03-03-2020 - AGENDA ITEM 04 CONSIDERATION OF INITIATION OF CODE AMENDMENT NO. 20-03 REGARDING SHORT TERM RENTALSAGENDA ITEM NO.4
AGENDA STAFF REPORT
City of West Covina I Office of the City Manager
DATE: March 3, 2020
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: David Carmany
City Manager
SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION TO INITIATION OF CODE AMENDMENT NO.20-03 REGARDING
SHORT TERM RENTALS
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council adopt a resolution initiating Code Amendment No. 20-03 regarding a
prohibition on short term housing rentals, by adopting the following resolution:
RESOLUTION NO.2020-16 — A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
WEST COVINA, CALIFORNIA, INITIATING CODE AMENDMENT NO. 20-03 TO CONSIDER
PROHIBITING SHORT TERM HOUSING RENTALS
DISCUSSION:
Based on past City Council discussions and community concerns, staff has prepared a resolution to initiate a code
amendment to prohibit short term housing rentals. Short terms rentals refer to residential rentals of thirty days or
less. The Municipal Code does not explicitly regulate short term housing rentals. However, the Business License
Section of the Municipal Code defines a hotel/motel as transient uses of less than 30 days and the Zoning Code
does not allow hotels/motels in residential zones. In order to adopt standards to clearly prohibit short term rentals,
the Zoning Code would be revised. The Municipal Code specifies that the City Council or Planning Commission
can initiate a code amendment to the Zoning Code. To that end, a resolution has been prepared stating the intent of
the City Council to initiate a code amendment.
OPTIONS:
The City Council has the following options:
1. Adopt staff s recommendation;
2. Receive and file the report thereby declining to initiate a code amendment;
3. Provide alternative direction.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
The proposed code amendment is exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines in that it consists of a code amendment that would
prohibit short term rentals and it can be seen that there is no significant effect on the environment through this
potential amendment.
Prepared by: Jeff Anderson, Community Development Director
Attachments
Attachment No. 1 -Initiation Resolution
CITY COUNCIL GOALS & OBJECTIVES: Achieve Fiscal Sustainability and Financial Stability
Enhance the City Image and Effectiveness
Attachment No.1
RESOLUTION NO. 2020-16
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST
COVINA, CALIFORNIA, INITIATING CODE AMENDMENT NO. 20-03
TO CONSIDER PROHIBITING SHORT TERM RENTALS
WHEREAS, on March 3, 2020, the City Council initiated a code amendment to consider
adopting a prohibition on short term rentals in the West Covina Municipal Code; and
WHEREAS, the studies and investigations made by the City Council and in its behalf reveal
the following facts:
1. Recently there have been negative impacts to the community based on the operation of
short term rentals in the City, including noise, parties and a murder.
2. The West Covina Municipal Code currently includes a definition of a hotel and motel in
the Business License Chapter and the Zoning Chapter does not allow hotels or motels in
residential zones. While the Municipal Code does not allow hotels/motels, it is
appropriate to consider standards that clearly prohibit short term rentals for clarification
and enforcement.
3. The proposed action is considered to be exempt from the provisions of the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA
Guidelines, in that the proposed action consists of a code amendment, which does not
have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the City Council of the City of West Covina,
in conformance with Section 26-153(a)(2) of the West Covina Municipal Code, does hereby initiate
an application for a Code Amendment related to the Short Term Rentals.
APPROVED AND ADOPTED on this Yd day of March 2020.
Torry Wu
Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM ATTEST
Thomas P. Duarte
Lisa Sherrick
Assistant City Clerk
I, LISA SHERRICK, ASSISTANT CITY CLERK of the City of West Covina, California, do
hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution No. 2020-16 was duly adopted by the City
Council of the City of West Covina, California, at a regular meeting thereof held on the 31
day of March, 2020, by the following vote of the City Council:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Lisa Sherrick
Assistant City Clerk