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NO on EE
October 17, 2024
No on EE
Next Tuesday, October 8, 2024 at 4PM, the Santa Rosa City Council will have a second reading to adopt ballot Measure EE which would add a NEW BUSINESS TAX to all hosts in Santa Rosa who engage in Short Term Rentals. The ordinance documents can be found here.
We oppose this measure as it is written.
- Hosts in our city already pay hefty fees to operate, including a $1282 initial permit fee, and an ANNUAL RENEWAL FEE that is currently at $886. For some hosts, they are only sharing one or more bedrooms in their homes and these costs are already burdensome.
- For many hosts, this home sharing helps them afford to stay living in Sonoma County, afford much needed repairs and maintenance, and is a source of needed additional income.
- The city is already attempting to raise TOT taxes by 2%, and with current BIA fees, that would make a total of 16% visitation taxes the most expensive in the county.
- With the addition of the business tax, and the increase in TOT, this will raise the cost of visiting Santa Rosa, and make our city less competitive than the surrounding areas.
- Not only do hosts lose in this equation, but any restaurant, winery, book store, gift shop, coffee shop and other small businesses that cater to people who visit our county, will see a decrease in revenue in our city.
- These taxes essentially send a signal to visitors to go elsewhere.
We need each host to email their Public Comment to the Santa Rosa City Council AND attend the meeting in person.
Email your comment to cc-comment@srcity.org by 5:00 p.m. the Monday before the City Council Meeting. Identify in the subject line of your e-mail, Agenda Item Number 13.2, and provide your name and comment in the body of the e-mail.
4PM Meeting Location:
Santa Rosa City Hall
Council Chamber
100 Santa Rosa Avenue
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
In the event a council member participates remotely, the city will also allow for Public Comment through the Zoom link or dial-in number below
ZOOM
HTTPS://SRCITY-ORG.ZOOM.US/J/89643446933, or by dialing or by dialing
877-853-5257 and entering WEBINAR ID: 896 4344 6933
Tune in to hear, “What’s Happening in the World of Insurance” on April 9th at 6PM. Local insurance expert Jan Loewen from Loewen Insurance Services and Nick Massey, CSO of Proper Insurance , will guide you through the complexities of insuring your home while engaging in short-term rentals. Bring your questions and learn about crucial topics for California short-term rental owners, including: What steps should short-term rental owners take to ensure they have adequate insurance coverage? How does the insurance coverage change if the property is used for both short-term rentals and as a primary residence? What specific coverage does short-term rental insurance include for properties? Are there any exclusions in short-term rental insurance policies that property owners should be aware of? How does short-term rental insurance protect against loss of revenue? How does the insurance handle situations where guests violate local short-term rental ordinances? Don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights into short-term rental insurance. Register now to secure your spot in the webinar.
"How To" Videos for Coastal Zone Permit & License
Dear Fellow Hosts, The Sonoma County Coalition of Hosts and Friends is bringing you an online seminar entitled: “What Lies Ahead” -Sonoma County's Economic Outlook and Tourism Expectations for 2025. The more information you have about travelers to our county and the strength and understanding of the economy, the better you can tailor your Short Term Rental operations to meet the needs of consumers. Tune in to hear: Ethan Brown, Executive Director of the Economic Development Board of Sonoma County and Claudia Vecchio, President and CEO of Sonoma County Tourism will illuminate the strengths, weaknesses, and changing landscape of our economy. Please come with lots of questions, and invite fellow hosts, and travel related businesses to join you. This will take place: Tues. March 4th, 2025 at 6 PM. REGISTER HERE Advance questions for our experts to answer can be sent to us here at sonomacountycoalitionofhosts@gmail.com .
NO on FF
PHOCUSWRIGHT/VRMB SURVEY COLLAB Phocuswright is the leading travel industry resear ch firm, and they're conducting a 10-minute survey to study the U.S. short-term rentals market and understand key trends among homeowners and hosts who rent their properties to travelers.
VRBO Overcharges On TOT — Look At Your Statement
URGENT Call To Action, Your Taxes Are Being Raised
Public Comment 24-025CAB Item 6.1 Advisory Board June 26, 2024
In response to constituents reaching out over concerns about their homeowners insurance being dropped, Supervisor Gore hosted a panel of Annie Barbour, California Liaison with United Policyholders, and Ada Welder, Legislative Advocate with California State Association of Counties, to provide local and statewide perspectives, including policies and regulations, and practical actions you can take to ensure you're protected. The recording of the webinar is now available here . Presentations during webinar: CSAC Insurance Presentation United Policyholders Presentation Some of the resources mentioned during the webinar: United Policyholders United Policyholders Home Insurance Survey Sonoma County Energy Independence Program (SCEIP) Insurance regulations catastrophe modeling & ratemaking Proposed regulatory reform to safeguard insurance market
ACTION: County Vacation Rental Update April 30, 2024, 2:15PM
