Perez plans community discussion of STRs and policies

Short-term rentals (STR) will be the topic of a community meeting from 5 to 7 p.m., Monday, May 1, at Town Hall. Riverside County Supervisor V. Manuel Perez wants to hear more from the Hill communities about this issue and invites those interested in sharing their opinion to come and participate.

As he promised in his March 13 community meeting here, Perez is returning to learn more about the STR issue and its effects on the Hill. He also has invited the Planning Department’s citizen committee that is studying the STR policy, as well as representatives from the department.

Perez is particularly interested in learning whether the community’s views may have modified any since last fall when the board approved amendments to Ordinance 927.1 (Regulating Short Term Rentals) and imposed the moratorium on issuing new STR certificates on the Hill or in the Wine Country. The moratorium will end Sept. 9, 2023.

Another recent change is the county using a contractor to monitor STR activities. In February, the county’s contractor, Deckard Technologies of San Diego, began sending letters to owners of STRs in the county. This included letters to unpermitted or expired operations within one of the moratorium areas. These letters directed those operators to cease operations.

Also, the Planning Department has initiated several meetings to discuss the merits of any further amendments of Ordinance 927.1. These are a group of local residents and STR owners.

All of these changes and activities have occurred since October. While Perez has been involved in STR policy as a supervisor for years, only since January has he been representing the Hill communities. He would like to hear opinions of how these recent policy changes and enforcement actions have been received.

Have they helped reduce any of the nuisances that neighbors of STRs often encounter? Has the current behavior of STR renters and owners in local neighborhoods changed? These are the questions about which he would like to have discussion. Also, he wants to hear any new ideas about reconciling this issue.

Listening himself to stakeholders before the Planning Department might propose any further changes to the STR policy will give Perez better insight to the local views on this issue.

He anticipates the Planning Department will hold a community workshop on suggestions before submitting any policy recommendations to the county Planning Commission.

“Before getting too far along into that process, Supervisor Perez thought it would be a good time for people to provide input to him as well as the committee and the Planning Department, for the public to have involvement,” wrote Darrin Schemmer, communications director for Perez.

In October, the supervisors approved the following changes to 927: how the size of the lot will affect the maximum permitted occupancy of an STR; the procedures for notifying neighbors when a property owner obtains an STR certificate; allowing accessory dwelling units to be rented; information on signs posted on the property; one-night minimum visits; increased fees for initial and renewal of STR certificates; increased fines for violations; and installation of fire sprinklers are optional.