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Santa Ana City Council <br />November 18, 2024 <br />Page 2 <br />toincrease by over 400%.These impacts risk harming sensitive receptors and environmental <br />justice communities contraryto state, regional, and local policies. <br />is woefully inadequate inanalyzing and disclosing these impacts to the community. <br />We respectfully request that you repeal the existing Article XXI to Chapter 8 of the SMC (which <br />was adopted illegally in April 2024) and direct Staff to work with stakeholders to develop a new <br />ordinance that underscores that STRs maycontinue operating,subject to reasonable regulations, <br />. <br />Backgroundon the Santa Ana Short-Term Rental Allianceand Challenge to the April 2024 <br />STR Ordinance <br />TheSanta Ana Short-Term Rental Alliancean unincorporated community <br />association made up of hardworking residents of both the City of Santa Ana and Southern <br />California that own and/or manage homes located within City limits rented on a short-term basis. <br />Theycome from diverse backgrounds and call California home. In April2024, the City unlawfully <br />enactedan ordinance banning STRs in the City with almost no public notice andwithout <br />undertaking the environmental review required by the California Environmental Quality Act <br />That action threatened to destroy <br />security, closed the door to Santa Ana for countless would-be visitors, and disproportionately <br />affected the individuals and families most in need of flexible housing options and who are often <br />shut out of the long-term residential housing market. <br />In response to that illegal action, this officefiled achallengeon behalf of the Rental Alliancein <br />Orange County Superior Court (Santa Ana Short-Term Rental Alliance v. City of Santa Ana, No. <br />TC24-5449 (Orange County Superior Court).While we are pleased that Staff has brought forward <br />a proposal to rescind the illegally adopted ordinance, the Amended Ordinanceproposes to adopt <br />the exact same ban on STRs as adopted in April.As summarized herein, the Amended Ordinance <br />is legally flawed, and should the City move forward with readopting the ban,the Rental Alliance <br />intends to challenge the Amended Ordinance. <br />History and Importanceof STRs in Santa Ana <br />STRs have always been lawful, residential uses in Santa Ana.Hostshave opened and shared their <br />homes to transient renters for decades, providing important visitor-serving accommodations and <br />offering guests authentic cultural experiences in all corners of the City. These rentals provide an <br />opportunity for visitors to Orange Countyto meet and interact with locals who graciously share <br />their homes. And with theexception of a brief 2015 moratorium that expired on its own terms, <br />STRs havelongbeen a recognized activity in Santa Ana. Indeed, many of the Rental Alliance <br />members have acquired a business license from the City for each rental unit that they own or <br />manage. <br />2 <br /> <br />