South Lake Tahoe city council OKs $100 to $500 fines for not wearing masks
Submitted by Jeff Munson on Wed, 08/19/2020 - 9:54am
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — The message was clear during Tuesday's emergency City Council meeting: Disregard the safety of people in South Lake Tahoe and face a fine.
For nearly four hours the South Lake Tahoe City Council listened to several residents commenting on a desired city response to the pandemic. While other talks will be coming up in the near future, the council took steps toward protecting the community with leverage and enforcement.
After public comment and deliberations the city council voted unanimously to have City Manager Joe Irwin draft an emergency order that would direct code enforcement to start issuing administrative fines to businesses and people not wearing a mask as a method to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
“We live in a beautiful pristine environment,” said Irvin of the California community at Lake Tahoe. “We owe it to each other, and the place we call home to keep Tahoe safe, clean, and open.”
Fines of up to $500 for businesses and up to $100 for people failing to wear a mask in public will be started by the weekend. The fines are for the South Lake Tahoe, Calif., city limits and do not affect the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe.
“We will continue to enforce the governor’s order,” said Mayor Jason Collin, “Not wearing a mask, not socially distancing, is a blatant disregard for the safety of people who live and work in our City.”
Digital message boards will be posted at both ends of town alerting locals and visitors of these changes.
Many calling into the Council meeting expressed concern over the behavior of customers when told they have to wear a mask. Two restaurant representatives from the Heavenly Village said staff has been abused by the public, spit on and coughed on when asking guests to put a mask on.
"It's not okay," said Ginny Weber from Gunbarrel Tavern. "Employees are the front line and they are leaving" and quitting their jobs over the treatment by the public.
"Who knew the level of violence and rage this would bring?" said Tahoe Chamber CEO Steve Teshara.
The upcoming order is to give businesses support when they tell customers they have to "mask up" to be helped.
Councilman Cody Bass said they needed to find out a way to aid businesses that are the brunt of guest frustration.
“We’ve got to do something,” said Bass.
The City of South Lake Tahoe had previously started an ambassador program where volunteers had out masks and literature to guests in high-tourism areas.
The Council also listen to input on restrictions on tourism, lower occupancy rates, trash, and violations of the state and county health orders. Possible action could be concerning people who travel to South Lake Tahoe with known positive cases of COVID-19, thus risking the safety of the community.
The conversation will continue at an upcoming meeting on further possible mandates and, or emergency orders.
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