South Tahoe to explain parking program
There will be a community meeting to learn the facts about the South Lake Tahoe residential parking permit program on May 6.
City staff will be in attendance to answer questions about this program.
It will be at the senior center, 3050 Lake Tahoe Blvd., from 5:30-7pm.
More info about the program may be found online.
http://www.cityofslt.us/index.aspx?NID=712
Above is the link to the City’s residential permit parking regulation in case you haven’t seen it. (I hope the signage is in good taste – I loathe ugly signage.)
This paid parking issue has the most resistance I’ve seen from residents since I can remember. Yet the city council continues to refuse to listen to their constituents.
Paid parking is meant to solve parking problems. This has nothing to do with parking.
It is only a way to raise money to pay salaries of the employees who stood before the council in favor of it.
They should listen to the voters not the employees.
I don’t have any problem with paid parking. I’d rather that the people who use those public amenities pay for the opportunity to park there than have another assessment placed on my property tax bill so those people can park for free. The fact is the City needs money to operate whether it’s to pay employees (the total of which were reduced by 30% 2 years ago), to pave City streets, or to sponsor the Live at Lakeview summer concerts at Lakeview Commons that so many locals will enjoy attending for free.
The Residential Parking Permit Program that’s being established is to provide parking spaces for residents and their guests in those neighborhoods near popular beach locations in the City limits by discouraging long-term parking by people who don’t live in the area and are trying to park for free.
This should be interesting. Where are all of the people that use the Lakeside Marina to launch their boats going to park with their trailers? Since the paid area will be filled with beach users, and with no parking in the permit areas, I suppose they will choose to not use the marina anymore. I certainly would not launch there if there is no place to leave my truck and trailer. The LPA is going to love that.
But as long as the City makes a few bucks I guess that is all that really matters.
Also keep in mind that the Lakeside beach is a private beach, not a public beach. The LPA allows the public to use it for a fee but it is not part of SLT.
If some property owners-especially the part timers- are bound and determined to pass on to glory with every nickel they ever came in contact with I have a solution- either walk, get a ride with someone or better yet don’t go to these places where fees for parking exist- problem solved.
“The Residential Parking Permit Program that’s being established is to provide parking spaces for residents and their guests in those neighborhoods near popular beach locations in the City limits by discouraging long-term parking by people who don’t live in the area and are trying to park for free.”
No, it’s not. The residents already have plenty of parking in Lakeside Park. This is purely a grab for fees by hitting those that choose to use Lakeside beach. The City is, in its parasitic manner, only causing inconveinence for those that live here, by making them get permits to park on their own streets, or risk what is certainly to be an expensive ticket.
Also, the “people that don’t live in the area” as well as the marina and restaurant users, are one of the main sources of revenue for LPA. By making it more expensive for them to use the facilities, the LPA stands to lose revenue.
Question what is the Bike Parking situation like @ Lake view Commons?
If I ride my bike there, is there a safe place to store, lock, park it.
If I have a nice Mountain bike will it still be there after a day @ the Beach?
Yea, hum?
I just got back from a weekend in Monterey, Carmel and Santa Cruz. I had to pay for parking in every spot and my hotel even charged $17 for parking (some hotels in SF are up to $45 a day). I did’mt see anyone complaining and everyone paid. People expect to pay for parking in many cities and I’m sure the revenue helps to maintain the parking lots and other items. Change is always tough .
lets be HONEST,” ITS ANOTHER GOUGE!”
This parking program targets locals! Most locals stay away in July and August from busy places but not in the shoulder seasons and evenings. A new parking division is being created, what are the actual costs?
