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CAJA Environmental Services, LLC 9410 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Suite 101 Chatsworth, CA 91311 Phone 310-469-6700 Fax 310-806-9801 Factors Contributing to Potentially Significant Direct, Indirect, and Cumulative Environmental Effects from an STR Ban Santa Ana is the largest city in Orange County' and its central location in Orange County has long attracted tourism. As described in a leading travel advisory: Rich in authentic heritage and can't -miss gems, Santa Ana is a cultural, entertainment and culinary center of large and diverse Orange County. The city's convenient location provides easy access to all things Southern California — day trips to Los Angeles, stops at numerous nearby theme parks and stunning Pacific Ocean sunsets only found on the golden coast. But stay a while and you'll be surprised by all the art, culture and attractions only found in historic Santa Ana.2 Tourism is a cornerstone of Santa Ana's economy, driving substantial revenue and job creation for the community. As discussed in the concurrently submitted economics analysis from Ramboll, visitor spending in 2023 contributed $414.7 million to the local economy, and this spending supports local businesses and fuels sectors like food service, accommodations, retail, arts, and transportation and provides essential funding for city services like public safety, parks, and neighborhood improvements, while also alleviating the tax burden for residents. (Ramboll Economics Analysis, p. 2.) Without tourism -related tax revenue, each household would pay an additional $195 annually in local taxes. (Ramboll Economics Analysis, p. 2.) Tourism's impact on employment is equally significant, supporting nearly 3,000 jobs in Santa Ana and contributing around $137 million in wages to the local workforce. With continued growth in overnight visits and local attractions, tourism remains a vital industry that helps sustain the community's economic well- being and enhance residents' quality of life. (Ramboll Economics Analysis, p. 2.) Tourists need a place to stay. Banning STRs will force tourists to find other accommodations. The market success of STRs demonstrates that traditional hotel and motel facilities in Santa Ana are insufficient to meet the diverse needs of STR guests, including for example families for whom access to multiple bedrooms and a kitchen is the best vacation option. The reasonably foreseeable consequence of banning STRs is for tourists to find other accommodations that are less centrally located in Orange County and would thereby change tourist traffic patterns and increase VMT — or result in the impactful construction of new hotels and motels, which would result in both construction and operational impacts to the physical environment that must be evaluated under CEQA. It is reasonably foreseeable that eliminating all STRs in the City will cause the following direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental impacts: • A shift in traffic patterns resulting in increased vehicle miles traveled (VMT) due to people traveling farther distances to their vacation destinations and their temporary/transitory places of employment and residence. Both could result in significant direct environmental effects, including increased vehicle emissions, increased greenhouse gas emissions, and increased traffic congestion. I https://www.orangecounty.net/cities/SantaAna.html 2 Visit the USA, https://www.visittheusa.com/destination/santa-ana m