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WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENTS

STVR AD-HOC COMMITTEE MEETING

SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 STVR PROGRAM AD-HOC COMMITTEE MEETING - SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 - PUBLIC COMMENTS BY RESIDENT VALERIE SMITH PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA - RELATED TO STVR

From: Lori Lorett To: Lori Lorett Subject: FW: COMMENT: re STVR"s in the Cove - Valerie SMITH Date: Tuesday, September 1, 2020 1:36:05 PM

From: Jeff Smith < > Sent: Monday, August 24, 2020 1:07 PM To: Teresa Thompson ; Teresa Thompson Subject: Please forward to Council and City Manager

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August 24, 2020

Dear Mayor Evans, Councilwoman Fitzpatrick, Councilman Pena, Councilman Radi, Councilman Sanchez, and City Manager McMillen:

I am urging you today to phase out all short-term vacation rentals in the La Quinta Cove. Let me tell you about my neighborhood. My block has 19 houses on it. Only twelve of those are year-round residents. Over the past couple of years we have watched as houses all over the Cove have been sold and converted to short-term vacation rentals by people who don't even live in my neighborhood. The new owners of these properties are running very lucrative businesses in R-1 and R-2 residential areas to the detriment of residents. Now we have noise of party-goers, streets choked with cars and strangers coming and going at all hours of the night and day. My neighborhood used to be a quiet middle-class community where neighbors knew neighbors. Sadly, we are losing that sense of community because of these short-term rentals. Short of banning these businesses from the Cove, there is nothing you can do to restore our sense of community. It is time for this madness to stop.

Sincerely,

Valerie A. Smith La Quinta Cove Resident STVR PROGRAM AD-HOC COMMITTEE MEETING - SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 - PUBLIC COMMENTS BY RESIDENT BOB BEEBE PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA - RELATED TO STVR

From: To: [email protected] Cc: Linda Evans; Robert Radi; John Pena; Kathleen Fitzpatrick; Steve Sanchez; Lori Lorett;

Subject: The City and PGA West need 30 day rental policy Date: Wednesday, August 26, 2020 12:46:38 PM

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My wife and I coming up on being members at PGA West for 23 years. The houses being rented for loud crowded parties are getting out of control because no entity has any power to shut them down. We are told you have that authority.

My neighbor called to tell me a week ago that the house across the fairway from us is constantly being rented for short weekend visits. He said recently a party was large and young girls were drunk and running around naked, playing on the course. Young people are not as likely to come down with Covid -19 as we older members in our 80s are. Keep them away from us!!!!!!!!!!!!

We are here at PGA West to play and enjoy the other amenities that PGA West has to offer and not to live in a rental community. It is my understanding you can solve the problem by having the rental period be a minimum of 30 days.

Do something for us members!!!!!!!!!!!

Bob Beebe STVR PROGRAM AD-HOC COMMITTEE MEETING - SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 - PUBLIC COMMENTS BY RESIDENT ARLENE GOTSHALK PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA - RELATED TO STVR

From: To: Lori Lorett Subject: A plan that would maintain both STVRs and TOT income, increase oversight of rentals, and reduce local complaints Date: Wednesday, August 26, 2020 1:21:35 PM Attachments: ND - This is a person who operates an STVR and is trying to control the conversation of Residents — Nextd.pdf ND - Why Should Illegal STVR Businesses be allowed to operate in Residential Zoned Neighborhoods — Nextd.pdf [AG] STVRs [8-26-20].pdf

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To: Lori Lorett [email protected] Design and Development, Community Development

The City definitely has a fiscal responsibility to maintain TOT income, especially in these trying economic times. The Gem, August 2020, reported an income of $6,455,100 from Hotels and Vacation Rentals which is 13% of the Annual Budget. The article did not break down which income is from each: Hotels and VRs but TOT income to the City’s budget is important.

POTENTIAL LIABILITY FOR THE CITY The ongoing complaints about STVRs (noise, parking, trash, loud music, residential vs. commercial use of property, etc.) are well founded and documented. The frustration of having to police one’s own neighborhood is high. (Residents are confused. See attached discussions from Next Door in the past week.)

However, I have not heard any discussions regarding the Compliance with life/safety standards that are commonly applied to other types of lodging establishments (such as hotels, motels and bed-and-breakfasts). What type of oversight is given to this potential liability and at what cost?

A discussion I had with a realtor who is also a property manager stayed in my mind. She related that a few years ago, the Palm Springs STVR scene was experiencing many of the same problems that La Quinta is currently having. Then, she went on to say that now the situation is fairly stable. She said Palm Springs controlled many STVR complaints through high $ sanctions which led to mostly professionally managed STVRs.

Based on this information, here is an idea for a plan that would maintain both STVRs and TOT income, increase oversight of rentals, and reduce local complaints.

PLAN: · Continue with the ban on new STVRs to maintain the current number of STVRs · Devise a plan to control the density so a single block is not saturated with STVRs STVR PROGRAM AD-HOC COMMITTEE MEETING - SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 - PUBLIC COMMENTS BY RESIDENT ARLENE GOTSHALK PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA - RELATED TO STVR

· Give priority to hosted STVRs and owners who live in La Quinta · **Enforce high $$ sanctions for violations (noise, parking, trash, loud music, etc.) o Many amateur Airbnb owners do not want the hassle and the cost · Professional property management takes over management most VRs o (Other cities like Palm Springs have had success with this model)

OUTCOMES: · With professional management companies: o Walk through of rental property is standard practice o Develop process to manage compliance with life/safety standards o Increase screening and control over “renters” – party goers vs. visitors here to support and enjoy our community. o Different clientele who often pays more for rent · Continued TOT income for City · Possible higher TOT from higher rents

Thank you for your efforts to help La Quinta find solutions to the STVR controversy.

Please include my letter in both the STVR Committee packet and in the City Council Member’s packet for their respective upcoming meetings.

Thank you, Arlene Gotshalk

-- ______"Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see a shadow". Helen Keller

Arlene Gotshalk CareGiving Toolkit La Quinta, CA 92247 STVR PROGRAM AD-HOC COMMITTEE MEETING - SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 - PUBLIC COMMENTS BY RESIDENTS LYNN & RICHARD REICH PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA - RELATED TO STVR

From: Lynn Reich Date: August 29, 2020 at 9:36:13 AM PDT To: Linda Evans , Robert Radi , John Pena , Kathleen Fitzpatrick , Steve Sanchez Cc: Lori Lorett , "[email protected]" Subject: PGA West home short term rental impacts; request inclusion at upcoming September City Council and STR ad hoc committee meetings

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Dear Mayor Evans, Councilwoman Fitzpatrick, and Councilmen Radi, Pena and Sanchez:

First I would like to thank each of you for your service to our community. With your dedication to LaQuinta, we are hopeful to continue as a model for the Coachella Valley with attention to our citizens and our surrounds.

Please include this as part of your meeting packet for both upcoming meetings of City Council and ad hoc committee.

I write as a 20 year owner in PGA West, having bought a home here with future dreams of retirement and enjoying everything the area has to offer. We are now at that stage in our lives and looking forward to spending more time in the desert. That ideal has changed dramatically in the last year certainly exacerbated by COVID and the influx of short term renters who are trying to escape city density and using our community as a playground without regard to maintaining property or quiet enjoyment of the other residents. For 19 years, my husband and I were not really impacted by rentals as there were really were none in our area. That has changed and caused a dramatic shift in enjoying our house.

This is likely being conveyed to you by many at this point so Ill summarize below. Im also attaching pictures taken that represent some of the abuses by those that come for Friday and Saturday night and then leave. Could se

8th hole Nick Tournament..every night STVR PROGRAM AD-HOC COMMITTEE MEETING - SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 - PUBLIC COMMENTS BY RESIDENTS LYNN & RICHARD REICH PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA - RELATED TO STVR

Riding bikes on box..8th hole Nick Tournament

More bikes..

Dogs off leashes everywhere

Will stop here as there are many more pictures of soccer cones on the course with families…etc. etc.

1. The noise ‐ every day there are calls to LaQuinta and/or PGA security; simple fact is that there aren’t enough resources on enforcement to effectively quell this activity. LaQuinta hotline was down after hours with no ability to leave a message and therefore not get a violation to the homeowner. STVR PROGRAM AD-HOC COMMITTEE MEETING - SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 - PUBLIC COMMENTS BY RESIDENTS LYNN & RICHARD REICH PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA - RELATED TO STVR

2. The abuse of property by non‐owners ‐ , swimming pools, trash‐violations multiply as more homes are bought for sole purpose of renting. The owners, whose responsibility it is to monitor their renters, just simply do not do it. Each HOA can continue to fine violators which takes administrative time and dollars to enforce and frankly creates a lot of anomosity between neighbors.

3. The residential real estate market is on fire ‐ which benefits us all. People are looking for somewhere they can have outdoor time and enjoy the area. As a commercial realtor, I totally understand the dynamic. Mayor Evans mentioned in her interview recently that there is a balance. In a perfect world, that is true. We live in imperfect times where certain situations require revision.

4. Based on the fact that there is continual abuse by people looking for a place to “blow off some steam”, the impact on resources, the impact on the people who pay taxes, assessments and continue to upgrade their homes in PGA, changes need to be considered.

Extending the moratorium on rental licenses is a good start while a long term plan is put into place. Setting a standard throughout the City of LaQuinta on a 30+ day rental program would have a positive impact on the community ‐ despite those that say real estate values would be impacted…Id like to suggest that real estate values will decrease if short term rentals go unabated...as those that are owners/nonrenters evaluate whether they want to live in an expanded hotel atmosphere. Its just not what any for us anticipated when we purchased our homes. I am finalizing my second fairly major renovation of my home…and now I wonder if that was the smartest idea ‐ to invest again in my dream home and having to be a policeman in the neighborhood.

Please see only a sample of some pictures that depict the situation.

Respectfully submitted,

Concerned citizens Lynn and Richard Reich , LaQuinta STVR PROGRAM AD-HOC COMMITTEE MEETING - SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 - PUBLIC COMMENTS BY RESIDENT ROD MCGUIRE PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA - RELATED TO STVR

August 28, 2020

To: La Quinta City Council and Ad-Hoc Committee

Recommendations from La Quinta residents

La Quinta STVR program - Cooperative Enhancements Initiatives

First Recommendation is to borrow/hire/ask for assistance from the Palm Springs Vacation Rental Code Enforcement office. They already have a plan in place. La Quinta should hire some people, get them trained and adopt their same plan and get it up and running asap.

