News - STRACC

LEGAL UPDATE - WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT!

8/18/2020

Legal Update & BoCC Workshop tonight (8/18)

Dear STRACC Members,

Last Tuesday (8/11), STRACC and three other plaintiffs filed a strategic lawsuit against Chelan County for violation of the Open Public Meetings Act pertaining to the workshops, hearings and deliberations for short term rental regulation.

The lawsuit alleges that the Board of County Commissioners and the Planning Commission violated the Open Public Meetings Act (“Act”) and Emergency Proclamations by Governor Inslee suspending certain portions of the Act. We are asking in this lawsuit that all actions of both the Planning Commission and the Board of County Commissioners pertaining to short-term rentals are considered “null and void” with regard to the calendar year 2020 and that an injunction be put in force for the same. You may have seen the Wenatchee World article about our lawsuit.

As many of you know, at 4:40pm last Tuesday, shortly after we filed our lawsuit, the Board of Commissioners workshop on STRs set for 5:30 pm was abruptly canceled. The timing of the cancellation is interesting, to say the least. The workshop was rescheduled for tonight (8/18) at 6pm. Please attend and have your STRACC logo visible! Here is the usual Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/650411499

This is one of two lawsuits STRACC is planning. The second lawsuit pertains to grandfathering but cannot be enacted until the code is passed.

STRACC Members, these lawsuits take money. Our attorneys are good and thus expensive. We need to continue to support STRACC financially. As many of you are realizing, the proposed code affects you and your livelihood, retirement, property values, etc. Many of the proposed permits would be as high as $1500 a year, so we think a $500 to $1000 or more donation to help fund this lawsuit is well worth your investment. We need to raise $40,000 to continue this suit and any future suits. PLEASE DONATE NOW!

Many counties, cities and communities that have banned STRs are being overturned as a violation of property rights. The courts are beginning to respond in our favor. But again it is taking a court battle to win. And again that takes money. Every penny you donate to STRACC goes straight to fighting for your business and your STR. Stay tuned for more information on the lawsuit.

While our legal challenges are pending, please submit your public comments to the Commissioners at CD.STRComment@co.chelan.wa.us by this Friday Aug 21. Keep in mind that all previously submitted comments during the Planning Commission phase will be carried over into the BoCC record, so they Commissioners are asking the public to only submit new comments or concerns specifically related to the code being considered.

Thanks,
The STRACC Executive Board

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