Commissioners ask staff to study charging commercial rates for short‑term rentals

Commissioners directed staff to study the logistics and legal implications of charging commercial rates or applying a surcharge to short‑term vacation rentals. Ed Liberty said staff have been working with IT and billing teams and estimated "I've heard a number of about 300 customers, that might be in this category that would move over to an the commercial rate." He warned the billing system and classification rules present complex technical and administrative challenges.

Commissioner Anthony Stegrich and others flagged legal limitations on changing base rates and the risk of pulling in unintended properties; Commissioner Stegrich said, based on his research, he did not believe the city can charge a differing base rate where the cost to deliver energy is the same. Staff said one option under discussion would be a per‑home surcharge rather than a wholesale base‑rate reclassification. No policy change was adopted; staff were asked to return with options.