Prop F Empowers Neighbors to Crack Down on Short Term Rentals in San Francisco – 

A proposition on the November 3 ballot in San Francisco takes an unusual approach to enforce limitations on AirBnB/VRBO/Flip Key type rentals. Prop F would prohibit short-term rentals of second units and limit other short-term rentals to 75 days per year, which is far more than the typical AirBnB online rental by San Francisco hosts. According to a report by San Francisco’s budget analyst, 70% of AirBnB hosts in the city rent only a few weekends per year, receiving a total annual payment of $3120 from AirBnB.

Prof F encourages neighbors within 100 feet to sue hosts of brief visitors renting through online services.  Plaintiffs who win in court would be entitled to special damages of $250 to $1,000 a day on top of attorney fees and costs. It also allows various parties to sue hosting platforms like Airbnb in addition to individual hosts.

Ballotpedia Sf reports:

This measure would impose restrictions on private, short-term housing rentals. It would restrict all such private rentals to only 75 nights per year and impose provisions designed to ensure such private rentals are paying hotel taxes and following city code. It would also require guest and revenue reports from rental hosts and “hosting platforms” every three months. Moreover, Proposition F was designed to prohibit the use of “in-law” units for short-term rentals and enact regulations concerning privacy, peace and quiet. Proposition F would allow enforcement of its provisions by the city, as well as authorizing private action lawsuits by “interested parties”—defined as anyone living within 100 feet—against those suspected of violating the law.

The initiative was motivated by and targets websites such as Airbnb or Homeaway, which feature rental listings nation- and world-wide. It was proposed by a coalition of unions, land owners, housing advocates and neighborhood groups called Share Better SF. In the interest of easy enforcement, the initiative would focus on penalties for websites that post rental listings that do not comply with city law, as well as punishing individual home owners or sub-leasers. The fines proposed for websites featuring illegal posts range from $250 to $1,000 per day for each non-compliant post. Estimates show the fines for a website such as Airbnb could add up to millions of dollars unless a way was found to keep listings in accordance with city law.

Airbnb has responded with a media campaign against the measure through a political committee, SF for Everyone, No on Proposition F.

Two related ordinances are under consideration by the city’s Board of Supervisors, one would limit short-term rentals to 60 days per year and the other would impose a  120 days per year limit.

Share Better SF web ad supporting Prop F.

Airbnb web ad opposing Prop F.

SF Chronicle article.

Landscape 1:  Ramona/Ronada Traffic Triangle.  A traffic island built to improve pedestrian safety that uses drought-tolerant landscaping.  Supported by the neighborhood, the project cost was $185,000 with $30,000 in private contributions ($25,000 from the Piedmont Beautification Foundation and $5000 from the neighborhood).  At this, the peak of the drought, the triangle is in full bloom.

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Landscape 2: the Highland Garden Walk.  A drought-tolerant landscape with pathways, pedestrian seating and themed gardens proposed to replace the Sheridan Avenue “crescent”, the swath of lawn where Sheridan runs into Highland Avenue. Supported by a majority of the neighborhood, the project is estimated to cost $90,000 and is in line for $30,000 in grant funding ($20,000 StopWaste, and $10,000 from EBMUD).  At this the peak of the drought, the project would replace an ornamental lawn that uses 600,000 gallons of water per year.

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The difference between the two projects?  The Traffic Triangle is completed and is an asset to the community. The Garden Walk is at a standstill and at risk of losing it’s funding.

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If you are interested in more details, watch the Park Commission meeting at minute 58 to see staff’s assessment of the project (http://www.ci.piedmont.ca.us/video/,  Park Commission, September 2 meeting).  The main reasons for the delay seem to be preference for the lush lawn and “50/50” support for the project by the Piedmont Beautification Foundation.  Additional meetings will be held to tweak the project but unless the design is resolved soon, funding for the project will be lost as well as the planting window for a new garden.

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The lawn at Sheridan and Highland Avenues is the most water-inefficient public landscape in Piedmont.  This small lawn uses 600,000 gallons of water per year, 4% of municipal water usage, yet goes virtually untrodden on by the public.  Commenters at the Park Commission suggested that the lawn provides a pleasant visual “drive by” landscape for Piedmonters.   I suggest they drive by the Sheridan lawn and the Ramona/Ronada Triangle today and see which provides a better visual drive by.

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Drought-tolerant landscaping is the future for California and Piedmont should take advantage of any available funding. Is the city’s legacy for the worst drought in California history going to be that it rejected funds to replace water-wasteful landscaping?   And how can the city honestly ask for neighborhood contributions when it won’t avail itself of these funds?

