City Council Meeting - 2022-02-07

Detailed briefing

Harbor Springs City Council — February 7, 2022 • Council approved amendments to the short-term rental ordinance. Staff said the changes focus on behavior and nuisance enforcement rather than the overall number or location of rentals. The amendments include a maximum of two people per bedroom, a requirement that owners provide renters the city’s Be a Good Neighbor pamphlet, rules addressing yard parking and trash containers, a reduction in suspension-hearing notice from 21 to 14 days, suspension authority up to 90 days, and possible license revocation after a second violation. Staff said the Planning Commission is expected to consider broader short-term-rental policy questions later. • Public commenters questioned why some trash and parking requirements would be stated specifically in the short-term rental ordinance when similar concerns may involve other residents. One rental owner objected to the two-person-per-bedroom limit because of a large bedroom with bunk beds. Staff said a short-term rental is a rental of less than 30 days. • Staff presented two paid-parking concepts: a kiosk system and a permit system linked to license plates and mobile-app payments. The stated purpose was to help address a $120,000 budget shortfall, preserve services, protect reserves, and diversify revenue. The permit concept would allow two free annual permits per in-town property, with additional and nonresident permits proposed at $150. • Most public comments opposed paid parking. Concerns included effects on downtown businesses and workers, churches, nonprofits, visitors, older residents, the city’s character, kiosk costs, and potential enforcement issues. Several speakers urged alternatives including a specific millage, another Headlee proposal, grants, spending reductions, and a citizen group to examine revenue options. • Council unanimously tabled a paid-parking decision until a March meeting. Members said they will continue discussing options at their next February meeting, including millage, Headlee override, special assessment, or combinations of approaches. Some council members said paid parking should remain an option unless a more workable alternative is found. • The city manager reported that MDOT has raised new concerns about the M-119 electric pole replacement project, now seeking reconsideration of the entire two-mile route and a potentially costly slope-stability study. The city also submitted an EDA boardwalk grant application and reported more than $200,000 raised toward a $350,000 minimum skate park fundraising goal. Worth watching: • Whether council develops a specific alternative revenue proposal before reconsidering paid parking in March. • Whether MDOT’s demands delay or prevent the M-119 electric pole replacement project. • Whether skate park fundraising reaches its stated $350,000 minimum goal. Upcoming: Council plans further revenue-option discussion at its next February meeting; any paid-parking vote was tabled until March. Why it matters: The city must balance budget and reserve needs while residents pressed council to avoid changes they believe could affect downtown Harbor Springs.

No open public follow-ups are linked to this meeting yet.