The Bemidji Area Chamber of Commerce hosted the Greater Bemidji Area Joint Planning Board for a forum Tuesday.
Planning director Jamin Carlson gave an overview to the fairly large crowd at the Sanford Center.
The JPB is working on reviewing its zoning ordinances, with JPB Northern Township representative Jess Frenzel sharing the goal of something that will work for everyone.
Most questions were submitted and tax-related, but Jill Beardsley raised an issue with the JPB’s revision to allow short-term rentals.
Beardsley, owner of the Lake Bemidji Bed and Breakfast, asked what the enforcement is for short-term rentals like AirBnBs and VRBOs to pay into the city’s lodging tax.
The JPB is not a taxing authority, but Carlson said the JPB could pull any permits if they were notified of tax avoidance by the taxing authorities.
