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When the South Lake Tahoe City Council voted on a new Vacation Rental Ordinance in 2015 they also promised to hire a consultant to prepare a socioeconomic study on the impact vacation home rentals (VHRs) have on the community.

The results of the study were presented to the City Council and the public during a special meeting on Tuesday.

Going away is the Knight's Inn, and in its place will be Bijou Market Place. Halferty Development today announced the name of their South Lake Tahoe project that was formerly known as Bijou Park Creek Watershed Management Southwest Corner Project.

During Thursday's Planning Commission meeting, the commissioners unanimously adopted the resolution that certified the project's Initial Study, Mitigated Negative Declaration, Initial Environmental Checklist and Mitigated Finding of no significant affect. They also approved the permits so now Halferty Development can move forward.

A new partner is now on board to help bring a new recreation center and swim complex to South Lake Tahoe, construction of which could start as early as 2018.

Voters in November approved a two percent Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) increase to fund the new project that benefits not only locals but tourists as well.

Holiday fun starts on Friday and goes through the weekend with Easter Egg Hunts and brunches.

Tot Egg Hunt at Kahle Community Park- Friday, April 14 - Sponsored by the Tahoe Douglas Firefighter's Association. Tot Egg Hunt is an Extra special day for Family Fun! The Easter Bunny will be hiding eggs outside and you can climb on fire trucks. Come inside and enjoy the bounce house, indoor playground, and refreshments. Bring a basket to collect eggs and a camera for an EGGciting day! Hunt begins at 11:00 AM.

The 9th annual World Autism Awareness Day is Sunday, April 2, and the Tahoe Tot Spot is holding a fundraiser to assist families with access to enrichment for those who cannot afford it.

On April 2, 2017 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Tahoe Tot Spot is having a celebration in recognition of autism.

"We will celebrate with free entry for all kiddos rocking the spectrum or special needs," said Tot Spot owner Jen Bloch.

Raffles tickets are being sold to the entire community and attendance on April 2 is not required. They are $1 each, 6 for $5, 13 for 10$, 25 for $20.

Raffle Prizes:

Transient Lodging License taxes may soon be increased one percent at properties in the Lake Tahoe portion of Douglas County (Lake Tahoe Township) to fund redevelopment projects including the addition of an event/convention center.

Overwhelming support for the tax increase was evident at the Douglas County Commissioner's meeting Thursday, where the elected officials voted 4-1 to approve the increase which would go into effect May 1, 2017.

From quality shopping, accommodations, recreation and dining options to the myriad service providers and businesses, the Blue Ribbon Awards honor all that business should be. This important awards program salutes those businesses that are making significant contributions to the South Shore economy.

The Board of the Lake Tahoe South Shore Chamber of Commerce (Tahoe Chamber) has announced its position on seven local ballot measures in the City of South Lake Tahoe and Douglas County.

Yes on Measure P

There are many important issues concerning the Nation, California and South Lake on the November 8th ballot. Not only we will decide on who the next President is but we’ll also be voting in two City Officials, who some could argue will actually have a greater impact on our daily lives than the Nation’s Leader.

The Lake Tahoe South Shore Chamber of Commerce has announced the nominees for their annual Blue Ribbon Awards with 80 nominations from the community. The program recognizes businesses and individuals who excel in working as one in an effort to improve the quality of life on the South Shore.

Magic Fusion at the Loft Theatre & Lounge. A perfect blend of intimate Magic & Comedy. (530) 523-8024. The Loft Theatre & Lounge at the Heavenly Village, 1021 Heavenly Village Way

Pope House Tour at the Tallac Historic Site - The Pope House Tour is the perfect way to see how the rich and famous lived while at Lake Tahoe, from the separate kitchen to the elegantly restored formal dining room. This docent guided tour takes approximately an hour and is filled with stories of early times. (530) 541-5227, Pope House at Tallac Historic Site, Heritage Way

The July 19 meeting of the South Lake Tahoe City Council should be a long one, with multiple items on the agenda ranging from vacation rentals to massage parlors.

Some of the items the Council will be addressing:

Old Business: Vote on Vacation Home Rental changes to the code which grandfather in multi-family units with a permit by September 1, a request by SnowGlobe to extend their contract by 3-10 years and budgetary items.

You've spent your life savings on the dream, to buy a home in South Lake Tahoe. Better yet, you've found the perfect property where you can find a way to live in Tahoe and own a home that brings in some income.

