Saint Joseph council adopts short-term rental rules after brief public comment

The Saint Joseph City Council on a unanimous 7-0 vote adopted an ordinance imposing regulations on short-term rentals in the city after a public hearing and a single public comment.

Brandon King, who identified himself as a local short-term rental host, addressed the council during the public hearing and urged restraint on new rules. "Most of the short-term rental hosts in Saint Joseph are able to provide a better experience at a more economical rate than they can find at a hotel," King said. He argued that the short-term rental market self-regulates through reviews and that "by adding unnecessary red tape, we are adding unnecessary responsibilities to our city" that could push out small local hosts and shift business to hotels.

The clerk read the ordinance, which amends sections of Chapter 31 of the city code to provide regulations for short-term rentals. After the public hearing—opened with first, second and third calls and closed when no further speakers came forward—the council cast votes; the clerk announced, "Passes 7 0."

City officials did not record substantive debate or amendments to the ordinance in the transcript; the vote followed the public hearing and procedural calls for council voting. The ordinance was presented as an amendment to the district use table and use limitations in chapter 31 of the code of ordinances.

Next steps: the ordinance takes effect according to the city's codified process for adopted amendments; the transcript does not specify an effective date or additional administrative steps. Any implementation details, enforcement procedures or licensing requirements beyond the ordinance text were not specified in the meeting record.

Provenance: discussion and public comments on the short-term rental ordinance appear in the transcript between the clerk's reading of the bill (first called for by the clerk) and the subsequent vote (see the public-hearing and vote segments).