Title
a. Receive a report on Short-Term Rental Code Compliance; and
b. Provide direction to staff regarding Short-Term Rental Code Compliance.
(Board Referral No.: 2018.10)
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
As a referral, staff seeks Board direction if staff is to pursue this item further. Given the current state of the budget, staff recommends Option 1 (No Change) until ordinances are adopted. If the Board directs staff to pursue any option besides Option 1, staff will return with a more detailed program for consideration.
SUMMARY:
On March 27, 2018, Supervisor Adams submitted a referral requesting RMA formulate a response from the Monterey County Board of Supervisors to a January 31, 2018 Planning Commission letter requesting policy direction related to Short-Term Rental (STR) enforcement. Current practice of Resource Management Agency (RMA) Code Compliance is reactive enforcement based on complaints received, which are then prioritized based on health and safety conditions.
Complaints are addressed based on priority and available staffing and resources for the RMA code compliance team. An exception is compliance for cannabis where RMA received cannabis tax funding for one Code Compliance Inspector to be used on enforcement of that program. STRs conducted in legal structures (homes) would generally be assigned Priority 3, unless there is some health or safety issue identified.
The Board may consider an interim STR code compliance policy. STR enforcement requires a lot of research (support staff) and working odd hours that could result in overtime. RMA has identified a number of options for the BOS to consider addressing the PC's questions and concerns:
1) No change. STRs would continue to be processed as priority three and no resources would be allocated to increase service levels.
2) Increase funding. Additional inspector(s) and/or support staff dedicated to STRs. The level of staffing would depend on the level of enforcement desired. Each Inspector ca...
Click here for full text