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Committee to recommend registration for rentals
Body also seeks to fund inspections, enforcement
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Let’s get ready to regulate.
That is the message Marco Island’s Rental Housing Advisory Committee sent to city staff Wednesday evening, as they took their first big step with a unanimous vote to include registration of short-term rental properties as a recommendation to City Council.
While the committee cannot enact new city ordinances, the members can craft recommendations to be considered by City Council. Wednesday’s meeting was the third between the dozen or so members on the panel, formed to establish some solutions to the problem of repeat nightmare rentals on the island.
City staff, including fire, police and code compliance chiefs, have reported at all three meetings that the tools to regulate rental properties on a local level are virtually nonexistent. Though resort rental property owners are required to register with the state, said Code Compliance Chief Eric Wardle, only 25 permits exist for such properties on the island.
While each permit can have multiple properties, Wardle and members of the committee all agreed that there are likely many property owners flying under the radar.
Additionally, state fire code inspection requirements parse nearly all responsibility out to local fire departments. Those departments, in turn, do not have a complete list of the subject properties, said Fire Chief Mike Murphy.
While conversation occasionally got mired in the minutiae of regulation, Community Development Director Steve Olmsted told the committee members they are well on their way to giving the city more material to work with than at present.
“I think the fact that you’ve decided you want them to be registered is a huge first step,” he said.
Committee members also voted unanimously to impose a “nominal fee” upon the registered properties, which will be defined as resort rentals if the owner rents or seeks to rent the home out more than three times within a year for periods of less than 30 days.
The motion that passed would tentatively assign a $100 annual registration fee, but may be subject to change depending on recommendations of staff at the next meeting, scheduled for April 2 at 7 p.m. City Staff cautioned the committee that in order to perform inspections and enforce rules, the city would need more resources. Additionally, the city could face problems of follow through if expenses bump up against the three percent spending cap.
Olmsted said he would look into the creation of a fund through the Building Inspection Department — which is not subject to the cap — in order to take the funds generated through registration and put them solely toward inspections and enforcement.
Murphy said he would recommend that the enforcement of fire codes be privatized, and contracted out to a retired fire marshal.
Conversation frequently went back to the monumental task of identifying every short-term rental property on Marco Island, compounded by the fact that Collier County is bound by state law to keep tax records confidential for those property owners registered as short-term rental owners.
Committee member Keith Dameron suggested considering a rolling period of open registration, with owners being gently urged to come forward during a grace period before the city enacts more stringent requirements, with the possibility of internet searches for unregistered rental listings and neighbor referrals.
At the April 2 meeting, the committee will review recommendations by city staff on necessary funding for enforcement, as well as establish a framework for future meetings in order to tackle one issue at a time. Future topics identified include: requirements for registration, maximum renter occupancies and rental terms — for example, whether rentals should be limited to seven days or another period.
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What problems are we trying to solve? This seems like more unnecessary government regulation.
#1 Posted by merton on March 13, 2008 at 11:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Unnecessary only if your neighbors know how to behave. Rules were invented to help control the minority that spoil it for the rest of us. Back in the day all you needed to do was gather your neighbors and approach an offender with a simple request to keep it down or else. The "or else" was never ever necessary. Today, offenders have rights, so the police need rules to help them do their job. Hope that helps you merton, welcome to today.
#2 Posted by Fossil on March 13, 2008 at 12:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Lets just take a look at whats going on in America.Gas at $4+ a gallon,Property crisis,recession in full swing,the Dollar loosing value across the world to name a few.And on Marco Island you are trying to put tourists off coming.These are people who spend money that keep the shops alive,restaurants full etc.What are trying to do? Yes some kind of regulation is required but be careful.As I,ve said before there are many places called paradise in America.Could it be that the Hotels on Marco are trying to get rid of the competition that is giving this scheme so much momentum?Sounds silly but alot of attention is being given to this one and after all only 24 people turned up for the open meeting a few weeks ago.I wonder is there more to this than meets the eye.
#3 Posted by jaguar on March 13, 2008 at 1:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I thought the problem was with nuisance rentals and how to deal with them. The answer you got from this committee is already a failure. Even if Marco Island funds this rental-registration boondoggle 100% and gets 100% cooperation from its citizens, how are the local authorities going to deal with nuisance rentals? The committee didn't answer the question.
#4 Posted by gkpritchard on March 13, 2008 at 2:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Whatever happened to calling the Police after 10 p.m. if there was noise to the nuisance level. There are laws in place that allows the Police to do something about the situation, including arrests (if not immediately, informing the offenders that if they have to come back there will be arrests). Why all this beaurocracy?? Please people, let's speak out at the next meeting about this. I will be out of town, but others need to carry the ball on this.
Ed Issler
#5 Posted by lauralbi1 on March 13, 2008 at 3:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is a great first step. Responsible owners and renters won't be threatened by this but it will allow for the structure to deal with the problem rental properties.
#6 Posted by lngoslee on March 14, 2008 at 8:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You winers got nothing better to do?
Go to work, get a hobby, go out and make some friends.
regulate rentals? Will this committee roam the streets at night with torches and brown shirts looking and listening for laughter and people enjoying themselves?
Another major embarrasement for the former paradise known as Marco island.
HILE!
#7 Posted by gernblanstone on March 14, 2008 at 9:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Simple solution... allow only rentals through Rental Agencies. Make them responsible for making sure properties are safe, fire, etc. Call them at night (emergency number that will always be answered)and complain about the renters they get money from and put in unit. These are professional firms with liability insurance. They rent the majority of homes already. They make good money from this. Hit them where it hurts. If an individual elects to handle their own rentals then they should register and get a license and post a bond or have insurance to run a rental business.
Too Simple panel? Then you have other agendas. Why does everything need to be so complicated.
Marco is a resort island and weekly single family home rentals are needed.
We let friends and family use our place. How does this affect us? We do not rent it to them. When we can't get down there it is nice to have someone check out home and enjoy why it is there.
#8 Posted by vashark1 on March 15, 2008 at 8:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Keister looks like he is trying to do an end run around the people. I guess he WAS paying attention to how the Sewer folks did it to us before !
Government by Regulation not Legislation ?
Chuck you just lost one vote !
#9 Posted by OldMarcoMan on March 15, 2008 at 10:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I believe we have got to look at the complaints that have been filed with the city over the last few years or so. Are these public record? I happen to know of a little old couple who calls the city every time we have a new renter at our property with always some stupid jackas# complaint.
We need to see the filed complaints and there validity before we go to DEFCON 4.
#10 Posted by gernblanstone on March 15, 2008 at 7:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
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