The Salina City Council voted unanimously Nov. 25 to adopt amendments to the city's municipal code governing short-term rentals, a package staff described as a technical "cleanup" to clarify permit terms, appeal windows and enforcement procedures.

City staffer Mr. Walsh presented the ordinance changes during a public hearing, saying the revisions align the municipal code with state law by extending the administrative-appeal window to 90 days, clarifying that a short-term rental permit is a time-limited authorization rather than a perpetual land-use approval and expanding the definition of the "responsible person" so that a tenant operating a rental can be held accountable. Walsh explained the code now distinguishes transient-occupancy use and short-term-rental definitions and adds explicit language about the administrative-citation process as an enforcement option in addition to court action.

The council asked several operational questions. Zena Camaro, the planning division permit technician, said she sends email renewal reminders to permit holders and reported there are currently 21 active short-term-rental permits; staff also told the council they recently contacted roughly 90 people on an older wait list and are working to confirm interest. Walsh told the council that permits run for two years and that if a property has been rented for an average of fewer than 60 days per year over that term the matter is elevated to the planning commission for review rather than being approved administratively. He also noted that failure to submit renewal applications and fees will allow a permit to expire and require a new application.

Council members pressed for more data about transient-occupancy-tax (TOT) revenue and monitoring; Walsh and staff said finance and police reviews are part of the application process and that staff would return with options. Council Member Summers asked for fee and TOT breakdowns; Camaro provided the permitting fee figures later in the meeting.

Council made a motion to waive the first reading and adopt staff recommendations; the motion passed on a roll-call vote with Council Members Barrick, Spadarato, Summers, Vice Mayor Deasy and Mayor Dorn voting yes.

Next steps: staff offered to return in late January or early February with a report addressing outstanding operational questions, including reminders, revenue impacts and any potential changes to permit limits or monitoring processes.