Resident urges council to allow short‑term rentals after enforcement action; council removes single‑room‑occupancy strategy from plan

During public comment at the Oct. 21 Sunset City Council meeting, resident Jerry Sunderland said he has operated short‑term rentals (Airbnb) for about 10 years and that he had recently been told by the police chief that short‑term rentals were not allowed in Sunset. Sunderland said he had been surprised by enforcement after years of operating without incident and requested that the council consider allowing short‑term rentals. He described personal circumstances — his wife recently immigrated from the Philippines and he depends on rental income — and said he was frustrated by apparent differences between Sunset and neighboring jurisdictions that still list short‑term rentals online.

Later in the meeting the council opened a public hearing tied to the Planning Commission’s work on the moderate income housing element and considered removing strategy No. 4 — which would have allowed single‑room‑occupancy housing — from section 4.6 of the plan. Planning Department staff explained the commission had examined the strategy and determined it was not viable for Sunset at this time; the staff clarification said the strategy’s removal does not prevent future reconsideration.

Council Member Bartley moved to approve Resolution 2025‑18 to amend the general plan; Council Member Smalling seconded. After a roll‑call vote the motion carried 4–1, with Council Member Thompson casting the no vote. The resolution removes the single‑room‑occupancy strategy from the moderate income housing element; staff were directed to update plan documents and notify stakeholders.

Ending Council members noted that removal from the plan does not foreclose future policy work and that the item had been the product of multiple Planning Commission discussions. Public comments and staff clarifications are part of the official record for the amendment.