City adding new VHR enforcement teams; More public meetings in near future

For a 90-day trial period, the City of South Lake Tahoe will hire an outside security firm to assist with enforcement of the Vacation Home Rental (VHR) ordinance.

Many complaints have been voiced at City Council meetings about the lack of enforcement and the fact that part of the justification of the increase in fees for the vacation home permits was to go to staffing that department.

During Tuesday's City Council meeting, the South Lake Tahoe Association of Realtor President Ellen Camacho asked for better enforcement of the existing code to keep post residents and second home owners happy.

The police department has attempted to hire some staff, but have been unsuccessful in keeping the team fully staffed. Hiring an outside firm to supply security two shifts a day, seven days a week will help address concerns.

The City solicited bids for security companies and received two replies. Those two companies are being interviewed for SLTPD leadership on Tuesday. Once a company is selected they'll be on a 90-day trial period to see how the new response system is working.

For this trial, one outside security employee will be paired with a City code enforcement employee and their sole job will be VHRs.

City Manager Nancy Kerry said the teams will be more proactive than reactive, and will be the eyes and ears on the street. She said many of the noise complaints are recorded as unfounded because once a police officer responds the noise/party may be over or quieted.

The new teams will not have to wait for a police officer to respond with them as one partner will be a security officer.

Kerry said that 200 previous VHR permit holders haven't renewed their permit, many because of the increased fees and new Codes they have to follow. She said the new enforcement teams will be checking those homes to make sure they are't being rented out illegally.

Sacramento State was hired to do an economic study on the South Lake Tahoe vacation homes, their impact on the economy, jobs, neighborhoods, real estate, utilities and all other areas intertwined with the industry. They will be holding public and partner meetings and workshops and come up with a broad spectrum of the pros and cons of VHRs, and gather data to present to the City at a future date.