City's Parking Authority to give $50k annually for parking enforcement

The August, 2002 parking agreement between the South Tahoe Joint Powers Parking Authority (STJPPA) and Tahoe Crescent Partnership(TCP) was amended Tuesday during the South Lake Tahoe City Council meeting.

Back in the original agreement, it stated STJPPA was responsible for enforcement of the 474-space parking lot in front of Raley's (the Village Center) at Stateline because of the issues Heavenly Village caused in the center's lot.

Weekends and holidays bring extra people to the Heavenly Village, thus impacting the parking lot, not leaving adequate parking for customers of the Village Center. Controls were put up with maximum two-hour parking, but enforcement has been an issue though 400 tickets were issued last year.

Village Center tenants say they have lost business due to a lack of parking for their customers. They say people park in their lot but walk over to the Heavenly Village.

"City redevelopment created the problem," said SLT City Manager Nancy Kerry. "The City has an obligation to find a solution."

TCP will provide enforcement with assistance from an annual $50,000 contribution from STJPPA who will in turn receive all revenue generated by enforcement activities. TCP will also pay for updated signage, operation and maintenance in their parking lot.

The City already has the Heavenly Village parking garage for people to park in, but either drivers don't want to pay the fee or the garage is full (the City initiated a $5 after 5 program last year where everyone can park there after 5 p.m. for just $5).

City Councilman Tom Davis brought up the fact that visitors don't know where to park when visiting that end of town. When heading to Stateline they see plenty of "No Parking" signs and warnings but haven't been steered towards using the City run parking garage or the daily parking lot behind Raley's which TCP manages. The fee for that lot varies, depending on use. Starting June 10 it will cost $10 per day to use that lot. South Shore Security Patrol will have staff stationed there to collect the fees starting at 9:00 a.m. Saturday. They also provide the enforcement on the lot in front of Raley's.

For those choosing to park in the Village Center lot, and be observed walking to Heavenly Village, may face ticketing and/or towing. The maximum in the lot will be two hours for those patronizing the Center businesses.