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Board of County Commissioners Meeting Minutes - Final June 20, 2023 <br />The Commissioners entered into discussion with staff regarding the current protocol in <br />addressing code violation complaints for registered short-term rentals. Commissioner <br />Flescher and Chairman Earman suggested it would be more effective to have <br />additional code enforcement personnel assigned to handle the calls, often received on <br />weekends, rather than increasing fines which seemed not to be a deterrent. <br />Commissioner Moss supported increased fines in the interest of preserving quality of <br />life for residents, and made a motion to approve staff s recommendation. <br />President of the South Beach Property Owners Association, Miles Conway, spoke at <br />length regarding his decade-long battle against the impact of short-term rentals; some <br />homeowners left Indian River County as a result of the noise and cars. Mr. Conway <br />called for reorganization of the code enforcement department and discussed his <br />recommended changes. <br />Interim Community Development Director Andy Sobczak advised Chairman Earman <br />that short-term rental licenses could be denied renewal, but not revoked. He opined <br />that non -licensed rentals were more problematic for the County than the relatively <br />well-maintained registered ones, and license revocation may not solve the problems. <br />Attorney Barry Segal, who represented a rental -property owner, noted that most <br />short-term renters were families in town for festivities or sports events. He suggested <br />it was a handful of residents who were generating a disproportionate number of <br />complaints. <br />Mr. Conway offered rebuttal to attorney Segal, and was informed that complainants <br />could have their Commissioner file a code enforcement grievance in order to remain <br />anonymous. <br />Joseph Paladin, Black Swan Consulting, agreed with the need for additional resources <br />to enforce the rules already on the books. <br />Commissioner Moss restated her motion approving staffs recommendation to include <br />adding staff to the code enforcement department to handle vacation rental complaints. <br />Commissioner Flescher received confirmation that additional discussion would be <br />possible when the proposed Ordinance was brought back for approval. <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Moss, seconded by Commissioner Loar, to <br />approve staffs recommendation with the addition of direction to add a staff <br />member to the Code Enforcement Department to focus on vacation rentals. The <br />motion carried by the following vote: <br />Aye: 4 - Vice Chairman Adams, Commissioner Flescher, Commissioner Loar, and <br />Commissioner Moss <br />Nay: 1 - Chairman Earman <br />Indian River County Florida Page 18 <br />