Little consensus on VHR issues in El Dorado County

El Dorado County residents on Feb. 12 vent about VHRs to staff and electeds. Photo/LTN

By Kathryn Reed

MEYERS – The conversation has not changed. Proponents: Vacation home rentals are a fact of life in a tourist town. Opponents: VHRs ruin neighborhoods.

This week Sue Novasel and Mike Ranalli, the two El Dorado County supervisors who make up the ad hoc VHR committee, got an earful from people about the issue. While some spoke to specifics about the Apple Hill area, most were Tahoe residents with local opinions. About 70 people filled the CCC room in Meyers on Feb. 12.

The electeds were joined by reps from the county’s legal department and Chief Administrative Office. They along with fire and law enforcement are the internal team at the county working on the issue.

The complaints in the county are much the same as they are in South Lake Tahoe, with noise, trash and parking the primary problems. Then there are those who think this is a commercial business, when it’s not. And others believe the only place for a tourist is in a hotel.

Jobs and revenue for the county are some of the positives about the short-term rentals.

Monday’s meeting was mostly an opportunity for county reps to listen to concerns. But it was stated by more than one attendee that it is time for action, which includes compromise.

On March 3 from 1-3pm at South Tahoe Middle School’s multipurpose room the entire Board of Supervisors will reconvene. This is a continuation of the Feb. 1 meeting that was canceled because of overcrowding.

The county’s working group has conceptually agreed to the following in regards to VHRs:

·      Inspections for safety and compliance before a permit is issued.

·      Doing an analysis to determine which county department should handle the issue.

·      No warning for first violation.

·      Increase penalties, with possible permit revocation after three incidents in an 18-month period.

·      A maximum occupancy between 10pm and 8am.

·      Exterior signage.

Those are just a fraction of the regulations on the table to be further vetted, then adopted, implemented and enforced.

Ranalli said the county is the process of rejiggering how it does enforcement on all issues, not just VHRs.

Novasel agreed more needs to be done about the whole issue, and that people need to feel safe.