Parking a Hot Topic at South Lake Tahoe City Council Meeting

Paid parking remains a hot topic in the city which was proven by the packed house at Tuesday's South Lake Tahoe City Council meeting. On the agenda was discussion and possible action on an initiative to prohibit paid parking on city streets.

Tahoe 4 Tahoe (T4T), a local group organized to fight paid parking, gathered more than the required signatures to get the initiative put on the ballot, but legal precedence and unforeseen consequences of the proposed initiative led the city council to vote unanimously to have a Fiscal Impact Report completed in the next 30 days.

The council had three choices to make concerning the adoption of the initiative: 1) Adopt the ordinance without alteration, 2) Submit the ordinance without alteration to the voters or 3) Order a Fiscal Impact Report. Since a ballot measure would require the report anyway, most felt that they owed the city and constituents a study of all the issues and consequences. "People deserve to know," stated Councilwoman JoAnn Connor. "They deserve the right to make their own decisions."

T4T was commended for their seeing an issue they felt unjust and organizing an effort to fight it. City Manager Nancy Kerry told the group they'd done "and exemplary job on civic engagement. You got engaged and spoke your mind." Many of the City Council members voiced the same opinion.

Several speakers were heard from during the public comment portion of the meeting, many in favor of paid parking and many against. Gary Bowen, who stated he was in favor of paid parking, said "we need to protect our new amenities at Lakeview Commons and keep it up," referring to the income needed from parking to maintain the property.

"Refreshing to see decision of council to be responsive to citizens and make a decision on parking," according to Rachel Sigman. "People need to understand the benefits of paid parking revenue."

David Jinkens, former City Manager, spoke in favor of the ballot initiative and said the people need to be heard.

"why are you afraid to put this on the ballot," asking Jonnie Crawford of the council. "If it brings lawsuits forth, so be it."

Mayor Pro Tem Brooke Laines said she sees paid parking as a user fee. "We're at a crossroads as there is a segment of the population that doesn't want paid parking and another that does."

The council asked that the two sides come together and work out a compromise, but in the meantime a study is being done at the cost of up to $25,000.

The parking debate will continue at the February 18 City Council meeting. The meeting will be in two parts in order to allow the community to participate more in the decision of kiosks. Since the 30 day period needed for the impact study won't be completed by then, the meeting will be used to work on compromise. "The meeting will be a community workshop to identify solvable issues," stated Councilwoman Angela Swanson. "The petitioners and others can meet and feel their problems are solved since issues will be identified and they will seek solutions."

One part of the February 18 meeting will begin at 9 am and the second part will be in the evening so more citizens can participate.