More details have been ironed out.
During an Oct. 29 workshop, Bradenton Beach city commissioners clarified additional aspects of the quality-of-life ordinance that Mayor Jack Clarke and city attorney Ricinda Perry conceived six weeks ago in response to a pursuit by some residents for a moratorium on new construction.
The moratorium was sought to give officials and residents time to work together to conceive thoughtful rental regulations. Instead, commissioners are one vote away from approving regulations on the operators of short-term rental properties.
Commissioners asked questions about the proposed 13-page ordinance — written by Perry — they had previously approved on first reading. They also requested some changes. A second hearing and adoption are scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, at city hall, 107 Gulf Drive N., Bradenton Beach.
The ordinance is intended to provide procedures for “transient use of residential properties” to reduce adverse impacts to neighboring properties from excessive traffic, noise and trash, illegal parking and other issues. It’s also designed to ensure that the number of rental occupants does not exceed design capacity of the structure or cause health and safety concerns.
Transient public lodging establishments are defined as units rented more than three times a year for periods of less than 30 days.
Operators who of the transient rentals will be required to acquire a license. Commissioners have not yet determined the cost of obtaining the license or the cost of inspections, which will be required prior to a new unit being eligible for rental. Costs will be set by resolution of the commission.
Operators who rent units without a license will be subject to fines of $125 for the first offense and $250 for the second offense. Multiple findings of non-compliance may result in the suspension or revocation of the license.
Unlike other workshops he had chaired since being sworn in June 1, Clarke allowed public comment at the beginning of the meeting. However, his announcement was made to a gallery of only about a half dozen residents.
Some residents may have stayed away, but former Mayor Bill Shearon, Clarke’s opponent in the Nov. 3 mayoral election, was present and spoke.
Shearon said Clarke was being discourteous to residents.
“You made it very clear in several public meetings that there wasn’t going to be any public comment, no opportunity for the public to speak,” Shearon said. “At the last minute, here you are allowing for public comment when nobody even had the idea that they would be allowed to speak.”