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Town Board Meeting Minutes
Apr 29, 2010

UNAPPROVED

TOWN OF GENEVA

SPECIAL BOARD MEETING

APRIL 29, 2010

Chairman Lauderdale called the duly posted and noticed meeting to order at 5:31 p.m. In attendance were Lauderdale, Supervisors Millard and Kulik, and Administrator Downing. Supervisors Kamps and Kukla were absent and excused. Clerk/Treasurer Kirch took the minutes of the meeting.

Walworth County has requested input on consideration of a short-term rental of residential properties amendment to the County Ordinances. Input is requested by May 1. This special meeting now enables each of us the opportunity to provide input which will be included in our response letter.

On Monday, April 26, 2010, our Plan Commission voted 4-0 not to support it. Saying only that it is a County issue.

Supervisor Kukla was not able to attend the meeting but sent an email which Lauderdale read: Please read this into the minutes at the upcoming meeting regarding short-term rentals in the Town of Geneva. As Supervisor, I am opposed to allowing short-term rentals within our Town. The Planning Commission also voted to deny this proposal as well. The enforcement of this practice is impossible for the small amount of revenue it would generate. People live here for a reason and it isn't fair to the property owners who live next door to this type of activity. The Town already has plenty of commercial property's who could use the business during these economic times. This ordinance would only help a handful of people at the expense of many.

Supervisor Kulik made the following statement: Since last summer I’ve kept my eyes and ears open to this issue of short-term rentals. Personal feelings aside, I’ve spoken and asked questions to people I know who live literally, throughout the Town. At Church, Baseball practice, the Fire Dept., school, restaurants, swim meets, and of course the neighborhood I live in. There have been people, both seasonal and full-time residents who favor this, but by far the majority does not want this to happen in the Town of Geneva. I’ve read the information that Cassandra Kordecki continues to send to me. I spoke with Ed Snyder, General Manager at the Lodge at Geneva Ridge. He states there is a 20% drop in room revenue throughout the County and tourism itself, has been on the decline the last several years. Corporate Conventions are down also. The Town has in its boundary plenty of unused hotel or inn rooms that are not being filled. Why open this up to residential units? Putting neighbor against neighbor when public meetings are held on whether who gets to do this or not is not the Town I would want to live in. I attended the recent Plan Commission to hear first hand what the Committee was going to recommend to the Town Board. At that meeting the Committee voted 4-0 to recommend to the County to not amend the current county rules concerning short-term rentals. Meaning, in simple terms, do not allow this practice in Walworth County. I agree with the Plan Commission and will accept their recommendation as Supervisor #3 for the Town of Geneva. I’m against bigger government. I’m against more rules and regulations, especially since the County is allowing the ones we currently have. Say no and shut this down. I wouldn’t want it on both sides of my house. To generate more revenue, we need to lower some of our fees to spur business. At this point we’re not doing a good job policing a simple law. Also concerned about the cost to the Town for enforcement.

Chairman Lauderdale made the following statement: I support this for a number of reasons, mostly because it is taking place. A lot of people are doing it and they are avoiding the payment of room tax which isn’t fair to Duffy’s or anyone else who have called this to my attention for the past three years. I am only in support of this if we are enabled a mechanism by which to enforce the conditions that may be imposed. Among those conditions would be registration required. I would like to see language in our ordinance that would allow for this Board to suspend or revoke their privileges by way of a hearing so there is strict enforcement. Cassandra had recommended that a property manager be available 24 hours a day. That would be a must. This is a good way of promoting tourism to our area and that’s what this area is all about. Everyone will benefit from it. I don’t feel that the competition factor will harm any businesses in the Town. And if it does, that’s kinda what America is all about, entrepreneurism and competition. The County’s enforcement mechanism isn’t available to us.

Supervisor Millard made the following statement: I’m still in the middle on this. I am concerned on how this is going to be regulated. This could be a good thing and create more revenue. I haven’t made up my mind one way or the other. If I could see how this would be regulated, I would probably support it. It would have to be very, very strict.

Motion (Kulik/Lauderdale) to adjourn at 5:46 p.m. Approved 3‑0.

_____________________________________

Chairman Lauderdale

_____________________________________

Supervisor Millard Supervisor Kulik

Respectfully submitted,

_____________________________________

Debra L. Kirch, CMC/WCMC Clerk/Treasurer

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