Flores, Dora
From: AnaGomez <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, July
To: eComment
Subject: AgendaItem #10OCGrandJuryFindings
Attachments: DearMayorAmezcuaandMembersoftheSantaAnaCityCouncilAug5th.docx Attention: ThisemailoriginatedfromoutsideofCityofSantaAna. Usecautionwhenopeningattachmentsorlinks. 1 DearMayorAmezcuaandCouncilmembers,
I amwritingto respectfullyurgetheCouncilto reconsiderSantaAna’scurrentbanonshort-term rentals (STRs) andexploreamorebalanced, regulatedalternative. Recentresearch (notablythe OrangeCountyGrandJury’s2024-25reportonSTRs) suggeststhatoutrightbansmaynotbethe only – or thebest – wayto achievetheseaims.
In fact, theGrandJuryfoundthatSTRsarenot asignificantfactorin our housingshortage. As thereportconcludes, STRs “shouldnotbeconsideredasignificantfactorin theavailabilityof affordablehousinginOrangeCounty,” (ocgrandjury.org). In plainterms, removingSTRsentirely isunlikelyto substantiallyopenupmorehousing – aconversionanalysisinthereportshowedthat evenconvertingall existingrentalswould yield only a smallfractionof the neededunits ocgrandjury.orgocgrandjury.org). Moreover, thereportemphasizesthatSTRs “canbegood neighbors” whenresponsibleregulationsarein place (ocgrandjury.org). It specificallynotesthat theburdenof makingrentalscommunity-friendlyshouldbeonthehostsandthecity – not on ordinaryneighborhoodresidents (ocgrandjury.org). Thismeanswecanaddressnuisanceconcerns throughclearrules (suchasquiethours, occupancylimits, andcontactinformationrequirements) ratherthansimplyforbiddingrentalsaltogether.
Short-termrentalscanalsobenefitourlocaleconomyandcity budget. TheGrandJuryhighlights thatevenmodestSTRtaxcollectionsaddto acity’sgeneralfund (ocgrandjury.org). Forexample, NewportBeachreportsthatSTRTransientOccupancyTax (TOT) makesupabout2% ofitsannual revenue (ocgrandjury.org) – alldollarsthatsupportcityservices. SantaAnacouldsimilarlycapture newrevenue. A well-runhome-sharingbooststourismdollarsandsupportslocaljobsandstores, helpingthewholecommunity.
Conversely, theGrandJurycautionsthatbansarenot a panacea. Evencitieswithbansstruggle to enforcethemfully, andunintendedproblemsarise. Thereportbluntlyobservesthat “evenwith robustCodeEnforcement, a city’s statutorybanonSTRsis not enoughto keepSTRsfrom operating,” (ocgrandjury.org). In practice, afterabansomehomeownerssimplycontinuehosting withoutapermit, andit becomesagameof “whack-a-mole” forenforcement. Thereportdescribes how citiesthat assumedSTRswereimplicitly bannedwithout clearlawsoften lost court challenges, forcingthemto scrambleto writenewordinances (ocgrandjury.org). Thissuggestsour city couldcontinueexpendingresourceson enforcementandlitigationwithout solvingthe underlyingissues. Instead, aregulatedapproach – whereanyhomeownerwhowantstorentmust obtainapermit, adhereto safetyinspections, andfollow clearrules – wouldallowthecityto controlandmonitorSTRs, ratherthandrivingthemunderground.
Importantly, theGrandJuryalsooutlines “bestpractices” for STRsthatprotectneighborhoods.
Examplesincluderequiringhoststo providealocalemergencycontact, postingtheirpermit numberonalllistings, andsubmittingTOTpaymentsmonthly (ocgrandjury.org). Enforcingnoise curfewsandparkinglimitsalsoaddressesthecommoncomplaintsthatmotivatedtheban. In fact, thereportnotesthatOrangeCountycitieslikeSealBeach, DanaPoint, andOrangehaveadopted these “GoodNeighbor” policiesandnowseeverylow complaintrates (ocgrandjury.org). By followingtheseguidelines, STRhostscanbeheldaccountablesothatneighborsarenotdisturbed, andthecityretainsoversightandrevenue.
Onapersonalnote, I (andmanyotherSantaAnahomeowners) wouldgladlycomplywithsuch reasonablerules. I rentoutonespareroominmyhometo avettedguestonlyoccasionally, inpart to coverrisinglivingexpenses. Thebanhasmadethisimpossible. Underafairpermittingsystem, I would abideby STRprogramrequirements (for example, I wouldpostmylocalcontact information, andstrictlyenforcemyownquiethours) sothatanyimpactonneighborsiszero. At thesametime, myguestswouldcontributeto localbusinesses, paycitytaxes, andenjoySantaAna benefitingallof us.
In closing, I respectfullyasktheCityCouncilto reconsiderthecurrentbanonshort-termrentals andexploreabalancedregulatoryapproach. Thegoalof preservinghousingandneighborhood qualityissharedbyallof us, buttheevidencesuggestswecanachieveit withoutanoutrightban.
A thoughtfulSTRprogram – onethatrequirespermits, enforcessensible “goodneighbor” rules, andcollectstaxes – wouldprotectresidentsfromnuisanceswhileallowinghomeownersto share theirhomesresponsibly (ocgrandjury.orgocgrandjury.org). It wouldcapturenewrevenueforSanta Anaandsupportsmallbusinessesin ourcity. Thankyoufor yourtimeandfor consideringan approachthattruly balanceseveryone’s interests. I trustthatwith openreviewof thefacts includingtheOrangeCountyGrandJury’sfindings), SantaAnacanfindafairsolutionthatkeeps ourneighborhoodssafeandourcitythriving.
Sincerely,
AnaGomez
Ward3