Title
Department of Transportation recommending the Board Approve the Final Passage (Second Reading) of Ordinance 5249 amending County Ordinance code Section 10.12.180, Parking, Snow Removal - Interference Prohibited and Section 10.12.184 Parking, Snow Removal - Interference Prohibited Lake Tahoe Basin Watershed Area.
FUNDING: Road Fund. (100%)
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
On November 18, 2025, the Board approved the Introduction (First Reading) of Ordinance 5249 amending County Ordinance code Section 10.12.180, Parking, Snow Removal - Interference Prohibited and Section 10.12.184 Parking, Snow Removal - Interference Prohibited Lake Tahoe Basin Watershed Area and continued the matter to December 2, 2025 for Final Passage (Second Reading).
Department of Transportation (Transportation) is requesting the Introduction (First Reading) of Ordinance 5249 amending County Ordinance code Section 10.12.180, Parking, Snow Removal - Interference Prohibited and Section 10.12.184 Parking, Snow Removal - Interference Prohibited Lake Tahoe Basin Watershed Area to update language regarding parking restrictions for snow removal purposes. Should the Board approve the item, Transportation requests the Board continue the matter to December 2, 2025, for Final Passage (Second Reading).
On November 4, 2025 (Legistar file 25-1735), the Board provided conceptual approval to amend County Ordinance code Section 10.12.180, Parking, Snow Removal - Interference Prohibited and Section 10.12.184 Parking, Snow Removal - Interference Prohibited Lake Tahoe Basin Watershed Area to update language regarding parking restrictions for snow removal purposes.
County ordinance code Section 10 concerns parking. More particularly, Section 10.12.184 concerns parking restrictions in the Lake Tahoe Watershed Area. On April 17, 2024, at South Lake Tahoe Traffic Advisory Committee Meeting, during Open Discussion, Department of Transportation (Transportation) Traffic Unit staff was directed to evaluate the current Lake Tahoe Area seasonal parking restriction ordinance. The Traffic Advisory Committee sought to amend the Ordinance to eliminate the ambiguity in the current version. "In unincorporated areas of the County within the Lake Tahoe Watershed Area, no person shall park any vehicle on a County-owned public road, highway, or right-of-way, except in areas specifically designated by signs to permit such parking, during the period for which the Director of Transportation has declared a "snow removal condition" exists. In addition, the ordinance states in part "In addition to the foregoing, it is unlawful to park on a County-owned public road, highway, or right-of-way in that portion of the County lying south of the Placer/El Dorado County line, and north of the Placer/El Dorado County line, and north of the Bliss State Park's north boundary within the Lake Tahoe Basin Watershed Area, during the period commencing November 1 of each year, and continuing to the following May 1, except in areas specifically designated by signs to permit such parking."
The first portion of the ordinance restricts parking during a "snow removal condition" for all areas in the Lake Tahoe Basin Watershed Area outside of the West Shore Lake Tahoe (Tahoma) area. This is the portion of the ordinance that is ambiguous with both residents and visitors. The Traffic Advisory Committee expressed support for transparent and clear guidelines and time frames. The South Lake Tahoe Traffic Advisory Committee recommended that the language of the ordinance be amended to match the existing Tahoma portion of the ordinance, which clearly outlines no parking in the County right of way starting November 1st and concluding on May 1st of each year.
The proposed revision to Section 10.12.184 would also require a conforming change in Section 10.12.180 to reflect the new boundary for parking restrictions from November 1 to May 1 to encompass the Lake Tahoe Watershed Area extending west to Strawberry. Staff also recommends amending Section 10.12.180 to allow the Department of Transportation Director to delegate authority to a designee for identifying "snow removal conditions" for all other areas not included in 10.12.184.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could choose not to approve this recommendation, which would result in no change to the current ordinance.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
On November 4, 2025, Legistar file 25-1735, the Board provided conceptual approval for the proposed ordinance.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Counsel, South Lake Tahoe Traffic Advisory Committee
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no change to Net County Cost as a result of this item. Transportation has included funding in the Fiscal Year 2025-26 budget to print and install the updated no parking signs for the Lake Tahoe Basin Watershed Area, extending west to Strawberry.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) The Clerk of the Board will publish the Ordinance in the appropriate local newspaper(s) following Board approval of the Introduction (First Reading) of the Ordinance.
2) The Clerk of the Board will continue this item to December 2, 2025, for Final Passage of the Ordinance.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Priority: N/A
Action Item: N/A
CONTACT
Rafael Martinez, Director
Department of Transportation