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From: Donna Maltz
Sent: Tuesday, May 20, 2025 9:15 PM
To: Council Testimony
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Subject: Strong opposition to Bill 47.
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Dear Council Members,
I am writing to express my strong opposition to Bill 47. After careful consideration and review 6hhe
proposed legislation, I have concluded that it is not in the best interest of our community.
Specifically, I am concerned about the severe penalties imposed on property owners for non-compliance,
including fines of up to $10,000 per day. This amount is excessive and unfair, particularly in cases where
mistakes are made in good faith. The threat of such harsh fines could lead to undue stress and financial
burden on individuals and families who are simply trying to utilize their properties.
Furthermore, the bill's provision allowing the County Planning Department to unilaterally cancel a
property's operational permits or rental licenses for even minor infractions is overly broad and could lead
to arbitrary and unfair enforcement. This could have devastating consequences for property owners who
rely on rental income to support their livelihoods.
However, my primary concern lies in the bill's grant of rule -making authority to the County Planning
Department. This provision would enable the department to create future regulations and rules governing
vacation rentals without the need for council approval or public input. I firmly believe that such a
delegation of authority undermines the democratic process and could lead to arbitrary and burdensome
regulations that are not in the best interest of our community.
In particular, the ability of the County Planning Department to impose new rules and regulations on hosted
vacation rentals without a vote by the council or public input is a recipe for abuse of power. This lack of
accountability and transparency could have far-reaching consequences for property owners and the
community at large.
It's essential to recognize the significant economic benefits that vacation rentals bring to our community.
Vacation rentals generate substantial revenue for local businesses, create jobs, and support local
economic growth. According to various studies, vacation rentals contribute millions of dollars to our local
economy each year. This revenue is crucial for many property owners who depend on rental income to
afford living on our island. By allowing property owners to rent out their properties on a short-term basis,
they are able to offset the high cost of living and maintain their properties, which in turn benefits the entire
community.
Given the importance of vacation rentals to our local economy, I urge the council to focus on. supporting
and enabling the success of this industry in future bills. Rather than imposing harsh penalties and
restrictive regulations, the council should explore ways to work with property owners and managers to
ensure that vacation rentals are operated responsibly and safely. By doing so, we can preserve the
economic benefits of vacation rentals while also protecting the interests of our community.
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I would like to ask: How can the council best support the success of vacation rentals in our community?
Shouldn't the focus of forthcoming bills be on finding ways to help vacation rentals thrive, rather than
imposing burdensome regulations and penalties that could harm our local economy?
For these reasons, I urge you to reject Bill 47 and instead work towards finding solutions that support the
growth and success of our economiclly viable vacation rental industry.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Respectfully, Donna Maltz