City Celebrates 47th Anniversary
The City of South Lake Tahoe celebrates its 47th Anniversary today! The City was incorporated on November 30, 1965.
“We are very grateful for those who cultivated and formed our City for future generations. We were established to provide core services; snow removal, police and fire; and this is what we’re going back to forty-seven years later,” said Mayor Claire Fortier. “Let’s all celebrate.”
Prior to the City of South Lake Tahoe becoming its own City, the land of the City and its services were owned and operated by the County of El Dorado, which was incorporated in February, 1850.
City Records show that two local government analysis reports were prepared regarding the feasibility of incorporation: one in July 1960 and one in October 1965. Residents developed consensus in favor of proposed incorporation. A petition showing the proposed territory to be incorporated was circulated by citizens and received the required signatures of 25% of the population in the proposed city boundaries.
During the November 9, 1965 election, 2,011 residents voted for incorporation out of 2,624 votes.
The naming of the City was a close race with the “City of South Lake Tahoe” receiving 1,290 votes and “City of Lake Tahoe” receiving 1,172 votes.
Nineteen residents ran for City Council with Brad Murphy serving as the first Mayor and Norm Woods, Donald Clark, Eugene Marshall, and Gerry Martin serving as the inaugural City Councilmembers.