COMMISSION DISCUSSES
TRANSIENT RENTALS
02 APRIL 2024
TRANSIENT RENTALS
02 APRIL 2024
MEETING SPECIFICS
On Tuesday, April 2, 2024, the City of Cedar Key Commission met at 5 pm, at City Hall, in a workshop session to discuss Transient Rentals. Mayor Sue Colson, Vice-Mayor Nancy Sera, and Commissioner Jim Wortham were in attendance.
Incoming commissioners Jolie Davis and Jeff Webb were in attendance. They sat at the dais and participated in the discussion. They will be sworn in at the next meeting commission meeting on April 16.
Staff in attendance included: City of Cedar Key Attorney Norm Fugate, Police Department Chief Edwin Jenkins, Fire Chief / Emergency Operations Director Robert Robinson, Public Works Supervisor Jamie McCain, City Clerk / Building Clerk Jennifer Sylvester, Deputy City Clerk Telicia Winfield, Clerk Heather Lang, and Legal Assistant to Norm Fugate Lee LeeAnne E. Rohrer.
The meeting was Zoomed.
Among those in the approximately sixty person audience were: Anne Miller, Jeri Treat, Jan Hendrix, Claudette Nelson, Janice Fugate, Mendy Allen, Caryn Stephenson, Lisa Custer, Vanessa Edmonds, Jennifer Webb, Darrell McCormick, Mike and Peggy Day, Hal and Barbara Reid, Joe Hand, Doug Lindhout, Sherry Sicking, Tammie Garstecki, and Mandy and Frank Offerle.
VACATION RENTALS / TRANSIENT RENTALS WORKSHOP
SENATE BILL 280
Commissioner Jim Wortham introduced the workshop subject with the definition of vacation rentals / transient rentals, according to the Florida Legislature’s Senate Bill 280, which follows:
Commissioner Jim Wortham introduced the workshop subject with the definition of vacation rentals / transient rentals, according to the Florida Legislature’s Senate Bill 280, which follows:
“…any unit, group of units, dwelling, building, or group of buildings, within a single set of buildings which is rented to guests for more than three times within one calendar year for periods of less than 30 days, or one calendar month, whichever is less, for which is advertised or held out to the public as a place regularly rented to guests.”
The bill addresses: registration and fees, annual renewal, property inspections, maximum occupancy, responsible person information details, fines and suspensions, and web-based platforms.
Senate Bill 280 passed its way through the legislative process in Tallahassee and is now, as of April 2, on the governor’s desk.
WORKSHOP GOAL
Wortham explained that, as his evening’s gathering was a “workshop,” and not a “meeting,” thus, no decisions could be legally made tonight. The workshop’s purpose is twofold: to provide information to the commissioners and the community, and to have the
commissioners decide if they wished to pursue the matter now, later, or not at all.
Wortham explained that, as his evening’s gathering was a “workshop,” and not a “meeting,” thus, no decisions could be legally made tonight. The workshop’s purpose is twofold: to provide information to the commissioners and the community, and to have the
commissioners decide if they wished to pursue the matter now, later, or not at all.
No one had an accurate number of vacation rentals in Cedar Key. The number of units has been estimated to be between 200 to 400.
Excessive noise and rampant parking being the biggest problems.
Pros and cons were briefly presented. Pros included: increased tourism and business patronage. Cons included: parking difficulties and pressure, increased noise and light problems, and increased workload on Public Safety, Fire Department and city staff.
When asked how many complaints come to City Hall, Jennifer Sylvester said she could not respond, and Chief Jenkins said four to five a month. Commissioners advised that they keep a tally on complaints henceforth.
RESIDENTS’ CONCERNS
Resident Jan Hendrix asked if these rentals were currently paying sales tax and a bed tax.
Resident Patty Jett remarked that if these rentals are doing business, they should be paying the business garbage rate with WastePro, and they ought not have homestead exemption on the homes. A Sturgis Circle resident remarked that the renters next to her shot off fireworks while she had had to monitor her house with a hose in her pajamas for hours.
Resident Jan Hendrix asked if these rentals were currently paying sales tax and a bed tax.
Resident Patty Jett remarked that if these rentals are doing business, they should be paying the business garbage rate with WastePro, and they ought not have homestead exemption on the homes. A Sturgis Circle resident remarked that the renters next to her shot off fireworks while she had had to monitor her house with a hose in her pajamas for hours.
Resident Mike Day posited that these rentals were a problem and ought to be regulated, at the least, through registration. He suggested that the city conduct a referendum on the issue, noting that the commissioners needed to hear from all those affected.
COMMISSSIONER RESPONSES
Sue Colson said that some of these problems are “neighborly” problems and a “teaching issue” and could be solved by people talking to one another. She furthered that most of these issues are already addressed in the Laws of Cedar Key and could be handled by code enforcement. Colson was not in favor of pursuing the matter further.
Sue Colson said that some of these problems are “neighborly” problems and a “teaching issue” and could be solved by people talking to one another. She furthered that most of these issues are already addressed in the Laws of Cedar Key and could be handled by code enforcement. Colson was not in favor of pursuing the matter further.
Nancy Sera asked, “How do we identify them {renters}?”
Jeff Webb, who stated that he owns rental units, said the situation was a “solution looking for a problem.” He furthered, “We live in a modern world.” He opted not to pursue the matter any further.
The question of a registration process was brought up and Webb asked, “what do we perceive the registration process to do?” and “What problems do we expect it to solve and who is going to enforce it?”
Jolie Davis remarked that the Police Department should do its job. She chose to table the issue for now.
According to SB280 Vacation Rentals or Transient Rentals will be required to register with the DBPR (Department of Business and Professional Regulation). Then each rental unit would be considered a business, required to pay state sales tax and obtain a business license from their respective cities.
Registration fees were discussed. Fees up to $150 were noted and a yearly renewal fee of $50 was mentioned. Other fees for safety and code compliance inspections could also be required.
The workshop ended with many issues discussed but none solved. If the bill is approved discussions will resume.
If the bill is signed by the Governor or is left unsigned after 30 days, it will go into effect on July 1, 2024.
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