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Residents tell Dune City council STRs are harming livability, citing noise, septic issues and nonresponsive property managers
Summary
Multiple Dune City residents described noise, parties, septic-system overuse, trespass and slow enforcement during a lengthy public comment period; they urged stronger enforcement, higher fines, license revocation and ballot action.
Dozens of residents described recurring problems tied to short‑term rentals (STRs) at the Jan. 7 Dune City Council meeting, urging the council to take stronger action. "There are pump controllers on the side of the house...when it comes on, it means that more water is entering the tank than the system can pump out," resident Chris John said of one six‑bedroom property he said exceeded its septic capacity. Several speakers described late‑night parties, overflowing trash and trespassing to access the lake.
Tina Johnson told the council she had repeatedly reported a property on Cloud 9 Road and that property managers often failed to respond outside office hours: "When I called, I got an answering machine...I was told the code enforcer is off at 7," she said. Linda John, whose written remarks were read to the council, expressed concern that the complaint process and a requirement to contact a property manager first discourage residents from filing official complaints.
Speakers asked the council to: tighten enforcement (including revoking licenses for repeat violations), require local contact numbers for property owners or management, equip enforcement with decibel meters and coordinate with Lane County and DEQ on septic concerns. Several commenters urged putting the question to voters via a ballot measure if the council lacked legal authority to act immediately.
