Kevin Ryan, owner-operator of a long‑running bed‑and‑breakfast, asked the council during the audience participation period on July 14 to waive a new short‑term rental parking requirement that he says would effectively end his business.

Ryan said his bed‑and‑breakfast permit expired Sept. 6, 2024, and he submitted a short‑term rental application in November after being told by a planning office staffer he could come back to renew after Jan. 1 to avoid paying two full fees. He told the council the new short‑term rental ordinance adopted after 2020 requires six off‑street parking spaces for his four‑bedroom home and that his property cannot physically provide that many spaces. "We were caught in this window where I... hadn't gotten a new permit," Ryan said.

Community Development Director Joshua Chandler answered that the city's land‑use code removed the bed‑and‑breakfast permit in 2020 and created the short‑term rental license with annual renewals and no prorating. Chandler said he does not have authority to grant individual fee exemptions or to bend the adopted fee schedule; he said the city did notify operators of the parking changes and that the shift to require off‑street parking for each bedroom has been in place about five years.

After questions from councilors, the group discussed options. Councilors expressed concern about penalizing an established local business and the timing of notices. Councilor Ring and others suggested treating the business as a preexisting nonconforming use under the new ordinance and asked staff to prepare a recommendation. Councilors and staff agreed to aim for an expedited response so the owner can seek license approval before the council's August recess.

No formal vote was taken; council directed staff to research options, verify prior notice and application records, and return with a recommendation or supplemental packet for council consideration.