SLT vacation ordinance faces court challenge
Updated June 17 11:10pm:
Jim Morris, owner of Lake Tahoe Accommodations, is suing the city of South Lake Tahoe in regards to the existing vacation home rental ordinance.
“We are fairly sure they violated the law in how they passed the ordinance,” Morris told Lake Tahoe News. “And they didn’t justify the money and how it is generated. We want to see them back off.”
The city this spring adjusted its master fee schedule to better reflect what it costs to do business.
Many people are upset with the vacation home rental fees, saying money has been banked so there is no need to raise rates. The city maintains it is merely charging what it costs for people to do their jobs.
The lawsuit seeks to stop the fee increases that were approved by the council this spring. An injunction has been requested until the court decides the matter. That could be decided at the July hearing.
The city late June 16 received a copy of the lawsuit that had been filed June 5. On the City Council agenda for Tuesday was the claim related to this matter. In closed session the council rejected it.
Lake Tahoe Accommodations manages 230 properties around the lake.
— Lake Tahoe News staff report
Too bad he isn’t suing because vacation rentals in our neighborhoods are illegal. And suing to justify rate increases only because it may affect his bottom line. Just charge the tourists more, after all that’s what everyone wants, more money from the tourists, and screw the rest of Lake Tahoe to get those tourist dollars.
I think the new ordinance will hold up with the fees. We need more enforcement of VHR’s in our neighborhoods. People like Jim Morris, don’t care about our community, he’s just looking to make more money and future income. When you live next to a mini-hotel, and some of the people have no regard for the neighbors, it gets old every other week. I say charge the tourists more, so we can enforce the laws better.
The other issue is the process of becoming a VHR is going to be harder, and scrutinized more. It’s not eliminated, these property management companies and realtors, just want to keep business as usual. Where nobody has a say in this issue, well it affects me and my neighbors, that’s why I should have a chance to deny a VHR. When you turn your home into a business in a residential neighborhood, it’s no longer a property rights issue. Enough is enough, get the tourists back in the commercial properties where they belong.
I watched Mr. Morris address the City Council on New Business (a) (starting a 1:25:40 on the meeting time counter) and then on New Business (b) (starting at 2:56:50). Unfortunately Mr. Morris’ communication was mostly comprised of rude and disparaging accusations about various City staff and the City Council Members, he used profanity, he ignored Mayor Hal Cole’s advisement (which was polite but firm) that he’d exceeded the allotted speaker time and needed to relinquish the speaker podium for the next speaker, and I think he behaved like a threatening bully. Whatever point Mr. Morris was attempting to make was completely negated by his unprofessional demeanor and boorishness and he came off looking like a greedy country bumpkin bully and not any type of professional businessman. If I ever decided to use my rental as a VHR I’d sure never consider his company after watching that distasteful presentation. Thanks to the internet the world has indeed become a very small and informative place.
Gotta love those who sue. I think this matter should be up to the voters to decide. Those who it affects directly, so they truly have a say in this matter. Come on council, step up to bat, listen to the voters! You listened when it came to parking meters!
Mr. Morris is an extreme property rights advocate. That is his property rights trump yours so he can make lots of money and the heck with your peace and quiet and enjoyment of your residence in your residential neighborhood.
Jim wants to turn all of SLT into one big commercially zoned area. R-1 zoning is anathema to the money grubbing class in the VHR business.
The question really is one of discrimination, the so called vacation rental is not a use issue and the use is the same for owner or long term tenant. The city has laws that will enforce behavior, use those not tax and regulate a useful enterprise out of business.
Morris is a crook. I had issues with him years ago. Yes, he has his own agenda. Make no mistake.
ENFORCEMENT is the issue ! BMP’s, collection of transit occupancy tax, use of fertilizer, scenic obstructions, etc. Enforcement is complaint driven and not taken on as part of the various agencies job !
That is the third time in the last few years that Jim Morris had to be escorted from the podium at a City Council Meeting for bad behavior by the So Lake Tahoe Police. It is obvious that he believes the bottom line for his business outweighs the legal rights of the permanent residents of So lake Tahoe. Doesn’t he live in the valley because he killed a coyote in the Keys and was asked to move? If so, he is not even a voter in the City.
That is the third time in the last few years that Jim Morris had to be escorted from the podium at a City Council Meeting for bad behavior by the So Lake Tahoe Police. It is obvious that he believes the bottom line for his business outweighs the legal rights of the permanent residents of So lake Tahoe. Doesn’t he live in the valley because he killed a coyote in the Keys and was asked to move? If so, he is not even a voter in the City.
I have a house in Gardnerville near the intersection of Rojo and Verde that I plan to turn into a vacation rental.
tax vacation rentals as neighborhood districts; use revenue to mitigate impact to streets and quality of life for permanent residents, maybe a quarterly payment to those impacted.
Owners of VHRs are already paying property tax, water, trash pickup, etc. If they only use their houses as second homes, and don’t ever rent them out, shouldn’t they then pay LESS than full time residents, since they don’t use all the services full time? Sounds like a bad deal to me.
Its always funny how locals want to take from the tourist and never ever want to pay for anything themselves. Not realising that tourist are already paying for more than their fair share of taxes. As a matter of fact they pay for over 60% of the general fund revenues. They hate the tourist, but forget that without them there would be no city, maybe a village of 2000 people. No restraunts, grocery store, hospital, ect.
I think the reason locals hate tourists is because they have been allowed to invade our neighborhoods. Get them back into the motels where they belong, giving the locals back there “space” as in any neighborhood and we would all get along.
The biggest problem is greedy realtors, developers, and management companies, all trying to get rich at the expense of the rest of us.
Bring all the tourists you want, just keep them away from our homes !
perfectly said Steven