Debating Parking Kiosks in South Lake Tahoe

As city governments tighten their budgets and seek funding sources from inside and outside various boxes, South Lake Tahoe, California, residents are debating the impact of paid parking on local neighborhoods. On March 6th, 2012, the city council will be considering the approval of parking kiosks in four additional neighborhoods within the city.

READ: Tahoe Daily Tribune: Residents blast city paid parking proposal by Dylan Silver

READ: Lake Tahoe News: S. Tahoe residents express dislike for parking meters by Kathryn Reed

READ: Lake Tahoe News: S. Tahoe budget hole would grow without parking meters by Kathryn Reed 

Tahoe Keys Property Owners' Association homeowners and Board of Directors also listened to a preview of the proposal as presented by Bob Albertazzi, community services officer for the City of South Lake Tahoe Police Department. Officer Albertazzi has been spearheading a study and pilot project to investigate what could be done with paid parking within the city.

According to Albertazzi, an initial test was performed last summer in the stateline business district. The apparent success of this initial pilot has convinced the Police Department to consider expanding the project to residential neighborhoods within the city, neighborhoods which are near public beaches and recreational facilities. Included in this proposal is the Tahoe Keys area along Venice Drive near the marina.

The proposal sparked an email of opposition to the Tahoe Keys' homeowner base from Greg Feet, General Manager of the Association. According to Mr. Feet, local residents of Lake Tahoe use this area for recreation and hiking. “Though the intention of the program is to generate revenue from visitors to the Tahoe area, the impacts and inconvenience placed on local residents will be far greater than the revenue returned to the city. Locals simply will not ‘pay to park’ and parking will overflow into the side-streets of nearby neighborhoods, as well as the parking lots of local businesses and the marina itself.”

In his correspondence, Mr. Feet is encouraging TKPOA owners to email their comments to Nancy Kerry, Public Relations Manager for the City of South Lake Tahoe, and if possible attend the city council meeting on March 6th at 9:00am and voice their opposition to this proposal.

Nancy Kerry expressed in her response that, “residents should offer alternatives, rather than just that you don’t want parking meters.”  “...one of the purposes is that many people indicated they want to be able to leave their boats there all day or part of the day or for several hours and we don’t have that option now.” 

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Disclosure: Writer and Photographer Ron A. Parker is an employee of the Tahoe Keys Property Owners’ Association. The TKPOA is a non-profit homeowners association consisting of 1,529 properties owners within the city of South Lake Tahoe, California. The association’s primary business is the maintenance and management of common facilities, as well as the fiduciary interests of the homeowners of the TKPOA.