Letter to South Lake Tahoe Mayor and City Council reprinted here per request of author: Our Chamber Board asks that you not pursue an appeal of the recent verdict of Measure T being unconstitutional. Enough is enough of costly time, money and job consuming lawsuits.

We see four possible actions on your part:

One: Appeal the ruling. That would continue years more of legal expenses to both the city and the proponents. It would continue many years more of community acrimony and division. We would vigorously oppose your filing an appeal. Our community should not have to endure years more of lost jobs and acrimony.

Two: You could be undecisive and slow walk a decision which would allow the NIMBYs the time needed to do another initiative. That would surely take even longer because of the time frame possible that they could legally get it on the ballot. As we saw with Measure N, it would further divide the community, with certainly a revival of a Measure N type of coalition. If they somehow managed to defy those odds and make it to the ballot, then there would be years of ballot box battles and further years of court battles with continued loss of hundreds of jobs and lost millions in TOT for roads, housing, and safety services. The Court has ruled.

Three: Give ordinance number 1114 a chance to work: It was fairly written with enforcement and limits on total VHRS. We never got the chance to see if it worked. That ordinance is what the court order will most likely cause a default to. If it does not work well, then amend it yourselves as our representatives.

Four: Take leadership as our duly elected leaders. Listen to all concerned and timely enact the best new ordinance for all concerned. If all the parties are a little bit unhappy, it is probably a good compromise. If all parties feel heard and are a little happy it is probably a good deal. If all are very unhappy, then it is obviously a bad deal. Given the large number of current under-the-radar rentals, no one has been happy.

We imagine a better ordinance based on time-tested zoning powers that might include a limit on VHR numbers, requirements for local fixed-base 24-hour responsive management companies. It would most likely include CSO enforcement officers and tiered enforcement with warning and ticketing authority that work at night when violations are likely to occur. It should include stiff, progressive fines for the renter, owner, and perhaps the management company with too many violations resulting in losing their license.

Just one company laid off 22 employees when T passed. Over 40 businesses have closed. Chain link fences are too prevalent. Let’s put our citizens back to work, embrace responsible tourism, and respect our neighborhoods. We look forward to working on positive community solutions.

Respectfully submitted,

Duane Wallace, CEO, ACE South Tahoe Chamber of Commerce