From: Megan Finaly
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Ballot Measure EE (Short Term Rental taxes) : I oppose this measure as written Date: Thursday, October 3, 2024 4:33:04 PM
As a senior resident of Sonoma County, I oppose this measure as written. I recommend that any hosts earning below $25,000 should be exempt from paying this new tax. The city is already attempting to raise TOT taxes by 2%, and with current BIA fees, that would make a total of 16% visitation taxes the most expensive in the county.
Thank you.
From: Karen Vanderwolk
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Measure EE Agenda Item 13.2
Date: Thursday, October 3, 2024 7:15:51 PM
We oppose measure EE as it is written. We are senior citizens who have lived in the city of Santa Rosa since 1964. We have owned our current house since 2000. We have a small one bedroom Airbnb at our house. We are a hosted Airbnb. I am on Social Security. We use our one bedroom Airbnb to supplement my income so that we can fix things at our home like dry rot, buy our groceries and pay our utilities, etc. Each time you raise the amount of permits that we have to pay, it makes it increasingly difficult for us to stay in Sonoma county. If you continue to raise our taxes and fees we will no longer be able to operate our small hosted short term rental. We should not have to pay the same amount of permits and taxes as a corporate hotel, a large unhosted short term rental home or a resort. Please do not penalize small businesses in Santa Rosa!
With respect, Kurt and Karen Vanderwolk, KV garden cottage From: EDWARD KINNEY
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] STVR Tax Increase
Date: Friday, October 4, 2024 11:44:29 AM
Hello,
I am writing in opposition to the proposed increase in taxes on STVRs. These small businesses allow owners to afford their homes while offering out of town visitors a more comfortable place to vacation and spend money in our city. Increasing taxes at this time, when inflation is out of control, excessive PG&E rate increases, high gas prices and property tax increases, will only hurt our community. The proposed tax increases aren't even dedicated to any particular cause. If the City has a deficit, you should look at being more efficient. Just because you can raise taxes doesn't mean you should.
Thank you, Ed .Kinney
From: Linda Locke
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] TOT
Date: Friday, October 4, 2024 3:11:10 PM
Dear Sirs,
I have a small room, twin bed only, $50 a night. What you are suggestion in raising the TOT tax is very onerous for the small that I use for Airbnb.
Please think of all the small rooms and how much you already charge for fees.
It really isn't fair that you don't use a
sliding scale. You would make more money if you did. You must have a way to figure that out.
Thank you.
Linda Locke
95404.
From: Office Wilkerson
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Agenda Item Number 13.2
Date: Monday, October 7, 2024 7:01:21 AM
Dear Santa Rosa City Council Members
I am a Santa Rosa native, home owner and short term rental operator. My wife and I rent our home part time while we're away. I am writing to express our opposition to Measure EE as it is written.
Being able to share our home helps us afford Sonoma County cost of living and afford much needed repairs and maintenance, and is a source of needed additional income. Also, we already pay very substantial permitting fees and TOT/BIA taxes as well.
We are concerned that the visitation taxes and fees already are too high and if they get increased this will only hurt the economy holistically
as people will be less able to afford
coming to our beautiful community to visit friends and family or for the amazing tourist attractions. With any addition of the business tax, and the aim to increase TOT, this will raise the cost of visiting Santa Rosa, and make our city less competitive than the surrounding areas.
We respectfully urge you NOT to vote yes on or pass Measure EE.
Thank you
Ian Wilkerson
From: Sonoma County Coalition of Hosts
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] New Business Tax Oct. 8 Agenda Item 13.2 Date: Monday, October 7, 2024 12:34:46 PM
Dear City Council Members,
We are the Sonoma County Coalition of Hosts and Friends, and It is our understanding that Measure EE would add a NEW BUSINESS TAX to all hosts in Santa Rosa who engage in Short Term Rentals.
We oppose this measure as it is written.
Hosts in our city already pay hefty fees to operate, including a $1282 initial permit fee, and an ANNUAL RENEWAL FEE that is currently at $886. For some hosts, they are only sharing one or more bedrooms in their homes and these costs are already burdensome.
For many hosts, this home sharing helps them afford to stay living in Sonoma County, afford much needed repairs and maintenance, and is a source of needed additional income.
