beautiful home and offer great service. As an owner - <br />occupied home, we take great pride in having a beautiful, well-maintained home. We were <br />recently awarded the Most Beautiful Yard Award in Morrison Park. This type of care helps us <br />achieve and maintain a 5-star rating. 5-star reviews are critical to all short-term rental hosts. <br />2. 5-star experiences equate to economic benefits to the community. Based on our personal <br />recommendations, our guests try local eateries and grocery stores. We feel our guests would <br />not be staying in Santa Ana, were it not for short-term rental hosts like us in Santa Ana hosting <br />5-star experiences. They likely would’ve stayed in Anaheim or at one of the surrounding <br />communities that allow and regulate, short-term rentals. <br /> <br />Of the 400 or so different stays we’ve hosted, not once has there been a disturbance or complaint. It <br />would be interesting to learn if the Santa Ana police department has ever been called on a short-term <br />rental home. <br /> <br />Due to the limited time, I am unable to share with you what our guests s ay about their stay with us in <br />Santa Ana. I’d be happy to share it, should you find it relevant. <br />In summary, I’d like to see the planning commission propose regulations for short-term rentals that <br />benefit City Government and the community, without imposing undue restrictions on the use of our <br />homes.