Bob Jasinski picked up where he left off at the previous council meeting, saying it appeared Planning wanted to completely ban tourist lodgings in the R-1 zone, and now boarding houses were being targeted for extinction. He pointed out that, according to a city ordinance, a property owner could not rent to a cyclist in training or worker in town who wanted to rent a place for five weeks because it would be considered renting to a transient. He called it an “unduly harsh limitation on the use of one’s property.” He also decried the lack of enforcement, the inadequate effort to identify tax evaders, and a complete absence of restrictions for vacations rentals like Airbnb.
Susan Misavage said the city, as a response to a single episode at an unlicensed site and two noise complaints, is entertaining decisions that will drive the local wedding industry away, and it stems from one incident. She said what was conspicuously absent in this process was whether there were a consistently recurring problem, any focus on those responsible and whether there are already adequate laws in place to handle these incidents. Misavage claimed the result seemed to serve a small group of competitors who might benefit from the restrictions. She stated the proposed changes would drive property values down and even put people out of work.
Final items
- Alderman Kristi Kendrick had applied to sit on the Planning Commission, but it was discovered that Ordinance 2179 states “The [Planning] Commission shall be comprised of seven members, of which no more than two shall hold any other municipal office or appointment.” On the Planning Commission already are Melissa Greene (HDC and Planning) and Susan Harman (Planning and CAPC). Mayor Butch Berry said Kendrick would need to withdraw her application for the time being.
- Aldermen passed all three readings of Ordinance 2258, which levied the millage on personal and real property. A tax of 4.4 mills on the dollar is levied against personal property and also on real property. Berry said councils pass this ordinance every year, and the vote was unanimous on all three readings.
- Christian Super was seated on the Parks Commission and Jim Jordan was seated on the Cemetery Commission.
Next meeting will be Monday, Sept. 25, at 6 p.m., at the Auditorium.