City council with little discussion Tuesday voted to enter into an option to renew a surveillance contract with Host Compliance LLC, which says it “makes it easy for municipalities to implement and enforce fair and effective short-term rental rules,” and also ones that are flatly unconstitutional.
By David Tulis / NoogaRadio 92.7
On its website the company presents itself as an easy decision for cities and counties to “maximize the benefits of home-sharing while mitigating the negative impact on neighbors and the community.”
The contract is an indication the city will use the company for a year and can give it additional business for up to three years. The bill is F$40,000.
Richel Albright, the mayor’s spokeswoman, was not available for comment this morning to determine whether the company was already in operation sniffing out free-spirited Chattanoogans letting their house to obtain a little personal, private prosperity. By text message, she said this reporter should file an open records request for the detail, and be willing to wait seven days for the answer. (So much for transparency of administration.)
The city’s ban on the use of the Internet for homeowners who want to host out of town or international guests is under the authority of the department of economic and community development, the main goal of which is to bring prosperity to local economy. Mayor Berke, who says he serves a city of creators, doesn’t allow either creativity, self-direction or innovation in this market unless by leave under an unconstitutional standard.
That unconstitutional standard that remains unmolested under counsel of the new city attorney, Phil Noblett, is the so-called overlay map. That map lets people within its magical boundary “do Airbnb” if they get a license. Those outside the hallowed district are forbidden from sharing in the blessings of short-term vacation rental market.
“Our comprehensive and fully integrated suite of battle-tested solutions,” the company says, “gives local governments the tools they need to address all of their short-term vacation rental registration, enforcement and tax collection challenges.
