From: Pay Lapenn
Sent: Friday, January 3, 2025 12:14 PM
To: City Clerk
Cc: Page Lapenn
Subject: Public Comment for the City Council meeng 2025 01 06 to be read by Council Clerk (Thank You)
Port Hueneme is a city of approximately 21,000 residents who are lucky enough to live in a community that still has a residential feel. Many of us are concerned that the unregulated conversion of homes to short term rentals will erode the residential feel and create an atmosphere like Motel Six.
We would like the City Council to consider adding Short Term Rentals to the agenda of a future meeting (February 3rd if possible). We also plan to have a town hall meeting to invite all Port Hueneme residents to attend sometime in March. If the schedule permits, we would love to have the meeting in the Council Room.
A Redfin article on February 14, 2024 by Lily Katz reported that “Real estate investors bought 26.1% of low-priced U.S. homes that sold in the fourth quarter.” In the past couple of years, several beach cities have experienced the negative consequences of REITs buying properties purely as an investment. Investors interested only in maximizing profits are less interested in preserving the structures and communities of their investments.
Port Hueneme is the only beach community in our area that does not have short-term rentals restrictions.
The California Coastal Commission governs these issues. The HHOAC Subcommittee on Short Term Rentals (the STR-SC of the HHOAC) will be posting updates on Facebook page (HHOAC). This is a complicated issue, and it will take some time for us to arrive at a plan that meets the needs of our city and our residents.
If the council agrees that we should pursue this issue, the City Manager may contact the California Coastal Commission by reaching out to Tyler Liddell, a coastal programs analyst assigned to the City of Port Hueneme. We hope the HOAs and the City can work together to decrease the cost of enforcement for the City and the HOAs. Due to the Davis Sterling Act – HOAs have many limitations before we can levy fines and the administrative costs of doing so are almost prohibitive.
Thank you for your kind attention to this matter.
Patty Page LaPenn, Chair - HHOAC Subcommittee for Short Term Rentals SeeVenturaCountyStar12/5/2024foradditionaldetails.
From: mary serrato
Sent: Saturday, January 4, 2025 12:26 AM
To: Alvarez, Georgianna
Subject: Public comment council meeng
Hello good evening. I am writing this email regarding the council member who is trying to get rid of all the good things our city has gained these past two years.
As well as for our city seems and feels safer than ever . there a lot more youth involvement , my boys have benefited so much.
I and my family are so very thankful for The new chief. He has shown care for our community. Our city of Port Hueneme has gained so much with new events and activities for youth and family .I surely want to thank him from my family and myself..I feel that our city does need and want city councils who want and look for the best interest of our communitycommunity and city.
Thank you here's my contact if needed
From: Dulce S
Sent: Monday, January 6, 2025 2:20 PM
To: City Clerk
Subject: Public Comment for City Council meeng 1/6/2024 Comment by Ms. Dulce Setterfield, a long-term resident of Port Hueneme Greetings, Mayor McQueen-Legohn and all Councilmembers:
I'm voicing support for goals identified by Patty Page LaPenn in her commentary about Short Term Rentals, or STRs. While Ms. LaPenn's talking points reflect the solidarity of a Hueneme HOA Coalition Committee, I speak as a fly-on-the-wall witnessing repeated pushes by real estate agents to present condominium units close to the beach as golden opportunities for STRs.
I encourage you to address STRs as you update our Local Coastal Plan and coordinate with other relevant matters. Please consider lodging licensing and taxation and prudent levels of inspection and enforcement oversight.
You can find examples along our coast of what other municipalities are succeeding with or aiming to improve with regard to STR regulation. I've looked as far away as Port Angeles, Washington, a waterfront city slightly less populated than ours. It's a gateway to attractions such as Olympic National Park plus the Black Ball ferry to Victoria, British Columbia. Port Angeles considered capping total STRs not to exceed a certain percentage of housing stock. The vote turned out 4/3 for a two-percent cap, although a lower cap was initially favored. Elected officials did not choose an option their staff recommended. Robust public input helped those officials to find the best way forward in 2024.
A city like Port Angeles is not subject to the policies and processes of a coastal commission, like Port Hueneme is, with regard to lodging accessibility. I ask that you not delay in facing STR issues now impacting our community. Those issues aren't going away by themselves.
From: Jeffrey Scarberry
Sent: Monday, January 6, 2025 4:58 PM
To: City Clerk
Subject: City Council Public Comment
My comment is regarding part of the last meeting in December. Apparently a majority group did not want Mr. Gama to be Mayor Pro Tem even though he has served on the Council for six years. I think the public deserved to hear a clear explanation as to why that was the case. Those on the dais who did not support Ms. Hernandez for Mayor Pro Tem appropriately stated their reasoning. As the process played out, it appeared there might have been some prior discussion by at least a couple of members on that item which is unfortunate.
As we enter a new year, hopefully everyone will work together and be nice while keeping the best interests of the City and its people the number one priority. Thank you.
Jeffrey Scarberry