We recommend that any hosts earning below $25,000 should be exempt from this new tax. The city is already attempting to raise TOT taxes by 2%, and with current BIA fees, that would make a total of 16% visitation taxes, the most expensive in the county.
With the addition of the business tax, and the increase in TOT, this will raise the cost of visiting Santa Rosa, and make our city less competitive than the surrounding areas.
Not only do hosts lose in this equation, but any restaurant, winery, book store, gift shop, coffee shop and other small businesses that cater to people who visit our county, will see a decrease in revenue in our city.
These taxes essentially send a signal to visitors to go elsewhere.
Sincerely,
The Sonoma County Coalition of Hosts and Friends
Carl R. Jaeger, President
Lindsay Darrimon, Vice President
Alex Cvetkov, Board Member
Charles Metz, Board Member
Dan Gudino, Board Member
Donna Martin, Board Member
Mark Watson, Board Member
From: Scott Barbour
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Agenda Item Number 13.2
Date: Monday, October 7, 2024 1:51:05 PM
Hi there,
I'm a homeowner in Santa Rosa and have a permitted STR. I just learned about the proposed rate hikes and would like to ask that they not occur. I can barely afford to keep this home with all the inflation and energy costs. The STR makes it possible, but I can't keep paying more fees to the city just to allow me to use my own home to make ends meet.
Please don't punish STR owners like this. We already pay 12% between TOT and BIA. That's plenty.
Scott
From: Cheryl Quist
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Agenda Item Number 13.2
Date: Monday, October 7, 2024 2:22:30 PM
Dear City Council Members,
My name is Cheryl Quist, and I am a short-term rental (STR) host here in Santa Rosa. My STR property is located at 1611 Bryden Lane. I am writing to make you aware that I strongly oppose Measure EE, which as I understand it would impose a new business tax for short-term rentals. As an STR owner, I already have paid for my initial permit, annual renewals, TOT and BIA, and property taxes.
I began hosting as a way to generate some additional income so that my husband and I can remain in our home in Santa Rosa.
My husband is retired and a cancer survivor; at age 74 I am still working to help supplement our modest retirement savings. Adding a new tax will “break the bank,” and I sincerely hope you will reject this measure.
As an STR owner, I often host people that are returning to Santa Rosa to visit their family members who live here, come here for medical treatment, or who come to spend some quality time with loved ones as they take a break from normal busy work lives.
With the addition of the business tax,
and approval of an increase in TOT, it would raise the cost of visiting Santa Rosa so high that it would make our city less competitive than surrounding areas.
Not only would hosts lose but so would
restaurants, wineries (who are already hurting), and other small businesses, and would likely result in decreased revenue to the City of Santa rosa.
I implore you to reject Measure EE and to also refrain from raising TOT taxes on STR rental properties.
Sincerely,
Cheryl Quist
Owner, Encore-Sonoma
, Santa Rosa
From: Lori Williams
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] New Taxes or Higher TOT"s Tax
Date: Monday, October 7, 2024 3:27:14 PM
To Whom this Concerns;
I ask that you” Vote No” on any further taxes that would affect the Santa Rosa community of small businesses in short term rentals.
Raising the cost of permit fees (which are now way to high) TOT fees you are harming our local economy by saying you do not want to bring new business to our community. Why would I as a visitor want to pay one tax after another to visit the wine country and stay in Santa Rosa. Adding more taxes, fees would be projecting a climate, we don’t want you here to visit downtown Santa Rosa, buy groceries at your local Oliver’s Market or even shop at Montgomery Village. Greed.
Pushing owners, visitors to pay more taxes is a loose, loose for all.
Being a short term rental small business has allowed me the joy of being a travel advisor with great people from every part of our globe promoting great spots in the city of Santa Rosa. It’s important that such visitors are not left to spread the word of negativity of the cost staying in a lovely ARBNB. It truly gives guest the opportunity to experience a wonderful Santa Rosa, Ca.
As an older single women I am also able to afford and remain in my home of 25 years maintaining its quality benefitting all in our community.
Asking our visitors and owners to pay more fees would absolutely cause an immediate end to bringing new revenues to our city of Santa Rosa.
Thank you. Lori Williams