These initiatives Honor/protect the licensed operators who are currently in business Reduce the impact and number of turnovers in residential districts Support local full time residents who are in-home hosts Insure rental customers are not overloading homes above residential use norms Discourage the use of private homes for party venues Support our snowbird population Encourage residents to participate in the STVR monitoring process Help protect property values Honor licensees in short term vacation rental developments such as Legacy Villas Discourage high volume investment rental purchase in quiet residential communities Implement boundary buffers between rental communal areas and resident quiet zones

All present licenses honored until renewal or until violated – non transferrable

Neighborhood density limits established *

ELIMINATE future issuing of multiple licenses to a single owner

MUST HAVE: Limit stranger traffic and frequency of turn-overs per year **

Re-open host in attendance license applications when density limits have been established and density maps have been drawn ***

Onsite parking only (see Palm Springs example below)

Maximum 2 per bedroom density (see Palm Springs example below)

Neighbors within 100 feet must be notified of application for a license

Maximum 3 cars visiting and NO overnight visitor street parking

Online submission of EVERY RENTAL TRANSACTION to city portal as in Palm Springs example

Proof of vacation rental liability insurance

Online documentation of all complaints and violations at all STVR operations STVR PROGRAM AD-HOC COMMITTEE MEETING - SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 - PUBLIC COMMENTS BY RESIDENT ROD MCGUIRE PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA - RELATED TO STVR

Special trash pick-up contract in all non-host in attendance - STVR residences

The OWNER, not the property manager, is liable at all times, for all infractions, REGARDLESS OF THEIR personal or individual contractual arrangement.

The city must employ a dedicated internet policing agent who is checking all sites and advertising for compliance

Immediate escalation of incident to CODE ENFORCEMENT SUPERVISOR on the second call IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES

*Limit density of permitting in R-1 zones 1. Prohibit licensing of STVRs to residential homes that have community outdoor entertainment areas within 15 feet of a neighbor’s dwelling. It is impossible to watch TV or sleep within 15 feet of a raucous pool party. This initiative alone would alleviate a major portion of the current disturbance issues. 2. Maintain a city map with instant update of all STVR licensing applications and grants. 3. Maintain - at or under - 1 in 10 homes as dedicated STVR licencees per neighborhood. This MUST BE NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC and not calculated including the neighborhoods whose HOAs protect them from stranger traffic. In- residence hosts do not need to be included in this specific density limit. 4. Density limits to mirror existing land use statutes to get this problem under control: For example, we have local regulations that limit the proximity of porn shops and pot dispensaries to schools. Do the same with STVRs. Limit the number in each specific neighborhood. Limit their proximity to each other. Limit their proximity to adjoining single family dwellings. Limit issuance of permits to properties of certain size and capacity. (THIS IS HUGE - YOU CAN SEE ON AERIAL MAPS THE PROBLEM WITH TINY LOTS HAVING POOL PARTIES NEXT DOOR TO THE ADJOINING PROPERTY MASTER BEDROOM IS TERRORIZING). How could licensing nightly parties every weekend in this scenario work???? STVR PROGRAM AD-HOC COMMITTEE MEETING - SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 - PUBLIC COMMENTS BY RESIDENT ROD MCGUIRE PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA - RELATED TO STVR

** Limit frequency of turnovers and stranger traffic in a residential neighborhood. Options available to satisfy this initiative:

1. Revert to the historically common 7 day minimum rentals with Saturday to Saturday format. This alleviates the weekend warrior culture we have been experiencing. 2. 90 nights maximum per year - San Francisco (home of Airbnb), Washington DC use this limitation formatt. Given there is a large volume of owners who are snowbirds. These owners may be accommodated by allowing rentals of 90) days a year. If you REALLY want a vacation home in La Quinta – then you better be using it. If you need to rent it out more than that, it isn’t a vacation home – it’s a business. Current nightly rates for luxury pool homes run $400 per night. An owner could realize $36,000 renting 90 nights a year. That is GENEROUS mortgage assistance. If it isn’t enough assistance - and the part time resident still cannot pay the mortgage on the luxury second home, perhaps they will consider buying a more modest second home within their budget as is customary in a residential neighborhood. 3. Limit turn-over frequency to 25 times per year. Note this means if density is at 4 licenses on a block, this would result in the frequency of - on average - 400 individual stranger visitors to a single residential block in a year. STVR PROGRAM AD-HOC COMMITTEE MEETING - SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 - PUBLIC COMMENTS BY RESIDENT ROD MCGUIRE PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA - RELATED TO STVR

Examples: Chart from Palm Springs

Seattle and Chicago: Up to two units. If renting two units – one must be your primary home and you must be present. Boston: Primary residence or second unit on primary residence only Washington DC: Must be primary residence and only 90 nights a year without hosts Los Angeles: Must be primary residence – up to 120 days a year – but can apply for an extended home sharing registration which is $850 per year. Tot taxes apply. This is the second most populated vacation spot in the United States so definitely the STVR limits do not affect tourism. San Francisco: Applicants must be permanent residents – up to 90 nights a year. San Jose: Home must be the primary residence. Bookings without a host present are limited to 180 days per year. The maximum number of guests is 2 per bedroom up to an absolute max of 10 no matter how many bedrooms.

Reasoning:

The strategy is in the interest of accommodating the various present operators currently licensed by allowing them to continue operations within the new parameters.

There is a large volume of owners who are snowbirds. These owners may be accommodated by allowing rentals with limited frequency. If an owner is CLAIMING they want a vacation home in La Quinta – they would be using it. If it needs to be rented out more than 90 days per year, it isn’t a vacation home – it’s a business.

No ban on in-home hosts recognizes the in-home host is a built in policing mechanism that protects the neighbors from unsupervised strangers frequenting the neighborhood streets. Further it supports the needs of permanent residents to “save their home” or STVR PROGRAM AD-HOC COMMITTEE MEETING - SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 - PUBLIC COMMENTS BY RESIDENT ROD MCGUIRE PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA - RELATED TO STVR

use STVRs in the traditional sense where an in-home host is just supplementing their income.

Onsite parking and ONLY 2 guests per room are neighborhood norms. Multiple cars outside of the four spaces that are available in 90% of the homes in La Quinta is not in keeping with neighborhood norms. Additionally, keeping the number of guests to the limit customary in residential homes, helps prevent party culture and helps STRV visitors to blend in with the surrounding community.

Home rental platform advertisements must clearly state the home is to be rented at 2 to a bedroom. This would alleviate most if not all of the party and misuse issues. A city employee must be employed to troll the internet for violations.

STRV licenses should only be issued to the owner of a property and never more than one license should be issued to any individual. Big business models where the owner’s only objective is profit conflicts with objectives of a neighborhood.

Licensees should report monthly totals with rental platform records

Most importantly initiatives must demonstrate this is not a “hands off” cash cow venue. Continuing operations must discourage absentee and lackadaisical owners and big multiple property investors. Evident in the ad-hoc committee meetings is – single owners WHO LIVE HERE are humble and jumping through hoops to comply. They want to BE PART OF THE COMMUNITY, live here and be loved.

Regards,

Rod McGuire La Quinta, CA STVR PROGRAM AD-HOC COMMITTEE MEETING - SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 - PUBLIC COMMENTS BY RESIDENTS LAURIE & MARK PARKIN PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA - RELATED TO STVR

From: To: Linda Evans; Robert Radi; John Pena; Kathleen Fitzpatrick; Steve Sanchez Cc: Lori Lorett; [email protected] Subject: PGA WEST SHORT TERM RENTALS Date: Monday, August 31, 2020 12:15:23 PM

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Dear Mayor Evans, Councilwoman Fitzpatrick, Councilmen Radi, Pena and Sanchez,

I’m writing about the short term rental situation in PGA West. Ten years ago my husband and I purchased a home in PGA West with plans to retire here. We invested in a quiet, beautiful, gated community and a first class , the perfect environment after busy careers in New York. We traditionally spend 5-6 months a year with plans to eventually make this our permanent home.

We were aware that there were some rental properties in the area (we are on the 8th hole of the Nick Tournament course), but never really felt any impact except for the 3 weeks of music festivals when there would be some loud noise/music and parking issues. As most residents in the valley, we were able to deal with these few things knowing how much revenue the concerts bring to the valley, and security handled any problems very quickly.

However, rental properties have seemed to increase substantially over the past couple of years with short term rentals. Our area in particular appears to have an unusually high percentage of rental properties. There is no question that the COVID crisis has brought this to a head. With the growth of such online rental sites as Airbnb, we are seeing an influx of a much younger demographic with little or no respect for property or the community. It is clear that many landlords do not share or enforce the HOA and golf course rules as we see the same violations from the same properties week after week, including during the moratorium period on short term rentals. This has led to a significant negative impact on the quality of life here.

Impact of short term rentals:

1) The transformation of a community to a resort/hotel environment where people come and go on a weekly/weekend schedule. There are large groups in party houses, groups walking the streets drinking as they pool hop, loud noise/foul language, and beach attire is the norm even as the young people play on our golf courses. Our homes are built in rather close proximity to each other. As neighbors we are careful not to disturb surrounding homes, especially since sound carries so well on golf courses. These renters have no respect for their behavior as it impacts other homeowners.

2) Abuse of community property is flagrant. Riding bikes on the golf course hills and greens has been common, playing volleyball, tossing footballs, playing baseball, and soccer on the fairways and tee boxes, sliding on cardboard “sleds” down the hills, playing in sprinklers have all become an every day occurrence. When security did come and warn then about their actions, they would wait until security left and go right back to what they were doing.

After the grounds keepers spent days reworking the greens on the Nick Tournament course, these renters would come out and play on the greens. Dogs were off leash everywhere, especially on the greens. Even before COVID during the American Express Tournament, a family renting on the 7th green came out with their dog to watch play on the 8th hole. As soon as the golfers were off the hole, they ran onto the green with their dog and played. They did this two days in a row. Imagine the damage this could have caused to the green and the financial impact it could have had for the pros playing in the tournament.

The financial impact could cost us future tournaments, and damage to the courses could lead to expensive repairs that could be passed on to the club’s golf membership who aren’t part of the problem. STVR PROGRAM AD-HOC COMMITTEE MEETING - SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 - PUBLIC COMMENTS BY RESIDENTS LAURIE & MARK PARKIN PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA - RELATED TO STVR

3) Security concerns have increased and our security staff hasn’t been able to handle the number of calls being made, nor has the hotline that was set up. It often went unanswered. Cars are parked on streets, left for days and not cited. Cars with expired security passes were also left without citations. People have been seen holding the back gate to allow cars without transponders or permission to enter without going through security. Speeding is making the streets a challenge for walkers. And groups of people are walking in our back yards much too close to our homes making many homeowners uncomfortable. Just adding a few extra security people isn’t the answer, and again, those costs will inevitable be passed on to homeowners who aren’t the problem.

We live here, pay taxes, HOA dues and club fees. We support local restaurants, businesses and trades long after these short term renters are gone. We invest in our homes which adds value to the community. Yet we are becoming a transient community where short term renters have free reign to break rules, damage property, disrespect our security staff and make us feel less safe just so someone can make money. This is not the community we invested it, and while the real estate market is strong right now, how many homes are going on the market because people have become unhappy here. Short term rentals provide short term revenue, but at what cost. They are not the solution to the long term growth in a community.

