Bronwyn's Council Preview

The Regular City Council meeting starts at 6:00 this Tuesday. The agenda includes:
 

• 1. Discussion of Rental Housing Ordinance.
  In January, we passed a new rental housing ordinance for single-family and duplex style houses. The ordinance limits occupancy to 3 individuals in 1, 2, or 3 bedroom homes, and limits occupancy in 4 and 5 bedroom homes to 4 and 5, respectively. The ordinance also requires NEW rental permits to have parking equal to the number of bedrooms they wish to register. In addition to this ordinance, Council passed a moratorium on new rental permits in near-campus neighborhoods that is set to expire yet this spring. Items to be discussed Tuesday include;
  
  After the moratorium, should rental properties be allowed to add bedrooms?
  
  After the moratorium, should rental properties be allowed to add parking? - If they only have 3 spots for 5 bedrooms, our current system would limit occupancy to 3. Allowing the addition of parking could make a number of additional bedrooms available in any given neighborhood.
  
  Discussion of a limit on the percentage of rental permits allowed within a certain geographic area. Council needs to decide how and where to impose a limit on the percentage of rentals. For example, would it be an overlay requested by property owners, would it be city-wide, or should the city look only at certain neighborhoods?
  
  How to deal with short-term rentals, such as AirBnB.
  
  Several other issues are on the list, so it looks like Tuesday's meeting will be a good one to tune in for!

Thanks for reading,
Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen
City Council At-Large