Big Bear Lake council advances $400 winter parking fine, aligns rules with county

Big Bear Lake’s City Council on Oct. 11 approved on first reading an ordinance to increase parking penalties during snow conditions to $400 and to align the city’s seasonal approach to snow with San Bernardino County.

City Manager Eric told council and the public that the change responds to recurring problems with vehicles blocking streets during winter storms and with visitors unfamiliar with local snow rules. Staff said the ordinance would replace the prior practice of issuing a separate “snow conditions” declaration with a clearer seasonal framework: between Oct. 15 and April 15, when snow is present, parking on city streets is prohibited to allow plowing and emergency access. Eric said enforcement will include photographic evidence of vehicles parked on the street and license-plate documentation.

The council’s discussion focused on definitions and public notice. Staff said plowing operations generally begin at about 3 inches of accumulation and that citations would be tied to actual snow/plowing conditions rather than the calendar alone. Council members pressed for more signage at major entry points and for use of electronic message boards and QR-coded signs to steer visitors to Caltrans and city information on road conditions. Staff committed to a “robust marketing and communication plan” in the months after the ordinance’s second reading.

Public commenters were split. West End business owners and some residents urged strong enforcement to keep emergency routes and commercial corridors clear; other residents and business owners warned that unclear signage or aggressive towing could harm visitors and local businesses and asked for more educational lead time.

Mayor Pro Tem Melnick moved the ordinance; Councilmember Mote supported an amendment clarifying the wording tying enforcement to snow conditions. The motion passed on roll call (a majority vote), constituting the ordinance’s first reading; staff said a second reading will come at the November meeting and implementation is expected after an education period in early 2024.

Staff said exceptions exist for emergency vehicles and for permitted service responses where safety requires it; they also said some vacation-rental parking restrictions remain in force year-round. The city will monitor outcomes and return to council quickly if unintended consequences arise.