Mayor Evans, Councilwoman Fitzpatrick and Councilmen Radi, Pena and Sanchez, we value the vision you have for the desert and appreciate all that you give to the city of La Quinta. we know you and your board are problem solvers and have admired your transparency when there has been a community issue such as the marathon a year ago. That is why we bought here.

But now is the time to listen to residents, the real people who make up and grow a community. Please address the short term rental situation. We appear to be the only golf community in the desert that doesn’t require a 30 day stay, why? Communities that have this minimum appear to have far fewer problems and thus less time and expense dealing with them. And perhaps there should be a cap on the percentage of properties in a community that can be licensed to rent. We need your help to find a solution quickly. None of us wants to go through another season like this one. Please address this situation before it is too late to return PGA West to the first class community and golf club it should be.

I have photos of violations should you want them.

Please include this email as part of your meeting package for the upcoming City Counsel meeting and ad how committee meeting.

Respectfully, Laurie & Mark Parkin STVR PROGRAM AD-HOC COMMITTEE MEETING - SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 - PUBLIC COMMENTS BY RESIDENTS CONNIE & DONALD NIMIS PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA - RELATED TO STVR

From: To: Linda Evans; Robert Radi; John Pena; Kathleen Fitzpatrick; Steve Sanchez; Lori Lorett; [email protected] Cc: Lori Lorett; [email protected] Subject: PGA West home short term rental impacts; request inclusion at upcoming September City Council and STR ad hoc committee meetings Date: Monday, August 31, 2020 5:18:05 PM

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Dear Mayor Evans, Councilwoman Fitzpatrick, and Councilmen Radi, Pena and Sanchez:

First I would like to thank each of you for your service to our community.

Please include this as part of your meeting packet for both upcoming meetings of City Council and ad hoc committee.

We have been part time, and now, full time residents of La Quinta since 2012. We chose PGA West because of a referral from our Wisconsin friends who shared their experiences and made an enthusiastic recommendation that we consider retiring here. As full time La Quinta California residents, we established local relationships for primary care physicians, dentists, dental hygienist, yoga studios, health clubs, auto purchases, maintenance vendors and regularly enjoy the many restaurant and entertainment opportunities of our community. We are committed to the community and we fully expect to be living in a community compromised of like home owners.

We are very active with our golf and tennis community. We have many friends throughout PGAW and we find their biggest concerns are the growing number of short term rentals. Over the few years we have lived here, we have witnessed an alarming growth of properties marketed to short term vacation rentals. This clientele changes our community from a neighborhood into a continuous “spring break”. It’s not just loud music and late night partying, it’s also unruly abuse of HOA public spaces, the golf course property, and even trespassing on other private homes/yards. We report violations weekly. We sometimes make personal pleas to renters, but no matter the outcome, it starts all over again the next week. The noise, every day there are calls to LaQuinta and/or PGA security; simple fact is that there aren’t enough resources on enforcement to effectively quell this activity.

We have moved twice within PGAW expressly to find a different neighborhood without short term rentals, only to see our new neighborhood transition to a higher percentage of properties for rent. Our Wisconsin friends have moved to Arizona, and we no longer in good conscience can recommend La Quinta to friends wishing to retire here as this is not a community of neighbors like they would expect. If we move a third time it will not be in La Quinta unless these short term rental issues are resolved. There are many other places to retire to that are not allowing these types of STVR and their abuses.

We routinely see renters branch out beyond the home they rented into private and HOA public and golf course private spaces to include; setting up croquet, badminton, bocce ball courts; slippery slides and beer pong tables; running through GC sprinklers; practice golf; cross motor golf cart races, and yes even electric dirt bike rides through GC bunkers and swales!

I realize that these abuses are needing to be addressed by PGA West and the HOA. However please consider that as a full time resident of La Quinta I am supporting the many DR’s, Dentists, small business owners, hair stylist, essential workers etc. When I as well as many others are forced to move away from La Quinta because our quality of life has been far too compromised by these short term rental abuses, these many Dr’s, Dentists, small business owners, essential workers etc. will be losing their patients and clientele. This will snowball and effect the many other essential workers supporting and working for these very Dr’s, Dentists, restaurant owners, etc. Many will loose jobs as a result of full time committed citizens leaving La Quinta for a better quality of life elsewhere.

One other thing to consider is that these investors purchasing homes for STVR's are not investing in La Quinta. They live elsewhere, have Dr’s, Dentists, Hair stylists etc. elsewhere. They care about one thing only, the income STVR PROGRAM AD-HOC COMMITTEE MEETING - SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 - PUBLIC COMMENTS BY RESIDENTS CONNIE & DONALD NIMIS PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA - RELATED TO STVR

they receive from STVR’s.

What happens to La Quinta’s essential workers that can no longer afford monthly rent? Investors chasing the big dollars achieved by STVR’s will no longer be interested in the long term rental income. How will our teachers, restaurant staff, grocery store clerks afford to pay their increased rents? Again this will continue to snowball out of control.

I applaud the efforts of Indian Wells and Cathedral City to get this issue in control and save their cities from the catastrophe that occurred in Sedona AZ from too many STVR’s.

As our elected city representatives I would expect that you would choose to do right for the City of La Quinta and it’s manny citizens that have voted to place you in those elected positions.

Extending the moratorium on rental licenses is a good start while a long term plan is put into place. Setting a standard throughout the City of LaQuinta on a 30+ day rental program would have a positive impact on the community.

Respectfully submitted,

Concerned citizens Connie & Donald Nimis LaQuinta STVR PROGRAM AD-HOC COMMITTEE MEETING - SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 - PUBLIC COMMENTS BY RESIDENTS JIM & BARBARA LAMBERT PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA - RELATED TO STVR

From: To: Council; Linda Evans; Robert Radi; John Pena; Kathleen Fitzpatrick; Steve Sanchez; Lori Lorett; [email protected] Subject: ad hoc committee for STVRs Date: Monday, August 31, 2020 5:19:31 PM

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Dear Mayor, Council members and Committee members,

When we watched the video of the August 4, 2020 council meeting, particularly the STVR program enforcement subcommittee Departmental Report 5 presented by Gavin Schutz we were encouraged. Mr. Schutz stated that the subcommittee was unanimous in support of the recommendations presented. Considering the makeup of the subcommittee is 3/5 STVR owners it is encouraging to think we might get this out of control STVR train under control.

Of particular interest was Mr. Schutz' reference to the change from owners renting a spare room or casita in the past, to the current off premise corporate owners buying houses in residential neighborhoods and running hotel businesses with 1,2,3,4..night whole house rentals. There went the neighborhood, the community of quiet enjoyment is no longer. Especially in the current Covid madness, we are overrun by groups escaping the confines of cities, with rental changeovers every few days, out by 10am, in by 4pm. In a house rated for up to 12 people, the usual occupancy is 8 to 10, and the stay is 3 days. Using 8 people for 3 days, 960 will be invading each property each year, multiply that by a conservative number of 400 stvrs in just PGA West and you have potentially 384,000 people a year invading our formerly peaceful communities zoned low density. Far from low density, more high density. The corporate STVR owners argue that they are keeping property values high, when in reality true residential buyers looking for a peaceful neighborhood in which to settle for quiet enjoyment are fleeing the STVR areas. In the case of PGA West, every change from a member selling to a short term rental means the membership list decreases. Rental properties do not buy memberships and support the club.

These are shocking numbers. Allowed density of STVRs has to be addressed. Number of days rented in a month could also be limited. Ideally, longer mandated rentals would cut down on the 2 or three day party rentals and restore the VACATION rental of 2 weeks or more, not less.

The final and biggest need is get enforcement up to the necessary quality to be able to respond quickly, and not have a hotline call go to voicemail or get a response "we can't do anything" STVR PROGRAM AD-HOC COMMITTEE MEETING - SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 - PUBLIC COMMENTS BY RESIDENTS JIM & BARBARA LAMBERT PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA - RELATED TO STVR

Please take these points into consideration for discussion and action. Keep the moratorium in force until and if there is a solution to the degradation of our community.

Sincerely, Jim & Barbara Lambert STVR PROGRAM AD-HOC COMMITTEE MEETING - SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 - PUBLIC COMMENTS BY RESIDENTS CHUCK & TERI ECKMAN PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA - RELATED TO STVR

From: To: Linda Evans; Robert Radi; John Pena; Kathleen Fitzpatrick; Steve Sanchez; Lori Lorett; [email protected]; Lori Lorett; [email protected] Cc: Subject: Resident Perspective Regarding STVRs Date: Monday, August 31, 2020 8:35:33 PM

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:Dear Mayor Evans & City Council Members

As a full-time resident of La Quinta and PGA WEST - I would like to add my voice to the many expressing significant concern over the transition our community is experiencing due to the accelerating influx of STVRs.

My wife and I have been residents of PGA WEST since 2013. We retired here after an exhaustive search to find just the right community in the Desert. La Quinta was not on our initial list - but upon realizing it’s seclusion and exclusivity - we realized “The Gem” that La Quinta is.

Unfortunately we’ve been witness to a transition in our community (PGA WEST) and La Quinta that is quickly growing intolerable.

“The Gem” we sought (and thought we’d found) is growing quickly tarnished and in desperate need of attention.

Your attention.

Our street has become a bastion of STVRs. Every few days a crew of unknown and uncaring strangers “check-in” and these overtly large groups force us to endure endless parties, excessive and often offensive noise, parking issues, trespassing on our Club grounds and all the security risks that come with having these unknown, uninterested, entitled and too often intoxicated in our midst.

Our private security is overwhelmed, understaffed and lacking in skills to deal with the issues present.

La Quinta has proven to be woefully understaffed and similarly unable to deal with the magnitude of issues (particularly in the middle of the night when the issues are most prominent).

Riverside County Sheriff’s - frankly has more pressing matters to attend.

So this leaves you - our elected officials - to act in our interest.

My ask:

- Near term I request you minimally extend the moratorium on rental permits

- Staffing resources must be added within Code Enforcement (and your Rental Hot Line) and STVR PROGRAM AD-HOC COMMITTEE MEETING - SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 - PUBLIC COMMENTS BY RESIDENTS CHUCK & TERI ECKMAN PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA - RELATED TO STVR

your personnel need to have a much more aggressive approach to dealing with violations

Ultimately- La Quinta needs to define a path which follows the lead of neighboring communities and move to eliminate STVRs.

In summary:

STVRs attract “riff.raff”. We see it every week now. The collective impact of allowing STVRs is resulting in the notable and accelerating decline to our community and our City.

In my opinion - any rental of less than 30 days brings NO benefit to our community. Forget TOT. The net negative to home valuations and resultant exit of full-time residents and the loss of our collective support for local businesses FAR out pace any loss of TOT.

I plead for your help.

I trust in your judgment.

Aggressive and timely action is required.

