Report from the Newport Beach City Council Meeting

Yesterday afternoon as we reported previously, our lobbyist for the Newport Beach Short-Term Rental Alliance (NBSTRA) spoke on behalf of our members at the Newport Beach City Council Meeting about the desire of our new Alliance to work cooperatively with the Mayor, Council and Staff on regulations that enhance the community and the industry.

Todd Priest of Todd Priest and Associates, who also happens to be a long-time Newport Beach resident, has been meeting for the last few weeks with City Council Members and Staff to introduce our new Alliance and desire to work with the City on shared goals.

But the occasion of two items on the City Council agenda at yesterday’s meeting gave Mr. Priest the opportunity to speak publicly for the first time on behalf of our members. We chose this first public set of comments to be positive and cooperative in tone, while establishing that the new Alliance will be there as the City continues to discuss changes to the ordinances and regulations governing our properties in the City.

NBSTRA lobbyist Todd Priest represents our industry for the first time at a City Council meeting.

Both of the agenda items, the City’s response to the OC Grand Jury Report on STR Regulations and the final adoption of the new 75 mixed-use STR permits after Coastal Commission approval, advanced as expected. But we are confident the City is now aware that a new, rapidly growing Alliance is on the scene to represent our industry going forward, strengthening our voice and our ability to represent members.

You can see Mr. Priest’s remarks at the 32-minute mark of the Council Video.