JACKSON, Wyo. – Illegal rentals by home owners are rampant in Jackson and Teton County. The local officials want to suppress the practice, which is in violation of local zoning laws. In addition, no sales tax is collected on the illegal rentals.
The Jackson Hole News & Guide reports that local officials are questioning whether state authorities can be called in to help with enforcement, as the state is also shorted in income by the illegal rentals.
"As much as I love the lodging industry, I don't love it in everyone's backyard, where it wasn't zoned. We have to be willing to specifically confront (people), knock on doors," said Jackson Mayor Mark Barron.
The town planning department actively searches for violators of the rules, but proving a violation is difficult. "You actually need to prove the transaction," explained Tyler Sinclair, the town planning director.
The county government only responds to complaints. Jeff Daugherty, the county planning director, described a whack-a-mole situation. People commonly remove their online advertisements once they have been notified, but that rarely lasts. "As soon as we refocus our energy and efforts somewhere else, it tends to pop back up," he said.
Planning staffers estimated that only 10 to 20 per cent of violators are property management companies. The rest are private homeowners.
The News & Guide also talked with Links Luxury Rentals, which has two homes available for rental on a per-night basis that are outside areas designed for short-term rentals. Jeff Jensen, the company's chief executive said many of his company's clients are affluent and have families. Some even fly in private jets.
"The residential neighbourhoods are what give any town its flair," he said. "It doesn't come from staying at the Four Seasons. When people are able to come in and experience the family neighbourhood... that's what people want."
But Bob Lenz, a city council member, has another name for the high-end underground economy: tax evaders. "They're not different than the guy that's selling trinkets that's not paying sales tax," he said.
Cable magnate centre of buzz
SUN VALLEY, Idaho – The buzz going into the Allen & Co. conference this summer was mostly about John Malone, the Denver-based titan of the cable industry.
"Consolidation in cable is going to happen. The question is, who leads it? Malone has the credibility," Matthew Harrigan, a Wunderlich Securities analyst, told Reuters.
Malone was one of 300 or so executives plus assorted others scheduled for the conference, which always crowds the local airport to capacity with private jets.
The commissioners for all the four major sports leagues were scheduled to be at the conference, as was Michael Bloomberg, the mayor of New York City, plus Mark Zuckerberg, chef executive of Facebook, Larry Page, chief executive of Google, and Robert Murdoch, chief executive of Twenty-First Century Fox. Among dozens of others heavyweights of business, media, and philanthropy.
The sessions are off-limits to reporters, who may linger beyond the ropes in hopes that somebody emerges and designs to talk. Usually, there's little news that comes out of the conference — except for deals announced weeks or months later.
Such is the fascination with the 72-year-old Malone, who has bought and sold cable media companies for decades.
Magicvalley.com noted the phalanx of reporters from national media pacing back and forth, paying attention only when the clatter of cameras fire.
"Who is that?" they asked each other.
The highlight of the afternoon was a 30-second glimpse of Apple CEO Tim Cook, who bought a drink from a vending machine as photographers yelled to see if he'd turn to face them.
"That's the one we needed, boys," a proud shooter said as he and another cameraman headed for the exit.
Real estate volume slides
ASPEN, Colo. – Total sales of real estate in Aspen and Pitkin County declined by 12 per cent during the first half of the year compared to last, but real estate agents see no reason for dismay.
They tell the Aspen Times that listings have declined while demand has grown and the average sales price has increased to about $1,000 a square foot, up from $945 per square foot in the same period last year.
Meanwhile, foreclosures filings have plummeted by 50 per cent, especially in the areas around Basalt and El Jebel.
Truck drivers too independent
ASPEN, Colo. – The highway across 3,687 metre (12,095-foot) Independence Pass isn't for the faint of heart. Unpaved until 1967, the highway is sliced into the mountainsides with the aid of sharp, hairpin turns. Those terrorized by heights of a Ferris wheel will almost certainly hate the road.
That's hardly all of it. In short segments, the highway narrows to one lane, and you can't see around the corner. You'd better hope nobody is coming in the opposite direction, because somebody will have to back up or down.
Yet in just the first six weeks since the pass opened for the summer season, 29 tractor-trailer trucks have been stopped and ticketed. There are any number of signs alerting the truckers to the fact it's illegal for them to use that segment of highway.
But the truckers have a strong motivation for disregarding the law. By taking the pass, they can save 145 miles on the trip between Aspen and Leadville. The fine for violating the law is $200. It's a calculated risk for many truckers.
The Aspen Daily News reports that the Pitkin County commissioners are scratching their heads about how to discourage truckers. They are concerned partly by the weak foundation of the road, which means trucks can easily damage it.
Buildings key to carbon cuts
TELLURIDE, Colo. – Over the last few years, the twin towns of Mountain Village and Telluride have committed to reducing their greenhouse gas emissions 20 per cent. The town governments, through energy efficiency and renewable energy investments, have started making progress.
But they account for only three per cent of the local greenhouse gas emissions. The private sector has to be engaged. How to do so?
The Telluride Daily Planet says that local environmental activists are trying to engage the community in a discussion about how to move forward. One pertinent fact: 50 per cent of emissions come from buildings.
In Telluride, one council member plans to talk about a potential carbon tax. In Colorado, Boulder also has a carbon tax, but in some ways Aspen was the very first. Starting in 2000, it levied a de facto tax on out-of-budget carbon intensive accesses such as heated outdoor swimming pools. Various other jurisdictions, including Eagle County, have since followed suite.
Greenwashing or renewable steps?
CANMORE, Alberta – Does buying renewable energy certificates, called RECs, diminish your carbon footprint?
That discussion has been going on in ski towns for quite some time, particularly after Vail Resorts and other operators announced purchase of RECs for wind energy about six years ago.
In theory, buying a REC creates a market mechanism for creating demand for wind generators, solar panels and other renewable projects. But is there truly causality?
That question has returned in Canmore, where the elected council recently voted to purchase enough RECs to cover 100 per cent of the municipal government's electrical consumption.
The Rocky Mountain Outlook explains that the vote wasn't unanimous. One councilor wanted more attention paid to reducing electrical consumption. Another dissenting councillor wanted more evidence of direct causality. In other words, does buying a REC actually help create a windmill somewhere?
Mayor John Borrowman argued that the REC purchase is not just greenwashing, but will instead deliver a clear market signal to future renewable energy projects.