Sincerely,

Chuck & Teri Eckman

La Quinta, CA 92253 STVR PROGRAM AD-HOC COMMITTEE MEETING - SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 - PUBLIC COMMENTS BY RESIDENT CARRIE BREESWINE PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA - RELATED TO STVR

From: To: Linda Evans; Robert Radi; John Pena; Kathleen Fitzpatrick Cc: Lori Lorett Subject: STVRs Impact to our community - Request for inclusion in upcoming meetings Date: Monday, August 31, 2020 9:50:32 PM

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Dear Mayor Evans, City Council and STVR Sub-Committee representatives,

I respectfully request that this email is attached to the next agenda of both the Ad Hoc STVR committee this Thursday and the City Council meeting on September 15th.

Thank you all for your service to our community. I appreciate that your job is a difficult balance of maintaining the needs of the residents, local businesses rental property owners and those that come to experience LQ for a short time. The saying goes “follow the money,” and there are two sides to this story here. While the short term rentals bring much revenue to the property owner, some tax revenue for the City and minimal revenue to the community – stores, restaurants, etc., I am confident that the longer term rentals and permanent residents provide for sustainability of the entire community. That revenue is at risk, and I would predict a significant change in the next 3-6 months if no substantive changes in rules and enforcement are made now.

By way of this letter, I would like to share my experience and implore you to help us gain back the peace and pleasure we once knew here in La Quinta.

My husband and I moved to PGA West 3 years ago in anticipation of our eventual retirement. We still work, but the beauty of the Valley, and the quiet nature of this community drew us to settle here with the hope that we will stay for many years. Now we fear for our safety every week, with thousands of non-resident strangers entering our gated community, with ease. You may be familiar with the recent apprehension by police of a couple squatting in PGAW and looting a home of belongs, including a car and golf cart with transponders allowing for easy ingress and egress to all PGAW gates. To be clear, we set our house alarm every night.

Our world has changed substantially over the last 5 months in ways we could not imagine, but what makes our self inflicted quarantine the hardest to bear is the evolution of our quiet community to one of a weekend party town, where rules of respect and common courtesy are paused for the 48- 72 hour visitors. The pure volume of “guests” and vehicles is overwhelming to our security, and enforcement by the City has been arguably pushed beyond. The current policies and resources to enforce these policies has been ineffective due to this exponential increase in constant influx of renters to our community who seemingly don’t know or care about the rules. What further exacerbates the issue is that more properties are being purchased by Property Rental companies versus individuals living in the community. What makes this difficult for us and those on our street, is that the 5 houses that are directly across the golf course are rentals and I have line of sight to 4 other homes. These are all single family homes with pools and rentals advertising “sleeps up to 12- 16.” Sounds like a party, no? STVR PROGRAM AD-HOC COMMITTEE MEETING - SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 - PUBLIC COMMENTS BY RESIDENT CARRIE BREESWINE PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA - RELATED TO STVR

It is clear that our community will change if the current trends continue, and I disagree with some of the emails submitted for the last meeting suggesting that this is not the “new normal.” More full time residents, like my husband and I, will be forced to sell our home, leave the Club and move somewhere that has the quality of life we thought we found here in La Quinta. We are not the only ones thinking this way. This will ultimately result in declining home values (as the market will be flooded with listings,) reduce the revenue of the Golf Club, and likely turn PGA West into a Rental Community. Perhaps this is an acceptable outcome to some, but not for me and many of my neighbors. I recently circulated an email to our club and HOA staff, addressed to less than 15 people, and that email ultimately made its way to 10 times that. People reached out to me for help and direction on how to address these problems now, before it is too late. I was disappointed to learn that this has been going on much longer than COVID for many people.

The recommendations by the STVR Sub Committee as presented at the August 5th meeting were a great step in the right direction, and I hope that the Council will pass these as quickly as possible. Further, I offer these other ideas for your consideration: 1. Reconsider STVR allowed duration. Someone said to me recently; “Two days is a party, two weeks is a vacation.” We have had some families come in for a week or two, and for the most part have very little issue, but then the weekender’s come and we start all over again with the noise, trespassing, etc. (I have documented a number of occurrences, should anyone be interested in photos and descriptions.) The most alarming was a pool hopping incident where a group of females made their way up more than a dozen homes and jumped into random pools, I witnessed 5. I was helpless, as there was no one I could call that was empowered to do something because I didn’t know which house they were renting, and by the time the City or Police would get here, it would be over. 2. Better coordination between the City and PGA West HOA and Club. In addition to the added resources recommended by the Sub Committee, is it possible to empower representatives from the Golf Courses or Community Security to act as agents of the City to witness and report violations, that can result in fines, citations and suspension? 3. Raise fines for the Rental Owners who violate, or allow their renters to violate policies. This would likely additional fine revenue for the City, and encourage Rental Owners to reconsider their marketing to encourage responsible renters looking to take advantage of the quiet enjoyment of our community. 4. Drive engagement with the Rental property owners in a more timely fashion, perhaps a 6 hour response by them or their representative. 24 hours is far to long to deal with the behaviors that are inconsistent with our community. A few of the emails from STVR owners submitted to record for the August 5th meeting suggest an even more restrictive solution. 5. Require the owners or representative, to check guests in and out, review the rules, and any violations/complaints on the way out. I have heard that a number of Cities have found this policy to be successful.

Frankly, the easiest solution is to ban STVRs in La Quinta, like many of the surrounding cities. That said, I believe there are ways that residents and renters/owners can live harmoniously. In this case, the rules need to discourage the “bad actors” from settling in LQ, and encourage the responsible STVR owners with a way to work in harmony within our community and contribute to the STVR PROGRAM AD-HOC COMMITTEE MEETING - SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 - PUBLIC COMMENTS BY RESIDENT CARRIE BREESWINE PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA - RELATED TO STVR

sustainability, without detracting from the quiet enjoyment of all who live, and visit here.

Please let me know how I can contribute to the solution of this very important issue, as I am still hopeful to stay in La Quinta.

Respectfully, Carrie Breeswine PGA West STVR PROGRAM AD-HOC COMMITTEE MEETING - SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 - PUBLIC COMMENTS BY RESIDENT CINDY COPPOLA PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA - RELATED TO STVR

From: Lori Lorett To: Lori Lorett Subject: FW: COMMENTS - Fwd: PGA West home short term rental impacts; request inclusion at upcoming September City Council and STR ad hoc committee meetings Date: Tuesday, September 1, 2020 3:30:38 PM

-----Original Message----- From: > To: [email protected] ; [email protected] Cc: ;

Sent: Mon, Aug 31, 2020 7:43 pm Subject: PGA West home short term rental impacts; request inclusion at upcoming September City Council and STR ad hoc committee meetings

Dear Mayor Evans and LQ City Council:

I am drafting this email with regards to the current and on-going Short Term Rental (STR) problem in the PGA West neighborhood I have lived in since 2015. By way of background, I have worked for public service, FBI for the past 23 years. In fact, for the past five years, while living in PGA West, I was in charge of the FBI Palm Springs office and have worked with many of the employees in LQ over the years. I do respect the tireless and sometimes thankless work you do. I recently retired in December 2019 and PGA West is where we wanted to be in retirement. The people, golf and environment are stellar and so is the city. In fact, even though I have only lived here full time for the past five years, I had a rental condo in PGA West as well from 2013 - 2018 to use for vacation and rent. So, I completely understand STRs and what the city of LQ has in place for owners and their rentals. As owners, we followed the rules when the condo was rented and so did our tenants.

What we are seeing now from rental home owners in PGA West, specifically inside the Legend's Gate off of Madison where we live is despicable. No one takes accountability for their tenants or responsibility for their actions. Since the beginning of April, I have continued to "police" the neighborhood where I live by calling the city hotline, our HOA, our gate security and our golf club. I don't get paid to do this any more and it does take up considerable time (I do still work) since video and pictures are often asked for to show proof of what we are reporting.

Examples of violations can be ranging from loud music, excess of people in a five bedroom home ( 20+) and not just visitors and cars during the day but visitors staying overnight/weekend. There have been drones being used which have hit the side of our house as well as hovering above the pool when we are swimming. Kids pool hopping from house to house, bocce on the golf course, dogs off leash (which I have been attacked by when walking my dogs on leash) and flagrant disrespect for property in the neighborhood. Of course when I try to explain nicely that we have rules to these visitors they either give me the finger or curse at me. Living in PGA West, La Quinta in not supposed to be East LA. I am a NY native and started my law enforcement career there - so I'm tough, but enough is enough. Living here was not supposed to be a party for non-members or owners to violate all the rules and walk a way then we (owners) pay for their crimes.

Understanding the city took a initial start with the moratorium, which is great - we need more of a short term fix. I am not sure how the city can work with PGA West Master and the club owners but there must be a way. In fact, there are so many violations which could bring in good revenue for the city, warranting additional personnel to do the job. I appreciate any assistance you can give to this matter.

Regards,

Cindy Coppola STVR PROGRAM AD-HOC COMMITTEE MEETING - SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 - PUBLIC COMMENTS BY RESIDENTS JIM & CAROL HURST PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA - RELATED TO STVR

From: Lori Lorett To: Lori Lorett Subject: FW: COMMENTS: re STVR Ad Hoc - LQ vacation rental policy - Jim and Carol HURST Date: Tuesday, September 1, 2020 3:32:20 PM

From: Sent: Monday, August 31, 2020 6:56 PM To: Council Subject: LQ vacation rental policy

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To whom it may concern, We have been winter residents of PGA West for 15 + years. The short term vacation rental issue is definitely a concern to us. It has changed the culture of our community and spawns thoughts of leaving LaQuinta for another community, most likely not in California. Short termers don't have the respect for PGA West that full time and part time residents exhibit. Thank You, Jim and Carol Hurst

LQ STVR PROGRAM AD-HOC COMMITTEE MEETING - SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 - PUBLIC COMMENTS BY RESIDENTS TOM & SANDY BAAK PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA - RELATED TO STVR

From: To: Lori Lorett Subject: Fwd: Short Term Vacation Rentals Date: Tuesday, September 1, 2020 1:14:45 PM

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Sandy

Begin forwarded message:

From: Sandy Baak Subject: Short Term Vacation Rentals Date: August 31, 2020 at 4:16:06 PM PDT To: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected],

TO MEMBERS OF LA QUINTA CITY COUNCIL AND AD HOC MEMBERS

As full time members of PGA West Residential Association # 2, we present this letter for your consideration.

A quiet golf course community with like minded residents is what we were originally looking for and had enjoyed for many years, until…….the property next door sold a few months ago and has since then become a revolving motel. Generally renters arrive by 4PM and are out by 11AM with new guests arriving constantly. They seem to stay for 2 days. Golf is not in their frame of reference, but enjoying a party like atmosphere poolside late into the evening seems to be why they are renting this property.

We have read the City of La Quinta STVR requirements (order#9), PGA West Master Association STVR regulations, as well as our HOA regulations. It would be helpful if everyone was on the same page.

