Council moves zoning code, enforcement and short-term rental changes to March 24 subcommittee after public hearing

A public hearing and subsequent council action moved proposed changes to the city's zoning enforcement rules and a short-term rental ordinance to a Building and Lands subcommittee meeting scheduled for March 24. The hearing, opened to discuss recommended amendments to Ordinance 4-21, focused on adding criminal penalties to certain enforcement sections of the codified ordinances.

The Planning Commission had recommended approval of the zoning amendments at its Feb. 5, 2025 meeting, and city staff said the changes would mirror penalties already used in housing court so cases could be referred to municipal court. "So whenever myself, the zoning administrator, or our code enforcement officers attempt to send, or refer, residents or business owners to court, our court kicks it back because it doesn't have any criminal penalties involved," a city staff member identified in the record as Mr. Sanchez, the zoning administrator, said during the hearing.

Council members did not take final action on the ordinance at the hearing. Instead, council voted to refer the zoning-code amendments and a related ordinance on short-term rentals to the Building and Lands committee for more detailed consideration. On the floor, a council member moved that the short-term rental amendment and the revised enforcement sections be sent to the committee, and the motion carried unanimously.

Council members and staff discussed practical reasons for the change: aligning zoning penalties with housing-code penalties to avoid procedural rejections in municipal court and to make enforcement consistent across codes. Council members asked for additional detail and signaled the need for an expanded discussion before a final vote.

The scheduled committee session on March 24 will review the proposed language, enforcement mechanics, and any recommended revisions before returning items to the full council for potential adoption.