Council hears detailed short-term rental and downtown residential code changes; decision postponed

City planner Melissa Dordio Harris presented proposed amendments to Chapters 12 and 46 aimed at clarifying when residential units are permitted downtown, updating group-density tables to match current building codes, and creating a new short-term rental (STR) regulatory framework. The downtown proposal would allow up to 40% of a one-story building to convert to residential while preserving commercial uses along street-facing facades; multi-story street-level residential would still need to be ADA compliant.

On short-term rentals, Melissa said the draft defines short-term rentals as residential properties rented for no more than 30 consecutive days and would require annual permitting, life-safety compliance (smoke and CO alarms), an on-call contact who can respond within 30 minutes, and an initial permit fee (first year $200, renewals $100). She also explained a 60-day compliance period for existing operators and occupancy calculations based on defined "sleeping areas" and square-foot rules tied to the International Property Maintenance Code. "Short term rentals are essentially residential properties used for temporary accommodations that are rented for no more than 30 consecutive days," Melissa said.

Members of the public raised concerns about fairness, enforcement and fees. Tim Sinner, a local property owner, urged that safety standards be applied consistently across housing types and warned that compliance costs and enforcement risk could disproportionately affect small local owners. "If these standards are about safety, they should not apply and be enforced consistently across all housing types, not selectively," he said. Another operator, Tyler Wilterning, warned that small operators have tight margins and asked for flexibility on taxes and enforcement. After extended discussion, a council member moved to postpone Public Hearings 8 and 9 until the Jan. 27, 2026 meeting; the motion passed by roll call.