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Garrett Keating, Former Piedmont Council Member

Editors’ Note:  The opinions expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of the Piedmont Civic Association. Comments on the opinions are welcomed.

The Piedmont Park Commission will meet on Wednesday, September 2, 2015 at 5:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, 120 Vista Avenue to consider setting a “neighborhood meeting” in October to discuss Dracena Park’s off-leash area, signage, and permission for off-leash dog usage of the upper grassy area.

The issue was brought to the attention of the Park Commission by neighbors concerned about unclear signage and the desirability of allowing dogs to run on the grassy area next to Dracena Avenue.

Bordered by tall redwood trees, Dracena Park’s canyon area between Dracena Avenue and Artuna Avenue has for decades been designated an off-leash area for licensed dogs under human command.

At the June Park Commission meeting a petition signed by 107 Piedmonters was presented noting inconsistent and confusing signage indicating on and off-leash areas.   Permission for off-leashed dogs to play at designated times on the upper grass area of Dracena Park was requested.

Dogs are sometimes seen catching frisbees or playing with other dogs on the upper grass area of Dracena Park; however, this is technically not an off-leash area.  If an animal control officer catches a dog on the grass, according to testimony, the fine is $300.

Commissioners requested more information on the issue, including a map of Dracena Park, potential issues, and availability of other off-leash dog areas in Piedmont.  One commissioner remarked that where dogs are allowed to run freely in a limited space, the result can be bare dirt.

Dog owners often schedule their trips to the various off-leash areas  to be with friends while exercising themselves and their dogs. Trips to the dog parks represent an important part of many Piedmonters physical and social activity.

Piedmont’s off-leash areas for dogs are limited to the dog park near Linda Beach Playgound, Main Park near the creek, Dracena Park canyon, and Blair Park on Moraga Avenue.

Blair Park on Moraga Avenue long designated as an off-leash area for dogs, receives limited use because of remoteness and lack of a fence to protect dogs from going into the heavily trafficked adjacent roadway.

The September 2 Park Commission meeting will be broadcast, on KCOM Comcast Channel 27 and live streamed through the City website. The meeting is open to the public for comment.

To view the June 2015 meeting when the Park Commission previously discussed the issue, go to the video record of the meeting here and start at the 40 minute point.

District Facilities Master Planning Process, District Assistance with Litter in Main Park, Civic Center Parking Issues, City Facilities Planning – Space Analysis for the Recreation Building and Study of Options for Possible New Aquatic Facility,  Police Department Training “Response to Mass Casualty,” Holiday Book Drive, and Landscaping Issues are on the agenda for discussion. 

The School Board/City Council Liaison meeting will be held Tuesday, August 25, 2015, at 4:00 p.m. in the City Council Conference Room.  The meeting is open to the public for participation and comments. Because of construction work, participants must enter City Hall through the entrance to the Fire Department.  The meeting will not be broadcast.

Tuesday, August 25, 2015  4:00 p.m. 

City Hall Conference Room, City Hall,

120 Vista Avenue,

The agenda is below.

Open Forum: Public participants may speak to items not on the agenda – overall time limit – 10 minutes.

Public participants may address the following items as they come up on the agenda.

1. Briefing by District on Progress with the Facilities Master Planning Process

2. Discussion of Littering in Main Park and Opportunities for District to Assist with Control

3. Discussion of Civic Center Parking Issues

4. Discussion on City Facilities Planning:

(a) Space Analysis for the Recreation Building

(b) Study of Options for Possible New Aquatic Facility

5. Briefing on Police Department “Response to Mass Casualty” Training

6. Discussion of Landscaping Issues

7. Discussion of the Annual City/School Holiday Book Drive

8. Schedule of Future Meetings

(a) November, 17, 2015

(b) February 9, 2016

(c) April 26, 2016

Piedmont’s Public Safety Committee published it’s new disaster preparedness manual within hours of the earthquake on Monday. Get Ready, Piedmont is a 50 page guide packed with information on preparing for and responding to, earthquakes, fires, landslides, and other emergencies. Chapters include: Vital Documents, Insurance, Living Without Power, Sanitation, Water and Food.

Using the Mill Valley, Belvedere and Tiburon guides as a model, the manual has been adapted to Piedmont. It is available online here and in several locations on the City website. Citizens are invited to print it at home in whole or in part to fit the needs of individual Piedmont families.

