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Annapolis Alderman: City Council unlikely to vote on short-term rental legislation Monday

Ross Arnett answers questions during a Capital Gazette interview. John "Bumper" Moyer and incumbent Ross Arnett are running in the Democratic primary for the Annapolis Ward 8 Alderman's seat.
Paul W. Gillespie / Capital Gazette
Ross Arnett answers questions during a Capital Gazette interview. John “Bumper” Moyer and incumbent Ross Arnett are running in the Democratic primary for the Annapolis Ward 8 Alderman’s seat.
Brooks DuBose, Capital Gazette City Hall and Naval Academy reporter

The Annapolis City Council was poised to vote on the much-discussed short-term rental properties legislation at Monday’s City Council meeting, but an alderman said the bill will likely be delayed until two major amendments are worked out.

Alderman Ross Arnett, D-Ward 8, one of the sponsors of O-26-19, which aims to tax and regulate short-term rentals like Airbnb, VRBO and Home Away, said the council won’t take legislative action on the bill Monday night. Two amendments to the legislation still need to be finalized over the next two weeks with assistance from the city’s Office of Law.

One amendment would remove the 120-day limit for a rental property owner to be absent and still rent their property in the same year. Another would allow property owners to operate short-term rental properties on the condition there is a property manager registered with the city, Arnett said.

He hoped the amendments could be voted on at the Oct. 24 City Council meeting, Arnett said.

If they pass, the amendments would significantly change the bill and likely require a second public hearing, Arnett said. After the Oct. 24 meeting, the City Council only meets two more times before January, once on Nov. 18 and again on Dec. 9.

Ideally, the public hearing for the amended bill would take place at the November meeting with the final vote taking place in December, Arnett said.

Several parties have voiced their support or displeasure at the proposed legislation since it was introduced in June. Investors say the bill is too restrictive. Some residents support the bill because they’re concerned their neighborhoods are being disrupted by short-term rentals. Hotel and bed and breakfast operators see short-term rental operators as competition that should be taxed and regulated much like they are.

These kinds of bills take time, Arnett said.

“There are strong feelings on both sides. We’re working through it,” Arnett said.

Another controversial bill on Monday’s agenda is O-18-19, which would establish a Department of the Environment that would report directly to the city manager. It is also likely to be delayed to allow time to develop a consensus among the council and not pass a bill with “unintended consequences,” Arnett said.

Two other bills on the agenda, R-30-19 and R-31-19, which would update the city’s fines and fees schedule to include fees and fines in the short-term rental legislation will also likely be delayed, Arnett said.