Don- you are right on. The additional fact that has been ignored by the city and not understood by most residents is that Lakeside is privately owned. The city does not pay one penny for anything there. The Non-profit Association which owns it does not make profit from the beach. When the beach was opened to the public the costs went up and it has lost money every year since. The property owners in Lakeside Park are responsible for all the costs. They allow public access 12 months a year but ask the public to help cover the cost only during the high tourist months and then only during the day. They never ask us locals to pay the rest of the year so we can enjoy it for free. It is free every evening in the summer except the 4th of July. These property owners are going to be hurt if people don’t pay to use the beach because they will not have the money to cover the lifeguards and other salaries, the garbage service, the bathrooms 12 months a year.
This is clearly a money grab by the city to generate revenue where they have no cost.
Maybe we should consider using the power of eminent domain on Lakeside Beach. That would lift the burden on the forever generous Lakeside Park owners that so selflessly have absorbed tremendous personal costs, out of the goodness of their hearts, all these years.
Hey Teatotal, how about if they eminent domain your house?
Private property rights are fundamental to our American system and the rule of law. So many here are so quick to seek to deprive other people of their property and livelihoods just because they don’t like it. Thank God for our Constitutional Republic.
Lakeside beach is owned by the State of California and the LPA uses it with a long-term lease. This is, in reality, a very simple issue, all municipalities are broke and seeking any and all remedies to increase revenues. During the summer, Lakeside beach is crawling with people and SLT simply sees a fleecing opportunity. This has nothing to do with parking or neighborhood issues. It is different there in that the beach is private as opposed to City-owned areas of recreation and the LPA is responsible for traffic, cleanup, maintenence etc. and those costs are bourn by the members.
Part of the costs are recovered by allowing the public to use the beach and marina. Those are the targeted subjects that are going to pay the cost of not only parking, but the implementation of the permit parking areas as well.
Oh by the way, we are in an ecomonic recovery if you had not noticed.
When no one uses the city beaches maybe the city will start a new marketing program “Tahoe brings back free parking”. Two steps back one forward. Go figure.
Don- Lakeside Beach is a privately owned parcel just like your house. It is not leased from the State. It is true that Lakeside Park Association (comprised of the property owners in Lakeside Park) do pay for ALL the costs of the beach and Marina which include property taxes, State Lands Fees for water front property, garbage, security, lifeguards (only beach at South Tahoe), insurance, bathrooms and over $100K of salaries paid to local employees.
The property owners in Lakeside Park allow the public access 12 months a year. Only during the summer tourist season do they charge a fee during the day but it is still open to all in the evening.
Lakeside Park Association is a non-profit company which is also the local water company. They do not make a profit from charging beach goers, it helps cover some of the costs of keeping it open for the public. The costs were extremely lower when it was closed to public access and I’m wondering if the paid parking hurts their income if they won’t close it off again to everyone except property owners and their guests.
I could be wrong, I was under the impression that the beach was State owned and its use was leased to the LPA but I could be wrong about that. LPA certainly is finacially responsible to maintain the beach and associated structures, as well as assuming the related liability costs.
I doubt the beach would be closed to public use, as the income from the beach and marina, as well as the water dues paid by the residences and hotels in the association are the only income. The cost of maintaining a water system is not cheap, one main line goes out and that is quite a hit.
The parking fee is just another tax levied on an already over-taxed public. Things once free are no longer. I understand the City wishing to cover the costs of a free City-owned recreation facility, but to charge for parking on top of having to pay for beach access certainly will put a dent in the LPA income stream as some, not all, but some folks choose to head to the less expensive beaches. Time will tell
Don- it is not leased. The State Lands Dept. charges all water front property owners a fee based on how it is used. It is a separate parcel number owned by the LPA Corporation.
This certainly impacts my enjoyment and usability factor at a number of locations. Would be nice if they sold an (affordable) annual pass for locals that would cover all paid locations. Does anyone know if that has been discussed?
MTT – bike parking at Lake View Commons rocks on Thursday nights. Safe valet parking. Free as I recall with donations if you’re feeling generous. The rest of the week days/nights I’m not so sure.
After 2 years will the city start charging for the permits to the residents? I think that it was to be from $25.00 to $135.00 per year to park in front of your huose if you were in the permited areas.