For additional information, please call Public Safety Committee Chairman Lyman Shaffer at (510) 780-6996.

Piedmonters were jolted this morning at 6:49 a.m. by a 4.0 earthquake on the Hayward fault, centered less than a mile from Piedmont. It occurred at a depth 3.3 miles according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). It was followed by an 2.3 aftershock at 7 a.m.

Helicopters circled over Piedmont and the Hayward fault for 30 minutes. No damage to transportation corridors was observed.

The quake was centered near the junction of the 24 and 13 freeways. Seven aftershocks followed.

BART halted service until 7:24 am for track inspection, also finding no damage.

Berkeley residents reported “pots and pans flying” and pictures sliding on walls.

Read more.

Piedmonters will be encouraged to sign up for A C Alert beginning in September 2015.

While the rest of the current contract with Code Red, Piedmont’s emergency notification system, runs through April 2016, the City will have free use of A C Alert through May 2016. Lisa Douglas, Police Department Support Services Manager, recommends a six month trial to compare the two systems side by side. The current cost of the Code Red program is $5,000 per year. It is anticipated that when Piedmont is asked to pay for A C Alert in future years, the cost will be considerably less than Code Red, since the platform will be in use across a number of communities.

The Alameda County Grand Jury Final Report 2012 – 2013 mandated the County to obtain a mass emergency notification system. A C Alert is the result of this mandate.

At present, cities in Alameda County use a variety of different mass notification systems, which do not interconnect. For example, Berkeley uses BENS, Berkeley Emergency Notification System.

Read the Alameda County Grand Jury Final Report 2012 – 2013.

On Thursday, August 6, at 6:30 p.m. in the Police Department Emergency Operations Center, 403 Highland Avenue, the Budget Advisory and Financial Planning Committee will consider items critical to Piedmont’s financial stability.  The public can attend and participate in the meeting.  There will be no audio or written record kept of meeting discussion or presentations. Additionally, no broadcast via the internet or cable TV will be available.

• Review the financial projections prepared for the City’s Annual Budget and provide comment on whether they provide for the long term sustainable financial future of the City. This review shall take place between the preparation of the budget in April and its approval by the City Council in June of each year.

• Review and provide comment on the Mid-Year Budget Reports.

• Provide a financial review of any new program commitments and funding sources in excess of $250,000 in any fiscal year.

• Periodically review and comment on the sufficiency of funding for long term obligations, including the Sewer Fund, Equipment Replacement Fund, Facilities Maintenance Fund and the City’s pension and retiree healthcare costs and funding.

• Periodically examine the need for the Municipal Services Special Tax (Parcel Tax) and recommend whether this tax should be continued, and if so, at what rate.  This charge shall be accomplished not later than eighteen (18) months prior to the expiration of the tax as set forth in Chapter 20B of the City Code.

Approval of prior meeting minutes are on the agenda:

The Piedmont Park Commission will meet on Wednesday, August 5 at 5:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, located in City Hall, 120 Vista Avenue.

Agenda for the meeting:

Approval of June 3, 2015 minutes

Public Forum

Update on Linda/Kingston Triangle

Update on Hampton Sports Field

Update on Crocker Park Garage

Update on Highland Garden Walk

Monthly Maintenance report

On Monday, August 3, 2015, starting at 7:30 p.m., the City Council will consider Community Hall parking lot restrictions, City Hall ground water routing into sanitary sewer system, and 5K race street closure.

• Piedmont High School FallFest 5K race street closures on Saturday, September 26 to raise funds for the Wellness Center. Several blocks of Craig, Crocker, Farragut, Highland, Hillside, Magnolia Mountain, Park Way, Sea View, and Wildwood Avenues would be closed from 8:15 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.  Read more here.

• Community Hall Parking Lot options: “The primary purpose of the lot is to serve the users of the Community Hall.” A one-year trial of new parking restrictions is proposed. The majority of the lot would be limited to two-hour parking. Five slots would be limited to 15 minutes from 8:45 – 9:30 a.m. and noon to 1 p.m. for drop off/pick up. Three slots would be reserved for the Recreation Department vans and five slots would be reserved for PUSD employees from 7 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. There would still be days when the entire lot would be closed for special events. Read more here.

• Approve a League of California Cities Resolution urging the State to provide sufficient funding for local street and highway roadbed maintenance. Read more here.

• City Hall sump pump rerouting for collected groundwater into the sanitary sewer $19,000. City staff has been working with the Alameda County Environmental Health Department since a leak was found in former fuel tanks in 1988.  Read more here.