The Yucca Valley Town council spent about two-and-a half hours discussing the proposed ordinance on short-term vacation rentals at its meeting last night. Managing editor Tami Roleff was there for the entire 3 ½ hour-marathon meeting and offers this report…
The Yucca Valley Town Council heard from 18 residents last night, most of them owners of vacation home rentals, who urged the council to make changes to the proposed ordinance. Many of the speakers urged the council to hold a workshop with rental owners to work out the changes. They also felt the quiet time hours should be changed from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. to the town’s regular quiet hours of 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. They also felt the requirement for a sign out front should be dropped as many felt it advertised to burglars. The town council unanimously agreed to change the quiet hours and to delete the requirement for signs. However, there was not enough support to change the minimum age to rent a vacation home rental from 21 to 18. Town staff will incorporate the suggested changes into the ordinance, and the public hearing was continued to September 19, at which time residents can once again comment on the proposed ordinance.
In other business, the council approved a disbursement agreement with Hi-Desert Water District for the Measure Z funds to reduce the residents’ sewer assessment. The agreement allows the town to recoup its costs in administering the funds up to 5 percent of the disbursed fund amount, or $75,000.
And finally, the council agreed to change the town’s ordinance on sex offenders to comply with the new court interpretation concerning sex offenders on probation. While sex offenders on parole can be prohibited from living within 2000 feet of schools and parks, sex offenders on probation cannot.
