Council Charts Course, But Punts Final Decision On Short Term Rentals, Again

Written by on August 11, 2020

One more month … on short term rentals.

Having blown through the summer vacation rental period … the Malibu city council last night decided to put off its decision on what to do about short term rentals until the middle of September.

That time will give the city attorney time to draw up not one … not two … but three proposed city ordinances to consider then.

If not three separate ordinances, a three-pronged approach.

Maybe.

Ordinance one … a permanent ordinance similar to the existing Santa Monica ordinance on short term rentals.

It’s the same ordinance we’ve been reporting on.

No short term rentals without an onsite host.

One per owner.

Strict permit requirements.

And that ordinance will have to go to the Coastal Commission for approval … a process that city attorney Christi Hogin says is mandatory.

NEWSCART 75765 HOGIN AMEND

“This has to be certified as an LCP amendment because it changes the use in Malibu.

“And that’s where we’re at.”

Ordinance two .. a temporary ordinance to handle overnight rentals until the main ordinance passes coastal.

It won’t change land use policies … but will give the city more power to regulate egregious violations of the public peace.

And ordinance number three … enforcement … to address the party houses.

Things like thousand dollar per day fines for violating the rules against parties or parking all over the place.

The only vote against this plan was an abstention from councilman Jefferson Wagner.

He said he realizes his preference … enacting a permanent ordinance now and not taking it to Coastal … is not going to happen.

Wagner says the council is doing the right thing … despite his dissent.

NEWSCART 75763 WAGNER RESTRICTIONS

“I think you doing your community message you can and I really will stand behind you on that

“I have different thoughts but I’m glad to see that it looks like four council members have gotten together on this.

“I just want everybody to know that your council is doing the best that it can … and there are a lot of restrictions on your council.”

It was not exactly clear during the late night meeting if there would really be three ordinances, or tw, that will come back to the city council on September 14th.

And Rick Mullen … the lone city council member up for re-election … made a point to note at the end of the meeting.

The council is leaving open the option of -NOT- going to the Coastal Commission with a land use amendment … and just make it illegal to operate an outlaw short term rental in the city codes.

Mullen is the lone city council member facing a re-election battle this fall, and vote-by-mail will start just days after that September 14th meeting.

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