COEUR d’ALENE — The Coeur d’Alene City Council on Tuesday supported a proposal that will provide the city with a resource to collect names and addresses of unpermitted short-term rentals.

By a 6-0 vote, The council approved an agreement with Granicus for short-term rental host compliance services for $38,093.

It is estimated there are between 840 and 1,200 vacation rentals in the city, with only 453 legally permitted.

“We certainly believe that we have a lot of them out there that are under the radar,” said Councilman Dan English.

Granicus, based in St. Paul, Minn., will be paid to perform property owner identification for nonlicensed properties, send out notification letters when the city is ready, monitor compliance, and host a 24/7 hotline.

The hotline is a key component. It could eventually provide a statistical snapshot of complaints about STRs by giving people a number to call to report loud noise, vehicles parked the wrong way and trash.

Most people don't want to bother police to report such things, but may call a hotline, officials said.

“This will help us get those complaints?” asked Councilman Dan Gookin.

“Yes, it should,” said Renata McLeod, municipal services director.

The city has been discussing passing stronger regulations to deal with STRs, including higher fines for illegal STRs and limiting how many are allowed.

The number of STRs has risen in the city in the recent years. There are more than 70 rental sites on the internet and the city does not have the resources to monitor them. Granicus has the computer programs and staffing to do that.

Some residents argue STRs cause an array of problems, hurt the character of neighborhoods and reduce long-term rental housing needed by blue-collar workers.

STR owners have argued the city needs more than anecdotal evidence, but hard statistics, to backup claims STRs are a source of problems. They say STRs economically benefit the community.

“What we heard, 'Why are you doing anything without data?' said councilwoman Christie Wood. “I agree.”

Granicus could provide that data, but that would come later.

Its first task is to identify unpermitted STRs, which is estimated to take at least six weeks. A hotline would be farther down the road.

“This is going to be an ongoing conversation for quite some time,” Wood said.

Wood was concerned police could end up spending a lot of time responding to STR complaints.

“What is their role? she asked

That's still being worked out, but McLeod said she doesn’t expect police would take on additional duties than what they already do.

“Staff will work to provide the enforcement workflow for the 24/7 hotline so that it ensures documentation of all violations and that the appropriate staff are notified, i.e., police, code enforcement, and/or municipal services licensing,” a city report said.

As part of the deal, a hearing for increasing the cost of STR permits will be set to cover the amount that will be paid to Granicus.

Based on the current permit fee, the first-year STR permit would increase from $285 to $369.09, and renewals would increase from $96.00 to $180.09.