Regarding noise/nuisance: The City does not allow any noise that affects neighbors or sound amplification of any kind and at any time, Our Master Association allows noise until 10PM Our HOA allows noise/music and outside amplification until 10PM, however it stipulates in another section (Article 7 Section 11) that renters shall not interfere with any resident’s right to quiet enjoyment of his or her property.

Regarding Complaints The city has a 24 hour hotline which we have called on various occasions. Usually after 10PM. Two of the late night calls could not be placed as the 24 hour hotline was having computer problems. We called the following morning STVR PROGRAM AD-HOC COMMITTEE MEETING - SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 - PUBLIC COMMENTS BY RESIDENTS TOM & SANDY BAAK PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA - RELATED TO STVR

and were able to speak to someone. They said that the complaint could not be recorded as they could not verify it at the time it occurred. At the same time we did call our HOA security which certainly could have verified it with the city. Also, we were told that your security (or whoever comes to verify) did not like to come into gated communities late at night.

I asked and filled out a request form to view the record of calls we have made on the hotline on August 24 and have not heard back from anyone.

QUESTION How does the City verify noise/nuisance complaints?What is the procedure?

We never thought that we would spend so much time looking at rules and regulations of our community, trying to decide which rule would allow us to make a call and to whom. We sleep with our phones close by awaiting the time when we will make yet again, another call.

We appreciate the efforts you are making on behalf of all of us and are hopeful changes are in our future!

Respectfully, Tom and Sandy Baak

LQ 92253 STVR PROGRAM AD-HOC COMMITTEE MEETING - SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 - PUBLIC COMMENTS BY RESIDENTS MARDE & MARK OLSON PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA - RELATED TO STVR

From: Lori Lorett To: Lori Lorett Subject: FW: COMMENTS: STVR Ad Hoc Committee - OLSON Date: Tuesday, September 1, 2020 2:42:49 PM

From: MARDE OLSON Sent: Tuesday, September 1, 2020 2:07 PM To: Council Subject: STVR Ad Hoc Committee

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Dear Mayor, Council members and Committee members,

When we watched the video of the August 4, 2020 council meeting, particularly the STVR program enforcement subcommittee Departmental Report 5 presented by Gavin Schutz we were encouraged. Mr. Schutz stated that the subcommittee was unanimous in support of the recommendations presented. Considering the makeup of the subcommittee is 3/5 STVR owners it is encouraging to think we might get this out of control STVR train under control.

Of particular interest was Mr. Schutz' reference to the change from owners renting a spare room or casita in the past, to the current off premise corporate owners buying houses in residential neighborhoods and running hotel businesses with 1,2,3,4..night whole house rentals.

Our wonderful PGA West community of quiet enjoyment is no longer. Especially in the current Covid situation, we are STVR PROGRAM AD-HOC COMMITTEE MEETING - SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 - PUBLIC COMMENTS BY RESIDENTS MARDE & MARK OLSON PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA - RELATED TO STVR

overrun by groups escaping the confines of cities, with rental changeovers every few days and often too many people in a house, resulting in excess noise and excess traffic in our quiet residential streets. The corporate STVR owners argue that they are keeping property values high, when in reality true residential buyers looking for a peaceful neighborhood in which to settle for quiet enjoyment are fleeing the STVR areas. Enforcement by both our HOA and the city of La Quinta mechanisms in place cannot keep up with the volume of infractions, exacerbated by the rapid turnover.

Allowed density of STVRs has to be addressed. Number of days rented in a month could also be limited. Ideally, longer mandated rentals would cut down on the 2 or three day party rentals and restore the VACATION rental of 2 weeks or more, not less.

The final and biggest need is get enforcement up to the necessary quality to be able to respond quickly, and not have a hotline call go to voicemail or get a response "we can't do anything"

Please take these points into consideration for discussion and action. Keep the moratorium in force until and if there is a solution to the degradation of our community. STVR PROGRAM AD-HOC COMMITTEE MEETING - SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 - PUBLIC COMMENTS BY RESIDENTS MARDE & MARK OLSON PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA - RELATED TO STVR

Thanks for all your hard work and dedication to the residents of La Quinta.

Sincerely, Marde and Mark Olson PGA West STVR PROGRAM AD-HOC COMMITTEE MEETING - SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 - PUBLIC COMMENTS BY RESIDENTS MARIE & CRAIG THOMPSON PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA - RELATED TO STVR

From: To: Jon McMillen; John Pena; Kathleen Fitzpatrick; [email protected]; Lori Lorett; Robert Radi; Steve Sanchez Subject: STVR ad-hoc committee September 3 meeting Date: Wednesday, September 2, 2020 7:37:18 AM

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Marie/Craig Thompson La Quinta

City Manager, La Quinta City Council Ad Hoc STVR Committee New guideline, moratorium for new licenses

Thank you for your hard work on this committee. We would please ask that you continue the moratorium indefinitely for new licenses in La Quinta. We please ask that you look to Cathedral City and other areas like San Diego for how they have completely reversed their original rules and density for these types of rentals. As for the hotline it is a good thing but again, why should we have to report all these violations that occur weekly in multiple homes in the area. This IS a residential neighborhood and we would like it to return to that. La Quinta and the surrounding Areas have plenty of hotels and designated STVR communities to support our visitors, please keep them out of our neighborhood. These should not be commercial investment groups that have no heart in our homes/community or absentee landlords who have multiple homes. We love our home and community, please keep La Quinta the “Gem” of the desert.

Thank you for your consideration, Neighborhoods are for Neighbors.

Marie and Craig Thompson

-- Marie Thompson STVR PROGRAM AD-HOC COMMITTEE MEETING - SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 - PUBLIC COMMENTS BY RESIDENT JENNIFER PORTER PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA - RELATED TO STVR

From: To: Lori Lorett Subject: Written comments Date: Wednesday, September 2, 2020 11:45:06 AM

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Hi Lori, I hope you are well. I wanted to send this to you for tomorrow’s STVR ad hoc committee. TY

Jennifer Porter La Quinta Cove

STVR Ad Hoc Committee Enforcement and restrictions. No ban

I bought in the Cove in June 2019. I had been looking in the Coachella Valley area and when I found LQ Cove…I fell in love. I bought this home as a second property/vacation rental. I visit often and have improved the property significantly inside and out. I introduced myself to all of my neighbors and have had no issues or complaints by anyone. I have had no issues with trash-I pay extra for walk up service. No issues with parking. One of my neighbors has become my cleaner/property manager and her children maintain my yard and perform other miscellaneous task when needed. My guest come here year round and visit our restaurants, bars, stores, enjoy our events, and leave with a very favorable impression of our city. I market my home as a relaxing get away and I emphasize that this is a quiet neighborhood. I have a ring camera to monitor the number of guest and this also monitors outdoor noise. People do not come to PARTY at my house. I make sure of that!

From the numbers that have been presented at previous ad hoc meetings, it’s a small amount of offender properties. I believe its was 2.5% of the 1250 STVR properties in LQ. Please don’t punish the rest of us for the bad apples. I am in favor of what the adhoc committee had presented thus far concerning enforcement. My biggest concern is banning/phasing out the entire STVR program. I do believe in density control but banning this program is too extreme and will directly harm people like myself. I do not want La Quinta to become investor owned city but I don’t fall in that category. This is a second home that I cherish and the rental dollars help me with the cost of the home and make it where my house doesn’t sit vacant when I’m not visiting. Vacant vacation homes don’t support are local business or economy and the TOT dollars gained by STVR has been a great revenue maker for the city.

Enforcement and Restrictions. No Ban! Please.

Jennifer Porter LQ Cove Property Owner STVR PROGRAM AD-HOC COMMITTEE MEETING - SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 - PUBLIC COMMENTS BY RESIDENTS DEAN & CATHY GRAVES PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA - RELATED TO STVR

From: To: Council; Linda Evans; Robert Radi; John Pena; Kathleen Fitzpatrick; Steve Sanchez; Lori Lorett; [email protected] Cc: Subject: STVRs from the perspective of an actual full time resident Date: Wednesday, September 2, 2020 12:41:43 PM

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Dear Mayor, City Council members and Committee Members, My wife and I have owned our home in PGA West for seven years, with the last four years as full time residents. Over the past 3-4 years we have seen an explosion of STVRs in the PGA West complex. How do we know? We see the backyards strewn with towels, empty drink containers and multiple floaties floating in the pools as we walk the cart paths during the pandemic. We see the front of houses with 4-5 cars backed into the driveways and parked on the streets. We see renters on our private courses in the afternoons, not wearing shirts, shoes (or both) driving a golf cart with no Member sticker talking loudly and more often than not drinking. The Club is not adequately monitoring and more importantly enforcing these violations across six golf courses and a large residential housing community. Our calls are not responded to in a timely fashion, nor are the violators punished. In many cases they venture back out once the “guy in the golf cart” leaves. This idea of STVRs holding up property values is a false narrative. This may have been true in the short-term, but long-term it is driving residents away. My wife and I have already decided we would leave PGA West and find a community that prohibits STVRs should the rental craze end up near our home. Like most residents, we purchased a home here because of the golf and other activities within the complex, and the quiet neighborhood comprised of similar people. Most short-term rentals are young people in their 20’s, 30’s and 40’s that come here with the expectation they can treat the community like a vacation resort they might visit in another country. This may create an inviting opportunity for investors and realtors, but it does not appeal to the real homeowners and Premier golf members within PGA West. PGA West states it is the“Golf Capital of the West”, but if they don’t maintain the exclusivity of its golf courses and don’t create a residential living culture that true residents are looking for, it will quickly lose its luster as the premier place to live and play. We ask that you begin the move toward permanently limiting the number of rentals within PGA West, with a longer minimum required stay.

Respectfully, Dean and Cathy Graves STVR PROGRAM AD-HOC COMMITTEE MEETING - SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 - PUBLIC COMMENTS BY RESIDENT JOHN HASTIE PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA - RELATED TO STVR

From: To: Lori Lorett Subject: Written Comments to STVR Ad-Hoc Committee Date: Wednesday, September 2, 2020 1:18:35 PM

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1) Full Name John Hastie

2) City of Residence La Quinta

3) Phone Number

4) Public Comment or Agenda Item Number Public Comment

5) Subject Existing 90 Day Moratorium Code Enforcement

6) Written Comments I'm concerned ALL owners and managers are being penalized because of a few unruly properties. The increase in complaints from a few has already led to the 90 day moratorium that's currently in place. I empathize with those that are having issues with their neighbors and I want to be part of the solution. That said, I firmly believe if the rules and expectations are set at the time of booking, followed up with adequate enforcement, we will have few issues. It won't happen overnight but it will happen and enforcement needs to be part of the solution. Time and time again we hear from neighbors that they call the hotline repeatedly and nothing is done. What is being recommended by the committee to fix this? Is there a recommendation to step up enforcement to weed these bad operators and properties out? STVR PROGRAM AD-HOC COMMITTEE MEETING - SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 - PUBLIC COMMENTS BY RESIDENT COACH WOODRUFF PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA - RELATED TO STVR

From: To: Lori Lorett Subject: Stvr Date: Wednesday, September 2, 2020 1:38:25 PM

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I am opposed to stvr.i have lived in cove 30 yrs.I want random strangers in my neighborhood..not.. During a pandemic..cmon man! Coach Woodruff STVR PROGRAM AD-HOC COMMITTEE MEETING - SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 - PUBLIC COMMENTS BY RESIDENT RICHARD DE LEONARDIS PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA - RELATED TO STVR

From: To: Lori Lorett; Linda Evans; Robert Radi; John Pena; Kathleen Fitzpatrick; Steve Sanchez; [email protected] Subject: STVR- FED UP Date: Wednesday, September 2, 2020 2:16:36 PM

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It is time you addressed the short term rental once and for all !

