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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNon Agenda_Public Comments_MenkeR-CCCI Vcd C �- rC. Wesley Menke wesmenkeCa7amail.com 949-633-9954 Sheri Menke sherimenke(c),amail.com 626-201-8407 1032 West Park Lane; Santa Ana, CA 92672 22 August 2022 The current situation in Santa Ana regarding Short Term Rentals is not working well. The city code does not address short term rentals. It is not listed as permitted nor is it listed as prohibited. A permissive code, it is argued, means that the city is at liberty to cite short term rentals. While this legal argument is understood by the parties present, in reality, it is a drain on city resources, and confusing residents. Today over one thousand short term rental properties are available in the City of Santa Ana through the AirBnB platform alone. This means that in practice the average resident has no idea that it isn't permitted. We have had the opportunity to have a conversation with two different Code Enforcement officers. They were professional and courteous people, and their work is appreciated. They said that their office is overwhelmed and does not have the personnel to keep up. If something doesn't change the problem will continue to grow. So what is the solution? Regulation and Taxation. Levy an occupancy tax on short term rentals that would generate revenue for the city. Regulate them by privileging owner occupied, primary residences, and sole properties. Create a program that is featured on the city website with literature that would deter speculators; but support residents looking to practice hospitality and operate an ethical small business. Modify the code for conditional use for R1 zones. Short term rentals, in the proper quantity proportionate to the size of our city, are a part of the housing solution. Consider the empty bedrooms and under-utilized single family dwelling units. Consider homeowners struggling to make mortgage payments. We could resist gentrification by offering ethical hospitality! People who find themselves in need of short term housing for medical, education, family events, or traveling could be welcomed to this vibrant and beautiful city. Please meet with us, and put this on the agenda. Thank you. Sheri Menke sherimenke(@.amaii-com 626 201-8407 Wesley Menke wesmenke(a)amail.com 949 633-9954 1032 West Park Lane; Santa Ana, CA 92706 Kecei Ved q- f� �1Zz f7z Short Term Rentals in Santa Ana, CA I am here to advocate for a program to support the already existing small businesses in Santa Ana known as short term rentals. We have a family of eight. There is my husband and I, five young children and a dog. For us to travel in a traditional hotel setting is very difficult, near impossible and extremely expensive! We either have to get two hotel rooms where my husband and I have to be in separate rooms or get a suite which is usually out of our price range altogether. Finding accommodations for a dog is also very difficult. Short term rentals are the best way for our large family to travel for a vacation, a family event or to access exceptional medical care. We have also had living circumstances in our life when we needed a short term rental to house our large family. It was because of our experiences traveling and transitioning that when my husband was called to serve at a new church in a different city, we thought of making our home in Santa Ana a short term rental for families like ours. Our home was a place where people from all over the world had come and enjoyed a beautiful and safe place with lots of things to do at an affordable rate! This is still the only home that our family owns and we stay there regularly. We have been able to share our home with many families like ours. We have hosted parents as they transition their children to colleges in the area and we have hosted dozens of families who had children that needed medical care for allergies or certain surgeries that could only be done at CHOC, UCI or the allergy institute in Long Beach. We also support other local businesses in the city like housekeepers, gardners, plumbers, restaurants etc. We hire local residents from local businesses. We love Santa Ana and we have been able to share this wonderful city with others! When we first started our short term rental in the fall of 2017, 1 was told by a city staff member that all I needed was a residential rental business license which is what I applied for and received. It is now clear that in recent years many residents in Santa Ana have turned their homes or extra bedrooms into short term rentals. It is clear that with the success of platforms like Airbnb and others that short term rentals are the preferred way and sometimes the only way for many large families to travel or transition. If there was a program in Santa Ana the city could create rules and regulations for these properties, charge certain fees and taxes, support local small businesses and become an even more hospitable community to all different families in different situations. I would be happy to help co -create this program with the city or meet with someone on this commission to discuss further. Thank you for your time and consideration!