Board of Supervisors Voted 3-2 to Terminate Short Term Rental Ordinance Process
SUMMARY
At the Board of Supervisors meeting on 9 July, the Resource Management Agency (RMA) introduced a Draft Short Term Rental Ordinance to the Board of Supervisors. The public was informed that this was to be an informational presentation, and that no vote would be taken until the 23 July meeting. Nevertheless, Supervisor Pete Vander Poel moved that the proposed ordinance be rejected and that the process be stopped “altogether.” This motion was approved 3-2 by the Board of Supervisors.
Supervisor Vander Poel also directed staff to bring an agenda item for all SRA residents to have bear cans for their waste and to review or change the TOT registration form for short-term rentals.
During the presentation, RMA shared information that was not shared with Three Rivers residents at the public meeting on 13 June. Scroll down to item 35 at https://tularecounty.primegov.com/Portal/Meeting?meetingTemplateId=12071, download the presentation, and watch the video for more information.
BACKGROUND
On 24 October 2023 the Tulare County Board of Supervisors heard an agenda item pertaining to short-term rentals in Three Rivers. The supervisors voted to direct Resource Management Agency staff to bring back to the Board of Supervisors a proposed ordinance and associated regulatory program on short-term rentals within the jurisdiction of Tulare County.
The resolution (2023-0994) differed from the proposal in two significant ways:
- The proposed ordinance and associated regulatory program would be county-wide, rather than limited to Three Rivers.
- There would be no temporary moratorium on additional short-term rentals during development of the proposed ordinance and associated regulatory program.
On Thursday 13 June at 6pm, RMA provided an update on the draft short term rental ordinance at a public informational meeting at the Three Rivers Memorial Building to provide an update on the short term rental ordinance. The County subsequently launched a webpage at https://tularecounty.ca.gov/board/information/draft-short-term-rental-ordinance/ with information for the general public. Links to ways to comment on the draft Short Term Rental Ordinance were provided on this page. The information posted on the county webpage differed slightly from the handouts provided to Three Rivers residents. We have made the documents that were handed out at the meeting available at Tulare County STRO Draft Handouts 14JUN2024.
On Tuesday 9 July, RMA introduced the Draft Short Term Rental Ordinance to the Board of Supervisors. This was an informational presentation, and it was explicitly understood that no vote would be taken at this time. Instead, the Final Short Term Rental Ordinance was to be presented to the Board of Supervisors for vote on 23 July during a meeting in which the public would be allowed to comment.
At the meeting, Michael Washam, Associate RMA Director presented a PowerPoint presentation. The public was allowed 15 minutes to comment. Public comments were provided by Scott Austin, Kristie Malek, Walter Van Easton Bailey, James Sickman, and Laurie Schwaller
It was then move by Pete Vander Poel and seconded by Dennis Townsend to reject the proposed ordinance.
AYES: Larry Micari, Pete Vander Poel, Dennis Townsend
NOES: Amy Shuklian, Eddie Valero
Final Result: 3 – 2 Passed (proposed ordinance rejected)
Supervisor Vander Poel directed RMA staff to bring an agenda item for all SRA residents to have bear cans for their waste and to review or change the TOT registration form for short-term rentals.
[SOURCE: Tulare County]