While we fully understand the town businesses, the city and other areas gain tremendously from the short term rentals in our area. We as full time residents are FED UP ! We live in PGA West and next to us is a STVR, EVERY weekend it is rented and we deal with the nose and parting. You can check your system and see (since you have put in place the 24/7 disturbance number) that we have called many times on this address ( La Quinta CA) as well as many others in the area. Two doors down from our house we have the same issue. Add this to the four houses across from us and the neighborhood is a party every weekend! We have had to move to other rooms to sleep at night due to the noise. We can not use our pool because we have to listen to battling music outside.

I ask the question HOW WOULD YOU FEEL if you had to live in this type of environment?

I am only telling you of the ones in our house location. This SAME issue is happening all around us and we hear the same issue with many of our friends. Many who live here full time are now starting to consider moving OUT of La Quinta to other areas. This will cause the housing market to drop! It will be full of STVR and then the issues associated with that. We who live here do not feel safe as many of these STVR have more than the allotted people staying there. Especially during the day at the "day parties".

If we could we would try to prove the fact that many of the people coming here in the STVR have added to the Cornia Virus here in the valley. As many of these vacation stayers do NOT wear mask. Go in big groups to the stores shopping (just go to Ralphs on Jefferson on a Friday and Saturday).

PLEASE do not make this about MONEY ! We know the rental companies are hiring lawyers to come to your meetings and lobby for the STVR. Listen to your homeowners.

Change the law to 30 day rentals.

Do not wait till it is too late and you all are responsible for what happened to our wonderful city.

Thank you. Richard De Leonardis

la Quinta Ca 92253 STVR PROGRAM AD-HOC COMMITTEE MEETING - SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 - PUBLIC COMMENTS BY RESIDENT LINDA HAGOOD PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA - RELATED TO STVR

From: To: Lori Lorett; Subject: Written Comments: STVR Ad Hoc Committee Date: Wednesday, September 2, 2020 3:42:22 PM

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Dear Committee, As the Committee considers recommendations for the City Council, please include concerns about the code and regulation enforcement.

Under current City Covid 10 regulations, STVR which are shared, i.e., private room (s) in a home with spaces shared with the host are not allowed to operate until further notice. A review of the Air BNB website, September 2, 2020, using search criteria of location (La Quinta), listing type (private room) and preferred dates (September 8-10) revealed that over 20 listings are available for booking in direct violation of the current Covid 19 regulations.

This is an easily remedied situation, however, appears to be of the lack of City oversight. which is a major dissatisfaction of the community.

Thank you for your consideration, Linda Hagood La Quinta STVR PROGRAM AD-HOC COMMITTEE MEETING - SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 - PUBLIC COMMENTS BY RESIDENTS TOM & ANDREA THOMAS PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA - RELATED TO STVR

From: Lori Lorett To: Lori Lorett Subject: FW: COMMENTS: re STVR to La Quinta Council and Ad hoc committee - THOMAS Date: Wednesday, September 2, 2020 4:39:49 PM

From: Date: September 2, 2020 at 3:34:53 PM PDT To: Linda Evans , Robert Radi , John Pena , Kathleen Fitzpatrick Cc: ,

Subject: To La Quinta Council and Ad hoc committee Reply-To:

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Mayor Evans, City Council and STVR Sub-Committee Representatives: We are writing to plead with you to help the residents at PGA West live their lives in peace and quiet enjoyment as that is why we all moved into the community. When we moved into PGA West in 2005 and joined the Club, our neighbors were mostly residents as well. That changed soon after and now we are sandwiched between two rental homes on the 4th hole of the Nicklaus Tournament course. Last year we were absolutely miserable as one of the homes was an Airbnb, and various outsiders were renting the home on a daily basis just to have loud pool parties because the rental was so affordable. Fortunately, that home is now a 2-yr rental by a nice family, but the other house is still a weekend gathering spot. We both work full-time, and our hearts sink when we come home to see cars in that driveway, knowing it will possibly be another loud weekend when we can’t relax and enjoy the fruits of our labor in peace. The other issue is that many of the STV renters have zero respect for private property or the law. There are four homes across the fairway that consistently have renters trespassing on the golf course as if it’s a playground and park. And of course, there are always those who have unregistered carts or are on foot that play unauthorized golf or use it as a practice facility. We tell them to vacate the fairway, and sometimes marshals will drive by to warn them. But without levying fines on the homeowners, nothing changes. We know you might say the golf course is private property, and has nothing to do with STVRs, but those renters are the exact people that are breaking the rules. The trespassing is incredibly frustrating for members who pay to play and take care of the grounds. STVR PROGRAM AD-HOC COMMITTEE MEETING - SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 - PUBLIC COMMENTS BY RESIDENTS TOM & ANDREA THOMAS PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA - RELATED TO STVR

We did not choose to live next to hotels or have strangers constantly coming into our neighborhood. It becomes not only a nuisance issue, but one of safety as well. We’re sure you’ve heard of those squatters down the street from us who emptied out much of someone’s house recently. That is frightening. We live in La Quinta full-time. We have great resident neighbors, and we shop, dine and support the local community. We would very much like to stay at PGA West and retire here one day. We can only hope that La Quinta bans STVRs like other communities, or at least increases the minimum stay to two weeks or more in order to reduce loud weekend partiers, as well as levy homeowner fines for renters that violate the rules. Thank you for your time and consideration. Tom & Andrea Thomas - , PGA West STVR PROGRAM AD-HOC COMMITTEE MEETING - SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 - PUBLIC COMMENTS BY RESIDENT SHARLA NELSON PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA - RELATED TO STVR

From: To: Lori Lorett Subject: Written Comments Date: Wednesday, September 2, 2020 9:38:15 PM

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Good evening, My name is Sharla Nelson and my family and I live in La Quinta. My phone number is . I am writing in reference to short-term vacation rentals (STVR).

We live next door to an STVR and are concerned with the many STVR’s popping up in our neighborhood. It’s easy to tell which houses are STVR’s or as they are better known as, party-houses, based on the number of different cars seen in STVR driveways throughout the week and the rude and unneighborly loud music. We hope the city takes inventory with how many homes are now party-houses masked as “vacation rentals” in each of our neighborhoods, and then takes action to control the amount of licenses issued. They are a problem, ruining the fabric of our community and overall quality of life.

We have noticed, however, that the new STVR ordinance, which does not allow any outdoor amplified sound has helped tremendously. When noise ordinances were measured in decibels previously, there was too much gray area as that type of measurement is much too technical for anyone to understand and enforce. A strict, black and white, no amplified sound ordinance is a great solution to the previous noise ordinance that was not working. We also noticed a 2-strikes rule instead of the former 3-strikes rule, a new 90-suspension if an STVR owner does not respond to a complaint, and doubling of fines. These new ordinances are an improvement from past ordinances, however, fines could still be higher as small fines will not have the desired affect of owners being more responsible for their occupants and more considerate of their neighbors.

We hope the city continues to improve on rules, fees and ordinances on these problematic STVR’s and takes into serious consideration to halt the issuing of licenses.

Best regards, La Quinta Residents STVR PROGRAM AD-HOC COMMITTEE MEETING - SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 - PUBLIC COMMENTS BY RESIDENT JOHN HASTIE PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA - RELATED TO STVR

From: To: Lori Lorett Subject: Written Comments Date: Thursday, September 3, 2020 8:19:43 AM

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1) Full Name John Hastie

2) City of Residence La Quinta

3) Phone Number

4) Public Comment or Agenda Item Number Public Comment

5) Subject Ad-Hoc Committee perceived BIAS

6) Written Comments There have been comments on the Next Door App about the Ad-Hoc committee being made up predominantly of people who are Pro STVR. Is this true or a fallacy? Who on the committee has a vested interest in a STVR in La Quinta, whether that be via direct ownership, or management of a STVR? STVR PROGRAM AD-HOC COMMITTEE MEETING - SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 - PUBLIC COMMENTS BY RESIDENT ROD MCGUIRE PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA - RELATED TO STVR

From: To: Lori Lorett Cc: Jon McMillen; Chris Escobedo; Kathleen Fitzpatrick; Kevin Meredith; Martha Mendez Subject: Public/Written Comments to the STVR AdHoc Committee Date: Thursday, September 3, 2020 8:27:09 AM Attachments: STVR Cove lot size.docx

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Greetings, Sorry this is my second comment to this STVR AdHoc Meeting. I believe more enforcement/clarification is needed to Executive Order #9 on noise limits, sections C & D.

(c) No Sound Amplification Allowed At Any Time. Notwithstanding provisions in LQMC Section 3.25.070, Subsection (E), to the contrary, no radio receiver, musical instrument, phonograph, compact disk player, loudspeaker, karaoke machine, sound amplifier, or any machine, device or equipment that produces or reproduces any sound may be used outside or be audible from the outside of any short-term vacation rental unit at any time. (d) Noise Limit. No person at a short-term vacation rental unit (whether inside or outside the unit) shall willfully make any unreasonably loud noise to the extent that it disturbs the peace and quiet of any neighborhood or imposes upon the privacy and rights of others nearby the short-term vacation rental unit. “Unreasonably loud noise” shall be determined by a city official visiting the short-term vacation rental unit and using the standards set forth in LQMC Section 11.08.040. The noise limits in this paragraph are in addition to any other noise requirements set forth in the LQMC, including LQMC Section 3.25.070, Subsection (E)

I have have had disputes with the adjoining property owner operating an STVR who purchased in March. Please Note, it was an STVR with a different owner when I moved here in August, zero complaints to the STVR hotline between August 2019 and March 2020, I was not even aware there was a STVR hotline, also have and still have zero issues with any neighbors as this was a quiet neighborhood. The owner of the STVR was having a problem with the definition of amplified music, even though it was explained to him by code enforcement. On section D it specifies disruption of the peace and quiet of any neighborhood or imposes upon the privacy or rights of others, this property regularly is a disruption to the neighborhood with pool parties lasting 10-12 hours during the day with screaming, loud talking and laughing. I was advised by code enforcement and some City Officials that this is dependent on the responding official and they usually must hear it from the front of the property or the street, well this would be fine if I actually lived in the front of my house or the street. If you notice on the attachment, some of the lots in the cove are small and the homes take up most of the lot, making the noise next to impossible to hear from the front of the property let alone the street. The owner of the property has installed cameras outside and sound meters to alert him and the guests when they reach a certain threshold (no idea what he has it set for), on August 23, at 1:00am guests were in the pool laughing and talking loud enough to awaken me in my bedroom, I went outside and politely asked them to keep it down as people are trying to sleep. I was told in colorful language they were not over 80 decibels and had no intention of quieting down (so much for peaceful neighborhood) at this point I called code enforcement who was told she would contact the police, they would do a drive by. I have no idea if they could hear from the street, as it was by this time 1:30am I was not going to check, I did inquire as to why they were contacting the property contact on file, was given a nonsensical answer. I have always afforded code enforcement the opportunity to come in my back yard and hear for their selves, but unfortunately it's not a 24/7 service and the answering service can not always provide good information. I believe STVR's with pool should be on tighter restrictions, as you can not go down to the Marriott and party in their pool all hours of the day, it is obvious these absentee owners and guests do not care about the neighbors or neighborhoods. It is obvious that STVRs should not have been allowed on lots this size. My final point is until the STVR issue is resolved, the stricter rules and fines need to be better enforced to STVR PROGRAM AD-HOC COMMITTEE MEETING - SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 - PUBLIC COMMENTS BY RESIDENT ROD MCGUIRE PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA - RELATED TO STVR

keep your year round residents happy, also the current STVR license moratorium should be extended indefinitely until some agreement on the rules/regulations the council.

