Library asks council to waive UPass Cultural Center amphitheater fees; residents press for clearer short-term rental enforcement

At the April 2 meeting, Tim Miller, speaking on behalf of the Woodland Park Library, asked the council to waive fees for use of the UPass Cultural Center amphitheater for the library’s free summer programs. “What I’m asking you to do today … is just to consider waiving those fees for us so that we can continue to improve the quality of life for Woodland Park citizens,” Miller said, noting that higher fees would reduce the library’s programming budget.

During public comment, Tom Cadell described recurring problems with a nearby short-term rental (STR) that he said operates as a rental rather than a primary residence, including trespass concerns. He asked what steps the city takes when an STR is reported, how complaints are documented, and what penalties apply for repeat violations. Erin (city staff) replied that staff would follow up and asked Cadell to leave contact information.

Arie Sparnins of the Sunny Glenn neighborhood urged council to reopen Title 5 STR regulations for revision after two years of implementation, arguing the code language is unclear about what counts as a violation. “If you look at the code, it’s very ambiguous,” Arie told the council, and requested the council place Title 5 enhancements on an upcoming agenda with a public input process.

Council and staff indicated follow-up: staff agreed to contact Cadell about his complaint, and council members acknowledged the request to consider a public review of Title 5 with community input. No immediate ordinance changes or fee waivers were approved during the meeting.