Rancho Mirage discusses phasing out short term rentals in public neighborhoods

The city of Rancho Mirage is set to discuss plans to phase out short term rentals in public neighborhoods by the end of the year. 

News Channel 3’s Dani Romero has more on what short term rental homeowners and neighbors are saying about the possible change. 

Homes in Magnesia Falls Cove in Rancho Mirage are just one of the neighborhoods that could phased out as the city looks eliminate short term rentals by 2021.

“That effects about 121 homeowners, 121 mortgages, we felt like we should have been told so that we can try to come up with a plan," said Dennis Cooke, a short-term rental homeowner.

Dennis Cooke has been a short term rental home owner for the past year and half.  He said he’s never had an issue. 

“We have had zero complaints, written or verbal or otherwise even from our neighbors nobody has complained about our rental,"said Cooke.

Cooke makes sure that his renters follow the city’s guidelines by providing them with a detailed packet of information.  

“We meet them when they check in, we go over the good neighbor brochure which is required by the city of Rancho Mirage, we go over pets, noise, parking, trash, special events, how many people are allowed," said Cooke.

Cooke feels this is just unfair. 

“Because we follow the rules, we feel like we are penalized because so many people do not," said Cooke.

But the city said this is their annual review for short term rentals. And they will be discussing  plans to phase out rentals in public neighborhoods and only allow them in home owner associations.

This comes as the city’s records show an uptick in complaints for the past two years. Just this year alone, 149 complaints and 96 of those were in public communities. 

“Its concerning to have so many cars and drive ways of people you don’t know come and go in a neighborhood where you live full time," said Andrea Grefelt, Rancho Mirage resident. "that’s a problem.”

Homeowner, Cooke is asking the city to consider at least a year of transition if they decide to move forward in phasing short term rentals in public neighborhoods

City Council said they could take action as early as tomorrow. They'll be having a virtual meeting at 1 p.m. Thursday afternoon.