The Bend City Council is considering changes to rules for short-term rentals. A public hearing will be held Wednesday during the regular council meeting.

The Bend City Council appointed 24 residents Wednesday night to study and recommend a new system of regulations to govern short-term vacation rentals.

The task force includes representatives from both sides of a debate that became heated this summer, with some residents complaining that a high density of rentals have ruined the character of neighborhoods.

Rental owners have responded by arguing complaints have been exaggerated and stem from a small number of poorly managed properties.

Both parties will come together on the task force, in addition to representatives from Visit Bend, the Planning Commission, the Bend Economic Development Advisory Board and the Chamber of Commerce.

The inclusion of business groups drew ire from opponents of rentals during the City Council’s visitors section.

Monte Payne, who has organized a group to address livability issues in Bend, said the inclusion of such groups would lead to the task force being “hijacked” by business interests who would “shove down our throats” their ideas.

Another opponent, Beth Jacobi, asked, “Do you want Visit Bend determining the code for your neighborhood?”

Assistant City Manager Jon Skidmore warned the council “to not jump to conclusions” about the perspectives of any representatives and said the list submitted for approval with input from the Planning Commission was intended to have “a nice balance.”

The City Council voted to keep representatives of the Chamber of Commerce and economic development advisory board on the task force but also unanimously decided to add Anne Goldner, originally listed as an alternate and whom some opponents had championed for inclusion.

Goldner, who lives in River West, is a former chairwoman of her neighborhood association and the owner of a bed and breakfast. Before the vote, Councilor Doug Knight said including Goldner was important to fight off the suspicion of bias targeted at the original list.

Councilor Victor Chudowsky emphasized that regardless of who is on the committee, any decisions regarding rentals will be made by the City Council.

“We’re not creating some new sub-City Council to make this decision for us,” he said.

The task force will begin meeting this week and the City Council plans to act on its suggestions by March.

The City Council also agreed to hold a hearing Dec. 1 to decide whether Casey Roats, who was elected to serve on the City Council on Nov. 4, is qualified under the city’s rules to serve.

Questions over Roats’ residency were raised by Charlie Ringo, an activist who supported an electoral opponent of Roats. Ringo has argued Roats should not be certified by the City Council because he lived outside of the city for nearly a year while he had a new home constructed in Southwest Bend.

According to the city’s rules, “A councilor … shall have resided in the city during the 12 months immediately before being elected or appointed to the office.”

— Reporter: 541-633-2160, tleeds@bendbulletin.com