Councilor proposes resolution to cap Dune City short-term rentals at zero; council continues item for legal review

Councilor Larry introduced a resolution on Jan. 7 that would set the maximum number of short‑term rentals in the Dune City urban growth boundary to zero, with at least 365 days’ notice to current permitted owners and an exemption for motels, RV parks and resorts. "So I hereby make a resolution that the number of short term rentals within the urban growth boundary of Dune City shall be 0 effective with no less than 12 months attempted notice," Larry read aloud during the meeting.

Mayor cautioned against acting tonight without required public notice and legal vetting, noting the city’s two‑reading ordinance process and open‑meeting rules. The mayor said the city’s ordinances require advance posting and that changing an ordinance requires a formal multi‑meeting process. Councilors debated fiscal and enforcement implications, including the risk of lawsuits from existing permit holders and how the city would pay for code enforcement if revenue from permitted rentals fell.

The council did not vote on the resolution. After public comment and internal discussion, the mayor moved to continue the item so staff could get legal advice and provide appropriate notice; council agreed to return the item to the Jan. 21 meeting or later depending on counsel availability. "Rather than a resolution, especially tonight without noticing all of those parties specifically, a ballot initiative is probably more appropriate," the mayor said, explaining that a ballot measure would transfer the decision to voters and reduce the council’s liability concerns.

What’s next: staff will request legal advice and check Lane County timelines for placing a council‑initiated measure on the November ballot. The council left the resolution on the table for at least two weeks while it seeks counsel and confirms procedural steps.