By Crystal McGough, Associate Editor
IRONDALE – Two ordinances addressing short-term rental properties in the city of Irondale failed to pass the unanimous consent of the city council on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2022.
The ordinance originally listed under “New Business” aimed to prohibit any and all short-term rental properties (rental agreements with a lease less than 30 days) within the city.
During the Council Deliberation portion of the meeting, Councilor Aaron Sims said that he would like to present an alternative option.
“I would like to propose that we take our existing ordinance and create a Short-Term Rental 2.0 ordinance and improve on what we have, verses outright banning them,” Sims said. “Listening to people the last several months – I think it’s been maybe six months since we passed the original ordinance, possibly give-or-take – a lot of the issues seem to be people not abiding by the ordinance; breaking the rules. So, I would like to make the consequences of not abiding by the rules harsher. The people that have a permit and have been doing things the way they’re supposed to, I don’t think we should punish them. So, I propose that we increase the fee … make sure we enforce the rules.”
Sims recommended “putting teeth” in the existing ordinance by making the fines so steep that it would not be profitable for landlords to break the city’s policies. Additionally, if the landlords receive two complaints within a six-month period, Sims recommended the city revoke their permit.
“If you just ban them, the people who are not abiding by the rules will continue to not abide by the rules,” he said. “I just don’t want to punish people who have been abiding by the laws that we created.”
Councilor Cindy Cuellar said that she has received numerous complaints from residents on the issue and feels that banning short-term rentals entirely is the correct solution.
“Our residents are fed up,” she said. “We’re not doing away with rentals; we’re doing away with short-term rentals.”
Cuellar said that the proposed ordinance would still allow for rental agreements with terms of 30 days or more.
Councilor Robert Box said while he agrees with Cuellar, he also liked some of Sim’s points.
“I just think these are problems waiting to happen,” he said. “I hate to keep kicking the can down the road … I will move with the body.”
During public comments, Lisa Cranford addressed the council concerning her own short-term rental property.
“I follow all the rules,” Cranford said. “I’ve never had any problems with anybody. … I’m a full-time schoolteacher and this is my retirement plan.”
A search for Irondale, Alabama, on Airbnb.com shows a result of over 1,000 listings. Cranford said that most of the guests who seek out short-term rentals in the Irondale area are people looking for a place to stay one night, while on their way to another destination, and wanting an alternative option to staying in a hotel.
“We’re in this perfect location for traveling,” she said. “They are just traveling through … and they get to experience Irondale.”
Mia Jeffreys, another short-term rental landlord who has attended many council meetings where this topic has been discussed, also reiterated to the council her feelings on the potential ban.
“I just want to say thank you, Aaron (Sims), for your comments,” she said. “These are my property rights; these are everyone’s property rights. I’m here to warn you that these laws are in violation of well-recognized property rights. Ordinances regulating short-term rentals are unconstitutional.”
Two other citizens spoke in favor of banning short-term rentals, one saying that 200 Irondale residents had signed a petition, and another saying that her property has taken gunfire as a result of a neighbor’s short-term rental.
When it came time to vote, Sims offered his updated version of the original ordinance as Ordinance 2022-25. When Sims made a motion to suspend all rules that would prevent the consideration of the ordinance, Cuellar, Box and Council President David Spivey voted “no.”
After some deliberation, Cuellar offered Ordinance 2022-26, which would prohibit all short-term rentals, allowing only rental agreements with a 30-day minimum lease. When Cuellar made a motion to suspend all rules that would prevent consideration of this ordinance, she, Box and Spivey voted “yes,” while Sims voted “no.”
With both ordinances failing to pass unanimous consent, they will be considered first readings and brought back up for consideration at the next meeting.
In other business, the council approved the following:
- Resolution 2022-R-185, approving the 2023 holiday schedule for city employees
- Resolution 2022-R-186, increasing the city’s portion of the Local Government Health Insurance Premium for the City of Irondale Employees by 7% from the amount currently paid
- Resolution 2022-R-187, authorizing the allocation of public funds to AT&T Alabama Pioneers in the amount of $1,000 from the 22-23 Fiscal Year Discretionary Fund of Councilor John London to be used for the KIDSPARK 10th Anniversary
- Resolution 2022-R-188, authorizing Mayor James D. Stewart Jr to execute an agreement for the purchase of property located at 1080 Grants Mill Road for the price of $1 million for the construction of a new location for the Irondale Public Library
- Resolution 2022-R-189, amending Res. 2022-R-167 to modify the purchase price of two Ford Transit vans for the Senior Activity Center from an amount not to exceed $57,505/van to an amount not to exceed $59,675/van
- Resolution 2022-R-190, declaring weeds and other vegetation a nuisance for the property located at 775 Abigale Lane and ordering its abatement
- Ordinance 2022-24, amending Ordinance 2007-47 to modify the business license issuance fee to $14 beginning Jan. 1, 2023
The next meeting of the Irondale City Council will be Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2022, beginning at 6 p.m., at Irondale City Hall.