STR hotline draws fire

COEUR d'ALENE — A new hotline announced by the city of Coeur d'Alene on Monday for people to report concerns and complaints about short-term rentals came under fire by the CDA-Vacation Rental Alliance.

"The implementation of the Granicus STR-only Hotline is chilling, and blatant discrimination against STR owners; a tiny portion of the overall Coeur d’Alene community," said a statement released Tuesday by the alliance.

It goes on to say, "This snitch line enables people with personal vendettas against legitimate operators to weaponize their complaints through false reports about lawful activities on private property. These false reports could lead to damaging public reputation, civil penalties, and loss of income for lawful operators."

For about the past year, the city has considered ways to address a rising number of STRs, which have been said to adversely affect neighborhoods.

"The hotline is part of the city's ongoing efforts to promote responsible and sustainable short-term rental practices and to ensure the safety and integrity of residential neighborhoods throughout the community," a city press release said.

The hotline will allow citizens to report excessive noise, disruptive behavior or other violations of local laws and regulations related to short-term rentals.

Tuesday, the city said it had received two complaints regarding STRs come in from the website form. One complained about the STR owner breaking the rental agreement, which would not be within the city’s purview. Another reported a potential illegal unit, which will be followed up on by code enforcement.

The city has discussed limiting the number of STRs and fining those operating unpermitted STRs.

The proposal to limit STRs has been met with strong opposition, including threats of legal action against the city, by owners and property managers.

Last year, the City Council approved an agreement with Granicus, based in St. Paul, Minn., for STR host compliance services. Among its tasks are to provide a complete list of STRs, identify owners of non-licensed STRs, establish a 24/7 hotline and perform yearlong monitoring.

Jeremy and Melissa Radford, founders of the CDA-Vacation Rental Alliance, said the hotline is continued targeting of STRs, and pitting neighbors against the STR community in this way is not going to solve any of the so-called problems the city has blamed on STRs.

According to their press release, an alliance member had this to say:

"I think the 24/7 hotline is a clear and welcoming invitation by the City for complaints against STRs of any nitpicky nature, to beef up the complaint data against STRs alone so that the City can justify (or try to) placing additional restrictions on STRs."

The Radfords said the best way for an STR neighbor to have their concerns heard and managed is for them to go directly to the homeowner.

"The CDA Vacation Rental Alliance continues to offer our availability to participate as stakeholders, to change any negative perceptions of STRs in our community that have been based on talking points that are completely unsubstantiated," the release said.

Coeur d'Alene City Councilman Dan Gookin responded to the alliance statement sent to the city Tuesday.

"I would encourage you to write back when you can acknowledge that the city is trying to accommodate you," he wrote. "Being unreasonable and arguing for an unabated wild west of STRs isn't helping your cause. This country was built on compromise. Those unwilling to do so sit at the side of the empty road waiting for a ride that never comes."

Coeur d'Alene Mayor Jim Hammond was surprised the alliance came out on day one against the hotline.

"I'm not sure what the fuss is already about," he said.

Hammond said the alliance is assuming the city is seeking information to go after STRs, which is not the case.

"The City is committed to finding balance for allowing short-term rentals and ensuring preservation of neighborhood integrity," the city's release said.

Hammond said it would be best to wait and see what happens with the hotline before beginning a battle over it.

"Try it and see how it works before getting all upset about it," Hammond said.

The STR hotline number is 208-416-2502.

Info: www.cdaid.org/short-term-rentals