Hood River City Councilor Laurent Picard has stepped down from the panel.  Picard made the announcement at the end of Monday night’s Council meeting.  He had served on the City Council for ten-and-a-half years, and indicated he had not planned to run for re-election in November.  City Manager Steve Wheeler says no plan is in place at this point to find someone to fill out the remainder of Picard’s term, but that will be discussed at the next Council meeting.  The Council has not been able to come up with the required four votes to pass changes to the municipal zoning ordinance in regard to short-term rentals in residential zones, leading to the panel approving on Monday night a six-month moratorium on accepting any transient room tax applications to establish new STR’s in the residential zones.  Picard had recused himself from deliberations on those changes, noting he had made his own home available as a short-term rental in the past.  Fellow councilor Becky Brun has recused herself for similar reasons.