Letter to the editor re: Short-Term Rentals in Buena Park

Dear Editor,

I am writing to you on behalf of the Buena Park Short Term Rental Coalition. We reviewed the agenda that was put out by the City of Buena Park and have some very serious questions and concerns. There are about 75 STR owners, of which 44 were mailed notices to cease and desist effective May 14, 2019 because of a supposed Immediate Threat to the health, welfare and safety of the public. The notice, by the way, was mailed out May 23 and received by most STR owners by May 30. This is not a very immediate time frame, meaning that the threat was not so immediate.

The ordinance was enacted in part because of one to two homes who were receiving complaints and it seems like Code Enforcement could not enforce against those complaints. However, 97% of the STR operators were very respectful of their neighbors and most neighbors, when approached, were not even aware that an STR was being operated.

Question 1: If out of 25,000 homes in Buena Park, of which 75 were being utilized in part as an STR, out of which only two had serious complaints against them—was this an immediate threat to the public health, welfare and safety? And let me clarify—by public I mean the public at large, the majority of the citizens of Buena Park.

Question 2: If the city went through the process of putting together a draft ordinance allowing STRs in 2016, why would it take more than 45 days to revise and submit the revision for approval? I can’t imagine things have changed that much in three years. So, why does the City need more time and ultimately, why ten months and 15 days more?

Question 3: Clearly the ban on STRs was not effective on the most problematic of the locations. Instead of banning ALL STRs—regulate ALL STRs. Ineffective enforcement on a clear as mud zoning ordinance isn’t sensible. Because it’s not just the residents who were confused by the zoning language, it is also apparently the city staff, as evidenced through numerous people being told that STRs were not, not allowed, by counter staff not knowing how to code a citation payment, even by the fact that every time I call the city now, I get put through to Mr. Camacho because no one else can answer the questions that I have. And even he has to go get a clarification before getting back to me. (Thank you by the way, for always getting back to me Mr. Camacho, even if I didn’t like the answer!)

The biggest and most obvious question I have is this—According to the staff report, pg. 291 “Since the City Council’s enactment of the Moratorium, staff has initiated the process of investigating long-term regulatory options and has heard from a variety of stakeholders.” I know for a fact that none of the STR owners in the Buena Park Short Term Rental Coalition were interviewed or asked for their opinion nor were they taken into consideration. We are very much 75 out of how many? of the stakeholders in this discussion! Did they talk to the hotel representatives? Must have, because I am aware that they will be at the Public Hearing on June 25, 2019, 5 p.m. at City Hall.

So, it seems that we have a very large mash up about to happen on June 25. Our Coalitions would love to get our side of the story out and also ask for the public to support our cause—freedom to respectfully and legally rent our homes as short term rentals. You can find out how to help at www.buenaparkstr.com or at https://www.facebook.com/groups/buenaparkstr/.

Thank you for your time,

Cassandra Elliott

Stalled STR Operator

Co-leader of Buena Park Short Term Rental Coalition

Homeowner in Buena Park, CA