City Council amends emergency ordinance that fined second homeowners

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The City Council voted Tuesday to amend their Emergency Order No. 1 from April that authorized administrative citations and fines of $1,000 for violations of the Governor's Stay at Home Order.

The City will not be fining second homeowners who visit their home in South Lake Tahoe but they will continue to fine those found renting out vacation homes until the Governor's ban on non-essential travel is amended.

At the time the emergency order was created, second homeowners were traveling between their primary residence and their South Lake Tahoe home and some people were renting vacation homes, both against the statewide ban on non-essential travel. The Emergency Order had a fine associated with it that would give "teeth" to an administrative fine, letting people know that travel to South Lake Tahoe was just not the right decision to make in the middle of a pandemic.

At their last meeting, the Council directed the South Lake Tahoe Police Department to not fine second homeowners visiting their homes, but it couldn't be an official change to their order as it wasn't on the agenda. Tuesday's unanimous vote to modify the emergency order is a formalization of that non-enforcement against those property owners within the City and is consistent with El Dorado County.

Now that some businesses are allowed to open back up with South Lake Tahoe and El Dorado County getting the green light to move into Phase 2 of the state's reopening plans, interest is high by many to visit the lake.

There is still a travel ban in California, something a local government cannot change or override. A local government can make rules that are more strict, but not more lenient, that the Governor's orders.

Most recognize the fact that tourism is important to the survival of both South Lake Tahoe businesses and the government, but at this time vacation travel is not allowed by the State.

The County Public Health Director Dr. Nancy Williams said earlier Tuesday that people who do visit their second home can do it, but suggested they either quarantine upon arrival or stay at the home and eliminate any back and forth travel between communities that could spread the coronavirus.

Vacation rentals are still not allowed in this phase and people can be fined $1,000 per day for using them. It is unknown at this time when the governor will move the state into Phase 3 which will allow for movie theaters and many hospitality services to reopen.

The Council said they will continue to work with the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors, Public Health, and Barton Hospital to work on a plan to safely open in Phase 3. They recognized the importance for the health and safety of people, and health and safety of non-COVID issues like depression, violence, and lack of wages, said Mayor Pro Tem Tami Wallace.

"It's time to move forward, and move forward safely," said Mayor Jason Collin of opening in Phase 2. "If we change too many variables, we'll go back to where we were."

(The original story has been updated.)