After being unable to reach agreement on proposed zoning code definitions and limitations on vacation rentals and hosted home shares, the Hood River City Council has directed municipal staff to prepare an ordinance to put into place a six-month moratorium on new short-term rentals in residential zones.  With only five councilors sitting for the issue after two had previously recused themselves due to having used their homes for short-term rentals, the panel could not get a required four votes necessary for passage of either a municipal planning commission recommendation requiring primary residency be established for homes to be rented out on a short-term basis, or establishment of a cap system for licensing of STR’s.  Existing STR’s in residential zones would not be impacted by the moratorium.  The Council will move forward with an upcoming worksession on May 23 to deal with regulatory aspects of short-term rentals.