06/02/2015 (3) - Laserfiche WebLink

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I will note that I have been coming to SBPOA meetings for years and I do not remember the subject of short-term rentals coming up until sometime in 2015. The issue came before the County Commission on June 19, 2012 and again on July 10, 2012. Many citizens spoke both for and against short-term rentals. The minutes do not reflect anyone speaking for the SBPOA at either of those meetings. Nor do I recall anyone from the SBPOA showing the slightest bit of interest in the short-term rental issue at that time. While I do not see how you can be upset because I am opposed to the SBPOA, which I am not, but because I am not acting as quickly and aggressively as you believe I ought to act. This may well be true. While I do not yet have a fully formed position on the short-term rental issue, I do have a presumption against, and am slow to use, the coercive arm of the state against my friends and neighbors. In the front of the binder that holds the back up for the issues discussed at our Commission meetings is a quote by Robert Conquest: ... it is not enough to show that a situation is bad; it is also necessary to be reasonably certain that the problem has been properly described, fairly certain that the proposed remedy will improve it, and virtually certain that it will not make it worse. I believe this is good advice for any elected official and that the conditions expressed in the quote have not yet been met. For instance, internet companies like Airbnb Inc. and Homeaway, Inc. have developed a significant new type of short-term rental business. These types of rentals may well be inappropriate for our community but they have not yet been part of the discussion. I believe they ought to be. Given the limited discussion on the issue we have had at the County to date, I believe a number of other aspects of the problem will surface and become part of the discussion as the BCC moves forward. I will again note, however, that the BCC has gone forward asking the County Attorney to craft an ordinance that will ban commercial events at homes in residential neighborhoods. I believe this ordinance is appropriate and I am hopeful that it will address the vast majority of the problems associated with short-term rentals. I am appreciative of all the work that the SBPOA has done related to the short-term rental issue and look forward to working with all the residents of Indian River County as we move forward to come up with workable solutions to the problems that accompany them. Sincerely, r-- 1 Bob Solari 246