Study Session On Proposed Short Term Rental Regulations Tomorrow

"Short Term Rental" [STR] regulations in the future

In September, we reported that the town was "tackling the STR challenge". There are about 300 or so STR's now in Oro Valley. That number, we expect will continue to grow as there is a national trend of corporations purchasing residences for rental.

The challenge is to provide regulation and perhaps a fee, such as the bed tax, to short term rentals and vacation rentals in Oro Valley. Its an area that other communities, working with the Arizona League of Cities and Towns, at considering. Tomorrow, the council will discuss the area in a study session, with an eye toward making a decision at the January 4 town council meeting. 

Article 8-8 of town code as proposed has a number of requirements

Town staff is proposing a new code section, section 8-8, to regulate STR. By law, the town can not ban STR but it can enact reasonable regulations "to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the community." Staff is proposing that:

• 
  A license is required 
  The owner will be required to obtain a license for each rental unit. That license will require a fee paid to the the town. Town council will need to decide whether that is one-time or annual license. They will need to have a state issued sales tax license, evidence of liability insurance, and evidence that the STR is so noted in the Pima County Assessors records. The town can reject the application for a variety of reasons. For example, the applicant is a registered sex offender.
• Emergency response requirements
  The license holder must be available to the police within sixty minutes if there is an emergency.
• Compliance with all laws is required
  "All federal, state, and local laws including laws relating to public health and safety, sanitation, solid waste, hazardous waste, tax privilege licensing, property tax registration, traffic control, pollution control, noise, property maintenance, and nuisance abatement."
  
• Certain uses are not permitted
  The proposed ordinance lists nine uses for which the property can not be used. This includes housing sex offenders or operating sexually-oriented businesses.
• The neighbors must be notified that the property is seeking an STR permit
  Prior to licensing, the applicant has to notify the adjacent neighbors via registered letter or certified mail that this is an STR. However, there is not provision in the proposed code where the adjacent neighbors have any recourse in terms of responding to this notice.
• Background checks on those who rent are required
  The owner must prove that anyone who rents the property is not a registered sex offender
• Violations... Penalties
  There are a number of these detailed in the proposed code.

There are also a host of "offenses" that are detailed in the town's current code, Section 10, that apply to all properties and behaviors, including those of an STR. For example, the owner of any inn must keep a guest register. Also, the renters must observe the town's noise ordinance.

Homeowner Associations should get involved

Homeowner Associations represent about 70% (our guess) of the residents of Oro Valley.  HOA regulations apply to all properties in their community. A property owner that is not occupying the home must abide by the same regulations as those that occupy their homes. (Unfortunately) the HOA can not limit or restrict a property from becoming a STR. Together with the town, however, the HOA can ensure that the property does protect "the health, safety, and welfare of their HOA." Thus, their involvement in crafting the STR code is essential to the well-being of their community.

Discussion tonight... Decision in January

Tonight is a study session. Early January is a hearing and decision of whether this or some variation of this ordinance is approved. One area we hope council will explore is requiring a public hearing on all STR so that residents can opine before a permit is issued.

Bits and Pieces: Pima County Bond Election and More

Pima County bond election coming. Hold on to your wallet."
You will have a chance to watch zero liability voters increase your property bill.

"On April 21, 2015 the Pima County Board of Supervisors approved Resolution No. 2015-19 ordering a bond election to be held on November 3, 2015, and approving seven ballot propositions. If voters were to approve all seven propositions, the County would be authorized to sell $815,760,000 in general obligation bonds to fund projects that meet the purposes stated in each proposition." (Source)

And you will pay for these projects with an increase of major proportions to your property tax.

As we have already observed:

Oro Valley and Foothills property owners pay much more than they should for projects they could finance on their own. This is is because their property values are far greater than the rest of the county. And, as we have observed, Oro Valley would probably not do it on their own because it would require an Oro Valley property tax. 

Better the property tax should come form Pima County and not Oro Valley?

Wait till you find out what it will cost you!

More will follow.

Meet the Oro Valley Police Department this Sunday at Noble Hops. 
The site is located at the southeast corner of La Canada and Lambert.  There is a special menu for this event. "Coffee with a Cop is a national initiative supported by the United States Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. The goal of this program is to break down barriers between the public and police officers." (Source: Town Of Oro Valley press release)

Source: Oro Valley Police Department Statistics

Be alert at Oro Valley's traffic light intersections
The Oro Valley Police Department  released its latest crime statistics.   Included in these is a graph of the top accident intersections for the 4th quarter of 2014.   The intersection of Tangerine and La Canada had, by far, the most traffic accidents.   Every one of the intersections  on the report have traffic lights.  Apparently, people are in for too much of a rush to pay attention to the rules.

Awesome
Oro Valley's Basis School #1 ranking
The Washington Post has rated Oro Valley's Basis High School as the most challenging high school in the United States. This was determined by an index that the post created.

"The index score is the number of college-level tests given at a school in the previous calendar year divided by the number of graduates that year." Basis' index was 20.444.  This would mean that there were more than 20 college level tests given at the school per graduating student. This was 3 more than the #2 school.

Also noted... the percentage of graduates who passed at least one college-level test during their high school career, called equity and excellence, (E&E)." Basis' score: 100%
(Source) (Read the Arizona Daily Star Report)

Can your homeowners association take your home?
Your home may be taken if you are a member of the homeowners association. This was brought to our attention by the Sun City communications Blog.  They link to an posting that is difficult to understand. According to the article: "HOA members are not protected...from the ... HOA right to foreclose on a member’s home." Is this fact?

Oro Valley bond rating stays at "AA-"
Bond rating agency Fitch has affirmed Oro Valley's bond rating of AA-. This is considered to be a good rating. The rating observed that: "Management maintains a solid financial cushion despite recent draws on fund balance for one-time capital projects" and that "Additional operating and capital spending pressures are likely over the intermediate term given recently strengthened economic trends and population expansion through build-out." (Source)

Cheap fees offered at Golf Club at Vistoso
$2 Tuesdays are available at this beautiful course. $2 per hole. That's $36. This is a lot less than Oro Valley Town  El Conquistador Country Club plans to charge per round.

Is it safe to assume that the many private golf clubs in Oro Valley are going to fight for players against the town's offering?