Lakewood council passes short-term rental pause over mayor’s objection

Mayor Meghan George speaks into a microphone at a table between Police Chief Kevin Fischer and Law Director Ernie Vargo — Mayor Meghan George, center, at the November 2 City Council meeting, with Police Chief Kevin Fischer and Law Director Ernie Vargo. Image from City of Lakewood video.

Lakewood City Council on Monday, November 2, passed a six-month pause on new short-term rentals after Mayor Meghan George asked council to send it to committee instead, saying the city’s building commissioner had “significant concerns” about enforcing it.

The Lakewood Provisional Post watched the recording.

Council had put off the vote on October 19. The pause stops the city from licensing any new home as a short-term rental, meaning one rented for less than 30 days. Rentals already licensed can keep operating but cannot add units, and owners operating without a license have 14 days after the pause is enacted to get one.

The mayor said the administration supports regulating short-term rentals, but that the pause would be “very difficult to enforce” and have limited practical effect. Law Director Ernie Vargo said a two-week delay for a committee discussion “sounds very reasonable.”

Vice President Kyle Baker, who wrote the resolution with Councilmember Tom Bullock, said the law department had drafted it and had already made changes the building commissioner asked for. “What I’d like to do is stop the leak and then investigate the leak and fix the leak,” he said, and offered to revise it at the next meeting if needed.

Council President Sarah Kepple said council had heard nothing from the administration since the October deferral until that moment. Councilmember Bryan Evans, whose committee would have taken it up, supported passing it. No one voted no on the voice vote. Councilmember Cindy Strebig was absent.

Under the city charter, the mayor has 10 days to sign or veto the resolution, and it becomes law if she does neither. Overriding a veto takes five of council’s seven votes.

Baker said the law department’s draft of permanent rules for short-term rentals should reach council before Thanksgiving. A short-term rental owner told council during public comment that it was rushing, and that rentals provide flexible, well-paid work.

ENDFOR NOW

WRITTEN BYCory RobertsA Lakewood resident since graduating from Case Western University in 2012.15 articlesView profile →