City of South Lake Tahoe wants to create long term occupancy ordinance

Motels and hotels being used for long term occupancy is a problem across the country and South Lake Tahoe is no different.

Of the 120 motels and hotels in the city limits, 58 of them are being used for long term occupancy. 1,300 rooms are now rented for long periods of time. These units were not built for people to live in long term as there is no refrigeration or cooking facilities, and many times there are families living in a room meant for just two people for a night or two.

City staff has gone a long way to recognize the problem and find a solution, Mayor Hal Cole said. He also said it's been years that the City has wante to address the situaion and he was glad it's finally being done.

"This is about people having a right to live in a clean and safe environment," said Councilman Austin Sass.

Shawna Brekke-Read, the Director of Development Services for the City, gave a presentation during Tuesday's City Council meeting which included a list of recommendations for a new Hotel/Motel Single Use Occupancy Ordinance.

It was recommended that going forward, motels and hotels will have two decisions to make when renting a room: the occupant is a short term renter and pays a Transiet Occupany Tax (TOT), or, they are renting long term and a Single Room Occupancy (SRO) permit.

Essentials lacking in many of these motel rooms include no or improper kitchen, inadequate electrical service, insufficient hot water, broken or missing smoke and CO2 detectors, poor sanitation, faulty plumbing and pests. The first draft of the ordinance called for motel owners to provide kitchens and refrigerators, laundry facilities and to abide by occupancy numbers and provide adequate electricity for tenant's needs.

Councilwoman JoAnn Conner was concerned that the required changes would cause rents to be raised for people that really can't afford it.

Since the issue is such a big one and affects both motel and hotel owners as well as tenants, the Council decided to continue the discussion with the community through meetings and outreach and come up with an ordinance that works for everyone.