An effort to strengthen city enforcement of short-­term rentals, or STRs, is now in motion. City Council approved a resolution June 18 directing city staff to find flaws in the short-­term rental ordinance that may allow a few “bad apples” to spoil the quality of life in some neighborhoods.

“It is not our intention to compromise the existing short-term rental ordinance or to disrupt the vast majority of short-term rentals whose owners operate in compliance with code and ordinance,” said District 10 Council Member Sheri Gallo, who sponsored the resolution. “When operated in compliance, short-term rentals are a substantial benefit to the city of Austin.”

Council voted 10-1 on the first reading, with District 6 Council Member Don Zimmerman opposing. He said he does not want the city to have STRs.

“I predict this whole thing is going in the wrong direction, and instead of solving problems they’ll create new problems,” he said of the resolution.