Press releases

On Monday, April 24th, the Bishop City Council will hold a public workshop during the regular City Council meeting to garner public input on drafting regulations to allow for short-term rentals in Bishop City limits.

In the past several years, websites such as Airbnb and VRBO have increased the number of people renting out their home or a room in their home on a short-term basis (under 30 days) both regionally and nationally. There are currently a handful of short-term rentals available within City limits.

City Council held an initial discussion regarding short-term rentals with the public at their regular meeting on March 13th. Several short-term rental operators spoke in favor of regulating the use, saying that short-term rentals allow tourists a unique lodging option that can’t be found at local hotels.

Some residents voiced concerns about allowing for a quasi-commercial use in residential neighborhoods. One hotel owner said that he didn’t mind allowing short-term rentals, but that they should be required to play by the same rules as hotels, such as meeting building and safety standards, and paying Transient Occupancy Taxes or TOT.

The City Council is interested in receiving further public input on the pros and cons of short-term rentals within City limits before directing staff to prepare an ordinance regulating the use. The workshop is open to the public, and will be held during the City Council meeting on Monday, April 24th at 6:00 pm at the Council Chambers at Bishop City Hall, 301 West Line Street.

For more information, please see the upcoming Council Meeting Agenda at the City of Bishop City Council website at http://www.cityofbishop.com/government/city-council/ or contact Elaine Kabala, Associate Planner, at (760) 873-8458…

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The public hearing for the City of Bishop Spruce, Yaney, Hanby Sidewalks project environmental document has been rescheduled to 8 May 2017.

Comments on the document can be provided anytime up to and including the hearing. The hearing will be held at the City Council meeting that starts at 6 pm that evening. The Spruce, Hanby, Yaney Sidewalks project is proposed to construct sidewalks and bike lanes on streets in and near the back of the Bishop City Park.

The $1.2 million project would construct sidewalks and bike lanes on Spruce Street, Hanby Avenue, and East Yaney Street in and adjacent to the City Park. In addition to sidewalks and bike lanes, the project would extend the existing paved path near the community garden (the Pine to Park Path) to the new sidewalk proposed for Hanby Avenue. The project is funded through the state with gas tax funds.

The particular funds used for this project are dedicated to bike and pedestrian improvements and can only be used for those purposes. A more complete description of the project is included in the environmental document or is available from city staff. The environmental document is available at City Hall and on the city website at http://www.cityofbishop.com/departments/planning/environmental-documents/.

The environmental document for the project identifies and evaluates potential impacts the project could have on the natural and human environment and proposes mitigations. All comments are welcome. For more information contact City of Bishop Public Works at [email protected] or 760-873-8458.

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