VHR meeting postponed after over capacity crowd attends

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CALIF. - The El Dorado County Board of Supervisors meeting held in South Lake Tahoe had to come to an early end Thursday after a City fire official deemed the over 150 people crammed into the airport council chambers too many over the maximum occupancy of 112 to be safe.

Approximately 300 people filled the airport, all wanting a chance to participate in the County's discussion of amending their vacation home rental (VHR) ordinance. Those not in the council chambers filled the airport lobby.

SLT Fire Battalion Chief Jim Drennen was called to the airport to investigate a call about the room being over capacity. He tried to get a city computer technician to the airport to see if they could broadcast the meeting onto the television in the lobby, and when that couldn't happen immediately he said people could move from the chambers into the lobby.

The Board of Supervisors decided to postpone the meeting until they can procure a larger meeting room at the South Shore where everyone can be where the action is. Supervisor Sue Novasel called Lake Tahoe Unified School District Superintendent to see if they could move the next meeting into the high school's theater, gym or student union. Novasel said he told her whatever they need he'd help. Another option could be the CCC building in Meyers.

There needs to be at least a 72 hour meeting notice, so supervisors will announce the next meeting with time for people to plan.

At least staff was able to survey about 250 people prior to the start of the meeting. Residents placed red (negative feelings) and/or green (good feelings) about VHRs in the neighborhoods of the County.

KPIX news from San Francisco even came to the meeting, staying up in South Lake Tahoe after attending the Thursday morning snow survey. Their camera man said they were scheduled to come since they were already in town.

No new meeting date and location has been decided at this time.