PLEASE PRINT ATTACHMENT AS WELL. As you can see by the attached photo, the STVR is pointed out, next door to me.

Thank you,

Rod McGuire La Quinta, CA STVR PROGRAM AD-HOC COMMITTEE MEETING - SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 - PUBLIC COMMENTS BY RESIDENT ROD MCGUIRE PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA - RELATED TO STVR

Limit density of permitting in R-1 zones 1. Prohibit licensing of STVRs to residential homes that have community outdoor entertainment areas within 15 feet of a neighbor’s dwelling. It is impossible to watch TV or sleep within 15 feet of a raucous pool party. This initiative alone would alleviate a major portion of the current disturbance issues. 2. Maintain a city map with instant update of all STVR licensing applications and grants. 3. Maintain - at or under - 1 in 10 homes as dedicated STVR licencees per neighborhood. This MUST BE NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIFIC and not calculated including the neighborhoods whose HOAs protect them from stranger traffic. In- residence hosts do not need to be included in this specific density limit. 4. Density limits to mirror existing land use statutes to get this problem under control: For example, we have local regulations that limit the proximity of porn shops and pot dispensaries to schools. Do the same with STVRs. Limit the number in each specific neighborhood. Limit their proximity to each other. Limit their proximity to adjoining single family dwellings. Limit issuance of permits to properties of certain size and capacity. (THIS IS HUGE - YOU CAN SEE ON AERIAL MAPS THE PROBLEM WITH TINY LOTS HAVING POOL PARTIES NEXT DOOR TO THE ADJOINING PROPERTY MASTER BEDROOM IS TERRORIZING). How could licensing nightly parties every weekend in this scenario work???? STVR PROGRAM AD-HOC COMMITTEE MEETING - SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 - PUBLIC COMMENTS BY RESIDENTS TERRY & PATRICIA PRACHT PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA - RELATED TO STVR

From: To: John Pena; Kathleen Fitzpatrick; Robert Radi; Steve Sanchez; Lori Lorett; [email protected] Subject: FW: Short Term Rentals Date: Thursday, September 3, 2020 8:41:13 AM

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To: 'To: [email protected]' ; '[email protected]' ; '[email protected]' ; '[email protected]' ; '[email protected]' ; '[email protected]' ; '[email protected]' Cc: Subject: Short Term Rentals

Honorable Mayor Evans and La Quinta City Council Members:

We too are writing regarding the short term rental issue. I am sure you have already heard enough regarding the many problems we are now forced to endure which affects the peaceful enjoyment of our home. We have all of the same problems as everyone else, but I see no need to repeat them here. Although the problem is getting worse, it has existed for some time. As you may know, the Master’s Special Benefits Area at PGA West already took action to amend it’s CC&R’s to prohibit rentals of less than twenty-eight days. But, unfortunately, on advice of counsel, current residents were grandfathered, so this restriction will phase in gradually as properties are sold. Although a step in the right direction, what we really need is action by the city to prohibit rentals of less than 28 days. And we need it soon. The homes that affect us most are on Spanish Bay. It has been a rental haven for years, but is getting even worse. There are two homes there, side by side, that have four to six cars there every weekend. We do not know for sure, but we assume someone is renting long term and then subletting to the people actually using the properties, because the cars and renters change from week to week. Having many different people every week is certainly not helpful in controlling the spread of Covid-19. The couple that lives next door, put their home on the market this week because of the problem. A sad commentary. The other point we would make is that enforcement is ineffective. Yes, we have roving patrols, but they have no legal authority, and our observation is that they really do not want to confront any occupants or residents. They want to keep their jobs and low profile seems to be the rule. We believe it is time for the HOA to consider employing off duty sheriffs, who are sworn officers and have the authority to enforce ordinances. We think the PGA West Private Club needs to do this as well to provide security on the golf courses, because the renters on the courses are clearly in violation of the posted trespass warnings on every hole. When we have had to call, usually in the wee hours, about loud parties on our hole, we have found the security personnel ineffective, but previously the sheriffs have been quite responsive, even calling back to let us know they responded and issued a warning or citation. I guess we never anticipated problems of this nature when we purchased here in 2005. And as much as we have enjoyed living here, we too are considering moving. We sincerely hope and pray La Quinta will STVR PROGRAM AD-HOC COMMITTEE MEETING - SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 - PUBLIC COMMENTS BY RESIDENTS TERRY & PATRICIA PRACHT PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA - RELATED TO STVR

prohibit short term rentals as soon as legally possible. Thanks for your thoughtful consideration!

Terry and Patricia Pracht

Terry R. Pracht, D.D.S., M.S. Board Certified Specialist in Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics

La Quinta, CA 92253 STVR PROGRAM AD-HOC COMMITTEE MEETING - SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 - PUBLIC COMMENTS BY RESIDENT DAVID DINNEL PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA - RELATED TO STVR

From: To: Lori Lorett Subject: Questions and comments for today"s Ad hoc meeting Date: Thursday, September 3, 2020 8:56:52 AM

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Hello Lori, Here are my comments for this week.

NAME: David Dinnel City of Residence: I own a second home that I also use as a STR located in La Quinta Phone number: Public comment: This is for the Ad hoc committee. I prefer to speak to the committee but am prevented from doing so Subject: Disappointment in the Ad hoc committee as it has lost its way and is fee, fine, and ban happy. Written comments and positive recommendations below

9/3/2020

Dear City Council members, city personnel, and ad hoc committee members,

I am writing you to express my extreme disappointment when it comes to this committee, how it is being run and cutting people like myself out of this process.

I was advised that if I was not selected by the city to be on the committee ad hoc committee, (and why would I be selected for the committee when I have a passionate short term rental owner) I and others from the public were advised that I could participate and ask questions in all the meetings. Covid has got given the city the right to prevent me from speaking at these meetings yet, it appears as though committee members are more interested in trying to keep meetings to as close to 1 hour as possible. The committee should have allowed extra time for the public to participate and provide valuable input. Apparently, the majority in power on this committee have no interest in a collaborative effort to improve things and create best practices and have STVR PROGRAM AD-HOC COMMITTEE MEETING - SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 - PUBLIC COMMENTS BY RESIDENT DAVID DINNEL PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA - RELATED TO STVR

reason and logic as important factors. Whether I attended the meetings in person or wanted to speak over zoom, the time line would have never changed. It is clear that the minority participants – the short term rental owners are being railroaded especially since pro-short term rental owners were not even given the respect to be advised that Gavin and a couple others were going to recommend to create a 90 day moratorium on new short term rentals. Does Gavin not realize that this is a complete lack of respect to short term rental owners on the committee and for people who want to participate and provide valuable input who were denied from being on the committee.

Based on listening to these meetings, there seems to be no recognition that somewhere around 98-99% of the guests coming to the city are “COURTEOUS AND RESPECTFUL”. How is this possible????? These guests have essentially been “INVITED” by the city through their very own marketing to come and visit the “GEM OF THE DESERT”. Has La Quinta change their marketing without my knowledge? Did I miss a new marketing campaign for the city to prevent formerly invited guests to no longer visit?

I guess if La Quinta wants to prevent guests from coming, staying and enjoying the city, please allow me to provide some new marketing ideas…… HOW ABOUT LA QUINTA “DO NOT VISIT OUR DESERT OR OUR CITY”…. HOW ABOUT THE CITY NOW MARKETING “DON’T VISIT AND DON’T SPEND TIME IN LA QUINTA”….. VISITORS TALK TOO LOUD, SMILE TOO MUCH AND LAUGH TOO LOUD…. HOW ABOUT A NEW MARKETING CAMPAIGN…… “LA QUINTA ---- WE DON’T WANT VISITORS AND ARE NO LONGER A GEM OF THE DESERT”?

I don’t understand why the city has taken such a negative tone when 98-99% of the guests are respectful and courteous…

I don’t understand why the city has taken such a negative tone when it comes to 98-99.5% of the owners are doing the best they can to be terrific hosts…

Why aren’t members on the committee trying to put together a collaboration STVR PROGRAM AD-HOC COMMITTEE MEETING - SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 - PUBLIC COMMENTS BY RESIDENT DAVID DINNEL PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA - RELATED TO STVR

of “best practices” that can assist in creating policies and procedures that can have even better a little better compliance….

I was advised one of your last meetings by your great Ad hoc leader that there are 3 issues:

1. Sound 2. Parking 3. Trash

Here are a few ideas that can be recommended…

1. Sound: Have the owners install “NOISE AWARE” These items will assist owners and let them know if there is sound at the property (it will not provide info on the sound being made at the property, that sound could becoming from a loud longer term owner, or long term renters property next door)

Have the owner install Outdoor cameras… Have the owner fully disclose the outdoor cameras to the guest as owners should/must inform the guest. (ONLY CAMERAS OUTDOORS AS INDOOR CAMERAS ARE CLEARLY AND INVASION OF PRIVACY AND ILLEGAL) The camera can be used to see if the sound is coming from the owners house and what is creating the sound. Again the sound could be from the street, the neighbor, or from the owners property and they can determine and discover the source of the sound

Guests that are coming to visit who are aware that there is a sound monitor an outdoor camera that can document a party will likely be less interested in that type of behavior.