There are current 56 different parcels in the City limits that are multi-family units that are also licensed vacation rentals and the City of South Lake Tahoe wants to prevent them from being rented, thus stopping the home owners from earning the needed income to keep their home.

The Tahoe Tot Spot is celebrating their grand re-opening with a special day on May 22 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. They've invited the public to stop by and check out all of the changes.

There will be treats, a bounce house, fun activities for the kids, face-painting and ice cream. And the best part, everything is FREE! There will even be a Kid Fit class at 10:00 a.m.

They are located at 1012 Al Tahoe Blvd in South Lake Tahoe, next to Rite-Aid.

Just as it is when the topic of vacation rentals is on the South Lake Tahoe City Council agenda, a large, and at times, angry, crowd gathered.

The task at hand Tuesday was to review changes to the current Vacation Home Rental (VHR) Ordinance which included 11 changes which will take effect 30 days after the June 7 Council meeting if approved.

The South Lake Tahoe City Council will have item on their agenda May 3 that will not only affect local residents, but tourists as well. They are contemplating some tax initiatives that could appear on the November ballot, initiatives needed to pay for much needed city improvements including roads, facilities, replacing an aging fleet, a remodel of the recreation and swim complex and more.

"Egg"citing week ahead for the younger residents, with Easter Egg hunts schedule around the South Shore.

The Tahoe Douglas Firefighter's Association will host their annual Tot Egg Hunt at Kahle Community Center on Friday, March 25 at 11:00 a.m. for kids ages 0 to 6. The Easter Bunny will be hiding eggs outside and the kids can climb on fire trucks during the event. Inside there will be a bounce house, indoor playground and refreshments. Bring a basket to collect eggs and a camera. Gym is open until 1:00 p.m.

City Manager Nancy Kerry and Mark Carlson, the City's Administrative Services Director presented the 2015-16 Fiscal year budget to the South Lake Tahoe City Council during a workshop Tuesday.

"There is a lot we can be proud of," Kerry said.

The budget process has been ongoing since May, involving staff in making the decision on where to cut back, and where to spend.

Tot to Tot, a gently-used children’s clothing, toy and equipment store, recently celebrated two years in business in South Lake Tahoe. To celebrate this occasion, owner Erin Elliott invites the community to a ribbon cutting and open house on June 2 beginning at 4:30 p.m.

Elliott first realized the need for quality used children’s items in Tahoe when she became a mother five years ago. With little luck finding affordable children’s items in the South Shore, Elliott yearned for the prices and quality found in gently-used clothing and equipment stores in larger cities.

Tahoe Tot Spot celebrates its grand re-opening under new ownership on Friday, May 1 at 5 p.m. Along with food, drinks and a Tahoe Chamber ribbon cutting, everyone is invited to meet Tahoe Tot Spot’s new owner Julie Koster Paradysz and learn more about this kid-centric business.

A public workshop on the City of South Lake Tahoe's vacation home rental policy (VHR) will be held on March 24 at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chamber.

Excessive noise, trash and parking issues are some of the main complaints voiced by neighbors of vacation homes so the City wants to address all concerns. Those concerned neighbors as well as vacation homeowners, rental companies and hotels are invited to attend the meeting.

Vacation home rentals are an everyday part of life in South Lake Tahoe, though during weekends and holiday periods their impact is much more noticeable. With the large number of visitors "living" in the area neighborhoods next to full time residents their impact has created tension over noise, trash and parking issues.

In the City limits there are currently 1,574 houses that have a permit to be operated as a vacation home. In comparison there are about 15-20% that number in vacation cities Santa Cruz and Napa.

The Veterans Affairs Commission awarded the Food Bank of El Dorado County $9,000.00 through its El Dorado Veterans Fund at El Dorado Community Foundation to support its No Vet Goes Hungry Program. The Food Bank’s No Vet Goes Hungry Program is a homebound delivery of nutritious emergency supplemental groceries to ensure no veteran goes hungry in El Dorado County. This program will provide veterans food and other information regarding resources available to them from other veterans programs and services in the county.

It was discovered that a South Lake Tahoe homeowner had been renting out his vacation home since at least 2008 without paying transient occupancy tax (TOT). An audit of the City's Vacation Home Rental program discovered the violation, and when the homeowner refused to comply so a criminal investigation was conducted.