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Short‑term rental hosts urge council not to impose broad restrictions; cite local benefits
Summary
Two Richfield hosts spoke during open forum on March 11, arguing short‑term rentals provide community benefits and warning against blanket rules that would disadvantage hosts; they acknowledged nuisances exist but urged targeted enforcement.
Two Richfield residents who operate short‑term rentals spoke during the council’s open forum on March 11, asking the council to avoid broad restrictions and to consider the local benefits of platforms such as Airbnb.
Lou Asmaru said he has lived in Richfield for more than four years and operates long‑term rentals here and an Airbnb elsewhere. “Airbnbs are essentially a net positive for the communities that they are in,” Asmaru told the council, while acknowledging that problems associated with short‑term rentals should be addressed.
Asmaru gave examples of benefits, including neighbors hosting family for events and church groups and traveling professionals using short‑term rentals for work during staffing shortages. He said penalties should follow a record of repeat violations rather than broad rules that affect all hosts.
Sarah Maris, who said she bought her first home in Richfield and owns a short‑term rental in the city, described property management practices she uses to limit nuisance risks: “We maintain a high standard of cleanliness, property maintenance, and management of strict management of our properties,” Maris said. She said hosts screen guests, require a minimum three‑night stay and explicitly prohibit events or parties.
Maris said self‑reported data show about 72 short‑term rentals in the city, representing roughly 0.7% of housing stock, and urged the council to consider grandfathering or a percentage cap rather than a week‑or‑longer minimum stay that would effectively eliminate short‑term rental operations.
The mayor thanked both speakers; the council did not take action on short‑term rental policy at the meeting but has the topic on its agenda for future consideration.