2. Parking: PGA West and some other neighborhoods may have parking related issues. My neighborhood does not have any parking issues and if there are complaints it isn’t due to parking availability it would be wasted STVR PROGRAM AD-HOC COMMITTEE MEETING - SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 - PUBLIC COMMENTS BY RESIDENT DAVID DINNEL PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA - RELATED TO STVR

complaint by a renter or owner who doesn’t understand it is legal to park on a public street.

I have not have a guest park on the street since I have owned my property and the thought that the city would mandate me to demand guests to provide me all their license plate data is ludicrous.

Gavin, maybe your HOA should fix and iron out its issues and have a program that works before you require citywide mandate to an issue that simply does not exist in a large part of the city.

3. Trash: The city should have always provided information that an owner can contract BURRTEC to go into the backyards, remove, dump, and return the trash cans. It is very likely that no one ever advised the Short term rental owner that this service is available for the vast majority of the city.

Thank you to the PRO-Short term rental ad hoc committee member for mentioning this the committee at the last meeting, that member created a terrific solution for the few that do not use that service. This service should be provided to all short term rental owners but in addition, it should be provided to all owners in the city as many owners have second homes and they could likely also use the convenient service.

P.S. You are NOT going to get any better compliance from guests staying in the city if you do not FINE GUESTS DIRECTLY.

If you really want 99-100% compliance, the city and ad hoc committee MUST hold guests personally responsible for bad guest behavior and owners who are doing the right thing. Put together verbiage and the short term rental owners will provide any disclosure you need and bill the rare out of control guest. If you don’t do this, it will be clear that the city just wants to bully STR owners STVR PROGRAM AD-HOC COMMITTEE MEETING - SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 - PUBLIC COMMENTS BY RESIDENT DAVID DINNEL PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA - RELATED TO STVR

You’re welcome for the positive and useful ideas!

Sincerely,

David Dinnel

Sincerely,

David Dinnel

cell phone fax STVR PROGRAM AD-HOC COMMITTEE MEETING - SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 - PUBLIC COMMENTS BY RESIDENTS CHRISTOPHER CRANFILL & LINNEA VAN KIRK PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA - RELATED TO STVR

09/03/2020

For your consideration:

We are writing this letter as a request that you seriously consider the valid concerns of the residents and homeowners of the La Quinta Cove regarding short term vacation rentals (STVR). We know this has been a hot-button issue for quite some time, and we are grateful that you are considering taking action to curb the problem. This is an outline of the issues we and our neighbors have had with a specific STVR on our immediate block. While we know this may not be indicative of all STVR behavior, it is certainly an example of the problems that can and do occur throughout the neighborhood.

The STVR in question, which was until very recently, unlicensed, was operating on multiple occasions during the Covid-19 ban and we were in constant contact with an officer from Code Compliance. We had been trying to make reports to the designated hotline, but once we found out that they were unlicensed, we realized that this would have no impact on the situation. This home was renting out to large groups of people, sometimes as many as 20 at a time, with multiple cars from different locations, often from out-of-state, parked up and down the street. We reported each violation, provided pictures, and we were assured that the homeowner would be receiving a $1000 citation for every violation. We were also providing pictures of the trash cans permanently out on the street, often with trash piled up and out of the cans and onto the street due to the volume of guests. We were able to observe that the “cleaning crew,” often consisted of 1 teenage boy who spent less than an hour at the home between renters, who were often sitting in their cars in front of our house waiting to be let onto the property. After weeks of making these reports, we found out that, not only did the owner only receive 1 citation for all these offences, they were then allowed to apply for and receive a permit. This was done in part due to the owner’s creative use of subletting to a third party which allowed them to claim ignorance. It is abhorrent that this specific owner, after dozens of complaints, still received permit.

We have at least 4 STVRs in operation on our immediate block, which if extrapolated on the rest of the neighborhood, would indicate that at least a fifth of the homes in The Cove are now being used as STVRs. There are well over 300 listings found on hosting sites, and if these were any other kind of business, there would be no way that they would be allowed to operate in what is supposed to be a residential neighborhood. This clearly creates an overconcentration, which would also never be allowed in any other circumstance. For example, would you allow 5 different bars or coffee shops to operate on one city block?

While we know that it is unrealistic that La Quinta will follow other cities and ban them completely, we do feel that it is reasonable that you put strict guidelines in place. If this neighborhood is going to become a haven for STVR’s, then treat it as such and stop pretending that these are not businesses. Businesses have managers, and hotel guests are not left unsupervised to run the hotels. There are staff onsite, as should be the case with STVRs. Every STVR should be required to have someone onsite when in operation. This will not solve all the problems, but it would go a long way to helping those of us who live here feel like there is more control. If guests knew that they would be supervised, it would absolutely reduce the number of people who are simply looking to take advantage of the freedom an STVR affords them to act in ways that would not be allowed at a hotel. You can try to make rules and regulations, but there is no way to really enforce them unless someone is onsite. STVR PROGRAM AD-HOC COMMITTEE MEETING - SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 - PUBLIC COMMENTS BY RESIDENTS CHRISTOPHER CRANFILL & LINNEA VAN KIRK PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA - RELATED TO STVR

On a more personal note, we have loved our home and our time here in The Cove, but due to this issue, we will not be staying here much longer. Our family moved here in 2015 because we wanted a safe, family-oriented neighborhood to raise our son, and that dream has been taken from us because of STVRs. How can we feel comfortable letting our child freely play in his yard when we have large groups of total strangers right across the street, and down the street, and up the street? This is our home and we should not have to feel like we are living on hospitality row. In addition to being a homeowner, I am a small business owner with an office downtown, and it was wonderful to live and work in close proximity. Feeling like we have lost our dream has been hard to swallow, but after months of doing the right thing and reporting these issues, all the time believing that we and our neighbors would be valued over an absentee owner that is clearly just out to make money, we now have no further illusions of where we stand with the city. If you are not willing to hear our concerns and protect us from this, then we see no other choice but to leave. Seeing the number of homes for sale around us, we are clearly not the only ones, and in a few years, when all the families are gone, I hope you ask yourselves if it was worth it.

Thank you for your time and consideration,

Christopher Cranfill and Linnea Van Kirk I C STVR PROGRAM AD-HOC COMMITTEE MEETING - SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 - PUBLIC COMMENTS BY RESIDENTS GARY & YVONNE VELASQUEZ PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA - RELATED TO STVR •

Gary Velasquez Yvonne Velasquez

La Quinta, CA 92253

August 21, 2020

RE: Vacation home rental

La Quinta, CA 92253

Tommi Sanchez, Hub Manager City of La Quinta 78-495 Calle Tampico La Quinta, CA 92253

Dear Mr. Sanchez,

This is regarding concerns pertaining to the above referenced vacation home rental. Our residence is located next? to the property and for several months most of the persons renting the property have been disturbing the peace on our street, described as follows:

• Playing music at a very high volume: On a number of occasions this has continued into the early hours of the morning, usually on weekends but in some cases even on weekdays. In one case the music did not stop until approximately 6am . We have contacted the authorities when this has occurred and usually the gues4 lower the volume when asked by police; however, w ithin a few minutes of them leaving, the music was turned back up as loud as before if not louder.

• Parking near the house is taken up. At times, we have not been able to park in front of our own ~~ I I

• On two? occasions, illegal? fireworks were set off at night and in the morning

we respectfully request for action to be taken by the City as soon as possible to re~oi've this matter. we both have jobs that require us to get up early and this situation is making life vep difficult for us.

Please contact us at the address above or at .

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Gary Velasquez Yvonne Velasquez

~ STVR PROGRAM AD-HOC COMMITTEE MEETING - SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 - PUBLIC COMMENTS BY RESIDENT JEANNE CHALFONT PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA - RELATED TO STVR

From: To: Lori Lorett Subject: Written Comment Date: Thursday, September 3, 2020 11:55:19 AM

** EXTERNAL: This message originated outside of the City of La Quinta. Please use proper judgement and caution when opening attachments, clicking links or responding to requests for information. **

Thank you, Mayor Evans, Council Members, and Ad Hoc Committee. Jeanne N Chalfont La Quinta Cove, Since 8/1/1975

Agenda Item: none Subject: STVRs I ask: Who does not own any STVR on this list of committee members: Chair Schultz Best Butler Caldwell Church Coronel Franco Grotsky Johasson McDonough Monroe Navarro Shelton Spinney Tamm Sent from my Verizon LG Smartphone STVR PROGRAM AD-HOC COMMITTEE MEETING - SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 - PUBLIC COMMENTS BY RESIDENT SHANNON CHAVEZ PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA - RELATED TO STVR

From: To: Lori Lorett Subject: Written Comments Date: Thursday, September 3, 2020 11:55:44 AM

** EXTERNAL: This message originated outside of the City of La Quinta. Please use proper judgement and caution when opening attachments, clicking links or responding to requests for information. **

1. Shannon Chavez 2. Los Angeles - STR owner in La Quinta 3. 4. Public comment 5. Ad Hoc & STR comment

Good afternoon,

I am an STR owner that has an interest in not only my property but my neighborhood, my neighbors and the great city of La Quinta. I am writing in to express to the ad hoc committee that I am in full support of weeding out the bad hosts and problem properties but not at the expense of entire STR program. Some of the recent guidance and regulations put in place have made it almost impossible to operate as hosts and have many of us living in fear. I am all for rules and restrictions that are reasonable and that create a community that everyone can enjoy (full time residents, STR owners & guests that travel to our beautiful city).

With that said many hosts are afraid that a group of guests that decides to have a little fun at a property they legally rented will be met with noise ordinance violations and possibly other violations that seem unreasonable. Our guests are typically traveling to La Quinta to getaway with friends and family and have a little fun. They are legally renting the home, providing TOT, spending money in the local restaurants and businesses and are creating fond memories that will hopefully bring them back over and over again. By creating an environment that has unreasonable rules and regulations we are putting hosts, guests and the city in a spot that is simply not welcoming and does not embrace the cities “Play in La Quinta” motto.

As I said before, I am aware there are bad actors, and reasonable rules and regulations need to be in place and enforced but taking away the ability to host and guests to enjoy their time in our beautiful city is simply not the solution.

I have listened to many of the ad hoc meetings and have not heard many solutions other than STRs are bad, we need stiffer rules and regulations etc. how about educating STR hosts? How about marketing to the city (STR and residents) the benefits of the the STR program? What the TOT is used for and how that benefits the community? How do STR hosts, guests and residents work together to best serve our community?

A lot of what we hear as STR hosts is all negative from the city and ad hoc, there is rarely a positive mention about STRs and the discussions seem very one sided. I am asking that we share not only the bad but also the good as my understanding is that a lot of the bad parts of STR’s come from a very small % of the overall STR population.

When making decisions on the STR program that impact the entire community, residents and STR owners, please consider both sides of these issues, not just the side that is yelling the loudest currently and please do not make decisions that have long lasting effects simply based on a few bad actors. I firmly believe that with the proper guidance, education and enforcement we can all coexist and keep La Quinta an amazing place for ALL!

Thank you for your time. Shannon Chavez