Agenda Packet 1-27-20 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES Eugene City Council and Eugene Urban Renewal Agency Harris Hall, 125 East 8th Avenue Eugene, Oregon 97401 December 11, 2019 12:00 p.m. Councilors Present: Betty Taylor, Emily Semple, Alan Zelenka, Jennifer Yeh, Mike Clark, Greg Evans, Claire Syrett, Chris Pryor Mayor Vinis opened the December 11, 2019, meeting of the Eugene Urban Renewal Agency. 1.EXECUTIVE SESSION: Pursuant to ORS 192.660(2)(e)The Eugene Urban Renewal Agency met in Executive Session held pursuant to ORS 192.660(2)(e) todeliberate with persons designated to negotiate real property transactions.Mayor Vinis closed the meeting of the Eugene Urban Renewal Agency and opened the Eugene CityCouncil work session. 2.WORK SESSION: An Ordinance Concerning Short-Term Rental Business Licenses; Amending Section 3.005 of the Eugene Code, 1971; and Adding Section 3.350 to that CodeBuilding Permit Services Director Lydia Kaye introduced the item. Councilor Syrett – said she thinks the City needs to do more due diligence on this matter beforeputting out for a public hearing – getting more input from rental hosts and nearby neighbors onboth positive and negative impacts; said there is a lot of speculation about the benefits and theconsequences of these rentals; noted there was a lot of compelling testimony from hosts thisweek and there are many different approaches to this work; said the City Attorney sent herinformation about a motion she intended to make about creating an advisory committee thatwould engage short-term rental hosts and owners, neighbors, and research facts aboutnumbers, taxes, etc. Councilor Zelenka – said communication is key – there are valid concerns about lack of regulationand issues that still need to be addressed; suggested considering an exemption for those owningone non-owner occupied property as a way to address companies or people buying multipleproperties to market as short-term rentals; noted there are differences between short-term andlong-term rentals, but needed more information about the rules for running a home business;voiced concern that about transient room tax collection issues and the impact of irresponsiblehosts. Councilor Taylor – said the City is overdue in regulating short-term rentals regulations;expressed interest in getting more information about Hood River’s experience because thereare reports that short-term rentals there destroyed their community; said the ordinance thatstaff developed was very good and it’s not too early for council to take action; asked questionsabout grandfathering some home businesses, the implications of including bed and breakfastsand the number of bedrooms that could be rented per the draft ordinance; preferred to limitviolations to two per year and to require owner occupancy. Councilor Clark – said he was lifelong advocate of a free market economy, noting that it’scouncil’s job to step in when necessary, such as unjust conditions for surrounding neighbors,but default to a position that creates as few regulations and restrictions as possible; said theshort-term rental apps allow for the market to decide who is doing it right; said he’s happy tovote in favor of Councilor Syrett’s motion and allow those with expertise in this business to January 27, 2020, Meeting - Item 2A ATTACHMENT A